What you need to know

• Garmin announced the CIRQA, its take on the screenless fitness band, which delivers a wealth of health and fitness insights without a subscription.
• The CIRQA can track more than 80 activities, while also focusing on women's health, sleep score, HRV, skin temperature, and much more.
• Garmin's store listing says the CIRQA is available for $199; however, consumers can purchase it from its storefront on July 24.

Garmin is getting in on the screenless fitness band trend this week. The company highlights its strong wellness capabilities, and they're all possible without a subscription.

Early this morning (July 21), Garmin announced in a press release that its first screenless fitness band, the CIRQA, is available now for $199. As we've already said, the CIRQA is screenless, and Garmin says it's the device's "inconspicuous design" that helps "minimize distractions while tracking important health and performance metrics." The band will automatically detect and record a multitude of activities.

While the expected metrics will be recorded (steps, calories burned, etc.), Garmin says the CIRQA can track more than 80 activities, such as running, walking, and yoga. What's more, users can "select a favorite activity to track by simply tapping the single side button." Garmin is giving the CIRQA band additional strength to handle "advanced training." The band will help inform users if they should push themselves or take a rest day.

It will provide HRV status, VO2 Max, and more for insights about your training effectiveness. Understanding your recovery time is another aspect of the band's fitness assistance. For users going on runs or long walks, the CIRQA supports GPS when connected to a compatible Android or iPhone.

All about your health

Health monitoring—all-day, especially—is where Garmin takes us next. Important metrics, such as "wrist-based heart rate, Body Battery energy monitoring, Pulse Ox², stress, and skin temperature," are available with the CIRQA. For women's health, Garmin says users will find menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking. Each provides enhanced insight into period predictions and past ovulation estimates by using skin temperature readings while sleeping.

For all users, sleep data the fitness band has captured provides a detailed look into their sleep stages, sleep score, heart rate variability, respiration, and nap detection. Every captured statistic is available to users to view in the Garmin Connect app.

We mentioned this before, but the health and fitness features the CIRQA can provide are available to consumers without a subscription. Garmin's vice president of consumer sales and marketing, Susan Lyman, said, "Plus, with no subscription required, CIRQA Smart Band helps you stay on top of your health and fitness goals—and makes a thoughtful gift for others who want to do the same."

The CIRQA fitness band has been designed with all-day comfort in mind. Garmin highlights its fabric material and "fun, neutral colors." The band is available in Citron Gray, Mauve, French Gray, Dark Olive, Captain Blue, French Blue, and black. Consumers can wear the CIRQA on their wrist or as an armband.

Once again, Garmin states the CIRQA fitness band is available for $199. Its store listing says consumers can begin purchasing it on July 24.

What you need to know

• Meta has collaborated with Xbox once again, stating it's bringing the "starter edition" Xbox Game Pass into its Horizon Plus subscription for VR gaming.
• The Xbox Game Pass opens up an additional 50 plus library of games, ranging from AAA to indie titles on its Quest headsets.
• The starter edition Xbox Game Pass for Meta Horizon Plus is rolling out today (July 21).

Meta Horizon Plus is a gateway into VR games on the company's Quest headsets. We're always looking to expand our libraries, and Meta's teaming up with Xbox to do so.

This morning (July 21), it was announced that Meta Horizon Plus and Xbox Game Pass are teaming up. Specifically, Meta says the "starter edition" of the Xbox Game Pass will award VR users with "a library of 50+ games." The two companies have included a mix of titles, ranging from popular AAA games to indie titles. The press release says users will find Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 from Bethesda Softworks, Overcooked 2 (chaotic, co-op cooking game) from Ghost Town Games, Deep Rock Galactic, and more.

What's more, Meta says the starter edition of the Xbox Game Pass will deliver 10 hours of cloud gaming "each month." This lets users stream their games, not download. Users can play with others using cloud and PC multiplayer. Don't worry; Meta says there will be an option to "download titles from the library for unlimited play."

Synced progression is another major aspect.

If you've been gaming on your Meta VR headset and have swapped to your Xbox, your game progress (saved data) will remain. This will remain constant if you're gaming on an Xbox, PC, Meta Quest headset, or another supported device. Users have chances to earn additional rewards by playing, too. Xbox Game Pass for the Meta Horizon Plus subscription is rolling out today (July 21).

Meta adds, "Your Meta Horizon+ subscription also comes with exclusive deals to help you fill out your Meta Quest library. It’s all yours for just $59.99 USD per year, or $7.99 USD per month. You can even try Meta Horizon+ for a month on us."

Meta & Xbox: once again

There's more to experience soon. Meta says it's working on a way to let users emulate an Xbox gamepad with its Quest Touch controllers. Users can expect this support to roll out over the next few weeks. However, for the time being, users can play their Xbox games on their Quest headset without a controller, or users can pair their controller with their headset for a "traditional experience."

Meta and Xbox together for the sake of games isn't anything new. If you happened to miss it, the two companies collaborated on a Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition in June 2025. This headset was truly a limited edition device. Meta's storefront sold out of them quickly, and many consumers were faced with Best Buy or scalpers (yikes). The Xbox Edition Quest 3S wasn't much different from the standard model. The packaging is where they're different.

There's the classic green and black color scheme from Xbox, as well as a "special edition preinstalled Elite Strap." Consumers received an Xbox controller included with the purchase, which was already paired with the system. Turning it on and playing is always the way to go, and that's what this offered.

Android Central's Take

The emulation for the Meta Touch controllers is pretty cool. Although, I do enjoy classic controller-style gameplay. I typically play on a PC nowadays, but I've been playing on my console more, too. Playing with a controller, lounging. There's nothing better. Meta bringing the Xbox Game Pass into their Horizon Plus subscription service is also a major win for people who love VR and gaming on a VR device. Xbox Game Pass has a pretty good selection of games. If I had one, I'd definitely do it.

Back to school season is upon us, and if you're in the market for a new laptop, you'll be pleased to learn that Best Buy is currently launching some of the year's best Chromebook deals as part of its Black Friday in July sale. This sitewide sale event kicked off on July 20th and is set to run through Sunday, July 26th, which means you have less than a week to explore some of the season's best tech discounts before they disappear.

Never owned a Chromebook before? These simple laptops are ideal for students because they're affordable, sturdy, and packed with decent enough specs that they can handle the majority of basic tasks with ease. They're not all built equally, however. Some Chromebooks may be designed for durability so you can easily throw them into a backpack and carry them with you wherever you go, while others are constructed more like tablets, with convertible designs, touchscreen displays, and included styli.

Needless to say, we've tested dozens of Chromebooks over the years, so I can verify that all of the discounted laptops listed below are worthy of your wallet. Whether you want a device for studying, streaming, or simply surfing the web, keep reading for all of my favorite Chromebook deals from Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale.

• See the full list of deals at Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale

Simplify your Back-to-School shopping with these Chromebook deals

Sometimes the best way to swing a tablet deal is to go with a last-gen option, especially if you're looking at devices in the premium price range. As one example, Best Buy has knocked $350 off the price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, bringing it down to just $850.

While the newer Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the best premium Android tablet there is today, the S10 Ultra sports relatively similar specs, with a large, good-looking OLED display and a huge battery. It's not exactly the sleekest device, weighing in at 692 pounds, but it's super powerful, it includes the first-party Samsung S Pen, and a microSD card slot for added storage.

This deal is available for the base-level, 256GB configuration of the S10 Ultra, though you can also forego the deal and upgrade to either 512GB or 1TB. Additionally, the deal is available for the S10 Ultra's Moonstone Gray option, although the Platinum Silver version is currently sold out.

• See the full list of deals at Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale

✅Recommended if: you prefer a large tablet with a stylus included for digital drawing, note-taking, and more; you have a budget of around $850 for a premium-level tablet; you want a tablet with a lot of processing power and a large, good-looking display.

❌Skip this deal if: you'd rather upgrade to the S11 Ultra and you have the budget to do so; you like having a small tablet that's easy to hold and use while couch surfing; you'd prefer to go even cheaper than $850 and you don't need all the bells and whistles of a premium device.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus processor, 12GB of RAM, and a beautiful, 14.6-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's definitely a hefty device, but most don't seem to mind the weight of the massive 11,200mAh battery, especially when considering the benefits it offers to battery life and 45W fast-charging.

As for cameras, the device includes 12MP wide and ultrawide front lenses, and 13MP wide and 8MP ultrawide rear-facing lenses. The first-party Samsung S Pen is also well-liked by users, making note-taking and digital drawing easy.

What you need to know

• Halliday G2 uses the company's new Meeting Flow feature to provide real-time prompts and context as conversations happen.
• Meeting Flow helps you stay engaged without reaching for your phone, offering live captions, translations, instant recaps, contextual research, and confidence-rated answers through the glasses.
• The AI spots topic drift, flags unclear decisions, identifies incomplete action items, and generates structured summaries with transcripts after meetings.

Most AI meeting assistants have become pretty good at telling you what already happened. Halliday thinks that is solving the wrong problem and has unveiled the Halliday G2, a new breed of AI smart glasses based on a feature called Meeting Flow, which gives you live prompts and contextual information during a conversation rather than producing notes after everyone’s left the room.

The new glasses are available for pre-order starting today with a $10 deposit, shaving $100 off the expected retail price of $599 before shipments are scheduled for September 2026.

Halliday’s pitch is that the glasses’ Meeting Flow listens to the conversation in real time and presents bite-sized insights directly through the glasses’ waveguide display rather than having users type prompts into an AI chatbot. That includes live captions and translation, instant recaps if you lose track of the discussion, and contextual research that can answer questions without having to explain the whole situation to an AI first. The answers also include confidence ratings, and the full source material is still available in the companion app.

Meeting Flow can spot off-topic conversations, alert you to ambiguous decisions before they become the default, identify commitments missing an owner or due date, and maintain a running checklist of open items so they don’t disappear once everyone says goodbye. When the meeting is over, the companion app will generate a structured summary of the meeting, including confirmed decisions, assigned tasks, open items, and transcripts.

The hardware is just as workplace-oriented. The previous generation’s display has been replaced by binocular waveguide optics powered by dual micro-LED projectors capable of up to 1,600 nits of brightness and 600 x 300 resolution per eye in the Halliday G2. The four-microphone array can pick up voice from a distance of up to two meters, while Halliday is aiming for more than 12 hours of typical battery life and a weight of less than 50 grams.

Importantly, there is no camera, which could make the glasses more acceptable in meetings, secure workplaces, and other privacy-sensitive environments, while also helping reduce weight and extend battery life.

Outside the office, the glasses also let you get notifications, take phone calls, control music, see dashboard cards, translate in real time in over 45 languages, deploy a built-in AI assistant, and access a teleprompter-style Cheatsheet mode for notes and reminders.

Halliday says future updates to Meeting Flow through 2026 will add deeper contextual awareness, enabling AI to better understand ongoing projects, people, and previous conversations.

What you need to know

• A tipster reportedly discovered a new accessibility feature that Google is working on for Gboard called "Sign-to-text."
• This feature would leverage the user's camera and Google's AI to "translate" sign language into written text for messages or online searches and more.
• Android has several common accessibility features, and Android 16 helped to refine the hearing aid experience for Bluetooth LE-based models and more.

There are a few important accessibility features present on Android that help make devices useful. However, a recent rumor claims that Google is working on another, and it could be its most significant.

"Sign-to-text" is a feature that Android Authority claims Google is working on for its keyboard app, Gboard. Within the code of a recent Gboard app version, the publication claims it found a welcome pop-up for "Sign-to-text," an accessibility feature for users who communicate via sign language. The early description says it will "translate your signing into text messages, web searches, emails, and more."

As one might imagine, this Gboard feature would leverage your phone's camera to capture you signing. If you also expect this feature to rely on Google's AI, you'd be right. Together with tipster AssembleDebug, the publication found that Sign-to-text will "translate" sign language into written text. While the video is said to "never leave your device," Sign-to-text will send "points representing the movement of your body" to Google for translation before deletion.

There's still quite a bit unknown about this. The tipster couldn't find much else aside from the splash screen and brief description. There's also speculation about how good Google's support for sign language will be. Android Authority highlights that there are other sign languages out there aside from American Sign Language.

Accessible for all

As we mentioned before, Android has its fair share of accessibility options for users. Android 16 made two important changes for users who rely on hearing aids. If a user has a pair of Bluetooth LE earbuds, they can switch to their phone's mic to hear a call better. Additionally, users can adjust the volume of their hearing aids from their phone. Work to improve the hearing aid experience continued for Android 16 in December 2025.

In Google's year-end update, hearing aids were given Fast Pair support. The single-tap experience for pairing these devices to a compatible Android device was undoubtedly a major win. Google rolled this out for Demant hearing aids first, but planned to expand its support to Starkey devices earlier this year. Other than hearing aids, Android has accessibility options for colors and text size, but sign language is something fresh for its available selection.

Android Central's Take

I like that this has been discovered. It's in Google's code, yeah, but hopefully that means something. I've seen things like this disappear, as it's probably something Google is trying to see if it can do. I truly hope this is one that makes it because it would be huge for people who sign.

Smartphones have become the place where people manage their money, store their memories, organise their travel plans, access work accounts and stay connected with friends and family.

With so much personal information concentrated in one place, Android security has naturally become more important than ever, but luckily, strengthening protection doesn't have to involve dramatic lifestyle changes, technical expertise, or constantly worrying about the latest online threat.

In fact, some of the most effective ways to improve security occur in the background, helping users stay protected while they continue to browse, message, shop, and work exactly as they always have.

TL;DR: Android security is most effective when it works without disrupting everyday usage. Features such as web protection across apps, scam filtering, secure browsing on public Wi-Fi and background threat monitoring help reduce risk while requiring minimal user intervention. Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android focuses on protecting Android devices from modern threats, while Bitdefender Total Security extends protection across multiple devices and platforms.

Keep Android software up to date

Keeping Android and installed apps updated remains one of the easiest ways to improve security.

Software updates often include fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities, performance improvements, and security enhancements, which means delaying updates can leave devices exposed to risks already addressed by developers. Most Android devices can install updates automatically, making this a simple set-and-forget step that requires very little effort on your part.

Updates help close security gaps before they can be exploited and ensure compatibility with the latest security protections built into Android itself. For users who rely on their phones for work, banking or online shopping, staying current with updates is one of the simplest security habits available.

Scam links increasingly appear inside everyday apps

Many people still associate online threats with suspicious emails, but modern scams often arrive through messaging platforms and social apps.

A fake parcel delivery notification, a fraudulent account warning, or a convincing promotional offer can appear in a text message, WhatsApp chat, or a social media direct message. These scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency, encouraging you to act before you have time to think.

Treat unexpected links with caution, even when they appear to come from familiar companies. Protection tools that scan links across apps can add an extra layer of security, which is particularly useful because many people now spend more time in messaging and social apps than in traditional web browsers.

Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android includes web protection that works across apps, helping identify potentially harmful links wherever they appear, making it especially useful for people who regularly communicate through messaging platforms throughout the day.

Public Wi-Fi still deserves caution

Free Wi-Fi is convenient, especially while travelling or working remotely, where airports, hotels, cafés and train stations all offer quick internet access when mobile data isn't available.

However, public networks can present some of the gravest privacy and security concerns these days. You rarely know who manages a network, how it’s configured or who else may be connected to it, an uncertainty that creates opportunities for cybercriminals to intercept data or create fake networks designed to capture personal information.

Public Wi-Fi can be used safely, but additional protection is recommended when accessing sensitive information.

Secure browsing tools can help protect personal data when using unfamiliar networks, which is particularly valuable for frequent travellers, remote workers and anyone who regularly connects to Wi-Fi outside the home.

The reality is that most people will continue to use public Wi-Fi, but you can reduce your exposure while maintaining convenience by being mindful of your security options.

Review app permissions regularly

Many Android apps request access to location data, photos, contacts, microphones or camera, and while some requests are entirely legitimate, others might be questionable.

A navigation app needing location access to function correctly is an understandable request. However, a simple utility app requesting broad access to personal information may warrant further investigation.

Location, microphone, camera, and contact permissions typically require close attention because they involve highly personal information.

Android provides increasingly detailed permission controls, allowing you to decide what apps can access and when. A quick review of app permissions every few months can help identify software that may have accumulated access it no longer needs.

Security works best when it stays in the background

One reason people ignore security recommendations is that they assume protection requires constant management, whereas in reality, modern mobile security solutions are designed to work quietly behind the scenes.

Threat monitoring, malicious app detection and scam filtering can all operate in the background while you focus on your daily activities, whether it’s answering messages while commuting, checking emails between meetings or browsing online while watching television.

Security tools that demand constant attention often become frustrating – protection that works automatically is far more likely to remain active over the long term.

Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android is designed around this principle, helping protect devices while requiring minimal day-to-day management, making it particularly useful for people who want stronger security without added complexity.

Consider protection beyond your phone

For many households, smartphones are only one part of a much larger digital ecosystem that includes laptops, desktop PCs, and tablets, often containing the same accounts, files and personal information found on mobile devices.

A security strategy that focuses exclusively on a single device can leave other parts of the household exposed, which is why multi-device protection is particularly useful for families, remote workers, and people who regularly switch between devices throughout the day.

You might start the morning by checking emails on a laptop, browsing social media on a phone during lunch and streaming content from a tablet in the evening. Each of your devices represents a potential entry point for security threats.

This is where the Bitdefender Total Security comes into play. It’s designed to provide broader protection across multiple devices, helping you manage security more consistently across all your hardware without adding complexity.

Small security improvements add up

Making an Android device safer requires no dramatic changes and doesn’t mean you have to stop using public Wi-Fi, avoid messaging apps, or become a cybersecurity specialist.

Simple habits such as keeping software updated, reviewing app permissions, staying cautious around unexpected links and using security tools that operate quietly in the background can significantly reduce risk over time.

Modern Android security is increasingly about supporting everyday behaviour, and the best protection often works silently, helping you navigate daily digital life with greater confidence and fewer interruptions.

• Explore how Bitdefender security solutions can help protect your devices, identity and privacy — all in one place.

What you need to know

• Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 is officially here, kicking off testing for Google's next Pixel Feature Drop arriving in December 2026.
• This beta includes fixes for Bluetooth reconnection failures, lock screen media glitches, Gemini-related reboot crashes, and touch input bugs.
• The update supports Pixel 6a through the Pixel 10 lineup, plus the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, and is available via the Android Beta Program and Android Emulator.

Google’s not wasting any time after wrapping up Android 17 QPR1. The company has officially kicked off testing of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1, offering Pixel users and developers a first look at the next quarterly update expected to arrive as the December 2026 Feature Drop.

