Android

TL;DR The upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold has leaked yet again in real-world images. It could come with a triple-rear-camera setup and a dark red color. It will feature Xiaomi’s XRing O3 chipset. As we head deeper into 2026, companies are doubling down on wide-screen foldable phones. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 has been incredibly popular in its home market, Apple is gearing up to launch the first foldable iPhone with a wide form factor, and Xiaomi’s take on wide foldables — the Xiaomi 18 Fold — has been leaked a couple of times this month. Now, the Xiaomi 18 Fold has leaked once again in a Weibo post. This time, we’re getting a peek at the phone in real-world images and in a brand-new color, no less. The last time we saw real-world images of the Xiaomi 18 Fold, its camera module was covered up. But these new images of the purported device also show off its camera island.

TL;DR Google is introducing new app memory limits for Android apps and games on the Play Store. It could help Android phones across price ranges perform better without lag and crashes. The new limits will be enforced starting February 2027. Android 17’s per-app memory limits started with Pixel phones, but last week, Google said it will expand the feature to more Android phones. Now, we’re getting more details about when the feature will take effect and the memory limits that will be enforced on Android apps and games. Google announced today that beginning in February 2027, it will enforce the new per-app memory limits and other bad-behavior thresholds. Apps that don’t meet these limits could face limited visibility on the Play Store and might even be prevented from being published entirely.

Credit: Brady Snyder / Android Authority TL;DR Google says it has fixed an issue that caused Google Home devices to play the wrong playlists. Users had reported getting unrelated songs, albums, or playlists instead of what they asked for. Google hasn’t explained what caused the problem, and we’re awaiting user confirmation that the fix has worked. However well you’re getting along with your Google smart speaker, the least you’d expect it to do right is play the correct music when you ask for it. Apparently, that hasn’t always been the case lately. After a YouTube Music playback bug affecting Nest Hubs a couple of months ago, Google now says it has fixed another issue that frustrated Home users requesting playlists. The company responded today to at least two recent threads on the r/googlehome subreddit, where users had complained that Google Home devices were playing the wrong music when asked for a specific playlist. Google’s official Nest Community account said, “We fixed the issue that was causing the wrong playlists to play,” and asked users to report back if they’re still experiencing it.

TL;DR Google Home users recently began reporting issues adding items to their Keep lists. Google has now responded to those reports, although confusingly references “UI issues.” The company’s fix is expected to hit devices within the next few days. You try so hard to be an organized adult: planning ahead, making lists, and keeping track that you get done what you need to. While we have plenty of great tools at our disposal for helping out with that kind of thing, they don’t always work how they’re meant to, and earlier this week we shared with you that Google Home devices were seemingly losing the ability to add new items to Google Keep lists. While that was quite frustrating, it sounds like Google is nearly ready to deploy a fix… kind of? Let’s back up a second, first. Historically, Google Assistant was happy to let you modify lists to your heart’s content, but back in 2023 Google locked that down to restrict third-party apps. Critically, though, lists in Keep were supposed to stay right on working. And while that’s been the case for a while now, users recently started complaining that Gemini on Google Home devices seems completely unable to meaningfully add to their Keep lists.

Credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Authority TL;DR Some Pixel phone owners say they are experiencing problems with their apps. Music apps are skipping tracks, and other apps are refusing to stay open. Some claim every app is crashing, while others report that the problem only extends to certain apps, like Google Photos, Spotify, and CapCut. As we learned earlier today, Google Photos could soon roll out an improved reaction feature for shared photos. If that feature rolled out today, good luck trying to use it or even accessing the app in general if you have a Pixel phone. Apps appear to have gone haywire for some owners of Google’s handsets. Over on Reddit, Pixel owners are flocking to a thread about app issues. According to the comments, these users are encountering problems where music apps are skipping and other apps are randomly crashing. Some report that every app refuses to stay open. Meanwhile, others are saying that the problem affects only certain apps for them, like Google Photos, Spotify, and CapCut.

TL;DR Gemini Live can now handle more than conversations, using Gemini Spark to turn natural voice requests into multi-step tasks. Google is adding productivity features to Live, including Daily Brief, hands-free Gmail management, and Personal Intelligence. Some features require a subscription, with Spark limited to Google AI Pro and higher, while Daily Brief requires Google AI Plus or higher. When Gemini Live was first introduced back in 2024, its distinction from the regular Gemini experience was clear. Gemini would handle complex text-based queries, while Live would be the conversational assistant for free-flowing conversations. Although that distinction remains for the most part, Google is giving Gemini Live a much bigger role in getting things done, which might just be the gateway to blurring the lines in the future. According to Google, 63% of Gemini users talk to the assistant out loud. That stat was seemingly enough to convince the tech giant that Gemini Live shouldn’t just be a way to chat with Gemini. Instead, it should also be a tool to get things done. That’s why Gemini Live is now moving beyond simple conversation to handle complex tasks on your behalf.

Credit: Tushar Mehta / Android Authority TL;DR Microsoft is working on a Link to Windows feature that would let you shut down, restart, or put your PC to sleep with your Android phone. Remote shutdown and restart commands will be accompanied by warnings that the user could lose unsaved work. If you’re putting your PC to sleep, you’ll receive a warning that your phone will be disconnected and you’ll have to wake your PC up manually. Microsoft has been very busy working on Windows 11’s integration with Android. In July, we learned that the company was prototyping several features, including a standalone Messages app you can pin and access from the Start menu. Just a few weeks ago, Windows Insiders gained access to a new Phone Link experiment that provides more information at a glance. If that wasn’t enough, code recently found in the Link to Windows app, the Android companion app for Phone Link, hints at another feature that could come our way. The code hiding in Link to Windows was found during an APK teardown conducted by Windows Latest. According to the strings of code, the app could soon let you remotely shut down, restart, or put your PC to sleep with your Android phone. Specifically, there are commands to restart, put to sleep, shut down, update and restart, and update and shut down your PC.

TL;DR Android users recently starting noticing a previously unknown Android Pulse app on their devices. Created by Google, the app appeared to be a process for keeping an eye on system health. Google now basically confirms this interpretation, saying that the update started making it appear in settings. How many Google apps can you name? Sure, everybody knows the obvious ones — Gmail, Chrome, Gemini… — but what about the really esoteric stuff? Did you remember Google Authenticator? Google Opinion Rewards? Last week, we shared with you the seemingly new Android Pulse app from Google that suddenly started appearing, and now Google’s following up with a little more info on Pulse. Just as taking your own pulse gives you a quick way to check in on your cardiac function, Android Pulse appeared to be an automated solution for keeping an eye on system health, watching for signs of any problems.

Credit: Commodore TL;DR The Commodore 77 is a Cyberpunk 2077-themed special edition of the modern Commodore 64 Ultimate. It includes an exclusive 8-bit Cyberpunk demo and an upgraded FPGA capable of reaching 77MHz. The retro computer is up for pre-order at $377, with shipping set to begin in February 2027. Cyberpunk 2077 is certainly a modern classic, but calling a game released in 2020 “retro” would still be pushing it. However, the Commodore 64 has no such problem. If you’re old enough to remember the legendary home computer from the first time around, you might be excited to hear about the new Night City version. You heard right — the Commodore 77 is a Cyberpunk 2077-themed special edition of the modern Commodore 64 Ultimate. This isn’t just a logo slapped on the side, either. Its battered yellow-and-black design is inspired by Seocho Electronics from the Cyberpunk universe, right down to some suitably dystopian-looking keys.

TL;DR Meta has agreed to pay $18 billion as part of a settlement with 52 attorneys general over claims that Facebook and Instagram negatively impact teen mental health. The company has also implemented new default safeguards for teens that restrict access to core functions like Reels and Stories during certain times of the day. Around $5.3 billion of the overall $18 billion payout is conditioned on industry rivals TikTok and YouTube adopting similar measures. For a while now, multiple studies have attempted to demonstrate how social media apps can have a detrimental impact on teen mental health. Meta-owned platforms like Instagram and Facebook have been at the center of discussions about the negative impact on children, and that’s led to some high-profile lawsuits. Today, Meta is ending one long legal battle by announcing a settlement with 52 attorneys general. In a statement on its blog, Meta said it will pay around $18 billion as part of the settlement to fund youth online safety initiatives, along with other state activities. It further announced a long list of teen-safety features it will bundle into Facebook and Instagram, while also making some options the default for all teens. Notably, the company has denied any wrongdoing in this major settlement.

TL;DR Samsung reportedly tested a 7,000mAh Galaxy S27 Ultra battery, but ultimately backed away from the idea. The current target is said to be 5,700mAh to 6,000mAh, potentially enabled by silicon-carbon battery tech. The unconfirmed leak also hints at S27 Ultra prototypes without the S Pen and a new Samsung over-ear headset. For years, Samsung has watched rivals turn battery capacity into a numbers game while the Galaxy S Ultra line remained stuck at 5,000mAh. That figure hasn’t changed since 2020, even as 6,000mAh and 7,000mAh batteries become increasingly common on competing Android flagship phones. Now, a new leak suggests Samsung may have secretly tested its own 7,000mAh option for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, only to back away from it this time. The 7,000mAh version was reportedly one of several prototypes. But Samsung is now rumored to be targeting a 5,700mAh to 6,000mAh battery instead, which is still a sizeable jump that could finally give the Galaxy S Ultra line the capacity boost it’s needed for years.

Linkind’s Smart Solar Lights are built to add color and shape to your yard, garden, or trees, and there’s a nice deal on them at Amazon right now. These outdoor spotlights are better suited to landscape style than to harsh security lighting, so they fit well in spaces where you want your plants, paths, or yard features to stand out after dark. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Apple has scheduled its next event for September 9. In addition to the iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple’s expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone. New Apple Watches and an Apple TV 4K refresh could also be on the agenda With the Pixel 11 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 launches now in the rear-view mirror, it may already feel like most of the summer’s biggest smartphone news is already behind you — but there’s still plenty on the horizon worth getting excited about. For as much buzz as Samsung’s latest foldables managed to generate, there’s arguably no model more eagerly anticipated than Apple’s inaugural folder. And today today we may finally know when we’ll get to meet it, as Apple sends out invitations to its next launch event. Apple has scheduled an event two weeks out, on Wednesday, September 9 at 10am PT (1pm ET).

Desk setups built for long workdays benefit from a big, sharp screen, especially when you spend hours in documents, spreadsheets, photo edits, or side-by-side windows. The Samsung 32-inch ViewFinity S7 fits that kind of workspace well, and it now has its first discount on Amazon. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has introduced Gemini Audio, a trio of new models built to improve dialogue and speech recognition. The models include Gemini 3.5 Live, 3.5 Live Experimental, and 3.5 Transcribe. The new family of AI models is rolling out for everyone in Search Live, Gemini Live, Docs, Keep, Gmail, the Gemini app, and Gboard. It’s been a few months since Google debuted the first of its Gemini 3.5 models. With the rapid pace of AI development, the company has since released Gemini 3.6 and Gemini 3.7. However, the tech giant hasn’t completely moved on from the 3.5 family just yet, as it is introducing new members to the group today. Google has announced a trio of new speech-related models: Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, Gemini 3.5 Live, and Gemini 3.5 Live Experimental. Together, these models make up what the company calls Gemini Audio. According to Google, these models were built to power real-time dialogue and speech recognition for more natural and responsive conversations.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR You can install the new Pixel Watch 5 watch faces onto a Pixel Watch 4 by sideloading the APK using the GeminiMan WearOS Manager app. The process gives access to Weave, Chronograph, Steph Curry-edition, Multicolor Reveal, and Multicolor Modular watch faces from the Pixel Watch 5 onto the Pixel Watch 4. This sideloading trick only works on the Pixel Watch 4. Older models (Pixel Watch 1, 2, and 3) are not supported. Google launched the Pixel Watch 5 earlier this month, bringing over upgrades like a bigger battery, a faster SoC, double the storage, and other features. Google also added two new watch faces, Weave and Chronograph, along with the ability to create your own custom watch face. If you have a Pixel Watch 4 and are feeling left out, there’s good news: You can install the new Pixel Watch 5 watch faces on your older Pixel Watch 4. Reddit user m0rr0ng0 shared that you only need to download the latest version of the Pixel Watch Faces app and install it using GeminiMan (or other sideloading means):

Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Android Auto drivers have recently been experiencing an issue with Spotify. The bug is causing the app to display an error message that reads “Spotify isn’t responding.” Google has confirmed to Android Authority that a fix is rolling out today. Android Auto users are not new to the occasional missing feature, broken function, or other bugs. Like when Gemini wouldn’t run Google Home routines or when connections would drop or freeze every few minutes on some phones and car head units. Most recently, drivers were having an issue with the Spotify app. But that problem won’t be around for much longer. To refresh your memory, Android Auto users reported being unable to access the Spotify app. When attempting to open Spotify, those affected were greeted by an error screen. The message on the screen read “Spotify isn’t responding,” which was followed by options to exit the app or to wait for it to start working again. You can see an example of the error in the image below.

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 has dropped to just $173 at Amazon, down from its $299.99 RRP. That saves you $127, a 42% discount off the recommended retail price, and this deal is especially worth a look because it is an all-time low. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon just slashed the Nothing Phone (3) to $499, down from its $799 recommended retail price. That saves you $300, which is a 38% discount relative to the RRP, and this deal ends tonight. It’s easily the best deal we’ve ever tracked on the smartphone, with the previous lowest price being around $599. For anyone who has been waiting for a real price cut on Nothing’s flagship phone, this is the one worth paying attention to. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR ATV Launcher Pro 0.1.40 gives Android TV users far more freedom to build and customize their home screens. A new layout editor lets you rearrange sections, choose from new styles, and control everything from rows to tiles. The update also adds screen breaks, icon packs, video wallpapers, new widgets, focus effects, and Android 16 support. Google’s Google TV launcher isn’t the only way to arrange an Android TV home screen. However, finding the best Android TV launchers can be surprisingly difficult. For users who want more control over what appears on their TV and where, third-party launchers have become an appealing alternative. ATV Launcher Pro is one such option, and its latest update makes a strong case for giving it a closer look. The latest ATV Launcher Pro v0.1.40 update is a major overhaul that puts far more control over the home screen in your hands. According to the release notes, you can now add sections wherever you want, move them around, change how they look, and decide exactly what each one displays. Better still, all of this happens directly on the home screen, so you can see the results of every change as you make it.

TL;DR Samsung is letting Galaxy S26 Ultra users know that a software fix for the display’s red tint issue will arrive today. The timing of Samsung’s notification suggests the August 2026 security update may contain the patch for this screen discoloration bug. Samsung initially asked users to go to company service centers to get the update installed manually, but people can now seemingly get the same fix through an OTA update. Imagine you bought yourself Samsung’s top-of-the-line flagship phone earlier this year, only to discover an annoying red hue prominently appearing on the display. This is exactly what happened to several Galaxy S26 Ultra owners in July. Last we heard, Samsung was working on a software update to remedy this particular glitch, and it now looks like that update could roll out to users anytime now. In an update notice reportedly posted to the Samsung Members app, and later shared on the company’s community page by a user, Samsung says it will start rolling out an update to fix the red tint bug starting today (via SamMobile).

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.

Credit: Android Headlines TL;DR After the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s design leak yesterday, the base Galaxy S27 has leaked. The phone appears to retain the same design and dimensions as the previous generation. We see the Galaxy S27 in a purple shade, similar to one of the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s colors. The Galaxy S27 series is months away from launch, but a sequence of leaks this week alone has shaped (or shifted, in some cases) our opinion of it. Just yesterday, we saw CAD renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, suggesting its shift to a new design after several generations, with an iPhone 17 Pro-esque camera island. Today, the lesser premium member of the family is leaking the same way. Just like yesterday, Android Headline and leaker OnLeaks bring us supposed visuals of the base Galaxy S27 in light purple. Unlike its more premium sibling, which is believed to come with the redesign, the Galaxy S27 renders point only to minor changes.

Credit: Android Headlines TL;DR After the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s design leak yesterday, the base Galaxy S27 has leaked. The phone appears to retain the same design and dimensions as the previous generation. We see the Galaxy S27 in a purple shade, similar to one of the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s colors. The Galaxy S27 series is months away from launch, but a sequence of leaks this week alone has shaped (or shifted, in some cases) our opinion of it. Just yesterday, we saw CAD renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, suggesting its shift to a new design after several generations, with an iPhone 17 Pro-esque camera island. Today, the lesser premium member of the family is being brandished the same way. Just like yesterday, Android Headline and leaker OnLeaks bring us supposed visuals of the base Galaxy S27. The phone appears in light purple, seemingly similar to one of the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s official colors. The report, however, notes this may not be one of the phone’s final colors.

Credit: Stephen Radochia / Android Authority TL;DR Motorola has shared the official changelog for its Android 17 update. Updates include a refreshed Quick Settings panel, stackable widgets, cross-platform Quick Share, enhanced HDR brightness control, and more. Motorola’s stable Android 17 update rollout is underway this month, starting with its flagship Signature series. While we previously tracked the eligible devices lineup and previewed early changes during the Android 17 beta cycle, this marks the first time we’ve gained access to the official changelog for the stable Android 17 update reaching Motorola devices. According to a report by FoneArena, Motorola’s Android 17 update brings a refreshed system UI, an upgraded Quick Settings menu, expanded cross-platform file sharing, device diagnostics, and new AI and anti-scam security protections. This is the official changelog shared by the report: