Top 5 smartphone launches to watch in August 2026

A handful of people have asked me the same question this week. Should I buy a phone right now, or wait a bit longer? This time, the answer is wait. Five phones are set to launch in August 2026, spread across very different price brackets. One is a budget phone aimed mostly at gamers, built to undercut most of its competition on price. Another leans entirely on battery size, solving one of the more common complaints people have about their current phone. Then there is Google’s Pixel 11 series, which also includes the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. It is shaping up to be one of the major flagship launches expected this year in this market. Each phone on this list is built for a different kind of buyer. This is not a ranking where only the top spot matters and the rest fill space. Here are the top 5 upcoming phones in August 2026, worth paying attention to.

Infinix Hot 70 Pro

The Infinix Hot 70 Pro is expected to launch in August 2026. This is the one to watch if your budget is tight and gaming still matters to you. Infinix Hot 70 Pro is expected to bring a 6.76-inch HD+ punch-hole display with 144Hz refresh rate support. Under the hood, you can expect the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 chipset, which handles day-to-day tasks easily and will appeal to gamers. The Hot 70 Pro is backed by a 50MP primary camera and an 8MP selfie camera.

Battery-wise, this phone is good because you can get a 6000mAh battery with 45W fast charging. This is not a flagship device, and there is nothing here that screams flagship, but for a budget phone and buyers who are casual gamers, the phone is worth looking at.

OnePlus N6x

OnePlus N6x is launching on the 31st July. OnePlus already teased some of the N6x features on their website. So, according to the website, the OnePlus N6x comes with a 7000mAh battery. On the front, you get a 120Hz display. It will also have a VC cooling system, which OnePlus is saying is the segment’s largest VC system, which helps to give you steady performance in intense scenarios. The N6x is durable as well; it comes with the MIL-STD-810H certification.

The phone will be available in two colours: Burgundy Red and Ice Blue. OnePlus N6x, of course, packs some AI-enhanced features like AI Unblur, AI Portrait Glow and AI Earaser.

According to rumours, the N6x could come with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Whether this lands as a genuine option in the entry-level segment comes down entirely to how OnePlus will price this in India.

Vivo S2

The Vivo S2 is launching in India on 6th August. Vivo is bringing the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 chipset to the S2, paired with a 6.59-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The rear camera setup is expected to be a 50MP + 2MP sensor, while the front gets a 32MP selfie camera.

The Vivo S2 will be backed by a 7050mAh battery with 44W fast charging. If photography is the reason you upgrade, this is a launch worth waiting for.

Poco M8 Power

Poco already teased this device on social media, and it is launching on 4th August. The M8 Power is expected to pack the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor. According to rumours on X, it could come with a 7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. For photography, you’ll get a 50MP primary camera and an 8MP front camera.

The headline is the monster 8,000mAh battery that could give you two days of battery life if you’re a casual user, plus it comes with 45W fast charging. So, anyone who has ever complained about charging their phone twice a day should be paying attention to this one specifically.

Google Pixel 11 series

Google is launching its Pixel lineup on 12th August 2026. This is the launch of the month, and it isn’t close. The Pixel 11 series brings four phones: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. They are all built around Google’s new Tensor G6 chipset. Expect the usual Pixel story of camera and battery improvements, but this time with Gemini AI pushed further into the phone than any Pixel before it.

From the teaser, you can see Google is introducing the ‘Pixel Glow’ feature, a new notification lighting system on the upcoming Pixel 11 series. Built directly into the camera bar, the feature uses customizable LED lighting to display different colours for incoming calls, app notifications, and other alerts. Pixel Glow also works with Google’s Gemini AI assistant, providing visual light cues during interactions for a more intuitive user experience.