Android

TL;DR Google may soon allow users to generate images with Gemini’s Nano Banana without a visible watermark. Google appears to be working to bring this highly-requested feature to Gemini. We’re unsure of how it could work, and whether it would also allow removing watermarks from previously generated images. AI-driven image generation has become much better over the years. While generating images with AI, you no longer have to worry about wonky alphabets, extra fingers on your subjects’ hands, or other senseless details — the signs are far more discreet. With this progress, AI models have evolved newer watermarking techniques so you don’t worry about unsightly stamps on the masterpieces for which you’ve prompted. While Google has been relying on invisible SynthID watermarks in images generated by AI, it also adds a tiny visual overlay to signify the source of the image. Since it’s easy to remove and unsightly, Google might give users the option to remove logo-based watermarks from Gemini-made images and rely solely on other invisible means. This is already being worked on at Google, which could soon allow users to create images without visible watermarks.

TL;DR Xiaomi’s upcoming 18 Pro series could finally arrive in global markets outside China. The flagship series is expected to include a rear screen across the entire camera island, similar to the Xiaomi 17 Pro series. Xiaomi is expected to offer the smartphone lineup with Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset or its Pro version. If there’s one criticism I have of modern-day slab-style smartphones, it’s that they all look pretty much the same. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi challenged that notion last year with the 17 Pro lineup, which sports a secondary display on the back. While those phones were limited to the Chinese market, it’s now looking like things may be different for the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro series. According to XimiTime, the Xiaomi 18 Pro series could be available in Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, and nations in the European Economic Area (EEA). The US remains notably absent from this list, though the smartphone lineup’s likely availability in markets outside China is certainly encouraging.

TL;DR Google could soon let users customize their Gemini Daily Brief. Daily Brief could show a text box where users can type what they want or don’t want to see in their briefing. It could also allow voice input and offer suggestions for customizing the Daily Brief. When Google announced “Daily Brief” at I/O 2026, it immediately looked similar to Pixel 10’s “Daily Hub.” What’s more, Daily Brief seems to have plenty of scope for improvement. While it’s already possible to tune your Daily Brief, Google is now working to make it easier for users to tell Gemini what they want in their top-of-the-morning roundups and what they’d like to ignore. 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: Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority TL;DR A new leak has uncovered that the Galaxy S27 series is internally codenamed “NM1” through “NM4” (“New Miracle” or “Next Miracle”). The leak suggests a potential 50MP Sony IMX855 ultrawide sensor on the S27 Ultra/Pro, a 16MP autofocus selfie camera on upper models, and 50MP main OIS setups on base versions. Building on recent reports that Samsung may pivot to Sony sensors for its standard Galaxy S27 flagships, a new leak has uncovered internal codenames and more details on the exact camera sensors Samsung will use in its next flagship lineup. WinFuture has uncovered that the Galaxy S27 series is currently codenamed “NM1,” “NM2,” “NM3,” and “NM4,” where “NM” refers to “New Miracle” or “Next Miracle” (the Galaxy S26 series was “Miracle”).

TL;DR Claude’s voice mode can now use multiple models, including Opus and Sonnet. It can also use connected tools like Notion, Canva, and others to complete tasks in voice mode. The new update is rolling out in public beta on mobile, desktop, and the web. If you prefer talking to your AI chatbots, Anthropic has some great news for you. The company launched voice mode in Claude last year and started rolling out multilingual support last month. Now, Anthropic is giving the feature a major update that could make it better than the competition. Anthropic announced a couple of new features for Claude’s voice mode in an X post today. First, and most importantly, Claude’s voice mode no longer relies exclusively on the Haiku model. It can now also use Claude Opus and Sonnet. That means it could lead to a much better experience, with longer conversations and more complex questions.

TL;DR ChatGPT’s desktop apps can now access the upgraded Live mode powered by GPT-Live. The feature enables desktop users to complete a wide range of complex and simple tasks with only their voice. ChatGPT Voice is available to subscribers of the Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise tiers. OpenAI announced a major update to ChatGPT’s voice experience, GPT-Live, earlier this month. Among its myriad features is the ability to speak and listen to your commands, while also coordinating tasks at the same time. This is something that Google’s Gemini Live cannot currently do. Now, OpenAI is bringing this upgraded voice model to more users. OpenAI said the upgraded Voice mode is rolling out to macOS and Windows desktops via the ChatGPT app as part of version 26.715. This is one of those features that could significantly cut down the time spent typing or scrolling on your keyboard, as ChatGPT Voice can practically do everything on your desktop on your behalf.

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR The EU’s energy database has revealed charging cycle information for Samsung’s new foldable phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 are all rated 1,200 charging cycles. This figure matches the Galaxy S26 series but falls short of the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7’s 2,000 cycles. Samsung officially launched the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra earlier this week, and one of the most notable upgrades is the switch to silicon-carbon batteries. This tech usually degrades faster than conventional batteries, and the EU has now officially revealed charging cycle info for the new phones. The European Union’s EPREL database has published energy labels for the new Samsung foldable phones, and all three phones are rated for 1,200 charging cycles before effectively losing 20% capacity. Check out the labels below.

Take a look at the little white figure in the video above. It’s an Android bot from the Android 6.0 Marshmallow era, and at first glance, you might not think that this is all that impressive. But what makes this model special is that it was carved from a single solid block on a desktop machine, and the design process — from a flat 2D image to a machine-ready toolpath — was handled by AI in a matter of minutes. I was invited to InfiMaker’s HQ in Shenzhen, China, to watch a machine transform a solid block into one of these Android bots. And that machine is the InfiMaker K1, a desktop 5-axis CNC machine designed to turn digital ideas into real products. The interesting claim is that it isn’t just a machine that can machine aluminum, steel, and even titanium; it’s designed for people with an idea without needing to become a machinist first.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip exploded in popularity when it first arrived in 2020. Unlike the larger Z Fold foldables, the Z Flip wasn’t necessarily about solving new problems — it was all about aesthetics. Fast forward to 2026, and that’s actually part of the problem. The Galaxy Z Flip seems to be losing its mojo as Samsung goes all-in on the Z Fold like never before.

Last year, Samsung took its first real step toward fixing one of the Fold lineup’s biggest complaints. With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the company finally moved away from the awkwardly narrow cover display and made the phone noticeably thinner. It wasn’t a complete redesign, but it was clear Samsung was heading in a new direction. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 takes that idea much further — it’s wider, thinner, and lighter. It’s impressive on paper, and even more impressive in person. But the longer I look at it, the more I realize Samsung didn’t achieve this redesign without making sacrifices, and some of them are really hard to ignore.

TL;DR ChatGPT Health is now rolling out to everyone in the US aged 18 years or above. Users can connect their health data with ChatGPT and get medical advice based on their reports and health metrics. It currently supports Apple Health and some US hospital systems, but support for Google Health is missing. Earlier this year, ChatGPT announced a new Health feature that lets users connect their health data to the platform and receive medical advice based on it. Back then, the feature was locked behind a waitlist, but the company is now rolling it out more widely. OpenAI has announced that it’s bringing ChatGPT Health to everyone in the US aged 18 or older. It will be available on the web as well as on the ChatGPT mobile apps on Android and iOS, and ChatGPT is using its latest GPT-5.5 Instant and GPT-5.6 Sol models for medical queries.

Credit: Tushar Mehta / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing the handy option to attach files to Gemini Live. Currently, Gemini Live is limited to a live video feed from your screen or your surroundings. In addition to adding files from your phone, Gemini Live could allow you to import them directly from Drive. After recently redesigning part of the Gemini launcher on Android, Google is testing similar changes to the assistant’s other aspects, including the floating overlay and Gemini Live. And along with dousing the interface in new “neural” design elements, Google is also experimenting with the option to attach files to your Google Live conversations. 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.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is here. And just as everyone expected, Samsung has split its book-style foldable lineup into two models: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. That means, for the first time, you can choose two very different book-style foldables from Samsung. You can either go with the new, wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 or stick with the familiar tall Fold design, now available in its most refined form as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Credit: Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and a massive 800mAh battery (up 35% from 590mAh), yet official estimates still quote the same “up to 60 hours with Always-On Display” as the original Watch Ultra model. The Galaxy Watch 9 models also increased battery sizes and switched from Exynos W1000 to Snapdragon Wear Elite, but Samsung continues to quote up to 40 hours of runtime without Always-On Display across both generations. The lack of runtime improvement despite Wear OS 7’s efficiency improvements and larger batteries could stem from power draws like the brighter 5,000-nit display, lower processor efficiency, or simply outdated marketing specs. Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at its latest Unpacked event, introducing a major silicon pivot to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite SoC alongside a massive 800mAh battery cell. Curiously, despite the larger battery and newer chip, Samsung’s official spec sheet quotes the exact same “up to 60 hours with Always-On Display” runtime as the original 590mAh Exynos W1000-totting Galaxy Watch Ultra. The spec discrepancy was first highlighted by Phonefuturist on X, who questioned whether the Snapdragon Wear Elite is better than the Exynos W1000, given that it seemingly erased a 35% battery capacity jump.

https://youtu.be/RGTGAkNOjCU Samsung’s flagships have come under fire over the years for lagging behind the best hardware on the market in one way or another. Charging power has been at the heart of many criticisms, historically lagging some way behind the competition. That’s changed somewhat this year. First, the Galaxy S26 Ultra jumped to 60W, and now the Z Fold 8 and 8 Ultra are moving up to 45W as well. Not the fastest in the business, but undoubtedly more in the mix than a couple of years ago.

TL;DR Ultrahuman is rolling out a new “Emerald” update for its companion app. It introduces a new “UltraSphere” decision-making engine that suggests “Next Best Actions” to users. It also offers better health insights and new tabs such as “Sleep Screener,” “Longevity,” and “Windows.” Ultrahuman, the company behind fitness rings like the Ultrahuman Ring PRO, today announced a major “Emerald” update to the Ultrahuman app, introducing a fresh design and new features to help users get the most out of their fitness trackers. The update aims to make health insights easier to understand so users can make better health decisions. At the core of the new experience is the “UltraSphere” — a decision engine that lives on the home screen and offers “Next Best Actions” to users. These actions are customized to each user based on their location, current weather, and circadian rhythm.

Credit: Jonathan Feist / Android Authority TL;DR A Microsoft executive has confirmed that LG has agreed to disable McAfee pop-ups on their monitor app. This comes after it emerged that LG was automatically installing bloatware when you connected its monitors to your PC. This doesn’t solve the problem of bloat being installed on your PC without your consent, though. LG came under fire earlier this week after it emerged that it was automatically installing bloatware when you connected its monitors to your PC. What made matters infinitely worse was that the app in question displayed McAfee pop-ups on your desktop whenever you started up your computer. Now, Microsoft executive Pavan Davuluri has announced on X that LG has agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up in their app. Check out a screenshot of the tweet below.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Google recently introduced the neural design for its Gemini launcher on Android, and it’s now being tested across other parts, including the floating overlay. These elements include a flowy overlay rather than a solid shape, with colorful dots sprinkled in the background. The redesign also brings new buttons for the Live interface, with a similarly flowy design. Around two months ago, Google introduced Gemini’s new neural design with 3D visual effects and spatial animations, almost gesturing at its transformation for the upcoming Android XR visual interface. The effects were largely limited to Gemini’s homescreen on Android, as well as regular (non-Live) chats. Now, however, we’re seeing these changes spill over to the Gemini overlay, the floating bar that appears when you hail Gemini from outside the Google app, as well as in the Gemini Live interface. 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.

It’s been nearly five years since Google launched its Tensor SoC line to take charge of its AI and machine learning priorities on Pixel phones. In certain aspects, the Tensor line has delivered on this goal, but it has also failed in other areas that matter. Battery management, heat output, and waning performance have left many users disillusioned with Google’s silicon. And, as my colleague Stephen Radochia explains, even the AI ambitions fall short for users of older yet still capable phones.

Credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Authority TL;DR One UI 9 introduces a new Open Canvas-style 90:10 three-app split-screen layout on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 can arrange three apps side by side vertically, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is limited to one large app alongside two stacked apps. Samsung’s own documentation confirms that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra supports new two-way and three-way split views, but it doesn’t detail the layouts. Samsung spent plenty of time talking about Galaxy AI, bigger batteries, and thinner hardware during its latest Galaxy Unpacked event, but one of the most interesting improvements to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series may have flown under the radar. One UI 9 introduces a new Open Canvas-style multitasking layout that makes better use of the foldable display by allowing three apps to share the screen in new ways.

Credit: Tushar Mehta / Android Authority TL;DR Some Galaxy Watch owners are reporting major battery drain issues. The problem seems to affect multiple models, including the Galaxy Watch 6, 7, and 8 lines. This is at least the third time this year that a flood of Galaxy Watch owners have reported abnormal battery drain. Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, but it’s been a topsy-turvy year if you own an older Galaxy Watch. These users reported battery drain issues in 2026, and it sounds like the problem has struck again. Multiple Reddit users have reported major battery drain problems on their Samsung smartwatches. The problem seems to affect a variety of devices, including the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 7, and Galaxy Watch 6 generations.

TL;DR Google has started rolling out Fitbit Air firmware version 253.2. The update only includes minor bug fixes, with no new features or user-facing changes mentioned in Google’s announcement. Google recommends installing the update during the day and keeping the Google Health app open throughout the process. Google has started rolling out a new software update for the Fitbit Air. However, this release is more about improving reliability than introducing new features. According to Google’s community announcement, firmware version 253.2 is now making its way to Fitbit Air devices over the next few days. The company says the update contains minor bug fixes, without going into specifics of what those fixes include.

TL;DR After its limited initial rollout, Google is expanding access to Gemini Spark starting today. Google AI Pro subscribers in the US can now use Spark, while AI Ultra subscribers are getting access globally with local language support. The rollout still excludes users in the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Nigeria. Google is significantly expanding access to Gemini Spark, its AI-powered task delegation feature, after introducing it to a limited group of users earlier this year.

TL;DR Walmart’s got two new Onn cameras ready for use with Google Home and Gemini. The Outdoor Camera Plug-In offers weather resistance, two-way audio, and color night vision for under $35. If you need even more light, the Outdoor Floodlight Camera Hardwired adds a 2,500 lumen floodlight for $77. Picking the right hardware for your smart home be positively nerve-wracking. Cheap out, and you risk getting some barely functional crap that won’t even play nicely with the rest of your setup. But nobody wants to pay too much, either, and feel like they’ve been taken advantage of. That’s one of the reasons we’re fans of Walmart’s Onn brand, which feels like it delivers real value combined with the Google support we demand. As part of this week’s latest Google Home updates, the company is now formally introducing us to some of the latest Onn cameras ready for use with the rest of our smart home gear.

TL;DR A fresh Google Home update means Gemini for Home can now keep track of a conversation for up to 15 minutes. The Google Home app is also getting clearer automation guidance and smarter controls for blinds. The Nest camera part of the update brings reliability improvements and fixes for Activity Zones and settings. Smart speakers are supposed to make controlling your home feel effortless, but that illusion quickly falls apart when you have to repeat yourself. The latest Google Home update aims to address this issue by giving Gemini for Home a longer conversational memory, alongside a batch of other updates covering automations, smart locks, cameras, and the Google Home app itself. As outlined in the Google Home July 23 update, the biggest change is a 15-minute conversational memory window across the Gemini for Home experience. That means you can ask a follow-up question or issue another command within that period without having to explain the context all over again.