Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 22, 2026, 11:34 AM ET

Smartphones and Mobile Devices

Honor has officially unveiled the Honor Turbo 5G, featuring the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset and a 6.7-inch display. The company also has its 700 series, Magic9, Win2, and Power3 devices in the pipeline, with details leaking about their specifications. Meanwhile, the Honor Robot Phone's unique gimbal camera repair costs have been revealed, offering a glimpse into the potential expenses for this innovative device. Poco is expanding its lineup with the Poco X8 Power, rumored to feature a massive 10,000mAh battery, and has also launched the Poco M8x with a Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 SoC, a 120Hz display, and a 7,900 mAh battery. The Poco F9 Ultra has also appeared on Geekbench, confirming its chipset and RAM.

Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy S26 FE on August 27, with unboxing videos and leaked renders already circulating. The company is also reportedly working on the Galaxy A58 and Galaxy XCover FR, and has had the Galaxy A08 certified with an increased battery capacity of 6,000 mAh. Prices for the upcoming Galaxy Tab S12+ and S12 Ultra have also leaked. A fix for the red tint issue on the Galaxy S26 Ultra display may be coming this month. In foldable news, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 has received a review and an unboxing, showcasing its design.

The Google Pixel 11 series is now available for purchase, with significant deals from major carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon offering some models for free. Reviews for the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro highlight their camera capabilities and AI features, though some note the increased price point for the Pro models. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold also has launch deals available. Alternatives to the Pixel 11 Pro XL are also being recommended. Google's commitment to the original Pixel Watch's health features remains, with a bug impacting the Google Health app being resolved.

Other mobile news includes the upcoming launch of the vivo V80 Lite on September 3, featuring a 10,000mAh battery. Sony is set to launch a new Xperia phone, the Xperia 10 VIII, on August 25, with its specifications appearing on Geekbench. Infinix has announced the Hot 70 Pro will be launching in India in early September. One Plus is rumored to be launching a new budget 4G phone in India. Huawei has unveiled the Pura X View, a non-folding smartphone with a wide 16:9.5 aspect ratio display and a 7,000mAh battery. The Huawei Pura X also boasts a wide display and up to 1TB of storage.

Wearables and Smart Glasses

Ray Neo has unveiled two new lines of AR smart glasses: the productivity-focused iO series, which lacks a microphone but features a transparent HUD, and the GT series designed for entertainment. The company, holding a significant 23.7% market share in AR smart glasses, is catering to distinct user needs with these offerings. Meta is exploring solutions for privacy concerns with smart glasses through a patent for a "hardware lock."

Google's Pixel Watch 5 has received a review, noting its strengths but also some missing features at launch. The company is also working on unifying the Pixel Watch 5 software into a single build. details are emerging about the potential features of the Pixel Watch. Screen protectors for the Pixel Watch 5 are available to protect against daily wear and tear. A mysterious Google smartband has also been spotted, raising questions about whether it's a Pixel device or a new Fitbit product.

Software, Services, and Apps

TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to settle a Justice Department lawsuit concerning child privacy, with the app reportedly making significant strides in privacy protections. OpenAI's Chat GPT for Teens has drawn skepticism from child safety experts who believe the company must prove its trustworthiness. Chat GPT on Mac can now read and respond to Apple iMessages through a new plugin.

Walmart is finally embracing mobile payments, with Apple Pay and Google Pay rolling out to all stores by the end of 2026, alongside tap-to-pay functionality. LinkedIn claims its "AI slop button" for reporting problematic content is showing positive results. Epic Games continues to challenge Apple's new EU app store rules, arguing they still violate the Digital Markets Act.

In other app news, season two of Netflix's Cyberpunk 2077 anime, "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," is set to stream on October 20. The Chinese video platform Bilibili is expanding globally with a new international app and an English version of its website. Crunchyroll anime will soon be available to stream on car infotainment systems via the Appning app store. Gamescom's Opening Night Live showcase will feature trailers for highly anticipated titles like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation and Gears of War: E-Day.

Gaming and Entertainment

Take-Two Interactive is subpoenaing Discord and Microsoft in its pursuit of leakers responsible for the Grand Theft Auto VI leaks, ahead of the game's November release. The Binding of Isaac: Repentance+ Online is also slated for release on November 19, directly competing with GTA 6's launch date. Riot Games will end active development of its fighting game 2XKO in December, though its servers will remain online.

Valve has released several Steam Deck videos demonstrating how to wear the headset, achieve the perfect fit, and sign in. The adaptation of Sega's classic games, "Golden Axe," will premiere as an animated series on Paramount+ on September 16, with a trailer full of self-referencing jokes. Amazon's "God of War" show has cast Dave Bautista as Kratos, following an injury to the previous actor.

Automotive and Tech

Tesla and other automakers are recalling over 4 million vehicles in China due to issues with hidden door handles. In ADDRESS, Tesla's robotaxi fleet is reportedly operating fully autonomously in Austin, and the state has approved robotaxi permits for Tesla, Uber, and Waymo, allowing them to charge for rides. Waymo's driverless Ojai vans are now available to all riders in three cities.

Genesis has unveiled the GV90 Neo Lun, a luxury electric SUV featuring heated floors and coach doors. A new Windows 11 update, KB5121003, is reportedly causing game crashes and other issues, prompting an investigation. Qualcomm is teasing new "Dual 8 Elite" chips for its Snapdragon Summit, with focus on the "Pro" variants.

Other Tech News

The European smartphone market experienced its lowest shipment volume in Q2 since 2023, with a Counterpoint Research report estimating 35 million units shipped. Honor, however, is bucking this trend and gaining market share, even as Samsung leads globally and other brands face challenges.

Samsung has showcased cutting-edge display technologies, including a 300Hz OLED panel for gaming laptops at the IMID 2026 expo. Hyper X has launched its first open-back gaming headset, the Cloud Alpha Air, priced at $150. IKEA is teasing a partnership with Xbox, hinting at gaming furniture.

The FDA has approved the first robotic blood draw device, Aletta 8500, for outpatient settings. A study suggests a potential link between major music streaming releases and a 15% increase in traffic deaths, possibly due to increased driver distraction. Google is also exploring AI solutions for contrail avoidance in flights over the UK.

Two new cameras from a collaboration between Pokémon and Polaroid have been announced, offering stylized versions of Polaroid's Now and Go cameras. Finally, a new report indicates that TSMC is racing towards 1.6nm chip production, even as 2nm chips from Qualcomm are set to be released soon.