Google and Samsung are both working on products in the smart glasses category. These products range from Ray-Ban Meta-like AI glasses to XR glasses with one or two displays. As these products inch toward their eventual release, apps are preparing to embrace the new form factor.

One of the apps we could see on a pair of XR glasses soon seems like a no-brainer. While exploring the latest beta of the Spotify app, we found evidence suggesting that the music streaming service is laying the groundwork for support.

Multi-port fast chargers can get really pricey, but that doesn’t mean budget-conscious spenders don’t have some options. The Baseus 140W USB-C Charger isn’t only cheaper, but it also competes with the higher-end bricks, and it is on sale right now, dropping the price down to just $39.99.

Buy the Baseus 140W USB-C Charger for just $39.99 ($20 off)

Google TV’s interface isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Between sponsored content and limited customization options, many users turn to third-party launchers to clean up the home screen and regain a bit of control. But some Google TV owners say a recent update may have undone that workaround by preventing one popular launcher from replacing the default interface.

In a recent Reddit thread on the Projectivy Launcher subreddit, users report that a Google TV update appears to break the app’s ability to override the stock launcher. Normally, Projectivy can take over the home screen when you press the Home button or wake your device, effectively replacing Google’s default interface. According to several posts in the thread, the override toggle no longer works after the update, meaning the standard Google TV home screen loads instead.

Properly executed, a good widget can really change the way you use an app, hitting you up with the information you need at a glance, and connecting you with the features you’re likely to use most. At least, that’s the best-case scenario, but other widgets are a bit more difficult to appreciate. We’re still wondering whether or not this latest batch is going to fall into that latter group, as Google Translate picks up a set of new Android widgets.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Rumors suggest that OnePlus is cooking up a big, premium tablet that will compete with other flagship-level devices. Just a couple of weeks ago, we heard about a 12-inch tablet that would feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip. However, a new leak hints at an even bigger device, which could be followed by a smaller tablet.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

OnePlus is teasing a new Nord phone. The OnePlus India Twitter account posted an image early this morning showing a stylized X-ray image of a bag containing a USB charger, a pair of earbuds, and a phone, with a caption reading “Entering the Nord era soon.”

The tweet doesn’t show much of the phone; all that’s really visible is its battery and a OnePlus logo, with a set of keys conveniently placed to hide its camera module. It’s presumably the OnePlus Nord 6, a phone that leaks say could come with a huge 9,000 mAh battery.

Getting a quick news digest read to you can be handy when you’re on the move, but it’s not always practical. Google News has been experimenting with AI-generated audio briefings that summarize stories for you, yet there are plenty of situations where you might still prefer to read the summary rather than listen. A change we spotted in the app suggests Google may soon give you that option.

In version 5.154.0.880997081 of the Google News app, we managed to activate a new transcript feature for the app’s audio briefings. While the feature isn’t live yet, the interface shows a new button that lets you view a written transcript of the briefing currently playing.

Apple has been on a spree of new product launches and refreshes this month, with highlights such as the MacBook Neo and the iPhone 17e aimed at a younger generation of users. In a bit of a surprise, the company has now launched the AirPods Max 2, a refresh of the first-generation AirPods Max that brings the Apple H2 chip to the over-ear headphones.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

While T-Mobile Tuesdays might not be as exciting as they once were, every once in a while there is still a solid offer, such as the recent MLB offer.TV promo. The carrier is also known for its occasional physical freebies.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Update: March 16, 2026 (9:49 AM ET): OnePlus has now confirmed that it’s aware of issues affecting its Community app and forums in the US. This comes after users reported that they were automatically logged out, experienced connection errors, and couldn’t load new posts.

We haven’t seen a camera phone with a 10x camera since 2023’s Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, OPPO is tipped to revive the feature for the Find X9 Ultra, and a new leak has revealed a key detail about this shooter.

Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station reports that the 50MP 10x periscope camera has an f/3.5 aperture. Check out the machine-translated post below.

After the first major dose of Material 3 Expressive that the Clock app received in August last year, Google has made several adjustments to fine-tune elements for better viewing and usability. Most recently, Google brought back the option to swipe away alarms instead of forcing you to tap specific buttons, and is now leaning in with more design optimizations.

Google is now rolling out version 8.6 of the Clock app, and we spotted a few minor improvements. While these may not qualify as quality-of-life improvements, they should make your experience slightly better.

Samsung just kicked off global sales of its latest flagship phones last week, but the company is already moving on to the next big software update. Early signs suggest that work on One UI 9, based on Android 17, has quietly begun, and the first internal builds have appeared on Samsung’s servers.

According to tipster Tarun Vats on X, the first internal One UI 9 firmware for the Galaxy S26 series has shown up on Samsung’s servers.

Robot vacuums have come a long way from the early days of bumping around rooms and hoping for the best. Modern models map homes and pack more suction power than ever before. But once you move beyond the showroom floor and into a real house full of rugs, thresholds, and the occasional tangle of cables, the challenge isn’t just cleaning performance — it’s making smart decisions about how to move through the space in the first place.

That’s the idea behind the Roborock Saros 20, the company’s 2026 intelligent flagship. Roborock is positioning this model around real-world smart judgment, shifting the flagship conversation beyond suction power and mapping speed to how AI integrates into the home. The goal is for the robot to do more than build a floor plan. It should be able to interpret the home, recognizing when to clean and to re-clean, when to avoid obstacles, and when to stay still.

Google Maps just rolled out a massive Immersive Mode upgrade that car owners will widely appreciate. Cyclists shouldn’t feel left out, and so Google has now been spotted working on navigation avatars for cyclists.

Google Maps already offers navigation avatars, called Navatars, when users use modes such as Driving (for cars) or Two-wheeler (for motorbikes). Google Maps also offers a Bicycling mode in supported locations that lets users view and use dedicated cycling lanes, if available.

There are plenty of perks to Pixel phones, including Pixel VPN. Google’s free virtual private network, offered to its smartphone users, routes internet traffic through the company’s secure servers when needed, making it a great option for obfuscating internet activity while on the go.

It’s arguably one of the best Pixel-exclusive features, yet remarkable how many users don’t seem to know it exists. To gauge just how many of our readers actually use this service, we ran a poll. The results are as follows.

Recently, I left ChatGPT. There were many reasons for the move, including the company’s transition away from its original non-profit status and its handling of its partnership announcement with the US Department of Defense. As someone who uses AI for both professional and personal purposes, I also wanted to try something new and see if it would better fit my needs.

While I have used Gemini on and off since its debut, I’d never tried Claude. Given the attention it’s been getting recently, I decided it was worth experimenting with. I signed up for a Pro plan and have been actively using it for about a week. While it’s far from perfect, I don’t regret the switch at all. Let’s dive into what I like about Claude, what’s not so great, and who I’d recommend it for.

One of my favorite Google Chrome extensions for work is Save as Image Type, which lets you save images on the web in a more familiar format. Unfortunately, it turns out Google Chrome has disabled this extension, but for good reason.

I spotted an alert in my Chrome browser, noting that Save as Image Type has been blocked due to the add-on containing malware. Check out our screenshot below.

PC emulation on Android is picking up steam, and with multiple options such as GameHub, enabling users to access their library of pre-owned games on their Android devices. Meanwhile, GameNative, a more recently launched and open-source alternative, has been attracting users by providing access to a larger pool of games and linking to platforms such as the Epic Games Store, Steam, and GoG much more easily than before.

The developers of GameNative have now released an update that brings a slew of fixes to improve performance. The latest refresh, which upgrades the version to 0.8.1, also brings a crucial feature for Steam.

vivo has been cooking with its flagship X series for a fair few generations. Not only has the company closed the gap with top-tier camera flagships, but it has also out-innovated several of them. With the upcoming vivo X300 Ultra, vivo aims to create the ultimate camera flagship, featuring specifications that put it at the top of the pack. Today, the company has shared some of the software innovations it is packing into the vivo X300 Ultra, and it seems it’s going for iPhone’s video-recording crown.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Samsung reportedly plans to stop selling the Galaxy Z TriFold in South Korea on March 17. Industry sources cited by Korean publication Donga (via SamMobile) claim the company has decided to wrap up domestic sales roughly three months after the phone’s launch.

Samsung released the Galaxy Z TriFold in December, but unlike its regular foldables, the device launched in a handful of markets, including South Korea, the US, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the UAE. It was widely expected that the phone would have a short run, and sources quoted in the new report say the device was a “symbolic product” meant to showcase Samsung’s foldable technology rather than something designed to generate major revenue.

No, your eyes don’t deceive you — the Galaxy S26 series is here, and it has a whole new look. Alright, maybe not a massively new look, but all three devices now feature camera bumps for the first time since the Galaxy S22 series. Either way, with that new look, you might be expecting a pretty big slate of new features… and you’d be right. There’s a lot to explore across One UI, Galaxy AI, and more, but it can be hard to know where to start.

Luckily for you, we’re here to help. We’ve had all three models of the Galaxy S26 series for about a week now, and we’ve been exploring all the new features to get you started. Here are the very best Samsung Galaxy S26 tips we’ve come up with for when you finally get to unbox your brand-new phone.

If you’ve ever looked for a phone plan in the US, you’ve probably seen the same three names: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. These companies lead the market for a reason. Wireless service is almost everywhere now. About 98% of Americans have a cellphone, and nearly 89% say they couldn’t live without their smartphone, according to the CTIA, a US-based trade association for the wireless industry.

This huge demand means big business. In 2025, US wireless companies made over $352 billion in revenue, The Motley Fool reports. So how does one company keep customers loyal in such a crowded market?

With the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung has grabbed headlines thanks to its new Privacy Display technology on the S26 Ultra. While it’s an interesting innovation, it also highlights areas where the company continues to lag behind.

Samsung’s integrated hardware in the S26 Ultra’s display adjusts pixel viewing angles for extra privacy. Yet it still hasn’t adopted basic display and software changes that could improve the experience for users who are sensitive to display flickering. Considering the impact on usability, this is a major letdown.

How do you imagine the President of the United States communicates on sensitive matters? If you’re thinking of a purpose-built device running a highly secure and private, perhaps even a bespoke, network, you’re wrong. Quite unlike the Hollywood vision of a futuristic, customized communication device, President Donald Trump frequently relies on his personal phone, and it’s starting to irk White House officials.

White House officials recently confirmed to The Atlantic that President Trump’s private phone, particularly an iPhone, is often constantly buzzing from calls and messages. The frequency is supposedly getting out of control, especially since Trump’s private phone number is now being widely distributed.

Samsung is widely (heh) expected to launch a so-called Wide Fold later this year alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8. This foldable phone is supposedly a response to the iPhone Fold, which is tipped to offer a folding display with a wide aspect ratio.

Now, trusted tipster Digital Chat Station has asserted on Weibo that the Samsung Wide Fold will have a ~4,800mAh battery (with a 4,660mAh minimum capacity). That’s 400mAh bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 battery. Check out the machine-translated post below.

Spotify’s ‘Playlist folders’ are one of those quietly useful features that many long-time users rely on to keep their music organized. It has been around for a long time, since 2010, to be exact, letting users group playlists together under a single folder.

The smartphone industry is facing a RAM crisis as memory prices skyrocket, while other components are also seeing price hikes. Now, it turns out that mobile juggernaut Samsung is taking radical measures.

FNN News reports (h/t: Jukan05 on Twitter) that Samsung Electronics has entered “emergency management” due to rising semiconductor and logistics prices. The AI sector’s demand for RAM has led to unprecedented price increases, while components like displays and chipsets have seen price hikes too. It also comes amid the US-Israeli war in Iran, which has seen rising oil prices as a result.

While I’ve never spoken about this publicly before now, 2022 was a tough year for me. After my Pixel 7 broke, I found myself without a phone, and with plenty of rising family expenses, I didn’t feel like I could just run out and buy one either. What I did have was a collection of older work devices from OnePlus and a few other brands that worked well as Wi-Fi devices, but no longer supported the necessary bands to work correctly on any US network.

During this time, I saved up for a new device and relied on a combination of my home network, public Wi-Fi networks, and hotspotting off my wife’s phone as a way to manage the situation.

We’ve already seen the Galaxy S26 series and the Pixel 10a this year, with a lot more to come. We’ll see the Pixel 11, the OnePlus 16, and the usual cadence of tablets and high-end buds.

While these are all fantastic devices, they don’t excite me at all. Yearly upgrades have become so minimal that if your current phone or watch is less than three years old — even more in a lot of cases — there’s almost no reason to switch. My current electronics lineup is fresh, and I have exactly zero intention of dropping $1,000 on a new slab of glass just for a 10% faster processor and a slightly better telephoto lens. I also have no intention of buying a new tablet, headphones, or a laptop this year.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Google has been working on bringing desktop-like freeform windows to Android since the days of Android Nougat. The feature dwindled for a while and was recently revived, likely because of Google’s aim to evolve Android into a desktop OS, too. As part of that transformation, there’s a new Desktop Mode that shows up when you plug your Android phone into a large display, Samsung DeX-style, as well as an effort to bring a similar interface directly to your device, as long as you have a large display in your hands.

This is what Google is now calling “desktop windowing,” and after many months in testing under Developer Options, the feature is now available by default on tablets running the stable Android 16 QPR3. For now, that only means the Pixel Tablet, but any other tablet that runs or gets updated to Android 16 QPR3 — more likely, Android 17 — in the future should have this capability out of the box. I’ve been testing it to see how it works, and honestly, I’m impressed. It’s made me think of using my Pixel Tablet in a different light.

As a photography enthusiast, I have spent the last few years carrying around what essentially amounts to a professional-grade camera with a smartphone attached to the back.

From the massive visors on recent Pixels to the dinner-plate-sized unit of a camera on the vivo X300 Pro, there’s an unstated understanding that a premium smartphone experience requires an enormous camera and an equally massive physical sacrifice. It’s something I’ve begrudgingly gotten used to, but have never really been happy with. Then I spent a week with the Pixel 10a.

I’ve been enjoying Google’s new Pixel Desktop Mode on my Pixel 10 Pro XL lately, so much so that it almost makes the world of smartphones feel new again. However, Google is far from the first to combine smartphone and desktop experiences under one roof. US consumers have had access to Samsung’s DeX environment since 2017, and it has gradually improved the platform with various new features that have set a high bar for Google’s new system to meet.

If anything, it’s surprising that it’s taken Google just this long to come up with its own take on the formula. But how do they compare? I’ve spent some time trying out everyday desktop tasks on both platforms to help answer the question: What are the differences between Pixel Desktop and Samsung DeX, and which one is best?

Update, March 14, 2026 (06:38 AM ET): A Qualcomm spokesperson shared with us the following statement:

Developing technologies that endeavor to support robust security and privacy is a priority for Qualcomm Technologies. We commend the researchers from the Xiaomi ShadowBlade Security Lab for using coordinated disclosure practices. Regarding their GBL-related research, fixes were made available to our customers in early March 2026. We encourage end users to apply security updates as they become available from device makers.

We recently reported on the new Qualcomm GBL exploit, which was chained with other exploits to unlock the bootloaders of several Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagship phones. Qualcomm has now shared with us a statement on the GBL exploit, confirming that fixes have already been provided to Android brands.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

It’s been almost ten years since Google launched the original Pixel, and while it isn’t as strong a draw as it once was, one of the reasons to buy a Pixel has always been its camera. It’s one of the reasons I bought a Pixel 10 Pro after spending years with Samsung’s disappointing cameras, and I couldn’t be happier with that decision. I’m not the only one who’s pleased to have this phone around. In the past six months, my Pixel has been stolen almost every day so that my wife could take a thousand photos of the cat. Thankfully, Pixels have a killer feature that makes having a family member abscond with your phone less annoying.

No lag, no problem

So, why is my Pixel being snatched out of my hand so often? Shutter lag, or the lack thereof. Shutter lag has been plaguing Samsung’s phones for years now, and that includes my Galaxy S23 Ultra and Z Fold 7 and my wife’s Galaxy Z Flip 6. It’s fine if you’re taking photos of landscapes with good lighting, but as soon as things get darker and you introduce moving objects, everything goes wrong fast. The Pixel suffers from no such issue, and it always delivers photos we’re happy with. Since we got our cat (Bandit) six months ago, we’ve taken almost 1,500 photos and videos of him, almost exclusively with the Pixel. The difference is so stark that my phone being taken away from my desk while I’m working is practically a daily occurrence, after which it is returned with another half a dozen photos of a furry, snoring lump.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

There are two apps on any smartphone that you interact with and use at all times: the launcher and the keyboard. We always tend to forget how crucial a keyboard is; it’s not the sexiest app, and many people may not even consider it an “app” since it’s just… there. It’s a tool to get a job done.

But think about it. You use your keyboard to send messages or emails, to post on social media, to add calendar events, to browse, to talk to AI agents, and to search for anything in any app. Until voice typing is as reliable and as widely used, keyboards are the most fundamental way we interact with our phones. They can elevate your experience, just like they can ruin it. Case in point: Samsung’s poor excuse for a keyboard.

Apple had a big lineup of announcements last week. Of all the news, what particularly caught my eye is the iPhone 17e, which came on the heels of the Pixel 10a — its direct competitor. Call it incredible timing, but it almost felt like Apple was closely trailing Google and launched its own budget phone with one terrific feature I’ve been sorely missing on the Pixel 10a: MagSafe.

The entire iPhone lineup, from the cheapest iPhone 17e to the most expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max, has magnets for more convenient charging. In stark contrast, the weakest link in the Pixel 10 lineup is the new Pixel 10a, which already feels outdated just a few days after its launch.

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro was just announced earlier this month, and it’s already safe to say it’ll be one of 2026’s most unique smartphones. With the wild camera sensor placement, iPhone 17 Pro-like camera island, and the secondary display in the top-right corner, it’s quite unlike any other Android phone on the market today — even without Nothing’s iconic transparent design.

But despite the fascinating hardware, decent spec sheet, and $500 starting price, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Nothing Phone 4a Pro should be your next smartphone.

When the Galaxy S26 series launched last month, Samsung promoted support for the Qi2 wireless charging standard. But there’s a catch: the phones themselves don’t include built-in magnets for accessories. That means you’ll need a Qi2-compatible case to take advantage of magnetic chargers and add-ons.

Samsung is now offering a solution with the Qi2 Magnet Wireless Battery Pack (via Notebookcheck). This compact power bank snaps onto the back of Galaxy S26 devices using magnets for easy alignment.

A job where you have to regularly attend meetings can be bad enough — but it’s so much worse when you’re the one tasked with coordinating them in the first place. By the time you think you’ve confirmed everyone’s availability, people have already stated making other plans, and you’re back to square one. Last year, Google announced an incredibly helpful-sounding tool for taking a lot of the headache out of scheduling meetings — and now it’s getting a whole, whole lot better.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Today is World Sleep Day, the day for raising awareness of sleep health. To celebrate this annual occasion, Garmin and The Pokémon Company International have joined forces to announce something that should please those who fall within the Venn diagram of Garmin owners who also play Pokémon Sleep.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Privacy in messaging apps has become a bigger talking point in recent years, with many platforms promoting end-to-end encryption as a way to keep conversations away from prying eyes. But not every service has embraced it the same way, and now the Instagram version of the feature is about to disappear entirely.

According to a help page on the Instagram support site, the platform will stop supporting end-to-end encryption for messages starting May 8. If you have conversations that rely on the feature, Instagram says you’ll see instructions on how to download any messages or media you want to keep before the change takes effect.

Android can feel like one big billboard for Gemini lately, but a recent Android Authority survey indicates most of you are getting at least some utility out of Google’s AI efforts. In the survey, three out of four of respondents said they do use Gemini on Android in one way or another.

In a survey we published last week, 74% of nearly 6,000 readers who participated said that they use Gemini on Android devices. The biggest group, 40% of all those surveyed, said that their primary use is “summaries and research” — so, essentially as a replacement for conventional web searches.

We’ve been following Motorola’s midrange Edge 70 Fusion for some time now, with renders of the phone surfacing in leaks last month ahead of an official announcement last week. The phone is now available — but only in Brazil.

The phone is now on sale through Motorola’s Brazilian storefront under the name Motorola Edge 70 Fusion+. The Edge 70 Fusion is a thin, colorful device with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset and 12 gigs of RAM that we know is destined for “select countries across Latin America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.”

The Google Pixel 10a is great, and there were some great pre-order and launch deals on it, but those offers are now gone. Don’t worry, though, the Google Pixel 10 is still on sale, and you can take it home for $599.

Buy the Google Pixel 10 for just $599 ($200 off)

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is expected to arrive in the coming weeks. However, that’s not the only device OPPO is working on. A new leak suggests that the company has a tablet and compact waiting in the wings.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Samsung has been quietly tinkering with its Android web browser lately, including giving it an predictable new name. The app formerly known as Samsung Internet is now simply Samsung Browser, and it looks like Samsung could also be preparing a new multitasking feature for it in One UI 9.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

It wasn’t even that long ago when Amazon Prime Video was still the rare example of a video streaming platform that hadn’t succumbed to the temptation of shoving ads down everyone’s throats. But by 2024, Bezos and company just couldn’t resist any longer, and sullied their once-innocent platform with a $3/month upsell to avoid ads. Now it’s 2026, and since everything keeps getting worse, it’s going to cost you even more to not sit through ads on Prime Video.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Sometimes it takes a while for a good idea to catch on. We demand so, so much out of our smartphones, yet at the same time demand that they be lightweight and easily pocketable. One way manufacturers have tried resolving that dilemma has been through modular hardware: Instead of a one-size-fits-all smartphone, we could have one where we attach and remove components to change its capabilities. Motorola couldn’t make it work. LG couldn’t make it work. But now the idea’s finally flirting with acceptance as phones embrace cameras with modular lenses. Today we’re hearing about what could be an exciting new entry in this category that really pushes phone engineering to the limit.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Nothing launched the Phone 4a last week, and now the device is up for sale starting today. To mark the occasion, the London-based firm has rolled out a series of updates to enhance the experience.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Samsung’s next generation of smartwatches is expected to arrive this summer, and the latest leak suggests the company may be preparing a significant connectivity upgrade. According to a new report, the upcoming Galaxy Watch Ultra successor could become Samsung’s first smartwatch to support 5G.

Dutch outlet Galaxy Club reports that the device, widely expected to launch as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, will feature a built-in 5G modem. The site says the previously leaked model number, SM-L716, already hinted at the change, and the information it has received now confirms that the watch is being developed with 5G connectivity.

Charging an Android phone, smartwatch, and earbuds usually means dealing with a small pile of cables. Google appears to be nudging Pixel users toward a cleaner setup with a new accessory now showing up on the Google Store.

Google is now selling a 3-in-1 charging dock made for Pixel devices. It lets you charge your Pixel phone, Pixel Buds, and Pixel Watch 4 all at once using just one stand.

Given that Google Messages is the default messaging app on many Android flagships these days, some improvements couldn’t arrive sooner. Users have long complained about a simple oversight in Google Messages: the ability to copy a part of the message, and Google has taken its own sweet time to address this limitation. We finally spotted the company working on a fix last month, and now the ability to copy a part of the message is beginning to roll out to some users in the beta branch.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Visible is known for offering some of the lowest prices around for truly unlimited data, with prices ranging from $25 to $40 a month. It even offers options with premium data that are effectively on the same level as many postpaid plans.

One thing that you don’t usually get with prepaid, though, is a free phone. Of course, Visible is known for offering some pretty solid deals from time to time, and right now, that includes an iPhone 17e for free for those on the Visible Plus Pro plan.

When Samsung holds its next Galaxy Unpacked event in the middle of the year, all eyes are going to be on the “Wide” Galaxy Z Fold, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 will also warrant some of our attention. However, if a new leak is to be believed, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will have a hard time, as some of its specifications don’t look like big upgrades so far.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Update, March 12, 2026 (07:40 AM ET): Google has acknowledged the issue of devices being randomly removed and re-added.

Samsung’s newest flagship phone just faced one of the internet’s toughest durability tests, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra came through with barely a scratch.

Popular YouTuber Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything recently put Samsung’s new premium phone through his usual lineup of scratch, burn, and bend tests. The results show a phone that’s still unmistakably a Galaxy Ultra, but with a few subtle improvements that address durability concerns from previous models.

Cases for folding phones have always been one of the worst parts of owning one. They’re pricier, bulkier, and can feel awkward. When I got a Galaxy Z Fold 7 a few months ago, the hunt began to find a case that would keep it safe when I was out and about and would easily come off when I was at home. Despite my low expectations, I found a case that’s nearly perfect: the Grip case from dbrand.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone Fold later this year, and I’m expecting it to be the most popular foldable phone of 2026. However, a new supply chain report has now highlighted Apple’s lofty goals, and it’s not looking good for Android rivals.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

YouTube now serves unskippable 30-second ads on its TV app, in what feels like another escalation in its war against free users. The TV app is also the place where users have the least control over their ad experience, making the change feel particularly egregious.

After taking a long break from YouTube due to its annoying ads, I dived back into the videos of some of my favorite creators over the past few weeks. But this change is threatening to chase me right back off the app entirely.

I no longer go to Google search when I want to learn something. Instead, I hop straight into Gemini. Search used to lead me down rabbit holes and an endless stream of new Chrome tabs. Gemini helps me stay on track so I actually get to learning. Within Gemini, I’ve been using Gems to set up coaches, loaded with context that I give them during set-up, and I’m finding this to be one of my favorite ways to use Gemini. Let’s take a look at a few of the Gems I use the most.

Forging my own learning path

Google has quietly rolled out a new security measure tied to Advanced Protection Mode in Android 17 Beta 2. If you have Advanced Protection enabled on your device running the latest Android 17 beta, you’ll now face a restriction that prevents certain apps from using the AccessibilityService API, thereby restricting their functionality. We first discovered the change last month, but can now confirm it’s rolling out widely.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Satellite connectivity is one of the more recent additions to smartphones, and Samsung is no exception. Which apps support satellite connectivity, though? Well, Samsung is apparently making things easier with this new menu.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Google rolled out the stable Android 16 QPR3 update — commonly referred to as the March 2026 Pixel update — to Pixel phones earlier this month. If you’re using a Pixel device, there’s a good chance you’ve already installed the update. You’ve also probably noticed (like these folks on Reddit) a small but frustrating change in the Recent apps screen. We actually spotted and reported the change back in January, when it first appeared in testing, but we can now confirm that Google has rolled it out widely in the latest stable release.

YouTube is known for its endless scrolling and algorithm-driven suggestions. Now, a new web app is changing things up by bringing back something many haven’t seen in years: channel surfing.

Developer Steven Irby created Channel Surfer to turn your busy YouTube subscription feed into a cable TV-style guide. Instead of searching, scrolling, or relying on algorithms, the app makes YouTube feel more like late ’90s cable TV. That old-school approach could actually make finding new videos enjoyable again.

We just recently covered a deal on the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2. We usually don’t know when such offers will end, but this time we actually do. It ends tonight!

Buy the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 for just $428.99 ($370.01 off)

Android phones have had smart assistants for years. But now Google is pushing things a step further: instead of just answering questions, Gemini is starting to do things on your phone, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is first in line.

The new feature, Gemini task automation, is easy to use. You just tell your phone what you want, and Gemini takes care of the steps. For example, you can ask Gemini to order a coffee and a croissant or book a ride somewhere. Instead of you opening the apps, the AI goes into the right apps and finishes the process (h/t 9to5Google). It can even skip extra steps and pick the right options when you order.

If you’ve ever been in the middle of a high-end mobile game and noticed your phone heating up while the frame rate suddenly drops, you’ve run into the mystery of mobile GPU performance. Android developers have often found it hard to figure out exactly why a game stutters or drains the battery. Samsung aims to change this with Sokatoa, a new performance analysis tool built to help developers get the most out of Android GPUs.

Unlike consoles, where the hardware is fixed, Android phones use a wide range of chipsets and driver versions. Historically, developers relied on generic profilers that gave a broad overview of performance and didn’t provide the detailed data needed to fine-tune graphics. When a game lagged, it was hard to tell if the problem was a texture issue, a shader error, or thermal throttling.​

According to a 2023 AAA survey, Americans spend about an hour driving a day, on average. Many of you drive more! Why not take advantage of that time to keep your devices charged? Here’s a nice deal on the Anker Retractable USB-C Car Charger (75W).

Buy the Anker Retractable USB-C Car Charger for just $24.99 ($15 off)

T-Mobile previously offered a deal that gave customers extra benefits when they signed up for a Google One subscription through the Un-carrier. Subscribing to the highest tier plan would get you unlimited Google One storage for photos and videos, in addition to benefits like extended trials for YouTube Premium, Stadia (which is no longer around), and other Google services. Although that promotion was discontinued late last year, the company grandfathered in those who already had an active subscription. But even the lucky ones who got to keep those benefits will lose them in the coming weeks.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

It’s difficult to understate just how big Chrome is. Back when Google first introduced it (almost 20 years ago now), the browser wars were in full swing, and Chrome had its work cut out for it. But now in 2026, it is solidly the dominant browser across every platform — and honestly, for good reason. Even with lots of solid alternative browsers worth trying out, we find ourselves coming back to Chrome time and time again — and now we’re getting it faster than ever, with new releases every two weeks. Today Google shares the latest chapter in Chrome’s expansion, as the company gets releases ready for a new class of computers.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

I recommend a bunch of deals on great products around here, but I very rarely actually own any of them. This one is an exception. I own, use, and love my Yaber T2 Outdoor Projector. Today’s 30% discount only makes it more enticing!

Buy the Yaber T2 Outdoor Projector for just $209.99 ($90 off)

We saw Google working on a new tools interface for Gemini on Android in October. The interface, accessible by a new button that shows up on the left side of the Gemini overlay text box, brings up shortcuts to options like image and video generation and Gemini’s deep research function. Today, those changes have been spotted rolling out broadly.

We’re seeing the new button on our own devices here at Android Authority; I’ve got it on my own Pixel 9 Pro. The new tools button appears just to the right of the attachments button.

Do you ever wish that the technology in your life would stop putting on airs of propriety and just get REAL with you? Have you hunted through your phone’s keyboard settings in search of the options to turn off any censoring and let you use all the best swear words you know? Amazon’s got an Alexa Plus update to share that could make you very happy — or might just leave you feeling all the more frustrated.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

Remember the Game Boy Camera? One of Nintendo’s many weird but charming accessories that transformed its handheld into a device you could take pictures with. If you ever wished you could transfer those pictures to another device without having to use various middleware, then today’s your lucky day.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?

For all the times we’ve used AI by now, we all probably have a few stories that really stand out in our head — both the great successes and the most embarrassing failures, no doubt. When AI does end up working the best for us, it’s often in very targeted situations — and that’s especially true when it’s operating on files we share with it. One of the best ways to interact with AI on our phones is now working on an upgrade that could make those kind of interactions even easier.

Google’s AI Mode in Search has emerged as a really handy way to combine the power of Gemini with Google’s vast reference capabilities. It’s easy to access through Google’s Android app (and its associated widgets), and lets you upload images from your gallery or submit new photos straight from your phone’s camera. But so far, it’s lacked an option to share any other kinds of files.

Last year, Google not only introduced better, more competitive wireless plans, but it also allowed users to temporarily lock in 18 months of service for 50% off. This deal has long since ended, but the good news is that users who missed out are now getting a second chance.

Just like before, you must be a new Google Fi customer, which means you haven’t used the service in at least 180 days. For group plans, group members must also accept the invite and sign up before the promotion expires to qualify for the bill credits.

The iconic Google Pixel phones are often praised for their clean software and distinctive design, but the hardware side of the equation has been a little more debated of late. After one of our recent articles questioned whether Google is doing enough to improve Pixel hardware, we asked you to share how satisfied you are with the current state of Pixel devices.

In the article, my colleague Brady Snyder argued that while Pixel phones look great and have an instantly recognizable design, Google may be falling behind in areas like weight, thickness, and hardware innovation. He pointed out that recent Pixels are noticeably heavier and thicker than competing phones, and suggested that Google should focus on refining both the hardware and software in the upcoming Pixel 11 series.

One UI 8.5 is adding a flexible new option for creating routines. In addition to triggers and actions, on Samsung’s latest Android update, you’re now able to set an expiration that’ll see the routine stop firing when you want it to.

We’ve spotted a new Keep routine until field in the routine interface within One UI 8.5. The default is Forever, but there are also options to have the routine active until a certain date, or even to only use the routine a single time.