Android

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Many YouTube users report seeing three back-to-back ads instead of two, seemingly expanding a format previously limited to live streams. Viewers also complain that ads are interrupting content every three to four minutes, with some facing unskippable ad blocks lasting nearly 10 minutes. The escalating ad disruptions appear to affect both free-tier and Premium Lite users, leaving many to consider paid upgrades or ad blockers. YouTube seems to be testing the patience of its free-tier users yet again. The video streaming giant appears to be aggressively scaling up its ad quantity and frequency, leaving many viewers frustrated by an increasingly disrupted viewing experience. Reddit user Competitive-South436 complained earlier in the week that YouTube on desktop is now playing three ads in a row instead of two. Reddit user No-Contribution8233 is also complaining about three ads instead of two. We’ve seen reports of three ads in a row earlier in the year, but those reports were in the context of live streams where ad spots are admittedly limited. The new reports do not explicitly mention livestream, though, so there’s some room for disambiguation here.

The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro stands out in a crowded phone market by doing something different. TCL built this midrange Android phone around its matte, paper-like NXTPAPER display, which is made to cut glare and make the screen easier on your eyes. There’s also a deal on it right now at Amazon, which makes this a good time to take a closer look. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Hueblog TL;DR Philips Hue will expand the Festavia line with three new products. The products include curtain string lights, icicle string lights, and net string lights. These new entries will reportedly be announced on September 3. In 2025, Philips Hue expanded the Festavia series with the Festavia Globe and Festavia Permanent. Thanks to a mistake on the company’s part, we learned about the existence of these products before their launch. It appears a similar mistake was made recently, and wouldn’t you know it, the leak reveals that new Festavia products are on the way. According to Hueblog, Philips Hue accidentally published a blog that was meant to be shared months from now. If you go over to the company’s website, you won’t find the blog as it has since been taken down. However, the company wasn’t quite fast enough to prevent its announcements from leaking.

Credit: REDMAGIC TL;DR After launching in China last month, REDMAGIC’s liquid-cooled gaming tablet is launching globally. The REDMAGIC Astra 2 comes with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 185Hz OLED display, and a massive battery with fast charging. Although the tablet is launching globally today, it won’t be available for purchase until later in August. As promised last month, REDMAGIC’s newest liquid-cooled gaming tablet is now launching globally as “Astra 2.” It is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, supports native PC game emulation, and features one of the snazziest designs you’ll find on Android tablets. The chief highlight of the design is the new blue-hued liquid-cooling mechanism that the Astra 2 flexes through the back glass and even under the logo. REDMAGIC has further embellished it with RGB lighting, making the tablet’s utility even more important. The coolant can operate over an extreme temperature range of -60ºC to 125ºC (-76ºF to 257ºF). But unlike REDMAGIC’s latest gaming phone or a host of previous devices, the tablet lacks a physical fan to cool the system even faster.

Generative AI is everywhere, whether it’s used as a cornerstone of a service, used to build apps, or employed to boost functionality within them. But with so many new products appearing all the time, which ones are worth checking out? We’re here to help with a new regular series covering the best and freshest AI apps and services that you should know about.

Smart glasses are advanced pieces of tech with huge promise, giving you a heads-up display, a camera, or a voice assistant on your face. But while these devices nailed the “smart,” they struggled with the “glasses” of it all. The hardware was bulky, and the battery died pretty quickly, while the sleeker options didn’t have as many features. INMO designed the GO3 to fix this glaring issue. At around 58 grams, it’s about the weight of a normal pair of glasses and looks like one, too. It’s not lacking in smarts, though, with plenty of AI-powered features packed into this frame. Here’s what you need to know.

OnePlus’s demise in the US and Europe over the last few months has been like watching a slow-motion car accident. We knew precisely what was going to happen, but we were powerless to stop it. It’s especially disappointing given the already sorry state of the US phone marketplace, devoid of meaningful choices and aggressive competition. Sure, Nothing hopes to fill some of the void left by OnePlus, but it’s not the same. Unfortunately, it means that sooner or later, you’ll need to find viable alternatives to your beloved OnePlus device. Thankfully, the company has vowed to honor the software support life promised for its phones, but if you’re coming from an older OnePlus 8 or 9, it’s time to find a new home.

It’s no secret that the Pixel 11 series is on the way. Google has officially announced it will host an event on August 12 in New York to unveil the “new generation of Pixel devices,” widely expected to be the Pixel 11 series. That said, more concrete leaks have surfaced as the launch nears. In fact, a massive leak this month has already revealed the Amazon listings for the new devices, complete with renders, specs, and pricing.

Recently, our very own C. Scott Brown declared the Trump T1 the worst Android phone he’s used in 2026. I can understand the sentiment, and I’m certainly not arguing with him on this one, but the truth is that the Trump phone is in good company. In fact, there are plenty of devices out there that I could argue are, in some ways, almost worse. At least with the Trump phone, all the red flags were already there. Inconsistent design renders before the phone came out, constant delays, and relatively sketchy marketing should have been enough to tell most buyers to avoid the Trump phone.

TL;DR Screenshots of an internal build of the One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S25 series have leaked. It includes a new feature called “My FanCam” which is similar to Samsung’s “Auto Track” feature. The new “My FanCam” feature could also be available on the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8. Samsung has been rolling out new One UI 9 betas for the Galaxy S26 series with a bunch of quality-of-life improvements, while still missing some Android 17 features. However, if you’ve been waiting for One UI 9 to roll out to S25 users, it seems that it could happen sooner rather than later. User Fahad Ali Javed has shared screenshots of the One UI 9 internal test build for the Galaxy S25 Plus on X, along with the One UI 9 changelog for the S25 Plus (via SamMobile). One of the more interesting tidbits in the X post is a new “My FanCam” feature. This will reportedly use Galaxy AI to track subjects in videos and automatically reframe shots to keep them in frame.

Credit: Tushar Mehta / Android Authority OnePlus, as we know it, is undergoing a massive change. After months of rumors, OnePlus’s incessant attempts to deny them, and even formal-looking indications, OnePlus has officially confirmed it is shutting shop in the US and Europe. It will continue to operate in higher-volume markets like China and India, perhaps living as a sub-brand under parent company OPPO (and likely without its distinct identity). But some other aspects of the business will be offloaded onto OPPO. One of the most impactful changes during this transition is the final, definitive merger of OxygenOS back into OPPO’s ColorOS. In addition to any new devices launched in markets like India, future software updates for existing OnePlus phones will replace OxygenOS with ColorOS.

TL;DR Samsung has filed a new patent for a foldable phone that can be folded inwards and outwards. When folded inwards, the device could display information using its curved screens. When folded outward, the device could provide users with an immersive screen without visible bezels. Samsung is no stranger to wild foldable and rollable phone ideas and concepts. The company has previously filed patents for a phone that looks like a brick and unfolds and rolls out into a tablet. It has also experimented with some crazy rollable phone ideas. Now, the company has filed yet another patent for a foldable phone that folds both ways. The patent filing shows a phone that looks fairly similar to a Galaxy Z Flip (via FixyFlow). However, the phone in the patent drawings has curves near the hinge, presumably to prevent the display from colliding with itself when folded inwards or outwards.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Galaxy S26 introduced the Horizontal Lock feature in Super Steady mode, which keeps video locked perfectly flat to the horizon, almost like a gimbal. The feature has remained exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series, but Samsung could bring this to the Galaxy S25 series with its One UI 9 upgrade. Samsung has not confirmed the backport, but the feature has been spotted in One UI 9 internal test builds for the S25. Horizontal Lock has been one of the most talked-about features for the Galaxy S26 series. Also called Super Steady mode within the Camera app, Horizontal Lock freezes your camera to the horizon, almost like a gimbal, ensuring steady video no matter how much you wiggle, wobble, or even flip your phone upside down. Horizontal Lock has remained restricted to the Galaxy S26 series for now, but it seems Samsung could soon bring it to the Galaxy S25 series as well. Galaxy S25 Plus user Fahad Ali Javed claims on X to have access to a One UI 9 internal test build with build number DZG4. Within this new update, the user has found Galaxy S26’s Horizontal Lock feature, indicating that Samsung has backported it to its older flagship.

TL;DR Roborock has launched the RockMow X120H lawn mower that uses LiDAR to scan and map lawns and identify obstacles. It comes with All Wheel Drive, six cutting blades, and an adjustable cutting deck height. The RockMow X120H LiDAR is available for $2,499 after a $700 introductory discount. A month after launching the RockNeo Q110H lawn mower in the US, Roborock is back with yet another robot lawn mower. This time, the company is opening sales of its high-end RockMow X120H LiDAR lawn mower in the US, and it’s offering a $700 introductory discount to sweeten the deal. The X120H is designed for people with large lawns and can cover areas up to one acre. It’s also completely wire-free and uses a base station to charge and store itself while not in use. Roborock says that the base station can be installed indoors or outdoors, depending on the user’s needs.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung might offer free storage upgrades for its new Galaxy foldables after all. The company could apparently offer free upgrades from 256GB to 512GB, but discounted upgrades from 512GB to 1TB. This news comes after a publication reported that Samsung would only offer discounted upgrades. Samsung has long offered free storage upgrades when buying one of its new flagship Android phones, but we recently heard that this promotion could come to an end with the Galaxy Z8 series. However, another source now gives us hope. News1 reports that Samsung will still offer free storage upgrades when buying the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, or Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The Galaxy maker will apparently let users upgrade from 256GB models to 512GB devices at no extra cost.

TL;DR OnePlus has confirmed that its North American Community website will permanently shut down on August 16, 2026. The company is urging users to manually save any posts, photos, or guides before then. Eligible OnePlus phones will be able to voluntarily switch to ColorOS 17, and users will also have the option to roll back to OxygenOS later. OnePlus has shared more details about its headline-grabbing exit from North America and Europe. Specifically in the US, the company has confirmed that its regional Community platform will be shutting down next month. It has also revealed a few additional software changes that weren’t mentioned during a media briefing we previously attended.

TL;DR Google’s latest Phone app beta includes a list of codenames belonging to the Pixel 11 lineup. Alongside the expected Pixel 11 series codenames, the app also references “formosan,” which has previously been linked to the Pixel 11a. If Google sticks to its recent release schedule, the Pixel 11a will likely launch around March 2027. Google may have accidentally offered another early glimpse at its next-generation Pixel lineup. 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 Google Vids gets a major AI overhaul with Gemini Omni, making video creation and editing as simple as describing what you want in plain language. You can create a personal AI avatar by uploading a single selfie and a short voice recording. To prevent misuse, personal avatars are restricted to the account holder’s likeness. Editing a video typically involves a long process of fixing lighting, changing backgrounds, or endless retakes to get the perfect shot. Now, Google is rewriting the playbook with massive Google Vids updates that do the AI work for you. The biggest new addition to Vids is Gemini Omni, Google’s multimodal video generation model first shown off at I/O 2026. With Vids, you can now create or edit videos from natural language prompts, whether you’re starting from scratch with text and images or editing an existing clip, per Google’s blog post. You can skip the timeline and just tell Gemini to change a background, improve lighting, or add visual effects with conversational prompts.

TL;DR Gemini 3.5 Pro is reportedly months behind schedule as Google works to improve the model. Bloomberg says the delay has frustrated employees, with some worried Anthropic and OpenAI are pulling ahead. Coding performance appears to be a major problem, despite Google recently updating the model’s training data. Google will certainly feel that it belongs at the front of the AI race with the other big hitters, but its next big Gemini model is said to be struggling to get over the line. Gemini 3.5 Pro is reportedly months behind schedule as Google works to bring it up to its internal standards. According to Bloomberg, the delay is based on information from people familiar with the matter, along with ten current and former Google employees. The setback has reportedly frustrated engineers, researchers, and managers inside the company, with some worried that Anthropic and OpenAI are beginning to pull further ahead.

TL;DR Pixel Watch users have been experiencing a frustrating glitch where their wearables don’t seem able to access sensor data for health reporting. Users have tried changing app permissions, and even factory resetting devices, to no avail. Google says that it’s aware of the issue, and currently working on a fix. A modern smartwatch is capable of nearly as much as our phones themselves, but a whole lot of us probably use them for just two main purposes: checking notifications, and tracking health data. That’s just going to make us feel all the more frustrated when one of these basic operations stops functioning properly. Earlier this week, we shared with you a problem Pixel Watch owners were having with sensor permissions, preventing them from logging health metrics. Today we finally have an update on the situation.

TL;DR Gemini lets you choose from your pick of voice models for its output, but doesn’t currently allow you to customize them further. That may soon change, with new parameters that can be independently tweaked to your preference. Options are set to include Speed, Energy, Warmth, and Formality. Google Gemini is already an incredibly versatile tool, and that versatility doesn’t just extend to the questions it’s capable of answering, nor the tasks in can accomplish. We’re also talking about just how many options Google gives you for how you’d like to interact with the AI agent, letting you choose between some very distinct voice models: Orbit, Pegasus, Ursa, and more. And while that’s already very nice, it looks like Google’s currently working to give us a whole lot more fine-grained control over just how these voices sound. 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: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Verizon is selling 274 company-owned retail stores and is cutting 500 corporate jobs. The stores won’t be closed, but they’ll be run as authorized Verizon retailers by six different entities. The changes will go into effect on August 16. Verizon has had a tough time in recent years, losing thousands of customers to its competition. When Dan Schulman took the reins as CEO in 2025, he was tasked with turning the company around to help it grow. Part of Schulman’s strategy to transform the carrier will impact thousands of jobs come August. According to Fierce Network, Verizon plans on selling 274 company-owned retail stores. In addition to selling a large number of stores, it will also cut around 500 corporate jobs. The restructuring Verizon will go through is expected to affect about 3,000 jobs, with 2,500 of those jobs being retail-related.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Apple is reportedly preparing a new iPad mini with an OLED display for release in October. The OLED model could be the iPad mini’s biggest upgrade since its 2021 redesign. Updated entry-level iPad and iPad Air models are also reportedly planned for 2027. Not many compact Android tablets have really taken the market by storm, which is one reason the iPad mini continues to stand out. The small tablet has been something of the forgotten child of Apple’s lineup in recent years, but that may finally change this fall with what is reportedly its biggest upgrade since 2021. Bloomberg reports that Apple is preparing a new iPad mini with an OLED display, citing people with knowledge of the company’s plans who asked not to be identified. The model is reportedly codenamed J510 and could be unveiled as early as this fall, with a release planned for October.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR “Your info” is starting to roll out to the Google Contacts app. This feature is designed to make it easier to share your information with others. Lately, Google has been hard at work developing AirDrop-like Tap to Share features for Android. Earlier this month, we pointed out some changes to the Google Contacts app that are in preparation for this. Specifically, the Mountain View-based firm is making it easier to share your information with others. The next time you open the Contacts app, you may finally see this change. Google is starting to roll out the aptly named “Your info” hub. We spotted the feature in version 4.83.13.940538822 of the Google Contacts app.

TL;DR Google Calendar allows Workspace users to set “focus time” for minimal distractions. While you can edit focus time sessions on your phone, creating new ones currently requires Calendar on desktop. Google now appears to be working to bring the option to make new focus time sessions right to your phone. Who among us couldn’t use a little more focus in our lives? With a seemingly endless source of distraction no further than our phones away, sometimes it takes a concerted effort to make sure that you’re really putting all your attention on the tasks that need it most. Google Calendar already offers a “focus time” mode to help out with just that, and right now it looks like Google’s preparing to make it even easier to work with. 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.