Android

TL;DR Pixel 11 phones can now install Google’s CD1A.260905.001.B1 release. This follows an A1 update distributed back at the start of the month. Neither release delivers Android 17 QPR1. Today may be all about Apple launches, with the introduction of both the iPhone 18 Pro series and the new foldable iPhone Duo, but we’ve still got some Pixel news to cover, as Google quietly starts pushing out a new Pixel 11 update. This one was spotted by some Pixel fans over on the Reddit sub, and checking out Google’s repository of Pixel OTA downloads, we can confirm that build CD1A.260905.001.B1 now appears as the most recent release available for the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. There are no matching releases for any older Pixel devices.

TL;DR Motorola has teased a new folding phone with proportions similar to Apple’s new iPhone Duo. The phone previously leaked last week in the form of sketches. We expect Moto’s wider foldable will be announced in the months ahead. Apple announced a bunch of new stuff today: the iPhone 18 Pro, new AirPods, new Apple Watches, and its first-ever folding phone, the iPhone Duo. Based on the favorable look Apple’s given us at it so far, the Duo seems pretty great. But there’s no denying Apple is years late to the party, and Motorola’s having some fun with that at Apple’s expense. Moto posted a video on X during Apple’s event today showing off the “Razr family,” with a caption reading “new in their hands. iconic in ours.” The video shows a split-second view of many of the company’s Razr-branded devices, from its groundbreaking 2000s-era feature phones all the way up to its latest Android foldables. It ends with a cheeky tease of its unannounced wide foldable that leaked last week.

TL;DR Apple’s new Live Rewind feature can show a text snippet of what was said during the previous 15 seconds. A double-press of the Digital Crown activates it, while Siri can answer questions about the captured text or save it for later. Apple has added visible and audible privacy safeguards, but a watch that can recall what was just said may still feel unsettling. Wouldn’t it be a little creepy if I told you the watch on your wrist could rewind the last 15 seconds of your life? Well, that’s essentially what Apple’s new Live Rewind feature can do. Apple announced the feature alongside the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 today, and despite the slightly creepy premise, it’s easy to imagine situations where it could be genuinely useful. Maybe someone rattled off a Wi-Fi password too quickly, you missed an important number during a conversation, or a colleague said something in a meeting, and you only realized five seconds later that you should probably have been paying attention.

TL;DR Google has removed the Pixel Tablet’s product page and the entire “Tablets” section from the Google Store. The device had already been out of stock for some time, while Google previously canceled its successor and paused broader tablet development. Existing Pixel Tablet owners will still receive OS and security updates through June 2028, but buying a new one directly from Google now appears unlikely. Google’s 2023-released Pixel Tablet was supposed to be the tech giant’s big return to the large-screen product category, but it ended up being a short-lived second act. For those unaware, Google cancelled plans for the Google Tablet’s successor late in 2024, before eventually putting its broader tablet ambitions on pause. The original Pixel Tablet has stuck around since then, but even that chapter appears to be closing now. The Pixel Tablet had been out of stock on the Google Store for a while. However, up until recently, its product page remained live. That’s no longer the case.

TL;DR Apple announced its folding iPhone Duo today. The phone will support the USB-C Apple Pencil for touch input on both its inner and outer displays. The iPhone Duo will be available in late October. Apple took the wraps off its newest hardware in a prerecorded video presentation today. There were new iPhones and new Apple Watches, but the biggest reveal was Apple’s heavily rumored first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. The pricey new phone looks as polished as you’d expect Apple’s late entry to the foldable segment to be, with a form factor quite similar to the squatter Galaxy Z Fold 8. The Duo also has one feature that owners of Samsung’s latest foldables might be jealous of: support for Apple’s first-party Apple Pencil stylus. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 offered support for input from Samsung’s compatible S Pen styluses on its inner display, but the Z Fold 7 and Z Fold 8 lack that compatibility, partly due to concerns about foldable screen durability. The iPhone Duo, meanwhile, works with the Apple Pencil on both its cover screen and its inner display.

TL;DR Apple is bringing new pro camera controls to the iPhone 18 Pro models, including shutter speed, white balance, aperture, and a histogram. The new 48MP main camera has a physical variable aperture, with four manual settings from f/1.48 to f/4. Similar pro camera controls have long been available on Android, while Samsung offered physical aperture adjustment as far back as 2018. The iPhone has long been one of the best phones around for point-and-shoot photography, but Apple hasn’t given keen photographers quite the same freedom as some Android rivals. That looks to be changing with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which finally bring a much more comprehensive set of manual camera controls. Apple announced the two phones today, revealing a new customizable Pro controls interface in the Camera app. It lets you manually adjust settings, including shutter speed, white balance, and lens aperture, while a histogram can be used to check exposure levels across the scene.

TL;DR Apple just introduced its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, with an IP68 ingress rating. While that compares to the protection offered by models from Google and HONOR, it easily outclasses Samsung’s IP48 rating. As a result, Samsung’s lagging behind other foldables when it comes to protection against dirt and dust. Foldable phones have been around for years, but today the device class is experiencing its arguably highest-profile launch yet, as Apple finally embraces foldables with the iPhone Duo. And even with its inaugural effort, Apple is already hitting the ground running with some hardware that outclasses some of its fiercest Android competition. Over the generations we’ve already seen, manufacturers have been making foldable phones more and more robust — what were once incredibly finnicky, fragile designs, have reached something approaching the reliability we’re used to from regular, non-foldable models. But there’s been at least one area where they’ve lagged behind: resistance to dirt and water.

TL;DR Apple has increased prices by $100 across several iPhones that were already on sale, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air. The increases are unusual because older phones typically get cheaper over time, not more expensive. Apple’s move could give Android brands more room to raise prices on their already-launched phones as component costs increase. Apple’s new iPhones are here, and alongside all the camera, performance, and software upgrades, there’s another change that’s much harder to get excited about: they’re more expensive. The iPhone 18 Pro now starts at $1,199 for 256GB of storage, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. That’s a $100 increase over last year’s Pro models. An extra $100 on an already expensive phone might not seem enormous, but the bigger concern is what happens to the rest of the smartphone market now.

TL;DR Apple has announced its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo. The foldable features a squat form factor similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. At its big product event in Cupertino today, Apple’s finally announced its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo. The rumors we saw turned out to be largely true: the foldable comes in a shape similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, featuring a squat form factor when closed and unfolding into an iPad-like form factor. Apple’s pitch for the new iPhone Duo is, of course, the ability to carry a relatively big screen in your pocket. The foldable will come with multitasking features like the option to run two apps side-by-side, a first for iPhone.

TL;DR Apple is announcing its latest hardware today, including the AirPods 5 series. While we’ve had new Pro and Max models more recently, the base AirPods 4 launched all the way back in 2024. Once again we’re getting two separate models, but now both with ANC. Apple’s big hardware event is off to a strong start, already introducing us to the new iPhone 18 Pro series. Now it’s time to start getting into the accessories we’ll be using alongside those new handsets, as Apple unveils its new AirPods 5 series. Just like last time around, we’re looking at two distinct models, but this time it’s not one with ANC and one without — active noise cancelation is now standard across the AirPods 5 range.

TL;DR Samsung is reportedly developing its first display-equipped AI glasses, even before its first smart glasses have launched. The glasses could show notifications, navigation, messages, and system icons using an ultra-small microdisplay. Samsung is targeting a possible late 2027 to early 2028 launch, but key details — including one-eye vs two-eye displays — are still undecided. Samsung unveiled its first-ever smart glasses at Unpacked earlier this year, and although the wearable has yet to hit the market, the tech giant has reportedly already begun working on a successor. And it could finally deliver what the original glasses lacked. For reference, the South Korean company showcased two designs for its upcoming smart glasses at Unpacked, though neither features a display. That’s reportedly what Samsung is looking to change with its next pair, as highlighted in a new report by The Elec.

Another September, another iPhone event, but this time, things are a little different. Apple is skipping the base iPhone, so there’s no iPhone 18 to be found (it’s likely to launch in March 2027, according to leaks). Instead, the iPhone 18 series currently features the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with the new iPhone Duo foldable, which is the star of the show. The iPhone 18 Pro series is a refinement over the iPhone 17 Pro series, with new features like a variable aperture on the main camera, something that Android experimented with years ago! Nevertheless, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are here, and they set the baseline expectation for every Android flagship launching from now on. Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: Release date, price, and availability

Another September, another iPhone event, but this time, things are a little different. Apple is skipping the base iPhone, so there’s no iPhone 18 to be found (it’s likely to launch in March 2027, according to leaks). Instead, the iPhone 18 series currently features the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with the new iPhone Duo, which is the star of the show. The iPhone 18 Pro series is a refinement over the iPhone 17 Pro series, with new features like a variable aperture on the main camera, something that Android experimented with years ago! Nevertheless, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are here, and they set the baseline expectation for every Android flagship launching from now on. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: Colors

TL;DR Last month, Pixel 10 owners started running into problems with their Google Store trade-ins. Google now confirms these issues as a processing problem specific to Pixel 10 models. A fix is in progress, and affected shoppers should receive full credit for their trade-ins. Keeping up with the latest smartphones gets expensive, fast, and unless you’re made of money, a lot of times upgrading to the newest phone means trading in your old one. But for Pixel fans attempting to trade in their older models for the Pixel 11 series, this process hasn’t been going nearly as smoothly as we’d expect, with many shoppers reporting a frustrating Pixel trade-in process, including inconsistent messaging and a failure to receive the trade-in credits they expected. Now Google shares that these problems are on the way to being resolved. One recurring issue with these incidents, as reported by shoppers, was that the trade-in glitches seemed related to Pixel 10 models, with one theory suggesting that these phones had yet to be entered into a needed database for processing trade-ins. In a new statement a company spokesperson has shared on Reddit, Google doesn’t go into specifics, but confirms that Pixel 10 trade-ins were the problem:

The Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite is built for players who want a lot more control at their fingertips. This wired MMO and MOBA gaming mouse packs a 12-button side keypad, and there’s a nice deal on it at Amazon right now. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google Search is getting a new Live Game Feed with play-by-play updates, video highlights, social reactions, and AI-powered insights. Search is also adding deeper football stats, a league-wide score carousel, and upcoming championship odds and playoff brackets. AI Mode can now connect to Yahoo Fantasy and Sleeper, using your actual roster to offer start/sit advice, waiver-wire suggestions, and more. Google is giving football fans a few new reasons to keep Search open during games this season. Alongside a new live feed that brings more of the action directly into Search, Google is adding deeper stats and, perhaps most interestingly, letting fantasy football players connect their actual teams to AI Mode. The biggest change is the new Live Game Feed. Search for a professional football game that’s underway, tap the red Live indicator, and you’ll get a running recap with play-by-play updates, social reactions, video highlights, and AI-generated insights. So, if you missed the first half because you were at work or stuck commuting, Search should give you a much better idea of how the game got to this point.

A low-cost tablet makes a lot of sense for couch streaming, reading, web browsing, and keeping a second screen around the house, and Amazon has a strong deal on one that you won’t want to miss. The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is down to $76.99 at Amazon, a massive drop for a device that handles everyday basics well. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon has dropped the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones to $479, down from its $749 recommended retail price. That saves you $270, which is a 36% discount relative to the RRP, and it is a deal worth jumping on while it lasts. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Some Pixel Watch 5 owners can’t view live camera feeds in Google Home. The feature still works on older Pixel Watches and unaffected Watch 5 units. Google’s troubleshooting steps and a replacement watch reportedly failed to resolve it. A new smartwatch shouldn’t make you miss the one it replaced. Yet barely a month into the Pixel Watch 5‘s life, some early owners are discovering that their older Google watches can do something the latest model cannot: show live camera feeds in the Google Home app. Several reports on Reddit and the Pixel Watch Community describe what happens when affected users select a camera in the Home app: Instead of loading the video, the watch displays a “Control more features on your phone” message and an “Open on phone” button. The feature still works normally on their older Pixel Watches.

