Android

Credit: POCO Since the POCO F1 first showed up in 2018 and earned the “flagship killer” label, POCO has built its identity around putting flagship-level specs into phones that don’t cost flagship money. The brand enjoys a presence in 98 markets worldwide, with a young, tech-savvy fan base that keeps coming back for the next release. Eight years later, that same philosophy shines through with POCO’s latest smartphones. And this year, POCO is marking the anniversary with its biggest Carnival yet. This year’s event runs under the theme “From 8 to ∞,” and while big discounts are a part of it, the POCO Carnival 2026 is more than a sale. The annual fan festival mixes real hardware upgrades with community challenges and limited-time pricing, showcasing POCO’s entire lineup, from the flagship POCO F8 Ultra to the C81 Pro. Here’s what you need to know.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 17 QPR 1 Beta 5 code revealed Google’s plan to require unlocking to toggle all Quick Settings tiles except Flashlight. The latest Android Canary 2608 build includes code indicating a shift toward a middle ground, requiring unlocks only for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, and Airplane Mode toggles. The new restriction seemingly targets tiles that thieves use to disable tracking while keeping lower-risk utilities like flashlight and auto-rotate available on the lock screen. Android devices let you toggle a surprisingly large number of settings on locked devices through the Quick Settings tiles. We spotted code in Android 17 QPR 1 Beta 5 indicating Google’s intent to lock down all Quick Settings tiles except the flashlight tile, which made a lot of sense for privacy and security. However, some might find the approach too heavy-handed. Code in Android Canary 2608 indicates Google is gunning for a middle ground, with some locked Quick Settings tiles instead of almost all of them. 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.

TL;DR A team of Google engineers used Gemma 4 E4B running on a Raspberry Pi 5 to build an AI translator that works offline. It comes with a touchscreen display, a push-to-talk button, and a knob to change languages. The code and 3D printing files are available on GitHub, so anyone can build their own AI translator. Google’s Gemma models are quite capable, and if you’ve been wondering exactly how good these models are, there’s something you need to see. A team of Google engineers has created a fully offline translator that uses the Gemma 4 E4B model running on a Raspberry Pi 5. The team used Google Antigravity for development and the Gemma 4 E4B model for the AI chops needed to translate different languages. They also designed a 3D-printed housing to fit all the electronics, complete with a display to show the translated text, a mic, a speaker, a push-to-talk button, and a knob to change languages.

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR We’ve discovered the App lock feature in the latest Android Canary release. This comes a while after we first discovered evidence of this feature in older Android builds. The new Android release lets you lock multiple apps at once for maximum convenience. Google Pixel phones have lacked a native app lock solution for years now. We previously uncovered evidence of the feature via older Android Canary builds and the sixth Android 17 QPR1 beta, but it’s now present in the latest Android Canary release. 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.

TL;DR Google has extended free access to Gemini Omni until August 11 at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET, giving users another week to experiment with AI video generation. You can still create up to ten videos for free in the Gemini app or on the web, with no Google AI subscription required. Gemini Omni can generate, edit, and remix videos using text, images, and existing clips, making it useful for everything from social posts to surreal video experiments. AI video generators are getting ridiculously good, but actually playing around with the best ones can often mean running straight into a paywall. Google briefly removed that problem last week by letting anyone try Gemini Omni for free, and apparently, it isn’t ready to close the door just yet. Google originally opened up free access to Gemini Omni on July 30, allowing Gemini users to generate up to ten videos without needing a Google AI subscription. The promotion was supposed to end on August 4 at 12 PM PT, but Google has now extended it until August 11 at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET. More importantly, the allowance hasn’t been reduced. You can still create up to ten videos at no cost, whether you’re using Gemini on the web or through the app.

TL;DR The latest Android Canary 2608 build includes UI elements for a new AI-generated lock screen clock feature. The feature will let users create custom lock screen clocks with AI prompts. It will also offer ideas, and users will be able to upload images to use as references for their prompts. The latest Android Canary 2608 build comes with a Quick Settings layout editor, which is great for people looking to customize the order of Quick Settings tiles, the brightness slider, and the media player. However, the new build also includes code hinting at an upcoming lock screen feature for Android 17. 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: Google TL;DR A leaked benchmark suggests Dell may be preparing a premium Googlebook under its iconic XPS branding. The device is expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip, up to 32GB of RAM, and a 13.4-inch OLED display. Dell joins Lenovo and ASUS as Googlebook hardware continues to leak ahead of Google’s expected launch later this year. Google’s upcoming Googlebook platform is steadily taking shape. After recent leaks revealed what Lenovo and ASUS are preparing, fresh evidence now suggests Dell may also be getting ready to launch its own premium Googlebook, and it could carry one of the company’s most recognizable laptop brands.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google’s latest Android Canary build includes another Quick Settings customization option that wasn’t highlighted initially. Users can also place the media player above Quick Quick Settings, changing what appears after the first swipe down. Just hours after Google rolled out the latest Android Canary 2608 build with its new Quick Settings layout editor, Google’s Mishaal Rahman has highlighted another neat customization option that didn’t make the initial announcement.

Representational concept image created by AI Credit: ChatGPT TL;DR According to a fresh report, OpenAI’s first hardware device will be a doughnut-shaped portable smart speaker without a display. The report says the device will have moving parts, cameras, microphones, and a price between $300 and $400. OpenAI reportedly plans to launch the AI-first device in 2027 as the first product in a broader lineup of AI-powered hardware. We first heard last month that OpenAI’s debut hardware product could be a screenless smart speaker. Now, a new report from Bloomberg adds several fresh details about what the company is building, including its unusual design, premium price, and how it plans to stand out from today’s smart speakers.

TL;DR Google’s latest Android Canary build is now out, supporting Pixel 6 and newer hardware. This will be the final Android Canary release for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Today’s 2608 build introduces some new ways to customize Quick Settings. Google’s got tons of options right now for testers looking to get a taste of Android’s latest changes before anybody else, but you absolutely need to be first in line, there’s no better option than the Android Canary program. It’s been exactly one month since the 2607 July build arrived, and Google is now back with August’s Android Canary 2608. Over on Reddit’s Canary sub, Google shares the news of Android Canary 2608’s availability. Sadly, it’s not all good, and we’ve got some bad news for testers hoping to eke a little more life out of some of Google’s oldest hardware: Just like Android 17 QPR2, Canary is also dropping support for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The good news is that you can still install today’s release — but that’s it; you’re cut off, going forward.

TL;DR OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update brings meaningful upgrades to the GPT-5.6 lineup. The top-tier GPT-5.6 Sol model will now make fewer factual errors, limit unnecessary information, and can adapt its reasoning based on your query. Free users are moving from GPT-5.5 Instant to GPT-5.6 Luna with unlimited text chats and a new Think button for deeper reasoning. ChatGPT’s latest 5.6 model lineup made its official debut early in July. Less than a month later, the AI giant is already giving the state-of-the-art models a brain and accessibility boost. As you may recall, the 5.6 series consists of three models: Sol, Terra, and Luna. There’s no update to Terra, but GPT-5.6 Sol and GPT-5.6 Luna are getting meaningful upgrades. These range from making the models more reliable, accurate, and focused, to expanding access for users who don’t want to pay for top-tier AI.

Credit: Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority TL;DR GrapheneOS says some users are once again having trouble logging into the Revolut app. The project claims Revolut is specifically targeting GrapheneOS while still supporting outdated Android versions. GrapheneOS suggests a possible workaround but warns that it may not continue to work in the long term. Banking apps can be suspicious of anything that strays from the standard Android experience, but GrapheneOS clearly believes Revolut is taking that distrust way too far. The privacy-focused Android project claims some users are once again having trouble logging into the Revolut app, accusing the fintech company of deliberately trying to shut them out. In a thread on X, GrapheneOS said Revolut is blaming the restriction on security concerns, but argued that the real issue is that they’re enforcing licensing on Google Play. It also questioned how strict Revolut’s security standards can really be when the app still supports Android 9, which launched back in 2018. It went further, describing Revolut as “incredibly negligent when it comes to security.”

