What you need to know

• The Google TV Streamer has jumped from $100 to $150 at the Google Store and Best Buy.
• Retailers including Amazon may still have older stock at the original price, but supplies could disappear quickly.
• The Nest lineup also gets across-the-board markups, with all five Nest cameras and doorbells seeing price increases of $20 to $50.

If you've been holding off on picking up Google’s smart home hardware, your hesitation just got a lot more expensive. The tech giant has quietly increased prices across its streaming and security hardware lineup.

The Google TV Streamer arrived in 2024 for $100, replacing Chromecast as Google’s flagship streaming box. It was also pretty easy to find below that price, with holiday discounts knocking a few bucks off. Now, Google has quietly bumped up the device’s price by $50 to $150, as spotted by 9to5Google.

The new price is already appearing at Google Store and Best Buy, though some retailers are still selling remaining stock for $100. For example, not all listings have been refreshed by Amazon yet. If you are fast enough, you may be able to pick up older stock at launch prices before it is cycled out.

Google mentions increased component costs, with the Streamer’s 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage making memory costs a likely factor behind the increase. Other recent Google hardware has already been under the same broader cost pressures.

The Nest lineup is taking a hit, too. Google has increased the price of all five of its currently available cameras and doorbells by $20 to $50. The battery-powered Nest Cam is now $200, up from $180, while the second-generation wired Nest Cam Outdoor jumps from $150 to $200.

The third-generation wired Nest Cam Indoor rises to $130 from $100. Both the wired and battery Nest Doorbells now cost $200, up from $180.

Interestingly, the Nest Cam with Floodlight bundle is still priced at $280, and the Nest Hub, thermostats, and the new Google Home Speaker remain unchanged for now.

These changes went into effect August 31, Google says, and with component costs still a big part of hardware pricing, it may be a lot harder to find these older launch prices.

What you need to know

• Android 17 QPR2 has officially hit Platform Stability with Beta 4, meaning APIs are locked and the update is in its final stretch focused entirely on system polish and bug fixes.
• Google fixed several Pixel pain points, including overheating, unexpected reboots, gesture navigation, battery-limit charging, Recents, Bluetooth audio, and screen-recording issues.
• Hardware support gets attention, too, with fixes for USB-C XR mirroring, 3D smart-glasses displays, and low-light Face Unlock.

Google’s Android 17 QPR2 beta cycle is moving into its final stretch. Beta 1 was released on July 20, with Beta 2 following on 3 August and Beta 3 only 11 days later. Now, Beta 4 has arrived with a long list of fixes, and more importantly, Android 17 QPR2 has reached Platform Stability.

That milestone means Google has locked the API surface for the release, giving developers a much more stable target for testing apps ahead of the update reaching users more broadly. QPR2 is a pretty small SDK update that has no planned behavior changes, so this build is much more about polish, stability, and fixing things that could make a Pixel frustrating to use.

Critical bug fixes

And there are a lot of things to fix. As per the changelog, Beta 4 resolves a bug in thermal management that could cause overheating and reboots. Another solution is for the 80% battery limit feature that takes way too long to finish charging the last 2%. Google has also fixed broken gesture navigation and a transparent status bar that could appear after full-screen video with specific display-cutout settings enabled.

You'll see that polish in everyday Pixel features as well. The search in the app drawer may stop accepting text input. Bluetooth call audio may be routed incorrectly through the phone speaker. The Recents screen may freeze or visually clip app cards. Google also fixed a bug with screen-recording audio that could cause microphones to be unavailable to apps such as Gboard and Gemini until a reboot.

There’s some interesting hardware cleanup, too. Beta 4 brings back screen mirroring for USB-C XR glasses and fixes blank screens in 3D mode for connected smart glasses. It also solved Face Unlock issues in low-light conditions that would take users straight to a PIN.

Android 17 QPR2 is also beefing up the protection against call-forwarding scams by limiting some USSD-based forwarding commands and requiring confirmation when users manually dial them.

Positive user feedback

Reddit users who own Pixels are giving surprisingly positive early feedback. One Pixel 9a owner called Beta 4 the most stable QPR2 build yet, with the lag gone and performance noticeably improved. Another Pixel 8 owner said that the phone now feels "fast."

Beta 4 isn’t perfect, though. Some testers complained about oversized text and a lower display resolution after installing the update, though one user said a reboot fixed everything. At least one tester also states that a Bluetooth routing issue for incoming calls has persisted across all four QPR2 betas, with them having to manually select the Bluetooth audio source.

Beta 4 is rolling out to a wide range of Pixel phones and tablets, with Pixel 11 support listed as “coming soon” for now. Some early beta testers on Reddit said a download of about 671MB on a Pixel 9 Pro XL, with a few rollout quirks and some confusion on the update screen.

If you're already a Pixel owner and are enrolled in the beta, you'll get the update over the air. Just know that if you leave the program after installing Beta 4, it can wipe your data.

What you need to know

• Instagram is changing its "AI creator" label to "AI-generated profile" to give users better clarity over whether or not the content (and person) they're viewing is real.
• The platform states there will be restrictions and limits imposed on profiles that do not adhere to this label.
• Instagram already has its AI Info option, which lets users know if something on the platform was made with AI, such as photos and videos.

Instagram is tightening the screws around AI content on its platform this week. Specifically, the app is bringing more clarity for users when a profile is deemed to be nothing but AI.

This morning (Aug 31), Instagram announced that it is changing its "AI creator" label to "AI-generated profile." It states this change was made to "make it more clear to people when a profile features an AI-generated person rather than a human." Here's the thing: if someone is running an AI-generated account, meaning the person users see isn't real, they will face limits. Instagram says these limits will be imposed on their accounts' reach, meaning their views and interactions will suffer.

These "unlabeled accounts" can make things right by adding the new AI-generated profile label to their account. Additionally, they can appeal the decision if there was a mistake.

Instagram has made these decisions due to user feedback. It states users "don’t like seeing a profile that seems human, only to find out later that the person featured is AI-generated." If something was made with AI, users want to know flat out, not after the fact. If a profile/account has always used the "AI creator" label, nothing necessarily changes. The "AI-generated profile" label will simply continue. However, the post states that if a user utilizes AI tools as part of their "creative process," the AI-generated profile label doesn't apply.

Instagram says this change is a part of an ongoing process. Things may continue to change over time.

Changes continue for Instagram

AI has arrived on Instagram in a myriad of ways over the past few years. On one hand, we have warning labels that the content you're viewing was made by AI, such as photos. Then, we have Instagram's mistakes, where users have seen the app mistakenly call their friends AI in a messaging glitch. Regardless, it's safe to assume that more AI-related features for transparency will continue. The post acknowledges that generative AI tools spread, but users want to know if what they're seeing is real or fantasy.

On the flip side, Meta was involved in a $16 billion settlement over the addictive nature of its social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram. This settlement focuses on younger users, as the case highlighted a "nationwide mental health crisis" that's been "fueled" by these addictive apps. As a result, Meta will need to roll out changes for younger user accounts to help cut down their exposure.

Such changes will involve daily usage limits, age restrictions for content, and more.

Android Central's Take

It feels like you're always on guard online now. Not that you weren't before, but it's for a different reason today. Now you're wondering, "was... was this made by a computer and not a person?" "Is this person real?" It's kind of weird. It almost feels like we're walking into a sci-fi story where the AI starts learning and evolving and taking over. No? I watch too many movies, I know.

What you need to know

• Google Pixel 11 Pro users on Reddit have started voicing problems with the device's recording capabilities when Video Boost is active.
• A report states statis bursts every "five seconds" emerge in recordings when this enhancement feature is active, completely ruining the end-product.
• A Google support team member has responded, curious to learn more; however, users have discovered an at-home fix for this problem.

It's the end of August, and we're all unpacking our Pixel 11 phones, but some users say there's already an issue. Reports highlight a video enhancement feature that's working in reverse.

Over the past week, reports on the Pixel Phones subreddit have emerged, highlighting a problem with Video Boost on the Pixel 11 Pro (via 9to5Google). The original poster (OP) said that after recording, they noticed "static bursts" in the audio "every five seconds." The report specifies that this has only occurred with videos recorded with Video Boost enabled.

The OP followed up with a better example, showing how egregious these static bursts are every few seconds. Users entered the thread. Some say they've encountered the same problem when Video Boost is active. Another questioned the OP, wondering about their video quality. The user was recording in FHD at 6fps, not 4K. However, another recording at 4K displayed signs of these disruptive static bursts.

Users lamented the problem, stating it's disheartening to have such a problem on top of the phone's price. The OP considered returning their device, but they stuck with it and reportedly found a fix. They say, "I went in and cleared the cache on the camera app and turned off zoom audio. No static on the videos tonight." One user found no issues at 30fps, but toggling 60fps on and off seemed to help.

Interestingly, Google is aware of the problem—or at least, the issues users have voiced. A member of the Google product support team for Pixels responded, inquiring for more information.

Video Boost is designed to help users record better videos. It works by submitting your recording to Google's Cloud services to "enhance it" before returning to your phone. When Google first introduced this for the Pixel 8 Pro, it seemed like a straightforward process. However, there appears to be some disconnect between the Pixel 11 Pro and Video Boost's original purpose. With Google chiming in, hopefully it'll look into a more permanent solution that doesn't involve extra steps from users.

These early issues are frustrating, as they're souring an otherwise well-received Pixel 11 launch. While Google has integrated some useful hardware upgrades, the company's also raised the bar significantly for Pixel AI. Of course, these are optional tools, so the final judgement is up to the end-user.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy S27 Ultra could replace its 3x and 5x telephoto cameras with a single new 4x f/1.9 zoom camera.
• The rumored 4x telephoto camera would match the native optical zoom of the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Leaked CAD renders appear to show room for only one telephoto camera alongside the Galaxy S27 Ultra's main sensors.

A new leak may have revealed the new zoom camera Samsung is planning for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra is finally starting to take shape. We recently saw CAD renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra that revealed a redesigned camera module with an iPhone 17 Pro-like horizontal camera plateau. Another leak also suggested that Samsung might finally increase the battery capacity on its upcoming flagship.

Now, the same leaker who claimed Samsung is working on self-healing display glass for the Galaxy S27 Ultra has shared on X that the phone could feature a new 4x telephoto camera with an f/1.9 aperture.

Until now, Samsung has used two different zoom cameras on its recent Ultra flagships, traditionally offering a combination of 3x and 5x telephoto lenses. But with the Galaxy S27 Ultra, it looks like Samsung could be changing that strategy.

The company will reportedly switch to a single telephoto camera offering 4x optical zoom. Interestingly, that's also the zoom level Apple offers on the iPhone 17 Pro.

The recently leaked CAD renders also appear to leave room for only one telephoto camera inside the pill-shaped module next to the two main cameras on the horizontal camera plateau, so that could be where this new 4x camera sits.

The leaker hasn't revealed the megapixel count or any other specifications of the new sensor just yet. But with the Galaxy S27 Ultra still around six months away, we expect to learn much more about the camera setup as we get closer to launch.

Of course, there's still plenty of time for Samsung to change things before the hardware is finalized. But between the redesigned camera module, rumored larger battery, self-healing display glass, and now this new 4x telephoto camera, we're finally starting to get a clearer picture of the direction Samsung could be taking with the Galaxy S27 Ultra

What you need to know

• The latest One UI 9 beta brings the Galaxy Z Fold 8's marquee My FanCam tool to the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.
• My FanCam lets you crop and reframe pre-recorded Gallery videos to lock focus on specific people for social media, though it doesn't work on pets or animals.
• The update also adds customizable routine cards, real-time security risk alerts, and smarter contextual task suggestions.

The latest One UI 9 beta update for the Galaxy S26 series is here, and it's finally bringing some of the best AI tricks from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to Samsung's flagship slab phones. Starting today, beta program participants can download an update packed full of features that puts the new My FanCam front and center.

If you’ve ever filmed a fantastic video, only to realize that your subject wasn’t perfectly framed, My FanCam is the tool for you. This AI-powered tool lives inside the Gallery app and can take any video you have, track a person you select, and automatically reframe the footage to keep them in the middle. It is ideal for social media creators and can crop the video to various aspect ratios for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and more.

There’s a catch: My FanCam is made for tracking people, not pets or other animals. If the feature has trouble finding someone, you can scrub through the video to a frame where the person is easier to find. The feature also requires a Samsung account, and Samsung does not guarantee it will work on every clip.

Additionally, Samsung is improving the Now Brief experience beyond my FanCam. This personalization hub now offers customizable cards pulling together useful insights based on your routines, interests, and daily needs.

It's also getting a security boost, with new cards surfacing potential risks and suggesting actions you can take to protect your device. The Now Nudge feature is also getting smarter, with more contextual suggestions to help you complete everyday tasks more efficiently. And as a bonus, this update finally lets you declutter your home screen by removing the dedicated Google Search bar.

The Galaxy S26 FE will ship with My FanCam out of the box and will arrive with One UI 9 on September 4. This beta rollout means the core S26 lineup won’t be left behind before that happens.

The update is limited to a handful of markets for now, and there’s no word on when it will be rolled out broadly. If you’re on the beta, keep an eye on your notifications and be ready for a roughly 1.28GB download.

What you need to know

• Google Health is rolling out v5.07 to Android and iOS users late this week, bringing a major update to manual workout logging.
• Users can now "add or adjust" their metrics much easier, and any changes will appear in their post-workout summaries much quicker.
• Other updates this week include trail run and incline data in "Running Distance" totals, a fix for Maps in the Health app, and more.

Google Health is rolling out one more update late in August that's just what the doctor ordered for fitness users.

The company detailed v5.07 in a community post for the Google Health app this morning (Aug 28). This update is rolling out for Android and iOS users late this week, bringing three important "Activity and Fitness" updates. These improvements concern the Health app's manual workout logging capabilities. Google says users can now "add and adjust more metrics when logging an exercise manually." Any edits made should now appear more quickly in your workout summary.

What's more, Google Health now lets users add more metrics and workout information when switching from pool swimming to an open swim exercise.

If you're taking things outside, the patch notes state the maps experience has been upgraded. Users should experience faster loading times and "smoother rendering." The patch also solves a bug where some users wouldn't see a map after finishing a run or a long walk. Similarly, the patch this week brings trail runs and incline runs into your "Running Distance" totals.