This release doesn’t come with any new user-facing features, but it does fix some annoying bugs that have plagued Pixel owners. In its official release notes, Google says it has fixed an issue where Bluetooth devices could fail to reconnect after losing pairing, with no indication there was a problem. There’s also a fix that stops media controls from flashing briefly on the lock screen when waking a phone, even if notifications for that app had been turned off.

The most important fix is maybe for Gemini. Pixel devices may suddenly reboot when launching Google’s AI assistant due to a system crash. Google also addressed an issue with touch input where apps would stop receiving touch events after users performed a drag-and-drop gesture with multiple fingers.

The Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 is now available with build number CP41.260701.005 and supports most of the supported Pixels, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 series, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 8 series, Pixel 9 family, and the latest Pixel 10 devices. It’s also available through the Android Emulator, and users enrolled in the program can install it over the air via the Android Beta Program.

But the rollout brings a major change, too. If you still have a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, your beta journey ends right here. These devices have reached their guaranteed update limits, so the previous QPR1 branch is their final beta track.

Android Central's Take

I don’t mind if Google takes a break from dumping flashy new features on us if it means they’ll actually iron out the bugs that get in the way of using my phone. Not getting access to yet another AI gimmick is 100x more annoying than Gemini demanding a reboot or Bluetooth suddenly refusing to reconnect. That said, I’d still like to see Google spend less time playing catch-up with stability issues in the first place. Pixel owners signed up for a premium Android experience, not a free QA gig. If QPR2 delivers a smoother, more reliable phone by December, that’s a win. But it would be even better if these fixes didn’t have to wait for a quarterly update.

What you need to know

• Rumors about Qualcomm's next budget chip, the Snapdragon 4 gen 6, claim another graphical upgrade is in the works.
• A report claims the chip could feature an Adreno 6-series GPU, as well as Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
• The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5, which launched in May, was the first 4-series chip that could muster 90fps in games with an Adreno 4-series GPU.

Qualcomm is supposedly working on another generation of chips for budget phones, and its specs might've appeared online.

Budget phones are typically dropped down a notch when it comes to overall performance. However, alleged details about Qualcomm's next Snapdragon 4 Gen 6 from NotebookCheck suggest the company is trying to close the gap. The post claims the SD 4 Gen 6 could include a much-needed Adreno GPU upgrade. The chip might jump to the Adreno 6 series.

It's suspected that this would deliver yet another significant increase in graphical output for budget phones. As it stands, the publication didn't have concrete numbers. Other supposed upgrades involve its security, which is "getting a refresh." As far as connectivity is concerned, rumors state the SD 4 Gen 6 could feature Bluetooth 6.0 and an upgraded Wi-Fi 6 over Wi-Fi 5 in the Gen 5 SoC.

For what might remain the same, the publication adds that the Snapdragon 4 Gen 6 might keep the same CPU architecture as its predecessor. If that's the case, then we might be in for another 2+6 Kyro core arrangement (Kryo Gold, Kryo Silver). Another similarity could be its process, which NotebookCheck says might remain at 4nm.

Qualcomm released a pair of chips in May, both of which focused on the affordable phone market. Graphics were a focus for Qualcomm with the SD 4 Gen 5. The company states this chip features a "77% increase in Adreno GPU performance for 90fps in games." This was a big moment for Qualcomm. Previously, no 4-series chip achieved such a high FPS (frames per second). Mind you, this is with the Adreno 4-series GPU. With rumors suggesting an upgrade in this department, hopefully Qualcomm can push its graphics even more.

Budget phones often struggle with mobile games with more intense graphics, but knocking them down to medium or low can help. However, if Qualcomm is truly looking to boost its GPU again, maybe users can feel more comfortable with medium graphics across the board without noticeable FPS drops.

The rumors about the Snapdragon 4 Gen 6 didn't have a release date in mind. Considering we got Qualcomm's last wave in May, there's a chance the company could stick to that next year.

What you need to know

• AT&T is reportedly raising home internet prices again, with legacy Fiber and Internet Air customers facing a $5 monthly increase starting August 16.
• Promotional discounts will stay, but affected customers will still pay more because the base monthly rate is increasing.
• AT&T says the extra revenue funds network and service improvements, though customers have heard that explanation before.

AT&T just can’t seem to stop raising prices, and now its home internet customers may be next. The carrier already raised prices on a handful of wireless plans earlier this year and is reportedly planning a second monthly price hike for some internet customers beginning August 16.

PhoneArena has learned from internal documents that the bill of customers on legacy AT&T Fiber and Internet Air plans will be increased by $5 per month starting in mid-August.

Notices are expected to be included on future billing statements before the changes are implemented. Existing promotional discounts should remain in place, but the higher base price means many subscribers will still end up paying more overall.

It’s a move that’s becoming more and more familiar for AT&T customers. Over the last few months, the carrier has bumped up prices on several legacy wireless plans, tacked on more to the rates of retired Unlimited Your Way offerings, and even raised its Administrative and Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee by $1 per line.

AT&T’s explanation, too, sounds familiar. Higher prices help support continued investments in the company’s network, service quality, and customer experience, internal documents say. It's the same explanation it's used for past increases in wireless prices. The question is whether customers will see enough added value to warrant another bill increase.

AT&T has been touting newer offerings, such as its customizable Build-A-Plan service that now bundles wireless and home internet under a single subscription. The carrier isn’t forcing a move, but increasing the price of older plans could naturally push some subscribers to look at newer options.

If you have AT&T internet, look for a price notice on your next bill. The hike won’t be equal for everyone, but if you have an older Fiber or Internet Air plan, your monthly bill could soon jump by another $5. At this point, you may want to compare your current plan to newer offerings, or even competing providers, to see if sticking around still makes financial sense.

What you need to know

• A South Korean publication highlights a series of reports from Galaxy S26 Ultra users, who claim a "red screen" or "red stain" has affected their displays.
• The post cites a Samsung official who places the blame on the phone's Privacy Display, stating that a software update is in the works to solve this problem.
• After the S26 Ultra debuted, tests discovered that the phone's display is darker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the Privacy Display is the cause.

Consumers with a Galaxy S26 Ultra are starting to report a strange display issue with the phone. Samsung supposedly chimed in, and what it said could be a relief to many.

Before the weekend, News1 (Korean) highlighted an issue that Galaxy S26 Ultra users have continued to report (via GSMArena). According to the publication, many consumers have experienced a "red screen" or "red stain" issue with the Ultra's display, leading many to worry. This red screen issue is most noticeable when the phone produces brighter colors, such as white. Many users have experienced a wide area of redness on their display, whether vertically (in a wide strip) or in specific places.

Samsung reportedly investigated these reports and determined that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's "new technology" is the cause. The Korean publication cites a Samsung official who places the blame on how the S26 Ultra's Privacy Display works. The official said that this "red stain" would occur when the phone is "exposed to strong lighting at maximum brightness."

While the problem itself isn't great to have, the fact that Samsung feels the cause is its Privacy Display is. Samsung's Privacy Display is purely software-based. It's for this reason that the post highlights Samsung's message to users, stating a software update is on the way to resolve this problem. The publication mentions that many of these reports were from users who've had their S26 Ultra for "three to four months."

Privacy Display took something, too

If Samsung is pointing fingers at its Privacy Display tech, then we can't help but drum up a known fact: the S26 Ultra's screen has suffered because of it. We're not using this term—"suffered"—in a dramatic way. What we mean is, the S26 Ultra's screen is not as bright as the S25 Ultra's. Our friends at Tom's Guide did a deep dive and found that the newer model's screen is much darker. At wider angles, the S26 Ultra's drop in peak brightness is quite noticeable.

Even Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich discovered the same facts about the S26 Ultra. The phone also offers questionable comfort for people sensitive to PWM dimming. The S26 Ultra still uses a 480Hz rate, while Sutrich says its competitors have moved on to 5,000Hz or higher. Moreover, Samsung hasn't switched to 10-bit displays. The S26 Ultra still clings to 8-bit.

Android Central's Take

The issue the S26 Ultra has is likely more of a concern than people realize. I'm sure some people have taken out their phones to see if their devices are suffering, too. The timeline is just so strange and pinpoint, especially if you got the device right when it launched. My hope is that Samsung's software update not only solves this current issue, but helps ensure it doesn't happen in the future. There's nothing like getting a fix for something, only to have it break again a few months later.

The Google Pixel 11 series is set to be announced on August 12th, but with back to school season upon us, you may not want to wait any longer to buy that smartphone you've been eyeing.

Last year's Google Pixel 10 Pro continues to reign as one of the best Android phones on the market today, and now you can get one for FREE by adding a new line with an eligible data plan at Verizon.

The carrier's Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Ultimate plans will all earn you the full $999.99 in savings over 36 months, making this one of the best Verizon deals I've seen all year. No trade-in required!

Although many new phone releases feel somewhat iterative these days, Google bucked that trend by making the Pixel 10 Pro a significant upgrade from its predecessor. Straight out of the box, the phone boasts a lovely and compact 6.3-inch pOLED display — the same size as the base model Pixel 10 — while under the hood you get a hefty 16GB of RAM, outstanding performance from the Tensor G5 processor, and seven years of guaranteed OS and security upgrades.

The Pixel 10 Pro also comes packed with the latest exclusive AI-boosted software features from Gemini, including Voice Translate for Calls (a godsend when traveling), Magic Cue, Edit with Ask Photos, and more. Moreover, you get all of the features we've come to expect from Pixel phones, like excellent haptics and versatile camera tech, plus you get to enjoy some new additions like Pixelsnap Qi2 support.

All things said and done, if you're a Verizon user (or willing to switch), this is an excellent Google Pixel 10 Pro deal that comes with surprisingly little fine print attached. Sure, buying an unlocked device may be more straightforward, but if you need a new wireless plan any way, why not give Verizon a shot and get an incredible Android phone out of the deal??

Summer sale season is here, which means many of our favorite retailers are dropping sweet deals on Android tech, with options that range from discounted phones and smartwatches to tablets and TVs. Not one to be outdone by the competition, Best Buy has just launched its annual 'Black Friday in July' sale, and I've done the work of gathering the TOP 10 best deals for Android Central readers so you don't have to go searching.

The deals on display at Best Buy today include things like $300 off the Google Pixel 10 Pro, one of our favorite Android phones around, plus this offer that drops a whopping 53% off this 77-inch OLED TV by LG. 

There are plenty more discounts where those came from, so keep reading for all of my top picks from the sale. And don't forget: Best Buy's 'Black Friday in July' sale ends on Sunday, July 26th, so don't wait too long if a particular price drop catches your eye. 

• See the full list of deals at Best Buy today

The TOP 10 deals from Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale

What you need to know

• Google Maps is finally bringing a live speedometer to Android Auto, closing a long-standing feature gap with Android phones and Apple CarPlay.
• The rollout is currently very limited, with reports pointing to a server-side release for select Google Maps beta users on version 26.29.02.946673643.
• The speedometer appears next to the speed limit indicator and changes color when you exceed the posted limit, making it easier to monitor your speed at a glance.

Google is finally checking off one of Android Auto users’ oldest wish list items. Google Maps has had a live speedometer feature on Android phones for a long time and even brought it to Apple CarPlay in 2024, but now it’s starting to show your speed on Android Auto as well.

It seems like the rollout is very limited for now. User reports from Reddit suggest that the feature is rolling out to a small number of beta users running Google Maps version 26.29.02.946673643, including at least one driver in Canada (via 9to5Google). As is often the case with recent Google Maps features, the update seems to be a server-side rollout, so simply updating the app doesn’t mean you’ll get it immediately.

The speedometer sits alongside the speed limit indicator when that information is available. Community reports say the speed read-out changes color as well if you’re driving over the posted limit, making it easier to spot at a glance without taking your eyes off the road for long.

As with everything, Google considers the feature a reference and not a substitute for the real speedometer in your vehicle.

The delay has been particularly puzzling, given that Android Auto has lagged behind both Google Maps on Android phones and Apple’s CarPlay, despite them sharing a lot of the same navigation experience.

With this update finally arriving, Android Auto is edging closer to feature parity as Google continues rolling out other navigation upgrades, including its new immersive Maps interface with 3D buildings, improved lane guidance, and easier-to-follow highway interchanges.

Android Central's Take

This is one of those updates that, for me, deserves a “finally” more than a “yay.” A live speedometer isn’t some new AI-powered thing; it’s a simple navigation feature that’s been on phones and even CarPlay for ages. I’m still pleased to see it coming to Android Auto, because it’ll give drivers one less reason to look down at the dashboard, especially when driving in unfamiliar areas with lots of speed limit changes. I just wish Google would be just as quick about practical quality-of-life features as they are with fancy add-ons.

Charging devices can get out of hand, particularly if you have a few phones, notebooks, tablets, and accessories. You can just use the charger that comes in the box with the phone (which in itself is vanishingly rare these days), but a much better choice is to get a dedicated charging station. Going this route will allow you to charge all of your devices at once, and you get much more power than with a single charger — I use UGREEN's Nexode 500W charging station, and its six ports allow me to charge all of my tech with ease.

Cuktech is a Chinese charging brand that's slowly gaining momentum; I use its 15 Ultra power bank and 140W charger daily, and its products are just as reliable as UGREEN and Anker. The brand is now making charging stations, and I've been testing the 300W 30 Ultra for the better part of a month now. The 30 Ultra retails for $159 on Amazon, and while that is costly, you are getting a charger that can easily charge up to five devices at once. To put this into context, the Nexode 500W that I use in my office costs $199.

If you're not quite sure about what you get with a charging station, these are four things I liked the most about the Cuktech 30 Ultra after a month of testing.

The Cuktech 30 Ultra has all the ports you need

Obviously, the biggest reason for buying a GaN charging station is to be able to charge several devices at once. The 30 Ultra has three USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a DC connector on the side that lets you connect to notebooks.

The charger also gets a wedge-style stand that angles it on a desk, and this makes the accessing the ports a little better.

When it comes to USB-C, you get 140W over the USB PD 3.1 protocol with the USB-C1 and C2 ports, and the best part is that both ports can deliver 140W at once. This means you can effortlessly charge two MacBooks simultaneously with the 30 Ultra, and that's a big advantage.

The USB-C3 port goes up to 33W, and the USB-A port hits 18W. Cuktech bundles a 240W USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, and you can use it to charge just about any gadget.

It has (almost) all mainstream charging protocols

Most charging stations just get USB PD and leave it at that, so it's great to see Cuktech add a lot of additional charging protocols. That includes Xiaomi's 120W charging standard, and I tested it with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17T Pro to confirm. You also get 100W USB PD with PPS, Qualcomm's QC3.0 and QC2.0, and Huawei's fast charging standard.

The only standard missing is OPPO's VOOC, and I wasn't able to charge my Find X9 Ultra to its potential. That said, the phone goes up to 50W over USB PD, and this proved to be handy with the charger.

You get a dedicated DC port

It's the versatility with the DC connector that gives the 30 Ultra an edge over other charging stations. This port goes up to 300W, so you can easily charge power-hungry gaming notebooks without too much of a hassle. You get a smattering of connectors that you can use with the DC port, but note that these will only work when you connect to a notebook.

There's a built-in LCD panel

While most chargers come with a built-in panel these days — I like the ChargeView 140W because of this — Cuktech took it to the next level with the 30 Ultra charging station. It gets a bigger 1.83-inch panel, and it shows real-time charging details, a power curve, and even how much current is going out of a cable.

It's a valuable addition if you've connected several gadgets to the charging station and want to see just how fast individual devices are charging.

Overall, I really liked using the 30 Ultra; Cuktech nailed the design and the port selection, and having two USB-C ports with 140W power is a welcome move. The addition of a DC port is great as well, and the 1.83-inch panel is a nifty inclusion that lets you see in real-time how fast connected devices are charging. If you need a way to declutter your desk with a single charger, the 30 Ultra is a good choice in 2026.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Pricing and availability

Google is all set to launch the Pixel 11 Pro Fold on August 12, and that is when we'll get official confirmation of what the foldable will cost. That said, a massive Pixel 11 leak gave us a good indication of the pricing, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is set to cost $1,899 for the 256GB model.

Coincidentally, the Razr Fold also retails for $1,899 in the U.S., but you're getting 512GB of storage as standard. While that's a lot of cash towards a phone, you get decent trade-in deals and carrier subsidies, so you don't have to shell out the entire amount in one go unless you're buying unlocked.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Design

I really like Google's design aesthetic, but I will admit that Motorola did a great job with the Razr Fold. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold was unwieldy to use because of its weight and size, and thankfully, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is set to address that; Google is said to be shaving the weight and thickness of the foldable. That's good news, because it would make the Pixel 11 Pro Fold in line with its immediate rivals.

The Razr Fold has a distinctive design thanks to the camera island, and I like Motorola's color and materials choices. The foldable looks and feels like a high-end device, and while it is heavy at 243, the weight is distributed evenly, so it isn't uncomfortable to hold. Another plus point is that the Razr Fold is just as thin as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Find N6, and this makes holding and using it that much more enjoyable.

Where the Pixel 11 Pro Fold should have an advantage is ingress protection; it should retain IP68 dust and water resistance that we saw on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Motorola also does a decent enough job, with the Razr Fold getting IP48 and IP49 resistance.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Specs

Google is finally set to address long-standing issues with its Pixels with the introduction of the Pixel 11. This is by way of the Tensor G6 platform, which is built on a new 2nm node. The node shift will bring inherent efficiency gains, but what I'm excited about is the switch to new cores, which will allow the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to be that much faster — and better at gaming. This has been a sore point on Google's devices for a long time now, and I can't wait to get my hands on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to see how it holds up against the likes of the Find N6 and Vivo X Fold 5.

If anything, Motorola also went a conservative route with the Razr Fold. Instead of Qualcomm's best silicon, the foldable gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, so it doesn't quite have the best possible chipset available. That said, it isn't slow in daily use, and it does a decent job with demanding games as well. But it just rubs me the wrong way to see anything other than flagship silicon on an $1,899 phone.

Now, where the Razr Fold has an unquestionable advantage is with battery life. Thanks to a massive 6,000mAh battery, the foldables lasts over a day regularly. What's also great is that Motorola is using silicon-carbon tech, which we just haven't seen a lot of in the U.S. until now. This allows better density and durability, and the Razr Fold gets much better charging as well: it uses Motorola's 80W tech.

Google is said to be lowering the battery size on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to 4,800mAh, and I think this is the wrong move. Of course, we will need to wait and see if the leaks pan out, but a foldable needs to have at least a 5,000mAh battery, and I want Google to do better this year.

Similarly, cameras are an area where the Pixel 11 Pro Fold must do better than its predecessor. Take the Razr Fold; Motorola outfitted it with the same cameras as the Signature, and it does an excellent job with photos and videos.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs. Motorola Razr Fold: Which should you buy?

With the Pixel 11 Pro Fold projected to cost about the same as the Razr Fold, pricing isn't going to be the point of difference. Instead, it will be about the features. I really like what Motorola did with the Razr Fold; it has a great design, standout cameras, and a huge battery.

Google will need to offer those things with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold as well — these are table stakes features at this point. The software is also a big selling point, and Motorola does well here too; its UI is clean, and you get a decent amount of extras. That said, Google has a sizeable edge with the software, and I'm excited to see what the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has to deliver in this area.

I use several chargers throughout the house, and I still rely on the 500W Nexode as my go-to charging station in the office. As good as it is, the charging station is bulky, so I don't use it on my desk. I instead prefer a smaller charger that still gives me the flexibility to charge up to four devices at once, and in recent months, I used Baseus' excellent Nomos 2, which also has a Qi 2.2 mat.

That was before Satechi rolled out its latest GaN charger. The ChargeView 140W is a 4-port charger that's roughly the same size as a regular 140W wall charger, but you get four charging ports in total, and Satechi even managed to fit a tiny panel onto it that shows real-time charging details. The best part is that it costs just $99 on Amazon, which is similar to other 140W chargers I used in recent months. Here are three reasons why the ChargeView 140W is now my go-to desk charger.

The ChargeView 140W is the smallest 4-port charger I used

For me, the number one consideration for a desk charger is the size, and the ChargeView 140W nails the brief. It is smaller than other 4-port charging stations I used, and if anything, it's even smaller than a travel charger.

I also like that it has four USB-C ports; most 4-port chargers include a USB-A port, and while I can understand the reasoning behind that, I don't need the port on a desk charger, so just having a multitude of USB-C ports is highly convenient — at least in my use.

Satechi also includes a stand that lets you orient the ChargeView 140W horizontally or vertically. I used it horizontally, and the stand makes accessing the USB-C ports just a tad more convenient. The charger itself is made out of plastic, and I didn't see any issues with build quality whatsoever.

It has USB 3.2 AVS and goes up to 140W

The ChargeView 140W does a solid job charging four devices at once, and the C1/C2 ports have the ability to charge devices up to 140W. The USB-C1 port uses the latest USB PD 3.2 AVS standard to adjust voltage in minute increments, and it makes a difference while charging the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air.

The USB-C2 port uses the standard USB PD 3.1 profile, and it also goes up to 140W. The C3 and C4 ports go up to a maximum of 40W individually, and these are better-suited for charging handheld consoles and accessories. Like all other GaN chargers, the ChargeView 140W does a good job intelligently managing the power budget based on the number of ports in use. Here's a look at how the power delivering is affected based on number of devices connected:

I used the ChargeView 140W with my Find X9 Ultra, iPad Pro M4, iPhone 17 Pro, and a dozen accessories over the course of the last month. It did just as reliable a job as other GaN chargers I used, and the smaller size and availability of four USB-C ports makes it a long-term addition to my desk.

You get an LCD panel that shows real-time charging info

It isn't that long ago that brands started adding LCD panels to their chargers to show charging details, and I like this feature a lot. The ChargeView 140W has a tiny panel of its own, and it is a great way to see how fast a connected device is charging.

What I like about this is that you can charge the orientation of the panel based on the charger's configuration. So if you're using it vertically, a long press of the button located at the top switches the orientation. It's a small addition, but it's one that makes a noticeable difference.

On the whole, the ChargeView 140W is a great addition to Satechi's charging portfolio, and if you need a reliable desk charger with the ability to charge four devices at once, I'd suggest getting this one.

Now that smartphones have become our de facto communication and note-taking devices, the need to type faster has become a priority for many. Whether it's a requirement for your job or it's a skill that'll help you in university or at an internship, I have valuable advice for you.

Many people still default to tapping each letter on their phones, but there's a better way. I learned how to type insanely quickly on my Android phone with a single hack, and while it's not a new feature by any means, I'm going to teach you, too. Once you've mastered this skill, your average words per minute are going to jump up.

How to type really fast on your Android phone

This demonstration was conducted on a Google Pixel 8 running Android 16 and using Gboard as the default keyboard. After explaining how to use this hack, I'll also explain how to implement it in Samsung Keyboard.

As long as you're using Gboard on an Android phone running at least Android 8, you're good to go. This "trick" is called swipe typing, sliding to type, or Glide Typing (on Gboard). The idea is that you don't lift your finger for each letter of the alphabet, only for each word, saving you a lot of time. Here's how to slide your finger across the keyboard to type faster.

1. Tap a text box where you want to type on your phone.

2. Instead of individually tapping the alphabet, slide your finger without lifting it. Pause on the letters for a microsecond, and lift your finger when you're done typing a word. A space is automatically added once you lift your finger.

If you're a Samsung Keyboard user, you'll need to head to the keyboard settings and enable the Swype mode before sliding your finger to type.

Swipe typing on Gboard is intelligent and intuitive

Gboard gets smarter over time, as does your swipe-typing accuracy. As you swipe over the alphabet, you'll get word suggestions in Gboard. Over time, you can teach Gboard what your intended word was by tapping the right suggestion.

Swipe typing also works with words added to your dictionary, such as names, slang, abbreviations, or words in another language. They don't have to be grammatically correct.

What's even cooler is that you can swipe to type in other languages too! I tried it with Urdu in Gboard, and it works just as well as it does in English. Plus, if you use a Wear OS watch with Gboard, you can use this hack on your smartwatch as well.

I attract so much attention when I swipe-text in public, and people are always curious about it. I've even had strangers ask me to teach them how to use the feature on a train!

It is not the fastest or easiest trick right away; you might actually type slower at first. But once you get the hang of it, it's very hard to go back to the "usual" typing method on your smartphone.

Samsung has officially confirmed that it will host its next Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, 2026, in London at 2 p.m. BST (9 a.m. ET). Managing Editor Derrek Lee will be in the U.K for the event and is ready to report on all things Summer Unpacked!

The company has previously preferred to hold its launch events mostly in the U.S., and occasionally in Korea and even France.

Now, nearly 14 years after the Galaxy S3 event, Samsung is bringing its launch event back to London, England. We're expecting a new range of foldable phones and new Galaxy wearables at the event.

What devices are launching?

Samsung expanded its Galaxy foldable lineup last year with the introduction of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, alongside the standard Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7.

This year, the company is expected to switch up the lineup, including successors to last year's phones as well as a brand-new form factor with a passport-like design that's shorter and wider, which will reportedly go head-to-head against the rumoured Apple's foldable iPhone.

Along with launching a new foldable form factor, Samsung is also expected to change its naming scheme in the most confusing way possible. You'd expect the Galaxy Z Fold 7's successor to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but instead, it'll reportedly be named the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The new passport-style foldable will instead take on the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 name.

We're not sure why Samsung is shuffling things around like this, but we'll certainly be asking around at the event.

Alongside the foldables, Samsung is also expected to launch the Galaxy Watch 9. We are also expecting news around Samsung's AI glasses too!

Interestingly, it looks like we’re finally getting a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

Where to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

There are three ways to watch Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event live. You can tune in via Samsung's official websites, including Samsung.com and Samsung Newsroom.

Perhaps the easiest way to watch the event is on YouTube. Head to Samsung's official YouTube channel and tap the Notify Me button to be reminded when the event is about to start. Or you can just do it from the video link below.

As always, renders of Samsung's new foldable phones have already leaked ahead of the launch, giving us an idea of what to expect from this new form factor. The leaked images suggest it will be quite different from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Of course, it will be shorter and wider when opened, mimicking a true mini tablet form factor. But there are a few other interesting things to note as well. First, Samsung isn't letting go of its sharp-edged design for this foldable, and we don't yet know whether that wider cover display will dig into your palms too much. Second, you can see on the back that it features only two cameras, compared to the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which will reportedly stick with a triple-camera module.

Alongside the renders, the specs of the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 have also leaked. The passport-style foldable will reportedly feature a 5.4- to 5.5-inch cover screen, while the inner display measures 7.6 inches. In terms of design, it'll reportedly be just 5.5mm thick when unfolded and 9.7mm when folded. As for internals, you can expect the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of starting storage. The good news is that Samsung isn't skimping on the battery front, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 reportedly packing a 4,800mAh cell, which is bigger than last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. In terms of colors, you can expect Cream, Graphite, and Lavender, along with a reported Pistachio option that'll be a Samsung.com exclusive.

Samsung has already begun teasing what we can expect from its new Galaxy Watches, including “AI-driven insights in real time.” It’s not surprising that Samsung wants to put more AI on its watches, but I wonder what the company has in store for the Watch 9 and Ultra 2. There’s already an AI running coach, but perhaps Galaxy AI will act more like Google Health's AI Personal Health Coach? Hopefully, this doesn’t mean we’ll need a subscription.

Samsung says the next Galaxy Watch is built with “all-new internal components,” suggesting the BioActive health sensor is being upgraded. This could point to more accurate health monitoring and fitness tracking, but it could also mean a new chipset. Samsung is expected to use Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Wear Elite, which will deliver faster performance and charging while enhancing on-device AI capabilities. The Watch 9 and Ultra 2 will likely be among the first to feature the new chip, so we’re excited to see how they perform!

One thing we can definitely expect from Samsung’s upcoming watches is Blood Pressure Trends. After years without access to blood pressure tracking features, Samsung has finally brought the capability to the U.S., and it’s taking things a step further by launching Blood Pressure Trends to replace Vascular Load. Blood pressure trends will “check your blood pressure periodically to show you a trend over time. It will also give you tips to help support healthy habits.”

While remembering the original Pixel Fold’s design, I wanted to focus on how apps behaved on the phone's wider aspect ratio. On the outer screen, apps were shorter and wider than on a normal Android phone. This looked funny at first, but I quickly came to appreciate it because everything was easier to access with a single hand.

Things got even better when opening the phone, as apps automatically opened in landscape tablet orientation. This is a huge deal because most apps on modern book-style foldables, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, still open like a giant phone app rather than in a tablet format, as they should.

Google did a lot of great work in Android 12L to fix this problem, but a foldable shaped like a landscape tablet just works better, since it doesn’t require specific app-level code to get things right. I hope the Z Fold 8 works this way since it’s supposed to be a wider aspect ratio.

The one thing I’m not looking forward to with the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s smaller stature is the rumored downgrade in camera hardware. Samsung is said to be outfitting the wider Z Fold 8 with just a pair of cameras on the back. More specifically, that’s a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultrawide camera. Not exactly great-sounding specs from a 2026 flagship.

That means no telephoto camera at all, which is one of my favorite ways to get great photos out of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. To make matters worse, a 50MP sensor isn’t exactly cutting-edge and will likely just be a rehash of the sensors Samsung has been using on its Z Fold line for years. I hope I’m pleasantly surprised by the official announcement, because this could be the one black mark on the Z Fold 8’s spec sheet.

While I’d rather have the smaller phone, Samsung is apparently souping up the bigger Z Fold 8 with more features from the Galaxy S26 Ultra and calling it the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra because of it. There’s been a mix of rumors around what Samsung’s plan for the “Ultra” moniker on this phone actually means, but the company will likely bring some of the best hardware features from the S26 Ultra.

My hope is that means the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets the S26 Ultra’s camera hardware. More specifically, I’d love to see the 200MP main camera and 5x telephoto ALoP camera that were the highlight of the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera for me. The Z Fold series has never been a camera powerhouse, but maybe this year’s Ultra entry will finally change that for good.

Samsung’s new Flex Titanium technology aims to define a new generation of truly crease-free foldables, and I can’t wait to see how it holds up over a lifetime of constant folding. That crease has been a big complaint about foldable phones for years, and it’s been fun watching companies try new things to try to eliminate it. It’s wild enough that we can fold glass in the first place, but seeing it work without a worn-down crease will be the next-most impressive thing.

Alongside the new foldables, Samsung is also expected to introduce its latest Galaxy smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch 9 series and a new Galaxy Watch Ultra. To prepare for the launch, Samsung has begun a major visual overhaul of the Wearables app. A recent leak revealed the company is reworking the app's UI, making it much cleaner and aligning it with the new One UI aesthetic. Beyond a larger smartwatch render when you open the app, Galaxy AI will reportedly be able to generate custom info tiles for your watch, with users simply describing what they want to see. Samsung is also reportedly working on a new Vitals tool that combines five distinct health metrics to calculate and improve your Energy Score.

Shifting gears back to the foldables, there's some bad news if you're in the market for a new phone this year. Rising RAM and component prices have pushed nearly every hardware maker to increase device pricing, and it looks like Samsung won't be an exception. Rumors suggest the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will start at a steep $1,900 in the U.S., while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (the actual successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 7) will start at $2,100. That's a $100 increase over last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7, something that might leave a sour taste in the mouths of potential buyers, but something we could very realistically see happen.

One of the major upgrades I'm looking forward to this year is the increase in the Galaxy Z Fold's battery capacity. Samsung has stuck with the same 4,400mAh cell for the past five years, but according to recent leaks, this is finally the year it bumps things up to 5,000mAh on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. That still won't bring it anywhere near Chinese competitors like the Oppo Find N6 or Honor Magic V6, but it should put Z Fold 8 Ultra buyers in a far more comfortable spot. I'm starting to wonder what took Samsung this long, but if we're getting the same thin design as last year with a bigger battery, I'm not complaining.

The biggest upgrade to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series might not be the new form factor at all. In my opinion, it could be the crease-free display that debuts with the device. Just ahead of Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung officially showcased its new Flex Titanium technology. The company says it has reworked the foldable display, adding a new titanium plate beneath the OLED panel designed to significantly improve structural durability and make the screen's center crease far less visible — something that's long been an issue for Galaxy Z Fold users. Too much of a coincidence with the foldable iPhone arriving later this year? I don't think so.

Speaking of Samsung showcasing technology that'll debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a recent report revealed that the company has already started displaying the phone at Samsung stores in Korea. A Reddit user reportedly visited a Samsung store where the new foldables were already on display. The showcase didn't include official device names, but the phones on show looked nearly identical to the leaked renders, giving us a real-world look at the Galaxy Z Fold 8. This might be the first instance Samsung has publicly displayed a device ahead of its own launch event.

We’ve been hearing about Samsung’s smart glasses for a while now, and we have yet to get them. What we did get in May was “Intelligent Eyewear.” This was a collaboration with Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. Now, personally speaking, this isn’t exactly what I’m looking forward to. What I’m looking forward to are Samsung’s glasses in development: codename Jinju and Haen. These are Samsung's take on the Meta Ray-Ban, and they should be quite interesting.

We don't know many details about the Galaxy Glasses yet, but it looks like Samsung is using Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 platform. These will take on Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, but with a camera that sits closer to the eye level. Another key piece of information suggests Gemini integration will be available out of the box, and that these glasses will rely on bone‑conduction tech to deliver sound. I can understand why Samsung would be interested in these glasses; they'd be ideal to pair with Galaxy phones, and with Meta gaining a huge amount of early ground and building on that with its own smart glasses, Samsung is looking to make its own debut with the Galaxy Glasses. It's unclear whether we'll see these glasses this week, but Samsung has been known to share early previews of its products in the past, so stay tuned.

What I want to see is Samsung's take on display glasses. The MemoMind One and Even Realities G2 showcased how waveguides can be used to good effect, and these glasses actually make a difference in daily use that goes beyond mirroring notifications. The MemoMind One records and automatically transcribes audio, and this is such a time-saving feature when attending meetings. While this tech is still in its infancy, we should see heady gains on a yearly basis — there's going to be full-color waveguides starting as early as 2027, and it will be interesting to see how those measure up. Ahead of all that though, Samsung needs to have a foot in the door.; we'll just have to wait a little longer to see what comes out of Korea.

As for what the Galaxy Glasses actually look like, an early leak suggested a design that's largely similar to the Meta Ray-Ban, with a rounded lens, camera on the left, and LED indicator on the right. The most intriguing thing about the glasses is that they run One UI XR, a derivative of Android XR designed to be used by Samsung. While this is just theorized, a leak suggested the glasses can be controlled with the Galaxy Ring, and that's exciting to me; this is a big reason why I use the Even Realities G2 and its unique control ring, and if Samsung can emulate the feature, it will make the Galaxy Glasses stand out just that little bit more. As is the case with all smart glasses, Gemini is going to take center-stage, and we should also get the new avatar of Gemini Live.

There isn’t much else to talk about Samsung’s smart glasses, but it will be interesting to see if we get a preview of what’s to come later in the year. Android XR is a bold move, and with Samsung building out One UI XR, there’s plenty of interest in seeing how the ecosystem builds out alongside Samsung’s phones, tablets, and other devices.

We’ve talked a lot about the differences in size and aspect ratio between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra. I know which one I’d prefer, and it’s not the wider option, but I’m curious about what you think: Does the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 or square Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra appeal to you more?

I haven’t spent much time with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but I do think it’s quite amazing how Samsung managed to make it so thin. That said, I do wish Samsung had stuck a larger battery in it, especially since the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a larger one than Samsung’s foldables. That’s one thing I’m hoping to see change with the Galaxy Z Fold 8: more battery capacity, ideally in the form of a silicone-carbon battery, as we got with the Motorola Razr Fold.

I keep wanting to love the Galaxy Z Flip, and Samsung keeps getting close, but the cover screen experience continues to ruin it. After years of Motorola showing everyone how it’s done with the Razr, Samsung still officially supports only a handful of apps on the Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen, while you have to use Good Lock to enable more. It’s pretty dumb, to be honest, and there’s no reason Motorola can figure this out but Samsung can’t. With any luck, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will finally unlock the cover screen’s full potential and fully support apps without the need to download an app and a module.

Samsung is also rumored to have a new pair of earbuds coming. It’s unclear whether they’ll be launched at Unpacked, but rumors suggest a pair of open-ear earbuds called Galaxy Buds On. Like other open-ear earbuds, they should deliver adequate sound while letting you hear both your audio and your surroundings. It’s not clear, however, whether Samsung will offer any particular advancements to stand out among other open-ear earbuds, but Galaxy fans should be happy to have yet another option from Samsung.