TL;DR Google’s Pixel 11 launch event is coming up next Wednesday, August 12. Today Google confirms that comedian Trevor Noah will be performing hosting duties. Noah is to be joined by past Google guests like Stephen Curry, as well as a bunch of new ones. With less than a week to go until August 12, we are in full Pixel 11 anticipation mode, looking forward to all the hardware getting set to debut at the next Made by Google event. Lately, we’ve been captivated not just by Pixel 11 leak after Pixel 11 leak, but also Google starting to whet our appetite with a few official teasers. Today it takes those to the next level with a look at not just what, but who we can look forward to at the event itself. As you may remember from last summer, Jimmy Fallon hosted the Pixel 10 launch, joined by celebs like the NBA’s Stephen Curry, Formula 1’s Lando Norris, and the Jonas Brothers. And for the Pixel 11 launch, Google sure looks like its getting ready to turn that celebrity dial up to 11.

TL;DR A new report details a massive security flaw in Zbtlink-made routers. The routers are programmed to ping a hard-coded list of servers, traced back to China. Once connected, the routers grant full root access — no authentication required. This past spring, the FCC announced a sweeping ban on new foreign-made routers — like the kind you use to get online with your ISP and connect all your devices to Wi-Fi. This was all done in the name of national security, but just how real of a threat do routers pose? The discovery of a new security vulnerability in some Chinese-made routers may have you looking at the FCC’s action in a slightly more sympathetic light. Jacob Baines at VulnCheck shares his analysis of routers made by Zbtlink, sold under both that and Wiflyer branding. While neither are huge names in the router space, they’re still sold through US retailers like Amazon, and have been around for years — so, plenty of time for these devices to make some inroads on the market.

TL;DR Chrome on Android is testing a new toolbar that provides quick access to Gemini. The new toolbar is rolling out to some users now. Google’s testing another way to remind you that Gemini exists. New controls are appearing in the Chrome browser on Android, adding a button to call up Google’s AI right within thumb’s reach. As reported by 9to5Google, some users (including 9to5′s Ben Schoon) have started receiving an update to Chrome that introduces a second strip of buttons to the browser UI. By default, this version of Chrome has a URL field, as well as a back button, share button, and and menu button, at the top of the screen, plus a second bar with a Gemini icon and tab controls at the bottom. Tapping the Gemini icon opens a conversation with Google’s AI chatbot.

TL;DR After bringing Photoshop, Express, and Acrobat to ChatGPT, Adobe is now launching a unified plugin that brings more than 70 tools under one roof. Users can perform multiple actions, including photo editing, video creation, and more with a single prompt. The new plugin is rolling out globally. It is only available on the web and the desktop app for now. As AI tools become more prevalent, traditional ways of doing things are slowly fading away. You used to perform a Google search for general queries, but now you ask ChatGPT for the same information. Similarly, instead of browsing through multiple websites to plan a trip, you simply ask Gemini to take the reins. AI is clearly changing the way people interact with software and devices, and the latest example of this shift comes in the form of a new Adobe plugin for ChatGPT. For reference, this isn’t Adobe making its ChatGPT debut. The software-maker made Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Express, and Adobe Acrobat accessible within ChatGPT back in December last year. Today’s update significantly expands on that integration.

Amazon has dropped the Apple AirPods Pro 3 to $189.99, down from the $249 RRP. That saves you $59, which is a 24% discount off the recommended retail price. This is also a rare deal. They were cheaper once on Prime Day, but this is only the third time in the past year these earbuds have been available at this low a price. See the deal at Amazon

The Corsair Galleon 100 SD is a mechanical gaming keyboard with a twist, and there’s a nice deal on it right now at Amazon. Instead of a standard numpad, Corsair swaps that space for a built-in 12-key Stream Deck module plus display controls, which gives this keyboard a very different kind of appeal. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon has cut $50 off the newest Ring Floodlight Cam Wired, bringing it down to $149.99 from its $199.99 RRP. That is a 25% discount relative to the recommended retail price, and it is the first time Amazon has discounted this product, so this is a good moment to grab it. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google has updated its support documentation to show that downloading the models that power Chrome’s on-device AI features requires approximately 20 gigabytes of available storage space. The install size of the models is still approximately 4 GB, Google has confirmed. You can disable Chrome’s on-device AI features in the browser’s settings. Google’s been working for a while to integrate Gemini more deeply into Chrome for some time now. Some users were confused and annoyed this spring when Chrome started automatically downloading a multi-gigabyte file called weights.bin that enables Gemini Nano features to run locally. Now, Google’s updated its documentation to reflect that you’ll actually need quite a bit more free space to actually download the files required for local AI features. As spotted by Windows Report (via PiunikaWeb), the Google Chrome Help Center entry about the browser’s on-device generative AI models has been updated to reflect that you’ll need approximately 20 gigs of free disk space to install the models that power local AI features. You’ll also need an unmetered data connection, plus “Sufficient device performance.”