For weight trackers, Google highlights its work in bringing more clarity to trends. Users should be able to notice changes more easily in the weight graph. Lastly, a connection problem between Health Connect and certain Android phones has been fixed.

Consistency is key

The consistent Google Health updates continue, even into the final days of August. The last major patch that turned heads was the app's Nutrition Logging patch. This arrived in v5.04, in which Google introduced "custom foods." The purpose was to give users a personal touch behind how they log the meals they've eaten. Users can now "create, edit, and delete" their nutrition logs with more freedom. However, while useful, Google Health added another feature: Quick Logging.

The company designed this to be an alternative to the traditional Nutrition Logging approach. Users don't have to search or add the specific name of what they've consumed. Instead, all they're required to add is the meal's calories and macronutrients. Google also added Naps in the Today tab and a Cycle Health update, making it easier for users to track long-term trends.

What you need to know

• Leaks on social media suggest that Xiaomi is working on a "smart privacy display" feature, similar to Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• This feature would stop prying eyes from viewing your screen from angles; however, it could also alert the user about another person's gaze.
• An automatic function, dubbed "page privacy display" in the leak, states Xiaomi's version would automatically protect your payments, texts, logins, and more.

Following Samsung's Privacy Display for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, rumors said Xiaomi was looking to do the same. A glimpse at how this could work surfaced on social media, claiming Xiaomi is going the "smart" privacy display route.

To end the week, Polish tipster Kacper posted what's been alleged as Xiaomi's upcoming "smart privacy display" on X (via GSMArena). This page is likely tucked into the software's settings page with the following description: "screen visibility is reduced. Your device will alert you when another person's gaze is detected." The "reduced" visibility concerns others peeking at your screen from the side. However, Xiaomi is preparing a little more.

The tipster claims Xiaomi is working on a group or "scenario" feature for its smart privacy display. With this, users can group multiple apps or notifications under the privacy display's protection. If users don't go this route, the tipster suggests Xiaomi will automatically turn on its protections for "specific sensitive pages." A screenshot highlights "page privacy display."

This would turn the feature on in a case-by-case situation. If you're texting, digitally paying, or logging into an account, the privacy display would activate. It appears that users would need to enable this feature.

Taking inspiration

Rumors that Xiaomi might pursue a privacy display like Samsung's started in February. Funnily enough, these rumors surfaced just before Galaxy Unpacked, where the Galaxy S26 Ultra and co. were revealed. A tipster alleged a privacy display similar to Samsung's was being "tested domestically." Xiaomi and Honor were two major companies that might've started chasing this new tech. A few months later, in May, Xiaomi's interest came to the forefront.

It was stated that HyperOS 4.0, Xiaomi's software skin for Android 17, could introduce its privacy display. This could be revealed in October, which might also coincide with its next phone series: the Xiaomi 18, as GSMArena also notes. These phones (18 Pro, 18 Pro Max) are expected to continue that magic back display that was clearly popular for the company.

Android Central's Take

Early rumors said Xiaomi was going to make its version "like" Samsung's, and the rumors now clearly show the angle it's trying to take. Imagine using your phone and seeing a notification that someone is trying to peek at your screen. It's already weird as it is, but if Xiaomi's version goes off without a hitch, it could help. I'm eager to see how this works. What I really need is Xiaomi's live demo, which probably won't happen until October, unless we get teasers beforehand.

What you need to know

• Meta's latest smart glasses update stops video recording if someone covers the capture LED after filming begins.
• The update closes a loophole that previously allowed users to start recording first and then cover the LED afterward.
• Meta says several businesses offering capture LED tampering services have already shut down following its changes.

Meta has started rolling out another update for its AI glasses that closes yet another loophole that allowed users to record discreetly while keeping the capture LED covered.

Earlier this year, Meta took several major steps to address privacy concerns surrounding its smart glasses. The company rolled out a mandatory update for its Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Meta AI glasses that prevented the camera from recording if the capture LED had been tampered with or covered.

Meta said the change was designed to make sure people around the wearer can clearly tell whenever the glasses are capturing photos or videos.

Now, the company is rolling out another update that closes a loophole in that system. Meta VP Alex Himel shared on Threads that the new update will stop video recording if someone covers the capture LED after recording has already started.

Until now, users could apparently get around Meta's protection by starting a recording while the LED was visible and then covering it afterward. With the latest update, doing that will automatically stop the recording.

Himel added that Meta will continue rolling out updates like this to make sure the capture LED can "reliably alert bystanders" whenever photos or videos are being captured and saved to someone's gallery.

Meta also claims that its efforts against LED tampering are already having a deterrent effect. According to the company, several businesses that previously offered services to disable or cover the capture LED on Meta's smart glasses have already shut down.

In fact, the company has also launched an awareness campaign explaining what the capture LED actually means. With AI glasses quickly becoming a much bigger product category, Meta says not everyone is familiar with the light or knows when someone is recording. The company now seems to be heavily marketing these new privacy protections in an effort to build back some of that trust.

In addition to these changes, Meta says it has removed accounts from its platforms that engaged in this behavior, alongside posts that provided instructions or advertised services for tampering with the capture LED.

Honestly, it's pretty sad that things have reached this point. In my opinion, protections against something as obvious as covering the recording light should have been built into these glasses from the beginning. But nonetheless, Meta is finally closing these loopholes, and hopefully, it makes discreet recording with its smart glasses much harder going forward.

What you need to know

• Viture has collaborated with S-Game, the developer studio behind Phantom Blade Zero, for the "Phantom Beast" XR glasses that combine Chinese wuxia with "kungfupunk" designs.
• The collector's edition offers a selection of collectibles for consumers, such as a map in the shape of a scroll.
• Consumers can pre-order the Phantom Beast XR glasses for $599 ahead of its October 29 launch.

Viture announced its collaboration with S-Game, the gaming studio behind Phantom Blade Zero. Together, the two have made a version of the Phantom Beast XR glasses that live up to the sharp edge the game breathes life into.

This collaboration marks the first time Viture has collaborated with a Chinese gaming studio; however, it's the second collab overall, following the Cyberpunk 2077 Luma Cyber. Consumers can pre-order the Viture x Phantom Blade Zero: Phantom Beast XR glasses for $599 at viture.com or the IGN Store. The glasses will launch on October 29. Consumers will find a pair of red and black XR lenses, embodying a traditional Chinese wuxia and punk fantasy aesthetic.

Viture says the XR glasses feature "exclusive artwork, engravings, and iconography pulled from the game’s blade-forward visual identity..." All of this is laid on top of Viture's regular Beast product. The lenses' temples are another talking point. Viture says they were modeled after the Soul's blade, frozen mid-draw. What's more, there's a neck lanyard with traditional wuxia patterning and martial arts-inspired pads.

If you're pre-ordering, the collector's package you'll receive is packed full of goodies. Viture says the packaging doubles as a shelf display. Not only is it covered in artwork, but the game's character, Soul, is present, as he readies his blade. Viture and S-Game are also including "a 12.5cm Mó Sanguine blade replica, a game-art card brick, a sticker sheet, and a lens cloth" in the collector's box.

If you pre-order (or purchase) your glasses before November 5, you will receive a collectible map in the form of a scroll.

The carrying case for the Phantom Beast is shaped like a scabbard. The press release states the "triangular metal drawer wrapped in textured black leather, it opens the way the game’s blades do — sliding, not flipping." The inside of the case is crimson, and its texture mirrors that of a blade in sunlight.

A screen that immerses you

As previously stated, the Phantom Beast is essentially a special version laid on top of Viture's natural Beast XR glasses. With that in mind, consumers will experience Sony Micro-OLED panels on a 174” (at 4m) virtual screen. Its refresh rate is rather smooth at 120Hz. The display is paired with VisionPair 3DoF spatial tracking and HARMAN AudioEFX spatial sound. Another key difference is the OSD menu. Viture says it's been reskinned to fit Phantom Blade Zero's in-game UI.

Once you unpack it, you can customize your viewing with five different modes, including a 32:9 panoramic aspect ratio designed for PC gaming, per Viture. Moreover, the Phantom Beast offers USB-C connectivity for "plug-and-play" support for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Steam Deck. If you're looking to play Phantom Blade Zero, Viture and S-Game had this to say:

"Phantom Blade Zero players on PlayStation need VITURE’s Pro Mobile Dock, which extends support to PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, as well as other HDMI devices; players can also connect Phantom Beast to Switch and Switch 2 with the Mobile Dock Mini. VITURE is the only XR glasses manufacturer with Switch 2 support."

What you need to know

• Rakuten Kobo is bringing its e-readers to stores for the first time, and it's doing so with 500 Best Buy shops across the U.S.
• Consumers can shop the Kobo Clara Colour, Clara BW, Libra Colour, Kobo Stylus 2, and Kobo Remote.
• Online availability for these Rakuten Kobo products remains on kobo.com, Staples, Target, and more.

If you've ever wanted to physically shop Rakuten Kobo products, you're getting your wish. Today (Aug 27), Rakuten unveiled its newest partnership with a major retailer across the U.S.

A press release states Rakuten Kobo e-reader products are heading to 500 Best Buy stores across the U.S. This will be the first time that consumers can shop in stores for Rakuten Kobo products. Previously, as the company highlights in its post, consumers could only shop online for these e-readers.

To complement the retailer expansion, Rakuten Kobo's CEO, Michael Tamblyn, said, "Many readers want to be able to pick up a device, see the screen, and feel it in their hands before they commit. With Kobo eReaders now available at Best Buy, more American customers can do just that."

Coming to Best Buy stores will be the Rakuten Kobo Clara Colour and Kobo Clara BW. Both devices are "compact and waterproof." What's more, consumers can shop the expansive Kobo Libra Colour. Rounding out Rakuten Kobo's retail expansion are the Kobo Stylus 2 and the Kobo Remote accessories. While it's nice to actually see and envision how these tablets would look in your hands in a cozy chair, Rakuten Kobo says there's more to experience.

After purchasing, the post states each e-reader provides access to the Kobo Store and Kobo Plus. The former lets you shop for new books to read, while the latter is a subscription service. Kobo Plus offers a selection of packages with "support for a wide range of eBook formats, and an industry-leading experience for borrowing eBooks directly from local public libraries with Libby and OverDrive."

More e-readers hit Best Buy

We covered Rakuten Kobo's launch of the Libra Colour and Clara Colour. These tablets feature E Ink's Kaledio 3 module screens with stronger processing and improved battery capacities. The Libra Colour, which is what consumers can find in-store at Best Buy, features a 7-inch display, 32GB of storage, and full support for the Kobo Stylus 2. Another highlight of the Libra Colour is its ergonomic design.

Rakuten Kobo worked on its form factor with comfort in mind for longer reading sessions. If you enjoy reading a physical book, the Libra Colour might give you those same vibes—it's just digital.

For all consumers interested in Rakuten Kobo e-readers, or those curious if their store has any, you can check on Best Buy today. If you prefer the online route, Rakuten Kobo says you can still find its e-readers on kobo.com, Staples, Target, and more.

What you need to know

• Samsung launched the Galaxy S26 FE with a 6.7-inch display, and One UI 9 (Android 17), beating the rest of the Galaxy S26 series to the newest software.
• While the display remains the same to the S25 FE, the battery is also similar, arriving at 4,900mAh with 45W wired charging.
• The S26 FE features a 50MP main lens, and Samsung equipped it with the flagship series' Nightography and My FanCam from its latest foldables.
• Consumers can find the Galaxy S26 FE for $699 starting on September 3 at "select carriers" before a wider market debut on September 4.

This morning (Aug 27), Samsung fully unveiled the Galaxy S26 FE, and this slightly more affordable phone is bringing the latest software before its flagship siblings.

In a press release, Samsung states the Galaxy S26 FE runs One UI 9 (Android 17) out of the box before the flagship S26 series. According to Samsung, One UI 9 brings more "intuitive" Galaxy AI features. Consumers will recognize several features, such as Google's Circle to Search, Samsung's Now Nudge, and Now Brief. Now Nudge suggests actions you can take above your keyboard. Now Brief is more personalized, displaying quick weather insights or wellness insights daily.

Something you can immerse your eyeballs in is the S26 FE's 6.7-inch AMOLED display, like its predecessor. Samsung states the screen can reach a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. Internally, the phone is equipped with the company's Exynos 2500 SoC. This was Samsung's 2025 chip that debuted a month before its foldables. It said it upgraded the chip with "powerful" AI capabilities and CPU performance.

What's also remained the same between the S26 FE and the S25 FE is the battery. The latest model offers a 4,900mAh cell with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.

Samsung carved out space for the Galaxy S26 FE's camera features. The device offers the following rear cameras: a 50MP main lens, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto. The selfie lens arrives at 12MP.

Consumers will find Super Steady and the flagship series' Nightography available for the S26 FE. The former helps capture fast-moving subjects so everything looks smooth in playback. Nightography is Samsung's night mode for capturing "clear shots in low light." One camera feature the S26 FE has received that Samsung's latest foldables have is "My FanCam."

Imagine going to a concert and wanting to capture your favorite member fully without any distraction. Samsung says My FanCam can focus on a singular subject, "intelligently reframing video as the scene moves, so users can turn dynamic moments into social-ready content with less manual editing." Photo Assist helps freshen up your images after the fact, while Gemini Omni lets users create quick photos based on content in their Gallery.

If you're considering the Galaxy S26 FE, Samsung says it has committed to seven years of software updates (security patches, too). What if you're switching from iOS to Android? Samsung highlights the upgrades to Smart Switch, which makes it easier for users to swap from an iPhone to a Galaxy S26 FE by scanning a QR code. Users can wirelessly transfer their files over Wi-Fi, including passwords, passkeys, call history, and more.

Samsung Care is an option for consumers when purchasing the device, as well as a 6-month free trial of Google AI Pro.

The Galaxy S26 FE will be available on September 3 for "select carriers." On September 4, consumers can find it at samsung.com, carriers, and retailers across the U.S. for $699. The S26 FE can be found in Pistachio, Blueberry, and Graphite with the following RAM/storage options: 8/126GB and 8/256GB.

What you need to know

• The Fitbit Air now comes in a Pokémon Sleep Special Edition with a Sleeping Pikachu strap.
• The special edition tracker keeps its lightweight design, week-long battery, 50-meter water resistance, optical heart-rate sensor, and skin-temperature monitoring.
• Overnight sleep and naps sync automatically with Pokémon Sleep through Health Connect on Android or Apple Health on iOS.
• Sleep Score boosts Snorlax’s Strength to create “Drowsy Power,” with higher scores unlocking rarer Pokémon sleep styles.

The Fitbit Air made its quiet debut earlier this year as Google's lightest wearable yet, but today it’s getting a colorful makeover that will make it much harder to ignore. Google has announced the Fitbit Air Special Edition Pokémon Sleep that turns your morning grogginess into in-game gains.

If you’ve been MIA since the Air landed in early 2026, here’s the TL;DR: It's the screen-free tracker that weighs just 12 grams total. As Derrek Lee put it in his review for Android Central, this thing is forgettable in the best way. You put it on and forget it’s there, which is the whole point if you’re trying to get some quality sleep. The week-long battery is a lovely touch as well.

The Pokémon Sleep edition retains all the things that make the Air so good — the 50-meter water resistance, the optical heart rate sensor, and the skin temperature monitoring — but swaps out the strap for one with a sleeping Pikachu.

What’s interesting about this slight makeover is what happens when you plug your Fitbit Air into the Pokémon Sleep app. Your overnight sleep and daytime naps are auto-synced through Health Connect on Android or Apple Health on iOS, importing your sleep duration stats straight into the game.

When you wake up, Pokémon with sleep types similar to yours gather around Snorlax, and your Sleep Score multiplies Snorlax's Strength to generate "Drowsy Power." The higher that number, the rarer the sleep styles you'll discover.

Under the hood is Google Health’s sleep tracking, which now uses machine learning algorithms that are 15% more accurate at picking up sleep stages, naps, and those pesky overnight interruptions. With every purchase, you get a three-month trial to Google Health Premium, which gives you access to the AI-powered Health Coach that analyzes your trends and offers personalized tips.

Preorders for the Fitbit Air Special Edition Pokémon Sleep start today at the Google Store and Target, with shipping beginning September 15. It's limited to the U.S. and Japan, so if you’ve been waiting for a reason to finally track your sleep, your Pikachu-themed excuse just arrived.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy S27 is expected to retain almost the same design and dimensions as the current Galaxy S26.
• The Galaxy S27 Pro could share the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new iPhone-like horizontal camera plateau design.
• Leaked renders suggest the smaller Galaxy S27 Pro won't feature an S Pen slot, unlike the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Following the Galaxy S27 Ultra renders leak, we're now finally starting to see the base Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Pro as well.

Over the past few days, we've seen several leaks surrounding the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new design. Samsung appears to be moving away from its familiar vertical camera layout in favor of an iPhone-like horizontal camera plateau, with two prominent camera lenses on the left and a vertical pill-shaped module next to them.

From everything we've seen so far, it's hard not to notice the inspiration from Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

And now, we're starting to get a look at the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Pro as well.

Renders of the base Galaxy S27 were shared by OnLeaks in collaboration with Android Headlines, and unfortunately, it looks like Samsung isn't changing much from the Galaxy S26.

The phone still features three vertically arranged cameras inside a raised camera island in the top-left corner, with an overall design that looks extremely similar to its predecessor. Even the dimensions are reportedly more or less identical. This seemingly confirms that Samsung is keeping its new design exclusive to the more expensive models.

And that theory has gained even more weight thanks to a separate Galaxy S27 Pro leak from Ice Universe on X. The leaker shared outline renders comparing the Galaxy S27 Ultra and Galaxy S27 Pro, showing that the two phones will reportedly share a very similar design.

That isn't entirely surprising, since the Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to share several design elements and specifications with the Ultra. However, the renders also appear to confirm one major difference: the smaller Pro model won't come with an S Pen.

There's no S Pen slot visible on the Galaxy S27 Pro, and Samsung will also reportedly reposition the speaker grille and microphone on the smaller model.

In a separate post, Ice Universe also claimed that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will feature a more rounded frame than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which should make the larger phone feel more natural and comfortable in the hand.

Overall, these Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Pro leaks seem to clear up one major question about Samsung's 2027 lineup. The new horizontal camera design will apparently remain exclusive to the Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra, while the regular Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus will stick with Samsung's more familiar design.

What you need to know

• Samsung is reportedly rolling out its August 2026 security update late this month, including an important fix.
• Users on X highlight a Samsung official's notice online, stating a fix for the Galaxy S26 Ultra's red screen or "red stain" issue is in this update.
• Galaxy S26 Ultra users overseas noticed this problem when the device is at maximum brightness, often resulting in a red band or stain across their screen.

No, you didn't miss it. Samsung is just now rolling out its August security update for stable Galaxy S26 users, and with it comes a long-awaited bug fix.

Late this week, SamMobile spotted the August 2026 security update rolling out for Galaxy S26 users overseas. The update is reportedly rolling out for users in South Korea first, which is typical for Samsung. Users on its Korean community forum pointed this development out, posting a screenshot of the patch hitting their S26. The publication highlights a hefty number of fixes involved in this August patch, but we're putting that on hold.

SamMobile and Tarun Vats on X state this patch will likely hold the long-awaited fix for the red screen or red tint issue that's plagued the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A Samsung official has started informing Korean users that a fix is now rolling out.

As for what the security patch fixes, Samsung's changelog states it's rolling out seven "Critical" and 30 "High" level fixes. Among them, the notes state there's a fix that could let malicious attackers "cause device inoperability" on a Galaxy device. Several fixes for the Samsung Contacts app are rolling out, alongside a fix to stop hackers from accessing a Galaxy phone's SIM card. Once again, Google has not listed its extensive changelog for Framework fixes and more on the Android Security Bulletin.

Fixing some struggles

It was in July that reports about a red screen/red stain on the Galaxy S26 Ultra surfaced. Users in Korea noticed this issue when the phone produced bright colors or when at maximum brightness. The area of redness varied. Some users noticed it appeared vertically on their S26 Ultra, while others reported wide strips across the display. What was a bummer was Samsung's investigation.

According to its discovery, the S26 Ultra's "new technology" was to blame. The only "new tech" to hit the Ultra this year, especially its display, was the Privacy Display. This tech is purely software, which is why we needed a patch to fix it. The good thing is that it seems that this issue should be fixed as of this week (keep your eyes out for the patch).

But the Privacy Display, while useful and incredibly attractive, isn't all rainbows and sunshine. After the device launched, a report quickly surfaced, stating the Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen isn't as bright because of the Privacy Display. Compared to the S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra is noticeably darker.

What you need to know

• Motorola has detailed the new features coming to its phones with the upcoming Android 17 software update.
• Android 17 will bring stackable widgets, themed icons, Live Updates, and AI-powered notification summaries.
• More than 50 Motorola phones are confirmed to receive Android 17, including recent Razr and Edge models.

We finally know what features Motorola is bringing to its phones with the Android 17 update.

Now that Google has rolled out Android 17 for Pixel phones, more brands are starting to detail their own updates. We recently saw Nothing showcase Nothing OS 5.0 based on Android 17, and now Motorola has revealed some of the features coming to its devices.

As detailed on Motorola India's support page, the Android 17 update will bring changes to the home screen and notifications, alongside several new security features. One of the biggest additions is stackable widgets, which will let users combine multiple widgets into a single block on the home screen. Users will also be able to use themed icons and hide labels from Quick Settings tiles.

In terms of notifications, Motorola is finally adding support for Live Updates, alongside notification summaries that can condense longer notifications into a single sentence for quicker reading.

Motorola also says eligible devices will use machine learning models to identify low-priority notifications and bundle them into a separate quiet section under silent notifications.

You can check out Motorola's full Android 17 changelog below:

Home screen and quick settings improvements

Stackable widgets

You can now stack widgets, combining multiple widgets into a single block on your home screen. Instead of taking up several grids on your home screen for your weather, calendar, battery and music player, stack them and swipe the stack to switch between them.

Themed icons

You can now use an icon theme that coordinates with your overall theme. Touch & hold a blank space on your Home screen, then tap Home settings > Themed icons.

Hide quick setting labels when using Classic style

If you're using Classic style for quick settings, you can now hide labels on the settings tiles. Hiding them frees up screen space if you already recognise the icons.

Improved notifications

Live updates

Live updates let apps to display real-time, ongoing data. Instead of sending multiple notifications, an app can now continuously update a single live snippet in your status bar or notifications. You can turn these on or off.

Notification summaries

You can now peek at your notifications for a one-sentence summary of a lengthy group chat or a rapid-fire thread from messaging apps (like WhatsApp or Messages).

Organised notifications

Your phone now organises your notifications to separate your personal messages from clutter and automated alerts. It uses machine learning to screen lower-priority notifications and bundles them into separate, quiet folders under the Silent section of your notifications.

New settings

Enhanced HDR brightness control

When you view HDR content – like an Ultra HDR photo in Google Photos, a HDR video on YouTube or an HDR feed on Instagram – your phone's display automatically sets brightness to its highest limits to make the highlights pop.

You can now limit this brightness to a more comfortable level by adjusting the intensity of Enhanced HDR brightness or turning it off to force HDR photos and videos to play at a normal brightness level.

New sharing features in Connected devices

There are two new ways to share in Settings > Connected devices:

To share a photo or file with one other person, use Tap to Share by placing your phones together. To share with a reusable group, use Quick Drop to send photos or files to friends or a team simultaneously.

Other improvements

Android system upgrades add more than new features. Using the latest Android update provides other improvements such as:

Enhanced security and protection to defend against evolving threats like malware, phishing and data breaches.

App compatibility with newer apps, which often require the latest Android version to function correctly.

Performance improvements that optimise your phone's operating system for smoother performance, better stability and, in some cases, longer battery life.

Bug fixes and stability enhancements to resolve known issues and improve overall reliability and stability

There are a few other changes coming as well. As highlighted in a report by FoneArena, Motorola's Android 17 update will bring improvements to cross-platform Quick Share, although that still doesn't include AirDrop compatibility with iPhones. You can also expect features like Audio Sharing, a refreshed Quick Settings panel, and improved HDR brightness management.

Motorola has already confirmed that Android 17 will roll out to more than 50 devices, including several recent Razr and Edge models. You can check out the full list of Motorola phones getting Android 17 right here.

What you need to know

• Counterpoint Research published its report concerning the top 10 best-selling phones globally for Q2, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra surprised the results.
• The Galaxy S26 Ultra, a premium phone, topped the charts for Android, marking the first time such a device has done so.
• While Samsung and Apple dominated the top 10 in Q2 2026, Apple's iPhone 17 was number one.

Research data is taking a look back at individual phone performance for Q2 2026. The discovery? A premium phone topped Android's charts for the very first time.

This week, Counterpoint Research published its research into the global best-selling phones for Q2 2026, and one device was a surprise (via 9to5Google). The Galaxy S26 Ultra turned heads this past quarter, as the device claimed the top spot in the best-selling Android phone sector. Counterpoint cites its senior analyst, Harshit Rastogi, who said the S26 Ultra's performance "marks the first time an ultra-premium Android device has led Android sales in a June quarter."

Rastogi highlighted the Ultra phone's Q2 performance over Q1 2026. Considering Samsung's first Galaxy Unpacked this year, sales "shifted more into Q2." What's more, research shows that the S26 Ultra not only outperformed the S25 Ultra, but it also accounted for "more than half of the series' sales" this year. While this is a first for Android, Samsung isn't at the top of the global best-selling phone list in Q2.

That belongs to Apple's iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Pro Max followed up in second, then it's the 17 Pro. The Galaxy S26 Ultra sits in fourth place, with the more expected Android leader, the Galaxy A07 (a mid-range phone), in fifth. Compared to this time last year, Apple and Samsung dominate the top 10 best-selling phones. In Q2 2025, Xiaomi snuck into the eighth spot, but not this time.

Counterpoint adds that Apple and Samsung total 26% of the global smartphone sales, a 2% increase YoY.

A downward trend

Samsung and Apple's positive Q2 2026 was highlighted in another research report published by Omdia in July. It noted a 2% and 4% increase, respectively, for the companies. Omdia reported that the global smartphone market dipped 4% in Q2, placing the blame on the memory crisis. The current outlook on the smartphone market isn't a pleasant one. According to Omdia's projections, the market may continue to drop into Q3, then Q4.

This would be significant, considering the holiday season is when the market tends to rise. In its report, Runar Bjorhovde, principal analyst at Omdia, said the "sharpest volume decline" is expected in the two upcoming quarters. "Contrained memory chip" supply and the issues that accompany it could sour a time when there are multiple device launches, festivities, and sales.

What you need to know

• Meta has reportedly reached a $16 billion settlement with 29 states involving claims that its social media platforms "harmed young users."
• Not only have Facebook and Instagram reportedly "fueled" a nationwide mental health crisis, but the addictive nature does not help.
• Following the settlement, Meta will need to roll out changes to its platforms to reduce the addictive nature for younger users with usage limits and more.

Lawsuits have been filed against Meta in several states over the past few months over how its social media platform addict children. Another has been settled, pushing Meta to shell out over $16 billion.

A major settlement such as this isn't the only thing Meta is forced to do. Following coverage by Reuters, Meta will also need to make sweeping changes to how younger audiences interact with its platforms. For context, this $16.68 billion settlement involved claims from 29 states. Each state claimed that Meta's social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) "harmed young users."

Specifically, these platforms reportedly "fueled a nationwide youth mental health crisis." Meta has continued to disagree with these allegations. Regardless, to reduce the "addictive nature" of its platforms for younger users, Meta will restrict nighttime use of Facebook and Instagram. Meta will also beef up its defenses to keep kids away from "age-restricted" content, while introducing a new daily usage limit.

The addictive or potentially mentally harmful sides of social media were the highlights behind these claims. However, Reuters mentions another side of these claims that also makes up this $16 billion settlement: child privacy. According to the post, the 29 states claim Meta "violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act" by collecting data from kids without consent.

What's more, Meta allegedly used this data to train its AI systems. It should only be a matter of time before we see the result of this settlement hit Facebook and Instagram for youth accounts.

A prevoius case

This has been a long-standing issue for Meta over the past few months. In March, we highlighted CNBC's coverage of a Los Angeles case involving YouTube and Meta's "negligence." The trial concerned Kaley (otherwise known as K.G.M.), a young woman who said she had become "addicted" to social media as a child. According to K.G.M., this addiction led to severe mental health issues as she got older. K.G.M. is now 20 years old.

