July 2026 was mostly centered around Samsung. The company unveiled its latest foldable phones and the anticipated One UI 9.0 software. We also saw a couple of mid-range phones, including the Oppo Reno 16 series and Nothing Phone (4b). Now, as we approach August, companies have begun announcing their launch plans for the month.
The Google Pixel 11 series will steal the spotlight, bringing a new-generation Tensor chipset, upgraded AI features, and an improved camera setup with a Pixel Glow LED on the back. There will be a couple of new mid-range phones from Vivo and iQOO, while POCO will launch an affordable POCO M8 Power 5G phone.
Top 5 upcoming smartphone launches in August 2026
1. Google Pixel 11 series
Launch date: August 12, 2026 (confirmed)
Google will unveil the upcoming Pixel 11 series at the ‘Made by Google’ event on August 12, with pre-orders confirmed to begin the same day. Following last year’s pattern, Google is expected to announce four new phones in the lineup: Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
All Pixel 11 series phones will be powered by a new Tensor G6 processor, manufactured using a 2nm process. There won’t likely be a 128GB model this year. The phones will instead have a base storage of 256GB. The phones will offer upgraded camera hardware and better computational photography.
We’re expecting to see upgraded Gemini AI capabilities as well as some new ones on the Pixel 11 series. Another exciting addition will be the “Pixel Glow” LED integrated into the rear camera bar. It’s a multi-colored light array, which is said to flash or pulse subtle light patterns to signal incoming alerts, similar to the Glyph Interface on Nothing phones.
Expected price: The standard Pixel 11 is rumored to have a starting price of $899 (about Rs 87000). The Pixel 11 Pro could begin at $1099 (about Rs 1.05 lakh), while the Pixel 11 Pro XL could begin at $1299 (about Rs 1.25 lakh). The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is expected to start at $1899 (about Rs 1.82 lakh).
2. iQOO Z11
Launch: August 2026 (expected)
iQOO is planning to unveil the iQOO Z11 in India as the third phone in the lineup. While there’s no official launch date yet, sources familiar with the matter claim that it will be unveiled in August.
The iQOO Z11 has already been launched in China, but the Indian variant will have different hardware. The Chinese model comes with a Dimensity 8500 processor, while the Indian model will carry a Dimensity 7500. The handset will be equipped with a 3D curved display in India.
Other specs are likely to remain the same. So, we can expect the iQOO Z11 (Indian model) to have a 6.83-inch AMOLED screen, a 9020mAh battery with 90W fast charging, and strong connectivity features. It may feature a dual rear camera setup led by a 50MP sensor and a 32MP selfie snapper.
Expected price: The base variant of iQOO Z11 is expected to be priced under INR 30,000 (about $315).
3. Vivo V80 series
Launch: August 2026 (expected)
The camera-focused Vivo V80 series is also expected to drop in August with upgraded hardware and design. According to recent leaks, the standard V80 will feature a 6.59-inch flat display with 1.5K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate.
The phone is said to retain the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset from its predecessor but packs a larger 7200mAh battery with 90W fast charging support.
Vivo V80 is tipped to feature a triple rear camera setup comprising a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera, and an 8MP ultrawide shooter. The selfie camera is said to have a 50MP resolution. The phone is expected to feature a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, an aluminum alloy frame, and an IP69 rating.
Expected price: The Vivo V80 is expected to be priced around INR 60,000 (about $630) for the base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
4. POCO M8 Power 5G
Launch: August 4, 2026 (confirmed)
The budget-friendly POCO M8 Power 5G is launching in the first week of August, and is officially confirmed to be sold via Flipkart. Official teasers confirm that the device will have an 8000mAh battery, an AMOLED screen, and a 50MP primary camera on the back.
POCO has also teased an orange color option for the POCO M8 Power 5G. As for the rest of the specifications, the device is said to feature a 7.0-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor, an IP65 rating, and 45W fast charging support.
Expected price: The POCO M8 Power 5G will be a pocket-friendly smartphone, with prices likely to stay below INR 20,000 (about $200).
5. Vivo S2
Launch: August 2026 (expected)
Vivo is reviving its S-series in India. The series’s last phone, Vivo S1, was released seven years ago, and soon, we’ll have its successor, Vivo S2. While the company hasn’t announced a launch date yet, the microsite is already live on Amazon, hinting at an imminent release. Some leaks suggest that the phone could be unveiled on August 6, with sales going live on August 11.
The Vivo S2 is said to feature a 6.59-inch AMOLED screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 7360 processor, and a 7000mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. The dual rear camera setup is rumored to include a 50MP primary camera and an 8MP ultrawide camera, while the front side is expected to boast a 32MP camera.
Expected price: The Vivo S2 is expected to be priced at INR 38,000 (about $400) for the 128GB storage option and INR 43,000 (about $500) for the 256GB storage option.
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