Android

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is rolling out Find people to the Find Hub app on Wear OS. The watch shows who can see your location, but you still have to start sharing from your phone. On an LTE watch, your location can keep being shared even if you leave your phone behind. Google’s new Find people feature for Wear OS looks pretty limited at first glance. You can’t use your watch to start sharing your location, and you can’t pull up a map showing where someone else is. But that’s because the feature doesn’t really seem intended to work both ways. Its more useful job is letting other people keep track of you when your phone isn’t around. As 9to5Google spotted, Find people is now appearing on Wear OS as part of Find Hub, and the watch app handles most of the setup elsewhere. If you haven’t already configured location sharing, it will simply show an “Open on phone” button. Once you start sharing your location with someone through Find Hub on your phone, that person then appears on the watch under “Can see your location,” along with how long the sharing session will last. This uses Google’s existing Location Sharing system, the same underlying setup when people tracking arrived in Find My Device.

TL;DR Android 17 QPR 1 Beta 9 is available now for Pixel 6 and newer devices. It’s been just over two weeks since the arrival of Beta 8 in late July. With September just weeks away, that’s not much time for further QPR1 revisions. Google’s latest hardware may finally have shared all its secrets, with the Pixel 11 series going official last week, but the company’s software story is one that only keeps adding new chapters. We just saw Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 land over the weekend, and now we’re getting our latest taste of QPR1, with the release of Android 17 QPR 1 Beta 9. Beta 9 marks Google’s first QPR1 release this month, following the arrival of QPR1 Beta 8 at the very end of July, and as you should only assume for a release numbered this high, this build is all about bugfixes, bugfixes, bugfixes.

TL;DR Google Messages is preparing to limit pinned chats to just six. Alongside that change, Messages is also working on a whole new UI for how pins are displayed. Pinned chats will feature large contact icons that update when new messages arrive. Right now, Google Messages is happy to let you keep track of your most important conversations by pinning them to the top of the app, almost to your heart’s content. But earlier this month, we spotted Google preparing to seriously rein that feature in, lowering your pinned chat limit to just six conversations, rather than the 20 you can pin now. Ahead of that change going live, we’ve spotted another tweak to pinning that feels like it goes a long way towards explaining where that new limit is coming from. 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.

Google unveiled the Pixel 11 series last week, bringing the usual mix of camera upgrades, a new Tensor chip, and plenty of Gemini-powered features. The four phones are currently up for pre-order ahead of their August 20 release, so even early adopters still have a few days to decide whether Google’s latest lineup is worth the money. We recently asked whether you thought the Pixel 11 series was hot or not, and the verdict was pretty brutal. That poll appeared in my colleague Stephen Radochia’s piece from last week, in which he argued that the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL show just how far Google has moved away from Android enthusiasts. His biggest gripe was the combination of higher prices and a drop from 16GB to 12GB of RAM on the Pro models, especially with the Galaxy S26 Ultra now sitting at the same $1,299 price as the Pro XL. While he acknowledged Google’s camera improvements, HiLight, Qi charging upgrades, and software strengths, he also made clear that Tensor G6 now has much more to prove if the Pixel is going to justify that premium.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR YouTube is changing how views are counted on non-Shorts content. A view will now be counted the moment a video begins to play. This change will go into effect on August 24, 2026. A year ago, YouTube made a change to how public views are counted for Shorts content. Soon, it will apply those same rules to all other video formats. This change will also apply to users across the globe. In a blog post, Google announced it is changing how public views are counted on non-Shorts content. Currently, the platform only counts “engaged views” as view, which means the viewer watched the video for at least 30 seconds. Starting on August 24, 2026, it will start counting views the moment a video begins to play. The company says it is making this change to improve “consistency across the platform” and to eliminate metric confusion for creators.

Maybe Google doesn’t need to make its next-gen Pixels thinner after all. Instead, consumers might just be satisfied to see the tech giant make better use of the space its phones are already taking up. That’s the biggest takeaway from a recent survey we ran, asking Android Authority readers about which major Pixel flaw they most want Google to fix.

TL;DR Google appears to be working on a new “Quick insert” option for Gboard. Quick insert would offer access to recent emoji, contacts, clipboard content, and more. While already functional and able to pull content from across your device, it’s unclear how this will fit in with existing Gboard input options. Smartphone users tend to fall into one of two groups: those who never think twice about the keyboard apps on their phones, and those who have A LOT of opinions about them. While there are lots of great keyboard options out there, Google’s own Gboard remains one of the most full-featured, getting better all the time with new input modes like the sign language support we just saw debut with the Pixel 11 series. Today we’re taking an early look at another new input method Google developers have been working on. 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: Paul Jones / Android Authority TL;DR One UI 9.0 will allow you to set a Motion Photo as a wallpaper for your home or lock screen. The feature is currently available for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8. It appears not to be available yet on Galaxy S26 devices running the One UI 9.0 beta. Wish that the background on your phone or tablet could be a little more lively than a static wallpaper? Samsung’s latest version of One UI will grant your wish. Spotted by SamMobile, One UI 9.0 just introduced a new wallpaper option. Specifically, it will let you set a Motion Photo as your home or lock screen background. You can even set a Motion Photo as a backgorund for both.

Credit: CMF TL;DR CMF has shared a teaser for its next product. The teaser includes an image of an earbud. It’s possible the brand could be teasing the CMF Buds 3. It has been over a year since the launch of the CMF Buds 2. But we may not have to wait much longer for the Nothing sub-brand to release a successor. Over on X (formerly Twitter), CMF shared a teaser for a new product. The social post includes a picture and text that reads “A hint of what’s next.” In the image is a picture of an earbud from a bottom up angle.

Amazon just dropped the GoPro HERO13 Black Accessory Bundle to $354.99, down from its $479.99 recommended retail price. That saves you $125, which is a 26% discount off the RRP, and it is the best deal we’ve ever tracked on this bundle/ See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Wearable shipments fell 2% year over year in Q2 2026, and consumers are increasingly choosing between premium sports watches and screenless trackers. Garmin gained major smartwatch market share, while Samsung and Apple both lost ground year over year. Screenless trackers are gaining momentum as consumers look for wearables that track their health without constant notifications and distractions. Over the past several years, the wearable market has grown to be diverse and full of different options, and that might just be making consumers a lot more selective. Research firm Omdia has just published preliminary sales figures for the second quarter of 2026, and in addition to highlighting a decline in year-over-year shipments, it also spotlights a growing divide. Overall wrist-based wearable shipments fell by 2% compared to the second quarter of 2025, but that decline doesn’t paint the full picture. The consumer market also seems to be split between two very different types of wearable bands: screenless trackers and the more sophisticated “feature-rich sports watches” from the likes of Garmin.

The c is a newer over-ear option from the brand, designed to offer much of what makes its audio gear appealing without pushing the price too high. There’s also a solid Amazon deal on it right now, which makes this a good time to take a look. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Two Pixel 11 ads show the same mysterious screen-equipped fitness tracker. It resembles a Charge-style fitness band more than the Pixel Watch 5 or Fitbit Air. There’s no evidence yet that it’s a new Fitbit or Pixel device, leaving its identity open. Google’s Pixel 11 launch has already given us plenty of hardware to talk about, but its advertising may have quietly introduced something else. A Reddit user recently spotted two Pixel 11 ads showing the usual phones and wearables alongside a small, screen-equipped tracker that Google hasn’t identified. That alone would be interesting. But what makes it more intriguing is that the same mystery device appears in multiple YouTube ads, including one built around Google’s green Pixel lineup. That makes it harder to dismiss as an accidental render or some AI-generated marketing oddity.

The TMY Smart Projector with Google TV System just dropped to $175.99 on Amazon, down from its $249.99 recommended retail price. That saves you $74, a 30% discount off the RRP, and it stands out even more because this is the first Amazon price drop on the projector. See the deal at Amazon

The TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G is a budget Android phone from TCL that stands out for one big reason: its paper-like display. It is built around TCL’s NXTPAPER screen tech, which cuts glare and is designed to reduce eye strain, and there’s now a deal on it at Amazon. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google has announced long-term Pixel and Gemini partnerships with Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain. The partnerships will put Pixel phones in behind-the-scenes, matchday, and social content, while Gemini provides new AI-powered fan experiences. With the Pixel 11 series now official, features such as Magic Capture, 4K Portrait Video, Pro Stable Video, and 8K Video Boost should make the phones particularly interesting for soccer-focused content. Google is locking in its European soccer footprint by extending multi-year partnerships with five of the world’s biggest clubs: Arsenal, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern München, Liverpool FC, and Paris Saint-Germain. Taking on the dual role of Official Consumer AI and Official Smartphone Partner, Google is putting both Gemini and its brand-new Pixel 11 series right at the center of matchday culture. We’ve already grown accustomed to seeing Pixel devices capture unfiltered, behind-the-scenes content, post-match tunnel interviews, and pitch-side highlights. In a blog post, Google says this renewed push expands those “Shot on Pixel” moments across both men’s and women’s teams. At the same time, Gemini is being positioned as every fan’s tactical companion, ready to dissect mid-game formation shifts or settle post-match stat debates on the fly.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Rising RAM prices are reportedly forcing Android OEMs to reconsider their lineups, with several reportedly scrapping or limiting global releases of their next-generation “Ultra” flagships. Leaks indicate Xiaomi has cancelled the Xiaomi 18 Ultra, while OPPO and vivo may withhold their next Ultra devices from global markets. Samsung may be left as the only manufacturer selling an “Ultra” flagship globally, while other Android brands shift to “Pro Max” branding for their top-tier phones. High RAM prices have pushed many phone makers to cut corners, and the resulting rise in component costs is also forcing brands to reconsider their lineups. The latest victims of the RAM crisis could be “Ultra” flagships, with leaks now suggesting that multiple Android OEMs are preparing to scrap their Ultra flagships, or at least severely scale back their global plans for them. About a month ago, leaker Yogesh Brar mentioned on X that Xiaomi has cancelled the Xiaomi 18 Ultra. It’s not clear whether the Ultra lineup has been entirely killed off or if this is merely a decision to skip a generation in light of the RAM crisis.

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR A new emulator called XenDroid delivers surprisingly solid Xbox 360 emulation on Android. We were able to play games like Call of Duty 2, Forza Motorsport 2, and Project Gotham Racing 3. You’ll need a device running Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 silicon or higher for best results. We’ve already seen the first Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 emulators running on Android, but we’ve seen a couple of huge developments in the last few months. However, a new Xbox 360 emulator is making waves in recent weeks. XenDroid was first released on GitHub a few weeks ago (h/t: EmulationOnAndroid and Modern Vintage Gamer), and it looks like a major step forward for Xbox 360 emulation on Android. According to the XenDroid GitHub page, it was initially conceived as a fork of the pioneering aX360e emulator. The developer later decided to rebase the app on the Xenia Edge PC emulator project.

TL;DR The recently released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 update contains a couple of irritating bugs, including one that wreaks havoc on the Pixel Launcher and the home screen. Meanwhile, the update is also breaking the ability to add new widgets to the home screen, with some users also experiencing touchscreen issues after the update. Some have managed to remedy some of the issues by conducting a factory reset, while others have had luck by simply enabling and disabling Android’s private space. Google recently rolled out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3, introducing the Quick Settings layout editor while adding new protections against call-forwarding scams. While these are decent additions to Android 17, Google’s latest beta update may also carry a couple of serious bugs that could render your phone unusable. According to a Pixel 9 Pro user replying to the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 thread on Reddit, their home screen “blinks” while leaving an app after the update was installed. Moreover, doing so repeatedly sometimes causes the wallpaper to disappear, the user adds.

TL;DR LineageOS 23 has just added nightly builds for the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra. The new builds bring Android 16 to all three S22 models outside Samsung’s official software channel. LineageOS could give the S22 series an unofficial path to Android 17 in the coming months. Samsung officially closed the door on major OS upgrades for the Galaxy S22 series after omitting the flagship lineup from its One UI 8.5 roadmap. However, a massive third-party development has just flipped the script: official LineageOS support has finally landed on the S22, opening a clear, exciting path toward running Android 17 unofficially. This is particularly interesting because the Galaxy S22 isn’t exactly ancient hardware. Samsung launched the series in 2022, and these phones remain perfectly capable of handling everyday tasks. Yet Samsung’s One UI 9 update excludes the entire S22 lineup, effectively confirming that One UI 8 was the family’s final major OS upgrade.