In their argument, K.G.M. said the "infinite scrolling" aspect of social media is where the addiction begins. Additionally, the case in Los Angeles highlighted the influx of notifications one would receive from these platforms, which didn't help. Meta disagreed with the claims, as it's done in the recent settlement involving 29 states. The company also leaned on K.G.M.'s therapists to say that none of these claims were "the cause" of her mental health issues.

What you need to know

• Nothing OS 5.0 is here and combines a redesigned interface, deeper customization, smoother performance, and upgraded Essential AI tools.
• Transparent widgets, wallpaper-adaptive icon colors, the new Geist typeface, and refreshed system icons give Nothing OS a more cohesive look.
• Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta begins for the Phone (3), with a stable release expected in mid-October and more devices joining the beta later.

Nothing is giving its software a substantial refresh with Nothing OS 5.0, a major update built on Android 17. The latest software zeroes in on everyday interactions, blending a redesigned visual system with more customization, smoother performance, and more powerful Essential AI tools.

The update is all about giving you more control and a smoother experience. The home screen gets a brand new theme with transparent widgets and a search bar that adds some depth, while app icons can now pull subtle color tints from your wallpaper to match your vibe.

There’s a new system typeface, Geist, which is cleaner and easier to scan, and refreshed icons across the status bar, Settings, Camera, and Gallery. The Gallery also includes new options for sorting and filtering to help you organize photos.

You also get more ways to make the phone yours. The lock screen has two new clock faces: the whimsical “Gooey” and the hardware-inspired "Micrographics." Please note the Micrographics clockface and the new home screen theme are still in development and will not be available in the Open Beta yet — they will be part of the general release starting October.

The Glyph Interface now comes in an app, so all the features and sounds are in one place. There is also a new Glyph Timer widget and the Away Time widget that helps you monitor your digital habits by telling you how long you've been away from your phone.

Nothing is also doubling down on its Essential AI tools. Essential Voice is faster, real-time transcriptions are better, and with the Ear (3), you can record audio directly from the Super Mic on the case. Smart Collections can suggest and organize content for you automatically. And for a fun twist, you can now create Essential Apps right on your phone; just tell it what you want in plain language and it’ll build it for you.

Since it runs on Android 17, you get the latest features of the platform as well. That includes the capability to split out the notifications and Quick Settings panels and an enhanced Quick Share that works across iOS and Android via QR code. The update also brings new privacy indicators, expanded dark theme support, and a redesigned Recents menu.

The Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta program starts today for the Phone (3), with a stable release expected in mid-October. Other devices will be included in the beta program later.

What you need to know

• Samsung is reportedly rolling out One UI 9 Beta 6 to enrolled Galaxy S26 users in South Korea, India, the U.K., Germany, and Poland.
• The update is just under 1GB, and features a small selection of fixes for display errors and Expert RAW.
• Funnily enough, One UI 9.5 rumors have surfaced online, despite One UI 9 still not available for stable users.

It's been almost two weeks since the last One UI 9 beta, and now a sixth edition is rolling out to enrolled Galaxy S26 users. All we're wondering about is a stable launch.

Earlier this morning (Aug 25), Samsung started rolling out One UI 9 Beta 6 to enrolled Galaxy S26 series users (via SamMobile). Samsung is only fixing a handful of problems its devices have experienced, but users will still have to download an 851MB file. According to its patch notes, Beta 6 is fixing a "display error" with the Now Brief widget. Similarly, the notes highlight another pair of display errors being fixed: one for the Home Screen and another for the camera widget.

What's more, the changelog details a fix for an issue where "images are saved differently at specific focal lengths when shooting with Expert RAW 24MP."

On X, tipster Tarun Vats states One UI 9 Beta 6 is rolling out in South Korea, India, the U.K., Germany, and Poland. Any enrolled testers in the U.S. should begin seeing it as the week progresses. Vats states Beta 6 lacks any new features for Galaxy S26 users. It seems like, once again, Galaxy S26 users are treated to a beta full of bug fixes and nothing new.

The one thing many are waiting on is a stable launch of One UI 9, and there's still no telling when that could be.

Still a One UI 9 waiting room

A couple of weeks ago, Samsung rolled out One UI 9 Beta 5 to Galaxy S26 users. This patch was larger, rolling in at 1.1GB. However, it consisted mostly of bug fixes (and there was a long list of them). Beta 5 also included the August 2026 security update, so that was a welcome addition to testers. While another beta was fine, what shone brighter earlier this month were One U 9.5 rumors. A tipster on social media claimed that a test build for One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26 was discovered.

Additional rumors quickly surfaced, as Samsung could chase a familiar UI redesign for its next major release. Samsung's One UI could take after Apple's Liquid Glass for "visual depth" across multiple elements. Taking after Apple seems to be the running trend for Samsung as of late. What's more, App Lock was reported for One UI 9.5, meaning users could lock apps behind biometrics, a password, and more.

What you need to know

• GrapheneOS announced in a Mastodon thread that it is planning to roll out its software on regular, next-gen Motorola phones in 2027.
• The company says a lot of work is being done on its end and Motorola's to ensure this happens next year.
• GrapheneOS states it also plans to support Moto's next-gen foldables (Razr Fold, Razr Ultra) after it hits slab phones.
• Motorola announced a partnership with GrapheneOS during MWC 2026 to bring a more secure, private OS to consumers.

GrapheneOS is an Android alternative that is much more security/privacy-focused. For this reason, many have awaited updates from GrapheneOS about Motorola phones, which it has now provided.

This week, GrapheneOS posted a lengthy thread on Mastodon about its partnership with Motorola and when those consumers can find its software (via GSMArena). According to its thread, GrapheneOS expects to have everything ready for Motorola's phone launches in 2027. A few moving parts need to align for this to work properly. GrapheneOS states that Motorola is "doing a large portion of the work" to port its software onto its phones.

It's been stated that this privacy-focused version of Android should arrive on "non-folding devices" first, per its partnership with Motorola. However, GrapheneOS says it's working to bring the experience to foldables, such as future Razr Folds and Razr Ultras. What's more, the thread highlights Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon chips. These SoCs have "more mature support for MTE" (memory tagging) and "secure element support."

This should help GrapheneOS arrive smoothly on Motorola's phones next year. The company responded to a comment, clarifying that future iterations of the Moto Signature, Razr Fold, and Razr Ultra should support GrapheneOS. The post says "current generation Motorola devices don't meet our requirements." So anyone looking forward to the software should keep their eye on 2027 reveals.

The thread quickly mentions that GrapheneOS support is headed to Google's Pixel 11 series, too.

A more secure phone

It's been a few months since we've had this conversation about Motorola and GrapheneOS. During MWC 2026, the House of Moto Indigo announcement was shored up by an exciting GrapheneOS partnership reveal. The partnership would involve Motorola's "security expertise, real‑world user insights, and Lenovo’s ThinkShield solutions." The prime focus here is user security/privacy, and Motorola stated that it was beginning a joint research project with GrapheneOS for this reason.

The company teased that more information would become available in the future, which we're seeing now via a Mastodon thread. This is a huge development from Motorola that will likely put a spotlight on it moving into 2027.

What you need to know

• New Galaxy S27 Ultra renders show Samsung moving away from its familiar vertical camera design.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra could feature a horizontal camera plateau that looks similar to the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Samsung is expected to finally add native Qi2 magnets, enabling MagSafe-compatible accessories without a case.
• The redesign could also make room for a larger battery, while Samsung may finally ditch the old 10MP 3x camera.

Newly leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra have now given us our best look yet at what the device could look like in real life.

It was recently reported that Samsung is cooking up a major redesign for the Galaxy S27 Ultra next year. The leak suggested Samsung is planning to move away from the vertical camera layout we've seen for years in favor of a horizontal camera plateau, similar to the iPhone 17 Pro series.

And now, new renders from OnLeaks in collaboration with Android Headlines give us a much better look at that design.

As you can see in the renders, Samsung is indeed moving away from its familiar vertical camera layout. Instead, the Galaxy S27 Ultra features a large horizontal camera plateau across the back, with two prominent camera lenses on the left and a vertical pill-shaped section next to them housing the remaining sensors and LED flash.

And honestly, it's pretty hard to look at these renders and not see the similarities with Apple's latest iPhones. The Galaxy S27 Ultra definitely seems to take some design inspiration from the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

Alongside the renders, the publication has also shared the alleged dimensions of the device, which reportedly measure around 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm. That's pretty close to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so despite the major camera redesign, the overall size of the phone shouldn't change dramatically. The report also suggests Samsung may finally ditch the aging 10MP 3x telephoto camera.

One benefit of the new design could be native Qi2 support. The Galaxy S27 Ultra's new design should allow Samsung to finally integrate the Qi2 Magnetic Power Profile directly into the phone, meaning you'll be able to attach Qi2 and MagSafe accessories without needing a magnetic case.

That said, it remains to be seen whether Samsung actually takes advantage of the extra space and adds native Qi2 support this time around. The redesigned internals could also reportedly give Samsung more room for a larger battery, although we don't have concrete details about the capacity just yet.

What do you think of the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new look now that we've seen these renders? Do you like the redesign, or does it look a little too much like an iPhone? Let us know in the comments.

What you need to know

• The Garmin Fenix 9's AMOLED screen is twice as bright as the Fenix 8, with sapphire glass, leakproof buttons, and 40-meter dive resistance.
• The Fenix 9 Pro features Garmin’s first titanium Fenix case, which uses nano-molding to combine metal and plastic, reducing thickness while keeping the watch lightweight.
• Navigation is noticeably faster: 50% more RAM and a new map engine make map panning up to 30% faster, while 64GB storage doubles map capacity and holds up to 7,000 songs.

Garmin is giving its flagship adventure watch a serious refresh with the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro, building on the Fenix 8 with brighter displays, faster maps, new training insights, and a more capable phone-free experience. The Fenix 9's AMOLED panel is twice as bright as its predecessor, and Garmin has included a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, leakproof buttons, and 40-meter dive resistance.

The bigger technical jump comes from what Garmin changed underneath. The Fenix 9 has 50% more RAM than the Fenix 8 and a new map engine that makes panning up to 30% faster. A new perspective view adds more map detail at different distances, and 64GB of storage gives you double the map capacity and room for up to 7,000 songs.

Garmin is also expanding its rucking tools, with support for changing pack weight mid-activity, GORUCK workouts, and targets based on up to 100kg of carried weight.

When it comes to training, the new stamina zones and a stamina curve allow you to track how endurance improves with fitness and training history, providing more information on pacing for athletes. With compatible equipment, indoor rowers also get VO2 Max and power-curve insights.

And then there’s the Fenix 9 Pro. The watch is the first to feature Garmin’s titanium Fenix case, made using nano-molding technology that combines metal and plastic at the molecular scale. Garmin says the approach keeps the watch lightweight while reducing its overall thickness.

On the software side, both watches introduce Garmin Epic to group multi-day workouts into single shareable stories.

The Pro’s AMOLED models go up to 3,000 nits, and the 51mm model uses a 1.5-inch display without a bigger case. Selected models also have solar charging like most fan-favorite Garmin watches, a green flashlight mode, and inReach connectivity for calls, messaging, LiveTrack, location sharing, weather updates, and SOS assistance.

The Fenix 9 starts at $1,000 and the Fenix 9 Pro at $1,100. Both are available in 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm sizes, with battery life up to 29 days for the Fenix 9 and 31 days for the largest AMOLED Pro. Solar versions can last 57 days.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm's next-generation Oryon CPU will reach clock speeds of up to a whopping 5GHz.
• The new Oryon CPU uses a fully custom design, giving Qualcomm greater control over performance and efficiency.
• Qualcomm's new FlexCache lets CPU cores dynamically share cache, helping improve gaming and multitasking performance.
• Qualcomm is expected to unveil two new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets at its Snapdragon Summit in September.

Ahead of the Snapdragon Summit next month, Qualcomm has shared more details about its next-generation Oryon CPU, sharing that it will be capable of reaching a whopping 5GHz clock speed.

Smartphone chipsets have become ridiculously powerful over the past few years. Apple continues to push its A-series chips forward, while Qualcomm's Snapdragon flagships have steadily brought desktop-level performance to Android phones.

Of course, we can't say the same about everyone (looking at you, Tensor G6). Now, Qualcomm looks ready to push things even further with its next-generation Oryon CPU.

Qualcomm hasn't revealed its full next-generation Snapdragon platform just yet, but says the new Oryon CPU uses a fully custom design, with the company controlling everything from the microarchitecture to the entire CPU subsystem. According to Qualcomm, that level of control is one of the reasons it can push clock speeds all the way up to 5GHz.

But Qualcomm says higher clock speeds aren't the only reason for the performance gains. The company is also focusing heavily on IPC (instructions per clock), which determines how much work the CPU can complete per clock cycle. Improvements here should translate into better performance across everyday tasks, from opening apps and browsing the web to more demanding workloads.

Qualcomm has also introduced Oryon FlexCache, a new cache architecture that allows different CPU cores to access the same dynamically allocated cache pool. Instead of assigning a fixed amount of cache to individual cores, FlexCache allows the Prime cores to access the entire available pool whenever a workload needs it.

The company says this should particularly help with workloads that constantly move between different CPU cores. In gaming, for example, better access to local cache could help stabilize frame rates and reduce stutters, while the same architecture should also help with heavier multitasking.

Qualcomm still hasn't revealed the complete details of its next Snapdragon flagship platform. The company has already teased that we'll see two Snapdragon 8 Elite chips at Snapdragon Summit 2026, though, so we should learn much more about both chipsets soon.

Snapdragon Summit 2026 is scheduled to take place from September 22 through September 24 in Hawaii.

What you need to know

• Samsung and Corning are reportedly developing self-healing display glass for the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra.
• The new Gorilla Armor could recover from everyday micro-scratches instead of focusing purely on scratch resistance.
• Self-healing tech isn't entirely new, but the Galaxy S27 Ultra could bring it to a flagship phone's front display.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra is also rumored to feature a major redesign with an iPhone 17 Pro-like horizontal camera plateau.

Rumors and leaks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S27 series are starting to pick up, and the latest one claims Samsung could be working on a self-healing display for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Samsung already introduced a major display upgrade with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, adding its Privacy Display technology that prevents people around you from easily seeing what's on your screen. With the Galaxy S27 Ultra, though, Samsung could be preparing another major upgrade, this time allowing the display to recover from minor scratches on its own.

According to leaker Schrödinger on X, Samsung and Corning are reportedly working on a new self-healing surface for the next generation of Gorilla Armor. The goal, according to the post, is to create a display that can recover from a certain level of everyday micro-scratches over time.

Instead of simply making the glass harder and more scratch-resistant, Samsung and Corning could take a different approach. According to the leak, the surface itself may be slightly softer than the tempered glass we're used to, but would gain the ability to recover from smaller scratches on its own.

If the technology works as intended, Samsung could essentially move Gorilla Armor from focusing purely on scratch resistance to scratch recovery.

The leaker doesn't reveal much more about how the technology works or how far along Samsung and Corning are in its development. However, the feature is explicitly said to be intended for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, meaning we could potentially see it debut within the next six months.

This wouldn't be the first time we've seen self-healing technology on a smartphone. More than a decade ago, LG introduced the LG G Flex 2 with a self-healing back panel that could recover from smaller scratches. But we haven't really seen the idea make its way to the front display of a mainstream flagship, which could make Samsung's implementation particularly interesting.

There have been a few other Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks recently as well, including one suggesting a major redesign that looks eerily similar to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Samsung could reportedly ditch its familiar vertical camera arrangement for a horizontal camera plateau stretching across the back, with two large camera lenses on the left and a pill-shaped module next to them.

Of course, nothing is set in stone just yet. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is still months away, and plenty could change before launch. But with leaks now starting to pick up, we're finally getting a better idea of what Samsung might have planned for its next flagship.

What you need to know

• PocketBook is ditching its classic wider designs for a tall, 5.84-inch e-reader that fits in your pocket.
• The PocketBook Q features a 5.84-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display with 788 × 1576 resolution and 300 DPI, packed into a 154 × 75.8 × 6.5mm body weighing just 130g.
• It has physical page-turn buttons that pair with a Linux-based OS that skips notifications, feeds, and scrolling-focused apps.

PocketBook is stepping away from the classic, wider reader designs that we typically see across its lineup. The Swiss brand is announcing the PocketBook Q, a small device that ditches traditional ebook proportions for a tall, phone-like shape.

The PocketBook Q is set to debut at IFA 2026 in Berlin, shrinking everything down to a 5.84-inch E Ink Carta 1300 screen — that's 788 × 1576 resolution at a crisp 300 DPI — packed into a body measuring 154mm x 75.8mm x 6.5mm and weighing just 130g. For reference, that's lighter than the 131g PocketBook Mini of 2013 and thinner than just about any e-reader the company ever made.

Inside is a RockChip RK3566 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 1550mAh battery that PocketBook says will see you through well over a month of reading. The storage, in particular, is double what is on offer in the PocketBook Era, giving the tiny reader plenty of space for e-books, comics, and audio without making the device any bigger.

So why the phone format? The company is actually pushing the one-handed use. There are actual page-turn buttons on the side, so it feels more like flipping a page than swiping a screen.

The Linux-based OS is simple: no notifications, no feeds, and no apps to keep you scrolling. There are only books, audiobooks, and a text-to-speech feature that reads any text file aloud using natural-sounding voices.

PocketBook says the e-reader’s adaptive SMARTlight adjusts brightness and color temperature throughout the day.

The Q supports 25 ebook formats natively — EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW, CBR, you name it — and Adobe DRM and LCP for library borrowing via the pre-installed PocketBook x Libby app. It features dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 for headphones, and USB-C with OTG support. It has an IPX4 water resistance, so it’ll survive a splash, though you probably shouldn't take it swimming.

Do people want an e-reader in the shape of a phone? PocketBook is betting the answer is yes — enough to price it at €175/$235 and release it this fall.

What you need to know

• Shokz debuted a pair of earbuds early this week: the OpenFit Air2 and the OpenRun Air 2.
• The OpenFit Air 2 is the brand's latest open-ear model, featuring a lighter weight, smaller charging case, improved patented drivers and algorithm for strong audio.
• The OpenRun Air 2 is lighter than previous models with comfortable ear hooks and a neckband for stability.
• Shokz says consumers can find these earbuds on August 27, starting at $129.

If you've been eager to get running or working out, but dreading the lack of appropriate earbuds, Shokz has a dual launch that could help. The company has unveiled two products: the OpenFit Air 2 and OpenRun Air 2.

This morning (Aug 24), Shokz published a press release detailing the launch of the OpenFit Air 2 and the OpenRun Air 2. Each pair focuses on the brand's open-ear and bone conduction-style devices. To make working out comfortable, the OpenFit Air 2 is the company's "lightest OpenFit" product at 7.2g. What's more, Shokz says it's redesigned the charging case to make it ~10.5% smaller, while also making it lighter.

If you're out, Shokz highlights the OpenFit Air 2's eight-hour battery life. If you have the case, it can provide up to 36 hours of charge. However, if you're short on time, a quick 10-minute charge is said to provide up to three hours of listening.

The OpenFit Air 2 features Shokz's Bassphere driver and OpenBass 2.0 algorithm, which offer "more dynamic sound in a compact design." Technically speaking, Shokz's new buds feature a 30-degree angled speaker. Since this is an open-ear product, the OpenFit Air 2 will direct sound into your ear for a "natural listening experience." This works in tandem with DirectPitch tech to make sure your audio remains private to you, and there's no leakage.

Grabbing your phone, Shokz says consumers can download its app (Shokz App) to personalize your earbuds' sound with custom EQ profiles and four preset EQ modes. Sweat and water resistance help make the OpenFit Air 2 hold its own while you're exercising.

The OpenFit Air 2 starts at $129; available in black, white, and Ice Blue on August 27.

OpenRun Air 2

The OpenRun Air 2 is the company's latest bone conduction entry this year. Similar to the OpenFit Air 2, this product is 9% smaller, with a weight of 26.4g. Shokz highlights the Run's lighter and lower-profile approach compared to past versions. Of course, being a pair of bone conduction earbuds, the OpenRun Air 2 features unibody ear hooks and a neckband. Shokz says these should help facilitate better stability.

On the other hand, we have PremiumPitch 3.0 to help the OpenRun Air 2's bone conduction driver. According to the post, this upgraded driver is an "all-metal, dual-coil, dual-reed structure engineered to deliver richer bass, greater vocal detail, and a more balanced listening experience than OpenRun."

Consumers will receive 10 hours of listening on a full charge with the OpenRun Air 2. A quick five-minute charge in its case is said to deliver up to two hours of listening. If you're missing physical buttons, the OpenRun Air 2 provides a few. Shokz says these buttons offer "precise" listening control, alongside a microphone with AI-powered noise reduction software for calls. Users can also download the Shokz App for the OpenRun Air 2 for similar custom EQ profiles and modes like the OpenFit Air 2.

On August 27, consumers can find the OpenRun Air 2 for $129 in black and Ice Blue. Additionally, Shokz has made this product available in Standard and Mini sizes.

What you need to know

• Samsung may revive its luxury foldable strategy with a Galaxy Z Fold 8 special edition planned for the second half of 2026.
• Thom Browne is reportedly a top contender, potentially bringing back a partnership that last appeared with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
• Availability will likely be limited, with select-market launches and a substantial price premium over the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung has never treated its foldables as just another smartphone. Over the years, the company has collaborated with fashion labels like Thom Browne and Maison Margiela to give its Galaxy Z lineup a more exclusive edge. That approach could be making a comeback with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

According to reliable tipster Lanzuk on Naver Blog, Samsung is working on a luxury-brand collaboration for the Z Fold 8, with a special edition reportedly aimed at the second half of 2026. Samsung hasn’t confirmed any partnership, but Thom Browne is one of the leading candidates.

That would make sense, considering the companies’ history. Samsung has previously launched Thom Browne editions of the original Galaxy Z Flip, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, and Z Fold 5. These weren’t just simple reskins, either. They were available with custom hardware finishes (pebble gray, matte white, and even a sleek black suit-inspired design for the Z Fold 5), along with deep software customizations that extended even to the packaging and accessories like watches and S Pens. The last two generations of Folds missed this treatment, but it looks like the runways are clearing for a return.

Samsung’s last Thom Browne release is a good hint of how things might go. The Z Fold 5 edition wasn't simply a different paint job: Samsung included a matching Galaxy Watch 6 and exclusive accessories, hinting at how these collaborations can transform a phone launch into a broader lifestyle package.

Of course, Thom Browne is not the only option available. Samsung has previously partnered with Maison Margiela on the Z Flip 4 and Z Flip 5, so the tech giant could easily opt for another collaborator or someone entirely new. The gray-and-stripe look has become a collector's hallmark, and given how much previous bundles commanded eye-watering prices — the Z Fold 2 Thom Browne Edition retailed for $3,299 and still trades at a premium on secondary markets — it’s safe to say the Z Fold 8 luxury edition won’t be a budget-friendly affair.

Whoever it is, expect the usual limited quantities, rollout in select markets, and a price tag that's a significant jump from the standard model. The Fold 8 is on a roll, so a designer drop would be the perfect way to keep it in the limelight. We should hear more concrete details over the coming weeks.

What you need to know

• Recent rumors suggest Samsung's Exynos 2700 has posted positive scores that outperform Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips in "early benchmarks."
• These reports state the Exynos 2700 has beaten Qualcomm in the graphics department (GPU), as well as its CPU performance and AI capabilities.
• Earlier Exynos 2700 rumors claim the chip is progressing with better HPB tech for better heat dispersion and more.

Samsung's placed more focus on its in-house chip brand, Exynos, over the past couple of years. A rumor surfaced online this week, claiming the next chip could top Qualcomm's flagships.

These rumors about the Exynos 2700 started swirling after a post by Yonhap News (Korean), which highlighted "early benchmarks" (via SamMobile). What's incredibly interesting is what these tests have allegedly shown regarding GPU performance. The publication cites "industry sources" in saying the Exynos 2700 has surpassed Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip. In a test, Samsung's SoC outperformed Qualcomm by 5% in a peak performance scenario.

What's more, the Exynos 2700 also recorded "24% higher performance" over the 8 Elite Gen 6 and "22% higher" than the (rumored) 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. In a multi-core CPU performance test, the Exynos 2700's scores were roughly 9% better than the Gen 6 Pro. AI, especially Galaxy AI, has been a focal point for Samsung in developing its next-gen phones.

The company reportedly tested Qualcomm's chips and its in-house brand for AI performance and prompt understanding. In another test, Exynos 2700 generated responses and understood prompts faster than Qualcomm's chips. If this report is accurate, Samsung's chips could be in a better position compared to recent years.

A brighter future for Exynos?

In a bit of house cleaning, it's worth mentioning that Samsung created a "task force" to spearhead its Exynos chip creation. Samsung got serious about its in-house chip in 2025 in an "urgent" push for the Exynos 2600. What we received was an Exynos 2600 that was a major step in the right direction for Samsung. Exynos chips haven't always been the greatest, grappling with various performance and overheating issues. It's the latter point that Samsung is reportedly looking to solve with the Exynos 2700.

Rumors in March said Exynos 2700 development was progressing with upgraded HPB (Heat Path Block) tech. This upgrade would help phones disperse heat better. Elsewhere, we heard speculation about the chip's performance in April. It was alleged that the chip could sport a 10-core structure with its fastest cores clocking in at ~2.88GHz. A ~12% performance boost could make the difference for the 2700 over the 2600.

Android Central's Take

Now this is interesting. I want to reserve my thoughts for when the Exynos 2700 gets announced, and we see its performance for real. To think that Samsung's chip could outperform Qualcomm's in graphics is interesting, but I'm going to be skeptical. Would I like for this to be true? Absolutely. Imagine the competition there. Imagine both sides pushing to improve their gaming graphics, pushing to improve CPU performance. Exynos has always been behind the crowd. If it's trying to step up, let it.

What you need to know

• Early Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks point to a major redesign with a horizontal camera plateau similar to the iPhone 17 Pro.
• Samsung could finally bring native Qi2 support to the Galaxy S27 Ultra, with magnets seemingly visible in leaked renders.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra could reportedly launch in two sizes, potentially giving buyers a smaller Ultra option for the first time.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series out of the way, attention is now turning toward Samsung's next flagship smartphone lineup. And if the latest round of leaks is anything to go by, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could be getting a major redesign that looks a lot like Apple's latest iPhones.

For the past few years, Samsung has stuck with a vertical camera layout across its Galaxy S lineup. In fact, the company has been criticized several times for shipping very similar-looking Galaxy S Ultra phones year after year. It now looks like Samsung is finally planning to move away from that design, but perhaps not in the direction everyone expected.

Leakers Sonny Dickson, Max Jambor, and Ice Universe have shared what is claimed to be the Galaxy S27 Ultra's new design on X, and it's hard not to see the resemblance to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

The leaked design shows a horizontal camera plateau across the back, similar to the latest iPhones, with two large camera rings and an elongated section that will likely house the remaining cameras and LED flash.

It's pretty clear where Samsung may be taking some design inspiration from this time around. On the bright side, though, the leaked renders also appear to show a Qi2 magnetic ring on the back, suggesting Samsung could finally build native Qi2 support directly into the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The leaks also suggest Samsung could offer the Galaxy S27 Ultra in two different sizes, something we've heard rumored previously. If true, that could mean we're finally getting a more compact version of Samsung's Ultra flagship alongside the larger model.

Of course, we're still months away from the Galaxy S27 series launch, and plenty could change before Samsung makes anything official. But these early leaks certainly suggest Samsung is preparing a pretty major design shake-up, even if the inspiration appears to be coming straight from Cupertino.

What do you think of the rumored design? Let us know in the comments below.

What you need to know

• Walmart is finally embracing contactless payments, as Apple Pay and Google Pay are coming to Walmart and Sam’s Club after years of resistance.
• Tap to Pay will reach all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs by the end of 2026, with fuel stations following by mid-2027.
• Cash, chip cards, Walmart Pay, and Sam’s Club Scan & Go will remain available alongside the new payment option.

Walmart is finally throwing in the towel on its notorious resistance to contactless payments. After years of pushing shoppers to its proprietary Walmart Pay app, the retail giant is rolling out standard Tap to Pay, meaning both Google Pay and Apple Pay are on their way to checkout lines near you.

Starting August 24, Walmart and Sam’s Club locations nationwide will begin to deploy Tap to Pay, the retailer announced today. The feature will be rolled out to all of its U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026 and to its fuel stations by the middle of 2027.

This allows shoppers to tap an eligible contactless card, phone or smartwatch at the payment terminal instead of having to pull out a physical card or open Walmart’s app. Android users can add an eligible card to Google Wallet and tap to pay when the feature is available at your store, Google says. Walmart will also allow customers to add eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club, and OnePay cards to compatible digital wallets.

That sounds like a basic checkout upgrade for 2026, but Walmart has resisted it for years. Instead, the retailer promoted Walmart Pay, which uses a QR code at the register, and Sam’s Club offered Scan & Go, which let shoppers skip checkout altogether. Walmart also supported CurrentC, a rival mobile-payment initiative that ultimately shuttered a few years ago.

Customers, meanwhile, kept asking. And they weren't the only ones. With most U.S. retailers already accepting contactless payments, Walmart’s holdout was becoming more conspicuous. The company has effectively admitted defeat now, realizing that forcing shoppers into its own system was putting its own customers at a disadvantage.

Existing checkout options like cash, physical chip cards, Walmart Pay, and Sam’s Club Scan & Go aren't going anywhere – this just gives shoppers the frictionless checkout flexibility they’ve been asking for for years.

And there's a practical privacy benefit: when you pay with a digital wallet, the retailer generally doesn't get the physical card number that's stored on your account.

What you need to know

• A report discovered a Meta patent for new "hardware-level" locking for AI glasses microphones and cameras.
• It's been stated that this method removes software completely, meaning no nefarious actors could reactivate your mic or camera without your knowledge.
• The idea is to return privacy to the people, as Meta's AI glasses have come under severe backlash due to others recording people against their will or knowledge.

Having a pair of smart glasses is one thing. But to many, it's an entirely different topic when you factor in cameras and microphones that can record you. A report claims Meta's filed a patent that could help bring our privacy back.

The team at Patentlyze highlighted a patent from Meta that could help alleviate privacy concerns surrounding smart glasses. The publication states Meta has filed a patent for a "privacy shield" that's operated in full by hardware components. Software plays no role in muting/unmuting the microphone or cutting off the camera. As Patentlyze notes, this would be a notable shift from how these functions are operated on a device like a phone, which relies on software.

According to its discovery, this "hardware mute circuit" would lock the camera/micrpohone at "atomically." This reportedly leaves no room for hackers or other nefarious attackers to activate these sensitive areas without you knowing. More importantly, Patentlyze says, "no app, no operating system update, and no remote hack can flip it back on." Other details in the patent mention that the "trigger," the act of muting or cutting off the camera, would need to come from a "verified hardware source."

Right now, we can think of this as a button that you can press or perhaps a switch you can slide into a locked state.

This is a patent, and, as always, there's no telling if or when we could see this on the market. At present, we have something to hold us over.

Meta has a real problem

This patent discovery follows the same line as a recent mandatory patch Meta pushed to its AI glasses last month. This patch deserves context. It was reported that users with Meta's AI glasses were covering the LED indicator that illuminates when the camera is active. It would let people record others without their knowledge. It was creepy and unsettling. These same malicious users found other means of getting around the LED indicator, such as drilling holes and other modifications.

Meta's patch solves this. The company states that any tampering with the LED recording light will disable the camera completely. If the privacy light is tampered with or covered, this safeguard will activate. There's been no shortage of backlash from people about Meta's "pervert glasses," or however you may describe them. This update was a step in bringing back user privacy. Now, with this recent patent, it seems Meta isn't done.

Android Central's Take

People, right? It's like the one bad student in class that gets the teacher made, so now we all have extra homework for the weekend. Painful. Something like this gives a company's product a bad rep. But it's more than that. Put Meta aside and just think on a street level. No one wants to feel like they're being watched. No one wants to be recorded. For what? Why are you recording them? A person's privacy is nothing to scoff at, and it's definitely nothing to defile.

What you need to know

• RayNeo unveiled three new AR glasses: the iO smart glasses and the GT and GT Max.
• The RayNeo iO puts its focus on productivity with a transparent HUD for information, four microphones for transcription, and Android/iOS compatibility.
• The RayNeo GT series is more about entertainment, with three viewing modes and Dolby Vision support.
• These AR glasses see retail availability begin on September 4; pricing will likely be revealed closer to that date.

RayNeo unveiled a handful of new AR smart glasses for consumers early this morning (Aug 21) that aim to lead productivity and entertainment.

The company had a lot to discuss this morning, and what kicked things off was the reveal of the RayNeo iO smart glasses. In its press release, RayNeo says the iO is "designed for professionals, executives, and multi-screen operators." For this product, consumers should think of productivity with glanceable "ambient intelligence." To achieve this, the RayNeo iO features a HUD (heads-up display) with 97% optical transparency that will consistently feed the user information.

RayNeo says that at 1,300nits of peak brightness, the transparent HUD remains invisible to others, but clear to you. Since the iO is meant to be worn comfortably, RayNeo says the glasses weigh 33 grams.

Ambient Intelligence is assisted by RayNeo's Ambient AI Productivity Suite. The RayNeo iO features the Ambient AI Life Log, which "operates in a low-power background tier to capture schedules and conversation contexts." If you were in an important meeting, the iO smart glasses can pick out dates and other details for you. The user can confirm what the glasses have picked out with a head nod to save them.

Live Translation and the Auto-Teleprompter might also aid users in meetings and presentations. While the former is self-explanatory, the latter can provide the user with their script and scroll at their speaking pace. Multiple LLMs, such as Google's Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Claude, and DeepSeek, are available.

The RayNeo iO smart glasses take a different approach: they have no speakers. Everything you'd need for the day will appear on that transparent HUD. However, it does include a four-microphone array for transcription. RayNeo adds that this device features a 240mAh battery that can last up to two days with "typical use."

Hardware-wise, the iO features a Smart Crown rotary dial above the right temple. These glasses will launch with Android and iOS compatibility. Additionally, as we've come to appreciate, the iO will debut with a "hardwired LED status light" that shines when you're recording or transcribing. RayNeo reveals that the iO will debut on September 4 in Polar Night and Dune.

Pricing will likely be revealed closer to this date.

RayNeo GT series is pure cinema

If we were to flip the script on AR smart glasses, what would we get? RayNeo says we'd get the GT and GT Max smart glasses with a strong focus on entertainment. As a duo, the GT series shares a few important features. According to its press release, the GT series features full Dolby Vision support. With this, and alongside the RayNeo Pocket TV Pro, the GT glasses natively support Dolby Vision with "real-time" AI SDR-to-HDR conversion.

The other side of this is the GT series' quad-speaker setup, head-tracked spatial audio, and Whisper Mode directional transmission. Users can watch their favorite shows and movies with the RayNeo GT series, but your sofa might not always be available. To solve this, RayNeo includes three viewing modes: Steady (traveling bumps), Pinned (anchors screen, works with 3D experience), and Follow.

The RayNeo GT Max takes its experience a little further. These lenses come with the Peacock Optical Engine 3.0 Max and a 5.5th-gen Tandem MicroOLED display. As a result, RayNeo states the GT Max delivers a 59-degree FOV and gives users the ability to scale their virtual screen between three sizes: 227 inches, 267 inches, and 307 inches.

The GT series will join the iO smart glasses on September 4 for a retail release. RayNeo states consumers can find "official custom prescription lens inserts" for the GT and GT Max once they are available.

What you need to know

• Google just posted the official factory and OTA images for the Pixel Watch 5, introducing a unified build strategy.
• The Pixel Watch 5 now uses a single software build (CD5A.260611.00) for both Wi-Fi and LTE models.
• Flashing factory images still requires Google’s invite-only debug adapter.

Google has released factory and OTA images for the Pixel Watch 5, and it seems the new smartwatch uses a single software build for both Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and LTE models, which could make future updates easier.

The Pixel Watch 5 is listed with the codename “goteria” and build CD5A.260611.00. Interestingly, it’s not split between Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and LTE models like previous generations (via 9to5Google).

That sounds like a small developer-facing change, but it could simplify Google’s internal software process by consolidating the builds and may reduce the complexity of future updates. The Pixel Watch 5 runs on Wear OS 7, which is based on Android 17.

There’s one more catch for anyone who thinks about tinkering with the software. As with the Pixel Watch 4, flashing the factory image still requires a debug adapter that Google only ships by invite. Google also notes that unlocking the bootloader will make the watch less secure and that installing a factory image will wipe it.

The Pixel Watch 5 is already receiving new software features like Gemini Intelligence and At a Glance along with hardware upgrades such as 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

With the software foundation now in place, the September update should give us a better idea of how quickly Google can extend that experience to older Pixel Watches.

What you need to know

• Overseas reports claim TSMC has developed a new 1.6nm process intended for a new A16 chip.
• At present, this chip isn't designed for phones, but rather for AI and "high-performance computing" devices.
• TSMC could begin mass production of this chip in Q4 2026, which could help bring the 1.4nm process into reality for mobile devices.

There are reports from overseas sources that claim TSMC is taking significant steps toward a 1.6nm chip.

This report, highlighted by Chosun Biz, claims the Liberty Times' sources suggest TSMC has "completed" its development for a 1.6nm chip (via Android Headlines). Apparently, this 1.6nm process is intended to work with the company's new A16 chips. It's been stated that TSMC increased the A16's chip density by ~8% (or higher). Moreover, its performance could be ~10% better than its 2nm process and ~15% more power-efficient.

While this new A16 chip running on the 1.6nm process switches how it manages its power (for efficiency and performance), the report claims TSMC isn't targeting the usual crowd. The publication purports that TSMC's A16 chips are designed for AI and "high-performance computing" devices as its "main market." With that, it looks like we shouldn't expect this 1.6nm process in a phone chip anytime soon. Which, if you consider the timing, would put us in 2027.

Mass production of these A16 chips could begin in Q4 2026.

However, TSMC is supposedly using what it's done with its A16 chips and the 1.6nm process to develop a 1.4nm process. This version is suspected to make its way into phones.

Chips are getting better, stronger, faster

It's almost that time of the year when Qualcomm's next chip comes out. Hearing about 1.6nm is funny (even 1.4nm) since we're just on the edge of 2nm with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. Expectations say this chip should feature TSMC's 2nm process. What's more, the SD 8 Elite Gen 6 could feature a 2+3+3 CPU structure. Another 2nm process chip we're expecting is MediaTek's Dimensity 9600. That should also debut soon, as we push into the final four months.

Rumors aside, Qualcomm started teasing its next Snapdragon chips for its Summit 2026 event in Maui, Hawaii. We've heard rumors about Qualcomm making two flagship chips, and the company says we can expect "Dual 8 Elites" this year. It hasn't said what the other chip will be called; however, earlier reports said it would be the "Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro."

What you need to know

• Reports highlight Xreal's recent achievement with the Aura smart glasses, which state reservations have "surpassed" 10,000 units.
• Two of the Xreal Aura reservation packages have sold out ahead of its fall launch, with the company teasing its final price will be "no more than $1,500 before tax."
• In June, Xreal started its reservation period for the Aura, highlighting its work with Google's Android XR and partnership with game studios to create an experience consumers won't forget.

Xreal stoked the hype flames for its Aura smart glasses around Google I/O this year. After launching reservations for the device in June, Xreal is over the moon with early interest.

Earlier today (Aug 20), a report by GamingTrend surfaced, highlighting Xreal's official reservation numbers for its Project Aura smart glasses. According to Xreal, reservations for Aura have "surpassed" 10,000 units. The publication obtained a statement from the company, which reads, "The milestone reflects strong early interest across both consumer and enterprise audiences as XREAL continues building toward the next phase of lightweight, spatial computing."

Xreal's CEO and co-founder, Chi Xu, offered their remarks about the Aura's reservation achievements. Chi Xu states, "Surpassing 10,000 reservations is an exciting signal of demand across consumers, developers, and enterprise partners." While Xreal is reportedly "encouraged" by the early interest from so many consumers, there's still more to unravel about Aura.

The Xreal Aura Founder Priority Pass was limited when reservations first began in June, and it quickly sold out. The "Launch Credit" reservation package has also sold out, which let consumers put $99 down and receive $199 toward the Aura's launch. Right now, consumers can still reserve the Xreal Aura for $199 through the "Priority Deposit" option. Regarding price, Xreal finally says the Aura's "final retail price will be no more than $1,500 before tax."

Looking forward to it

The Xreal Aura is expected to launch this fall, so we can take a moment to revisit its highlights. Xreal announced the smart glasses in June, stating the Aura will feature Google's Android XR and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite. During its reservation announcement, Xreal's CEO Chi Xu said, "XREAL AURA sets a new benchmark for OST XR glasses, bringing powerful AI-driven experiences to both work and everyday life."

Staying lightweight was a true goal for Xreal with these glasses. As a result, the Aura weighs less than 95g and offers a 70-degree FOV. Since Xreal is working with Google, the company confirmed that the Google Play Store will be open to users with Aura. Android apps for mobile and tablet devices can be downloaded onto the Aura whenever users wish. There are also a series of games on the way, such as Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, thanks to an Amazon MGM Studios partnership, and Fallout: Factions from Modiphius Entertainment.

Sports lovers are getting the Fox Sports VR app, which is sure to be a unique experience. Xreal teased two months ago that when the Aura launches, consumers can find it in-store at Best Buy, its first retail partner.

Android Central's Take

From a techie standpoint, the Xreal Aura is pretty cool. I said this during my June coverage that the Aura looks good—and it does. Its a clean design, and the spatial capabilities, plus what's been integrated on the AI side, look useful and fun.

What you need to know

• Huawei's Pura X View delivers a wider screen real estate in a non-foldable body.
• Its 96.1% screen-to-body ratio and 1.05mm bezels maximize usable display space.
• Huawei is taking orders through VMall and JD.com ahead of the August 28 retail launch in China.

The all-new Pura X View from Huawei breaks the rules of standard flagship design, a wide, non-foldable smartphone that places pure screen real estate above traditional form factors.

Ahead of its retail debut, the Huawei Pura X View is now up for preorders, but there’s still one big piece missing: the price. The company has opened preorders through its official VMall and JD.com stores, giving buyers an early look at the storage configurations and colors before the phone hits brick and mortar stores on August 28.

Unlike Huawei's foldable phones, the Pura X View has a different take on getting more screen real estate. It's a wide, non-foldable smartphone built around a display that reaches much closer to the edges. Huawei claims the phone has a 96.1% screen-to-body ratio, while the bezels around the panel are just 1.05mm.

Huawei says the Pura X View provides 16% more screen space for watching videos and 21% more for browsing in portrait mode than typical flagship phones. That could make the phone especially attractive for people who spend a lot of time reading, scrolling or watching content on their phones.

There are three storage configurations available for preorder, all paired with 12GB of RAM: 256GB, 512GB, and a 1TB model. Buyers can also opt for red, gray, white, and black.

To reiterate, Huawei hasn’t announced pricing yet. That leaves shoppers ordering the phone without knowing just how much this unusual design will cost. A previous rumor claimed that the Pura X View could arrive at around 7000 yuan, but that is unconfirmed.

Huawei has not even revealed the complete specs of the phone, so there is still a lot we don’t know. It's highly likely the phone won't be sold outside of China anytime soon. The Pura X View is, for now, looking like an experiment in making a traditional smartphone feel more expansive without a hinge.

What you need to know

• Honor is bucking the slowdown, with shipments jumping 35% in the Middle East even as the overall market fell 13%.
• Honor is also gaining across multiple regions: Shipments climbed 53% in Africa and 15% in Southeast Asia, with strong growth in Malaysia and the Philippines.
• Competitors like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo suffered double-digit global shipment drops in Q2 due to their heavy exposure to budget segments hit by component costs.

While the smartphone market is getting squeezed from both sides, with weaker demand and rising memory costs, one Chinese phone maker seems to be finding room to grow across some of the industry's toughest markets.

New data from market research firm Omdia finds the Middle East smartphone market fell 13% overall in the first half of 2026, but Honor grew its shipments 35% year-over-year. That raised its market share from 10% to 15%, keeping it in second place for a second consecutive quarter.

Globally, Counterpoint Research says Samsung reclaimed the smartphone lead in Q2 with a 24% share and recorded the strongest year-over-year growth among the top five brands. The Galaxy S26 series, especially the Ultra, helped cushion weaker demand for cheaper phones.

Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo haven't had such a lucky run. All three saw double-digit shipment declines globally in Q2 due to rising memory costs that have hit their heavier exposure to entry-level and midrange phones, according to Counterpoint. Oppo and Vivo came in fourth and fifth places, while Xiaomi still had 12% of the global share.

Honor’s expansion is not confined to one region. Its shipments rose 53% in Africa in H1, while Southeast Asia grew 15% in a shrinking market. The brand also ranked as the fastest growing major vendor in Malaysia and the Philippines in Q2.

An important exception is Huawei. Counterpoint says its Q2 shipments in China rose 24%, giving it a 23% market share and the top spot. Apple also gained 23% in China, showing that premium phones are holding up better than the broader market.

Honor is also leaning hard into that same premium trend. IDC reported that in Q2 it captured 53% of the foldable market in Malaysia, 67% in Singapore, and an incredible 89% in Hong Kong.

That makes Honor's 9% global H1 shipment growth all the more interesting: it was the only Chinese Android manufacturer among the top brands to post year-over-year growth, according to IDC.

The trick now is to sustain that momentum amid ongoing memory shortages and rising component prices that continue to squeeze the industry.

What you need to know

• Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Event on August 27, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 FE.
• The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to feature a 6.7-inch 120Hz display and Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset.
• Leaks point to a 50MP main camera, 3x telephoto lens, 4,900mAh battery, and support for 45W charging.

It's the day the Pixel 11 series officially goes on sale, but Samsung isn't keeping quiet either. The company has confirmed its next Galaxy launch event for August 27, 2026.

Samsung has sent out invites to the media for its "Galaxy Event August 2026." Interestingly, the company isn't calling this one Galaxy Unpacked. Samsung says it will introduce the latest addition to the Galaxy S26 family at the event. While it hasn't officially named the device, all signs point toward the Galaxy S26 FE.

Samsung says the keynote will also be livestreamed for anyone watching from home. You'll be able to catch the event on Samsung's website as well as the company's YouTube channel, with the keynote scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. KST (8 a.m. ET) on August 27.

As with almost every Samsung launch these days, though, there probably isn't much left to surprise us. A massive leak recently gave us our clearest look yet at the Galaxy S26 FE, including what appear to be Samsung's official marketing materials, revealing both the phone's design and most of its specs.

According to those leaks, the Galaxy S26 FE will feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is expected to be powered by Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset, the same processor that powered the Galaxy Z Flip 7 last year. It's also expected to come with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

On the back, the Galaxy S26 FE is rumored to feature a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP telephoto camera with up to 3x optical zoom. The phone is also expected to pack a 4,900mAh battery, the same capacity as last year's Galaxy S25 FE, along with support for 45W wired charging.

There's no word on pricing just yet. But with the ongoing RAM crisis and memory shortage affecting smartphone makers across the industry, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Galaxy S26 FE arrive at a higher starting price than its predecessor.

Thankfully, we don't have much longer to wait. Samsung's next Galaxy event is just a week away, and if everything points in the direction we expect, the Galaxy S26 FE will finally make its official debut on August 27.

What you need to know

• Samsung Galaxy users are reporting RCS issues in Google Messages after switching to a new phone with Smart Switch.
• Some affected users are seeing error code 3100 when trying to enable RCS or send messages on their new Galaxy phones.
• Google says corrupted cache files transferred through Smart Switch may be responsible for the RCS connection problems.

Samsung Galaxy users are reporting a surge in RCS issues with Google Messages after recently switching to a new device.

Samsung recently shut down its Messages app in the U.S., asking both new and existing users to switch to Google Messages instead. Google Messages is the only messaging app on Galaxy phones that supports RCS, making it the most sensible replacement. However, it seems that some Samsung users are running into problems getting RCS to work after setting up their new Galaxy devices.

As spotted by Android Authority, several users have taken to Reddit to report that RCS stops working after switching to a new Galaxy phone and transferring their data using Samsung Smart Switch. Some affected users are seeing error code 3100 when trying to enable RCS or send RCS messages from their new device.

It looks like Google has already identified a potential cause. A Google representative said that the issue may be related to corrupted cache files that were transferred during the Smart Switch process.

Google recommends updating to the latest version of Google Messages, turning off RCS, clearing the Carrier Services data, restarting the phone, and then enabling RCS again. Unfortunately, that workaround doesn't appear to be working for everyone.

Some affected users say they were only able to get RCS working again after factory resetting their Galaxy phone. Even then, there's no guarantee that a factory reset will solve the problem for everyone, making it a pretty drastic workaround to try.

There are also Reddit users reporting similar RCS issues after switching carriers. Google says those cases could instead be related to the number-porting process not being fully completed.

Either way, it seems like some Galaxy users are currently having trouble getting RCS working after switching devices or carriers. Google is aware of at least some of these reports, but for now, there doesn't appear to be one guaranteed fix that works for everyone.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm teased its Snapdragon Summit 2026 on X, stating consumers should expect "Dual 8 Elites."
• Better connectivity, camera functionality, and graphics for games were highlighted for its pair of flagship chips.
• Rumors have said that Qualcomm is preparing a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro alongside the 8 Elite Gen 6.
• Snapdragon Summit 2026 runs from September 22-24 in Maui, Hawaii.

This morning (Aug 19), Qualcomm posted a teaser on social media about what consumers can expect from Snapdragon Summit in September. Based on the post, it looks like there's a pair of chips involved.

Qualcomm says it's preparing to reveal the "next chapter" in its "agentic AI era" at Snapdragon Summit next month on X. The meat and potatoes of this teaser are what it said after: "When Two Changes the Game." Qualcomm followed up this short blurb with a video that shows two unnamed Snapdragon chips. Connectivity and "advanced camera functionality" were highlighted as hallmarks for these chips.

An improved GPU with "immersive gaming experiences" was also teased. Qualcomm uses a short clip of gameplay from a game called NTE (Neverness to Everness). Qualcomm suggests that these advanced solutions will be present in both Snapdragon chips it has planned.

Following its Snapdragon Summit, consumers and the smartphone market should expect "twice the options" with "Dual 8 Elites." Unfortunately, that's where the excitement ends. Qualcomm encourages us to tune in to its Snapdragon Summit 2026 on September 22 to learn more. But we're not entirely out of the loop. While we are expecting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, rumors say there's a "Pro," too.

Spoiled for choice?

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro rumors claim Qualcomm's additional flagship chip would be reserved for "Ultra phones." Immediately, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra comes to mind, and several phones from Chinese OEMs will likely make the cut, too. Early speculation claims the Pro chip could feature a 2+3+3 CPU arrangement. The specifics surrounding these cores weren't stated.

However, it will likely be built on TSMC's 2nm process. What's more, the 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro could feature the Adreno 850 GPU. Qualcomm's latest teasers push its gaming potential. We'll have to see how well it fares with current games with higher graphics, particle effects, and more. All we can do is wait. Qualcomm confirmed in July that Snapdragon Summit 2026 will take place from September 22-24 in Maui, Hawaii. It didn't call out the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, but that's what we're expecting, alongside this Pro edition, since "Dual 8 Elites" are coming.

What you need to know

• Original Pixel Watch users on Reddit quickly reported a warning message in the Google Health app that said they were about to lose major features.
• Sync for sleep and workout data was apparently going to be removed unless they updated Wear OS, which isn't possible for this four-year-old watch.
• Google confirmed that this warning was a bug in its systems and that the original Pixel Watch is still "fully supported" in the Health app.

Owners of Google's original Pixel Watch were frightened this week by an on-device alert that said they were losing access to Health features.

We're coming off the back of the Pixel Watch 5's launch, and the last thing consumers want is for their tech to become obsolete. That nearly felt like a reality, as users on Reddit posted an alert that read: "Update your watch to keep using Google Health" (via Android Authority). This warning made its rounds, as more users replied to the thread, reporting the same alert. The message said their watch was running an "older version of Wear OS" and that it would soon "stop syncing sleep and workout data with Google Health."

Many users were in an uproar. The first Pixel Watch debuted four years ago. While the device received its last minor update last November, it stunned many to think that Google would drop it outright after the Pixel Watch 5. Becoming ineligible for new features is one thing, since it's an older model. But cutting support entirely wasn't sitting well with the majority. Not everyone saw this warning message, and that's where things became curious. A community moderator highlighted Google's official response to the warning O.G. Pixel Watch users have been seeing.

Google confirms that the first Pixel Watch remains "fully supported" with the Health app and features. It adds, "We had a bug where some users received this card incorrectly. Thanks for raising this, it has now been resolved."

Pixel Watch is still hanging on

Google had a Health app double-feature in July. The first update focused on key stats, as the app rolled out a massive selection of metric tiles for the Today and Health tabs. Google said users would find new tiles for "heart rate variability, breathing rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), resting heart rate, skin temperature variation, blood glucose, mindful days, mindful minutes, resilience, protein intake, fat intake, carbohydrate intake, and your friend leaderboard." Convenience was the goal for this.

Many of these metrics can be viewed in the Health tab; however, taking a quick glance at them in the Today tab would save you time. What's more, your sleep session statistics will now account for any naps (20 mins or longer). The second July update was about nutrition. Nutrition Logging, or rather "Quick Logging," focuses on calories and macro estimates. Google states users don't have to worry about the exact name of what they've eaten.

So long as they can fill out the meal's calories and macronutrients, it will be logged. These nutrition updates rolled out with vv5.04 of the Google Health app.

Android Central's Take

The funny thing that a few users mentioned on Reddit is that the original Pixel Watch runs Wear OS 5.1. Given that, you'd think the device would be spared from any EOS in the Health app. These alerts were a scare, for sure. They're not that far behind in software. Sure, the hardware is older, which is why many aren't expecting new features (EOS came for Wear OS, not the app). I'm glad it worked out. The original Pixel Watch isn't that bad, even four years later.

What you need to know

• Leaked images show a polished, Apple-like magnetic puck from Motorola.
• The images show a slim, MagSafe-style circular puck with a braided USB-C cable, metallic finish, and a purple accent ring.
• The accessory hints that native magnetic charging could expand across Motorola's mid-range and flagship lineup.

Android hardware makers have been slow to adopt magnetic wireless charging, allowing Apple’s MagSafe and Google’s Pixel lineup to dominate the market. But it seems Motorola wants to join the party. A leaked accessory dubbed the Moto Snap suggests the company could be preparing more phones for Qi2.

Images posted by leaker Evan Blass on X show a slim, round Motorola charging puck with a USB-C connector and braided cable. It looks very similar to Apple’s MagSafe charger, with what look like magnets to automatically align the phone with the charging coil.

Interestingly, Motorola has taken a rather unusual step with the Edge 70 Max, its first phone with built-in Qi2 magnets. The handset supports wireless charging up to 25W, with the magnets built directly into the phone, rather than requiring a special case.

Motorola says its phone can also get up to 12 hours of battery life from six minutes of wired charging with its 90W TurboPower setup.

The Moto Snap itself is much more portable. It’s a flat puck with a metallic finish, a Motorola logo, a braided cable, and what looks like a purple illuminated ring around the edge. It’s designed to be attached directly to the back of a compatible phone.

Of course Motorola has still not said anything. The charger may just be an accessory for the Edge 70 Max. But it makes more sense if Motorola plans to bring magnetic charging to more devices. That could be a big deal for Motorola, whose wider lineup still has plenty of phones without wireless charging in tow.

If the company begins adding native Qi2 magnets to more of its mid-range and flagship models, then magnetic charging could finally become the mainstream Android standard we’ve been promised for years.

What you need to know

• The Galaxy S26 FE leak reveals a familiar Samsung design with Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio colors.
• Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE could feature a 6.7-inch 120Hz display, Exynos 2500 chipset, and 4,900mAh battery.
• The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to feature a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto camera.

Now that the flagship phone season, including the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 series, is mostly out of the way, it's time to turn our attention toward some new budget Android phones. And now, an extensive leak has revealed almost everything you need to know about the upcoming Galaxy S26 FE.

The leak, shared by Android Headlines, gives us an extensive look at not only the Galaxy S26 FE's design, but also its specs and marketing materials. The publication has shared a total of 28 marketing images, revealing pretty much every major detail about Samsung's upcoming FE phone.

Starting with the design, the Galaxy S26 FE will reportedly look similar to Samsung's other recent smartphones. Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the S26 FE appears to feature a vertical, pill-shaped camera module in the top-left corner of the rear panel.

In terms of colors, the phone is expected to be available in Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio. The Galaxy S26 FE will also reportedly carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Coming to the specs, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to feature a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the phone will reportedly be powered by Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset, the same processor the company used in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 last year.

The phone is also expected to pack a 4,900mAh battery with support for 45W wired fast charging. If that sounds familiar, it's because those numbers are pretty similar to what Samsung offered with last year's Galaxy S25 FE.

In terms of software, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to pick up the new My FanCam feature that debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup, alongside features like Horizontal Lock for video recording.

On the back, the Galaxy S26 FE will reportedly feature a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto camera. The phone is also expected to ship with Android 17 and One UI 9 out of the box, along with Samsung's usual promise of seven years of OS updates.

The leak doesn't reveal anything concrete about pricing just yet. However, with RAM and other component prices continuing to rise this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Galaxy S26 FE launch at a slightly higher price than its predecessor.

What you need to know

• Google will showcase its new Googlebook platform at an in-person media event in New York City on September 15.
• The event will include a keynote detailing Googlebook's software, Gemini features, and native Android codebase.
• Google will also have hands-on stations featuring Googlebook hardware from partners like Lenovo, ASUS, and HP.

Google has confirmed that it will host an in-person media preview for its new Googlebook platform in New York City on September 15, 2026.

At The Android Show earlier this year, alongside announcing Android 17, Google also gave us our first look at its new lineup of premium laptops called Googlebooks.

At the time, the company didn't reveal too many details, apart from confirming that these laptops are being built from the ground up for Gemini Intelligence. Google also showcased a few interesting features, including the ability to create your own widgets using Gemini, Magic Pointer, and deeper integration with Android phones.

But since then, Google has remained quiet about Googlebook. The company didn't share much about the platform during the recent Pixel 11 launch either, only confirming that we'd hear more about the laptops this fall alongside hardware partners like Lenovo, ASUS, HP, and others.

Thankfully, we now know exactly when that's happening.

Google is finally ready to talk more about Googlebooks

Chrome Unboxed has received an official invite from Google for an in-person Googlebook showcase in New York City on September 15.

According to the publication, Google has also shared an itinerary for the event, which includes a keynote from Google leadership introducing the new computing platform, its software features, and the native Android codebase powering Googlebooks.

There will also reportedly be hands-on stations from Google's OEM partners, which presumably means we'll finally get to see some of the actual Googlebook hardware coming from companies like Lenovo, ASUS, HP, and others.

So there you have it. We finally have a date for when Google plans to properly unveil Googlebook, and it's now less than a month away.

Leaks have already given us an early look at some of Lenovo's upcoming Googlebooks. The new laptops are also expected to feature Google's HiLight LED bar, the same glowing design element we've now seen on the Google Home Speaker and Pixel 11 Pro lineup.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out a Chrome update on Android, bringing Gemini webpage summarization, Q&A, and connected apps to all U.S. users.
• AI Pro and Ultra subscribers will gain auto-browse in this update, which lets Gemini purchase items for you or secure events based on your prompt.
• Nano Banana is also rolling out in this Gemini in Chrome on Android update.

AI assistance has been a major trend for Google, especially for phones. This week, Google will continue that trend with a Gemini in Chrome update for Android.

This afternoon (Aug 18), Google announced that Gemini is now available in Chrome for all U.S. Android users. Two major features are rolling out in light of this update. All users can lean on Gemini to summarize and answer questions about webpages. Google states its AI can quickly summarize the content in longer articles, and simply tapping its icon in Chrome brings a Q&A experience akin to its app.

On the other hand, Google says users can connect their favorite apps, such as Calendar and Keep, with Gemini in Chrome. This will likely help users save content or important dates "without switching between tabs." Image generation arrives, too, which means Gemini's Nano Banana is available.

While the bulk of users will receive this update, Google highlights a little more for subscribed AI Pro and AI Ultra consumers.

In the U.S., AI Pro and Ultra subscribers can access auto-browse with Gemini in Chrome. The post states this feature aims to make "tedious everyday tasks" easy to manage. Users on a webpage can tell Gemini to order an item or book a venue/event. Google states it's continued to roll out safeguards for its AI, especially now that it's arriving fully in Chrome.

These features are rolling out today in Gemini for Chrome on Android for U.S. users.

Let Gemini take the lead for shopping

Google said this was its plan during The Android Show: !/O Edition 2026 in May. What users on Android are receiving is Gemini 3.1, and you'll find its icon in the toolbar for easy access. The above examples provided by Google highlight Gemini's auto-browse helping a user find an item for their pet on Chewy. Users must provide a prompt (task) for Gemini to complete, and it will detail its "plan."

This is for confirmation reasons, if we're being honest. Users can review this to make sure Gemini understands their prompt, then hit "start task." Gemini will hop across Chewy, locating the item you desire, then adding it to your cart. In Google's example, Gemini finds a bowl that needs to be customized, and it waits for the user to fill this out before continuing.

The other side of Gemini arriving in Chrome is Personal Intelligence. This makes the AI more personal, as it tunes its responses to fit your hobbies and preferences.

Android Central's Take

Not a bad update. I knew this was coming since The Android Show, but to see it is another thing. The majority of people send the majority of their time on their phone, anyway. Bringing Gemini into the mix for mundane things has never screamed "bad idea" to me. The best thing is that I can see what it's doing at all times and step in if I need to. This is AI we're talking about. It's not going to be perfect, so our watchful eye is always required.

What you need to know

• A report claims that Google is preparing to exit China in 2027, moving its Pixel line production to India and Vietnam.
• This move will take everything Pixel-related (phones, watches, buds), as Google is reportedly becoming confident in this decision.
• The post also highlights that Google wants to push its Pixel shipment momentum in 2026 to 13 million units, which would be a ~8% increase at the lowest.

Changes are afoot for Google next year, as reports claim the company is preparing to move all Pixel production out of China.

Earlier this morning (Aug 18), Nikkei Asia reported that Google "plans to stop" producing its Pixel products in China by 2027 (via 9to5Google). It has been reported that Google plans to move its Pixel production to India and Vietnam. This move isn't coming out of left field. The publication states Google ran what could be considered a "trial run" of this future with the Pixel 11.

The latest flagship was produced in Vietnam, and that's supposedly given Google the confidence boost it needed to prepare the complete shift. This Pixel production move will involve Google's entire portfolio of Pixel phones, watches, and earbuds. Information obtained by Nikkei Asia suggests Google has "no burden" in making this move, as its Pixel portfolio is not sold in China. What's more, Google is reportedly actively chasing more Pixel shipment momentum in 2026 off the back of the Pixel 11 series.

The publication highlights Google's increased "expectations," with Pixel shipments forecast to rise by 8% to 10% in 2026. The company shipped roughly 12 million Pixel units in 2025, but it hopes to reach ~13 million for 2026.

Google's placement in the world

Google finds itself in an interesting position in the smartphone world. It was incredibly popular in Japan last year, right before the Pixel 10 launch, but that's not where we're headed right now. A few months ago, Omdia reported that the U.S. phone market in Q1 2026 struggled. The market dipped by 3% YoY, and that was attributed to rising memory and storage costs. Regarding Google, the company ranked fourth among top-selling phone companies, behind Apple, Samsung, and Motorola (first to third).

Google shipped 0.8 million units, accounting for 3% of the market. If we jump to Q2, the market declined by 4%; however, Samsung and Apple were the only ones to gain ground. Now, this report was more on a global scale. A scale on which Google didn't even crack the top five. It'll be worth watching if Google can reach 13 million shipped phones following the Pixel 11, given the price increases.

What you need to know

• Samsung's new Warranty and care menu in One UI 9 centralizes warranty tracking, diagnostics, repairs, and support inside Settings.
• See remaining warranty period and Samsung Care+ eligibility for your current device, plus coverage details for every Galaxy product linked to your Samsung account.
• Built-in Diagnostics tests battery, charging, sensors, touch response, and connectivity, then suggests fixes or points you to repair options.

Samsung is adding a new Warranty and care hub in One UI 9, giving Galaxy users a single place to check warranty coverage, run device diagnostics, access repair options, and get support.

The feature debuted on Samsung’s latest foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Now Samsung has made clear what the hub actually does, and it goes way beyond checking when your warranty expires.

Open the new hub and you can see the remaining warranty period for your current device, along with Samsung Care+ eligibility. If you have other Galaxy products linked to the same Samsung account, their warranty and coverage information can appear there too.

The hub also acts as a troubleshooting center. Its Diagnostics tool can test hardware and functions such as battery, charging system, sensors, touchscreen, and connectivity. If something does go wrong, Samsung can recommend fixes or point you to repair options.

Bixby is also baked into the experience for troubleshooting questions. If something doesn’t feel right, you can ask the AI without leaving the Settings app for troubleshooting steps. Samsung's warranty process has always been a nightmare — online forums are full of users stuck in an endless loop between Samsung and service centers, with warranty claims getting lost in a no-man's-land between the standard warranty and Care+ policies. This new hub is designed to cut through that bureaucratic black hole and give you one clear path forward.

When software updates don’t work, you can request repairs from a Samsung-authorized service center without leaving Settings. You can also get remote support and compare estimated repair costs with Samsung Care+ pricing.

Warranty and care isn't necessarily identical everywhere. Available services may differ by country, device, and coverage plan.

While this hub currently debuts across Samsung's newest foldables, keep an eye out for the streamlined experience coming to Galaxy S26 series phones and older flagships as One UI 9 spreads its wings.

What you need to know

• Google Home and Nest suffered a widespread outage, leaving devices unresponsive, routines broken, and Nest Hub screens stuck on white or loading screens.
• Multiple Nest devices were affected, including Nest Hubs, Nest Minis, Google Home speakers, and some third-party Assistant displays.
• Users reported widespread failures, including broken voice commands, slow responses, failed routines, and frozen screens.

Google Home and Nest users experienced a widespread outage that left some devices unresponsive, routines broken, and Nest Hub displays stuck on white or loading screens. It looked like the problem was on Google’s side, and it affected users in a number of regions.

The outage impacted Nest Hubs, Nest Minis, Google Home speakers, and some third-party displays that use the Assistant. Over at Reddit, users reported voice commands not working, slow responses, failed routines, and screens stuck on blank white or loading animations. That the same behavior occurred on multiple devices suggested a server problem as opposed to a spate of hardware failures.

That also explains why the usual troubleshooting playbook wasn’t working either. Some owners rebooted their devices and routers, while others went as far as performing factory resets. In many instances those steps made no difference. Some Nest Hub owners have reported that their devices remain stuck on a white or loading screen, even after a reset.

Android Central managing editor Derrek Lee experienced the problem firsthand shortly before going to bed. He said a voice command to turn off his TV failed initially, with Google Assistant responding that something had gone wrong and asking him to try again. When he repeated the command about a minute later, it took roughly 30 seconds for the TV to turn off instead of happening almost instantly.

The outage wasn’t a quick blip either. Downdetector showed complaints from the US and other countries rising rapidly overnight. The incident was making the rounds, and hundreds of reports were being logged. Furthermore, StatusGator logged a plethora of user-submitted reports, with some coming in just a few minutes ago, indicating a few users are still affected by the outage. That said, the service's status on the site shows everything is working fine.

Android Central has contacted Google for comment.

The incident revealed an awkward Achilles heel of cloud-dependent smart homes. Google’s servers power voice commands, device controls, and routines that can make working hardware appear to be broken when the backend goes down.

At the time, Google had not publicly explained in detail what had caused the problem. Some users later reported their devices were back online, but the outage posed a larger question: As Google moves Nest and Home toward more automation, how much of the smart home should be dependent on Google’s cloud being up?

What you need to know

• Fairphone and Murena have teamed up to debut the Gen 6 Plus with /e/OS, a privacy-focused software based on Android.
• The Gen 6 Plus delivers 12GB of RAM, 12 replaceable parts for consumers, and a five-year warranty/five years of software updates.
• Murena Backup debuts with the Fairphone Gen 6 Plus, integrated into Murena Workspace Accounts, alongside the Advanced Privacy widget.
• The Fairphone Gen 6 Plus is available for $699 in a new Cobalt Blue colorway.

If Fairphone's Gen 6 caught your eye last year, the company's latest Gen 6 Plus is taking sustainability even further.

Together with Murena's /e/OS, Fairphone launches the Gen 6 Plus, categorizing it as its "latest achievement in the mission to make technology fairer, more modular, repairable and long-lasting while prioritising user privacy and experience." The original Fairphone Gen 6 launched in June 2025, but the company says the Plus model isn't anything to overlook.

The company states the Gen 6 Plus builds on "what already works" with the previous device. Fairphone is looking to "fight back" against current economic pressures, while improving the phone's lifespan. Repairability is a major highlight for Fairphone, and that's continuing with 12 replaceable parts in the Gen 6 Plus. Additionally, consumers will receive a five-year warranty and five years of software updates, carrying the Gen 6 Plus into 2033.

Elsewhere, Fairphone states the Gen 6 Plus comes equipped with 12GB of RAM and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. This is a mid-range chip; however, Qualcomm boosted the SoC with stronger, "flagship-level" gaming capabilities. The CPU has been boosted by ~7% over the 7s Gen 3, which the Fairphone Gen 6 debuted with.

Privacy-focused software

Murena stands tall with its privacy-focused software, and the Fairphone Gen 6 Plus will benefit from the latest updates. Murena states its source code is "fully open." This means that anyone can verify that it "does not collect user data" in the ways Google collects data. It states Google's OS (Android) has "tracking embedded in its source code and native apps that are constantly ‘pinging information to Google - with ambiguity surrounding how that data is used and where it ends up."

Murena does away with this. Moreover, /e/OS now has an Advanced Privacy widget. This will let users control the data collected by third-party apps installed on their devices. The Fairphone Gen 6 Plus announcement calls back to Murena's /e/OS 4 update, which rolled out in June. The patch focused on making it easy to switch from Big Tech. Users will find "one-click" migrations from Google that transfer their files, dates, emails, contacts, and more to Murena's systems.

One feature that was teased in June was cloud backups. That's not debuting with the Gen 6 Plus as "Murena Backup." It states this is "a new cloud-based backup and recovery solution fully integrated with Murena Workspace accounts."

Consumers can purchase the Fairphone Gen 6 Plus from Murena for $699. Fairphone highlights a new colorway: Cobalt Blue. However, you'll also find Forest Green and Horizon Black.