August 2026 cell phone news

Phones Apple Sets September 9 Event: Why an iPhone Upgrade Can Wait

Apple confirmed a September 9 event but no products. Waiting brings more information for iPhone shoppers—but no promise of a better deal.

5G Rural 5G Home Internet Lags Urban Speeds on All Carriers

Ookla’s Aug. 26 tests show T-Mobile still leads 5G home internet. Urban downloads beat rural on all three carriers; AT&T rural uploads are faster.

Carriers Verizon Raises Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ Perk Prices on September 17

Most Verizon Disney bundle perks go up $2 or $3 a month on Sept. 17. The $15 legacy perk is unchanged.

Phones Two Battery Numbers Cloud Redmi's 10,000mAh Launch Claim

Xiaomi says 10,000mAh. PhoneArena reports 9,210mAh. Here's what the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max launch actually establishes for U.S. buyers, and what it doesn't.

Phones Pixel 11 Reviews Point to a Weak Case for Annual Upgrades

Google’s latest $899 Pixel brings better storage and cameras, but Pixel 10 owners have little reason to replace a year-old phone.

5G FCC Clears AST SpaceMobile for Limited 800 MHz Tests

The 30-day trial could advance satellite coverage beyond cell towers, but it does not give AT&T or Verizon customers a launch date.

Carriers AT&T Extends Legacy Plan Price Hikes to More Customers

Some customers who avoided AT&T’s April increase now face $5 to $20 more per month, with the amount depending on their retired plan.

5G Verizon 5G Standalone Test Shows Major Upload Capacity Gain

A network test found more efficient uploads, but customers should not expect an immediate doubling of speeds or a reason to change plans.

Phones Google Reportedly Plans to Move Pixel Production Out of China

The 2027 manufacturing shift may reduce supply-chain risk, but it offers buyers no guarantee of lower Pixel prices.

News FCC Opens Wi-Fi Bands to Satellite-to-Device Proposal

The proposal could expand off-grid connectivity, but it creates no service yet and raises interference questions for crowded Wi-Fi spectrum.

News FCC Sets September Start for Broadband Label Rollback

Mobile and home internet shoppers may see less detail about fees, while the timing of major label changes remains unsettled.

News Verizon Offers $25,000 Reward After California Fiber Cuts

The damaged cables disrupted mobile and internet service, showing how one backhaul failure can affect several types of connectivity.

5G FCC Sets April 2027 Auction for 160 MHz of Upper C-Band

The new mid-band licenses could add network capacity, but customers should not expect coverage or plan changes before 2030.

Deals T-Mobile Offers Pixel 11 Without a Trade-In on Essentials

The phone discount avoids a trade-in, but bill credits and required service can cost more than buying unlocked and choosing a cheaper plan.

News GAO Says FCC Cybersecurity Rollback Must Go to Congress

The finding adds legal uncertainty over carrier security oversight, but it does not immediately restore the FCC’s earlier requirements.

5G AST SpaceMobile Expands BlueBird Fleet to 13 Satellites

The larger satellite fleet advances planned coverage, but customers still lack firm launch dates, prices and service details.

5G T-Mobile Closes $2.9 Billion Low-Band Spectrum Swap

The deal adds 600 MHz capacity to T-Mobile’s 5G network while putting former Sprint airwaves on a new path toward coverage services.

News Cell Phone News Weekly Summary: Pixels, Prices and New MVNOs

New phones, higher wireless bills and a fresh MVNO give consumers more reasons to compare total costs instead of headline offers.

Phones Pixel 11 Starts at $899 as Google Drops 128GB Storage

Google’s entry Pixel now costs $100 more, while buyers get twice the storage and seven years of updates.

Carriers Verizon Restores Voice Service After Multistate Outage

Calls failed for some Verizon and Visible users even as data kept working, exposing a reliability problem that signal bars could not reveal.

Deals Mint Mobile Cuts Every Plan to $15 for New Customers

Unlimited service now costs as little as $45 for three months, but the promotional rate ends when the prepaid term expires.

Carriers AT&T Extends Legacy Plan Hikes to More August Bills

Some retired unlimited plans now cost $10 more for one line or $20 more per account, with extra hotspot data added.

Deals Mint’s $1 Galaxy A16 Deal Is Out of Stock

The advertised bargain required a prepaid year of service, and Mint’s product page no longer shows the phone as available.

Carriers Starlink Mobile Targets a Late-2027 Launch

SpaceX plans a hybrid satellite and ground network, but pricing, coverage and compatible devices remain unresolved.

Carriers Verizon’s Simplicity Plan Makes $30 Pricing Conditional

The flat-rate offer includes premium data, but switcher eligibility, Auto Pay and lost device credits can change the real cost.

News Cell Phone News Weekly Summary: Fees, Spectrum and Satellites

New fees and conditional discounts hit bills as regulators prepare more spectrum and explore broader satellite coverage.

News FCC Weighs Satellite Links for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Devices

The proposal could widen satellite coverage beyond cellular plans, but interference rules, compatible hardware and consumer pricing remain unsettled.

Phones Google’s August Update Targets Pixel 10 Crashes and Touch Failures

Pixel 10 owners get gaming, touch and graphics fixes, while older supported Pixels receive a smaller security-focused update.

5G FAA Sets 2030 Deadline for 5G-Safe Airline Altimeters

The retrofit mandate clears a safety hurdle for wider C-band service, but consumers should not expect an immediate coverage boost.

Carriers AT&T Raises Wireless Fee by $1 Per Line on August 5

Postpaid households will pay up to $48 more a year on four lines, even when their advertised plan price stays unchanged.

Deals T-Mobile Launches Student Unlimited Plan at $30 a Month

Eligible college students can lower a single-line bill, but taxes, AutoPay rules and annual verification narrow the savings.

News Google Pixel Tag Leak Reveals an AirTag Rival for Android

A leaked Google Pixel Tag points to a first-party tracker built around Android’s Find Hub network, but important questions about price, precision finding and compatibility remain unanswered.