TL;DR The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE has just appeared in a series of images, revealing three color options. Among the major visual differences from the Galaxy S25 FE is the rear camera setup, which now resembles that of the Galaxy S26. Samsung hasn’t set a date for the phone’s launch, but a company executive recently confirmed it’s on the way. Following the launch of Samsung’s latest range of foldables, the focus now shifts to the company’s next smartphone, the Galaxy S26 FE. The mid-tier flagship has already appeared on multiple occasions, including in a case leak just this week. We’re now being treated to a series of official-looking images detailing the Galaxy S26 FE, giving us our best look yet of the smartphone. A total of three new images have been revealed by the folks at Android Headlines, showing the device in three colors: blue, black, and light green. The blue model we’re seeing here doesn’t look too dissimilar to the Galaxy S25 FE in the Navy colorway (as you can see up top).

The Sony WH-1000XM6 open-box deal at Focus cuts a big chunk off Sony’s flagship headphone price right now. You can get them for $229, down from the $398 RRP, which is a $169 saving and a 42% discount relative to the recommended retail price. See the deal at Focus That price stands out even more because buying new has not been cheaper than $378, and often more. For anyone who has been waiting for a real drop on the WH-1000XM6, this is the kind of gap that makes the open-box route worth a close look.

TL;DR Google has fixed the Search time filter bug that ignored selected date ranges. A Google Search VP confirmed the fix shipped earlier this week. If time filters are still broken, Google is asking users to report it. Good news for anyone who spent the past few days struggling to find recent news or software updates: Google has finally fixed its broken Search time filter feature. We recently reported that Google Search’s time filters — such as “Past 24 hours,” “Past month,” or custom date ranges — had stopped working globally. Instead of isolating results to your chosen timeframe, Search returned a random mix of old and new content, forcing users to rely on manual search operators as a workaround.

TL;DR AYANEO’s Game Boy Advance-inspired KONKR Pocket Advance is available to preorder now, starting at $89. The handheld is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G90T, the same chip found in the AYANEO Pocket Air Mini. The Pocket Advance boasts a 3.5-inch 960×640 display, a 4,000mAh battery, Android 12, active cooling, and more. If you’ve been waiting for AYANEO’s latest Android handheld to finally arrive, now’s the time to get your wallet ready. Oh, and the good news is that your wallet won’t be getting much lighter than previously expected! AYANEO’s Game Boy Advance (GBA) clone, which was first teased early in July, is finally available to pre-order. It’s called the KONKR Pocket Advance, and we finally have in-depth information about it.

TL;DR Google Wallet now supports supervised balances for kids and teens under 18 in the US, giving them a way to make digital payments with parental oversight. Parents can set daily spending limits, view transaction history, receive Family Link purchase alerts, and remotely lock the Wallet if a device is lost. Kids can tap to pay using their Android phone or Wear OS smartwatch anywhere Google Pay is accepted. Giving kids money has always involved a bit of trust. Maybe it’s cash for a weekend outing, a card for an emergency, or money to grab something while they’re out with friends. The problem is that cash is easy to lose, cards can go missing, and it’s not always obvious where the money ended up. That’s exactly the problem Google Wallet is now trying to solve. The company is rolling out supervised Google Wallet balances for children and teenagers under 18 in the US. Instead of handing your child a debit card and simply hoping they spend responsibly, you’ll be able to decide how much money they have access to while still keeping an eye on where it’s going. It’s a much more practical way to let kids start managing their own money without throwing them in at the deep end.