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YouTube Premium has never piqued my interest. While I use YouTube daily, I'm content with ad-supported videos. Plus, my music streaming service of choice is Spotify. Therefore, YouTube Music is a luxury that I don't need right now.

Even though Google still has its Made by Google event scheduled for later in the evening, the company still went ahead and announced what it has in store for its Pixel 11 launch.

The livestream itself will serve as a more hands-on, celebrity-sponsored event, mostly as a showcase of what Gemini AI can bring to the hardware itself. In the meantime, if you're curious about exactly what you'll see tonight, we've compiled all the announcements Google revealed at its Pixel 11 launch event.

SEE ALSO: Pixel 11’s Gemini translated my videos and took photos for me

Headlined by a new chip, a reworked camera bar with an ambient light feature, and a heavier-than-usual push into AI-driven "do it for me" tools. Here's a full rundown of what Google announced:

The Pixel 11 Lineup, Overall

Google introduced four new phones — the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold — all built around a redesigned camera bar that now uses edge-to-edge glass flowing into a metal frame, according to Google's own product materials. Google says the new phones are meant to visually and materially match the rest of its hardware ecosystem, from Pixel Snap chargers to cases to the Pixel Watch.

Google also credits Tensor G6 with a 50 percent increase in TPU compute, which the company ties directly to faster computational photography, quicker Night Sight captures, and more responsive on-device AI. A new Titan M3 security coprocessor ships alongside it, which Google says uses post-quantum cryptography and meets the same certification standard used for SIM and bank cards.

The displays for the lineup get brightness bumps. The standard Pixel 11 uses a 3,000-nit Actua panel, the Pro and Pro XL step up to a 3,600-nit Super Actua display that Google describes as 9 percent brighter and over twice as scratch-resistant as the previous generation, and the Pro Fold's internal screen is rated 20 percent brighter than its predecessor.

Every phone in the series launches with 256GB as the base storage tier — Google confirms this directly, ending the 128GB option that shipped on last year's entry-level models. All four phones also come with 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates, matching the support window Google has offered on recent generations.

Features are split along fairly predictable lines. HiLight, the new ambient light built into the camera flash, is exclusive to the Pro models — the Pixel 11 and Pro Fold don't get it. Zoom capability is similarly tiered: the Pro and Pro XL offer Pro Zoom up to 120x, while the Pixel 11 and Pro Fold top out at 30x Super Zoom.

Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

That said, several new software features are shared across the whole lineup, including Magic Capture (a one-swipe mode that captures both a share-ready photo and video at once), Camera Looks for custom film-style presets, and full support for Gemini Intelligence, which Google is positioning as one of the defining features of this generation. The company says that Gemini can now proactively surface information from a person's apps, draft and clean up messages, and, in the US, handle routine tasks like ordering groceries or booking a ride.

The big caveat is that there is a price increase across the board:

• Pixel 11 — $899

• Pixel 11 Pro — $1,099

• Pixel 11 Pro XL — $1,299

• Pixel 11 Pro Fold — $1,899

Pixel 11 Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pixel 11 is the entry point to the series, featuring a 6.3-inch Actua display and Google's standard triple rear-camera system.

Pixel 11 Colors

• Frost

• Pistachio

• Hibiscus

• Obsidian

Pixel 11 Specs

• 6.3-inch Actua display

• 1080 x 2424, 60–120Hz, up to 3,000 nits peak brightness

• Gorilla Glass Victus 2; 12GB RAM; 256GB/512GB storage

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3 security chip

• 30+ hour battery (4,985mAh typical); up to 55% wired charge in 30 minutes

Pixel 11 Camera

• 48MP wide (ƒ/1.70)

• 13MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)

• 10.8MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/3.1)

• Super Zoom up to 30x

• 10.5MP front camera

Pixel 11 Pro Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pro trades up to a brighter Super Actua display and a meaningfully stronger camera setup, headlined by 120x Pro Zoom and the new HiLight ambient light on the camera bar — features the standard Pixel 11 doesn't get.

Pixel 11 Pro Colors

• Canyon

• Olive

• Fog

• Matte Obsidian

Pixel 11 Pro Specs

• 6.3-inch Super Actua display

• 1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED, 1–120Hz, up to 3,600 nits peak brightness

• 12GB/16GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3

• 30+ hour battery (4,850mAh typical); up to 55% wired charge in 30 minutes

Pixel 11 Pro Camera

• 50MP wide (ƒ/1.68)

• 48MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.7)

• 48MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/2.8)

• Pro Zoom up to 120x

• 8K video via Video Boost

• 42MP front camera

Pixel 11 Pro XL Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is essentially just a larger Pixel 11 Pro. It has the same camera system and color options, but a larger display, a larger battery, and faster wired charging.