Credit: Shimul Sood / Android Authority TL;DR Google could soon allow users to assign tasks to its autonomous agent, Spark, directly from the Gemini overlay. Google is also testing a similar handover feature in the main Gemini interface. The Gemini overlay could also add an option to switch models without opening the full interface. Google announced Spark, its autonomous AI agent that performs a sequence of tasks without intervention, at Google I/O 2026. Since then, Spark has rolled out in beta to Gemini (so far only to paying Google AI subscribers) on the web and mobile versions. On top of that, Google can be seen making efforts to make Spark’s skills easier to manage from mobile, especially as it looks to sunset Gems later this year. In line with those efforts, we’re now seeing evidence that Google is making it easier to assign tasks to Spark, even mid-conversation.

TL;DR Google is working on a new “Remember” shortcut in the Gemini overlay. Tapping the shortcut will automatically send a screenshot to Gemini along with a prompt to remember details from it. This could simplify the process of getting Gemini to remember things. If you often find yourself forgetting things that you were sure you’d remember, Gemini’s “Remember” command is definitely something you should be taking advantage of. While that’s useful on its own, we saw Google working on a new shortcut in the Android share sheet last month to make it easier to get Gemini to remember things. Now we’ve discovered evidence that the company could make the entire process even simpler still. 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 Samsung’s latest ad takes a jibe at the iPhone Ultra hours ahead of the foldable’s announcement. The video highlights the Galaxy Z Fold 8 from various angles, and calls it “the world’s lightest fold.” Initial reports suggest the iPhone Ultra may cost more than the base variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Apple’s fall hardware event is hours away, and we expect to see the company’s latest range of iPhones on show. This year, however, the manufacturer is also rumored to debut its first-ever foldable, supposedly called the iPhone Ultra or the iPhone Duo, depending on which leak you believe. One of the premier foldable brands in the business right now has, unsurprisingly, taken a subtle jab at the yet-to-be-announced foldable iPhone. In a video posted to YouTube an hour ago, Samsung formally welcomes Apple to the foldable club. While it doesn’t mention the iPhone Ultra or Apple directly, the video’s timing and title make it clear what Samsung is hinting at, though fans could argue that the company could also be welcoming users to the form factor.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Google was previously spotted with a plan to shut down Gemini Gems in favor of Gemini Spark Skills by October 20, 2026. The latest Google app code indicates that the full shutdown of Gemini Gems has been seemingly pushed to November 17, 2026, with creation and editing privileges being disabled starting October 13, 2026. Existing Gems could also automatically convert to Gemini Spark-based Skills, saving users from having to manually recreate their setups. Google is preparing to phase out Gemini Gems and replace them with Gemini Spark-based Skills. An earlier deprecation message suggested a cut-off date of October 20, but it seems Google plans to give users some reprieve with a multi-stage timeline and a migration plan. 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: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Welcome to Wallpaper Wednesday! In this weekly roundup, we’ll give you a handful of Android wallpapers you can download and use on your phone, tablet, or even your laptop/PC. The images will come from folks here at Android Authority as well as our readers. All are free to use and come without watermarks. File formats are JPG and PNG, and we’ll provide images in both landscape and portrait modes, so they’ll be optimized for various screens. For the newest walls, as well as all those from previous weeks, check out this Drive link. Want to submit your own? Head to the bottom of this article.

TL;DR Google is working on two new Quick Settings tiles for Android Auto: Battery Saver and Theme. The company is also working on two styles of the Quick Settings UI for screens of different sizes. It’s also working on a new “Personalization” toggle in Gemini settings. Google has been working on several new tweaks and features in Android Auto. We recently spotted the company testing new map interface colors and a new weather animation. Now, we’re seeing more evidence that the company is working hard to bring Android-style Quick Settings to Android Auto. 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.