Android

Amazon just slashed the Shark PowerDetect Robot Vacuum & Mop Combo to $279.99, down from its $1,299.99 recommended retail price. That saves you over $1,000, which is a huge 78% off RRP, and this deal is worth a close look right now because it’s an all-time low price. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google replaced Gmail’s default yellow stars and yellow importance chevrons with high-contrast, saturated blue markers to improve accessibility. However, users complain that the identical blue tones flatten the visual hierarchy, make email scanning harder, and add visual clutter. While there’s no way to revert the changes, you can manually select a yellow star preset (and re-star items) or hide importance chevrons entirely in Settings. Google is rolling out a visual overhaul to Gmail on the web, replacing its longstanding yellow stars and importance markers with a bright, high-contrast blue. While Gmail has gained plenty of genuinely practical upgrades recently, such as letting you copy 2FA codes directly without opening emails or leveraging AI overview search capabilities, this particular color switch has annoyed desktop users who rely on quick visual cues to scan their messages. In a post on X, the official Gmail team confirmed the change, explaining that it updated the default star and “Important” label colors from yellow to blue to meet modern accessibility standards and ensure inboxes are easier to read and more inclusive.

Credit: Roborock Fall is typically one of the better times to buy tech ahead of the holidays. By then, most major releases are out, with the latest and greatest vying for your attention, while older but still very capable models also get big price cuts. Amazon’s upcoming Prime Day event, officially called the Prime Big Deal Days, runs October 6 and 7 this year, which is still a couple of weeks out. But nowadays, you rarely have to wait for the official start to begin enjoying massive discounts, with several tech deals already available that are worth checking out. Whether you’re shopping for friends and family or want to upgrade your gadgets, here are some of the best early deals you can get right now.

TL;DR Dolphin Emulator finally supports NetPlay on Android. The update lets users play online multiplayer with GameCube and Wii titles. Dolphin’s latest update also extends NetPlay to cross-platform instances. Dolphin Emulator is unquestionably one of the most popular retro game emulators for Android, Windows, Mac, and even a Steam Deck. It’s the first option enthusiasts turn to for Nintendo Wii and GameCube because of its upscaling, custom graphics mods, and easy Bluetooth and USB controller support, among other features. Another advantage of Dolphin is that it lets you play games originally designed for local multiplayer online, enabled by a feature called NetPlay. Traditionally, this feature required a specific mechanism to sync gameplay across multiple devices and was therefore limited to scenarios where all players are on the same operating system—and to desktop environments. That changes now with Dolphin announcing NetPlay support for Android and opening it up for cross-platform gameplay. In its latest progress report, published earlier today, Dolphin explained the steps taken to enable NetPlay on Android and open it to cross-platform play. The blog notes that NetPlay still relies on a method called lockstep, where emulators on different devices run in parallel, so they only have to record user input rather than account for all scene-related updates. Because this requires games for all players to run at nearly the same pace (and falls back on intentionally delaying frames to stay in sync), Dolphin’s solution was to run the application on a single CPU core—i.e., intentionally limiting its power.

TL;DR Multiple Google Messages users are having trouble with the timing of the LED flash when taking photos in chats. In some cases, the LED flash simply refuses to activate even when toggled manually, though it functions normally in other camera apps. The issue certainly isn’t new, with similar complaints emerging over a month ago. One common function of a messaging app is sending images and videos to the people you know. Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Messages, along with several others, offer a camera interface in the chat to capture and send media. It now looks like Google’s messaging app may be stumbling at this basic function in some situations. A Verizon-branded Galaxy S24 Ultra owner on Reddit says Google Messages refuses to activate the flash while capturing an image from the chat. They note that the flash timing is off, meaning it triggers much before the photo is captured, resulting in a dark image.

TL;DR Some Google Clock alarm routines are opening Assistant settings instead of the routine editor or failing to run after an alarm. Google says it is aware of the problem and is working on a fix, while also investigating fresh timer complaints. Separately, Google says a fix for voice control of lights with non-English names should arrive within 24–48 hours. Smart speakers earn their keep in the little moments: turning off a light from bed, setting a kitchen timer, or launching a morning routine when your alarm goes off. You barely notice how useful that is until a basic command suddenly goes nowhere. Google Home has had several of those moments lately, from broken TV automations to weird accent glitches, and now users are reporting a fresh round of trouble with alarms and routines. The good news? Google says it knows about the problem and is working on a fix. The main complaint involves alarm-linked Google Assistant routines in the Google Clock app. Users say tapping “Add Google Assistant Routine” or trying to edit an existing alarm routine can dump them into Google Assistant settings instead of the routine editor. Others report previously configured routines no longer firing after dismissing an alarm.