Consumers face a world in which very little is actually “owned.” Many of us still rent homes and subscribe to streaming services for media, leasing cars is now a common practice, and there’s a good chance future gaming consoles may not support physical media. However, one of the few items we can still lay claim to is our smartphones — though that may soon change. Last month, Apple rolled out its Apple Upgrade program, a hardware-as-a-service model that allows users to rent their devices with a predictable monthly payment over a period of their choice. After that lease period ends, users can upgrade their device and continue the cycle. This essentially turns device ownership into a monthly utility payment, like gas or electricity, while making it far easier to keep up with annual device upgrades.

Google’s new lineup of flagship phones is officially here, and the base Pixel 11 is the most affordable of the bunch. It’s more expensive than last year’s model, starting at $899, but it’s now the only mainline Pixel to retail for under $1,000. You might be tempted to accept the base model’s compromises to avoid spending a small fortune on the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, or the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Before taking the leap, consider these five Android alternatives. You can pass on the Google Pixel 11 and still buy another great Pixel, or opt for a Samsung or Motorola phone instead. If I were in the market for a new Pixel 11, I’d take a long look at these other Android phones first.

Credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is said to have started development on two wide foldable devices under the Galaxy Z9 generation for next year. The second wide-screen foldable is being designed with an aspect ratio specifically tailored for wide-screen video playback on the inner display. This move comes amid the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s widespread success, which has beaten records set by previous generations. Samsung could double down on wider screens for its next-generation Z9 foldables. Following the positive reception to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which helped drive record pre-orders for this Z8 generation of foldables, the company is reportedly developing a second “wide fold” model for 2027. This move would expand Samsung’s foldable portfolio to five distinct devices before even counting its rumored rollable slate. According to a report by South Korean outlet ETNews, Samsung has initiated development projects for two wide foldable devices under the Galaxy Z9 generation and shared plans with its supply chain partners. While the current Fold 8 sports a squarish 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, the report cites unnamed industry sources to suggest that this new/second wide foldable is being designed with an aspect ratio tailored specifically for wide-screen video playback on the inner display.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Buying a flagship phone used to mean grabbing the fastest (or second fastest) processor on the market. That’s increasingly not always the case, and I’m not talking about Google’s new Tensor G6 in the Pixel 11 series. As flagship silicon gets more expensive, manufacturers are starting to put cut-down versions of familiar high-end chips into phones that still carry a premium price tag. At first glance, that sounds like a terrible deal. Why would you pay hundreds — or even thousands — for a phone that doesn’t have the full-fat version of its processor? But there’s a good reason this could actually be a positive development for consumers, particularly as the cost of flagship silicon continues to spiral.

TL;DR Samsung is already actively testing early internal builds of One UI 9.5 on the Galaxy S26 series. Latest additions include native App Mirroring for Galaxy Books, a redesigned fingerprint enrollment screen, and a bottom search bar. Daily tools like the Camera app are getting a new UI polish, featuring cleaner pop-ups, rounded containers, and refined control icons. Most Galaxy users haven’t even had the chance to try the stable One UI 9.0, but Samsung is already looking ahead. The company has been quietly testing One UI 9.5, and recent leaks suggest there’s more cooking than we initially thought. Beyond the App Lock and visual upgrades we’ve already seen, newly surfaced screenshots point to tighter Galaxy Book integration, easier-to-reach search, a new 24MP camera option, and long-overdue interface refreshes. App Mirroring and Finder integration The most intriguing discovery is App Mirroring. Leaker Fahad Ali Javed shared screenshots on X from Samsung’s CZH9 internal One UI 9.5 build, showing a feature that could let users wirelessly access their phone’s apps and notifications from a laptop. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need to be enabled, and both devices must use the same Samsung account.