Android

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR Google killed support for 32-bit apps in Android a few years ago, but it turns out there is a solution. VPhoneOS is an app that lets you run 32-bit apps on new Android phones. This means you can play a ton of abandoned games on your Android device. One of the most disappointing changes to Android in recent years has been the decision to drop support for 32-bit apps. This won’t affect the vast majority of people, but I found it particularly unfortunate due to the wide variety of abandoned classic Android games. Fortunately, a solution has been flying under the radar for a while if you want to run classic Android games on your new phone. I recently stumbled across the VPhoneOS app, and it’s actually been available for a couple of years now. Simply put, VPhoneOS lets you install and run 32-bit apps on your Android device. VPhoneOS supports 32-bit Android apps via a virtual machine. Free users can run a virtual machine based on Android 7, while VIP subscribers get access to Android 10 and Android 12, along with 64-bit app support.

Credit: Paul Jones / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has launched the Wear OS 7-based One UI 9 Watch beta program for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic in South Korea. New features include a revamped UI design, richer watch face customization, new safety tools, and enhanced Samsung Health tracking for aerobic load and sleep vitals. We expect Samsung to expand the beta program to other regions, such as the US and the UK, in the coming days, though the company hasn’t announced as much. Samsung has officially kicked off the One UI 9 Watch beta program for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, extending its Wear OS 7-based experience beyond its current-generation Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Tipster Tarun Vats notes on X that the One UI 9 Watch beta is currently live for Galaxy Watch 8 series users in South Korea. The update carries firmware version ZZH3 and weighs in at a hefty 2,010.76MB, bundled with the August 5, 2026, security patch level.

TL;DR The YouTube and YouTube Music apps are likely preparing for a Liquid Glass-based design update, according to a leak. Both apps are also expected to pick up support for iOS Live Activities, which enable real-time updates in the Dynamic Island interface. Google has already updated a couple of its apps with Liquid Glass elements, though some popular iOS apps haven’t received that treatment yet. Apple’s Liquid Glass design language has been hit-or-miss, depending on whom you ask. Our survey last year showed that readers overwhelmingly prefer Google’s Material 3 Expressive over Liquid Glass. That doesn’t change the fact that this is a core design element of iOS and will continue to be adopted by other third-party apps. The YouTube and YouTube Music apps appear to be next on that list. A screenshot shared on X by MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris reveals what appears to be newly added feature flags, including for Liquid Glass. While it’s unclear which particular app this screenshot is from, Perris says both Google apps will get the UI update to match a key element of the iOS design language.

TL;DR uBlock Origin 1.74 is its last stable release for Chrome, with the Chrome Web Store set to remove the extension on August 31. Google has closed the loopholes that kept Manifest V2 extensions running, paving the way for uBlock Origin’s removal from Chrome. You can still block ads in Chrome, but the experience won’t be quite the same as what uBlock Origin offered under Manifest V2. For many Chrome users, uBlock Origin (uBO) has long been one of those essential browser extensions, quietly sitting in the toolbar and blocking ads without much fuss. But Google’s long-running Manifest V2 crackdown has steadily changed that, and the uBlock Origin team has now confirmed that the extension’s run on Chrome will end on August 31. The uBlock Origin team has released version 1.74, and it comes with a rather significant footnote: this is the last stable uBO version to be available on the Chrome Web Store. The team says the Chrome Web Store will remove uBO on August 31, meaning Chrome users have only days before the extension is officially shown the door. That process may already be underway, as the Chrome Web Store currently shows only the uBlock Origin Lite extension when searching for it in Chrome.

