Android

TL;DR Circle to Search is coming directly to the Pixel Camera app. You can identify objects, translate text, search for distant objects, and ask questions about what you’re seeing in your viewfinder without clicking a picture. Google is making Circle to Search even more on the Pixel 11 series by integrating the feature directly into the Pixel Camera app. This means users can now point their phone at something and search for it without first taking a photo or switching to another app. Google says that if you spot an unfamiliar object, a piece of text, or something else you want to learn more about, you can use Circle to Search while the Camera app is open. The feature can identify objects, translate text, zoom in to search for things farther away, and answer questions about what you’re seeing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Gemini Intelligence is coming to the Pixel 11 series, with Rambler turning rambling thoughts into polished text. Google Messages can now automatically pull up relevant information, including live flight details, Google Maps listings, and Calendar prompts. Other Pixel AI features are getting smarter, too, with upgrades to At a Glance, Circle to Search translations, and real-time dubbing through Live Translate. It wouldn’t really be a Made by Google event without Gemini getting some stage time. This year, though, Google is putting Gemini Intelligence front and center on the new Pixel 11 series. We’ve already seen these features make their way to Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold phones. Google wants Gemini Intelligence to understand what you’re doing and step in when it can save you a little work. We got an early taste of that idea at Google I/O 2026 with Rambler, a feature that lets you spill out your thoughts however they come to you and have Gemini turn them into polished text. So, if you’re walking to work and need to send a long message, you could ramble and let Gemini clean it up into something another human can actually understand.

TL;DR Google has introduced clear Pixelsnap cases for the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold gets a dedicated case with an integrated hinge cover for extra protection. The Pixelsnap Ring Stand is now available in Canyon, Olive, and Obsidian, alongside the existing Moonstone option. Pixelsnap cases and accessories debuted with the Pixel 10 series last year and were among the more obvious add-ons for buyers of the 2025 Google handsets. But there was a minor trade-off, because you could protect your new phone or show off its color, but not really both. Google is fixing that with the Pixel 11 series, introducing a new clear case alongside updated colored cases and a more protective option for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The Pixelsnap Clear Case is available for the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro XL. It uses TPU and polycarbonate, with built-in magnets for Pixelsnap accessories and Qi2 charging. Depending on the model, the case weighs between 30.8g and 34g, but the Pixel 11 Pro Fold misses out on the transparent option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR The Pixel 11 Pro Fold supports transcribing American Sign Language (ASL) into text. It uses the front camera to see what the user is signing, and displays the translation on the cover screen as well. The feature currently only supports ASL and is available in select countries and regions. Google today announced the Pixel 11 series, including its newest foldable: the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. While it’s easy to get distracted by the foldable Pixel’s sleek design and new 48MP camera, the phone also comes with a feature that could prove to be very useful. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold supports transcribing American Sign Language to text. The phone will use its camera to see and understand ASL gestures and transcribe them into text directly on the screen. This could make it easier for ASL users to communicate with others, even if they don’t know sign language.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has confirmed that the newly launched Pixel 11 phones don’t have silicon-carbon batteries. The company told Android Authority that it continuously explores and qualifies “emerging technologies.” This comes less than a month after Samsung debuted its first phones with the battery tech. Samsung and Google were two notable holdouts when it came to embracing silicon-carbon batteries. However, Samsung’s latest foldable phones are the first Galaxy devices to offer this technology. Google has just unveiled the Pixel 11 series, so should we expect the new tech here as well? Unfortunately, Google told Android Authority that the Pixel 11 phones don’t have silicon-carbon batteries:

TL;DR Google has improved GPS route tracking on the Pixel Watch 5. Tracking was improved by combining Android Location technology with 3D building models, a GNSS reference station network, atmospheric corrections, and building-reflection corrections. Google boasts that its GPS route tracking outperforms that of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. Google has launched the Pixel Watch 5, its most advanced smartwatch to date. While it looks the same as earlier iterations, the device includes several new features and improvements. One of the most notable improvements is the GPS route tracking. The company says that every stride you take is captured with precision thanks to its new GPS route-tracking algorithm, whether you’re running in a city with tall buildings or on a tree-lined trail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 Google’s Pixel phones are usually among the best Android phones released each year. That’s largely due to slick designs, performant Android skins, tons of software features, and capable cameras. It’s been roughly a year since Google launched the Pixel 10 series, which means it’s time for a sequel. Say hello to the Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Pixel 11 brings new camera features, including Magic Capture, which captures photos and videos automatically and gives you the best shots and clips. Magic Capture uses Gemini to pick the top five images and one video clip, emphasizing the best features. The feature is currently limited to the Pixel 11 phones, and Google hasn’t revealed plans to bring it to the older ones. The Pixel 11 series has just landed, and it feels quite identical to the last generation, save for minor external changes. Google relies almost entirely on software features, but there are some seemingly useful ones that could make the Pixel 11 look like a worthy upgrade. One of them is Magic Capture, which should spare you the trouble of finding the perfect frames for photos and videos during important moments. Instead of fidgeting with framing, and thus living life through the viewfinder, you can be present in those moments while letting the Pixel 11 take care of recording them. Google describes Pixel 11’s new Magic Capture as the means to “catch the moment while you live.” It captures photos and videos simultaneously and later presents you with a bunch of options, letting you choose one or more from the set. Magic Capture suggests the best options, picking options with the best lighting and highest quality, and you get them in HDR+ quality. The video clips are delivered at 4K quality, while the images are at 12MP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Google has introduced a new “Extreme Charging Mode” across the Pixel 11 lineup, designed to focus device performance strictly on charging for fast battery boosts. The company hasn’t shared specifics on how this mode works or how much charge you can expect before your phone throttles its charging speed. Standard battery charging times (wired) remain largely unchanged, though all Pixel 11 models now support 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging. Google Pixel phones aren’t the fastest-charging phones out there, but the company has made some progress over the years, ensuring its phones aren’t at the bottom of the pack, at least. With the new Pixel 11 series, Google is blessing the phones with a new Extreme Charging Mode. Google hasn’t shared details yet, but it says you can turn on Extreme Charging Mode to “focus your phone’s performance entirely on powering up.” This way, users can get an “ultra-fast boost” when they need it the most. We’ll be putting all the phones through their paces to figure out what this mode does exactly, and just how much of a difference it would make to the wired charging experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvjtwGVAw1I TL;DR Google has officially named the Pixel 11 Pro’s rumored Pixel Glow feature “HiLight.” It’s an array of ambient LED lights built around the camera’s flash. HiLight can use custom colors to alert you when a favorite contact calls, including calls made through Phone by Google and WhatsApp. The LEDs also react to Gemini and could eventually handle more alerts, with Google already planning to add message notifications from Favorite Contacts. After months of leaks that left little to the imagination, Google has finally unveiled its Pixel 11 flagship lineup, along with the official name of one of its most-rumored new features. For months, we knew it as Pixel Glow, a name I personally preferred, but with the launch of the Pixel 11 series, we now know Google is calling it HiLight. Exclusive to the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, HiLight is essentially a small array of ambient LEDs around the camera flash. It is designed to give you information without requiring you to turn over or unlock your phone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvjtwGVAw1I TL;DR Google’s Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL now offer a Pro Stable Video recording mode. This mode activates automatically in shaky, brightly lit scenes, delivering smoother, more stable video clips. Google told Android Authority that this mode is part of Video Boost, which means it doesn’t work without an internet connection. Google has finally launched the Pixel 11 series of phones, and there’s no shortage of notable features. In fact, one of the new additions this year seems ideal if you want smoother, more stabilized video capture. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel Pro XL both offer a Pro Stable Video mode. At first glance, this seems to be Google’s answer to Super Steady, Ultra Stable, and Action modes seen on rival phones. This mode offers improved stabilization and smoother video compared to the default and Active stabilization modes. Google adds that Pro Stable Video mode activates automatically in shaky, bright-lit scenes. That should take some of the legwork out of capturing smooth video clips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Google’s Pixel Tag is finally here, bringing a first-party AirTag rival to Pixel owners with Android Find Hub integration and an oblong design. UWB-powered Precision Finding is the big draw, offering directional arrows for accurately locating lost items. The Pixel Tag costs $29, and $99 for a four-pack, but won’t hit shelves until November 11. Google has finally taken the wraps off the Pixel 11 series, but the phones weren’t the only interesting thing to come out of the Made by Google event. After years of leaving Pixel owners to shop elsewhere for a Bluetooth tracker, Google finally has one of its own: the Pixel Tag. And frankly, it’s about time. The Pixel Tag is essentially Google’s answer to the AirTag, built to work with Android’s Find Hub network. That alone makes it an interesting addition to the Pixel family. As for the design, the company has given its tracker a very different personality. Rather than going circular like the AirTag or adopting a squarish shape used by plenty of other trackers, the Pixel Tag has an oblong design. There’s just one slightly baffling problem: it doesn’t have a built-in hole for attaching it to anything. That’s a strange decision for a gadget designed almost entirely around being attached to things. So, if you want one hanging from your keys, you’ll need a separate holder or key ring. Buying an accessory for your accessory isn’t exactly the frictionless experience you’d hope for.