Switching gears to wearables, it looks like Samsung may be giving the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 massive hardware upgrades, making it truly worthy of its “Ultra” moniker. The first rumor involves a huge 36% battery capacity increase, bringing the battery up from 590mAh in the first Galaxy Watch Ultra to a massive 800mAh in the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

Since Ultra-types are designed to fully replace a phone while out and about, it’s important for them to have epic battery life that lasts through extra-long runs, hikes, or even long hands-free phone calls while driving. The Ultra was already the best smartwatch Samsung ever made, and this battery-size improvement will make it even better.

While we’re still on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 topic, Samsung is rumored to upgrade the casing to an IP69K-resistant build. The company has fallen behind rivals with less rugged phone builds, but at least a more rugged watch makes plenty of sense.

IP69K takes all the great features of IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance and enhances them with resistance against high-pressure, high-temperature jets at 80 degrees Celsius. While most people aren’t subjecting their wrists to such conditions, there’s little doubt that they go in hot tubs, use pressure washers, and do all sorts of similar activities while wearing their watch.

Lastly, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is said to increase its display brightness to 5,000 nits, a 67% improvement over the first-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra. A 3,000-nit display was already among the brightest on any smartwatch to date, but 5,000 nits is a pretty wild number for a little wrist-mounted display.

This number might seem like overkill at first, but anyone who has ever worn a smartwatch knows how difficult they can sometimes be to see in direct sunlight or other similar conditions. As an outdoor and fitness-focused watch, it makes a ton of sense for Samsung to push the boundaries of brightness, and it’s going to make a huge difference for anyone buying a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 when they use it outside.

Switching back to the foldables, I was hoping this would be the phone release where Samsung finally fixes its slow display PWM dimming rate, but we haven’t seen any rumors or leaks pointing to this important fix. Samsung is the sole remaining smartphone manufacturer that hasn’t addressed the issue. While Google and Apple’s methods aren’t anywhere near as good as what’s available on most Chinese smartphones, the world’s largest tech companies need to help users facing debilitating pain from the flickering displays they’ve created.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which I got to try out extensively, I couldn't get my hands on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for more than a day. But even that single day was more than enough to convince me that Samsung had made major changes to the Z Fold series. Even now, when I hold the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in my hand, it still feels like the best foldable form factor out there compared to its Chinese rivals, thanks to its slimness and apt cover display ratio. And with Samsung fixing the battery and the crease this year, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra might just be peak foldable in 2026.

There's one design change Samsung isn't making, though, and I'm worried it'll continue to affect users: those flat, sharp corners. I'm not sure how Galaxy Z Fold 7 owners feel about it day-to-day, but switching from that design language to the slightly curved edges on the Galaxy S26 Ultra proved to be a huge improvement in the experience, since the phone simply doesn't dig into your palms as much. With a foldable, those sharp edges might stick out even more, especially when the phone is unfolded. I'm not sure how it'll play out in practice, but it's the first thing I'll be checking when I go hands-on with the devices.

I’ve mentioned this briefly before, but Samsung has two Galaxy Glasses: Jinju and Haen. These aren’t exactly equal. The former is said to lean more on the audio side of assistance with no screen. However, Haen is what I’m looking forward to. A micro-LED display for AR overlays, a notification light. This has me. But, if we do see anything, and I mean anything regarding Samsung’s Galaxy Glasses at Unpacked, it might be something along the lines of Jinju.

Make no mistake, pricing has been a hot topic with Samsung’s upcoming smart glasses. They would go up against Meta’s Ray-Bans and more. So, Samsung has a line to walk here to make them appealing to the average consumer. There’s a chance one of its glasses, Jinju, could sit somewhere between $379 and $499. What’s more, these glasses could feature a 12MP camera.

The Galaxy Watch 9 is where my eyes are going this summer’s Galaxy Unpacked—for good reason, too. I’ve kept my ear to the ground: the watch could keep that squircle design the Watch 8 had (that’s a good thing, personally). Samsung also teased the device recently, stating it will strive to become a “health-first, always-on gateway” for users.

Another Galaxy Watch 9 teaser that’s got me raising an eyebrow is what Samsung said about the watch: “increased battery life.” The Galaxy Watch 8 has a pretty decent battery life, don’t get me wrong. But, I’m inclined to agree with my colleagues here: it could’ve been better. Hopefully, when Samsung says it’s “increased,” they mean by more than a few minutes. Give me a few more hours, then we’re cooking.

Planting a flag on the “health-first” field means something to Samsung. It means something to me, too. Accuracy has to be on point, metrics have to be detailed, but not overwhelming. I should be able to understand at a glance what these numbers are for me and my wellbeing. Samsung has said as much in recent days, and I’m crossing my fingers that it's true for the Galaxy Watch 9.

The Galaxy Watch 9 was also touted to continue offering its 40mm and 44mm variants. I like that smaller watch face. It feels a little nicer on the wrist, and looks more aesthetically pleasing. However, rumors suggest Samsung could alter the Galaxy Watch 9’s band this year. While the Watch 8’s band was smoother, the Watch 9 could offer a dip in the center, almost like a racing stripe.

Let's shift gears a little bit and talk about the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It's interesting that the base model is likely to be a wider and shorter foldable, and because Samsung likes differentiation, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is slated to be the successor to last year's Z Fold 7. Now, we may not see as many new features this time around; we got a brand-new design that's thinner and lighter last year, so the Z Fold 8 Ultra could just be an evolution of that design with a few extras.

Latest leaks of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra suggest a 200MP main camera that's similar to last year, a 10MP tele lens, and a new 50MP wide-angle shooter. Considering how vital the tele lens is these days, I really wanted Samsung to add a higher-resolution module to this year's foldable, but that doesn't look to be the case. That said, Samsung made decent tweaks to camera tuning with the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the S26/S26+, so it is entirely likely that we'll see the same on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra even though it may not have brand-new sensors.

What I'm more interested in is the battery. Samsung has been pretty conservative in this area in the last three years, and the Z Fold 7's 4,400mAh battery wasn't quite good enough to last an entire day even with medium use, and Samsung needs to address that this year. New leaks point to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offering a 5,000mAh battery, and that should allow the foldable to last all day. While it may not be quite the same as what Chinese brands are doing, a 5,000mAh battery should give the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra a decent edge over its predecessor.

Samsung could have managed to put a much bigger battery into the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra if it chose silicon-carbon battery tech, but that doesn't look likely this year. Samsung and Google have steered clear of the tech, and while Chinese brands have used it to great effect to add bigger batteries to their phones — my Find N6 foldable has a 6,000mAh battery — Samsung is set to once again use a traditional battery in this year's foldables.

I'm really interested in the Galaxy Z Fold 8, as the wider design showcased in the leaks make it a good choice for multimedia. Leaked marketing materials show how the device would be ideally suited for social media platforms such as Instagram, where an image takes up the entire usable real estate. Of course, it isn't just Samsung working on such a device, with other Android brands set to introduce foldables that emulate a similar design. And then there's the upcoming iPhone Fold, which is touted to have similar dimensions.

As exciting as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks, it may miss out on the 200MP camera that's coming to the Ultra model. Leaks point to a 50MP main camera instead, but on the plus side it should get the same auxiliary cameras: a 50MP wide-angle lens, and 10MP tele module. It will be interesting to see how image quality will differ with the Ultra, but Samsung has shown this year that it can deliver consistent photos across its devices, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Gemini Intelligence was announced at Google I/O 2026 as an evolution of the Gemini screen automation we got earlier this year. It’s basically a suite of capabilities that enhance the AI experience, allowing Gemini to better anticipate your needs and act on your behalf across devices. This includes generating personalized widgets, smarter autofill, and improved voice input, among other features. Not every phone will be capable of running these features, but we fully expect Gemini Intelligence to be available across Samsung’s upcoming devices, and we can’t wait to try them.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy is expected to power Samsung’s upcoming phones, delivering powerful performance and improved on-device AI capabilities. We know as much from the Galaxy S26 series, and we’re excited to see the Z Flip series return to Qualcomm, as it’s rumored. That said, Qualcomm’s chip likely won’t be the only one running the show, and we can expect the Galaxy Z Flip 8 to be powered by the Exynos 2600 in certain markets. Based on our testing, it’s not a bad chipset, and Samsung has clearly narrowed the gap, so anyone with the Exynos variant should still expect good performance.

Speaking of the Galaxy Z Flip 8, there are rumors it could be Samsung's last flip phone after years of pioneering the form factor. As a flip phone lover, I would hate to see another one go, especially as Samsung has gotten quite close to perfecting it (aside from the cover screen experience). Given how larger foldables are dominating, it kind of makes sense, but it also feels too soon to ditch the form factor.

Speaking of the Galaxy Z Flip 8, there are rumors it could be Samsung's last flip phone after years of pioneering the form factor. As a flip phone lover, I would hate to see another one go, especially as Samsung has gotten quite close to perfecting it (aside from the cover screen experience). Given how larger foldables are dominating, it kind of makes sense, but it also feels too soon to ditch the form factor.

As far as foldable performance, I’m curious to see how the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will stack up against the Motorola Razr Fold. Both will surely be the highest-end of Motorola and Samsung’s offerings, so it makes sense to pit them against each other. No doubt Samsung will offer superior performance and a better overall software experience, but the Razr Fold has excellent battery life and phenomenal cameras with crazy-impressive zoom. Rest assured, we will be comparing these two, especially in terms of camera performance.

I just started using my Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro to train for a half-marathon, and it makes me curious to see what sort of AI features Samsung is going to introduce with this year’s Galaxy Watches. I’m particularly stoked about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, since that one is supposed to pack in all sorts of extras and feature enhancements versus the standard watches.

Samsung already has an AI running coach feature, but I prefer using Amazfit’s watches because all of the workout-focused features are more in-depth than what Samsung offers. Samsung teased the new watch upgrade just a few days ago and talked about the watches’ new internal components, more accurate metrics, a personal health coach, and more, and it gives me hope that Samsung might be bolstering its fitness tracking features in a significant way this year.

Still on the topic of AI-powered features, I’d love to see Samsung further enhance the food logging feature in the Samsung Health app. Once again, I stick with Amazfit because the Zepp app makes food logging dead simple. I just type or tell it what I ate, and a built-in LLM figures out what I mean and estimates everything right there.

No more scrolling through lists, scanning barcodes, or painfully adjusting each food entry. Just tell it you had “2 scrambled eggs cooked in coconut oil with 2 buttered slices of toast for breakfast” and everything gets input automatically. Samsung Health has a barcode scanner and a very good food database, but it’s more work than I’m willing to put in daily. Surely, Galaxy AI can do this too, right?

The Google Pixel 11 family is right around the corner, and that means now is a great time to start considering whether you're going to upgrade to this year's phone, or save money and grab last year's best with a solid deal (or a second-hand offer).

In a year with rapidly rising technology prices, 2026 might be the best year ever to consider buying last year's phone, especially with the rumor that Google isn't giving the Pixel 11 Pro XL a massive overhaul. If you're choosing between the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro XL, or are considering upgrading year-over-year, here's everything you need to know!

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Design and display

The Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro XL will likely look identical at a glance, but at least one key change will catch your eye and make you at least a tiny bit jealous. I'm talking about Pixel Glow, a new type of LED that appears on the Pixel 11's camera bar, seemingly as part of the camera flash unit.

Google may be taking a page from Nothing with this new initiative, likely offering ways to light up the camera bar whenever you receive notifications, talk to Gemini, or interact with specific apps or features on your Pixel 11.

I've already received Pixel 11 cases from Thinborne, one of Android Central's favorite case manufacturers, and the changes seen here showcase what we can expect from Pixel Glow. That lip around the camera island is where the subtle LED glow should emit from, and it's going to give Pixel 11 a unique look among all smartphones.

Elsewhere, we see subtle changes in microphone placement and a slight downward shift of the power and volume buttons on the Pixel 11.

We expect the Pixel 11 Pro XL to feature the same built-in MagSafe-compatible Pixelsnap magnets, so you won't need a case to use the best MagSafe accessories for Android phones.

Based on rumors, we're not expecting any major changes to the Pixel 11 Pro XL's display, although it may receive a slight peak brightness bump as Pixels have in the past. Google has been good about introducing new display accessibility features, like Comfort Filters and last year's "sensitive eyes" feature, so I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the PWM dimming rate at the August 12 event.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Battery life, performance, and specs

All signs point to the Pixel 11 Pro XL being the most efficient phone in Pixel history. The more efficient Tensor G6 and the new MediaTek modem inside the Pixel 11 Pro XL are said to bring a 20-30% improvement in efficiency. This, plus a slight improvement in battery capacity, should be a great upgrade over any previous Pixel phone.

The Tensor G6 processor expected to power the Pixel 11 Pro XL should be manufactured on a 2nm process, resulting in performance gains of around 15% in daily use. Google is also said to be using a newer PowerVR GPU that's compatible with Vulkan 1.4, so mobile games will look and run better than on the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Camera and software

Despite some awesome new features, I was largely unimpressed with the Pixel 10 Pro XL's camera last year. While it still did a great job of capturing objects in motion (like kids and pets), I found the telephoto camera strangely unreliable.

Hopefully, Google fixes these problems in the Pixel 11 Pro XL and gets back to that top-tier Pixel camera experience. Google still needs to work on its video recording quality, which was substantially improved with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but continues to lag behind rivals like Apple and Samsung.

Pixels regularly make headlines with buggy updates and major problems, and it's generally a bad look for Google's otherwise great brand. Pixel Drop updates bring new features every quarter, and I hate to see this sort of support marred by carelessness.

I fully expect the Pixel 11 Pro XL to launch with some exclusive features, but Google is usually good about bringing those features to older Pixel phones after some time. So while Pixel 10 Pro XL users may have to wait to get any fancy new features announced in August, it's almost certain they won't miss out.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Which should you buy?

I'm going to hedge my bets and say the Pixel 10 Pro XL will be a better buy given the price increases we're seeing on this year's new smartphones. Undoubtedly, the Pixel 11 Pro XL's new processor, GPU, larger battery, and fancy new lights on the back will be great reasons to upgrade, but I'm not sure they'll make the gulf in price worthwhile for most people.

The budget IEM category has countless choices, and it's the entry-level where things are particularly interesting. ddHiFi is a well-known Chinese outfit, and its latest collaboration with India's Headphone Zone has resulted in the Skyfall and Iris, two IEMs that target the same category.

The Iris has a 10mm dynamic driver and costs ₹2,699 ($28), and the Skyfall has the same 10mm driver alongside a BA driver, and it comes in at ₹3,699 ($38). Both usually cost ₹300 ($3) more, but with Headphone Zone having a sale, now is the best time to get your hands on either if you're interested.

I've used both IEMs interchangeably over the course of the last month, and I tested both with my Fiio M21. I'll get to the sound in a little but, but before that, I want to highlight the design. The Iris has a green hue that looks great, and the Skyfall has a bold blue design that makes it stand out.

Both IEMs have a 3D-printed shell, and the design is definitely a plus point; you don't usually see this kind of build quality in in the entry-level. I like the see-through design as it does a great job highlighting the drivers and the connectors housed within the shell. This is even more evident on the Skyfall, as you can easily make out the dedicated BA driver.

Either shell is on the larger side, but I didn't see any issues when it comes to usability. The sound nozzle on the Iris is a smidgen bigger than that of the Skyfall, but this didn't prove to be a problem.

You get a decent selection of ear tips with the IEMs, and the Iris has a 3.5mm cable, with the Skyfall bundling a 4.4mm balanced cable. The default cable is good enough, and the braided cable has a nylon sheath that gives it a little better durability.

Both IEMs sound great in their own right. They have detailed bass, a clean mid-range that allows vocals to shine, and good treble extension without coming across as bright. I like the Skyfall a little better in this area; the addition of a BA driver leads to better detail in the mid-range and a livelier overall sound, and in my testing, I preferred it to the Iris. You also get better much sub-bass energy, lending itself very well to mainstream music.

That isn't to say that the Iris is bad by any measure — it has standout vocal presentation, and if that's what you need, the Iris will be better-suited to your needs.

If you're unable to decide between the two and just need a recommend, I'd suggest going with the Skyfall. It costs a little bit more, but you're getting a more engaging sound, and a balanced cable. I also like the blue hue a little better, and I think it's a good all-rounder at just ₹3,699.

These days, it's hard for me to get particularly excited about a new phone. I've tested so many that it often feels like I'm seeing much of the same thing. The Tecno Pova 8 5G tries to switch things up by borrowing some design cues from other phones while offering a unique feature that I wish more phones had: an Active Matrix display.

I often say that I miss when phones had built-in indicator LEDs for notifications, as I find them more useful than the whole display turning on when I need my phone to be more subtle about when I receive a message. A few OEMs, like Nothing, have started implementing more distinctive lighting fixtures that take that idea and elevate it into something more fun to look at. Even Google is expected to implement a rear "Pixel Glow" feature on its upcoming Pixel 11.

It's nice to see Tecno bringing something unique to the Pove 8 5G, but this affordable phone has surprisingly even more to offer for its price.

Flashing lights

The first thing I thought when I saw the Pova 8 5G is that it kind of looks like a Nothing Phone. The rear design is not as exciting as the Nothing Phone 3; it's more subtle, like the Nothing Phone 4a, thanks to what it calls a "semi-transparent back cover" design. The Arctic White color option is pretty sleek, although the rear design is a big more noticeable on the other color options.

Adding to the design's uniqueness is the triangular camera housing, which features three modules, only one of which is an actual camera. However, below that is the Tecno Pova 5G's Active Matrix display, which is another reason why this phone resembles Nothing's recent phones, and in the best way.

The display can let you know when you have a notification and show icons for apps like Instagram and Facebook Messenger. It also shows when you're charging the device, displays a moving waveform when you play music, and even flashes the time when you flip the phone face down.

But beyond that, the display is actually quite customizable. You can either choose from a selection of premade lighting effects or make your own, while even adjusting the brightness and duration for when you want the lighting effects on.

People who have come across me using the Tecno Pova 8 5G have been thoroughly surprised and intrigued by its Active Matrix display, and the overall consensus seems positive, with only one friend calling it "excessive."

I have to disagree; I think it's a cool way to implement something seemingly old-school to spice up a phone's utility, even just a bit. It gives the Tecno Pova 8 5G character, more so than I've seen from most of the phones I've come across in my years reviewing devices.

What about the rest of the phone?

The Tecno Pova 8 5G is about as mid-range as it gets. It's powered by a MediaTek 7100 chipset, which does surprisingly well in day-to-day use with just 8GB of RAM. It's no powerhouse, and games play decently well when not set to the highest settings. Apps may also take a second to open, but overall the software experience is pretty smooth, thanks to Tecno's UI.

