Android

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Many users report that their YouTube feed appears blank. The issue impacts several platforms, including mobile, web, and smart TVs, and also extends to the YouTube TV app. YouTube has confirmed the issue and shared a temporary fix. YouTube is easily the biggest entertainment platform on the internet, but it isn’t immune to issues. Last month, several YouTube users reported videos saved in custom playlists wouldn’t show. While YouTube resolved the issue promptly — and also fixed another one that hid comments and video titles, a broader and more widespread issue now appears to be impacting the whole of YouTube across different platforms. Several users have their YouTube feed showing up blank for no apparent reason. While the grids and video titles are visible, at least in the top fold, users reporting this issue say these elements won’t load, no matter what they try. Based on the number of reports on Reddit, the issue isn’t isolated to a single platform but impacts the mobile apps on Android as well as iOS, the web interface, and even smart TVs running various operating systems. Furthermore, the issue isn’t limited to YouTube alone and reportedly even extends to YouTube TV across multiple platforms.

TL;DR Samsung is rolling out One UI 9 Beta 2 to the Galaxy S25 series. Four newer Galaxy AI tools include Call Brief, Now Nudge, and My FanCam. The update also tackles Wi-Fi drops, Contacts crashes, and translation errors. Galaxy S25 owners have had plenty of reasons to watch One UI 9. Leaks promised Galaxy S26 hand-me-downs, including portrait lighting and gimbal-like Horizontal Lock, before the first beta arrived last week. Samsung is already back with Beta 2, giving testers more than bugs to squash. The second One UI 9 beta is rolling out to the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra in South Korea. The 643.16MB update carries firmware version S93xNKSUCZZI4 and should reach other beta markets soon.

IFA 2026 has taken over Berlin once again, bringing a fresh wave of phones, smart home hardware, and AI-heavy gadgets from across the industry. As always, the Android Authority team was on the ground, working the halls and getting hands-on with as much of it as we could. This year’s show had no shortage of standouts, from Xiaomi’s wide-screen 18 Fold and TECNO’s zero-bezel concept phone to TCL’s first NXTPAPER AMOLED handset. The smart home had a particularly strong showing too, with Anker’s MindBase hub, the Homey Portal controller, and new cleaning and mowing robots from Roborock and Mammotion. Add in a new 360 camera from DJI, Motorola’s rugged smartwatch, fresh mobile computing from Lenovo and Dell, and a gaming curiosity from Acer, and there was plenty worth calling out.

Credit: Paul Jones / Android Authority Xiaomi gave us a chance to get our hands on its new ide foldable at IFA 2026, and after spending a very limited amount of time with it, I can already see why Samsung might want to pay attention. The Xiaomi 18 Fold is the company’s first wide-screen foldable phone in its main numbered flagship series, and its timing is impeccable. The phone arrives shortly after Samsung launched its first wide-screen Galaxy Z Fold 8 and just days before Apple is expected to unveil its first folding iPhone. Xiaomi’s approach isn’t identical to either, though. The 18 Fold has a more rounded look, especially when it’s unfolded, and packs a surprisingly ambitious camera system into its passport-style body.

TL;DR Xiaomi has launched the Pad 9 Pro Max flagship Android tablet with the XRing O3 processor. It supports split-screen multitasking with up to six apps open simultaneously, and even supports video input. The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max starts at around $715, but is currently only available in China. September 2026 is Pro Max month, with several companies expected to launch “Pro Max” branded devices, and Xiaomi has kicked things off with a new tablet. Alongside the Xiaomi 18 Fold, the company has launched the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max as its latest flagship Android tablet. Headlining the tablet is Xiaomi’s XRing O3 processor, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The company also claims a major performance boost thanks to the new processor. Compared with tablets powered by the XRing O1, the Pad 9 Pro Max apparently offers 54% better multi-core performance and 85% better GPU performance, while reducing power consumption by up to 64%.