A lot of times when I’ve mentioned moving to more privacy-focused apps and services, the reaction is more than a shrug — it’s a declaration that online privacy isn’t all that important. Most recently, at a tech event, I mentioned moving to Brave to avoid Google’s data collection and targeted advertising, and another attendee said that it’s just not important to them. That’s when I realized that there’s this general misunderstanding that prioritizing data privacy is the pastime of nerds and those prone to donning tin foil hats. I know I was someone who used to take a more laissez-faire approach to my online privacy. Years later, after grappling with the consequences of this, I feel that data privacy and data collection should be something everyone cares about.

TL;DR Spotify now works with Meta Muse, letting users control playback, find content, save tracks, and build playlists through conversation. Muse can also use context from calendars and schedules to automatically start the right music or podcast at the right time. Spotify is the first major music-streaming service to join Muse, which already connects with a growing list of third-party apps and services. Two weeks ago, Meta’s Muse arrived asking for the keys to your digital life. The personal AI agent can already work across email, calendars, payments, health apps, and shopping, and Meta is also bringing it to its smart glasses. Now Muse wants the aux cord, too. Spotify has announced a new integration that lets the agent control your listening and do more than simply press play. Once you connect Spotify to Muse, you can ask the agent to play music, podcasts, or audiobooks; save tracks to your Library; find something new; and build or edit playlists through conversation. Muse can also create Spotify’s Personal Podcasts from your notes and briefings.

Credit: Roydon Cerejo / Android Authority TL;DR Google is preparing to deprecate the “Heads Up” pedestrian safety feature in Digital Wellbeing. Code strings in the latest Digital Wellbeing beta app reveal an impending in-app alert warning users that walking detection will be removed soon. Launched in 2021, Heads Up is an opt-in feature that uses motion sensors and location data to warn users to pay attention while walking when the screen is unlocked. Google has recently been spotted working on a Weekly wrap feature for Digital Wellbeing that could use Gemini Nano to turn your weekly screen time data into personalized, contextual insights. But it’s not all feature additions coming our way, as we’ve now spotted Google preparing to say goodbye to one of Android’s rather quirky and underused pedestrian safety tools in Digital Wellbeing. 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.

I’ve been absolutely smitten with the Pixel 11 Pro. Google’s 2026 flagship has been my daily driver for over a month now, and pretty much everything is clicking for me — be it the cameras, design, software, and even performance. I could see myself using the Pixel 11 Pro for a while to come, but suddenly, I’m questioning if that’ll actually happen. And it’s all Motorola’s fault.

As soon as I picked up the Google Pixel 11 for the first time, I knew I wanted to love it. The slimmer, all-glass camera bar spoke to me as the perfect blend between the Pixel 10a’s flat back and the Pixel 11 Pro’s thicker camera housing. My favorite Android 17 perks, like the Pixel-exclusive Magic Capture and Creator Suite, still made the cut for Google’s cheapest flagship. And the missing features aren’t significant enough to notice they’re gone on the $899 Pixel 11. Unfortunately, after actually getting my hands on one, I found the Pixel 11 hard to love. The Tensor G6 chip isn’t the upgrade I hoped for, and without the vapor chamber found on the Pro phones, the Pixel 11 does genuinely overheat and stutter in everyday use. It’s harder than ever to choose between the Pixel 11 and, say, the Samsung Galaxy S26. I’ve tested both, and they each come with brutal compromises I’d rather not make.

TL;DR A Pixel 10 Pro user has redeemed an additional year of Google AI Pro (5TB) after their initial trial expired. The promo also appears to be live for some other Pixel 10 Pro owners, suggesting it’s not an isolated offer. While some have found the promo in the My Pixel app, others say they found it in the Google One app. Google bundled the Pixel 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and the 10 Pro Fold with 12 months of Google AI Pro as part of a trial last year. Now with the Pixel 11 series officially here, that one-year promo is on the verge of expiring for many users. However, some have found a way to extend the trial by another year. A day-one Pixel 10 Pro owner on Reddit claims they redeemed a 12-month free trial of Google AI Pro (5TB) after seeing a promo in the My Pixel app. The user says their original trial had expired and that the new promo was applied to the same account.

Android Auto has become something of an essential digital tool for me. It’s a comfort to know that whenever I hop into my car and head to my next destination, I can answer a phone call, navigate to a restaurant I’ve never been to, or control the playlist and streaming service I’m using, all without ever touching my phone. Since I got my car, I’ve perhaps taken for granted a feature I assumed most cars on the road also have access to. However, a new reader survey might suggest otherwise.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority I’ve been on Android my whole life. But if you ask me why, I can’t point to one big thing or feature. It’s actually all the small stuff I’ve gotten used to over the years — things like clipboard history, reverse wireless charging, app pinning, notification history, and app pairs — that make ditching Android almost impossible for me. Heck, a few of these are so underrated that even longtime Android users don’t know they exist. I don’t blame them, though. Google just doesn’t talk about these features enough, so this list is my attempt to fix that.

Qualcomm has two new flagship chips this year: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. While the two processors share the same TSMC 2nm process, Oryon CPU architecture, and next-generation Adreno GPU architecture, there are some important differences in AI acceleration and video codec capabilities. So, how much faster are they than last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5? We’ve been tracking Qualcomm’s internal reference phones and have gone hands-on with the latest model to find out. This year’s reference device is powered by the Extreme version of Qualcomm’s latest chip. Here are the results.

Credit: OnePlus TL;DR OnePlus has officially detailed the camera specifications of the OnePlus 16. The flagship is now confirmed to feature a 200MP camera, along with upgrades to other modules. The 200MP camera also supports a special Expert Mode with film-like colors and an aspect ratio “inspired” by Hasselblad, OnePlus’ former imaging partner. After officially revealing the OnePlus 16’s design, OnePlus is confirming key details about the phone’s cameras. We recently got our first good look at the new colors and the dazzling rear lights, and the company’s Weibo account has now shared a series of posts detailing the cameras coming to the flagship phone. The most compelling of these is the new 200MP camera, which has been rumored for several months. OnePlus confirms that the 200MP camera uses a 1/1.4-inch sensor, smaller than the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max. The details align with a Samsung ISOCELL HP3 sensor, which, in this case, is paired with an f/1.6 lens system. It’s a shame the camera upgrade arrives after the company’s departure from the US and Europe.

TL;DR Gemini in Google Docs can now draw information from your curated Gemini Notebooks. This ensures Gemini’s responses are grounded in your research. It also provides inline citations when drafting documents in Google Docs so you can verify facts without switching tabs. Gemini in Google Docs has long been a helpful assistant. It can create audio summaries of long documents, make a boring document more interesting with images, charts, and diagrams, and even consistently write in your tone across documents. Now, Google is taking things a step further by giving Gemini in Google Docs access to your Gemini Notebooks to ground its writing in sources you select. Google announced today that Gemini Notebooks can now be used as a context source in Google Docs. This means you no longer have to manually switch between tabs to cross-verify information in drafts created by Gemini. Once you have your research organized in a Gemini Notebook, you can add it as a source in Docs, and Gemini will draw information from it when writing.

TL;DR Google is rolling out Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS and Flash-Lite TTS, its latest text-to-speech models for more expressive AI-generated audio. Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS can create custom voices, replicate an authorized voice from a 30-second sample, and control accents, pacing, emotion, and two-speaker dialogue. The new models are reaching Gemini Notebook and Google Vids, with both also available to developers through Google AI Studio and the Gemini API. AI voiceovers can read a script. But getting them to actually perform it with the right accent, pacing, emotion, pauses, and even the occasional sigh is another story. To address this, Google has spent weeks growing Gemini 3.8 from the original Gemini 3.8 Flash into new Live and Live Extended Thinking models. And now it wants the same family to act the part, with Gemini 3.8 Flash Text-To-Speech (TTS) and Flash-Lite TTS rolling out. The biggest change for users is control. In a blog post, Google says Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS can create an original voice from a natural-language description, with support for more than 100 languages and dialects. You also get over 2,000 production-ready voices, and voice replication can recreate a consistent voice from a 30-second sample, provided you have permission to use it.

TL;DR Google Maps is getting a new update that makes stop signs and traffic lights easier to spot. It will show them in the same floating boxes that display the names of upcoming streets while navigating. Google Maps is already packed with features, though it could still add a few useful ones. Now, it seems at least one helpful quality-of-life feature is rolling out to Maps users on Android Auto that could really make a difference. According to 9to5Google, Google Maps in Android Auto can now display traffic lights and stop signs coming up along your route. This is a subtle but useful change from how the app used to show them on the map.

TL;DR GrapheneOS has confirmed that the Motorola Signature 27 will be its first officially supported Motorola phone. The flagship fits GrapheneOS’s stated hardware requirements, including a top-end Snapdragon chip and long-term software support. The move gives GrapheneOS users a major alternative to Pixels as the project increasingly pushes beyond Google hardware and services. For years, wanting GrapheneOS meant accepting one hardware choice: you needed a Google Pixel. Motorola’s partnership with the privacy-focused project promised to break that lock-in, but until now, we didn’t know which phone would go first. Following this week’s Signature 27 unveiling, GrapheneOS has answered that question directly: Motorola’s new flagship will be the first phone supported under the partnership. The confirmation came after an X user asked whether the Signature 27 would support GrapheneOS. “Yes, that will be the initial supported phone. Wait for official news about it,” the project replied. That last sentence matters, since GrapheneOS has not yet announced when support will arrive or whether Motorola will offer the OS preinstalled.

TL;DR Meta has launched the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 smart glasses with a nine-hour battery for $449. It’s also collaborating with LISA for new Meta Glasses with custom design elements and case charms. It also launched a new version of the Meta Adventurer glasses for $249. Alongside its new camera-free smart glasses, Meta has also launched several new versions of its camera-equipped glasses. The lineup includes new third-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, special collaborations, and a new, affordable pair of Meta Glasses. Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) The third generation of Meta’s Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses keeps the same 12MP camera with 3K video recording capability, but in a slimmer design. Meta says the glasses are more comfortable to wear and come in more styles and color options than ever.

TL;DR Meta has officially launched new camera-free smart glasses. It also announced a new “Muse Charm” device for on-the-go access to Muse AI. Meta also launched new Ray-Ban Meta glasses and new Meta Adventurer glasses starting at $249. Meta has officially launched a new pair of camera-free smart glasses at Meta Connect. Dubbed “Ray-Ban Meta Audio,” these glasses ditch the privacy nightmare of cameras on your temples and offer an audio-only experience. The company has also launched new camera-equipped models and a “Muse Charm” accessory. Meta says the glasses weigh just 43g, considerably lighter than the camera-equipped models that weigh between 51.5 and 53.8 grams. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio also features adjustable temple tips for added comfort. However, they aren’t user-adjustable, and you’ll need to take your glasses to a professional to get them tweaked to your liking.

Credit: Meta TL;DR Meta has announced new VR Glasses, its lightest pair so far. The glasses feature pancake lenses and micro-OLED displays with 5K resolution per eye. The glasses are certified for Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced, and can project a keyboard-trackpad combo on a desk to let you work anywhere. Meta is no stranger to VR and has been selling VR headsets under the Quest lineup for almost a decade. These devices, however, have been bulky and unwieldy, which is why Meta seems to take a different approach with its newest headset. Unlike previous Quest headsets, Meta’s new VR Glasses assume a sunglass-like shape, somewhat reminiscent of the Oakley Meta Vanguard sports glasses. Despite that, they are claimed to be Meta’s “most advanced” glasses with impressive visual quality and cinema-watching capabilities without weighing down your head or cutting you off from the outer world. The most immediate thing to note about the new Meta VR Glasses is how light they are. They weigh just 100 grams, which, Meta says, is five times lighter than the Quest 3 headset. To take the load off the headset, these glasses use a puck that’s tethered to them via an optical cable. The puck handles all the processing and packs the storage as well as the battery for the glasses. The puck also features a capacitive surface that serves as a trackpad to navigate through the interface.

TL;DR Qualcomm shares that Snapdragon X-series laptops are getting Linux support. Debian compatibility should roll out sometime later in 2026. Ubuntu is planning support for Snapdragon X2 devices early next year. It’s taken a couple decades, but something big has finally started happening for how we get computing done on laptops. After years of trying to be tiny desktop computers, running the same kind of chips that were never really designed for power efficiency, laptops began broadly embracing RISC computing — including models built around Qualcomm Snapdragon chips like the X series. This week at Qualcomm’s annual Snapdragon Summit, the company is sharing news of a big new upgrade for such models that power users are really going to love. For all the speed and battery life they offer, Snapdragon laptops have had at least one big blind spot: Linux. Even though different Snapdragon chips have been powering Android (with its deep Linux roots) devices for ages, initial Snapdragon X laptops lacked support for mainstream Linux distros.

TL;DR Google’s Android boss says growing interest in foldables could give developers more reason to optimize their apps for larger screens. Some Android apps still haven’t properly adapted to foldables, but Google says developers are either working on improvements or talking with the company. Apple’s iPhone Duo could expand the foldable audience enough to encourage better app experiences across both iOS and Android. Android foldables have spent years getting the hardware right, but the app problem has been much harder to shake. Apple’s arrival with the iPhone Duo could finally give developers another reason to take foldable layouts seriously, and Google’s Android boss thinks Android users could benefit too. Speaking to Tom’s Guide, Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat said developers see more value in investing in foldables as the form factor becomes more popular. More importantly, he acknowledged that some apps still haven’t made that transition, adding that their developers are either working on it or already in conversations with Google. According to Samat: