Android

Last November, Google added something pretty exciting to Pixel phones: a new feature called “Pixel Themes.” Pixels have long trailed other Android phones in home screen and system customization, so the prospect of a new theme system sounded like just what the doctor ordered. As it turns out, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

TL;DR The EU’s energy database has revealed the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max’s battery capacities. The database also reveals that these iPhones are still rated for 1,000 charging cycles, lagging behind many Android phones. A third-party charging test reveals that the iPhone 18 Pro Max is also the fastest charging iPhone ever. Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max last week, and it had plenty to say about them. The company doesn’t traditionally share battery capacity, though, but a regulatory source has now revealed these details and more. The European Union’s EPREL database has revealed that the iPhone 18 Pro has a 4,056mAh battery, a negligible upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro’s 3,988mAh battery. On the other hand, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is listed with a 5,391mAh battery, which is a significant upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 4,823mAh battery.

Smartphones can be a constant source of distraction. You have all your favorite apps just a tap away, and unless you’ve configured their notifications, you receive them throughout the day. Sure, there are some clever tricks to reduce screen time, but they don’t work for everyone. This is where minimalist Android launchers come in. Unlike your phone’s default launcher — which focuses on usability — a minimalist launcher is designed to reduce clutter and, in turn, limit distractions, so you can focus on the task at hand. Here are some of the best minimalist Android launchers to reduce your screen time.

Credit: Mitja Rutnik / Android Authority TL;DR Anthropic is eliminating a major source of friction in its chat interface. Claude can now automatically choose between Chat and Cowork modes based on the complexity of your task. Along with this, Claude can now output directly into information-dense media using Docs, Slides, or Design. Deciding among all the different AI tools and their respective models can already lead to choice fatigue. If you use Claude, it may add another layer of decision-making by making you choose between Chat and Cowork. Of the two, Chat executes tasks in a simpler chatbot interface, while Cowork offloads them to an autonomous agent that can work in the background. While it’s easy to choose between the two for simpler tasks, the decision may feel overwhelming when you’re working on a more complex task that requires extensive research or analysis. To alleviate this pressure, Anthropic has decided to do away with the toggle in Claude entirely. In a blog post, the frontier lab noted that it was merging Chat and Cowork features, and Claude will be able to choose between the two on its own.

TL;DR The Galaxy S27 Ultra could get updated Samsung Log and APV support for improved dynamic range. Samsung is also rumored to be reworking photo color processing for warmer, more natural-looking results. These changes could complement other rumored camera upgrades, including a new 200MP main sensor and refreshed ultrawide and selfie cameras. Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra cameras have evolved in small steps lately, but its video stack has moved more noticeably. The Galaxy S24 Ultra already offered 4K/120fps and 8K/30fps recording, the S25 Ultra added Samsung Log, and the S26 Ultra introduced Samsung’s APV codec. A new Galaxy S27 Ultra leak now suggests Samsung could build on those tools without raising the headline recording resolution. A relatively unknown X user, WalleGalaxy, claims the Galaxy S27 Ultra will support updated versions of Samsung Log and APV (Advanced Professional Video), potentially delivering greater dynamic range than the S26 Ultra. Recording reportedly remains capped at 4K/120fps and 8K/30fps.

TL;DR HONOR has revealed its new Android 17-based skin: Magic OS 11. It copies Apple’s Liquid Glass design on the home screen, navigation bars, quick settings, and everywhere else. It’s expected to debut with the HONOR Magic 9 series later this month. It’s no secret that everyone in the tech industry copies each other. Apple frequently “borrows” features from Android brands and markets them as game-changing innovations, while Android manufacturers often copy Apple’s software and industrial design. However, HONOR has now gone above and beyond, copying the iOS Liquid Glass look so thoroughly that it’s nearly identical. HONOR showed off its Magic OS 11 Android skin at its Global Developer Conference, and it’s hard to say it’s merely “inspired” by iOS. It feels like the company took a screenshot of an iPhone and asked its designers to replicate it with Android elements. To be fair, it will go really well with the HONOR Magic 9 Pro Max’s design.

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR The team behind unofficial ports of several classic N64 games has now released PaperBoat. This is a fan port of Paper Mario to Windows, Linux, and MacOS. The team previously released ports of Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, Super Mario 64, and more. There’s no shortage of Nintendo 64 games unofficially ported to other platforms, and the Harbor Masters team is responsible for some of the best ports in general. There’s good news if you were waiting for the team to release another port. The Harbor Masters group has just released PaperBoat, an unofficial port of Paper Mario, on Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Paper Mario is a classic turn-based action-RPG starring Mario and released in 2000. The game also stands out thanks to its unique visuals, with characters appearing as 2D paper-style cutouts.

TL;DR Dell’s first Googlebook will be launched under the XPS name, according to a leaked document spotted online. It’s internally codenamed “Mica” and could have the model number DX13267. This corroborates an earlier Geekbench leak that pointed to the same model number. As we head toward the expected October 5 Googlebook launch, we’re steadily getting more leaks and rumors about the first wave of devices. Early last month, a Geekbench listing suggested Dell’s Googlebook might arrive under the company’s famed “XPS” name. Now, we’re getting more evidence that Dell could indeed launch its Googlebook laptops under the XPS brand. Leaker Evan Blass has shared an image of a Dell product carbon footprint disclosure document in a post on X. We were able to find the document on Dell’s website. The document clearly names the product as the “XPS Googlebook DX13267.” That model number matches the one spotted in the Geekbench listing. Blass adds that the laptop is internally codenamed “Mica.”

Credit: Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority TL;DR Google has released Android 17 QPR1 as part of the September Pixel Drop, but GrapheneOS says the update contains APIs and other changes that aren’t being made available to the wider Android ecosystem at the same time. GrapheneOS also claims Google is withholding some security fixes for standard Android components from other OEMs until Android 17 QPR2 arrives in December. Google has released the stable Android 17 QPR1 update as part of the September Pixel Drop. While the new software brings a range of features and changes to supported Pixel phones, folks over at GrapheneOS are accusing Google of gatekeeping some of the latest Android features and security fixes from other Android manufacturers and AOSP-based projects.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Google’s September Pixel security update patches a cellular modem vulnerability that may have been used in limited, targeted attacks. CVE-2026-58704 could allow a remote attacker to bypass permission checks and escalate privileges without requiring any interaction from the victim. CISA has added the flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list. Google just released the September Pixel Drop, alongside details of its monthly security fixes for Pixel devices. But amid all the new features that stable Android 17 QPR1 brings, one security flaw may have gone unnoticed. Google and other relevant authorities have now confirmed that a Pixel modem vulnerability, which has now been patched, was used in targeted exploitation.

TL;DR Snap is launching Specs, a $2,195 pair of AR smart glasses. The glasses will be able to tap into Specs Intelligence, the company’s own new AI platform. Shoppers will also be able to pick up a Connected Case with built-in cellular hotspot. Considering we didn’t have smartphones at all twenty years ago, it’s a little crazy to think about just how quickly the market established itself, zeroing in on the designs and features that shoppers most responded to. Even smartwatches have found their groove, but the same can’t quite be said yet about the latest big trend in wearables: smart glasses. As companies rush to balance consumer demands with privacy concerns, a lot are still feeling out just what kind of hardware they want to build, from basic audio glasses to full augmented reality (AR) setups. For Snap, the company’s going as big as possible for its next pair, and now it’s showing us just what we can do with its Specs AR glasses. Snap’s no stranger to wearables, and we’re quickly coming up on the 10-year anniversary of the original Spectacles. Earlier this year, the company started teasing its most capable pair of consumer-oriented smart glasses to date, with the introduction of the $2,195 Specs. We were promised an in-depth look at what that hardware can actually do this month, and that’s just what Snap is now giving us.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Home app widgets will now pause background updates and polling when your phone’s screen is off. Several Home app, voice assistant, and camera fixes are also rolling out, like smoother multi-account switching and reduced Live Mode interruptions. Google Home MCP is starting to roll out in early access. Google Home has been plagued by a few issues recently. For example, users have been reporting that Voice Match still struggles to reliably identify who’s speaking. For this particular issue, the tech giant is currently working on a resolution. As you wait for that fix, several other updates and improvements are coming your way right now. In the latest release notes for Google Home, there are fixes and improvements listed across Gemini for Home, the Google Home app, and cameras. There’s also an update on Google Home Model Context Protocol (MCP). Without further ado, here are the changes you need to be aware of:

TL;DR Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 is ready to install on the Pixel 6a and newer hardware. There’s one build for older devices, and another for everything Pixel 8 and newer. In addition to numerous fixes, we’re also spotting changes to the UI and new features. Testing the latest Android preview builds can be a lot of fun for dedicated Pixel users of the right mindset, and today they’ve got their pick of options. We only just saw Google release Android Canary 2609 a little earlier this afternoon, and now Google’s already following that up with the latest Android 17 QPR2 build. With Android 17 QPR1 now stable and out, Pixel owners are looking to QPR2 for an early preview of the changes to expect from Google’s next big platform update, later this year. It’s been a couple weeks now since we saw QPR2 Beta 4 land, and now Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 is ready for deployment.

TL;DR Android Canary 2609 for Pixel 6a through Pixel 10 models. Users can now try out Quick Settings lock options, preventing access on locked handsets. Download links appear a little broken ATM, so you may want to try again a little later today. Google just closed the door on one chapter of Android early access testing, as we finally got the stable release of Android 17 QPR1 yesterday. But that’s just one corner of the multi-faceted testing program, and today we see Google making fresh progress in another direction, as we get our hands on the very latest Android Canary build. It’s been a little over a month now since the release of the August Canary, but Google’s now ready to share September’s Android Canary 2609.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Owners of the Pixel Watch 5 say Gemini no longer works. When asking Gemini something, the AI reportedly responds with “I’m just a speech/text model, I can’t do that” or “I’m having a hard time fulfilling your request.” It’s currently unclear what the cause of the problem is. Update: September 16, 2026 (3:07 PM ET): In response to another report highlighting a problem with Gemini, a Google representative confirmed that the company has fixed the issue: Our Google teams have fixed the issue, and the update has officially rolled out. You can now use your Pixel Watch to manage your home devices without any trouble. We appreciate your patience while we got this sorted out.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Spotify users are reporting that they are unable to follow/unfollow other accounts. Users are also getting an error message when trying to block/unblock other users. Spotify says it is aware of the issue, but can’t provide a timeframe for when it will be addressed. Spotify is in the middle of rolling out a new toggle that will save parents’ personal recommendations from getting contaminated by kids’ music. Coincidentally, it looks like a separate feature broke right after this toggle was announced. What’s worse is that it may take a while before this feature is fixed. Spotify users are reporting that they are unable to follow and unfollow other accounts on the platform. As one user describes the situation, when they tap the follow button, the button state changes to “Following,” as it should. However, the follower count does not change and when the page is refreshed, the button reverts to “Follow.”

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has announced an MCP connector for Google Home. It will let users monitor and control their smart homes through other AI chatbots or integrate them into agentic workflows. The MCP will soon be available in early access to Google Home Premium Advanced in the US. Last October, the Google Home platform received a significant upgrade with Gemini in copious amounts. One of the key new functionalities is Ask Home, which lets users talk to the app using natural language queries, and Google is even working on the ability to include media to make searches even better. While that hasn’t rolled out yet, Google is now announcing a new extension to Google Home’s AI features, making it accessible through AI agents. Today, Google is announcing support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Google Home. MCP is an open-source standard that allows AI models and chatbots to communicate with — and fetch data from — apps or services easily. The announcement, therefore, means you will soon be able to use a connector to access Google Home’s information through other client apps, including AI chatbots such as Claude, or use resources from Google Home in agentic workflows with Google’s Antigravity, OpenClaw, Hermes, or other AI agents.