TL;DR Along with the Pixel 11 series, Google formally announced the Pixel Watch 5 at its hardware event today. The new watch comes with an updated take on At a Glance, which automatically surfaces various information depending on your personal context. The new version of the feature appears at the bottom of the watch’s screen when needed and can be expanded with a hands-free gesture. At a Glance is getting an upgrade on the new Pixel Watch 5. While previous Pixel Watch models have offered an At a Glance watch face complication, the new generation Google finally unveiled today can surface relevant, glanceable info on your watch’s home screen regardless of which watch face you’ve chosen or which complications you’ve added. The new wearable version of At a Glance shows up at the bottom of the Pixel Watch 5’s display, in the same spot you’d see indicators for things like unread notifications or ongoing exercise tracking. What pops up there and when is situational, and Google says it can be as specific and real-time as a countdown of stops left on your public transit route until you need to get off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvjtwGVAw1I TL;DR Google announced new At a Glance capabilities at its Pixel 11 event today. On the new Pixel phones, At a Glance can surface store loyalty cards and info about restaurants you visit. These features are currently in preview and will be available in low-density areas at first. At a Glance is one of Google’s best Pixel-exclusive software features, proactively surfacing relevant info — changes in the weather, upcoming appointments, ongoing timers, and more — in easy-to-see spots on your phone’s home and lock screens. With the Pixel 11 series, Google has announced new At a Glance features that could save you some tapping at restaurants and stores. On Pixel 11, At a Glance will be able to use your phone’s location data to know when you’re at a restaurant to proactively give you recommendations about what to order, or to know when you’re at a store to provide quick access to relevant loyalty cards. The feature is “in preview,” though, so you can probably expect some rough edges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold is finally official, with a new Tensor G6 chip and brighter-than-ever screen. Prices start $100 higher than last year’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold. While Google gives the phone a smaller battery, efficiency improvements may balance the change out. It is once again Made by Google time, and a little bit later today we are going to see Google’s star-packed launch event get underway. But ahead of that time in the spotlight, Google’s new Pixel phones are already going official, including the company’s latest foldable, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. While all the Pixel handsets are scoring some notable upgrades this year, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold really has a lot to show off, from a slimmed down, yet more durable build, to Google’s brightest screens on a foldable yet. Let’s check out exactly what Google has to offer with its latest foldable generation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 Google’s Pixel 11 launch is taking a slightly unusual route this year. The company’s Made by Google event doesn’t actually begin until 6 PM ET today, but thanks to an early press embargo, we already know everything that Google plans to announce this evening. That said, Google could still have a few surprises up its sleeve, including the celebrity appearances it has been teasing. Unsurprisingly, the headline of today’s announcements and the event itself is the Pixel 11 family. Google is also introducing a new smartwatch, its first-ever AirTag-style tracker, and some notable Gemini and health features.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Google has launched Tap to Share via Quick Share on Android, enabling instant contact card and file sharing with a physical phone tap. The feature is rolling out today to Pixel 6 and newer phones. On the Pixel 11, Google has repositioned the NFC chip to the top to enable a more convenient, Apple-like tap gesture. Tap to Share will soon expand to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and to other Android devices by the end of the year. We’ve long spotted Google working on an AirDrop-style Tap to Share feature that would let users send files to each other right from the share sheet, by simply tapping their phones together. With the launch of the Pixel 11 series, Google is also launching Tap to Share, allowing users to instantly swap contact cards or transfer files with any nearby Android device with a quick physical tap. Starting today, Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phones can share files and other information by bringing their phone close to another compatible phone. When you’re on your home screen, you can swap contact information. To share photos or videos, select the media file in any app of your choice, tap the “Share” button to open the share sheet, then tap the two phones together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Google has officially launched the new Tensor G6 SoC, powering the new Pixel 11 series with a focus on power efficiency and on-device AI. Key upgrades include up to 20% CPU power efficiency gains, 3.5x faster local AI execution, 4K Portrait Video, Instant Night Sight, and up to 120x Pro Zoom. The Tensor G6 on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold lacks features like 4K Portrait Video and Instant Night Sight due to hardware constraints. Google has officially launched the Pixel 11 series and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Like generations before them, these new Pixel 11 flagships are all powered by a Google-made custom Tensor SoC, the new Google Tensor G6 in this case. And like every year before this, Google isn’t chasing benchmark or raw spec sheet numbers, instead focusing on the holistic experiences enabled by the SoC, with a keen focus on on-device AI features. Under the hood, the Tensor G6 addresses some of the lingering critiques of previous generations by prioritizing power efficiency. The upgraded CPU boasts up to a 20% improvement in power efficiency compared to the Tensor G5. With the new CPU, you can get up to 25% faster web browsing and 15% faster app loading times in everyday use, if Google’s testing on pre-production hardware is to be believed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVHYtQlCb8 TL;DR Google has released a new Olive color variant for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with matching finishes to complement the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch 5. A surprise software update brings fit-based Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) enhancements to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 across all color variants, promising to maintain ANC performance during physical activities. Google has launched the new Pixel 11 series and the Pixel Watch 5, with Olive as one of the signature colors for the lineup. Complementing this release, Google is also introducing a new Olive color for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, giving customers the option to match colors across the lineup for a cohesive look. There’s also a surprise software update rolling around for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, thankfully extending to all colors.

TL;DR Insta360 has launched the X6, its new flagship 360 camera with larger 1/1.1-inch sensors and 8K video at 50fps. The X6 adds native Dolby Vision, AI-powered zero-editing, and can also work as an action camera or gimbal camera. It starts at $699.99 in the US and is available today, with prices varying by region. Insta360 has launched the X6, its new flagship 360 camera and successor to last year’s Insta360 X5. The biggest upgrades are inside, with larger sensors, faster 8K recording, improved low-light performance, and a new AI system designed to take much of the editing work off your hands. The X6 uses dual Sony 1/1.1-inch square sensors, giving it 33% more sensor area than the X5 and around four times the light intake per frame, according to Insta360. A triple-chip system handles image processing, while a new low-light mode and AdaptiveTone 2.0 aim to improve detail and dynamic range in difficult lighting.

Credit: Akshay Gangwar / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing a new option to hide all your saved places from the map view with a single tap. This could be accomplished through a consolidated “All saved places” superlist that could combine all saved places under a single roof. Google is also testing an option to simplify how you discuss specific lists using Ask Maps. Google Maps has become an indispensable part of our commute, and countless mobile phone users rely on it frequently. Among the many nifty features it offers, Google Maps lets you save places of importance or interest, such as the ones you’d like to visit, and you can even compile these into a list. These saved places are cataloged on Google Maps’ You tab, and also show up in the actual map view when you’re scanning the nearby area. If you don’t want your saves crowding up the map, you can also hide them, but the option currently requires you to hide them per list. To make the process a bit easier, Google is now testing an option to hide all your saved places from the map view at once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCAdTV7M25c It’s one thing to be following along with the development of the latest smartphone in your favorite series — maybe like one of the new Pixel 11 models debuting today. Rumors may go back and forth on specs over the months leading up to launch, but even just going into it, you probably have a solid idea of the sort of device to expect. But then there are the phones that really attempt to do something all-new, and the path these take to market can prove a whole lot more interesting. For the better part of a year now, going all the way back to last October, HONOR has been teasing a smartphone with a camera unlike any other: the Robot Phone. Instead of a camera fixed in place to the back of the handset like you’ll see almost everywhere else, the Robot Phone’s camera is on the end of an articulated gimbal arm, like you may be familiar with from cameras like DJI’s Osmo Pocket series.

When I was a kid, summer holiday camping meant leaving all of my electronics at home. The world, and my connected life, have changed drastically since then. Today, I, like most of us, am very rarely more than arm’s reach from something with a battery and a display. Powering my tech on the go has been a careful consideration of the power banks and chargers to pack. But now, thanks to the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 (), those decisions are a thing of the past. With one portable power station, I can keep every piece of tech that I would reasonably pack for a road trip going… plus a fridge.

TL;DR Verizon will give away $25,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of vandals who damaged the carrier’s network infrastructure. This follows widespread incidents of vandalism and theft in the recent past, which led to a service outage earlier this week. More than half of the reported incidents come from California and Texas, according to recent data. Earlier this week, Verizon confirmed that vandalism of fiber cables caused widespread disruptions to mobile and internet services across parts of Southern California and Los Angeles. While the carrier said at the time that law enforcement was brought in to investigate these incidents, it is now seeking the community’s help to identify the vandals. In a blog post, Verizon says it will offer a $25,000 reward to people who provide information about the vandals, provided it leads to an arrest and conviction. As the carrier points out, such disruptions can lead to devastating outcomes for sectors that rely on continuous access to mobile/internet services, such as healthcare and emergency response services.

TL;DR A Zoom annotation flaw could let a malicious participant remotely take over another person’s device without any interaction. Researchers found and exploited the bug using publicly available AI models in fewer than 20 prompts. Zoom has patched the flaws, so updating the Zoom app is the most important thing you can do. Over the past few months, we have watched frontier AI models rapidly alter the cybersecurity landscape — from AI models breaking technical barriers to mounting regulatory scrutiny over weaponized AI capabilities. Now, a newly disclosed Zoom flaw shows just how serious that can become. Researchers used undisclosed publicly available AI models to uncover a vulnerability that could have allowed someone on a Zoom call to take control of another participant’s device. The flaw affected Zoom clients on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Worse, the attack required no click, download, or other action from the victim. Simply being in the same meeting could be enough.