It's also aided by the 144Hz LCD panel, which isn't particularly amazing, but it still looks decent, thanks to the FHD+ resolution.

As for the UI, Tecno switched things up on the Pova 8 5G with a unique Vision Art-style theme, giving the phone a more gamer-style look with orange and black accents. At first, it felt like a lot, and I normally don't care for themed icons, but it quickly grew on me. Not every app can be themed, but most are, including third-party apps like Instagram, and the designs are quite nice.

You'll also find a widget on the home screen to easily enable or customize the Active Matrix display.

Tecno also stuffed as much AI as it could into this phone. One interesting feature is YouTube Notes, which will automatically create an AI-generated note whenever you copy a YouTube video. It will summarize the video for you and even highlight timestamps for key points throughout. It's surprisingly effective and does it all in the background, so even if you don't think this kind of feature is useful for you, it will still be there for you to reference if you need it.

There are also plenty of AI image-editing features in the Gallery that let you remove flares, shadows, and reflections to clean up your photos.

Ella is the default AI chatbot, and you can trigger it by double-tapping the navigation bar at the bottom, which I think is a pretty cool gesture I would love to see on more Android phones. Like with other Tecno phones, you can change the AI model Ella uses, including Gemini, Meta AI, Grok, and DeepSeek. Of course, you can also set Gemini as your default AI, which can be triggered by other means, such as swiping from the bottom corner or long-pressing the power button.

Unfortunately, the camera experience leaves a lot to be desired. The Pove 8 5G takes better photos than the Spark 50 5G, and with the right lighting, you can get some decent contrast and color reproduction. However, there's a bit of fuzziness in the images, and some detail is lost as a result.

And since there's only one camera, you don't get much versatility. You can still get a decent image with the 2x lossless zoom, but go any further and things start to really fall apart.

There's also no 4K video capture, but you can at least get 2K 30fps, something I'd like to see on more mid-range and budget phones. You also get features like Live Photos, Auto Capture, and a cool Vlog feature that lets you create stylized video journals using different templates.

Of course, I have to touch on the battery, because it's quite impressive. Tecno "squeezed" an 8,000mAh battery into the Pove 8 5G, which provides multi-day battery life. In my use, I easily make it to two days, and I expect you could go beyond that depending on your use.

I say "squeezed" because the Pove 8 5G is actually quite thick at 8.8mm. In fact, it reminds me of the Pixel 10 in this regard, which is only .2mm thinner, although the Pova 8 5G at least has the battery capacity to show for it.

Charging is capped at 45W, which would normally be pretty quick on a device like a Samsung phone, but with an 8,000mAh battery, it ends up being relatively slow. That said, the Pova 8 5G could almost act as a power bank itself, thanks to 10W reverse wired charging. It's no speed demon, but having such a big battery is helpful in a pinch.

Should you buy the Tecno Pova 8 5G?

While I wasn't a fan of the Spark 50 5G, the Tecno Pova 8 5G is a nice step up. Performance is about what you'd expect from a phone at this price point (starting at roughly $400 in India); the battery life is quite phenomenal, and the rear Active Matrix display is a fun addition. The singular camera performance won't win any blind camera tests, but the rest of the phone feels like a solid package.

If you're in a market where the Nothing Phone 4a Pro is available, you might be better off taking the battery-life hit and getting that. Otherwise, the Pova 8 5G isn't a half-bad option if you're in the market for an affordable phone and live in a market where it's sold.

It's not always easy to find good open-ear earbud deals, at least when compared with those of traditional earbuds. For that reason, it's exciting to see Amazon cut our favorite open-ear earbuds, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, back down to their lowest price ever. The deal represents a 33% price drop, marking $100 in savings and bringing their price down to just $199.

We love the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for a number of reasons, but especially for their powerful immersive sound setting, their minimal, sleek design, fast charging speeds, and a relatively long battery life.

While they don't come with multipoint connection or wireless charging, the Bose Ultra Open are still head and shoulders above other competitors in overall quality and design. At $199, they're still a little more pricey than others, but $100 off feels like it could be all the justification you need if you're already in the market.

✅Recommended if: you want the best open-ear earbuds on the market and your budget is around $199; you want a pair of open-ear earbuds that won't compromise on immersive, high-quality audio; you like having easy-to-use button controls for playback, volume, answering calls, and more on your earbuds; you need something with a minimal, comfortable fit that can be worn and used for long periods of time.

❌Skip this deal if: you aren't looking for open-ear earbuds and would rather spend this amount of money on higher-quality, fully in-ear devices; you need something that offers more than 4 hours of battery when spatial, immersive, or other modes are engaged; you prefer a pair of earbuds with a higher dust and water resistance rating than IPX4.

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are a certifiably great pair of open-ear buds, featuring a mind-blowing immersive mode and a solid stereo audio mode, a charging case, and a minimal, comfortable design. Bose says they'll get users up to 4 hours of playtime in immersive mode or up to 7 in stereo mode, while the case can offer up to 48 hours of with intermittent charges.

As a Google Pixel user, I have a wide variety of Qi2 and Pixelsnap accessories to choose from, made by both first- and third-party sellers. But sometimes, I come across products like the Mophie Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger that are made for Apple, and stare at them longingly.

Although they can be very expensive, accessories for the Apple ecosystem are well-designed and feature-rich. Most multipurpose chargers for iPhones include Apple Watch chargers, which is a rare find for Pixel users. Whether it's a charging dock or a portable charger, it's hard to find officially certified accessories for Google that support the Pixel Watch.

The Mophie Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger is a modern kit with 3 wireless charging pads

The Mophie Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger is an all-in-one charging package. It features three wireless charging pads: a 25W pad to charge your iPhone, a 7.5W pad for the Apple Watch, and a third 5W pad for AirPods.

Mophie developed the StealthCharge Technology featured in the Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger specifically for iPhones. It makes for a quiet, aerated charging pad that dissipates heat without fans or coolants.

Both the iPhone and Apple Watch charging pads fold open and closed, so you can use them as stands if you wish. This also makes it easy to pack the kit into a smaller form factor once you're done using it.

It's a MagSafe and Qi 2.2-certified kit, but the first two pads can also be used with non-Apple devices. But the Apple Watch charger is obviously not compatible with any other smartwatch.

Mophie curated this kit for travel, so it has a small footprint and comes with everything you need to power the 3-in-1 wireless charger, all in a sleek, minimalist pouch. It has several compartments so nothing moves around or gets entangled mid-travel.

The leather pouch is small enough to neatly fit in any backpack, carry-on luggage, or small suitcase. A 40W USB-C charger with U.S. prongs and a 1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable are included in the box, along with three separate prongs for the U.K., Europe, and Australia.

You can squeeze all the accessories in, but it's really only designed to hold one or two of the included global prongs.

Mophie also includes a handy ferrite bead in the kit. When attached to a USB cable, a ferrite bead — sometimes also called a ferrite ring, choke, or core — acts as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield, preventing unwanted RF signals from being transmitted to and from a device.

The Mophie Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger is a luxury product with a high-end build quality

The Mophie Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger set comes in two colors: Black and Cream. It retails for $149.95 at Apple or Mophie.

This is the 2026 iteration, the fourth generation of this kit from Mophie, with updated charging speeds all around. Older-gen variants are more widely available and come in some fun colorways like a cherry blossom print. The older-gen kits have slower charging speeds, but most of them still retail for the same price.

Overall, I love how the Mophie Roam 3-in-1 Travel Charger is the perfect portable charging kit for an avid Apple user. It supplies the fastest wireless charging speeds to six generations of iPhones, as well as every single Apple Watch and AirPods iteration.

I wish Mophie made a similar kit for the latest Pixel hardware, certified by Google for official Pixelsnap support. There isn't a single similar product available for Google Pixel users.

Even if accessory makers were able to make a universal travel charging kit with wireless charging pass for Pixel phones and Pixel Buds, the Pixel Watch would still make it hard. Since the chargers of all Pixel Watch iterations are not compatible with each other, this complicates things.

If you're an Apple user, this is the most comprehensive travel kit for all your gear.

What you need to know

• Rumored renderings for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra claim the device's design might not change much from its predecessor.
• The tablet's renderings showcase it with the same camera notch, dual camera array, and thin build.
• Rumors add that the Tab S12 Ultra might feature a 14.6-inch display, an 11,600mAh battery, and upwards of 16GB RAM/1TB storage.

Another round of Galaxy Tab S12 series rumors has surfaced. This time, the leaks claim to have discovered the design of the Galaxy S12 Tab Ultra.

To end the week, rumors about Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra have appeared, alongside renderings of its apparent design. In collaboration with tipster OnLeaks, Smartphone Checker posted a few alleged Tab S12 Ultra renderings (via SamMobile). Users hoping for a design change might be disappointed. The tipster's discovery suggests the Tab S12 Ultra won't veer too much from what the S11 Ultra delivered. The selfie camera notch, fairly thin bezels, and dual camera array remain.

The leaked renders showcase the Ultra tablet in black (or gray), keeping things similar to what we're used to.

The publication adds that evidence "strongly" suggests the S12 Ultra will feature a 14.6-inch display. This is based on its rumored dimensions, which say it will measure 326.34 x 208.46 x 5.12mm. Other rumors claim the device could stick with a MediaTek chip. One that's upgraded, but still a year old. The folks at SamMobile mixed in some other rumors, stating the Tab S12 Ultra could feature a maximum of 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM.

The story so far

On a related note, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus surfaced in what rumors claimed were "live images." Similar to what these Ultra renderings suggest, the Tab S12 Plus might not look different either. The images showed a tablet that still featured rather thick display bezels and a selfie camera nestled inside them. The image was spotted in a Safety Korea database listing. This is something significant, which could point toward the device seeing a late 2026 launch, which many have anticipated.

On the other hand, we have a Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra battery rumor that's pretty mild. Supposedly, the device could settle for the same 11,600mAh with 45W charging support that the Tab S11 Ultra offered.

Apple's Find My network has long been a compelling reason to pick up an iPhone. It uses hundreds of millions of devices to track your products using crowdsourced location data, and almost everyone chooses to participate. Google lacked a true alternative for a while, but we've had one for the past two years with Find Hub (formerly Find My Device). It's still relatively new, so many Android users forget to use Find Hub or aren't aware of everything it can do.

I don't even remember to check Find Hub when I can't find an Android phone, Wear OS watch, or Bluetooth earbuds — but I'm starting to change that. Google Find Hub is loaded with features that help you keep track of your gadgets and protect your data in a worst-case scenario. These are the five Find Hub features you need to know about.

Check your phone's Wi-Fi network and battery percentage

Most people probably know that Find Hub uses crowdsourcing to update a device's real-time location so you can find it. You may not know that Find Hub can provide additional information about your phone, and this remote data can help you locate it. Crucially, Find Hub lists your device's battery percentage in the app — this lets you know how much time you have to find it before the charge runs out.

More importantly, Find Hub will tell you whether your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. It'll also let you know the strength of the connection signal. This only works when your device is online, but it can be very helpful. For example, if I see a phone in the Find Hub list connected to my home Wi-Fi network with a strong signal, I know it's in my apartment. If it's connected to my network with a weak signal, it could be in my car out front.

Sometimes, the information you get from a device's battery and connectivity status can be more helpful than the raw GPS coordinates. To try it for yourself, open Find Hub and tap a device in the Devices list. If it is online, you'll see when the device was last seen, its battery percentage, and network connection status under its name.

Find your device on a map, and get directions to it

If you can't remember where you left your device, its location data can help. I don't always turn to Find Hub location data first because, unless you're using a tracker with ultra-wideband (UWB) support, the app can't help you narrow down the device's location beyond providing GPS coordinates. Still, it can be useful if you can't remember whether you left your phone at home, at work, or at a coffee shop.

To check it, open Find Hub and tap the name of your device in the list. A map will open with a pin showing the device's last known location. You can tap the Get directions button to open Google Maps, view the coordinates on your device, and start navigating to them.

I use the Play sound feature in Find Hub more than the Get directions tool. If you think a device is lost near you, navigate to Find Hub > [Device Name] > Play sound to blare an alarm through your device if it is nearby and visible. It's really loud, and sounding the alarm gives you a great chance of locating your lost product.

Share ownership of a device with someone else

For accessories like earbuds, you can share ownership with a trusted friend or family member in the Find Hub app. The way it works is simple. Open the Find Hub app, find your device in the Devices list, and tap it. Then, press Share ownership and hit Continue. This will create a shareable link that can be sent to one person and expires after 24 hours.

When the person you share an accessory with accepts the invitation, they'll be able to see the device's location until you stop sharing it. This is helpful for devices you share with someone else, as both of you will be able to track their location. It isn't available for every device, though, and it's made for accessories. I used it with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, sharing the location with my partner so we both can keep track of the earbuds.

Mark a device as lost, and get notified when it's found

Of course, there are times when you lose a device away from home and might not be able to easily locate it. Find Hub can help in this situation too, with a Mark as lost mode. In the Find Hub app, locate your lost device in the Devices list and tap its name. Then, hit Mark as lost and Continue.

You'll be able to add a contact phone number or message that appears on your lost device. It'll completely lock down your lost phone, showing a black screen with a shortcut that allows anyone who finds it to instantly call the owner (you). When you find it, you'll be able to unlock it from this screen, but you'll need to use two-factor authentication. Alternatively, you can remove the lost device lock remotely using the Find Hub app or the Find Hub web client at https://www.google.com/android/find/.

Factory reset your device when all hope is lost

If you can't regain access to your device, Find Hub can permanently erase it to ensure your data is never compromised. This should be your last resort, as erasing a lost device remotely will remove it from Find Hub, and you won't be able to see its location. To do this, open the Find Hub app, find your device in the list, and tap it. Then press the Settings gear icon next to your device's name. Then, tap either Factory reset or Remove device — the former is for phones, and the latter is for accessories.

Completing the factory reset process will remotely wipe your lost device, permanently deleting all its data. This certainly isn't an easy decision to make, but erasing your device could be better than letting your data potentially fall into the wrong hands.

Google Find Hub works with Android-powered devices, Wear OS watches, Bluetooth accessories, and item trackers. When you learn to master it, you'll have a much better chance of finding your lost devices and items.

OnePlus announced earlier this week that it's no longer launching new phones in the U.S. and Europe. Current devices will remain supported, but the company is effectively exiting these markets, and for people like me, that's a problem.

The OnePlus 13 remains the only smartphone I've ever given a 5-out-of-5 score to. Looking back at the early 2025 launch, it's clear this was the company's last-ditch effort to impress would-be buyers, and I know it would have worked if OnePlus had a better presence with U.S. carriers. The fact of the matter is that smartphones — especially flagships — live or die based on carrier availability, and OnePlus could be found in exactly zero U.S. carrier stores.

This tremendous misstep is but one of many mistakes the company made over the years, but it was likely the single largest problem that simply couldn't be overcome in a very broken retail system. Losing OnePlus particularly sucks in the U.S. because no other smartphone companies in the country push specs the way OnePlus did, and no other flagship phones here have flicker-free displays.

That's not to say some other phones globally don't have even better displays than the OnePlus 13 or 15, but the company's models have been the only choice for PWM-sensitive people in the U.S. since the OnePlus 12 debuted, and now it's difficult to know where these folks will turn.

What made OnePlus and its displays so great

I've been writing about PWM dimming and its negative effects on people since I became PWM-sensitive in early 2023. My sensitivity stemmed from using the Galaxy Z Fold 4 too often in dim light (I regularly read in bed at night on the phone), and it took me months to learn that PWM dimming was the cause of the increasingly debilitating headaches I was getting.

OnePlus and Motorola were among the first companies to make phones I could comfortably use again, and it was amazing to me that these companies were paying attention to a problem that the Big Three (Apple, Samsung, Google) seemed unaware of. Honor has also become a favorite among the PWM-sensitive community over the years, but the company mainly operates in Europe rather than North America.

Now that OnePlus is exiting the U.S. market, the only companies left making major phones with healthier dimming options are Motorola and Nothing. Smaller vendors, like TCL and Nuu, also make phones with healthier displays, but those companies typically target more budget-friendly releases, not the spec-boundary-pushing flagships that OnePlus has long made.

Motorola's last traditional flagship phone in the U.S. was the Edge Plus 2023, and while the company has pushed its folding phone lines with the Razr Ultra and Razr Fold since then, there's no sign of an iPhone, Galaxy S Ultra, or Pixel competitor from them. Nothing also makes some pretty great phones, but even the company's "flagship" phone is not a true flagship.

The only real solution for flicker-sensitive people is to either choose an under-specced phone or to import something, and both options have their downsides. Oppo told Android Central that Realme is replacing OnePlus in the global market but didn't speak specifically to U.S. availability. And thus remains the problem of what to do.

My recommendation right now is to buy whatever is available from OnePlus until it's no longer available. The company is still offering the promised seven years of support for the OnePlus 13 and 15, and the OnePlus 15R has the best OLED display for flicker-sensitive people I've seen to date. You'll also still get warranty support if something goes wrong.

But the future looks murky at best. No companies based in China want to enter the tumultuous U.S. market because of politics, and, aside from UK-based Nothing, no new brands have entered the market in a while anyway.

Unless Samsung decides that it all of a sudden cares about our eye health, or vendors like Google and Apple start adopting displays with better eye-care solutions, the only real solution is to import and hope the phone works on your carrier of choice, and that's a pretty lousy place to be in.

What you need to know

• Google Health app is rolling out v5.04, which focuses on Nutrition Logging.
• Users are introduced to "custom foods," which brings a more seamless and personalized touch to logging what you've eaten, alongside more freedom with entries.
• The Health app is also adding Quick Logging for food, refining Cycle trends, and more.

We've just gotten comfortable with Google Health's last update, and now the company is rolling out another. This time, your daily food intake is taking center stage.

Late this week, Google announced v5.04 of its Health app is rolling out on Android and iOS. This update "builds on improvements" it's made in recent history, but the main highlight is its Nutrition Update. Google is introducing "custom foods" with v5.04. The goal is to make logging seamless and personalized. With custom foods, users can "create, edit, and delete" their entries with more freedom.

A search function for custom foods is included, making it easier to log what you've eaten throughout the day. Joining this are Quick Logging "calories and macro estimates." This is an alternative route to logging what you've eaten. Google says users don't have to "search or add" the specific name of what they've eaten. Users can "log an entry by just adding calories and macronutrients." Rounding out the Nutrition Update is a fix for macronutrient percentages.

