Android

TL;DR Google Maps could soon show destination photos and Gemini-powered AI summaries directly in Android Auto. A redesigned destination card would let you scroll through photos, an Overview, contact details, and other useful information about the place. We enabled the unfinished interface in Android Auto 17.8, so Google could still change or abandon it before release. Google has been steadily working on ways to make Android Auto more useful without sending drivers back to their phones. We recently discovered that Android Auto could gain its own Quick Settings tiles, while an earlier teardown revealed work on letting drivers dismiss or snooze phone alarms from the car display. Now, Google appears to be preparing another Android Auto upgrade, this time giving Google Maps a richer way to preview destinations before you start navigating. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

Google’s entire philosophy around the Pixel lineup has been one of simplicity, and that extends to how the Pixel’s camera operates. The idea has always been to create a point-and-shoot experience where you point the phone at something, press the shutter button, and let Google’s software handle the rest. That approach largely works well, but it can also leave you wanting more control when you actually care about how a photo looks. More so, today, when people are looking for a bit more individuality and flavor in photographs. I’m aware of the Pixel camera’s built-in Pro mode, which gives you granular control over shots, but most days I’m not looking to scroll through a long list of manual controls. A few essentials that help me tweak my image without having to get into full manual control territory are what I need.

Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Gemini Notebook is gaining real-time voice conversations in nearly 100 languages, letting you ask questions, get guidance, and interrupt the AI as it speaks. The mobile app can now record lectures and thoughts, while new interactive Learning Overviews will combine summaries, infographics, quizzes, and flashcards. Google is also adding more quiz formats and 60-second Video Overviews in more than 80 languages. Google is rolling out new updates to Gemini Notebook, formerly known as NotebookLM. One of the biggest additions is the ability to have real-time conversations with your Notebook in nearly 100 languages.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is rolling out a September Wear OS 7 update to the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4 with new gestures, Gemini personalization, and bug fixes. Pixel Watch 3 and newer can use a double-pinch to perform actions such as opening notifications, scrolling through Gemini responses, and navigating Wallet and Maps. The update also adds more personalized Gemini responses and improves the raise-to-talk feature. In tandem with the September Pixel Drop, Google is also rolling out its September update for the Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Watch 4. This month, the wearables are getting new Gemini personalization features, improvements to raise-to-talk, and several new controls with expanded one-handed gestures.

TL;DR BOOX is fleshing out its E-Ink tablet lineup with the launch of the Note Air6 C, Note Mini C, and Palma 3. All three models run Android 16, with app support that elevates them compared to single-function e-readers. Sales of the Note Air6 C are getting underway today, with the others set to follow shortly. One of the countless reasons we love books so much is that there’s just so many of them — no matter what you’re into, chances are you’ll be able to find something you really like. And just as we all have our favorite books, not everyone’s going to love the same e-reader. That’s fine, too, and in addition to all the great options already available, manufacturers are coming out with new ones all the time. That’s just what BOOX is up to today, refreshing its lineup with a trio of new E-Ink tablets. Note Air6 C

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 17 QPR1 is rolling out with a sweeping range of smaller upgrades and refinements. Some features will already look familiar from earlier betas, while others are new to the wider release. There are changes across everything from Digital Wellbeing and multitasking to media controls, security, and general UI polish. Android 17 has been stable for a few months, and after no fewer than nine beta versions, Google is rolling out its first meaty update. The first Quarterly Platform Release doesn’t bring one game-changing feature that’ll transform how you use your phone, but it makes a surprising number of smaller changes across customization, multitasking, media, Digital Wellbeing, and more. Android 17 QPR1 has a lot to unpack, and we’ll navigate you through it. In a detailed Reddit post, Google’s Mishaal Rahman outlined what’s changing with the release. Google says QPR1 is rolling out to Pixel devices first, while the additions are now part of the wider Android platform and could therefore show up in updates from other manufacturers later. If you’ve followed the Android 17 betas closely, or own a Pixel 11, some of this will look familiar.

Credit: Google TL;DR Google will be hosting an event in New York City next month. This event will be where the company shows off the first wave of Googlebooks. The show, called Opening Night, will take place on October 5. On Monday, Google finally revealed when you’ll be able to start pre-ordering its new category of laptops, known as Googlebooks. The company has revealed hardly any information about this new hardware to date. But we won’t have to wait that much longer to finally start getting some details. According to Engadget, Google has begun sending out invites to an upcoming event called “Opening Night.” The event is scheduled for October 5 and will take place in New York City. The invite reportedly mentions a “celebration” of the devices. The company goes on, stating that the show will feature “interactive showcases and the debut of the first laptop designed for Gemini Intelligence.”

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google is debuting two new Gemini 3.8 models: Live and Live Extended Thinking. Live is made for scale and cost efficiency. Live Extended Thinking is built for high-complexity tasks. It’s been about two weeks since Google announced Gemini 3.8 Flash, which arrived only three weeks after it launched Gemini 3.7 Flash. The time for a new successor hasn’t come quite yet, but we are getting introduced to new AI models today. While we wait for the next step up, Google is expanding the Gemini 3.8 family with two new additions. The latest additions to the Gemini 3.8 line are called Live and Live Extended Thinking. Both models are designed to be production-ready voice assistants that make speaking with Gemini more fluid and collaborative. As Google explains in its blog, Live is built for scaling and cost efficiency, while Live Extended Thinking is meant for high-complexity tasks.

TL;DR A new pair of earbuds from Samsung has appeared in FCC documentation. All signs point to the newly authorized buds being Samsung’s first pair of clip-on earbuds. This lines up neatly with a previous report stating the earbuds could launch this month or next. We’ve been tracking developments around a pair of unannounced earbuds from Samsung, internally referred to in Samsung’s software as “able,” since April. The earbuds, which could come to market under the name Galaxy Buds On, might be announced any time now: a device with a model number matching the upcoming earbuds has just appeared in FCC documents. The FCC documentation shows that a Bluetooth headset from Samsung with the model number SMU600 was granted equipment authorization today, September 15. The grant means Samsung is now clear to market the earbuds in the US.

TL;DR Pixel phones are getting their latest Drop today, complete with Android 17 QPR1. In addition to all the new features, the September update is full of bug fixes. New updates are now available for Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 models. The halfway point of September is proving to be a big day for Android, with Google’s latest software hitting Pixel phones. We’ve got new features arriving as part of the latest Pixel Drop, and we’re seeing plenty of the QPR1 changes we’ve been following in beta over the past several months finally go out to Pixel users everywhere. In addition to all of that, Pixel phones are also getting their latest fixes and security patches. We’ve already seen two September updates land for Pixel handsets so far this month: First we got CD1A.260905.001.A1 back at the start, followed by CD1A.260905.001.B1, exclusively for Pixel 11 family members. Today Google formally shares its September Pixel update changelog while announcing its latest release: CP3A.260905.009 for Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 models.

Credit: Hisense TL;DR Hisense has announced the launch of the new C3 projector family. The C3 Ultra and Ultra Max are coming to global markets this September, and the Pro will follow at a later date. The Pro, Ultra, and Ultra Max deliver 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 ANSI lumens, respectively. IFA 2026 was eventful this year, chock full of announcements from brands like Acer, Samsung, and TCL. Hisense was also at the show, giving us a taste of its next products. With IFA in the rear-view mirror, Hisense is launching its latest projectors. Shown off at IFA, Hisense has announced the global launch of the new C3 projector family. This family consists of the C3 Pro, C3 Ultra, and C3 Ultra Max. However, only the Ultra models are launching this month. The company says the Pro model will follow at a later date.

One of the best things about having a Pixel is being first in line for the steady barrage of updates Google releases throughout the year. Beyond big Android OS upgrades, you also get Pixel Drops that land much more frequently. The latest update to arrive for Pixel handsets is Android 17 QPR1, which is rolling out now as part of the 2026 September Pixel Drop. While QPR updates can be quite significant, Android 17 QPR1 is pretty light on new features. There are some various UI tweaks, a few new app icons, an updated Pixel VIP widget, and some new Harry Potter themes, too.

Ask anyone at Android Authority what their preferred Android weather app is, and you’ll likely get a different answer each time. Some will vote for Pixel Weather; others might go with Breezy Weather. Then there’s Gradient Weather, which has a few fans of its own, while some are happy to stick to OEM apps instead. Whatever the answer might be, it’s more than likely that it’ll include a single app. My response requires a lengthier explanation.

TL;DR Retroid has discounted the Pocket Classic, Pocket 5, and Pocket Flip 2 on its website. The RP Classic now costs $99, down from $149, while the RP 5 (12GB) drops to $179. Both Flip 2 variants are also discounted, and Retroid says these are final sale prices before the devices are discontinued. If you’ve had your eye on a Retroid gaming handheld like the Pocket 5, Pocket Flip 2, or the excellent Retroid Classic, but were holding back because you couldn’t justify the price, now’s the best (and the last) time to get one. Retroid announced on its Discord that it’s putting several handhelds on sale, slashing prices by as much as $50. The Retroid Classic is getting the biggest price cut, down to $99 from its original $149. We found the Retroid Classic to be one of the best handhelds in its price range when we reviewed it, and the reduced price is definitely the cherry on top.

TL;DR A Fire TV bug caused Downloader and similar apps to disappear from the Install unknown apps list, blocking APK installs for some users. Amazon says the issue was caused by a recent Fire TV Settings update and is not a new sideloading restriction. A fix is coming and should restore the missing permission controls. Google’s new sideloading process has already stirred plenty of frustration among Android users. Amazon added to the unease when its Vega OS-powered Fire TV Stick HD warned buyers that they couldn’t install apps from unknown sources. So when Downloader suddenly stopped working for some Fire TV owners, it was easy to suspect another sideloading crackdown. But Amazon says it was a bug, and a fix is coming. AFTVnews spotted the problem last month after users found that Downloader and similar apps had disappeared from the “Install unknown apps” list in Fire TV settings. That’s where you give an app permission to install downloaded APKs. Without Downloader on the list, users couldn’t grant it the permission needed to install an app.

Credit: Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung’s latest ad enlists reality TV and former NFL stars to make a case for its smartphones. The ad says that switching to the “better phone” is now easier than ever. It addresses concerns about iMessage features, AirDrop support, and more that Apple users fear they might miss when switching over to Android. Samsung never lets go of an opportunity to troll Apple. Over the years, Samsung has targeted Apple over the unsightly iPhone X notch, the alleged (lack of) “ingenuity” in Apple products, comparisons of flagship cameras, and even outright calling iPhones boring and uninnovative. Many of these ads no longer exist, but Samsung isn’t stopping its comparisons. Since the iPhone Duo’s launch, Samsung has been pressing hard on comparing its latest Fold devices, including one that got approval from none other than Tim Cook. Seeing the iPhone Duo buzz on the internet, Samsung is now recruiting reality TV and sports celebrities to convince you to switch from an iPhone. Samsung’s latest ad, titled “Switchers,” depicts half a dozen celebrities (in three pairs) attending couples therapy with Dr. Orna Guralnik, the celebrity psychologist known from Prime Video’s docuseries Couples Therapy. The pairs consulting Dr. Orna include American reality TV stars Ciara Miller and Dylan Efron, now-retired NFL players Clay Matthews and Nick Foles, and former Love Island inhabitants Aniya Harvey and Carl Lee Schmidt.

Credit: Weibo/Xiaomi TL;DR Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is coming. The company also posted a teaser video, showing one of the phones with a rear display. This comes roughly a year after the Xiaomi 17 Pro series arrived with a rear screen. Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 17 Pro phones a year ago, and these devices stood out thanks to a rear display. Now, Xiaomi has announced that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is coming, and there’s good news if you want a rear screen. Xiaomi announced on Weibo that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is coming. It also revealed that the series will offer a “brand-new” rear screen, and an accompanying teaser video shows a large display. Check out the clip below.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Motion Assist is now rolling out to more Android devices. The feature is designed to reduce motion sickness by displaying small dots on the edge of your screen that move in real time to help synchronize what your eyes see and your body feels while riding in a vehicle. Motion Assist requires Android 17 or higher to render the dots across all system surfaces. Motion sickness is a very common condition. While some people are more susceptible to it than others, enough motion can get anyone feeling a little green. Google recently released a new feature for Pixel owners called Motion Assist to help combat motion sickness. Now, that feature is spreading to more Android devices. According to Google’s Mishaal Rahman, Android’s Motion Assist feature is now rolling out beyond Pixel phones. So, if you’re a passenger in a moving vehicle, you can now turn this feature on to help reduce the likelihood of getting motion sick. The feature requires Android 17 or higher to render the dots across all system surfaces.

Credit: Google TL;DR Google will open pre-orders for Googlebooks on September 21, 2026. The first wave of manufacturers includes Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. It’s unknown when shipping will start. During The Android Show I/O Edition back in May, Google announced a new category of laptops called Googlebooks. Since then, there have been various leaks, ranging from Googlebook apps to full-blown hardware specs. The wait is almost over, however, as pre-orders will open up very soon. Google has revealed that pre-orders for Googlebooks will start on September 21, 2026. That means you’ll be able to put down an order for one of these laptops starting next Monday. The company also shared the teaser below, which simply features the pre-order date with the light bar that all Googlebooks are expected to come with.

TL;DR Gemini Live conversations currently require you to use voice input. Google appears to be preparing the option to swipe up for keyboard input, instead. Users could switch back and forth between text and voice input as they like. Android users sure aren’t hurting for ways to use Gemini, and it feels like Google’s already found a home for its AI agent in nearly every nook and cranny of the platform and the company’s apps. But not every way we access Gemini is created alike, and depending on the path you take to interact with it, you may end up facing different restrictions. Today we’re checking out what could be a very useful expansion for at least one corner of Gemini, as Gemini Live gets ready to be a little more flexible. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

Credit: Roborock TL;DR The Roborock Saros 20 Flow is now available in the US, with a launch in Canada coming in October. The new cleaning robot features a self-cleaning roller mop, tangle-free cleaning, and an all-in-one dock for maintenance. The Saros 20 Flow is available at a special launch price of $1,499.99. After September 20, the price goes up to $1,699.99. Wouldn’t it be great if you could automate all of your household chores? Unfortunately, there are certain tasks you still have to do on your own, like folding the laundry. At least, we’ve figured out how to cross off vacuuming and mopping from that list with robotic vacuums and mops. Speaking of which, one of the biggest names in the smart home cleaning space is launching its latest product to keep your home sparkling clean. During IFA, Roborock introduced us to the Saros 20 Flow, its next-generation Saros 20 robot vacuum and mop. Roborock has now made the Saros 20 Flow available in the US, with Canada to follow sometime in October.

TL;DR The OnePlus 16 could feature a new Lingxi touch chip with a 520Hz multi-finger touch sampling rate. Its gyroscope could sample movement at 800Hz, potentially improving responsiveness and precision in racing and shooting games. OnePlus is reportedly tuning the phone with FPS game studios and esports players, but the flagship isn’t expected to be sold in North America. It’s that time of the year again. The OnePlus 15 made its official debut in China in October last year, before being rolled out globally in November. Now, with its successor likely not too far behind, leaks surrounding the OnePlus 16 are starting to pick up pace — and the latest one suggests that the upcoming flagship could be a gaming beast. We already know that the OnePlus 16 could have the thinnest bezels of any OnePlus phone, alongside a 9,000mAh battery and a true 165Hz display. That’s what makes the latest leak a lot more enticing and disappointing at the same time. The OnePlus 16 isn’t coming to the US, and if the latest leak is accurate, American buyers could be missing out on a gaming-focused flagship.

Amazon has knocked the TCL TAB 10 Gen 4 down to $169.99, a $30 cut from its $199.99 retail price. For anyone after a low-cost tablet for daily use, this sale makes the TCL TAB 10 Gen 4 a more tempting pick. It is a 10.1-inch Android tablet with an FHD display, built for streaming, browsing, reading, and video calls. TCL also says it includes display enhancements for brighter and more comfortable viewing, which should help during long watch sessions or casual web use. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Lenovo Smart Clock Essential owners report that the weather icon and outdoor temperatures are disappearing from their displays. Voice forecasts still work, but factory resets, reboots, and other attempted fixes have produced inconsistent results. Reports continue to surface across several countries, but the cause remains unknown. Lenovo’s little bedside clocks have spent years quietly doing the basics well: waking people up, answering questions, controlling smart-home devices, and showing the weather at a glance. That usefulness has survived Google’s messy transition from Assistant to Gemini, but earlier this year, owners of the standard Smart Clock lost convenient touchscreen controls for their smart lights. And now, some Lenovo Smart Clock Essential users are missing another deceptively useful feature: the weather display. Affected clocks no longer show the weather icon or outdoor temperature, leaving only the time. Before-and-after photos show the complete time, weather, and temperature readout reduced to just the clock.

TL;DR OPPO has officially set a September 22 launch date for the Find X10, X10 Pro Max, and the X10 E in China. The company will also launch the Watch S2 and Enco X4 wireless earbuds that day. All three Find X10 variants are up for pre-order in China, with the manufacturer also revealing the RAM/storage configurations and available color options. For a few weeks now, we’ve been tracking the potential arrival of the OPPO Find X10, rumored to be the world’s first smartphone with three 200MP rear cameras. Recently, leaked renders gave us an up-close and personal look at the camera arrangement of the upcoming flagship. Well, the Find X10 series is now official, and the manufacturer has offered early glimpses of the three phones in the lineup, along with the Watch S2 and the Enco X4 wireless earbuds. In a Weibo post, OPPO revealed that the lineup includes the Find X10 Pro Max, the Find X10, and an affordable Find X10 E (via ITHome). The top-of-the-line Pro Max variant is expected to be the highlight, with its rumored camera setup .