Pixel 6: Google’s announcements for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro this week came as a fun surprise. They came at least two months or so before we get the devices somewhere in late September / October. Still, Google has opened up to confirm many aspects of its first real flagships in years: design and appearance, Google’s own smartphone silicon called Tensor, the Pro’s 6.7-me 120 Hz refresh rate, the 6.4-inch -90 Hz refresh rate of the Vanilla, new camera system (finally), fingerprint sensor in the display and a few more bits. Google can also opt for extended software support for its own brand of SoC. Also, a Google branded “wireless streaming device”, which is more of a mystery, has just gone through the FCC … any guesses as to what it might be?

• In any case, the tensor reveal is important in itself and marks something bigger for Google’s hardware ambitions. Rob Triggs with a perspective of why the Pixel 6‘s tensor chip is actually a big deal (custom!) And why not (most of the chip’s components are licensed).

Galaxy everything: A string of leaks ahead of Samsung’s big launch next week. First someone just bought the upcoming Galaxy Buds 2, then someone else completely unwrapped a set of olive buds. then WinFuture dropped the most comprehensive Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 specs to date, even on the size, weight, internals, Snapdragon 888 SoC, cameras, and the foldable’s IPX8 water resistance, which seems remarkable. In any case, Fold, Flip, Buds 2 and everything else will be revealed next Wednesday.

Selfie technology under the display: Oppo and Xiaomi can sense something from Samsung next week and happened to make announcements this week about their own under-display selfie cameras. Oppo announced more tech in an update to its similar 2019 announcement, but still no trace of it in a smartphone. On the Xiaomi front, “leaks” indicated that the Mi Mix 4, which hits the market next week, will also have a selfie camera under the display.

Mi Mix 4 / Mi Pad 5: Xiaomi even went a step further to steal the spotlight from Samsung next week, cheekily announcing the next big smartphone and tablet launch for August 10th. We’ll see the Mi Mix 4 / Mi Pad 5, both of which promise to bolster Xioami’s continued efforts to deliver the most smartphones in the world, said a market analyst who reached this week.

Honor Magic 3: Honor will launch its next major flagship product on August 12th. It’s a new model, it’s no longer part of Huawei, and it’s a fresh start with Google Mobile Services back on the device. It will be eye catching, with expectations for a very Huawei looking design and the packaging of the new Snapdragon 888 Plus.

PSVR 2: We looked at Sony’s upcoming PSVR 2 (not exactly the name, but you know what we mean) early on through details of a “private” developers conference that revealed an OLED display with a resolution of 2,000 x 2,040 per eye. HDR support and a 110-degree field of view, hybrid games and more.

Apple’s scanning controversy: Apple is ready to scan user photos to check for child abuse. Many point out that Apple promises privacy when scanning your photos on the device and raises questions about false positives Wired Piece does a good job of explaining the balance: “For years, technology companies have struggled between two impulses: the need to encrypt users’ data to protect their privacy and the need to identify the worst types of abuse on their platforms. Now Apple is introducing a new cryptographic system that tries to thread this needle. “…”