Cycle Health is getting refined this week. Google is making it easier for users to view trends in chronological order (designed for long-term viewing).

Naps head to the Today tab, while Google rolls out a fix for "incomplete heart rate charts and maps that did not represent the full duration of the exercise." This final fix concerns iOS users. Google states users with an iPhone can now properly invite friends.

Continuing the trend

Since introducing Google Health, the company's been fairly consistent in fixing problems and introducing new features. The last update, v5.03 of the Health app, only rolled out a week ago. Health metrics were where Google placed its focus. A huge selection of metrics via tiles was added to the app. 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" were added.

On the other hand, what we're seeing for naps in this week's version builds on what we received last week. The Google Health app will include any naps you've taken (20 mins or more) in your main sleep session stats.

Android Central's Take

Nutrition is a huge part of our everyday lives. They always say "breakfast is the most important meal of the day," yet many of us skip it. For multiple reasons, I'm sure. What we eat matters. Getting enough calories, protein, carbs, what-have-you. Keeping track of that, if you're working out or managing your diet, is also important. I like that the Health app is taking this seriously since it matters to so many of us.

Google is expected to unveil its newest flagship lineup on August 12th, but if you don't want to wait, there are some exceptional Pixel 10 deals that are available NOW. Head to Amazon today and you can score $300 off the Google Pixel 10 Pro, a limited time offer that drops the price of the super-powered flagship down to just $699. That's $100 cheaper than the starting price of the base model Google Pixel 10!

Considering that the upcoming Pixel 11 is getting a price increase and it isn't expected to be a massive overhaul from its predecessor, I would seriously consider this deal if you're in the market for an unlocked smartphone.

After all, 2025's Google Pixel 10 Pro is still considered to be one of the best Android phones on the market, and its seven-year software update promise means it will be a long time before it even begins to feel obsolete. 

The Google Pixel 10 Pro takes the compact frame of the base model Pixel 10 and packs in a ton of premium hardware and software features under the hood. Straight out of the carton, you'll behold a lovely 6.3-inch Super Actua OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and IP68 water-and-dust protection. 

The phone comes loaded with 16GB of RAM and the powerful Tensor G5 chipset, plus you get versatile cameras, unrivalled haptics, and all of the latest AI tricks from Gemini. Google even added Qi2 wireless charging support. 

The big question, of course, is whether or not you should buy the discounted Pixel 10 Pro today or wait for the Google Pixel 11 to be unveiled on August 12th. We don't have a lot of confirmed information yet, but if the latest leaks and rumors are to be believed, the 2026 version of the phone isn't expected to feature many dramatic upgrades over its predecessor. 

You'll get a new Tensor G6 chipset and an upgraded battery, for sure, but does that justify the $1,099 price tag? Only time will tell. There is a good chance that many retailers will be offering some impressive preorder discounts starting August 12th, so it's up to you whether you'd like to take the chance and wait for a good Google Pixel 11 deal to come along.

What you need to know

• Pinwheel introduced its Home series this week, a pair of landline phones for kids aged five to 10.
• The Home series includes the Spark (smaller, lightweight) and the Classic (a true landline experience) that needs a power outlet and Wi-Fi to work.
• Pinwheel says its goal with the Home series was to deliver a screen-free experience for kids that is built on talking to one another and crafting friendships.

Have you ever thought about using a phone without a screen? Pinwheel's bringing that bit of history back for kids aged five to 10, which is all about friendship.

The Pinwheel Home series is the latest from the company that's putting a "modern take on the old-school landline." Kids nowadays might not know this, but landline phones didn't have Wi-Fi, nor did they have a proper screen. However, Pinwheel's Home series features Wi-Fi connectivity and parent management. What's more, the company's choice not to provide a screen is more of a social aspect.

Pinwheel says this solution "helps kids build real back-and-forth conversation skills without the distractions of apps, notifications, or social media feeds." While talking on the phone is becoming increasingly more "rare," Pinwheel wants to cut back on screen addiction, too. According to its research, roughly 78% of homes are "cell-only," which pushes one in four kids to get a phone by eight years old.

On the other hand, parents can keep a watchful eye on their kids. The Pinwheel Home series lets parents approve contacts and set "calling hours" to prevent late calls, spam, and more.

Setting up a Pinwheel Home is rather easy. The press release says all users will need is a power outlet and Wi-Fi. Parents will also find a relatively straightforward onboarding process to customize their child's phone experience.

Sorry, wrong number

The Pinwheel Home series consists of two models: Spark and Classic. The former is a smaller, lightweight landline phone with vibrant colors (black, blue, purple). Pinwheel designed this one with the younger ones in mind. The Pinwheel Home Spark is available for $68. The Home Classic is larger and gives that true nostalgic landline phone experience. This phone can be purchased for $79 in pink, black, or white.

Pinwheel is running a bulk purchase incentive for customers. Groups ordering 10 or more Home Sparks can do so for $55/each. If the Classic is more your style, you can buy 10 or more for $70 each.

Consumers can call other Pinwheel Home devices for free (Pinwheel Circle); however, when calling external numbers, the company says you'll need a service plan. Alternatively, parents will find the Friends & Family plan for $6.99 a month. This provides "everything in Circle, plus a full 10-digit phone number to call up to 5 external numbers." What's more, the Unlimited plan for $9.99 a month delivers "everything in Circle, plus a full 10-digit phone number to call any external number."

The Pinwheel Home series has started shipping on July 14. The company says consumers can expect its landline phones to arrive on Amazon this fall.

It's no secret that storage devices are getting more and more expensive, which has led some users to switch to NAS for all of their file management needs. NAS servers haven't been quite as affected by the 2026 memory shortage as other devices, which means you can still find some pretty exceptional deals if you know where to look.

UGREEN is a rising star in the NAS space, and unlike popular models from brands like TerraMaster and Synology, UGREEN's NAS servers for home tend to get discounted on a fairly regular basis. Case in point: at this very moment, Amazon is slashing prices on a bunch of the brand's best devices, making now a perfect time to invest in one of these versatile storage solutions.

My top UGREEN NAS deal

• See the full list of deals at Amazon

More deals from Amazon's UGREEN NAS sale

• More NAS deals: Amazon | Newegg | Best Buy | Walmart

Redmagic's Astra gaming tablet was a revelation last year; OLED-toting Android tablets are vanishingly rare, and it was great to see a sensibly-sized tablet with a gorgeous OLED panel, high-end hardware, and great battery life. I used the Astra more than any other Android tablet over the course of the last 12 months, so when Redmagic said it was coming out with a new model, I was obviously interested.

What you need to know is that the Astra 2 isn't a wholesale refresh; it instead makes a few tweaks to the original design, and introduces liquid cooling. There's also a slightly bigger battery and Qualcomm's latest silicon, and outside of that, it is fundamentally unchanged — and that is a good thing.

The Astra 2 starts at $749/€699/£599 for the 12GB/256GB model, which is a modest $50 increase from last year. There's also a 16GB/512GB model that costs $849/€799/£679, and there's no 1TB variant this year. As always, Redmagic is incentivizing the launch with deals, and these will go live starting mid-August, with general sale slated for the end of August. If you're eyeing this tablet, my suggestion would be to get it at launch — Redmagic sold the Astra for as low as $499 last year, and you can get a decent deal if you buy as soon as it's available.

This OLED panel is a sheer delight to use

The OLED panel is the clear star of the show; the 9.06-inch panel has a resolution of 2,400 x 1,504, and it has exquisite colors and contrast levels. Overall brightness is unchanged from last year, but it didn't prove to be a problem at all — I was able to use the tablet outdoors without any issues. There's 185Hz refresh as well, but you don't see that in gaming; that said, most games go up to 120Hz, which is great to see.

The size of the Astra 2 makes it particularly well-suited to read comics or books, and that's what I did. It's just the right size to comfortably hold while sitting in the couch, and there's a dedicated reading mode that switches the panel to monochrome — if you want to read e-books on the device. Of course, this is a gaming tablet, and it excels in that regard. The smaller size makes it ideal to slot into a mobile controller like the GameSir G8 Plus, and that's predominantly how I played games on the tablet.

The Astra 2 retains a bold design - and you get LED lighting

Like last year, Redmagic went with an all-metal design, and it looks great. It just feels good to hold and use, and the sizing is just right; it isn't as huge as my iPad Pro M4, but it still has a decent-sized panel. The rounded edges make it comfortable, and while it has chunky bezels, they are uniform. The front camera is nestled into the bezel, so you get a panel that doesn't need any cutouts — which is a welcome change.

One of my favorite things about the Astra 2 is the flat design; the camera sits entirely flush with the body of the tablet — just like the Pixel 10a — and it feels wonderful. Thankfully, it doesn't slide off a table like the Redmagic 11 Pro, and that's down to the matte texture at the rear. It is on the heavier side at 363g, but it never gets uncomfortable to hold. The tablet retains IP54 ingress protection, and while it isn't good enough for a dunk in the pool, it withstands splashes of water.

Redmagic prides itself on bold designs, and the Astra 2 delivers in this area. It has a rectangular insert that houses LED lighting, and it immediately shows off the tablet's gaming credentials. This section houses the biggest upgrade this year: a liquid cooling system similar to that of the Redmagic 11 Pro. You can see the coolant moving through the connectors, and it isn't just for aesthetics — it makes a genuine difference while gaming.

The tablet gets stereo sound, and it's decent enough if you're just playing casual games. I like that there are two USB-C ports; one is located at the bottom, and the other is mounted on the left side, making it convenient to charge the tablet when you're gaming.

This is a seriously cool tablet

On that note, Redmagic went with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is the fastest mobile silicon you can get at the moment. It's evident that Redmagic tuned the tablet to deliver reliable framerates, and it excels at sustained gaming — no other Android tablet comes close. It held up particularly well in thermal stress tests, and while there was some heating, the liquid cooling system did an admirable job.

So if you're looking to play marathon gaming sessions on a tablet, this is the one to get. I'm using the 16GB/512GB edition of the tablet, and I'd suggest getting this model over the base 256GB variant; it's easy to run out of storage these days, and you need the additional headroom if you're planning on using it as a gaming tablet. The only feature missing is cellular connectivity; that was the case last year as well, and it's evident this isn't a priority.

Alongside the hardware, you get plenty of software tools to optimize your games. Game Space is an overlay that includes an fps counter, and it has a ton of settings that allow you to make the most out of any game. I also like the side-mounted USB-C port as it lets me connect video glasses — like the Rokid Max 2 — to the tablet. The Astra 2 gets USB-C Alt Mode, so you can easily connect it to an external monitor, TV, or smart glasses.

The software itself is pretty clean, and you get Android 16 out of the box. There isn't much in the way of overt styling (which is good to see), and the interface itself is fluid and optimized to take full advantage of the high-end internals. You get a decent amount of customizability as well, and there's the obligatory AI features, which are easy to ignore. There is a lot of bloatware, but it can be uninstalled with relative ease. Redmagic is doing a better job with updates, and while it guarantees five years of updates, it's unclear if that includes platform updates.

Battery life is reliable; the 8,300mAh battery is good enough for marathon gaming sessions or watching an entire TV series. And when you need to plug it in, the Astra 2 uses 75W charging and takes just over 50 minutes to charge fully. You don't get a charger in the box, so you will need to buy a USB PD charger if you don't have one.

The best part about the Astra 2 is the OLED panel, and Redmagic thankfully didn't change it this year. The smaller size of the tablet combined with the caliber of the hardware makes it a delightful choice for everyday use and intensive gaming, and if you need a new Android tablet, you'll love what the Astra 2 has to offer.

Google has officially confirmed that the 2026 Made by Google event will be held on August 12th in London, which means we're likely just weeks away from the launch of the Pixel 11 lineup.

While many folks can hardly wait for the new phones to drop, the arrival of a new generation has led some Android users to wonder if now is a good time to pick up last year's model, the Google Pixel 10.

While Pixel 10 deals have become more common in recent months, the answer may not be as cut-and-dry as you think. Should you buy the Pixel 10 today or wait for the new generation to launch? Let's discuss.

What we know

The Google Pixel 11 lineup is expected to be announced on August 12th at 6pm EST during the 2026 Made by Google event. According to the latest rumors, the flagship lineup is going to include four phones: the base model Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Unfortunately, Google hasn't been exempt from the memory shortage that has been impacting tech prices this year, which means most of the phones will be seeing a $100 price increase in 2026. Here are the new prices for each phone, according to the latest leaks and rumors:

• Google Pixel 11: $899 / €999
• Google Pixel 11 Pro: $1,099 / €1,199
• Google Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,299 / €1,399
• Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,899/ €1,999
  
  (Prices displayed are for the 256GB starting configuration. Google is reportedly ditching the 128GB of base storage this year.)

Those prices are pretty daunting in this day and age, and it doesn't help that the Pixel 11 series isn't expected to be a dramatic upgrade from its predecessor, according to the latest reports. You get the new Tensor G6 processor, yes, plus the rumored LED light array that is expected to border the phones' camera bar (which is admittedly quite cool).

Aside from that, however, the upgrades appear to be largely iterative, which returns us to our original questions: is it worth skipping the Google Pixel 11 and grabbing last year's Pixel 10 instead? If so, will the Google Pixel 10 get cheaper once the new generation launches, or should I buy it today?

Is the Google Pixel 10 about to get cheaper?

While some Android phones do get permanent price drops when a new generation launches, it's just as likely that the Google Pixel 10 will be completely sold out by the time the 2026 phones hit store shelves next month. Think about it this way: when was the last time you saw a great deal on a Google Pixel 9 that wasn't refurbished?

This is because retailers generally try to make room for new devices prior to their launch, which means they will often discount last year's model right before its successor arrives. In other words, if you want to buy the Google Pixel 10, now is a good time to do it.

Fortunately, there are plenty of active Google Pixel 10 deals that could make the 2024 flagships dirt cheap (or even free) if you play your cards right. Stock is already running low, however, so don't wait too long if a particular offer catches your eye.

If you do miss these last-minute Pixel 10 offers, don't worry too much: the launch of the Google Pixel 11 series is sure to come with some incredible preorder deals in tow, and I'll be covering all of those promotions as they go live.

Whichever generation you choose, you can rest easy knowing you're getting a great Android phone with a sophisticated design, versatile cameras, and all of the latest AI-boosted software tricks straight out of the box.

The top Google Pixel 10 deals this week

What you need to know

• Motorola debuted the Edge 70 Max overseas with a 6.8-inch Quad HD Plus (2K) display and a smooth glass back.
• Bigger moves were made elsewhere, as the Edge 70 Max features a huge 7,100mAh battery and fully integrated Qi2.2 wireless charging.
• The phone is available in India for ₹59,999 (~$622), and there's no word yet on a U.S. release.

Motorola is expanding its latest phone series overseas in 2026. Its Max model is walking an interesting line that's putting all eyes on Moto.

Motorola debuted the newest entry to its 70 series: the Edge 70 Max. The company states this phone delivers "strong performance and power" over previous iterations. Immediately, the Edge 70 Max features a 6.8-inch Quad HD Plus (2K) display. Motorola states it has included "Extreme AMOLED" tech, which helps produce "enhanced contrast so that blacks are truly black and colors pop..." With 7,000nits of peak brightness, the Moto Edge 70 Max boasts a smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

What catches our eyes about the Edge 70 Max more are the upgrades Motorola has given it. Its press release states the phone offers a huge 7,100mAh battery with 90W wired charging. A battery like this would keep users in the game longer; however, Motorola integrated 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging, too. What's more, Motorola has placed Qi2 magnets inside the phone, meaning users won't need anything extra (other than the charger) to charge wirelessly.

Let's be real, Samsung has yet to build Qi2 magnets into its Galaxy phones.

Elsewhere, the Moto Edge 70 Max delivers a 50MP main sensor that's been Pantone SkinTone validated. The company says this "assures the camera captures results representing the vast spectrum of human skin tones." An 8MP ultrawide plus macro lens and a 32MP selfie lens round out its camera.

The design of the Edge 70 Max's back panel also leaps forward. The phone features an all-glass back, bringing about a cleaner (and slipperier) experience.

Max means power

On the power front, the Moto Edge 70 Max is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC. While this is a one-year-old chip, Qualcomm designed it to bring flagship-quality power to affordable phones. The chip targeted users who want to game on affordable devices, while also bringing AI and device performance up to par. The SD 8 Gen 5 is built on a 3nm process with Qualcomm's strong Oryon CPU cores.

Motorola says this chipset facilitates a 36% boost in CPU performance, an 11% increase for its GPU, and a 46% boost in NPU (AI-related performance). The phone offers 8GB and 12GB of RAM paired with 256GB of internal storage.

GSMArena spotted that the Moto Edge 70 Max has been announced for India. It seems like this is the only market to have received this announcement. The phone will be available on July 20 for ₹59,999 (~$622), and consumers can grab the phone in Dark Shadow, Aqua Gray, and Ice Melt. There's no word yet about a U.S. launch.

Android Central's Take

I need to remind everyone of something: in the U.S., in Q1 2026, Motorola was the only phone maker that made serious headway in a struggling market. Motorola jumped 18%, and I think it's because the company's been making some incredible moves. I saw comments from my colleagues Derrek Lee and Nicholas Sutrich when the Edge 70 Max debuted. I completely agree with them: this is interesting, especially coming from Motorola. Its foldables are already interesting to me, now a phone has caught my attention for the first time in a while.

Years ago, you could go nearly anywhere outside of a city and have no cell coverage. Mobile networks have improved substantially since then, but there are still places that don't have adequate cell coverage for one reason or another. Thankfully, T-Mobile has an ingenious solution to fix this problem: satellite connectivity.

While some phones have had satellite connectivity for decades, modern smartphones only recently received the feature when Apple introduced it on the iPhone a few years ago. Since then, Google has adopted it on its Pixel phones, and T-Mobile has taken things further by expanding coverage to phones that were never advertised to have satellite connectivity in the first place.

T-Mobile calls this program T-Satellite, and it's available to both T-Mobile customers and subscribers to other phone carriers. The program uses StarLink satellites to connect to T-Mobile's Network anywhere you can see the sky, which substantially opens up the coverage possibilities when compared to traditional cell networks.

What is T-Satellite?

T-Satellite is the name of T-Mobile's satellite connectivity service, which operates using newer StarLink satellites. These satellites have a new kind of cell radio that can transmit via the 1980-2000 MHz spectrum, using T-Mobile's FCC-authorized LTE Band 25. This means that phones that support T-Satellite can automatically switch between T-Mobile's terrestrial Network and the StarLink-based satellite Network on the fly to ensure that you have connectivity 99% of the time.

Because of this, T-Mobile says its T-Satellite service can be used across over 500,000 miles in the U.S. that aren't covered by any other cell phone service. T-Satellite is also available internationally in select countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and Japan.

Other satellite-based connectivity with phones like the iPhone, for example, requires you to point the phone toward a satellite to initiate contact. This also means that connectivity is limited to basic text messaging and is only intended for emergencies. T-Satellite doesn't require you to hold your phone a certain way because it connects via an LTE channel, making the experience seamless.

You can use full voice and data services through a specific set of approved apps. Thankfully, this includes common apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps, AllTrails, AccuWeather, X (formerly Twitter), and even MMS texting, so you can send and receive pictures in addition to text messages. T-Mobile maintains a full list of compatible apps here.

Voice calls are made through WhatsApp, while users can text 911 from anywhere. You'll know you're using the T-Satellite service when the connectivity icon on your phone changes to show "T-Mobile SpaceX" or "T-Sat+Starlink" in the status bar. Compatible apps may also show a banner letting you know that you're connected via satellite.

T-Satellite isn't as fast as T-Mobile's regular 5G Network, but since it's available virtually everywhere, that's an okay trade-off. The company launched this service in 2025, and things have only gotten better since then, making this a must-have service in the modern era.

Is my phone is compatible with T-Satellite?

T-Mobile T-Satellite is available for T-Mobile and non-T-Mobile customers. T-Mobile customers on any of the company's "Experience Beyond" plans can use the service without additional fees or add-ons. Folks using other carriers (like Verizon, AT&T, etc) can sign up for T-Satellite service separately for $10 per line per month via the secondary SIM on your phone.

T-Mobile says most phones sold in the last four years are compatible with T-Satellite, but I found that doesn't seem to be the case. What T-Mobile likely means is that most phones sold through its distribution channels and stores are compatible, but a significant number of smartphones made over the past four years don't appear to work with the T-Satellite service.

I tested phones from several phones from major brands not sold by T-Mobile and found that none of them are compatible. That includes phones from brands like OnePlus, Oppo, Nothing, Honor, RealMe, and Xiaomi. Phones officially sold through T-Mobile channels, like Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Motorola, and even the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, all work splendidly with the service. Thankfully, T-Mobile regularly runs great deals so you can get a compatible phone.

To find out if your phone is compatible, head over to T-Mobile's official compatibility tool and input your IMEI and EID numbers to check. To find these numbers, open your phone's system settings (found in the app drawer) and scroll down to About Phone. Most phones show these numbers in this section, although you may also have to open the Status section (under About Phone) to find them.

How to enable T-Mobile T-Satellite

If you're already signed up for a compatible T-Mobile plan (as discussed in the section above), or you have a separate SIM just for T-Satellite, you should be all set. It's good to double-check and make sure things are working before you venture out, though, so follow these steps to ensure that T-Mobile T-Satellite is enabled:

1. Open your phone's system settings. On most Android phones, this is found by tapping the settings icon in your app drawer.

2. Open the Network & Internet section (Connections on a Samsung phone).

3. Select SIMs & mobile network.

4. Tap your SIM card in the list (not the toggle button to the right of it). On Galaxy phones, you can go directly to Satellite networks and skip the next step.

5. Select Satellite connectivity from the list.

If your phone doesn't support satellite connectivity, you will not find a Satellite Connectivity option in the menu.

The next screen will let you know if your phone is set up for satellite connectivity. On one of my T-Mobile plans, my Motorola Razr Fold shows that the plan doesn't support satellite connectivity features.

On another T-Mobile plan that supports T-Satellite, the connectivity section shows that data and messaging are included with the account, plus a list of all supported apps currently installed on the phone.

Now that you're all set up, enjoy advanced satellite connectivity anywhere you can see the sky. Keep in mind that any obstructions, including trees, signs, and buildings, could block your connectivity.

For the best results, get to a clear, open area and keep an eye out for the special "T-Mobile SpaceX" or "T-Sat+Starlink" in the status bar on your phone to know you're connected to T-Mobile's

What you need to know

• Caviar unveiled a luxury Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra edition before Samsung has even announced the phone.
• The special edition honors Lionel Messi with hand-painted cloisonné enamel artwork and 24-karat gold accents.
• Only 19 units will be made, with prices starting at a staggering $13,130 for the 256GB model.

Samsung’s next foldables aren’t expected to be announced until its Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, but luxury customization brand Caviar has beat it to the punch with a wildly expensive special edition based on the unreleased Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The customized Fold 8 Ultra is part of Caviar’s new Legends collection, swapping out the standard rear panel for a hand-painted portrait of football icon Lionel Messi in the colors of Argentina’s national team. The artwork is created using the centuries-old cloisonné enamel technique, and the outlines, jersey number 10, national symbols, and frame accents are finished with 24-karat gold plating. Caviar says the jewelry craftsmanship and the premium materials are meant to help make the foldable a collectible, not just another smartphone.

It sounds exclusive by design, and the production numbers reflect that. Only 19 units of the Caviar will be made worldwide, and pricing begins at $13,130 for the 256GB variant before any optional customization. Buyers can also request additional services such as custom engravings, logos, design modifications, or custom packaging.

The collection launches ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup final and the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra phone, an appropriate time considering that the 2026 tournament is expected to be the last World Cup appearance for both stars.

None of this, of course, gives us any new information about Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone. The base phone is still expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra that Samsung will unveil on July 22. What Caviar has done is give us a peek at how luxury brands are already betting on Samsung's next flagship, if you're willing to pay more than the price of a decent used car to own one.

Android Central's Take

I can personally appreciate the craftsmanship here, and there’s no denying that turning a foldable into a piece of collectible art is going to have a tiny niche of deep-pocketed football fans eating this up. But for the rest of us, this is more evidence that luxury phone customizations are less about improving the actual user experience and more about showing off. I’d rather see Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra wow me with meaningful hardware upgrades instead of a layer of gold and enamel that sends the price soaring into the five-figure range. At the very least, this special edition proves there’s always someone willing to pay for exclusivity.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 7 to Pixel users with a Pixel 6 or newer phone.
• The patch is lighter; however, it features a trifecta of fixes for the Pixel Quick Settings menu for issues that have been reported since January.
• Beta 6 rolled out at the top of July, achieving the major milestone of Platform Stability.

Google is following up on a huge milestone for its first quarterly Android 17 update with a beta that fixes issues Pixel users have been vocal about.

Compared to what Beta 6 achieved, Android 17 QPR1 Beta 7 might seem a little lackluster. However, what it does is roll out solutions to problems Pixel users have been reporting for months. Google shared its patch notes on Reddit this week, stating enrolled testers with a Pixel 6 or newer phone can begin downloading it. There are two issues that users have continued to report to Google. Both involve the Pixel Quick Settings menu.

Google states that it's rolling out a fix for "Battery Share from Quick Settings." Users have informed Google that Battery Share would "sometimes do nothing" or "sometimes it shows the wireless charging animation." Another round of Issue Tracker reports states that Battery Share wasn't working properly. The user says it would "turn off the second I try to turn it on." What's more, they state that the UI would incorrectly say their phone is wirelessly charging when "it's not connected physically to anything."

While Google has known about this problem since January, a fix is now rolling out for Pixel users in Beta 7 to solve a "failure to start charging" and "repeatedly displayed the charging animation." Two more fixes are rolling out for Pixel Quick Settings. Please read them below.

Quarterly update soon

• Turning off Wi-Fi created an empty gap between the battery and mobile data icons in the Quick Settings status bar
• A crash in the Quick Settings font size controller that prevented users from adjusting their text size from the quick access panel

The hope is that we're coming up on Google's first quarterly release for Android 17. Usually, this takes place around September. Google has been moving quickly with Android 17's development, so maybe the timeline has changed. Either way, QPR1 Beta 6 rolled out two weeks ago, achieving the major milestone of Platform Stability. This matters for both sides, but more so for developers. Better preparation for their apps to work with this new version can begin. For users, this means we're one (major) step closer to downloading it.

There was a Quick Settings-related issue in Beta 6, as well. Users reported that there was a visual glitch when "rapidly swiping" through the media carousel. The Quick Settings layout and settings icon were affected by this bug. Now, the company's rolling out even more fixes for Quick Settings.

What you need to know

• Google announced a Connected Apps expansion in AI Mode in Search, opening access to Instacart, YouTube Music, and Canva for U.S. users.
• These services let users lean on the AI for grocery shopping, as AI Mode asks for their preferred store before filling their Instacart bag ahead of checkout.
• Google states that it's working with other partners in preparation to add more services

Google's Connected Apps let users bring Gemini into their emails, Drive, and more. This experience is expanding this week, as AI Mode lends a helping hand.

Google announced this afternoon (July 16) that it's rolling out Connected Apps in AI Mode. The post states, "...we’re enabling you to directly connect your apps in Search." Connected Apps in AI Mode will roll out first for U.S. users, and it's adding three "go-to" services for users getting started. U.S. users can connect their YouTube Music account with AI Mode for playlist creation.

The company offers a brief example, stating users can prompt the AI to create a playlist for someone's birthday. Offering their age helps, as the AI rolls the time machine back to their birth year to create a playlist that blends the past and present. AI Mode will produce its results in your chat with it. Users will find the playlist's AI-generated title, number of songs, playlist length (mins/hours), and buttons to "add to library" or play.

Something to note is that AI Mode's playlists in YouTube Music will expire after a duration. Google recommends that users save their playlist to avoid losing it.

Instacart is another service users can let the AI leverage. If you're looking to get some groceries before a big party, you can tell the AI to "get me all the things I need for my BBQ and add them to my grocery cart." AI Mode will sift through your Google Account, Gmail, and more to gather the details, and since you mentioned "grocery cart," Instacart is where it'll lean to complete the process.

Users can select their preferred store, verify the items in their cart, and open Instacart to complete the transaction.

Let AI do the heavylifting

The final service arriving in AI Mode is Canva. You may know that this is a go-to app for creating flyers and other promotional material. Users can tell AI Mode to create a specific banner in Canva, alongside specific details, such as its theme, date/time for the event, and more. AI Mode will offer its results in chat. Users can tap on the individual AI creations to edit them in the Canva app.

Connected Apps in AI Mode are rolling out today (July 16) for U.S. users. Google says it's "working with a range of partners," teasing that there's more to come.

Personal Intelligence was a huge update for Gemini in January. This allowed users to bring Gemini into their personal lives by connecting Photos, Gmail, YouTube, and other apps. Users could ask Gemini to find dates from a recent string of emails or find replacement tires. The AI would look through emails and their photos to find their car's make and model before completing the search.

Google rolled this experience out in AI Mode, Gemini, and Gemini in Chrome for more U.S. users in March. It was confined to Google's apps, but this expansion gives users even more room to work with.

If you missed all of the festivities during Prime Day last month, you're in luck: the Google Pixel Watch 4 just scored another $100 discount at Amazon, returning the LTE version of the beloved wearable back down to its lowest price ever recorded. 

The discount comes just weeks before the expected unveiling of the new Pixel Watch 5, but if you don't need the latest gadgets on the market, this is an awesome way to save some serious cash on one of the best Android smartwatches ever built. 

We gave the Google Pixel Watch 4 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review last October, and it isn't hard to see why. Straight out of the box, the watch sports a lovely water-droplet-inspired design with a domed 3,000-nit display and a 5ATM / IP68 water-and-dust resistance rating. 

Things get even more impressive under the hood, as the Pixel Watch 4 is powered by a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor with 2GB of RAM and some fantastic Wear OS software. In addition to all of the latest health and fitness tracking technology powered by Fitbit, the watch features dual-frequency GPS tracking, upgraded battery life with lightning-fast charging speeds, and all of the Gemini features you'd expect from a Pixel device in 2026. 

So yes, it's a great smartwatch, but let's address the elephant in the room. Should you buy the Google Pixel Watch 4 now that it's on sale, or should you wait for the Pixel Watch 5 to be revealed on August 12th? 

I'll start by saying that, unlike the upcoming Pixel 11 phones, we don't know a lot about the Pixel Watch 5 just yet. In fact, one of the only reputable bits of information that we do have so far is that the new watch is expected to have a price increase of $50 for the Wi-Fi version and $100 for the LTE variant.

I'm sure that the Pixel Watch 5 will come with some new features and a boost in performance/battery life to offset the price hike, but it's unlikely to be a dramatic transformation from its predecessor. So in conclusion, unless you're a passionate Pixel fan who needs the latest and great gadgets from the OEM, if you simply want a reliable smartwatch today, I'd grab the Pixel Watch 4 while it's on sale.

Marshall just launched brand-new over-ear headphones for the affordable price segment on May 19, 2026. The Marshall Milton ANC headphones retail for $229.99, walking headfirst into a starkly competitive neck of the woods: budget wireless headphones.

The Milton ANC have been getting overwhelmingly positive reviews everywhere I look online, which I don't fully understand. Audio quality-wise, the pair does a fantastic job, right on the money. But the entire wear experience is destroyed by what I feel are the smallest ear cups in the world.

This is a very subjective experience, so you be the judge of whether my hands-on experience is relevant to you. If you have the ears of a child, you can skip the review and go ahead and buy them. Otherwise, read on, my friend.

Initial setup and customization is a breeze

The Marshall Milton ANC connect via Bluetooth, but you can also use the included 3.5mm audio jack to the USB-C port to plug them into your smartphone manually. This does, however, prevent app usage.

First-time installation and setup is easy breezy. Turn the headphones on, enable Bluetooth on your phone, and almost immediately, a connection request pops up thanks to Google Fast Pair. After that, you can even add the Milton ANC to your Google Find Hub or Apple Find My Device.

Then you open the Marshall app to customize ANC, the dynamic equalizer, M-button settings, power-off timer settings, soundstage options, and more.

There is a dedicated Auracast broadcast section to tune in to nearby broadcasts. Noise cancellation can be switched between three modes: ANC on, ANC off, and a transparent mode. The ANC mode allows you to adjust the level of noise cancellation with greater granularity.

Unlike the Marshall Monitor III ANC, there is no dedicated ANC button. The M-button can be customized to toggle that while doubling as the Spotify Tap trigger. You also don't get auto pause/play when you take the Milton ANC on and off your head.

The physics of the Marshall Milton ANC headphones

Marshall advertises the Milton ANC as extremely lightweight, portable, and comfortable headphones with better airflow than other Marshall headphones.

These are quite bendy, and they only weigh 200g, so half of those claims are true. You can fold both ear cups and stow the Milton ANC headphones away in small spaces. They even fit in a handbag, or oversized baggy pant pockets. But the prongs that extend from each ear cup stick out at odd angles when folded.

My biggest issue (and only major complaint) with the Marshall Milton ANC is the square ear cups. I have so many questions for Marshall. Why are the ear cups so small? Are they built for Lilliputians, because what in the Whoville is going on?

I do not have big ears by any measure, so I can't imagine others with even larger ears than mine having a positive wearing experience with these. It felt like I was wearing children's headphones with these on.

And why square? I know a lot of over-ear headphones do have boxy ear cups, but the size and shape make for a bad combination. I had to position the Milton ANC ear cups just right, but I still felt they didn't fully or ergonomically cover my ears. Not to mention, I have plenty of piercings in each ear, including helix and tragus piercings, so that added to the discomfort.

Should you buy the Marshall Milton ANC headphones?

To me, the Marshall Milton ANC headphones are proof that a brand can do everything right, but if the design isn't truly ergonomic or inclusive, it's not worth buying.

Even at the full retail price, the Marshall Monitor III ANC headphones are better than the Milton ANC. However, you can currently get these $380 headphones on Amazon for $229.99 — the same price as the Milton ANC.

So tell me, if one can find good deals on the Monitor III ANC, why would anyone buy the Milton ANC? Unless you have really tiny ears, I suggest you go for the bigger, better headphones.

Samsung debuted its latest flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, back in March, and it's been a real hit. The company saw a huge uptick in preorder demand thanks to the Ultra's new Privacy Display and other great features.

But Google's latest releases are right around the corner, with the Pixel 11 family debuting on August 12. The Pixel 11 Pro XL is rumored to bring notable improvements in processing speed and power efficiency, plus a fun design addition that incorporates LEDs into the camera bar on the back. Here's how to choose between them.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Design

For this comparison, I'm going to use the Pixel 10 Pro XL since we're not expecting any major size or design changes from Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL.

Both the Pixel and Galaxy S lines feature flat sides and fully flat glass on the front and back surfaces. Google uses more rounded corners and edges on its phones, making them more comfortable to hold without a case.

Pixels also use a horizontal camera bar, which provides a better balance and prevents the device from wobbling when placed on a table. Most cases aren't thick enough to fix the Galaxy S26 Ultra's annoyingly off-balance design.

We're expecting the Pixel 11 Pro XL to add a new Pixel Glow LED in the camera bar, which will light up when you talk to Gemini or display an array of colors. Pixels also feature Pixelsnap, which are built-in magnets that work with MagSafe accessories. If you want this functionality on a Galaxy S26 Ultra, you'll need to get one of the best cases for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

But Samsung's S Pen might be a more useful feature for folks who love to take handwritten notes. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra's S Pen lacks the cool Bluetooth features of previous Galaxy S Ultra S Pens, it's still a handy tool for precision input.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has the new Privacy Display, which makes it difficult for people to view your screen at an angle. Privacy Display is one of the coolest display innovations we've seen in years, but it comes with some significant drawbacks. The Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen doesn't look as crisp as the Pixel 10 Pro XL's, and it also sports lower brightness and a chromatic aberration-like effect.

Pixel 11 Pro XL users can achieve a similar effect by using a privacy-tempered glass protector on their phones, like this one for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but Samsung's built-in privacy function lets you dim specific types of content on-screen. A tempered glass protector will dim the whole thing at an angle.

Neither of these phones' displays is suitable for people with PWM sensitivity since they use very slow dimming rates. Samsung's Privacy Display also seems to cause headaches and discomfort in a different group of people. These problems don't affect everyone, but they make the phones unusable for people who are affected.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Battery life, performance, and specs

Both phones are expected to feature the same 5,000mAh battery cell, and with the more efficient Tensor G6 and the new MediaTek modem inside the Pixel 11 Pro XL, the Pixel may actually match the Galaxy S26 Ultra's battery life.