TL;DR Samsung has officially begun rolling out stable One UI 9 to the Galaxy S26 series in several markets. Canadian Galaxy S26 owners will start getting the update on September 21, while the US still has no confirmed release date. One UI 9 adds features like My FanCam, upgraded Now Brief cards, improved Now Nudge, and new privacy tools. Samsung Galaxy S26 owners in North America won’t have to wait much longer for their Android 17 update. Earlier today, the stable One UI 9 release was spotted rolling out in South Korea after months of beta testing. Now Samsung is making the rollout official and starting to get specific about its international expansion. Samsung’s global announcement says the official One UI 9 rollout begins today, September 16, starting with the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Regional announcements show that this is no longer just a Korea-only release. Samsung has confirmed availability from today in parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and several Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and Kuwait.

Amazon just dropped the Garmin vivoactive 6 to $229.99, down from its $299.99 retail price. That saves you $70, which is a 23% discount off the recommended retail price, and it is easily the best price ever for this smartwatch. See the deal at Amazon

The UGREEN NAS DXP480T Plus is a high-end all-flash NAS built for people who care about speed, compact hardware, and quiet storage. It packs 4 M.2 NVMe SSD slots in a small 4-bay design, and there’s a solid deal on it at Amazon right now. See the deal at Amazon

Keeping an eye on pets, kids, or the front room while you’re away is a lot easier with a camera in the right spot, and there’s a strong deal on one right now. Amazon has the newest Ring Indoor Cam 2K 2-pack down to $59.98, which is 50% off the $119.98 RRP, saving you $60. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon has cut the W-King D10 Portable Bluetooth Speaker down to $84.97, which is $35.02 off its $119.99 recommended retail price. That’s a 29% discount relative to the RRP, and it makes this loud outdoor speaker a lot more tempting if you’ve been waiting for a better price. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Brady Snyder / Android Authority TL;DR Google is actively promoting its new video selfie sign-in method. After rolling the feature out in July, it can be seen prompting users to set up video selfies on the homepage. The feature isn’t meant to replace your passwords or passkeys but to help recover your Google account. After simplifying third-party sign-ups with your Google account and repeatedly urging you to replace passwords with passkeys, Google now wants you to sign in with a selfie video. Google launched the new sign-in method in July, and while it’s still not available in all regions, it can now be seen prompting users to set up login via selfie video. Google has now started soliciting users to try the video selfie sign-in feature via its homepage on desktop. According to Search Engine Watch, the tech giant has started displaying a banner on its homepage to promote the new sign-in method.

TL;DR Meta might be planning to launch a pair of camera-free smart glasses. They could have six microphones for talking to Meta AI and Muse. The smart glasses could be announced at the Meta Connect conference next week. Meta’s smart glasses seem to be everywhere these days, with their cameras and easily modded LEDs making every moment recordable. With glasses like that, in a design that’s nearly indistinguishable from regular sunglasses, the privacy problems practically write themselves. Well, Meta now seems to be considering a new direction for those who don’t want to be seen as creeps out on the street. According to a new report from The Information, Meta is considering launching smart glasses that skip the camera and focus instead on audio and AI features. Internally codenamed “Luna,” the glasses will reportedly feature six microphones, letting users chat with Meta AI and the company’s agentic AI, Muse. They could also include a side button to quickly launch Meta AI and could carry forward the same speaker setup we’ve seen on Meta’s existing smart glasses.

Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro series a few days ago, and as is often the case with a new iPhone, this year’s changes feel more evolutionary than revolutionary. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The iPhone 18 Pro still looks incredibly premium, especially in the new Burgundy finish, and the variable-aperture camera is easily one of its more interesting upgrades. But as good as the iPhone 18 Pro looks, it isn’t the only flagship worth spending your money on. Android phones have become incredibly good over the past few years, and depending on what you actually want from your next phone, some alternatives arguably offer even more.