TL;DR Meta’s agentic AI, Muse, is reportedly in a closed test phase. The company will use a waitlist and invite codes to slowly onboard users to the app. Muse will be able to handle tasks, manage emails, and track expenses on users’ bank accounts. Meta has been steadily rolling out updates to its AI services in recent months. The company decided to take on Gemini with Muse Spark and also released a local AI model last month. Now, it seems Meta is a step closer to an AI agent that will take the busywork off users’ hands. According to a report from Testing Catalog, the Meta Muse AI agent has finally moved out of internal testing and is in a limited closed alpha stage. The exact testing phase remains unclear, as the report later states that the agent is in a closed beta phase. However, Meta will apparently ask users to join a waitlist or enter an invite code before giving them access to Muse.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Mobile graphics have increasingly closed the performance gap with integrated desktop-class GPUs and have even kept pace with cutting-edge rendering technologies and features typically found in gaming consoles and PCs. Ray tracing is one of the most recent examples, bringing a trimmed-down, lightweight version of the powerhouse lighting tech to our pockets at a fraction of the power draw. But in the meantime, desktop-class GPUs have raced ahead with neural network-assisted resolution upscaling and frame-rate generation, enabling 4K/120 fps gameplay without the traditional rendering effort. Well, mobile is catching up here, too.

Credit: Retroid TL;DR Retroid has released a teaser for a new gaming handheld. The handheld will be called the Retroid Pocket Duo, and its key feature will be two built-in screens. The video clip shows an outline that resembles a Nintendo 3DS. Android gaming handheld maker Retroid recently launched the Pocket Nova. However, the company isn’t slowing down for even a second. It’s already teasing its next release, and it will remind you of a classic Nintendo device. Retroid has shared a teaser for a new system on social media. The teaser consists of a 20-second video clip and the words “Two Screens.. One Pocket.” While leaving everything else as a mystery to be solved at a later date, the company did at least reveal the name — the “Retroid Pocket Duo.”

Credit: Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority TL;DR The team behind GrapheneOS is working on fixes for volume bar and Private Space UI issues. The new Messages app, currently under development, has been “slightly delayed.” There’s no timeline for when RCS will be implemented into the overhauled Messages app experience. The team behind GrapheneOS currently has a lot on its plate, between overhauling its Messages app and developing a secure paste feature. However, those two items aren’t the only changes in its crosshairs. The developers are also working on fixes for a couple of known problems. Unfortunately, this update also comes with some bad news. In a new social post, the GrapheneOS team shared some news today. The first part of that news touches on fixes the team is currently working on. Specifically, it is working on a new OS version that resolves a volume bar UI bug caused by an upstream Android security preview patch. Additionally, it has fixed a UI issue with Private Space.

Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR Nothing has reopened its review program for its community. Those who are a part of the program will get access to the brand’s latest products and software before anyone else. You’ll be expected to share your impressions on social media, give a full review after launch, or create content around the product. If you like to get your hands on tech before anyone else, Nothing offers plenty of opportunities through its community-focused review program. For those who missed out on the last time the brand opened spots for the program, now is the time to sign up. Once again, the London-based electronics maker is turning to its community for help. Nothing announced that it is holding another round of its Community Review Program. What does that mean for you? If you’re selected, you’ll be one of the first people to try out some of Nothing’s new hardware and software. The company adds that you’ll get a direct line to the Nothing team to help shape what they’re building next.

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority TL;DR A new ANATEL certification covers 10 unannounced Garmin products. All of the listed products have similar model numbers, suggesting they are variants of the same product. The filing strongly suggests 10 different sizes for a Garmin smart ring. Garmin entered the screenless fitness tracker market this year by releasing the CIRQA Smart Band. The company may not be done breaking into new categories just yet. Last month, a product called the CIRQA Smart Ring briefly made an appearance on an Indonesian certification database, before getting pulled from that public filing. More evidence that Garmin is preparing to enter the smart ring market may have now emerged. Spotted by Gadgets and Wearables, Garmin has registered a new filing for certification. The filing appeared on Brazil’s ANATEL certification database and includes 10 unannounced products in total. All 10 products carry similar model numbers: A05124, B05124, C05124, D05124, E05124, F05124, G05124, H05124, I05124, and AA5124.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has dropped to $953 on Amazon, which is a big cut for one of Samsung’s top phones. This deal ends tonight, so anyone looking at a flagship upgrade will want to check it out soon. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Last month we spotted Google Photos preparing to implement a new 30-day retention limit on deleted pics. A few days ago, Google updated its Photos support docs to reference the new 30-day policy. Now Android users are also starting to get notifications within the app. How much effort do you put into to curating your photographs? When you’ve got a giant bucket of Google One storage to fill up, some users will just save every snapshot they ever take. Even when you have all the space in the world, there’s a lot to be said for weeding out the pics you definitely don’t want. But what if you end up second-guessing yourself? Maybe that questionable pic is worth keeping, after all? Hopefully you make up your mind soon, because Google Photos is slashing your restore window in half for trashed pics. So far, if you’ve backed up an image with Google Photos, then moved that pic to the trash, you’d get a 60-day grace period before it was deleted for good. For pics that are just stored locally on a device, you’ve only had 30 days.

Amazon has knocked $100 off the Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Solar 45mm, bringing it down to $399.99 from its $499.99 RRP. That’s a 20% discount relative to the recommended retail price, and it’s a strong chance to grab this rugged Garmin watch for less. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR A new version of PS3 emulator ARMSX3 has been released. The update fixes a CPU issue that caused phones to heat up for no reason. An issue preventing the emulator from being stopped cleanly has also been fixed. The team behind ARMSX3 is fairly well known for its speedy updates. Only about a week after its launch, PS3 emulator for Android recieved its first update. Now another update has become available and it fixes a myriad of issues. On GitHub, the developers have published the release notes for the latest update (0.9.7). This release fixes one of the more problematic issues with ARMSX3, which is phone overheating. According to the team, “there were three places where the emulator was burning CPU while doing nothing useful.” The new update frees up CPU time, which means your phone will stop heating up for no reason.

TL;DR Some Google Home users are reportedly having trouble getting devices to answer pretty basic queries. Affected people note that some queries like timers and sports scores work, but asking for a recipe returns an error. A couple of impacted users appear to be on the older Assistant experience, with no confirmed reports coming from Gemini for Home users. Sometimes it feels like half the time we’re talking about Google Home, we’re telling you about the latest way it’s messing up. It hasn’t been long since we reported on an issue that restricted users from adding lists to Keep, which Google has since fixed. Now, users are reporting another glitch with their Google Home devices, one that refuses to answer basic questions. We’re seeing multiple reports on Reddit that detail the problem. One user with an unspecified smart display claims Google Home responds with an, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand that,” to a question asking whether Columbus Day is a federal holiday. The affected person points out that the voice assistant couldn’t provide a list of federal holidays, but it could define a federal holiday.

The Acer Gadget 4K 3 Channel Dash Cam is built to keep an eye on more than just the road ahead, and there’s a nice deal on it at Amazon right now. This recently released dash cam records the front, rear, and cabin simultaneously, making it a strong fit for family cars, daily commuters, and rideshare drivers. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Sony has started rolling out Android 17 to the Xperia 1 VIII. The update adds Desktop mode, customization options, improved screen recording, and custom camera looks. Sony lists five Xperia phones eligible for Android 17, including the Xperia 1 VI and 1 VII. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII has already been enjoying some of the perks of being a flagship phone, but now it’s getting its first major software upgrade. Sony is rolling out Android 17 to its latest Xperia flagship, with several Xperia-specific additions tagging along. Sony has published its official changelog, detailing the changes within. The update, which is live in the UK and Germany, carries software version 73.1.A.2.61 and weighs about 1.2GB.

Amazon has dropped the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 to $1,649.99, down from its $1,899.99 retail price. That saves you $250, a 13% discount off the RRP, and it is the first Amazon discount we’ve seen on this recently released foldable. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR HUAWEI has launched the Pura X View, with a passport-like wide 16:9.5 aspect ratio on a 6.39-inch OLED screen and up to 6,500 nits peak brightness. Despite measuring just 6.68mm thick, the device houses a 7,000mAh silicon-anode battery with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. It is powered by the Kirin 9030S processor and runs HarmonyOS 7. It also offers a 200MP main camera, stylus support, and IP68/IP69 protection. The Pura X View is currently limited to China, and HUAWEI has not yet announced plans for a global expansion. Following a half-announcement last month, HUAWEI has finally taken the wraps off the HUAWEI Pura X View. While the company has spent plenty of energy pushing bleeding-edge form factors like the Mate XT 2 tri-folding phone, the Pura X View takes a delightfully weird turn in the traditional candybar phone space by introducing an unconventional, passport-like 16:9.5 wide-screen aspect ratio. As announced by the company on Weibo, the HUAWEI Pura X View is being pitched to users who want a wider phone for reading, gaming, and split-screen productivity without committing to a wide-screen foldable. It features a 6.39-inch 120Hz OLED display (2,232 × 1,320 resolution) with thin symmetrical 1.05mm bezels, high-frequency 2,160Hz PWM dimming, and an eye-searing peak brightness of up to 6,500 nits. The display is protected by Kunlun Glass and also supports the HUAWEI M-Pen 3 Mini stylus.

Credit: Paul Jones / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has quietly added a useful feature in One UI 9 for international callers. One UI’s Call Brief automatically gives you a heads-up about the other person’s local time if they’re in a different time zone. The feature was recently also added to the Galaxy S26 with the latest One UI 9 beta. Samsung has unleashed a flurry of One UI 9 beta updates for its flagship S and Z series devices. After limiting the beta to the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung recently added a host of other older devices to the roster, suggesting a stable release may not be far off. In addition to the broader rollout, Samsung recently also brought new features with one of the recent beta updates, and one that has caught attention for its simple but practical utility.

TL;DR Snapseed has rolled out a new update for Android, introducing features like a color grading tool and a dedicated search bar. The app has also replaced the previous googly-eyed loading animation with a leaf fan spinner. These features are currently live for everyone, but we’ve found that Snapseed is also working on a complete overhaul of a key menu. The Snapseed app for Android saw its biggest update in a couple of years this May, following a long wait behind iOS users. Since then, we’ve found that the Google-run app still has more changes in progress, such as the color grading tool we exclusively reported on in July. This tool is now rolling out to everyone, along with a couple of other inclusions. Snapseed’s latest version 4.1.6 update now includes the Color Grade tool by default among the list of tools. While the tools menu is set to All by default, Color Grade is also in the Refine submenu. This tool lets users modify a photo’s tones and colors to achieve a specific art style.

TL;DR GrapheneOS is overhauling its Messaging app with a redesigned interface, improvements, and bug fixes. RCS support is coming to GrapheneOS’ own Messaging app, eventually reducing its reliance on Google Messages. A new secure paste feature will block apps from reading clipboard data copied by other apps. GrapheneOS is best known for taking away Google’s unnecessary reach into Android. But as the project matured, its ambitions started expanding beyond the operating system itself. To prepare for that next chapter, GrapheneOS is now stepping up work on the everyday apps and features users still rely on elsewhere, including a redesigned Messaging app, plans for RCS, and a new secure way to paste sensitive information. The first of these changes is already taking shape. GrapheneOS says it is preparing a new release of its Messaging app with a completely overhauled interface built using Android Compose. The update also includes a “massive amount” of other improvements and bug fixes.

Credit: Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is working to integrate its on-device Sensitive Content Warning system into the native Android Photo Picker. Powered by Android System SafetyCore, the feature classifies media on-device without sharing data with Google, allowing third-party apps to warn users when they try to select explicit content, such as nudity. This feature could come in handy to warn underage users from sharing explicit content. Google has been working surprisingly hard at improving Android’s system-level Photo Picker experience, as we’ve spotted features in progress, such as a built-in media editor and a location data toggle that some apps have already begun to adopt. We’ve now spotted Google preparing to bring its on-device Sensitive Content Warning system to the Android Photo Picker, potentially letting third-party apps detect and warn users about nudity before media is shared. 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: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Xiaomi has launched the Xiaomi 18 Fold in China today. It’s the latest wide foldable on the market, following the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s release. The Xiaomi 18 Fold starts at ~$1,639, but there’s no word on a global release just yet. Xiaomi recently showed off the Xiaomi 18 Fold at IFA 2026, giving us a real-world look at its first wide foldable phone. Now, Xiaomi has launched its new foldable in China. The Xiaomi 18 Fold packs a 5.38-inch cover screen (1,712 x 1,168) and a 7.58-inch internal screen (2,364 x 1,672), with both panels featuring a 1-120Hz refresh rate and 4,000 nits of peak brightness. The internal display has a 2:1 aspect ratio compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 8‘s 4:3 inner screen, as well as an anti-reflective film.