Android

TL;DR Google Health version 5.08 has removed the option to log in using Fitbit account credentials. Google has been warning this would happen since 2022. Data that hasn’t been migrated from legacy Fitbit accounts to Google accounts will be deleted. Google acquired Fitbit in 2021. It’s been warning users since 2022 that, eventually, accessing Fitbit — since renamed Google Health — would require using a Google account. The company’s given us a lot of runway to migrate our data, even pushing back the deadline early this year. But that extended deadline came and went in May, and now, Google has removed the option to log into Google Health with legacy Fitbit account credentials. The announcement came by way of some very sparse update notes for Google Health version 5.08. The latest version of the app fixes some bugs, but the primary change is that now, you can only log in using your Google account. Google also says that data that hasn’t been migrated from legacy Fitbit accounts to current Google accounts “will be deleted.”

TL;DR Eligible college students can now get Disney Plus and Hulu for $6.49/month, down from the usual $12.99/month. Students need to verify their eligibility through SheerID to claim the discounted bundle. The bundle includes content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu, and FX. Streaming subscriptions can add up surprisingly quickly when you’re a student, especially if you’re juggling several of them just to keep up with different shows. Disney is now making two of its biggest services a lot cheaper for college students. As Cord Cutter News first reported, eligible students can now get Disney Plus and Hulu together for $6.49 per month. The bundle normally costs $12.99 per month, so you’re essentially cutting the monthly bill in half.

TL;DR Images found inside Meta’s HorizonOS Prescription Lens app appear to reveal the rumored Project Phoenix headset ahead of Meta Connect on September 23. Phoenix looks more like chunky glasses than a traditional Quest headset, with glasses-style nose pads, sensors around the temples, and a separate compute puck. We still haven’t seen Phoenix properly from the front or on someone’s face, leaving big questions about its size, appearance, and overall design. Meta Connect kicks off on September 23, and we may have just gotten an early peek at one of the more interesting devices Meta could be preparing to talk about. UploadVR has spotted images of Meta’s rumored Project Phoenix headset inside the HorizonOS Prescription Lens app. While they don’t show the full device, they reveal enough to suggest Phoenix won’t be another Quest-style headset. Instead, Meta appears to be going for something much slimmer. From the angles shown, Phoenix looks more like chunky glasses than a conventional VR headset. Nose pads hold the device in place, while what appear to be sensors sit around the temples. The overall look immediately reminds me of XREAL Aura glasses, which use a similar setup.

TL;DR Lenovo’s upcoming Googlebook 15 has reportedly leaked in full, revealing a 15.3-inch 120Hz OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 5 325 chip, and up to 32GB of RAM. The laptop could also feature a 70Wh battery, Wi-Fi 7, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, a fingerprint reader, and a Google-colored battery/charging light on the lid. Googlebook OS will put Gemini Intelligence and Android phone integration front and center, while Lenovo is also preparing a dedicated Google key and an “AI Mouse” accessory. Earlier in May this year, Google introduced its Googlebook laptop category. These are laptops designed from the ground up for Gemini Intelligence, with Google aiming to create a PC experience that offers premium hardware, works seamlessly with Android phones, and puts AI features front and center. Now, a new leak has revealed just how serious that ambition could be. There’s no Googlebook out just yet, but we know that multiple companies are actively developing them, with Lenovo among them. We’ve seen renders of its upcoming Lenovo Googlebook 15 in the past, and now a fresh leak appears to reveal nearly everything else about the machine.

Credit: Stephen Radochia / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has released a new advertisement for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The clip stars “Tim Cook” endorsing the iPhone Duo rival. The man states this is the “Best phone I’ve ever had. You can quote me. Tim Cook from Palmerston North.” As was long rumored, Apple officially entered the foldable race this week after announcing the iPhone Duo. Similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Apple’s new form factor sports a wide, passport-like design. Not missing a beat, Samsung took the opportunity to poke some fun at the Cupertino-based firm. Samsung’s New Zealand branch has shared a playful new advertisement for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The video stars “Tim Cook” endorsing the iPhone Duo rival. Not that Tim Cook, but Tim Cook from Palmerston North, New Zealand. However, this Tim Cook does look an awful lot like Apple’s former CEO, sporting glasses and clothing that are similar in style to what the executive is known to wear.

Movie nights get a lot easier when you can carry the screen from room to room instead of building your setup around one TV. The Hisense M2 Pro fits that kind of use well, and there’s a solid Amazon deal on it right now. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon has cut the Anker Soundcore P30i Noise-Canceling Earbuds to $24.99, down from the $49.99 RRP. That saves you $25, a 50% discount relative to the recommended retail price, and puts these earbuds just $1 off the all-time low price. See the deal at Amazon

The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro is one of Ring’s higher-end outdoor security cameras, built for homes that want bright lighting and a robust set of smart features in a single device. It’s also on sale at Amazon right now, which makes this a good time to take a closer look. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Users are reporting that their Google Nest Hub smart displays are having trouble playing the radio. Some users claim the radio just isn’t working, while others say they’re having problems with buffering and repeats. One report claims that the radio will stop playing after 15-20 minutes. It’s nothing new that Google’s smart home ecosystem can be buggy at times. However, everything has been fairly quiet as of late, as the tech giant rolled out several fixes last month for alarms, playlists, and Keep lists. But nothing lasts forever, as a new problem has reared its ugly head. If you’re having problems listening to the radio on your Nest Hub, you’re not alone. Several owners of Google’s smart display report having trouble playing the radio on their devices.

TL;DR Google TV already lets you use your phone’s touchscreen to remotely control its interface. Google looks like it could be expanding that remote support to work as a gamepad. The company recently implemented a touchscreen gamepad for foldables, and this mode could end up resembling that. Google TV may get the job done when it comes to streaming, but so far Android hasn’t made much momentum on moving gaming into your living room. Gaming from the couch is bigger than ever, with new launches like the Steam Machine even bringing PC gamers into mix, but Android has really yet to capitalize on any of that. Now we’re wondering if Google might be reconsidering its gaming priorities, as we spot a new Google TV feature in the works. 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.

Amazon has cut $1,400 off the Dell 27 Touchscreen All-in-One Desktop, bringing it down from its $3,499.99 recommended retail price to $2,099.99. That is a 40% discount relative to the RRP, and it is a big drop for a premium all-in-one PC built for work, home use, and shared family computing. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR The FCC has granted ASUS conditional approval to keep introducing foreign-made routers in the US through March 6, 2028. Existing ASUS routers aren’t affected, since the new restrictions only apply to new products seeking authorization. Comtrend and Husqvarna also received approvals, while TP-Link remains a notable holdout. Even as the government tightens laws surrounding robots and routers made outside the US, some products should remain relatively straightforward to buy. ASUS routers are now among them. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted the Taiwanese company a conditional approval to continue selling foreign-made routers in the US.

Amazon is bundling the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a $100 Amazon gift card right now, bringing extra value to a premium smartwatch buy. The package is listed at $699.99, compared with a recommended retail price of $799.99, which works out to a 13% discount. See the deal at Amazon

Google Pixels are generally regarded as pretty reliable Android phones. I’d certainly recommend them to friends and family craving a solid Android experience. However, they do have a few chinks in their armor, and one that seems to cause repeated problems is a lackluster connectivity experience. Older Pixels have had notable modem-related flaws, from the Pixel 6’s reception problems through to the Pixel 10’s more recent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth woes. Thankfully, that’s something Google has seemingly acknowledged and is now addressing by switching to MediaTek modems. However, we were certainly intrigued to learn exactly which connectivity issues Pixel users have suffered from in the past.

TL;DR The vivo X Fold 6 could soon hit global markets, starting with Europe, according to a new leak. It launched in June but has been limited to the Chinese market, though the company promised a global release at the time. The premium book-style foldable could start from €2,199 (~$2,550), directly competing with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The foldable smartphone market is bigger than ever. While we’ve just seen Apple join the bandwagon, brands like Samsung have been riding it for years. Chinese OEM vivo has also been part of the game for a while now, and launched its latest, the X Fold 6, in its home market a few months ago. The manufacturer already confirmed the foldable would eventually launch globally, and we’re now gaining more details on that front. According to renowned leaker Roland Quandt on Bluesky, vivo is gearing up to release the X Fold 6 in Europe imminently. While no specific date was offered, Quandt revealed that the foldable in the 12/512GB configuration may cost €2,199 (~$2,550) in the region.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed potentially coordinating a voluntary safety pause with rival AI labs during a recent all-hands meeting, though reaching consensus with competitors may be difficult. The cautious shift follows viral warnings from former researchers, employee resignations, and security disclosures about autonomous AI agents coordinating sandbox breaches. Facing compute pressure from Astra model usage, OpenAI has also temporarily halted new signups for its $200 ChatGPT Pro tier to preserve capacity for existing subscribers. OpenAI is actively weighing whether to slow the pace of its cutting-edge AI development, and CEO Sam Altman wants rival frontier labs to follow suit. The consideration comes amid rapid rollouts across the industry, including major leaps such as OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra launch and the broader GPT-5 and GPT-6 update pipeline, which have stoked growing internal and public unease about catastrophic safety risks. According to a report from Bloomberg, Altman told employees during an all-hands meeting this week that OpenAI could potentially coordinate a voluntary development pause or slowdown alongside other AI labs. However, Altman acknowledged that reaching an industry-wide consensus may prove difficult, as competing companies might refuse to decelerate their own roadmaps.

Generative AI is everywhere, whether it’s used as a cornerstone of a service, used to build apps, or employed to boost functionality within them. But with so many new products appearing all the time, which ones are worth checking out? We’re here to help with a new regular series covering the best and freshest AI apps and services that you should know about.

TL;DR Xiaomi has opened global beta recruitment for HyperOS 4 for the Xiaomi 17, 17 Ultra, and Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. The Xiaomi 17T series and Xiaomi 15 series will become eligible on September 17. HyperOS 4 introduces a translucent Soft Light Glass design, stacked widgets, grouped notifications, and a redesigned device hub. Most Android brands bundle Google’s latest platform changes with their own features and visual upgrades. Xiaomi prefers to split the job. The company rolled out stable Android 17 to the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra in July while keeping them on last year’s HyperOS 3 interface. That update laid the foundation for the bigger changes coming with HyperOS 4, whose global beta program is now open. In a community post, Xiaomi says it is initially recruiting owners of the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. The program supports Global and European (EEA) software builds, with applications available through Xiaomi Community > ME > Beta testing > Recruiting test.

TL;DR A fresh leak has spilled the beans on Samsung’s Galaxy H1 over-ear headphones, including an illustration showing the design. The right earcup could feature touch controls and other actions, while the left earcup may offer physical buttons. These premium wireless headphones are expected to borrow features from the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, including Conversation mode. It’s been a decade since Samsung produced over-ear headphones under the Level branding. We’ve recently stumbled across references to a Galaxy H1 model, supposedly marking the company’s comeback in the over-ear audio segment. A new leak now gives us a clearer picture of these upcoming Galaxy headphones, along with some of their features. By reviewing code in an unspecified APK, SammyGuru identified multiple strings and an illustration of the upcoming headphones, which clearly shows an over-ear design. Additionally, we’re learning that the Galaxy H1 could share some features with Samsung’s most recent earbuds, including Conversation mode, which automatically switches the headphones to Ambient Sound mode when it detects you speaking.

