Android

With the launch of the Pixel 11 series, Google recently introduced something on older Pixels that certainly upset many users. The My Pixel app, formerly Pixel Tips, has sent push notifications to these users advertising various offers for the new phones and the Pixel Watch 5, often without consent. My colleague Zac wrote about his annoyance with this feature on his Pixel 10 series and noted that it could be a taste of things to come — additional advertising pushes for other Google products.

While the stable Android 17 QPR2 release is still a while away, Google has been steadily pushing out its cryptically named beta updates to supported Pixel phones. Earlier this week, I got the brilliantly named Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 update pushed to one of my Pixels. You can probably make out by now that I’m not a big fan of Google’s nomenclature of its beta releases, but what matters is what’s in it. Before you get your hopes up, the latest update isn’t as big a release as QPR2 Beta 3, from what I can see, but there are still some nice little nuggets here that should appeal to many users. I’ve spent the last couple of days testing the update on a Pixel 10 Pro, and here are some features that stood out to me.

TL;DR Xiaomi has officially revealed the Xiaomi 18 Fold, confirming its design and September 7 announcement date (two days before Apple’s iPhone event, where it is rumored to launch its foldable). The Xiaomi 18 Fold is confirmed to come with a 5.38-inch external screen, a 7.58-inch internal screen, a triple rear camera setup, and Xiaomi’s new XRing O3 SoC. Leaks suggest the cameras include a 3.5x optical zoom telephoto lens, something that is missing from key rivals. Foldable phones (especially the wide-screen ones) seem to be picking up steam, with special thanks to Apple’s imminent market entry with the iPhone Ultra and Samsung’s early success with the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8. Before these, HUAWEI has also been making a splash with its wide foldables, and now Xiaomi is all geared up to launch its own wide foldable next week in the form of the Xiaomi 18 Fold. Xiaomi’s President of the mobile division, Mr. Lu Weibing, has shared official renders of the Xiaomi 18 Fold on Weibo and confirmed that the phone launches in China on September 7, 2026.

Credit: Supplied by Acer TL;DR Acer has announced the Project DualPlay Mini concept handheld. This device looks like a conventional handheld but opens up to deliver a netbook-style experience, complete with a physical keyboard. Acer also unveiled the Predator Atlas 7 handheld PC. Acer is no stranger to handheld gaming, as its Windows handhelds have been around for a while. Now, the company has revealed its new Predator Atlas 7 handheld, along with a radical concept handheld. Starting with the concept device, Acer has unveiled the Project DualPlay Mini handheld. This gadget looks like a large Windows handheld at first, complete with all the expected controls. However, the device opens like a laptop, revealing a large, backlit physical keyboard. The 8-inch screen also swivels inwards to complete the laptop/netbook transformation.

TL;DR Acer has announced two new laptops: the Swift Blade 14 and Swift Air 16. The Blade 14 is a new sub-brand of the Acer Swift series. The Swift Air 16 is a lightweight computer that comes with up to a 3K resolution OLED display. IFA 2026 is here, and that means we’re in store for a flurry of announcements over the next few days. Dell has already revealed its next batch of laptops and Alienware hardware. If you’re up for more laptop news, Acer is now giving us a look at the latest additions to the Swift series. Acer Swift Blade 14

TL;DR Acer has announced the Iconia X14 and X16 tablets ahead of IFA 2026, featuring OLED screens and an aging processor. Both tablets will offer 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, while running Android 16 out of the box. The Iconia X14 and the X16 will be available sometime in the fourth quarter of the year, per the company, with no word on their prices as of yet. IFA 2026 is nearly here. Acer has already grabbed our attention with the Predator Atlas 7 gaming handheld, but that’s not the only hardware announcement to come from the electronics giant. On the heels of the annual consumer electronics expo in Berlin, Acer also revealed its latest addition to the Android tablet segment. For those who follow Acer’s hardware launches closely, the manufacturer released the Iconia X14 at IFA last year along with the Iconia X12. This year’s IFA event adds a brand-new 16-inch model to the lineup, alongside the refreshed 14-inch variant. However, the company has skipped the Iconia X12 this time around. Both new tablets offer a metal chassis and will be available in a solitary Matte Black color, while retaining the kickstand.

TL;DR Acer has unveiled the EP130K ePaper monitor at its IFA 2026 showcase. It features a touch-enabled display with up to 3,200 x 2,400 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The monitor supports color and black-and-white modes and can retain an image without power. ePaper displays have traditionally been associated with e-readers, but the technology is increasingly finding its way into larger displays designed for work and productivity. Acer is joining that trend at IFA 2026 with the new EP130K ePaper monitor, which is aimed at professionals, avid readers, and mobile users who spend long periods working on a screen. The EP130K combines paper-like visuals with a glare-free viewing experience, making it particularly suited to reading and deep work. That paper-like experience is also one of the main reasons ePaper remains appealing for long reading sessions, where the distraction-free presentation can be preferable to a conventional display. The screen also supports touch input, so you can interact with content using a stylus or your finger for writing and drawing.

If you’re a big advocate of sustainability and right-to-repair, you’ve probably heard of Fairphone. The Dutch smartphone maker is famously known for offering sustainable materials, long software support, and user-replaceable components in its products. The only problem is that its phones were limited mostly to Europe, but that changes with the latest Fairphone Gen 6 Plus. You can buy this in the US for $650, which gets you a decent mid-range phone with software support through 2033 and 12 user-replaceable parts.

TL;DR Google Messages now supports Content Credentials, letting you check how compatible photos, videos, and audio were created or edited, including whether AI tools were involved. It won’t tell you whether something is real or fake. Content Credentials only show the history attached to a file, and media without credentials won’t provide this information. The feature is currently Android-only. Press and hold supported media, tap Info, and look for How this was made to see its origin and editing history. A couple of months ago, we spotted Google Messages preparing a useful new trick for the age of AI: a way to tell you about where the photos, videos, and audio people send you actually came from. That feature is now available, and it could come in handy the next time something in your group chat looks too good to be true. Google Messages now supports Content Credentials, which essentially give compatible media a digital history. Instead of leaving you to stare at a suspicious photo and wonder whether it was shot with a camera, heavily edited, or created with the help of AI, Messages can show you some of that information directly.

To say that I’ve been waiting for YouTube Premium Lite’s arrival in my country with bated breath is an understatement. For years, I wanted a version of YouTube Premium that removed ads but didn’t include extra bundled services like YouTube Music. So, when I saw the pop-up to finally try the service appear in my YouTube app, I jumped at the opportunity. But after a month of using the subscription, I’m left with a bitter taste in my mouth.

TL;DR Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus are likely to maintain same charging speeds as previous several generations. The Galaxy S27 could get 25W, while the Galaxy S27 Plus could maintain 45W of wired charging. The phones, meanwhile, are rumored to get MagSafe-style charging with internal magnets. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 has been leaked and rumored several times over the last few weeks. Even though the series is several months away from launch, several leaks suggest a major direction change Samsung may be planning for the next flagship lineup. These changes include an iPhone-inspired design for the camera island, though these changes could be limited to the Galaxy S27 Ultra and the new Pro variant. While the vanilla and Plus models remain on the roster, Samsung may march forth with small upgrades only, and new information doesn’t contradict this notion. The charging speeds of the Galaxy S27 and the Galaxy S27 Plus have been listed on China’s 3C approval registry (via tipster Abhishek Yadav on X). According to this leak, the shorter Galaxy S27 will maintain a peak wired charging speed of 25W, while the taller Galaxy S27 Plus could support charging only up to 45W.

TL;DR Samsung has started rolling out the first One UI 9 beta to the Galaxy S24 series. The Android 17-based beta is now confirmed in the US, India, and South Korea. The roughly 3.6GB update includes new One UI features and the August 2026 security patch. Samsung is moving quickly to expand its One UI 9 beta program to older Galaxy devices. After opening the program to the Galaxy S25 series and confirming its 2025 foldables as the next devices in line, Samsung has now started rolling out the first One UI 9 beta to the Galaxy S24 series, bringing Android 17 to its 2024 flagship phones. The rollout was first spotted in the US, where the Galaxy S24 series can now access the beta through the Samsung Members app. According to tipster Tarun Vats on X, the US version carries build S92xU1UEU6ZZHL.