Pro XL Colors

• Canyon

• Olive

• Fog

• Matte Obsidian

Pro XL Specs

• 6.8-inch Super Actua display

• 1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED, 1–120Hz, up to 3,600 nits peak brightness

• 12GB/16GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3

• 30+ hour battery (5,115mAh typical); up to 75% wired charge in 30 minutes (45W)

Pro XL Camera

• 50MP wide (ƒ/1.68)

• 48MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.7)

• 48MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/2.8)

• Pro Zoom up to 120x

• 8K video via Video Boost

• 42MP front camera

Pixel 11 Pro Fold Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the outlier of the group, trading some camera firepower for the folding form factor and shipping in a narrower color selection than the rest of the line.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Pro Fold Colors

• Olive

• Obsidian (Malaysia and Singapore only)

Pro Fold Specs

• 6.5-inch Super Actua external display (up to 3,600 nits peak)

• 8-inch Super Actua Flex internal display (up to 3,600 nits peak)

• 16GB RAM; 256GB/512GB/1TB storage (availability varies by region)

• Tensor G6 with Titan M3

• 24+ hour battery (4,806mAh typical); up to 50% wired charge in 30 minutes

Pro Fold Camera

• 48MP wide (ƒ/1.70)

• 10.5MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)

• 10.8MP 5x telephoto (ƒ/3.1)

• Super Zoom up to 30x

• 10MP front camera and 10MP inner camera

• Fold-specific modes: Dual Screen Preview, Rear Camera Selfie

The Pixel Watch 5 Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

Google's smartwatch update leans heavily into health tracking. According to Google's announcement, the Pixel Watch 5 can track blood pressure patterns and insulin resistance trends over time alongside continued AFib detection, stress tracking, and SpO2/breathing-rate monitoring, all viewable in the Google Health app.

Fitness gets what Google calls its biggest upgrade yet, built around a pre-workout Readiness Score, support for building custom strength and HIIT circuits in the Google Health app, real-time audio and visual coaching cues during workouts, and dual-frequency GPS to maintain a better lock in dense urban environments. A new Key Metrics view is included for post-workout review.

Sleep tracking also expands with a new Sleep Breathing Quality metric that analyzes overnight blood oxygen saturation variability, alongside the existing sleep-stage tracking, Smart Wake Alarms, and a redesigned Morning Brief that summarizes readiness, sleep, and weather in a single view.

Google is also introducing the Google Health Coach, a Gemini-powered coaching feature available through Google Health Premium that builds adaptive fitness plans and provides ongoing feedback based on a person's sleep, fitness, and cycle health data. Buyers get three months of Google Health Premium at no cost. It's also automatically bundled with Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscriptions.

On the hardware side, the Pixel Watch 5 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 "Accelerated" chip that Google says is 20% faster than the previous generation, an Actua 360 display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, and a rated battery life of up to 30 hours (41mm) or 40 hours (45mm). A new Quick Charge Dock is said to deliver 15 hours of use from a 15-minute charge. Google also confirmed a Special Edition made with Stephen Curry, featuring an exclusive band and custom watch face.

Pixel Watch 5 Colors

• Obsidian

• Fog

• Olive (new Satin Pyrite casing)

• Canyon (41mm band option)

Pixel Watch 5 Specs

• Actua 360 display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass

• Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 "Accelerated" chip (20% faster than Pixel Watch 4, per Google)

• Up to 30-hour (41mm) or 40-hour (45mm) battery life

• 15 hours of use from a 15-minute Quick Charge Dock session

• IP68 and 5 ATM water resistance

Gemini Intelligence

Google is positioning Gemini Intelligence as one of the defining features of this generation of Pixels. According to Google, the phones are more "agentic" than ever and can proactively surface information from a person's apps, such as calendar availability when a friend texts asking if they're free. In addition, as a U.S.-only feature, you can hand off routine errands like ordering groceries or booking a ride to Gemini directly.

Google also describes a feature that lets Gemini place phone calls to businesses on a user's behalf, with a live transcript the person can watch and take over at any time. On the input side, Google says new voice-to-text tools can clean up spoken messages in real time and that writing assistance tools can read what's on screen to help draft or rewrite replies in a person's own style.

Google also highlighted an accessibility-focused use of the same underlying technology: a new sign-language translation tool built into the Pixel Camera and Gboard, which converts sign language into text in real time so deaf and hard-of-hearing users can communicate with people who don't know sign language, alongside a redesigned Live Transcribe interface.

Buyers of any Pro or Fold model get six months of Google AI Pro at no cost (a $119 value, according to Google), which includes expanded Gemini usage, 5TB of cloud storage, and Google Health Premium.

Pixel Tag Credit: René Ramos/CNET Group

Google also confirmed its long-rumored item tracker, the Pixel Tag. It works through the Find Hub network on Android 9 and up — pair it, give it a name, and share access with up to 10 people.

Lost items show up on a map in the Find Hub app, and if the tag is nearby, you can trigger its built-in speaker to help track it down. Google says it also uses Ultra-Wideband with Bluetooth Channel Sounding for more precise location data, so a tag tucked into a bag or under furniture is still findable.

If it wanders out of Bluetooth range entirely, Find Hub can lean on Google's broader network of Android devices — over a billion of them, per Google — to help locate it, and the tag will also alert you if you leave an item behind or if an unfamiliar tag turns up traveling with you. The hardware itself is stainless steel, under two inches long, and rated for about a year of battery life.

It's priced at $29 individually or $99 for a four-pack, with a Nov. 11 release date.

The type of person who likes to self-host services on their home network is often also the sort of person who likes to optimize and tweak everything. For some, it's hard to accept that the default settings in the software they're using are already as good as they're going to get.

Facebook wants to help creators spend less time deciphering analytics and more time making content. Its solution is, naturally, another app.

On Aug. 12, the company officially rolled out its revamped Creator Studio, a stand-alone app that uses AI to help creators understand their performance, plan their next posts, and respond to followers. The launch follows a limited test that began in June.

Meta describes the new iPhone app as an "AI-powered daily companion for Facebook creators." Its pitch boils down to three tasks: mapping out a creator’s daily priorities, offering personalized tips to grow, and helping them reply to fans with AI.

The app is now available on iOS to Facebook creators in the United States and Canada. An Android version is expected later.

What can creators expect from Creator Studio?

Creator Studio is designed as an integrated workspace for people who manage their accounts through Facebook but inevitably get pulled into Reels, messages, and the feed. When creators open the app, they see a list of daily priorities, which might include reviewing a recent post, checking progress toward a goal, or responding to comments.

At the center of the app is Facebook’s AI creator assistant, which the company first introduced in June. The assistant draws from a creator’s content, performance, audience engagement, and stated goals to offer personalized recommendations.

Instead of digging through analytics dashboards, creators can ask questions like, “When should I post?” or “Why did this Reel perform better than my others?” They can then ask follow-up questions about changes in their audience or ways to improve their next post. The assistant can also suggest formats, trends, and other creators in a similar niche to learn from.

Creator Studio can also help manage the comments section. The app identifies comments that may be worth answering, and drafts replies in what Facebook says is the creator's usual tone. Creators can edit or approve each response before it is published.

Facebook says some early testers have already changed their content strategies based on the app’s recommendations. Food and wellness creator Mymanabites told Facebook that she tried a format suggested through Creator Studio and gained 4,000 followers from one video, with 82 percent of its audience coming from non-followers. Content creator and filmmaker Michael Tushouse said the assistant helped increase his earnings by 144 percent during his first seven days using the strategy.

The pitch is convenient for creators, but it’s also strategic for Meta. TikTok’s AI Outline transforms a prompt or trending search topic into a video title, hook, hashtags, and outline. YouTube’s Ask Studio summarizes comments, explains channel performance, and brainstorms video ideas, while its Inspiration tab suggests topics based on what audiences are watching. Creator Studio brings Facebook versions of these same tools as platforms compete to become the hub where creators plan content, publish it, and grow their businesses.

Creator Studio also joins Meta’s recent parade of stand-alone apps. This year, the company released Forum, a Reddit-like home for Facebook Groups, and tested Instants, an app for sending disappearing photos to Instagram friends. Meta also released Seller, an iPhone app for managing Facebook Marketplace listings and buyer messages, and began testing StoryKit, an AI app that creates personalized children’s stories, in select markets.

The app’s success will depend on whether creators find its advice useful enough to incorporate into their routines. If Meta gets its way, Creator Studio will become the app creators open before they open Facebook.

Wi-Fi extenders are marketed as a way to expand your Wi-Fi coverage, so it's no wonder people think of them as a dead-zone fix. They're inexpensive to buy, and once you plug one in, you'll usually see an instant improvement in your signal strength. I totally get the appeal.

In the first half of 2026, customers spent $50.3 billion globally on TikTok Shop, according to a report by Tabcut and Momentum Works — a whopping 92 percent increase over the same period last year.

The U.S. and Southeast Asia were the largest markets, with the former spending $11.8 billion, around double the total from last year. The U.S. has 1.35 million stores and 20 million influencers on TikTok Shop.

SEE ALSO: TikTok quickly pauses dating live chat test

Tabcut and Momentum Works estimate that the global gross merchandise value (GMV) will surpass $100 billion for the first time this year and reach $123.5 billion by the end of 2026.

But, as What's Trending reported, the data might be more complicated than it looks. In a May 2026 Harris Poll, 63 percent of Gen Zers said they stopped buying from TikTok Shop. EMARKETER, which published the data, stated that it might be because of increasing dissatisfaction with the marketplace itself. Still, 62 percent said they use TikTok to discover new products, and users ages 25 to 44 are the platform's most active shoppers.

As Mashable reported in Nov. 2025, TikTok Shop was reportedly inundated with 70 million sketchy products, partly due to AI. This year, a gray market of GLP-1 drugs is reportedly growing on the platform.

The pullback amongst young adults could also be due to other factors like no-buy movements. It could also be due to the economy — though, maybe scrolling TikTok Shop and buying a little treat because you can't buy a house is a recession indicator.

The Pixel Watch isn’t exactly known for being super open. You’re mostly stuck with Google’s own apps and services, and certain things only work with Pixel phones. However, there are plenty of great open-source apps available to download. Here are five to get you started.

A couple of years ago, Microsoft introduced a new specification that allowed laptops and desktops to brand themselves as "AI PCs" or "Copilot+ PCs." One of the requirements to meet the specification was having a dedicated physical Copilot key.

Interested in what Google has up its sleeve when it comes to its next Pixel smartphone? You don't have too much longer to wait to find out more. Made by Google 2026 is almost here!

Plenty has already leaked regarding Google's next-generation Pixel 11 smartphone lineup. Along with announcements about its flagship smartphone line, there's a good chance we'll see a new Pixel smartwatch and some new Gemini updates. But all of the rumors and speculation will soon be 100 percent confirmed by Google.

The Made by Google 2026 live event will kick off from New York on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and there we will get all of those Pixel-related details. Here's how to watch.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the new Google Pixel 11 for free — how to claim How to watch Made by Google 2026

Google will be livestreaming the entire event at 6pm ET / 3pm PT right on its official Made By Google channel on YouTube.

Click here to watch on YouTube, or catch the stream when it goes live in the embedded livestream video below.

A mirror of the livestream is expected to go live on the Google Store at the start time.

According to reports, former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah will host the event, picking up the mantle from The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, who hosted last year's event. 

The Made By Google event will also reportedly feature a slew of special guests, including Stephen Curry, Alex Cooper, Shubman Gill, Peggy Gou, Jesser, JuJu Watkins, Chari Hawkins, and PinkPantheress.

Don't be surprised if Mashable, as well as other outlets, start covering the big Pixel 11 releases before the livestreamed event. Both the Google Store and Best Buy have Pixel-related pre-order countdown clocks that end around 10am ET on Wednesday, hours before the livestream event is expected to kick off. Does Google have something extra special that it's holding off on announcing to surprise everyone at the event? We'll all have to tune in to find out.

Replacing worn-out windshield wipers should be one of the simplest ways to improve visibility, but sometimes brand-new blades can leave your windshield looking worse than before. If you've just installed a fresh set, and you're still seeing streaks, smears, or patches of water left behind, the problem may not be the blades themselves. Several less obvious issues can prevent even a new set of wipers from making proper contact with the glass.

For the first time in 27 years, the people of mainland Europe were able to watch the moon pass perfectly in front of the sun and blot out its earthbound rays. That means members of Gen Alpha, and many young Gen Z space enthusiasts, just experienced their very first total solar eclipse.

SEE ALSO: Made By Google: Live updates as new Pixel 11 phones launch

Totality, the moment when the sun is fully obscured by the moon, reached Iceland around 1:49 p.m. ET. The shadow continued westward toward Spain, where those on the ground could spot the sun's corona, the glowing solar band surrounding the sun, only visible during totality, around 2:30 p.m. ET.

The total eclipse passes over Caspe, Spain. Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor / NurPhoto via Getty Images This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

People outside of the European mainland — and that is really just Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, northern Spain, and a portion of Portugal — may be able to glance outside and see what is known as a partial solar eclipse. In this case, a crescent-shaped shadow over the sun for a brief period of time in the afternoon.

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The shadow should be visible in 26 states and Washington, D.C., and the farther north you are, the better the show. Space nerds with FOMO can also tune into NASA's live broadcast, featuring space scientists diving deep into what eclipses can tell us about our own atmosphere and why solar eclipses over Europe are so rare (its all that water!).

A total eclipse as seen from Spain. Credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez / Stringer / Stringer via Getty Images The total eclipse captured over the coast of Greenland. Credit: Owen Humphreys - PA Images / Contributor / PA Images via Getty Images The beginning of the solar eclipse over London. Credit: Aaron Chown - PA Images / Contributor / PA Images via Getty Images

But it isn't just the moon's path that makes today's sky special. Those that follow the stars noted that this morning ushered in a perfect alignment of six planets, the beginning of a new moon phase, and a late night meteor shower for those with clear skies. Maybe today is a lucky one.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Where are our government-issued eclipse glasses?!

You can't have an eclipse without eclipse glasses. Literally. You should not look up at a solar eclipse without protective eye coverings, a fact that often creates a mad dash to local libraries and science institutions. Those who can't snag a free pair have to navigate the wild west of the eclipse glasses online market. Not even an Amazon Prime subscription can save you if you wait too long, so maybe its time our leaders step up?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Credit: Henry Nicholls / Contributor/ AFP via Getty Images Solar eclipse hype = fake?

Does it feel like an eclipse is happening every other month these days? Well, that's not really true (total eclipses are more rare than you think), but you're certainly not alone.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. DIY celestial events

Missed out on the eclipse because you happen to have the joy of living in a warmer climate? Don't worry, you can make your own!

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Yes, I've seen the Ninja Creami video.

On Aug. 11, 25-year-old influencer Arriella Simons posted an update on the Ninja Creami she bought less than two weeks prior. While enjoying her latest Ninja Creami dessert, she found an unexpected mix-in in her ice cream — maggots. The source appears to be the lid of Simons' Creami, where maggots have now taken home.

If there's ever a video to de-influence you to buy something, this seems to be it, as 8.5 million people have now seen Simons' maggot nightmare. Users like Kailey Rousonelos are in the comments saying, "Welp, being broke has saved me yet again 😭😂."

As someone who has tested and highly endorsed the Ninja Creami, obviously, this caught my eye. Turns out, Simons isn't alone in this, as there's a two-year-old Reddit forum with another Creami user posting the same issue.

This is not a case of faulty Ninja Creami makers, but a cleaning and maintenance issue. The lid of the Ninja Creami's outer bowl appears to be the culprit. This lid holds the blade attachment and has quite a few crevices that can hold water. And since flies breed in dark, moist areas... well, that's how you end up with maggots.

If you want to make sure your Creami stays maggot-free, you have to be cleaning it correctly.

How to clean your Ninja Creami The best way to protect against maggots is to properly wash your Creami. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashabe Total Time

• 10 minutes

What You Need

• Ninja Creami
• Dishwasher
• Dish soap and sponge

Step 1: Disassemble your Ninja Creami

After using the Ninja Creami, disassemble all the pieces. This means removing the lid from the outer bowl as well as the pint container from the outer bowl. Pull the tab on the lid of the outer bowl to remove the blade.

Step 2: Place all items in the dishwasher

Besides the motor base, all the Ninja Creami parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe. If you have a dishwasher, you should be using it to clean your Creami. It provides the most thorough clean, plus the high temperatures sanitize all the components.

Step 3: No dishwasher? Hand wash with hot water.

If you don't have a dishwasher, turn the water to hot and scrub all of the components of the Ninja Creami. The most important piece to clean is the outer bowl lid. Remove the blade and scrub its input. Pull the tab while washing to expose all parts. Remove the rubber gasket and scrub that crevice. Let hot water run through the holes on the lid to rinse.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 4: Let all pieces dry thoroughly

Moisture is the enemy here, so no matter what, whether you washed the pieces in the dishwasher or by hand, it's important to let all of the Creami components dry. Anything with small spaces or crevices should be dried at a tilt to let water properly drip off.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Kia has detailed U.S. pricing for the EV3, and it's now clear the compact electric SUV will be one of the best deals for a new car in the country — even if you aren't looking for an EV. The base 2027 EV3 Light FWD model will start at a price of $28,950, before the $1,459 destination fee, when it arrives later this year.

Audi has moved on from the A4, but that doesn't mean buyers looking for a premium sedan have to follow. There's still plenty of appeal in choosing something that feels upscale without carrying a traditional luxury badge.

Do you know where the robots running your home — your Google Nest devices, AI-powered smart assistants, and, especially, your robovacuums — come from? Do you even care? 

Well, the American government certainly wants you to. In a sweeping order from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) two weeks ago, the Trump administration effectively banned foreign-made "robotic devices" from the U.S. market, including those helpful housekeepers. 

SEE ALSO: What to look for in a robot vacuum: A guide from someone who tests new vacuums every month

The ruling expands the FCC's list of restricted devices under presumed national security concerns, also known as the Covered List. Citing national security concerns, the agency blocked imports and domestic sales of internet-connected devices that navigate independently (like humanoid robots) or carry cameras and microphones (like those terrifying robo dogs). But these traits also apply to the oft-AI-powered vacuum-mop hybrids that roll around your house when you're not home — some of them can even livestream now.

Fortunately, the government won't be knocking down doors and sweeping up Roombas anytime soon — devices already in circulation can remain in homes across the country, and pre-approved robots can stay on the market. 

But it has cast uncertainty on the future of new models and the average consumer's access to them. Here's what you need to know if you're in the market for a high-tech cleaner. 

What robot brands are saying

Companies are still evaluating the potential effect of the FCC's ruling on their manufacturing processes.

Several big players in robo-vacs are headquartered outside the U.S., including Chinese brands Eufy, Roborock, and Dreame. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based iRobot, makers of the Roomba, primarily manufactures its products in China and Vietnam. Like many other consumer tech categories, most robovac companies operate manufacturing lines on foreign soil.

A handful of brands, including Shark and Narwal, have reassured American buyers that they will still be able to get their hands on the latest home cleaner tech under the new rules. In statements provided to Mashable, all but cash-strapped iRobot confirmed they would continue to sell currently available models in the U.S. as they review the new regulations. 

Vacuum leader Shark, which is also headquartered in the U.S., told Mashable it is confident it can still launch new, competitively-priced models in the future despite constraints on foreign manufacturing. "We believe we are well positioned to navigate the process," the company said. 

What experts advise

Industry insiders told Mashable that it's still too early to say how this ruling will impact access to robotics — and whether consumers need to act ASAP.

Most industry observers are looking to other FCC actions — including previous additions to the agency's Covered List, such as foreign drones and routers — for guidance. The FCC's approach so far has been to issue universal, blanket bans on tech deemed a cyber or national security risk. Instead of naming specific companies or brands that may pose a threat, the FCC has taken the tack of banning entire categories of products that could hypothetically pose problems. 

This means individual companies have to appeal directly to the agency and develop manufacturing frameworks that comply with the federal government's new standards to gain approval for every new product line (or even a software update). 

So far, the FCC has moved fairly quickly to approve time-limited extensions for previously approved products, particularly in the case of foreign routers. In May, the FCC extended approval for companies to issue software updates to routers until 2029, not long after issuing exemptions for two notable router companies, Netgear and Eero. Basically, your existing router can still be used for several more years before it is potentially rendered useless.

Similarly, experts explained that following the agency's ban on foreign-made drones, product access remained largely unaffected for the average buyer. However, products manufactured and sold by companies based in China have proven to be an exception, sources told Mashable. Part of wider foreign policy aims, the Trump administration has taken a hard line on Chinese imports, led primarily by the FCC and its leader, Brendan Carr.

Because conversations about select products and manufacturing plans are often happening behind the scenes with the FCC, it's unclear whether these companies are being denied outright or are even asking for access to the U.S. market, market watchers explain.

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While existing market access should stay relatively the same as you see it now, the FCC ruling could still delay new product lines as companies await approval. Companies will also need to evaluate existing lines to ensure they remain in compliance. Many companies expect the FCC to continue adding to the Covered List, which may further impact what products are on the horizon. 

So to sum it up: If your robovacuum is working fine as is, no need to worry. But if you are hoping to upgrade in the future, your options may be limited. 

What Mashable thinks 

Mashable's robot experts, including senior shopping reporter and vacuum tester Leah Stodart, agree that consumers could face slim pickings in the future. But you have a lot of options currently available to you if you want to fill your house with bots.

Here's everything else you need to keep in mind while shopping for a robo vac.

Featured Video For You How well does the Beatbot Sora 70 robot clean your pool?

Additional reporting by Leah Stodart

Andrew Lanxon takes Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL on a street photography test walk through Paris to test its new camera features, including customizable Camera Looks, Magic Capture and 120x Super Res Zoom. Watch as he puts the Tensor G6-powered camera to the test and breaks down whether Google's heavy AI image processing enhances or over-edits your photos.

OpenAI employees apparently have a quick way to reach founder and CEO Sam Altman, Fortune reported.

It's an email address, friction@openai.com, and its purpose is to give employees a place to report company problems that OpenAI's leadership team can triage and handle.

SEE ALSO: What is OpenAI Astra? Everything we know about the new — and possibly dangerous — new model

The friction@ inbox has existed for a while, according to Fortune, but its use widened when Fidji Simo joined OpenAI as CEO of Applications in the fall of 2025. Simo went on a "listening tour" to better understand problems across the company, and formalized the friction@ process. She assigned Irina Kofman, VP of strategic initiatives and operations, to monitor the inbox and ensure that issues were resolved. Simo also established a monthly, company-wide Slack update to track progress, Fortune reported.

Simo has since left OpenAI, but these processes remain. One former OpenAI employee told Fortune that the system gives leadership an effective way to hear employee feedback.

"It's a good thing — literally anybody can complain about big company bullsh*t directly to Sam, and they can act on it," the former employee told Fortune.

Examples Fortune reported include a pilot program to prioritize parking spots for workers with longer commutes to combat full lots, and a more reliable process for granting API credits.

However, a problem brought to friction@ only gets resolved if Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman consider it "worthy," another former employee, who led a team at the company, told Fortune. Unlike the other former OpenAI employee, this person said the process created inefficiency.

"The individual who reports the issue probably thinks it's the single most important thing, but to teams like mine that are constantly underwater, under-resourced, and over-leveraged, it’s the single most disruptive thing you could do," they told Fortune.

It's certainly a way for Sam Altman to get internal real-time critique. For external critique, he can go to X, like when he suggested parents make AI podcasts about their children.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

CNET Senior Technology Reporter, Abrar Al-Heeti, gets a first look at the new Gemini intelligence features coming to the Google Pixel 11. In this video, we test out five upcoming capabilities designed to make finding and sharing information easier.

Most Android users don't realize their phone can run a full Linux environment, and if they do, they may think a popular app called Termux is the only path to get there. However, if you need something that goes a little further than just a Linux terminal, there's another option that might just do the trick.

Dimension 20 is the tabletop roleplaying game series that just keeps giving. Already in 2026, Brennan Lee Mulligan's actual play show has offered Dropout subscribers Gladlands and City Council of Darkness. Now, this fall comes Toylight.

The first trailer for Dimension 20: Toylight promises that this season will reteam Mulligan with his Intrepid Heroes: Emily Axford, Ally Beardsley, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, Siobhan Thompson, and Lou Wilson.

SEE ALSO: The Dropout lineup that is redefining modern entertainment

These improv comedians have created a cast of characters who are all playthings. Murph is Ol' Clyde Horsey, who seems to be a rocking horse who uses his rails as a bow and arrow. Axford is Cutie Pie, a kewpie doll with a Brooklyn accent. Wilson plays Wyon, a battle axe-wielding lion plushie. Oyama is Tinsley, a toy soldier, while Thompson plays a cracked porcelain doll, and Beardsley is a fluffy bunny named Calypso.

Sounds cute, right? Well, leave it to the cast that turned Candyland meets Game of Thrones into the most gutting season (Crown of Candy) to make Toy Story turned tragi-comedy.

Here's the logline for the new season:

Dimension 20: Toylight follows a band of toys as they rise up to defend the enchanted Toylight, the last flicker of a dying child's imagination.

It's giving Bing Bong. So brace yourselves for being turned inside out emotionally.

Dimension 20: Toylight premieres on Dropout on Sept. 16. The season consists of six episodes that will debut weekly on Wednesdays.