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR A new leak has shed more light on Samsung’s upcoming fitness earbuds (model SM-R545, codename T1), previously referenced as Galaxy Buds Canal 5. Line renders once again show an ear-hook design for a locked-in fit, alongside newly revealed features like an Earbud Fit Test and customizable touch gestures. Battery specifications indicate a 63mAh capacity per earbud and a 595mAh charging case. Samsung appears to be preparing a major expansion of its wireless audio portfolio. Hot on the heels of leaked renders showing off the unique clip-on Galaxy Buds On and Samsung’s Galaxy headphones, a fresh report reveals more details about Samsung’s fitness-oriented pair of earbuds, previously known as the Galaxy Buds Canal 5, sporting an ear-hook design. According to a report by SammyGuru, references to an unreleased audio wearable with the model number “SM-R545” and the internal codename “T1” were found in an unspecified APK file. Unlike the stem-style look of recent Galaxy Buds or open-ear cuff alternatives, line renders for the T1 show a design that apparently wraps around the ear to deliver a locked-in fit tailored specifically for workouts and running.

It’s been a while since I last used a book-style foldable. My previous dalliance was the OPPO Find N2 back in 2022, and while I was impressed by how far the form factor had already come, I ultimately didn’t see enough reason to make the switch. Like many other potential converts, the drawbacks simply weren’t worth the small benefits. Four years on, I’m back to find out whether things have finally changed with the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. I’ve spent plenty of time with Pixel Pro flagships in the intervening years and have generally been a fan of Google’s software, cameras, and even some of its latest AI-focused approaches. But does that familiar Pixel formula work when you double the screen and fold the whole thing in half? More importantly, has the foldable finally become something I actually want to use every day?

TL;DR Gemini is coming to Google Sheets on Android, letting you analyze spreadsheet data directly from your phone. You can ask Gemini to summarize tables, spot trends and insights, and create charts without manually digging through rows of data. More complex tasks like generating formulas and advanced formatting still require the web version. Working with a spreadsheet on your phone usually isn’t much fun. The screen is smaller, navigating a table can be annoying, and figuring out what hundreds of rows of numbers mean can become a job better saved for your laptop. Now, Google is trying to make that a little less painful by bringing Gemini in Google Sheets to Android. Gemini can now analyze the spreadsheet you have open and answer questions about the data directly from your phone. You can tap the Gemini sparkle icon inside the Sheets app and ask it to summarize a table, look for interesting patterns, or pull out useful insights.

The Pixel 11 Pro is precisely what I thought it would be, and it’s still been as divisive as ever. Early reviews have been positive, and it’s clear Google leaned into what has made its Pixel lineup more successful over the last few years. The phones are pleasant and easy to use, ideal for beginners switching over to Android for the first time. However, it’s also never been more apparent that Pixels aren’t for enthusiasts who stare at benchmarks before buying a phone. And the Pixel 11 Pro has legitimate weaknesses. It’s fair to point them out and explain that people may want alternatives.

TL;DR YouTube is rolling out an account lock that protects individual TV profiles with a four-digit code. Users can unlock their profile from the YouTube mobile app or reset a forgotten code with their Google credentials. The feature is coming globally to most smart TVs, streaming devices, and game consoles. YouTube recently made watching videos on a TV less of a remote-control chore. Its new companion experience lets your phone handle searches, comments, and other fiddly tasks without interrupting whatever is playing on the big screen. Now, YouTube is giving that phone another useful job: unlocking your profile while keeping everyone else on the couch out of it. YouTube has announced a new account lock feature for its TV app. It lets you protect an individual account with a four-digit code, preventing other people who share the TV from opening your profile and poking around your recommendations, subscriptions, or search history.

Much of this week’s talk about Apple’s new releases centers on the brand’s first foldable—the iPhone Duo. But as a practical individual, I imagine a lot more consumers will be looking at the iPhone 18 Pro series and pondering whether there’s enough new hardware to justify the price hikes. While there are some key tweaks to processing power and new camera software tools, the iPhone’s latest innovation is a return to variable-aperture technology, ranging from f/1.48 to f/4, that Android rivals trialed and abandoned years ago. If this is seriously the best Apple can do to catch up with China’s best camera phones, I can’t see serious photographers like myself rushing to switch to the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max.