Android

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR Leaked renders show Samsung’s upcoming “Galaxy Buds On” (codenamed “Able”) featuring a cuff-style, open-ear design with two bulbs joined by an arched bridge. The leak also shows off features like head gesture call controls, Auto Volume adjustment, quick voice memo recording with Bixby transcription, and playback pausing during sleep. The earbuds will likely omit Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) and 360 Audio with head tracking, and are expected to launch in Q4 2026. Samsung is gearing up to jump into the clip-on open-ear earbuds market, and we now have our clearest look yet at the upcoming hardware. Codenamed “Able,” the earbuds have surfaced in several recent leaks, with evidence suggesting Samsung may settle on the Galaxy Buds On branding. Now, a new report comes bearing actual renders of the earbuds, along with an array of software features heading our way. SammyGuru spotted several renders for the Galaxy Buds On within an internal build of the Buds Manager app. In these renders, the Galaxy Buds On feature a clip-on cuff design reminiscent of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds and HUAWEI FreeClip.

TL;DR Images of the upcoming Samsung SmartTag 3 have just leaked, giving us a good idea about its design. The lanyard hole on the SmartTag 2 is gone, though Samsung may have a solution. Each Galaxy SmartTag 3 could cost $29.99, while a four-pack may cost $99.99. It’s been a while since Samsung released a Bluetooth tracker, with the Galaxy SmartTag 2 launching back in 2023. A leak this July made it clear that a successor is on the way. We’re now getting an up-close-and-personal look at the Galaxy SmartTag 3 well ahead of its launch. The folks over at WinFuture have unearthed what appear to be official images of the Galaxy SmartTag 3, shown in White and Black colorways. At first glance, it’s a major departure from its predecessor, especially in terms of design. The lanyard hole is completely gone, as Samsung appears to be sticking with a squircle shape instead.

It’s no longer a dream. Apple officially makes foldable phones now. The company unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, at its September 9 event at Apple Park, finally entering a category that Samsung, Motorola, Google, and other Android manufacturers have competed in for years. But in typical Apple fashion, the company hasn’t simply launched another foldable phone. Apple has taken a form factor that’s been around for nearly a decade, looked at some of the problems we’ve almost learned to live with, and introduced a few interesting solutions of its own. And now I want Samsung, Google, and Motorola to copy these iPhone Duo features for their next foldables.

TL;DR An FCC filing reveals a possible Google wearable with a screen and signs of Wear OS. Bluetooth LE and GPS are included, but the apparent lack of Wi-Fi points toward a fitness band. It could be the mystery tracker spotted in Pixel 11 ads, though that link remains unconfirmed. A few weeks ago, Google appeared to hide a product tease in plain sight. Two Pixel 11 ads featured an unfamiliar, pill-shaped wearable alongside the company’s phones and Pixel Watches. It looked more like a fitness band than a full-fledged smartwatch, but Google didn’t name it. Now, a newly uncovered FCC filing may offer the first clues about what we saw: a possible Google fitness tracker running Wear OS. According to 9to5Google, the filing covers a “wireless device” manufactured by Goertek, which also produces Pixel Buds. Its G8BL6 model number follows the format Google typically uses for first-party hardware, although the documents never identify the product or its brand.

Motion sickness is not a fun thing to deal with. While I don’t personally struggle with it, I’ve known people who do, and it seems like it can be pretty unbearable at times. Thankfully, if you have a Pixel phone, you now have a clever new feature that can help keep motion sickness at bay. The feature is called “Motion Assist,” and it works by displaying small dots around the edge of your screen that move according to your phone’s gyroscope and accelerometer. So, if you’re riding in a car, the dots will follow the same motion/movement as the vehicle.

TL;DR New YouTube TV customers can get NFL Sunday Ticket for $240, thanks to a discount of up to 50%. Existing subscribers pay $378, while the standalone YouTube Primetime Channels package costs $480. Custom multiviews can now combine Sunday Ticket games with other channels and NFL RedZone. YouTube TV entered September with a much stronger sports pitch after completing its ESPN Unlimited integration, putting more live games and football tools directly inside the service. Now, just as the NFL’s first full Sunday approaches, YouTube has detailed what Sunday Ticket will cost for the 2026-2027 season, along with a major upgrade to how fans can watch multiple games. YouTube has laid out this season’s pricing, features, and game availability in a Reddit post and an updated support page. New subscribers can get NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV for $240 for the season, thanks to a discount of up to 50%. That price comes on top of the regular YouTube TV subscription. Existing YouTube TV customers will pay $378 for the season, while the standalone version sold through YouTube Primetime Channels costs $480.

TL;DR Google’s Dreambeans experiment is now available to all users aged 18+ in the US on Android and iOS. Dreambeans uses information from connected Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, Photos, YouTube, Search, and Gemini to create personalized stories and recommendations. Google Photos can make these stories even more personal by incorporating photos of you and your loved ones and suggesting things you could do together. Google has been experimenting with a rather unusual way to make your personal data feel a little more useful. A couple of months ago, it introduced Dreambeans, an experiment that turns information scattered across your Google apps into personalized stories and recommendations. Now, it’s opening the feature up much more widely. Dreambeans is now available to Google users aged 18 and older in the US on both Android and iOS. The interesting part is just how personal these stories can get. Instead of giving everyone the same generic suggestions, Dreambeans can pull context from the Google apps you choose to connect, including Gmail, Calendar, Photos, Search, YouTube, and now Gemini. It then combines that information with topics you might care about, such as places worth visiting, something new to watch, or an upcoming event.

Credit: Retroid TL;DR Retroid has revealed the Pocket Duo and Pocket Duo Lite. Both handhelds will come with a 6,000mAh battery. The Pocket Duo will cost $269, while the Duo Lite will start at $149. Earlier this week, Retroid released the first teaser for its next Android-powered handheld. At the time, we only knew that it was called the Pocket Duo and that it would have two screens, like a Nintendo 3DS. Since then, Retroid has provided more details, including specs, models, and pricing. As the company revealed, the Retroid Pocket Duo will actually come in two forms: the Pocket Duo and Pocket Duo Lite. Design-wise, the two handhelds will look similar, but there are a couple of differences. One is that the secondary display on the Duo is slightly larger than that on the Duo Lite. The other difference is the layout of the L1/L2 and R1/R2 buttons. These buttons are laid out horizontally on the Duo Lite, while L1 and R1 are on top of L2 and R2 on the Duo.

TL;DR Getting the most out of Sony headphones and earbuds means relying on the company’s phone app to adjust audio settings. Now some open source projects attempt to unofficially bring that same level of control to your PC. They let you control ANC, tweak your equalizer, and adjust many more audio options. Being able to control devices through apps on our phones is a bit of a double-edged sword. Sure, apps can open up tons of new features, and being able to configure devices remotely lets manufactures simplify hardware designs. But the flip side there is that making even basic changes means that we need our phone — and that’s not always handy. If you’ve ever wished that you could didn’t have to keep turning to Sony’s smartphone app to tweak your headphones, we’ve got some good news to share. Sony earbuds and headphones rely on the company’s Sound Connect app to adjust all manner of settings, from noise cancelation to equalizer options. But what do you do if you’re gaming at your PC and want to change some of those, but your phone’s off in another room? With the unofficial Sony Device Center open source project, you’re now free to adjust all those options to your heart’s content, right from your computer.

Apple is doing something very different with its latest hardware release. No, I’m not talking about the fact that the company finally has a foldable now. Instead, the Cupertino-based tech giant just dropped the base iPhone 18 from its latest lineup, focusing solely on the Pro models. Apple isn’t entirely doing away with non-Pro models; if leaks and rumors are to be believed, the iPhone 18 will come out sometime early next year, potentially alongside the iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air. It’s an unusual move for sure, but judging by what our readers want, Google might have a valid reason to consider a similar strategy. The strategy focuses on the premium Pro models first, with the more affordable models arriving later. And if our recent poll about Pixel 11 series model preference is anything to go by, a similar approach could make sense for Google, too.

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Android Auto users are reporting a bug with Spotify’s progress bar. The media player’s squiggly line disappears when in full screen. The wavy progress bar reportedly still appears when in split-screen mode. When a feature you’ve grown accustomed to suddenly vanishes without explanation, it can leave you feeling confused and potentially frustrated. For example, drivers were befuddled when the live speedometer recently disappeared from Google Maps on Android Auto. Unfortunately, Android Auto users are experiencing this feeling once again with the disappearance of another feature. Google initially rolled out Android Auto’s redesigned media player, which features a squiggly progress bar, back in January. That new progress bar briefly vanished due to a bug, but Google restored it and rolled it out again for everyone to enjoy. However, it appears a new bug has now partially taken it away again.

Amazon has dropped the Energizer Outdoor Bluetooth 100W Wireless Speaker to $84.99, down from its $99.99 recommended retail price. That saves you $15, a 15% discount off the RRP, and it is the best deal we have seen on it this year. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google appears to be borrowing some device-tracking features from popular accessories to build into Android. The system could notify you when you walk away from earbuds or Bluetooth trackers. Users could also use the buttons on trackers to help find missing phones. Between all the distractions the modern world presents, and the sheer number of gadgets many of us haul around on a daily basis, it’s a small miracle that we manage not to accidentally leave behind more than we do. Thankfully, there are plenty of technical solutions to both help reconnect us with lost gear, as well as make it a little harder for us to lose things in the first place. Today we’re checking out a couple new upgrades along this line that Google appears to be cooking up. 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.

Desk space runs out fast when you game, study, and stream from the same setup. That is where compact speakers like the Edifier G2000 Pro fit in, and there is a nice Amazon deal on them right now. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google has released a Gemini app for Windows. The desktop app enables a keyboard shortcut to access Gemini. It also lets Gemini Spark work with local files on your computer. The app itself is free, though certain Gemini features require a paid subscription. Gemini’s already accessible on practically every device that can browse the internet, but Google’s always looking for ways to make the its AI even easier to get to. Following the release of a dedicated MacOS client this past spring, Google’s expanding to another desktop environment with a new Gemini app for Windows. Google announced its new Windows app in a blog post today. Installing the app won’t run Gemini locally on your own hardware — Google is still doing the heavy lifting in the cloud — but for dedicated Gemini users, installing the desktop app has a couple of benefits versus accessing the AI through a browser.

Amazon has cut the Belkin 45W Compact USB-C Charger Block to $14.99, down from its $19.99 retail price. That saves you $5, which is a 25% discount off the recommended retail price, and it’s the best chance to grab this charger at a strong price outside of Prime Day. See the deal at Amazon

Fast-paced games look a lot better when your monitor can keep up, and this deal is a nice fit for anyone building a budget gaming setup. The SANSUI 24-inch curved gaming monitor is down to $89.99 at Amazon, which is a 36% discount off its $139.99 recommended retail price. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta is rolling out to the Nothing Phone 4a Pro with Android 17. The 2.73GB update brings a major redesign, new Glyph tools, camera upgrades, widgets, and split Quick Settings. The redesigned home screen and several Essential features will arrive separately beginning in October. Nothing built its reputation on phones and software that looked unlike anything else in the Android crowd. Its recent changes haven’t always landed smoothly — even CEO Carl Pei admits the company may have moved too quickly — but its next major update appears to be finding its footing. After debuting on the Nothing Phone 3, the Android 17-based Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta is now rolling out to the Nothing Phone 4a Pro. The 2.73GB update arrives more than a week later than Nothing’s early September target. Phone 4a Pro owners can enroll through Beta Hub, although Nothing says the update may take up to five minutes to appear.

TL;DR T-Mobile is offering up to $1,200 off any iPhone 18 Pro model with an eligible trade-in or line switch to T‑Mobile on Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond, or Go5G Next. Verizon customers can also get $1,200 off, but you’ll have to add a new myPlan line and bring a qualified trade-in. AT&T is offering $1,200 off when upgrading an existing line or activating a new line on a qualifying 36 month 0% APR installment plan. After months of rumors and speculation, Apple finally pulled the covers off its first foldable — the iPhone Duo. Along with that reveal, the company also announced the iPhone 18 Pro series, its next-generation slab phones. Now that Apple’s latest handsets have been unveiled, you might be wondering what deals are out there. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here is a breakdown of the deals each major carrier is offering. T-Mobile You’ll be able to start pre-ordering your iPhone 18 Pro from big magenta on September 12, with availability opening up on September 18. Meanwhile, iPhone Duo pre-orders will start a little later on October 16, with availability beginning on October 23. Whether you’re a new or existing customer, the best offer available is up to $1,200 off on any iPhone 18 Pro model. Here are the deals to be aware of:

TL;DR Nothing is reportedly working on a $399 Headphone 1 Pro with a new triple-driver setup, 10 microphones, and upgraded audio features. The rumored headphones could also offer head-tracked spatial audio, Bluetooth 6.1, Hi-Res Audio, and up to 60 hours of playback. The Nothing Headphone 1 Pro may launch as soon as September 29, though Nothing hasn’t officially announced anything yet. UK-based Nothing first blew up with the Nothing Phone 1 in 2022. It took the company another 3 years to enter the over-ear headphone market, introducing the $299 Nothing Headphone 1 in the summer of 2025. Now that the company has a foot in the door, it doesn’t seem interested in taking things slowly, and is reportedly already working on a more premium version of the Nothing Headphone 1 that could carry the “Pro” moniker. Details about the successor come from a Dealabs report, which suggests that the pair could cost roughly $399. And to justify that $100 hike, the Pro headphones are reportedly getting upgrades just about everywhere.

Amazon has dropped the SHOKZ OpenDots ONE to $139.95, down from its $199.95 RRP. That saves you $60, a 30% discount off the recommended retail price, and brings these earbuds back to their all-time low price. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Android is making it easier and safer to move passwords and passkeys between supported password managers. The new system removes the need to export your password vault as a potentially unencrypted file and manually import it elsewhere. Password transfers currently work with Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden, and Dashlane, with more services coming later. Passwords are basically the keys to our digital lives. They protect everything from our emails and social media accounts to banking apps and personal photos, so the last thing you want is to accidentally leave them exposed. Unfortunately, that can become a concern when you decide to switch password managers. Right now, you may have to export your entire vault as a file, save it to your device, and then import it into your new password manager. Worse, that exported file can be unencrypted, which means all those usernames and passwords you’ve spent years protecting could temporarily sit together in a regular file on your phone. You also have to remember to delete it once you’re done.

TL;DR Multiple YouTube and YouTube Music users are reportedly facing issues loading content. We’re seeing reports across the iOS and Android apps, as well as the web versions of the two apps. This glitch comes just days after Google fixed a blank feed bug that affected several users. Millions of people around the world use YouTube and YouTube Music for their media fix. As you would expect, a platform that large is not always perfect. We recently reported on a blank feed bug on the YouTube app, which Google fixed this week. It now looks like YouTube’s issues didn’t end there, with another problem now appearing online. According to a Reddit post by an understandably angry user, both the YouTube and YouTube Music apps “hang while loading.” They note the issue persists even after deleting and reinstalling the apps and clearing their cache.

The XGIMI Horizon 20 Pro is a 4K home projector built for big-screen movie nights, sports, and gaming, and there’s a solid deal on it at Amazon right now. This model uses an RGB triple-laser light engine and is aimed at people who want vivid color, strong HDR, and enough brightness for more than just a dark theater room. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 feature Audio Intelligence, allowing Shazam to passively identify nearby music without manual user input. Identified song titles and artists automatically populate the Music Recognition widget in the watchOS Smart Stack for easy, glanceable access. Apple hasn’t shared a release timeline for the instant Shazam feature, so it will seemingly be available on the new watches at launch. Google Pixels have long championed a feature called “Now Playing,” which silently and continuously recognizes music playing around you, even before you ask for it. It’s a very convenient trick and saves you from having to manually Shazam a song. Apple is now borrowing this trick, not on the iPhone, but on the newest Apple Watches instead. With the arrival of the S11 chip in the new Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple is removing the manual friction from ambient song identification. These new smartwatches come with Audio Intelligence, and within the feature, Apple notes that Shazam will now “instantly detect the music playing around the user and automatically display the song title and artist’s name on the Music Recognition widget in the Smart Stack, easily glanceable on the wrist.”