Android

TL;DR Pixel 11 can translate American Sign Language into English text in real time. A new demo shows Google’s accessibility feature working outside its launch presentation. Google is expected to bring sign-to-text translation to more Pixel models. Google’s Pixel phones have never been the strongest hardware contenders, but software has long been where the lineup punches above its weight. The Pixel 11 live sign-to-text translation may be one of its most meaningful examples yet, and a new hands-on demo shows it working outside Google’s launch showcase. We first covered the feature when Google announced the Pixel 11 series, which can use its front camera to translate American Sign Language (ASL) into written English. Now, a video shared on Reddit shows the feature keeping up with a user signing in front of the phone, with translated phrases appearing in Gboard.

Credit: Brady Snyder / Android Authority TL;DR Some Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners report that the corners of the folding screen have more give when pressed. This suggests that the corners of the display aren’t properly supported. It’s unclear whether this is a defect or intended behavior, though. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series introduced a Flex Titanium structure, which is supposed to increase the stiffness of the folding display and improve durability after repeated folds. However, it seems like Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners are reporting a strange issue with their inner screens. Some Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners have reported that the corners of the folding screen have more give than the rest of the display (h/t: r/GalaxyFold, Samsung EU Community, and tipster yeux1122). That is, the display sinks a lot more in these corners when pressed, as if there’s nothing to support the panel.

Credit: HUAWEI TL;DR HUAWEI has launched a new triple-folding phone with a sleeker build and new colors. The Mate XT2 features a 10.2-inch screen and has a special edition with a privacy screen. The tri-fold runs on HUAWEI’s own Kirin 9050 Pro chipset with 40% gains in CPU performance. Apple’s finally set to make a splash with the first-ever folding iPhone later this week. However, even before Apple’s announcement and the official reveal of the supposed iPhone Ultra, Chinese phone makers are attempting to hog the limelight with their similarly, or more, impressive foldables. Xiaomi is launching the Xiaomi 18 Fold, with a design too familiar. One step ahead, HUAWEI has already revealed its latest foldable: the second generation of its triple-folding phones. At a launch event in China earlier today, HUAWEI pulled the wraps off the Mate XT 2 tri-fold phone. Like the previous XT series phones from HUAWEI, the Mate XT2 unfolds fully to a 10.2-inch inner screen with a roughly 3.2K resolution when fully unfolded.

TL;DR Owners of the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic in South Korea are now receiving the One UI 9 Watch beta update. A full changelog for the Wear OS 7-based update is currently unavailable, though a handful of visual changes are expected. Samsung has already rolled out One UI 9 Watch beta for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 7 variants in select regions. Samsung has been pretty busy over the past couple of weeks, beginning the One UI 9 Watch beta for the Galaxy Watch 8 late last month, followed by the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra last week. It is now officially the turn of 2023’s Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic to get in on the beta action, starting with Samsung’s home region. Prominent leaker Tarun Vats shared a screenshot on X, obtained via the Korean Samsung community page, depicting the One UI 9 Watch beta update page for the Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic.

TL;DR Google seems to be working on a refreshed UI for paid games on the Play Store. It will use a more immersive banner image and display key details at the bottom of the image. The new UI is still under development and hasn’t been released yet. Google has been working on a couple of new features for the Play Store. The company is aiming to make it easier for users to manage downloads, and it now seems that Google is also trying to make paid games stand out from free Android games. 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: Joe Maring / Android Authority While some people give Samsung a hard time for offering too many features, I really appreciate that a One UI device feels like something more than just a generic Android phone. There are quite a few Samsung-specific apps I’ve come to rely on, and Samsung Reminder is certainly near the top of that list. While there are other reminder apps out there, Samsung has done a great job with its in-house app; I use it nearly every day. I find Samsung Reminder makes it much easier for me to remember both important events and minor things like getting the milk next time I leave the house. If you really want to make the most of this tool, though, there are certainly some settings and little tricks that can make the experience even better.

TL;DR We have managed to get the Play Store’s upcoming download management feature working ahead of release. The feature will let users pause and resume app downloads without canceling the download. We’re also sharing a demo of the feature so you can see how it works. Google is working on a useful new Play Store feature. We recently spotted a work-in-progress option that lets users pause and resume app downloads at will. At the time, the feature wasn’t functional. However, Google has been working on it, and this time, we finally managed to record a demo of the feature in action. 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.

Apple is gearing up to launch its first foldable iPhone on September 9, coming years after Android OEMs launched the first foldable phones. Nevertheless, this will be the first folding phone that many people will actually be interested in, let alone buy. Unfortunately, Android foldable phones have some enduring weaknesses and compromises, and Apple’s first foldable will almost certainly have most of these same issues. So, if you’re an Apple user and you’re buying into the iPhone Ultra hype, maybe keep reading before you pre-order it.

TL;DR Nothing Phone 2 is done with major Android updates, but Pei says its Android 17 cutoff isn’t a broken promise. Pei admits Nothing needs to rethink some software choices and may have moved too quickly away from its original design identity. As Nothing expands in the US and explores new products, Pei says the focus should be on doing less, but better. Nothing CEO Carl Pei has never been particularly shy about talking directly to the company’s community, and a recent Reddit AMA produced some unusually candid answers. From the Phone 2’s Nothing OS 5.0 situation to bloatware, the Glyph, AI, and Nothing’s broader product strategy, Pei gave fans plenty to discuss. The most interesting part, though, may be how willing he was to acknowledge that some of Nothing’s recent decisions haven’t quite landed as intended. Why isn’t Nothing Phone 2 getting Android 17?

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority When you run out of Google’s 15GB of free cloud storage, the first instinct is usually to go after the photos and files you’ve backed up over time. And while that makes sense, you shouldn’t ignore your emails. Those can sometimes take up just as much space, if not more, especially if you’ve been using Gmail for years. Mine was sitting at 5.27GB, which is slightly over a third of the free storage, and I hadn’t even noticed. The fix, though, doesn’t have to be paying for Google One. A few minutes of inbox cleanup is usually enough to claw back some serious gigabytes. If you’re in need of some overdue inbox cleaning, here are four tips you’ll want to know.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR OPPO has officially confirmed that the Find X10 Pro Max will have three 200MP cameras. We’re guessing the third 200MP shooter will be an ultrawide camera. The company adds that the standard Find X10 will have two 200MP cameras. There’s no shortage of phones with 200MP cameras, but the OPPO Find X9 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra upped the ante with two 200MP rear cameras. Now, OPPO has confirmed that the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max will take things up a notch. OPPO Find series product manager Zhuo Shijie wrote on Weibo that the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max will have three 200MP cameras. The executive adds that this camera system is jointly developed by the smartphone maker and Hasselblad. An image attached to the post also mentions three 200MP cameras — check out the machine-translated picture below.

Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is quietly pulling the trigger on two AR apps it previously hyped a lot. These are AR Doodle and Quick Measure, both of which will be sunset on December 31, 2026. Samsung says that future versions of One UI will not support the apps, so there’s no point holding on to them. Years before AI became a ubiquitous, and universally overused, marketing term, augmented reality, or AR, enjoyed a similar spree — as did other buzzwords such as metaverse and blockchain. But since the beginning of AI’s unrivaled reign, such buzzwords aren’t quite as prevalent, even though they continue to co-exist as complementary to AI. As a result, companies seem to be cutting back on their emphasis on them. Samsung’s recent steps appear to be in order, as it looks to reduce support for once-glamorized AR applications. Two Samsung apps are now set to get the axe, and these include AR Doodle and Quick Measure. Samsung shared the update as refreshed changelogs (without actual updates) for the apps on the Galaxy App Store (via Jujun Junaedi and Tarun Vats on X). We were able to confirm the updates at our end.

Software and hardware bugs seem inevitable in modern tech. They can be small, insignificant glitches or more publicized, detrimental issues that completely ruin the user experience and consumer trust. It’s fair to say that Google Pixel phones and their users have had a taste of both in recent months, with various battery drain, overheating, and other phone-breaking problems plaguing both old and new devices in the series. But are Pixels really the buggy mess many seem to believe? Well, according to my colleague Dhruv’s experience with the Pixel 11 Pro, which bricked itself five days into his review, there is perhaps sufficient evidence to suggest this. Of course, we always prefer receiving feedback from our readers. We recently conducted a survey asking if you’ve encountered any early software or hardware bugs on Pixel phones. The results are in, and you can view them below.

Google has spent years telling us that Tensor is about more than chasing benchmark scores. And that’s fair; a phone’s processor is about AI, photography, connectivity, battery life, and all the clever features that make a Pixel a Pixel. But there’s a point where the performance gap becomes too large to ignore, particularly when we’re talking about $1,000-plus flagship phones. The Pixel 11 series has some genuinely impressive tricks up its sleeve, but its Tensor G6 processor is increasingly looking like the weakest link.

TL;DR The developer behind Xtream Player has announced a new version of the app. It comes with a Winamp-like visualizer with nine visualization styles. It also supports sending videos from your phone to the car. The last couple of months have been a rollercoaster ride for fans of Fermata Xtream. The developer first announced he was shutting down the app, then rewrote the entire codebase and brought Xtream Player back from the dead. A few weeks later, he released an update that added dashboard games. Now, the developer has announced yet another update that brings several new features, including a visualization option. The new update (v1.6.0) was announced on Reddit, along with a couple of screenshots showing the new visualization feature, which is very similar to what some might recall from the golden days of Winamp on PC. Users can choose from nine visualization styles, and the feature is available to both free and premium users.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Three men had to be rescued from a mountain in California after using Gemini to plan their hike. The AI chatbot reportedly told them to bring far less food and water than they needed. Needless to say, you shouldn’t blindly trust AI for planning trips like these. Many people rely on AI for planning their trips, but you really shouldn’t blindly trust these chatbots for anything. Now, three hikers have found out that you shouldn’t trust Gemini at all for planning a mountain hike. The Chicago Tribune reports that three hikers got rescued from the 14,179-foot (4,322-meter) Mount Shasta in California after getting lost overnight. The men told emergency services that they had planned their hike via Google Gemini.

TL;DR Oura has confirmed battery performance problems affected some Ring 4 units, contributing to an $84.4 million increase in warranty expenses. Oura replaced affected Ring 4s for free and, in some cases, even replaced devices after the one-year warranty had expired. Oura hasn’t revealed which Ring 4 batches were affected, so owners experiencing sudden or unusually fast battery drain should consider contacting support. Battery complaints about the Oura Ring 4 have been floating around online for a while, but we now have a much better indication that something was actually going wrong with at least some of those rings. And it comes with a rather eye-opening number attached. As reported by Gadgets & Wearables, Oura has disclosed battery performance problems with certain Ring 4 units in paperwork filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of its planned IPO. The company recorded an $84.4 million increase in warranty expenses during fiscal 2025, with Ring 4 battery issues among the factors behind that jump.

TL;DR Google Photos is getting two new features today: virtual wardrobe and Manual Photo Stacks. Virtual wardrobe creates a wardrobe of a user’s clothes and builds new outfits for them to try. With Manual Photo Stacks, users can select multiple photos and add them to a stack for easier organization. Google Photos is usually quite good at organizing photos and videos, and with the new Gemini Spark integration, things could get even easier. However, if you want more manual control over your library, the app is adding a couple of new features you’ll likely appreciate, including one that could help you look your best without spending hours wondering what to wear. Earlier this year, we reported that Google was finally working on bringing Manual Photo Stacks to Android after it had been available on iOS for nearly a year. That day is finally here, as the feature has started showing up for some members of the Android Authority team. With this feature, you’ll see a new “Stack Photos” option in the toolbar when you select multiple photos in the Photos app. This will create a stack of those pictures, allowing you to manually organize your Photos library.

Like everyone else, I install a bunch of apps after setting up a new Android phone. Some of these are essentials like Bitwarden and Ente Auth, while others are productivity apps I can’t live without. It doesn’t end there, though. I also use a few utility apps that are among the first apps to go on my phone. On Pixel phones, it’s the Essentials app, which unlocks a ton of new functionality. And for all the other Android phones I test, I can’t live without Action Notch — a free Android app that helps me get the most out of my phone’s notch.

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Google launched the Pixel 11 series a little under a month ago, and there’s a lot to like here. All four phones offer more capable silicon, nifty AI tricks, some cool camera features, and a lengthy software update policy. Unfortunately, the standard Pixel 11 lacks many camera features compared to the Pixel 11 Pro series. And a brand new $500 Android phone from a rival manufacturer drives home just how absurd Google’s practice around this continues to be.

If you need a foldable with the best specs and budget isn’t a factor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra takes the crown. It isn’t even really that close. With its thin-and-light form factor, 5,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip, and standout rear camera system, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is arguably the flagship foldable with the fewest compromises. So why don’t I want to use it? I’ve tried every book-style foldable released in the US this year, and if I ranked them in the order of most likely to earn a spot in my pocket, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra would come in last. I’d pick both the Motorola Razr Fold and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold over it, despite their weaker performance and hardware drawbacks. I’d even go with the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 over the Ultra model, accepting its limitations.

Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority Most people stick to the defaults when it comes to apps like your calendar, texting app, and clock. The reality is that plenty of third-party apps do the job better, and Chrono is one of them. Far from a household name, Chrono is an open-source clock app that puts both Samsung and Google’s default Clock apps to shame. It has a great UI, plenty of useful alarm features, and no ads. It’s also easy to overlook because it isn’t officially available on the Google Play Store.

Think about it: Water is among the most important things for humans, only second to oxygen. Without it, we can’t live for more than a few days. Needless to say, it’s an important part of your everyday life, so why not invest in good drinking water? Sure, you can buy purified water, but it gets expensive over time, not to mention the time and trips to the store. Then, there are the complicated filtration systems that can be installed under the sink, but those are also mighty pricey, hard to install, and often not even a viable option for renters.

Years ago, I considered Samsung’s flagships as the best Android smartphones to beat. But that idea has seemed increasingly nostalgic as competitors in other markets overtake the company’s smartphones when it comes to hardware specs. Sometimes, even budget and mid-range devices have features that make Samsung’s phones seem outdated in comparison. Despite the yearning among many for Samsung to return to its history of innovation, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. And the key reason lies in its sales.

I like bright and colorful tech when I can get it. The red Nexus 5, Prism Green Galaxy S10 Plus, and Jade Pixel 10 Pro are just a few of the best-designed phones I’ve owned over the years. There’s nothing wrong with a black phone; I just think they’re boring. Yet, I’ve bought one this year. As much as I loved my Jade Pixel 10 Pro, I hated the shiny, slimy rails, and I couldn’t live with that for another year. Thankfully, Google finally gave me the option to forgo them with the Pixel 11 Pro.