Android

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google Vids is expanding access to anyone with a personal or Workspace account. Users will be able to generate 1080p videos with Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash at no cost. Google will soon roll out Gemini 3.8 Flash-Lite text-to-speech in Vids for voiceovers. When Google Vids rolled out in 2024, it was initially intended as a tool for professionals. Even as access expanded beyond Gemini for Workspace customers, the AI-powered video generator remained locked behind Google’s subscription plans. However, Google has been a little more generous in recent months, giving free users a taste earlier this year. Now the company is opening the door for everyone to use Vids with its latest video generation model. Google has announced that it has integrated its newest AI models into Vids, including Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash-Lite. Anyone with a personal Google or Workspace account can now use the latest Omni model to generate 1080p videos. What’s even better is that you’ll be able to generate videos at no cost.

TL;DR Multiple users have reported that Google Maps’ speedometer is switching from MPH to KPH (or vice versa). The issue seems to primarily affect Android Auto, but at least one user reports a similar experience on the mobile app. It’s not currently clear why this is happening or how widespread the issue is. One of Google Maps’ useful features is that the app can show both the posted speed limit on the street where you’re driving and the speed you’re currently traveling, as calculated by GPS. This week, though, many users are reporting that Google Maps on Android Auto is bungling that feature in a strange way. In a Reddit thread (as spotted by Auto Evolution), four users all say that the speedometer in Google Maps on Android Auto has started alternating between miles per hour and kilometers per hour, irrespective of their own settings. One user even says they’re experiencing the same issue in Google Maps on their phone.

Credit: Shimul Sood / Android Authority TL;DR Gemini is getting several new connected apps. Some of these new connected apps include Airtable, Adobe, Peloton, and SeatGeek. These tools are rolling out starting today. Google continues to expand Gemini’s capabilities, not only through updates, but also by integrating new services through connected apps. Most recently, the tech giant expanded the AI’s connected app ecosystem to include services such as iHeartRadio, Zocdoc, Ticketmaster, and more. Now, get ready for another wave of new connected apps coming our way. If you’re unfamiliar with connected Gemini apps, these are apps that can connect with Gemini. They allow you to access those services as you converse with the chatbot. This way, you don’t have to leave your conversation to switch over to a new tab to perform other tasks, like getting tickets to an event.

TL;DR YouTube is turning its earlier Custom Feed experiment into a full feature that lets you build recommendation feeds with conversational prompts. You can save multiple feeds for different interests, moods, or routines, and YouTube will keep them updated with fresh recommendations. Custom Feeds are coming soon to users in the US across mobile, web, and TVs. YouTube’s Home tab has always had a funny way of overreacting. Watch one random woodworking video, and suddenly the algorithm can decide you’ve found your new life’s calling. Last year, YouTube started testing a way to fight that problem by letting some users tell an AI chatbot what they actually wanted to see. Now that experiment is growing up, with YouTube officially announcing Custom Feeds, giving viewers a more direct way to build separate recommendation feeds around specific interests, routines, or moods. The original test added a “Your Custom Feed” chip beside Home for select users. You could prompt YouTube to adjust what appeared there, essentially correcting the recommendation algorithm instead of waiting for your watch history to do the job.

TL;DR T-Mobile may be adding new perks for subscribers. Potential perks include subscriptions to Apple Music, Google AI, Xbox Game Pass, and more. These perks were initially expected to go live today, but may be made available on October 1. Earlier this week, it was reported that T-Mobile was gearing up to offer a new set of perks to its subscribers, with options potentially including subscriptions to Apple Music, YouTube, DoorDash’s DashPass, and more. Now, it appears that those new perks may be coming on Thursday, October 1. The Mobile Report reported yesterday that, based on information from a source within T-Mobile, it expected something — likely the new perks mentioned above — to launch today, September 23. Now, though, it says that that launch has been delayed, “likely” until the beginning of next month.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Two updates are rolling out to the YouTube Music app. The first is new features for Ask Music, which can now be used to customize your queue or dive deeper into artist lore. The other is “your podcast lineup,” an AI-audio guide that delivers a spoken preview of recommended shows. While listening to old favorites is great and all, sometimes you just want to shake things up and stream something new. The only problem is that finding new music, podcasts, or artists you like can, at times, feel like finding a needle in a haystack. If you feel you’re in a rut, YouTube Music has something new that could make discovery a little easier. Ask Music is also getting a couple of new features. First things first, YouTube Music is introducing a feature called “your podcast lineup.” As the company explains, this feature is an AI-audio guide that will give you a brief spoken preview of recommended shows. It will also give reasons as to why you might like those recommended podcasts. In addition to users of the music streaming app, this feature will also be available to YouTube Premium subscribers.

Long reading sessions, note-taking, and late-night web browsing are a lot nicer on a screen that is easier on the eyes. That is what makes the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2 worth a look right now, especially with an Amazon deal bringing the tablet down to $189.98. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon just dropped the Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) to a record-low $279.99, down from its $399.99 retail price. That saves you $120, a 30% discount off the RRP, and it even comes in lower than the Prime Day price. It also has a strong 4.4/5 review rating, which adds to its appeal at this price. See the deal at Amazon

Android phones don’t change much from year to year these days; the Galaxy S26 is extremely similar to the Galaxy S25, which was extremely similar to the Galaxy S24, and so on. That means that, assuming you don’t break it, it’s easier than ever to make a device last. Solid hardware only goes so far, though — long software support matters, too. According to a survey Android Authority‘s been running, almost all of you agree, rating long-lasting software support as a consideration in choosing your phones. In a poll running for the past couple of weeks, we’ve been asking readers whether long software support is a priority in choosing a new phone. There were three options to choose from: “Yes, it’s a top priority;” “Somewhat, but not a dealbreaker;” or “No, I care more about price.” Just shy of 84% of responses indicated that long software support is indeed a priority.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is Apple’s premium 49mm GPS + Cellular multisport watch, built for people who want a tough training watch and a full-featured smartwatch in one. This version pairs the rugged black titanium case with the Black Titanium Milanese Loop for a more polished everyday look, and there’s a strong deal on it right now at Amazon. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Disney Plus is reportedly raising prices again, with its ad-free Premium plan jumping 13% to $21.49 per month. Hulu subscriptions are also reportedly getting more expensive, but the ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu bundle will remain at $12.99 per month. Subscribers could be notified as early as today, September 23, though it’s unclear when the new prices will take effect. At this point, streaming services hiking subscription prices feel like an annual tradition. Just as users have started coming to terms with Disney Plus’ last price hike, the streaming giant seems to be gearing up for another. The development was highlighted by Bloomberg, quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter.” According to the source, the streaming service is hiking prices across several of its Disney Plus and Hulu subscription plans, with users expected to be officially notified of the change as early as today, Wednesday, September 23.

Phones can feel a bit samey these days, so a model that looks different and still brings high-end hardware stands out fast. The Nothing Phone 3 is built for buyers who want premium features with a more unusual look and feel, and there’s a solid Amazon deal on it right now. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR The Google Recorder app is working on a new toggle to make audio recordings accessible from the device’s native storage. Audio recordings in the app are currently saved in a sandboxed folder and hidden from file manager apps, unless you save them manually. This upcoming toggle could remember your choice even when you clear data or set up the app on a new device. The Pixel-exclusive Google Recorder has everything you can ask for from an audio recording app. However, managing saved recordings is anything but simple. Recorder can store audio files in the cloud or directly in the app. Accessing these files from your native file manager app is cumbersome and requires you to download them via Android’s share sheet. A future update to Google Recorder could finally make things a tad easier. 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: Meta TL;DR Meta has been spotted testing Muse (internally codenamed “Impacc”) as a potential replacement for Meta AI on smart glasses. Upcoming features for Muse on smart glasses could include Live AI, turn-by-turn navigation, Shazam song identification, Strava, and Health Connect integrations. Meta has also been spotted working on Meta Pay for Muse, a first-party wallet for its AI agent. Meta is preparing to make its new AI agent Muse the brains behind its smart glasses, potentially replacing the standard Meta AI with a significantly more autonomous assistant. Famed reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong revealed on X that Meta is testing an option to set Muse as the default assistant for connected eyewear.

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Official-looking leaked marketing renders showcase the aluminum unibody designs of the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Ultra in Gray ahead of a reported October 7 launch. The 12.6-inch Tab S12 Plus features a dual-stereo speaker setup and a 10,600mAh battery, while the 14.6-inch S12 Ultra keeps its display notch, quad speakers, dual rear cameras, and an 11,600mAh battery. Both tablets reportedly switch to MediaTek’s 3nm Dimensity 9500 chip, with reported US starting prices of $1,200 for the Tab S12 Plus and $1,400 for the Tab S12 Ultra. Samsung’s upcoming flagship tablets have been no strangers to the rumor mill over the past few weeks. Following early leaks detailing the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra’s chipset, the broader Tab S12 lineup’s specifications, and third-party renders showing design tweaks, we now have what appear to be official press renders showcasing both the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra in full glory. The fresh set of official-looking marketing materials comes courtesy of WinFuture, giving us a clean look at the front and back designs of Samsung’s refreshed tablet portfolio, ahead of their reported October 7 launch. However, the fine print of the leak notes that since Samsung is using invisible digital watermarks, the renders have been reproduced from Gemini from “freely available original content.” It’s fair to presume the Gemini-generated renders are close enough representations of the real product if WinFuture has seen them both.

The Ring Battery Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) is the company’s newest base battery-powered video doorbell, and it packs in a strong set of front-door features. There’s also a very good Amazon deal on it right now, which makes this a smart time to pick one up. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Xiaomi has launched the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max with two 200MP Leica cameras plus a 50MP ultrawide. The Pro Max gets the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and an 8,500mAh battery; the Pro gets the 8 Elite Gen 6 and a 7,000mAh battery. Both add privacy displays, functional rear screens, UWB, IP69 protection, and a customizable AI button. September has quickly turned into Pro Max season. Apple kicked things off with the iPhone 18 Pro Max; vivo followed with the X500 Pro Max, built around a 200MP ZEISS telephoto; and OPPO then went even further with the Find X10 Pro Max, featuring three 200MP rear cameras. Now Xiaomi has entered the increasingly crowded fight with the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, pairing two 200MP Leica cameras with huge batteries, upgraded rear displays, hardware-level screen privacy, and Qualcomm’s latest flagship chips. Xiaomi is going hard on cameras Both phones use the same Leica triple-camera setup: a 200MP 1/1.28-inch, f/1.67 Light Fusion 960L sensor with LOFIC and OIS; a 50MP OV51D Leica Ultrawide sensor with a 102-degree FOV and f/2.4 aperture; and a 200MP 1/1.56-inch periscope telephoto. The latter has OIS, an f/2.4 aperture, a native 75mm focal length, a 3.2x optical zoom, and a claimed 12.8x lossless zoom. That telephoto also uses a dual-group floating-focus design, letting it focus from 12cm for close-up shots. Xiaomi says the Pro Max telephoto captures 83% more light than its predecessor, which should help with portraits and longer-range shots in poorer lighting.

Amazon has dropped the Blink Outdoor 4 3-camera system to just $65.99 for the early Prime Big Deals Days sale, down from its $189.99 recommended retail price. That is a $124 saving and a full 65% off RRP, which is a huge cut for a home security kit from a well-known brand. If that weren’t enough, you’re getting a Battery Doorbell 2K Plus thrown in for free. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Samsung TL;DR Samsung has halted a SmartThings update to smart fridges in Korea after some owners reported that their fridges stopped working. Samsung confirmed the issue and said it was taking “emergency measures.” This latest issue once again highlights the risks associated with using connected appliances. There are plenty of smart home appliances on the market, featuring internet connectivity, cross-device integration, and a host of other features. However, there’s no shortage of horror stories about these connected appliances failing. Now, we can add another Samsung smart refrigerator issue to the list. Samsung has stopped rolling out a SmartThings update to its smart refrigerators in Korea after some owners reported major issues, ZDNET Korea reports. More specifically, many users on Samsung’s Korea Community forum report that their fridges completely stopped working, resulting in spoiled food. Other issues include the automatic door-opening function not working and the fridge’s internal lights not turning on.

A cheap tablet makes a lot of sense when you mainly want a bigger screen for streaming, reading, web browsing, and casual apps. That is exactly where the Amazon Fire HD 10 fits in, and Amazon has an Early Prime Big Deals Days deal on it right now. See the deal at Amazon

Amazon has cut the Ring Indoor Cam Plus to $29.99, $30 off its $59.99 recommended retail price. That is a 50% discount off the RRP, matching the best deal we have seen on it this year. See the deal at Amazon

The Google Pixel 11 series may not look that different from last year’s Pixel 10 lineup, but Google has clearly worked on some major under-the-hood upgrades this year. You get a more efficient Tensor G6 chipset, which is great, but perhaps the bigger change is the modem. Google has ditched Samsung’s Exynos modem in favor of a new MediaTek modem on the Pixel 11 phones. We recently compared the Pixel 11 Pro’s modem with last year’s Pixel 10 Pro and saw clear improvements in download speeds, signal reception, and battery efficiency.

TL;DR After introducing color-matched My Pixel app icons for the Pixel 11 series, we’re now seeing signs that this feature could expand to the Pixel 9 lineup. However, this early version doesn’t support all Pixel 9 models, and it doesn’t support any Pixel 10 phones either. Additionally, Google could also give its My Pixel app icon another design update by opting for a lighter shade of blue. Google introduced a handful of new upgrades with the Pixel 11 series. Among them was an updated My Pixel app with a handy search bar and a revamped app icon that adapts to the phone’s color. It now looks like Google plans to expand this color-based app icon to older Pixel phones as well. 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 Google Meet’s “Take notes for me” feature now also offers a one-page summary of the conversation. The summary, called Quick notes, is displayed on the main tab of the Google Doc. The same summary is also shared with participants over email. If you rely a lot on Google Meet for your daily minimum dose of human contact, its “Take notes for me” feature is a godsend. As the name suggests, it automatically takes written notes for you, letting you stay more present in virtual meetings. Initially introduced for Workspace accounts, the feature was recently made available to regular Google users and has even expanded to real-life meetings and conversations. Now, Google is adding another layer to the feature that makes it even more useful. Google recently announced “Quick notes” as an extension to Take notes for me in Meet. This new feature offers a high-level summary of the meeting’s key highlights based on the discussion and the notes jotted down by the video calling app.

I’ve used Motorola phones longer than I’d like to admit. The Nokia 5160 I carried around in high school will always hold a special place in my heart, but Motorola soon became my preferred brand. I remember how jealous I was when my parents bought StarTACs. It’s hard to describe what a shift that device was for cell phones. Moto proved that the phones in our pockets could be smaller and more stylish, and the company wasn’t done there. The original Razr was a revelation when it was released in 2004. You didn’t want to buy anything else at the time, and it was hard to go anywhere without seeing someone use one. It’s why Motorola’s recent success isn’t a surprise. The company has maintained a consistent theme over the last two decades, and it doesn’t take much to see where that all began and how it translates perfectly to this current crop of Razrs.