TL;DR Google is working on a new feature in Google Keep that will allow users to create to-do lists inside regular notes. It will also let users convert a single line from a note into a to-do list item instead of converting the entire note into checkboxes. If you’re an avid Google Keep user, you probably know that the app, though useful, has some obvious missing features. Well, Google is finally starting to fix some of these glaring omissions. Earlier this month, the company started rolling out the “Find in note” feature in Google Keep, and now we’ve spotted it working on yet another much-needed improvement. 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 new Google Pixel 11 series is a known quantity at this point. It comes with several new AI features like Gemini Intelligence, camera improvements, and the brand-new Tensor G6 chip. Although many Google fans are drawn to the beefier Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, that doesn’t mean the Pro phones are the best pick for everyone. The base Pixel 11 might miss out on the extra features you’d get with a Pro, but you’ll save a fair chunk of change, and you are likely to find, at least when it comes to performance, that the phones are more alike than different.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was the most popular Android phone globally in Q2 2026, according to a new report. This is apparently the first time that an “ultra-premium” phone led Android sales in Q2. The base Galaxy S26 also made the list, along with three Galaxy A phones. The most popular Android phones in a quarter tend to be cheap models. That’s not a surprise, as the lower prices make these phones more accessible than high-end models. However, the latest global market share report reveals a surprising top-seller for Android. Counterpoint Research has posted its Q2 2026 global market share report, and it turns out that the $1,300 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was the most popular Android phone in the quarter. Samsung’s Ultra phone was ranked fourth. What’s also interesting is that the base Galaxy S26 landed in ninth place. By contrast, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was in ninth place back in Q2 2025 while the base S25 didn’t feature at all.

Android has come a long way since its inception. Back in the day, doing even the most trivial things, like using the LED next to the rear camera as a flashlight, required third-party flashlight apps. However, that has changed over the years: the operating system has evolved significantly, and it now bundles many advanced features and apps to reduce reliance on third-party apps. That said, many Android users still download third-party apps for various things. Some users do it out of habit — having been installing them on their phones for years. Meanwhile, others aren’t aware that their phones can handle such tasks natively.

TL;DR Google Photos is working on an improved reaction feature for shared photos. It will let users react to shared photos with any emoji from the emoji picker. The feature isn’t live, but it looks polished enough to be rolled out sooner rather than later. Google Photos already lets users share photos and albums with others, and it even lets people react or comment on shared photos. However, Google is now working on a more versatile reaction feature for photos shared in the app. 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.

If you’ve used Google Photos for years, as I and probably most people reading this have, there are certain features and creature comforts you’ve likely come to rely on. For me personally, one of those is seeing my photos organized by the date they were taken. It’s a simple thing, but I love it. I like quickly scrolling through my Photos feed and knowing exactly when certain pictures or videos were captured. It helps me remember what I was doing on that specific date and keeps my app feeling nice and organized.

TL;DR TECNO’s 0mm-bezel concept has been shown off in a hands-on video, offering the clearest look yet at the phone ahead of its IFA 2026 showcase. The bezel-less design looks impressive but comes with a usability trade-off, as the raised frame can catch your finger during gesture navigation. The concept features a 144Hz display, triple rear cameras, a 6,000mAh battery, and a holographic, lenticular back panel TECNO has built a reputation for showcasing unusual smartphone concepts at major tech events. The PHANTOM Ultimate G Fold, billed as the world’s thinnest trifold, debuted ahead of IFA 2025, while MWC 2026 brought an ultra-thin modular phone. Now, a hands-on video of TECNO’s latest concept phone is out, giving us our first proper look at its bezel-less design ahead of its IFA 2026 debut. TECNO itself showcased the 0mm-bezel phone a few weeks ago, teasing its edge-to-edge display without revealing much about what it would be like to actually use. That has now changed, with Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) going hands-on with the device. He also showed it from multiple angles while putting its unusual design to the test.

I used to love HUAWEI smartphones. It has been a long seven years since the HUAWEI ban in the US and the resulting loss of Google services. Since then, the brand has gone from 9%-10% down to a less than 2% global market share. Yet while HUAWEI’s status has diminished in the West, it hasn’t stopped creating elite-tier smart devices, and every time I use one, I am reminded of what we’re missing out on.

I’ve only had the Pixel 11 Pro XL for a few days, and somehow that’s still been enough time for it to remind me why I’ve had trust issues with Pixels all year. I really do try to give these phones a fair shot. I look for the good stuff, I get excited about the new features, and every time, I hope this will finally be the Pixel that doesn’t make me question my life choices a few days in. This time, HiLight is doing the damage. And the annoying part is that I actually love the idea. It reminds me of the notification LEDs we used to have back in the day. I was quite excited to play around with it on my Pixel 11 Pro XL because, honestly, I’ve missed having something like this on a phone. Then I actually tried using HiLight.

