Mobile News 8 Hours

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 6:06 PM ET

Pixel 11 Series and Deals

Google's Pixel 11 lineup launched with a commitment to 7 years of spare parts availability, a significant longevity promise. However, the launch event itself drew criticism; one analysis called it a "Google's Pixel event cringe fest" hosted by Trevor Noah, arguing Google should have taken a GTA 6-style approach. For those looking to preorder, Verizon is offering what some consider the best deal on the Pixel 11 Pro, though the exact terms remain a point of scrutiny. Separately, reports indicate a future Google Pixel may adopt a silicon-carbon battery, promising higher density and longer life, though the timeline is unclear.

Honor's Robot Phone

Honor has launched a unique device in China: the Robot Phone, featuring an Agile Gimbal and automatic camera tracking. The device benefits from an Honor's Robot Phone partnership with ARRI for cinematic imaging. Early hands-on impressions describe it as a surprisingly successful hybrid of smartphone and gimbal, though not perfect; the reviewer admits they still really want one.

Mobile Software and Devices

Xiaomi unveiled HyperOS 4 with a new glass-like UI, extensive customizations, and deeper AI integration, rolling out alongside Android. Tecno announced the Tecno Pova 8 Pro, powered by a Dimensity 7400 Ultimate SoC with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, featuring a 144FPS gaming mode and an Alive Matrix Display. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly delaying the iPhone 18 to 2027, according to a new report citing Pegatron, suggesting Apple is staggering its iPhone releases.

Streaming and Emulation

Spotify is deepening its AI push by partnering with indie publisher Kobalt for a forthcoming paid add-on that lets fans generate covers and remixes using AI tools. The platform also faces competition; a new guide highlights the best Spotify alternatives for users fed up with the service. On the emulation front, the popular Game Cube emulator Dolphin now has a serious challenger: Gecko is a newcomer that could become a top choice for party night gaming.

Other News

Namecheap suffered an outage after a data center cooling failure, taking its hosting services offline. The US government is now allowing private companies to carry out cyberattacks on its behalf, a significant policy shift. A single Android setting can help save Google storage space, potentially avoiding the need for a paid plan. T-Mobile is offering a compelling preorder deal on the Pixel Watch 5: add a line with Watch Plan Plus 2.0 and T-Mobile gives $300 off, making the watch cost just $5.55/month with no trade-in required. Finally, the new Instagram logo is drawing widespread online ridicule, with users roasting the redesign.