Credit: Supplied by Oukitel TL;DR Oukitel has launched the WP600 and WP70 Ultra rugged phones ahead of IFA 2026. The WP600 is marketed as a rugged gaming phone thanks to its tough design, cooling fans, and 10,000mAh battery. The WP70 Ultra is apparently the slimmest 16,000mAh rugged phone, but it still looks very chunky. Oukitel has long been one of the go-to brands if you wanted a rugged smartphone with a huge battery. The company will be at IFA 2026, and it’s now revealed two brand-new rugged phones ahead of the expo. The Oukitel WP600 is marketed as a “rugged smartphone for gamers.” It certainly looks like a thick gaming phone at first glance, owing to the Transformers-like yellow and black color scheme, customizable RGB lights, and metal elements. The phone also has IP68/IP69K ratings and MIL-STD-810H certification.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google is reportedly very close to launching Gemini 3.8 Flash. The upcoming model could arrive with major vibe coding upgrades to take on Anthropic’s Fable and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Sol. Google has internally scrapped plans to launch Gemini 3.5 Pro, and could only release the next Pro model with Gemini 4.0. With such a wide range of applications, Gemini feels more like a general-purpose technology or GPT (no, not that GPT) and less like a specialized frontier model. But it has made reasonable strides in vibe coding. Earlier in March, Google CEO Sundar Pichai himself said that 75% of Google’s code is vibe coded and approved by engineers. While that could be why Pixel’s software updates remain a mess, Google is continuing to advance its vibe coding focus and is reportedly testing a new model that could compete with stalwarts such as Claude Cowork (powered by Fable or Mythos), (now) xAI-owned Cursor, and ChatGPT’s Codex. DeepMind, Google’s frontier AI research arm, could soon release a new model with significantly improved coding capabilities, the Wall Street Journal has reported (paywalled). Based on internal testing, Google’s engineers reportedly found the new model, Gemini 3.8 Flash, better than Anthropic’s Opus (unspecified version).

TL;DR Google has confirmed the Messages issue affecting some users after transferring data to a new phone. A fix is already rolling out, although it may take several weeks to reach everyone. The exact cause and affected app versions remain unclear, but the issue caused old texts to resurface in new conversations. After weeks of concerning reports about Google Messages retrieving old texts from unrelated conversations and, in some cases, sending them to the wrong recipients, we finally have some clarity. Google has confirmed that it is aware of the issue and has begun rolling out a fix, which is expected to reach all users soon. “We’re aware of an issue affecting some Google Messages users when transferring to a new device. We’re currently rolling out a fix that will reach everyone over the coming weeks,” a Google spokesperson told Android Authority.

TL;DR Google is working on new colors for Google Maps in Android Auto. The map surface and turn indicators in Google Maps could get darker even in light mode. In dark mode, the turn indicator will no longer be teal. Google has been working on several new features and improvements for Android Auto. While we wait for the big Android Auto redesign announced at I/O 2026, the company is working on other, more subtle changes throughout the experience, including a new icon. However, Google is working on a lot more. 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 Dell has announced the 14s, a new laptop aimed at young adults and college students. The Dell 14s is thin and light, and comes in four colorways. Pricing and availability aren’t known yet, but Dell is hinting the new laptop should be relatively affordable. Dell-owned Alienware has also announced two new OLED gaming monitors, including one with a 560Hz refresh rate. In the market for a laptop? Dell’s got a colorful new model that might be worth a look. At IFA this morning, Dell took the wraps off the 14s, a thin, trendy unit that looks like it might appeal to the MacBook Neo crowd. Dell is pitching its new 14s as an affordable option for students, though the company hasn’t yet confirmed pricing. The Windows 11 laptop comes in four colors and features a 14-inch, 16:10 display packed into a body that’s just over half an inch thick and weighs under three pounds.

TL;DR Perplexity has launched Hybrid Compute, which can split sensitive tasks between cloud models and local AI. It automatically identifies private files and information and processes them locally. Hybrid Compute is currently available in the Perplexity app for Apple Silicon Macs. Perplexity has been releasing agentic AI tools in quick succession over the last few months, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon. After releasing Personal Computer in April and Portable Computer late last month, the company is now launching Hybrid Compute. The company announced Hybrid Compute in a post on X, while also explaining how it works and who it’s for.

TL;DR Google has introduced agentic video understanding in Gemini. Gemini can now easily analyze long videos with sub-second accuracy. It can also track physical movement and count distinct objects in videos. Google has been steadily improving Gemini to make it more useful. We’ve already spotted the company working on new features for Gemini on mobile, while also releasing new Gemini models such as Gemini 3.7 Flash. However, Google is now giving Gemini the ability to analyze videos in a more cost-effective and efficient manner. Google announced today that it’s bringing agentic video understanding to the latest Gemini models: Gemini 3.7 Flash, 3.6 Flash, and 3.5 Flash-Lite. This new capability allows users to upload videos to Gemini and have the AI analyze them. It also reduces token usage by up to 88% and offers up to 7% better accuracy.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google is rolling out Battery Usage Summaries to Pixel 10 and later devices. The feature highlights unusual battery drain and identifies the apps using the most power. We first spotted the feature under development two weeks ago, with our teardown indicating that Gemini Nano would generate the summaries on-device. Pixel phones already give you plenty of detail about where your battery is being hogged, but Google is adding a simpler way to make sense of it. It looks like the new Battery Usage Summary feature is now rolling out to Pixel 10 and later devices. A screenshot shared with us by Telegram user @avasthiamit shows the summary appearing at the top of the Battery usage page. In this example, the phone highlights that around 15% of the battery has been used, says this is more than usual for that time of day, and identifies WhatsApp and Google as the biggest power users.

The ECOVACS Deebot X9 Pro Omni is a high-end robot vacuum-and-mop combo built for busy homes, especially ones with mixed floors, pets, and lots of day-to-day mess. It packs strong cleaning hardware and a highly automated dock, and right now there’s a solid deal on it at Amazon. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR ESPN Unlimited is now fully integrated into YouTube TV. Eligible subscribers can watch its content without switching to the ESPN app. The integration also brings features like multiview, alternate feeds, and ESPN Fantasy support. YouTube TV and ESPN have been on a bit of a rollercoaster, with last year’s Disney carriage dispute briefly taking ESPN and other channels off the service. One of the sweeteners when the two sides eventually struck a new deal was access to ESPN Unlimited for YouTube TV subscribers, and that started rolling out in August. But until now, you still had to leave YouTube TV and watch it on the ESPN app. That changes today, with ESPN Unlimited now fully integrated into YouTube TV. YouTube announced the full integration in a blog post, confirming that it applies to subscribers on the main YouTube TV plan or any plan that includes Sports. That brings events including the US Open, college football, PGA Tour golf, WWE Premium Live Events, La Liga, and out-of-market NHL games into the app, along with ESPN Originals, Films, and the full 30 for 30 library.

Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Google is gradually rolling out a new UI for timers in the Clock app. The numbers are flatter and come without the circular background; there are presets for 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes; and the start button has moved. Multiple timers now appear as a grid. Google has rolled out a few updates as part of the September Android Drop, like Guided Vision for Gemini Live and a crossover between Google Messages and Keep. Not to be missed, the company is also rolling out a change for the Google Clock app. Specifically, the Timers tab is going to look a little different from how you remember. In the UI you’re familiar with, the tab features a large card with rounded numbers. The numbers are also rounded for the numeric keypad overlay, but these numbers are contained in a circular background. If you have more than one timer, this card gains an extra button at the bottom to close it so you can see your other timers. When there are multiple timers, they are arranged in a vertical pattern, allowing you to scroll through them.

Galaxy S25 Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR The Galaxy S25 is getting Samsung’s Horizontal Lock camera feature in One UI 9 Beta 1. The feature keeps the recorded video level even as you rotate or flip the phone. Horizontal Lock was previously spotted in an internal One UI 9 build for the Galaxy S25 Plus. The Galaxy S25 series has only just joined Samsung’s One UI 9 beta program, so we’re still digging around to see which new features have made the jump from the Galaxy S26. One of the better camera upgrades appears to be among them, with the Horizontal Lock apparently now working on the Galaxy S25. X user CID (@theonecid) shared a video of the feature running on what they identify as a Galaxy S25 with One UI 9 Beta 1. In the clip, the phone is slowly rotated all the way around while recording, but the resulting footage stays locked upright rather than rotating with the handset.

TL;DR As part of the September Android Drop, Find Hub and Gemini are adding a new option to remember the locations of items that can’t be digitally tracked. You’ll be able to save and recall item locations by voice using Gemini, with an option to add a photo illustrating where you left your item. These options are coming soon to phones running Android 16 or newer. Google’s Find Hub lets you find various types of connected devices, from smartphones to earbuds to dedicated item trackers, all from a single interface. Starting this month, you’ll also be able to use Find Hub to remember the location of non-connected devices. As part of the September Android Drop announced today, Find Hub is rolling out an option that’ll let users make a note of any object’s location. These notes appear inside Find Hub, and you’ll also be able to ask Gemini where you told it your stuff is.