Credit: Taylor Kerns / Android Authority TL;DR Google Photos currently keeps backed-up media in the Trash for 60 days and regular, non-backed-up media for 30 days. Code found in Google Photos v7.90 indicates Google plans to unify this rule, reducing trash retention for all media to 30 days. The change is not yet live, but it will likely be announced with plenty of notice before rolling out broadly. Google appears to be preparing a notable shift in Google Photos, shortening the time deleted photos and videos sit in your trash folder before they vanish forever. While Google has been spotted working on smarter backup solutions, such as overnight backup options, this upcoming change could rationalize how long your discarded media hangs around. 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: Lenovo TL;DR Lenovo has launched the Legion Cloud Gaming Handheld C700 in China. The handheld has a dongle that allows you to stream games from a PC without a network connection. Expect to pay ~$327 for this Android handheld. The Android handheld space has become highly competitive, as companies like ANBERNIC, Retroid, and AYANEO all duke it out with interesting products. Now, Lenovo has decided to step into the arena with a newly launched Android handheld of its own. Lenovo launched the Legion Cloud Gaming Handheld C700 in China this week, coming months after we first heard about it. This is a huge Android handheld designed for (surprise) cloud gaming. The device supports “one-touch” streaming from a PC via Lenovo’s proprietary Legion Stream protocol and an included dongle. In fact, the company says you can stream games while offline. That could be handy if you’re traveling.

TL;DR Perplexity has launched a new agentic AI tool called “Portable Computer” that runs locally on users’ devices. It uses small, efficient models such as Qwen 3.8 and NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning. It will not incur token costs for tasks completed locally, but can connect to cloud models if needed. Months after launching its agentic AI tool, “Personal Computer,” Perplexity is introducing a new option for users who prefer to run their AI agents locally. The company today announced “Portable Computer,” its local-first agent, in partnership with NVIDIA. Portable Computer will run entirely on-device. The agent, along with the models and other tools, lives locally on the user’s device. This ensures that user data isn’t sent to the cloud and offers a higher level of privacy for sensitive data.

Credit: Luffu TL;DR Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman have launched a new wearable device called Luffu Link. It’s a $249.99 screenless health and safety band designed for family care. The LTE-connected band tracks health metrics, records voice notes, shares location, and can contact trusted people without a phone nearby. Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman have launched a new wearable, but this time, it’s not focused on counting steps.

Credit: Life360 TL;DR Life360 is rolling out new pet-related features, including shared care logs that help families track routines such as feedings. The update also brings some lighter extras, including Weekly Roundups and Zoomies Alerts. A new $7.99 Pet Tag lets someone who finds a lost pet contact its owner or share its location more easily. It’s apparently International Dog Day tomorrow, but you can be forgiven for forgetting — the timing lands right as many households are descending back into school-run chaos. This can make it a little tougher to keep track of who fed and walked your four-legged friend, but Life360 is keen to simplify things with some new shared pet-care features. As detailed in the press release, the new Care and Connection tools are rolling out now, with Shared Care logs doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Families can set recurring routines for walks, feedings, medications, litter cleaning, and more, while completed tasks are visible to everyone in the care circle. That should make it easier to see who has actually done what, and perhaps stop your dog from successfully convincing a second family member that dinner never happened.

TL;DR Tools like Digital Wellbeing or Instagram’s Take a Break are built to interrupt addictive use cycles. In an ongoing Meta trial, a former data scientist shares just how few teens actually took advantage of the company’s tools. With teen accounts, Take a Break is now on by default, hopefully pushing numbers up a little. Are smartphones our best friends, or our worst enemies? Sometimes it feels like half the work companies are putting into new features are attempts to fix our addiction to others, like with the new Pause Point on Pixel 11 devices — or really anything Digital Wellbeing, for that matter. And while we seem to keep getting more and more new tools meant to save us from ourselves, are the most vulnerable people even using them? According to Meta, maybe not so much. Meta’s currently being sued by 29 states over claims of safety and privacy issues impacting its youngest users, and Bloomberg is sharing some of the details just revealed by a former Meta data scientist’s testimony.

Credit: Anbernic TL;DR Anbernic has released an unboxing video for the RG 55G1. The video reveals the specs of the handheld, including 4GB/64GB and 8GB/128GB configurations, a Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 chip, and Android 14. It will be available in Indigo, Retro Gray, and Black. Anbernic is preparing to launch its next Android-powered gaming handheld, known as the RG 55G1. We got our first official look at the device back in April. While the reveal video offered a few details, like Hall-Effect joysticks and triggers, there was still a lot we didn’t know. The handheld maker has now shared an unboxing video that fills in many of the missing details. Anbernic’s unboxing video gives us our best look yet at the Nintendo Switch Lite-looking console. Inside the box is the RG 55G1 and a user manual. As we learned earlier, the system will be available in three colors: Indigo, Retro Gray, and Black. We also see the RG 55G1 casting wirelessly to a TV.

Like it or not, Google has made AI a huge part of the Pixel experience, and that’s only become more obvious with the Pixel 11 series. Gemini Intelligence and other smart features were a major focus of this year’s launch — so much so that you’d assume this was what all the fans were screaming out for. It’s always quite tricky to know how true that is, so we were curious about where you think Google needs to go next with the Pixel 12. We recently asked our readers exactly that. My colleague Robert Trigg certainly has his own ideas about this direction, and made them abundantly clear in a recent article. His argument in a nutshell is that the Pixel 11 shows Google is approaching something of a hardware breaking point. He wasn’t unhappy with Google’s AI work, but pointed out that rival flagships are pushing ahead in fundamental areas such as battery capacity, charging speeds, camera hardware, and raw performance, while Pixels haven’t kept pace. With the Pixel 12 next to face that challenge, we asked you via a poll in the article whether Google should prioritize better hardware, even smarter AI, both, or simply more competitive prices.

Credit: Stephen Radochia / Android Authority TL;DR Claude chat and Cowork now share the same memory. Claude will now add topics to memory as you chat, instead of summarizing conversations after they end. You’ll be able to turn “include sensitive topics in memory” on or off. It has been about a week since Anthropic gave Claude the ability to send emails in Gmail and manage files in Google Drive. Now the AI company is rolling out another feature. This feature will make switching back and forth between Claude chat and Cowork a little easier. Anthropic has announced that Claude Cowork now has memory, so you can spend less time re-explaining. Not only does Cowork have memory, but it also shares the same memory as chat. That means when you run a task in Cowork, Claude will remember it in chat, and vice versa.

TL;DR The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is expected to launch this week. South African retailer Dress Your Tech has prematurely listed a handful of cases for the unannounced phone. Cases are listed in colors that match leaked finishes for the S26 FE, as well as pink and transparent options. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is seemingly right around the corner. We’ve seen plenty of the phone already, from leaked specs to color options to a full-blown unboxing video. Now, Galaxy S26 FE accessories are starting to show up at retailers. As brought to our attention by SammyGuru, South African retailer Dress Your Tech has prematurely listed a handful of Galaxy S26 FE cases, as well as bundles that come with both cases and screen protectors. Most of the cases feature visible rings for magnetic Qi2 charging.

TL;DR Google Home users are reporting automations tied to TV starters failing to run. Google confirms an investigation is underway into problems with TV-based automations. So far the reports we’ve seen involve TCL models, but it’s not clear if other brands are similarly impacted. If you’re looking to configure a really impressive smart home, Google Home automations are your best friend. While routines are great for pulling off complicated multi-device workflows, automations take that to the next level by, well, automating them — instead of manually activating a routine, automations begin all by themselves when their starter event occurs. At least, that’s the way things are supposed to work, but right now there’s a frustrating glitch impacting automations tied to TVs. Over on Reddit’s Google Home sub, users have been complaining about automations involving their TVs that fail to work. While you should be able to use events like powering your TV on or off to trigger an automation, Google Home just doesn’t seem to recognize when these starter events happen.

Credit: Garmin TL;DR The Garmin fēnix 9 has 50% more RAM and offers several new features. The fēnix 9 Pro features a new titanium case, offers 3,000 nits of brightness, and comes with a new green light mode. The base model starts at $999.99, while the Pro variant starts at $1,099.99. When Google launched the Pixel Watch 5 earlier this month, the company made the bold claim that its GPS route tracking accuracy surpassed the fēnix 8 Pro. While that is an impressive feat, what about the latest model from Garmin’s adventure smartwatches? Garmin expanded its portfolio today with the launch of the fēnix 9 and fēnix 9 Pro. In case you missed it, Garmin held an announcement event this morning where it unveiled the next entries in the fēnix line. The new multisport GPS smartwatches both come in three sizes: 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm. You’ll also be able to outfit them with the new ComfortFit accessory bands, which feature a split-weave design.