Google Pixel 11, Honor Robot Phone, Redmi 17 Launch Amid Tech Buzz
Tech giants Google, Honor, and Xiaomi unveil new devices including the Pixel 11 series, the innovative Honor Robot Phone, and the affordable Redmi 17. This week also saw updates on Sony's Xperia sales and Xiaomi's HyperOS.
The tech world was abuzz this week with major product launches from industry leaders. Google officially revealed its highly anticipated Pixel 11 series, including the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and the foldable 11 Pro Fold. These devices are powered by the new Tensor G6 System on Chip, manufactured using a 3nm process. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL boast significant camera upgrades, featuring a 50MP main sensor and enhanced telephoto capabilities, while the vanilla Pixel 11 receives a larger main camera sensor. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold also sees camera improvements alongside a 4,806mAh battery. Pricing for the Pixel 11 series starts at $899 for the base model, with pre-orders open for the Pro variants starting at €1,199 in Europe and the Fold model at $1,899 in the US, with sales commencing August 20.
Honor made a striking entrance with its Robot Phone, a device distinguished by a unique motorized 4-DoF titanium gimbal housing a 200MP main camera. This gimbal offers advanced stabilization and AI subject tracking. The phone also features a 200MP periscope telephoto lens and a 50MP ultrawide camera, with collaborations with ARRI promising professional-grade video recording. The Honor Robot Phone is equipped with a 6.31-inch LTPO OLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and a substantial 7,060mAh battery. It launched in China starting at CNY 9,999 for the 12GB/512GB configuration, with international availability yet to be announced.
New Entrants and Software Updates
Xiaomi expanded its affordable smartphone offerings with the official launch of the Redmi 17 5G and Redmi 17 4G. Both models feature large 6.9-inch displays and sizable batteries, with the 5G version utilizing a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chip and the 4G model powered by the Helio G200 Ultra. They include a 50MP main camera and ship with HyperOS 3, based on Android 16. The Redmi 17 5G starts at €249, and the 4G variant at €199, rolling out across European markets.
In other news, Sony reported strong sales for its Xperia 1 VIII, particularly for higher-storage models in the new gold color. The company emphasized the importance of the camera system and the retention of features like the microSD card slot and 3.5mm headphone jack as key to the Xperia identity. Meanwhile, Xiaomi unveiled HyperOS 4, its latest user interface built on Android 17. This update introduces enhanced customization options for the lock screen, resizable folders, and improved app handling across different orientations. A key feature is its predictive AI resource management, preloading applications in RAM for quicker access. The rollout is expected to begin on Xiaomi's newest devices in Summer 2026.
Xiaomi also introduced the Redmi K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max in China. These devices are equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform and high refresh rate OLED displays. The Pro Max variant boasts an impressive 9,070mAh battery and a more advanced camera setup compared to the standard Pro model. Both phones offer up to 1TB of storage and robust IP protection ratings. While currently China-exclusive, there are suggestions they might arrive internationally under the Poco F9 Pro and F9 Ultra branding, further expanding the competitive smartphone landscape.