Samsung improved charging speed on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but we haven't seen any rumors of charging upgrades on the Pixel 11 Pro XL. Likewise, the Pixel is still expected to use a slower chipset than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, making it a poorer choice for mobile gaming.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Camera and software

Last year, my Pixel 10 camera review showed how close Samsung was getting to Google's historically superior camera experience, but this year could be anyone's game. In my Galaxy S26 Ultra camera review, I found that the phone's ultrawide camera and portrait modes left a bit to be desired, and this is an area where Google may once again overtake Samsung.

While I expect the Pixel 11 Pro XL to take a slight lead in photo quality over the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung has historically offered better video recording quality.

If one thing is clear, Google is behind Samsung's software quality. Samsung's One UI is not only the most full-featured Android skin on the market, but it's also one of the best-supported and often most bug-free.

Google packs Pixel phones with cool features like Magic Cue and call screening, but Samsung offers most of them. Google often adds new features via quarterly Pixel Drops but doesn't always keep them around for long, and new experimental features cause big problems more often than we'd like.

Additionally, you can choose to limit AI processing on the Galaxy S26 Ultra to local-only processing (and off the cloud), while the Pixel offers no such option.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Which should you buy?

For most people, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is likely the better buy, since you're getting the best from both Google and Samsung in one premium phone. That said, the Pixel 11's August 12 announcement will settle the argument, and we'll see if users prefer the S Pen or this mysterious Pixel Glow. Barring a huge surprise that hasn't been leaked yet, I'm confident Samsung's best will still be the champ between these two choices.

What you need to know

• Google Store's official Pixel 11 teaser highlights its Pixel Glow design, which sits inside the camera bar beside the phone's camera lenses.
• Google describes the video as showcasing an "olive and coral Pixel 11 Pro phone."
• The company sent its invitations, confirming its Made by Google event will take place on August 12 at 6 pm ET in New York.

Pixel Glow has been a more intriguing topic in the world of Pixel 11 rumors. However, after the company's storefront teaser, we have something a little more substantial.

The Google Store is getting ready for the Pixel 11 in August. The company's Pixel 11/Made by Google event teaser page has been updated with a new animation. As the animation rolls on, we're now able to see Pixel Glow's LED indicator beside the phone's camera lenses. This confirms that Google is placing Pixel Glow inside its iconic camera bar.

There's still a lot we're curious about, but the animation suggests Pixel Glow will offer a soft, multi-colored LED experience. What's more, my colleague Derrek Lee got crafty. Inspecting the page revealed a little more about the device we're looking at. According to his discovery, Google says this video shows "The side view of an olive and coral Pixel 11 Pro phone."

It's difficult to make out the color of the phone in question. All we're treated to, much like its emailed invitations, are phones with a gold or rose gold finish along the camera bar and sides. At the least, we can (potentially) take this as confirmation that there will be olive and coral variations of the Pixel 11 Pro. Google teases once more that pre-orders for the Pixel 11 will begin on August 12.

We've been wondering

Rumors about Pixel Glow have had us speculating about its design for months. Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich made the mockup you see above. We hoped that Google would create a ring of RGB lights around the camera bar. In our heads, it would make the phone pop even more. That hope continued with users online after Google I/O 2026. Social media was buzzing after a Gemini Omni teaser showed a model holding a Pixel phone with a glowing camera bar.

Everyone wondered, "Could this be Pixel Glow?" The odds were stacked against this theory. It was a segment about Google's AI, for one. Moreover, the phone looked like it was in a case, and the glow was coming from the case. Rumors had also evolved, claiming Google might opt for an RGB LED dot in the camera bar, replacing the temperature sensor.

Google confirmed earlier this month that the Pixel 11 series will debut on August 12 at 6 p.m. ET in New York.

Android Central's Take

I feel like the design Google's gone with keeps things... classy? There's a chance that a full LED ring around the phone's camera bar makes it stick out too much. Perhaps it takes away from the Pixel design in an unnatural way. Still, I think it would've been sick, but that's the gamer in me. Regardless, an LED dot like this has its uses. I think back to Nothing's Glyph Matrix or Glyph Bar. The lights mean something. So, how will Pixel Glow be helpful?

What you need to know

• Google says AI glasses will only succeed if people feel comfortable wearing them, making privacy its top priority.
• Its Intelligent Eyewear will use a reliable recording LED, plus hardware that detects any attempt at tampering.
• Google admits the original Glass was ahead of its time, but says Android XR and Gemini finally fill those gaps.
• Audio-only Android XR glasses launch later this year with Samsung, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster as partners.

Google believes its Android XR-powered AI glasses won't take off until they earn users' trust, which is why the company says it's putting privacy ahead of everything else.

Samsung has already confirmed that its first Android XR-powered smart glasses are arriving later this year, and ahead of their launch, Google has shared more about its vision for "Intelligent Eyewear" and what it believes will ultimately determine whether AI glasses succeed or fail.

In an exclusive interview with Tom's Guide, Google's XR product management lead, Juston Payne, said the biggest hurdle isn't the technology itself, but convincing people they'll actually feel comfortable wearing smart glasses in public.

Payne put it plainly, saying that if people don't feel comfortable wearing the glasses, and privacy is a big part of that, they simply won't wear them at all.

We all recently saw how Meta had to push out a mandatory software update to make sure the camera on its Ray-Ban Meta and first-party AI glasses gets disabled the moment someone tampers with it or covers the LED. It seems Google wants to avoid making that mistake from the outset with Android XR.

Google has revealed that its Intelligent Eyewear will signal to people nearby when they're being recorded, and that the LED indicator will be reliable. Payne added that the company is also investing in hardware that can detect if someone attempts to tamper with the device, though he stopped short of explaining exactly how those protections work.

The company also plans to lean on Android's existing permission framework alongside additional security measures already found on Android phones.

Payne also shared how Google learned several lessons from the original Google Glass, admitting the product was simply ahead of its time.

According to him, the hardware wasn't ready, and AI wasn't capable enough to deliver the experience Google had envisioned. This time, with Android XR and Gemini, Google believes those missing pieces are finally in place, giving its latest attempt at smart glasses a much stronger foundation.

The executive also revealed that Google is putting design front and center. He said the company wants its smart glasses to look and feel like regular eyewear rather than a gadget, believing people are far more likely to wear them if they don't stand out.

The first set of audio-only Android XR glasses is set to launch later this year in partnership with Samsung, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster. Display glasses haven't been revealed yet, though Payne did confirm that Google will kick off a trusted tester program for display-based Android XR glasses later this year.

What you need to know

• Galaxy Z Flip 8 leak points to another incremental upgrade, with familiar hardware and few meaningful changes.
• Samsung may opt for its in-house Exynos 2600, a surprising move for a premium foldable.
• European prices could jump by up to €180, making the Flip 8 significantly more expensive despite its modest improvements.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is expected to launch on July 22, alongside the Z Fold 8 models, but the latest leak reveals a frustrating reality: you may soon be paying a lot more for almost the same hardware, except without the premium Snapdragon silicon everyone was expecting.

Thanks to a detailed leak from WinFuture, we now know precisely what this foldable brings to the table. The phone is said to pack a 6.9-inch 120Hz inner display and a 4.1-inch outer screen. The camera hardware seems to have been left entirely untouched, with the same 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP selfie shooter.

But instead of the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that’s expected to power the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8, Samsung is said to be opting for its own 10-core Exynos 2600. This chip runs at a respectable 3.8 GHz, but at this price point, passing on Qualcomm’s flagship silicon is a tough pill to swallow.

Note that there are a few minor physical tweaks. The Flip 8 is likely to lose some weight, dropping down to 180g from last year’s 188g. Strangely enough, though it loses mass, the device is actually two-tenths of a millimeter thicker in height and width when unfolded.

On the battery front, the 4,300mAh capacity is tipped to remain the same, but there is now optional 45W wired charging and standard 12GB of RAM.

The real pain is at the till. Base pricing in Europe could start at €1,299 for the 256GB configuration — a flat €100 hike over the Flip 7, if true. The 512GB will reportedly be €180 more expensive at €1,499. The device is said to be available in Graphite, Cream, and Pink. WinFuture shared a few renders of the device, as seen below.

Android Central's Take

We’ll find out soon enough if these leaks pan out, but from where I sit, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 seems more like Samsung checking boxes than pushing its foldable forward. After years of iterative releases, I can’t get away from the feeling that Samsung is leaning a bit too hard on the fact that it remains the biggest name in foldables. If these specs are true, existing Flip owners will have a hard time justifying the jump, while first-time buyers get a refined device that still doesn’t move the category forward in any meaningful way.

Cheap 2-in-1 laptops can sometimes be hard to come by, which is why it's so exciting that Amazon has cut 40% off the price of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook. This price drop brings the 12.2-inch touchscreen device down to just $350, although it's normally priced at $580.

The IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook has a 360-degree rotating hinge and a Full HD touchscreen, making it easy to use in multiple configurations, including as a standard laptop. The device also lets users flip the hinge all the way to lay it flat like a tablet, or to stand it upright for use in a tent-like shape.

Buyers like this model for its utility, and it's a little cheaper than the upgraded 5i model, which is one of the best Chromebooks for students on the market, in our opinion. All that to say, $350 for a 2-in-1 Chromebook is a pretty decent price, as long as you don't mind having a slightly bulky device with large bezels.

✅Recommended if: you need a durable 2-in-1 Chromebook with a responsive touchscreen, and a 360-degree rotating hinge; you like having a device with a long-lasting battery that you know will last through marathon use sessions; you prefer a user-friendly netbook-style operating system, or you've liked other Chrome OS devices you've owned in the past.

❌Skip this deal if: you're looking for a laptop with a sleek, lightweight design that's easy to transport and looks super modern; you need a device with industry-leading performance speeds; you don't need a 2-in-1 laptop and would rather go with a more traditional tablet or computer.

Lenovo says the 3i Flex Chromebook will get users up to 10 hours of battery life per charge, and it also comes with 128GB of storage, a microSD card reader for added storage, an HDMI port, two USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. The display measures 12.2 inches and features an IPS touchscreen, along with a front-facing, 720p camera.

It's backed by the cloud-based Chrome OS, and while performance isn't flawless, it's still plenty quick for most casual users, students, and professionals in need of a touchscreen laptop.

The Google Pixel 10 series includes three flagship phones — the base model Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, and the large Pixel 10 Pro XL. Regardless of which device you choose, there are plenty of deals that could make these AI-boosted Android phones dirt cheap (or even free) if you play your cards right, and I've dropped a selection of this month's best offers below.

The deals on display for July 2026 range from simple no-strings discounts to incredible trade-in opportunities and carrier promotions. Didn't find anything today? Check back later to see what's new: with the launch of the Pixel 11 lineup just around the corner, deals on last year's model are certain to get even more impressive in the coming weeks. So what are we waiting for? Let's jump right in.

Quick links

• Google Pixel 10 review: ★★★☆
• Google Pixel 10 Pro, XL review: ★★★☆
• T-Mobile: FREE Pixel 10 Pro; up to $1,000 off Pixel 10 Pro XL
• Verizon: Pixel 10 Pro XL from $5 per month; trade-in savings
• Mint Mobile: $650 off the Google Pixel 10, 50% off wireless
• AT&T: FREE Pixel 10 phones with eligible trade-in, new line
• Amazon: up to $300 off the Pixel 10 series
• Best Buy: up to $300 off the Pixel 10 series
• Boost Mobile: up to $700 off with eligible unlimited plan

Google Pixel 10 deals

Google Pixel 10 Pro deals

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL deals

FAQ

When does the Google Pixel 11 come out?

Although we don't know much for certain, recent leaks and rumors about the Google Pixel 11 series have left very little to the imagination. That said, Google has officially announced that the next Made by Google event will be held on August 12th at 6pm EST, which means we're likely to get our first look at the Pixel 11 lineup on that date.

How much does the Google Pixel 10 cost?

The Google Pixel 10 starts at $799 for the 128GB version, while the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL start at $999 (128GB) and $1,199 (256GB), respectively. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the base model Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro both kept the same starting price as their Pixel 9 counterparts, which feels somewhat unusual in a time of widespread price increases on tech. The Pixel 10 Pro XL, on the other hand, did receive a $100 price hike while removing the 128GB storage option.

If you want something affordable, it's also worth mentioning that the Google Pixel 10a is an option for budget-minded consumers, retailing for just $499. There's also the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is a premium foldable phone that starts at a hefty $1,799.

Which Google Pixel 10 should I buy?

It depends on what you're looking for in a smartphone. All three devices in the flagship lineup will give you ultra-efficient performance with powerful cameras and a bunch of fun AI features, but that doesn't mean that all three of the devices are made equal.

Starting at $799, the Google Pixel 10 will give you the perfect entry-level experience, with a 6.3-inch OLED display, 12GB of RAM, and a long-lasting 4,970mAh battery. If you need a bit more power, you can upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro and receive 16GB of RAM, better camera tech, and up to 1TB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is very similar to the standard Pixel 10 Pro, you just get a larger 6.8-inch Super Actua OLED display with a considerable boost in battery size.

No matter which Google Pixel 10 model you choose, all three devices boast the Tensor G5 chipset with a ton of AI-boosted software features and seven years of software support guaranteed. Check the table below for some more granular info on the flagship series.

OnePlus is exiting the U.S. and European markets by the end of this week. A report from earlier this week indicated as much, and the company has confirmed to Android Central that it is pulling out of these regions. Additionally, OnePlus is killing off OxygenOS, with the company noting that its phones will use ColorOS, made by its parent company OPPO.

OnePlus also mentioned that OPPO will take over warranty agreements in Europe. "Backed by OPPO, existing OnePlus devices will continue to receive scheduled software updates and security patches within the support periods originally committed for each device model." However, the company is ending all presence in North America by the end of this week.

This isn't the end of OnePlus altogether; I had a meeting with OnePlus India's Marketing Director Ishita Grover earlier in the week, where I received confirmation that the Indian business is unaffected by these changes. OnePlus will maintain its China unit as well, but it will no longer have a global presence outside of these two countries.

The move itself isn't surprising. The smartphone industry as a whole had to contend with flagging sales and increasing costs this year, and estimates suggest storage and memory prices will be inflated at least until 2028. It's clear that OPPO found OnePlus' global business to be unsustainable as a result of these headwinds, so it's pulling the plug.

By contrast, its India business is doing relatively well — for now. From the beginning, India contributed an outsized share of OnePlus' global market, with the country regularly exceeding 50% of the company's overall shipments. If anything, OnePlus has doubled down in India in recent months, launching the Nord CE6, Nord CE6 Lite, and the budget-focused OnePlus N6.

As for existing users, the biggest change will be the switch to ColorOS. After 11 years, OnePlus is shuttering OxygenOS, and future phones will launch with ColorOS. Existing phones will migrate to ColorOS with a platform update, and OnePlus said it will honor all existing update guarantees — these phones will just get ColorOS instead of OxygenOS.

Honestly, this is long overdue; ever since OxygenOS merged its codebase with ColorOS in 2021, I didn't see the point of having two interfaces. For all intents and purposes, OxygenOS 16 is identical to ColorOS 16, and barring minute tweaks to the design and unique AI features, there isn't any difference between the two.

With OnePlus now pulling out of most global markets, there's a distinct dearth of choice in the Android ecosystem — particularly in North America and Europe — and it's sad to see the brand make such an unceremonious exit.

Most DACs largely look the same and don't really stand out in anything other than their tonal characteristics. That's why I enjoy using the Fiio K17 and K19; these DACs don't look like a regular black box, and the styling makes them look great on a desk.

The Muse 300 is now aiming to do the same, but this desktop DAC is taking things to a new level: it has a 5-inch panel, three distinct sound modes, a built-in OS, and a unique UI. Muse HiFi is a recent entrant in this category, and the brand has released six DACs until now. The Muse 300 is its most ambitious effort yet, and it's now being crowdsourced for $379, a $60 discount from its eventual retail price of $439.

Obviously, design plays a big part here, so let's start there. The Muse 300 is a sizeable chunk of metal, and there's nothing subtle about the angular design — it's meant to stand out. It doesn't look like a DAC at all, and that's because you just have the 5-inch panel and a control knob up front; the 6.3mm and 4.4mm connectors are located to the right. I prefer this design as it lets me plug in a headset and not have the cable jutting out the front, and it looks cleaner on my desk.

The control wheel has built-in lighting, and it has excellent tactility. Honestly, the design and build quality make the Muse 300 feel like a high-end DAC, and it holds its own against the likes of the K19, which costs four times as much.

A big selling point for the Muse 300 is the OS, and it enables three distinct audio modes: Balanced, Tube Amplifier, and ACG. The Balanced mode has a neutral soundstage — similar to most DACs — and the Tube Amplifier mode switches to a warm profile that's great for casual listening. The ACG is a unique addition that leads to a bright sound with fast transients, and it's the one I'd suggest if you're gaming.

What's unique about the Muse 300 is that it has dedicated physical circuits with each mode instead of just relying on EQ, and it makes a noticeable difference. I tested the DAC with the Meze 99 Classics v2, Audeze LCD-S20, and the MM-500.

The Balanced mode is the one I used for analytical testing, and the Muse 300 proved its worth by delivering a clean sound with great dynamics. It allowed the MM-500 to shine, but it's the Tube Amplifier that I enjoyed using the most — it just has a warmth and liveliness to the sound that just makes listening to music that much more enjoyable, and it made me want to get a dedicated tube amp. You don't quite get the same amount of definition in this mode, but it is the one that I enjoyed using the most.

The Muse 300 features ESS' ES9039 Ultra DAC chip alongside a Qualcomm QCC3095 Bluetooth 5.4 modem. It does 32-bit/384kHz PCM decoding alongside DSD256, has a 129dB SNR and low distortion of 0.0006% THD+N.

The built-in amp delivers 1.1W of power at 32 ohms via 6.3mm, and 2.2W of power at 32 ohms over the balanced 4.4mm connector. There's good connectivity at the rear, with the DAC offering USB, Bluetooth, optical, and coaxial, in addition to XLR and RCA line out. The only annoyance is that the Muse 300 uses USB-B instead of a standard USB-C port. You'll need an external 12V/5A power brick to drive the DAC, and it's bundled in the box.

The 5-inch IPS panel has a resolution of 854 x 480, and it's driven by Muse OS. The OS lives on a 32-bit MCU, and is designed exclusively for audio playback and user interface. There's a lot to like in the UI, and while it is barebones, it doesn't have any lag, and you get all the usual settings. It doesn't have any additional features — like the ability to install apps — so you will need to use one of the inputs to play music.

After a month of use, the Muse 300 proved to be a revelation. It has the design and build quality of a high-end DAC, and it's clear that Muse HiFi paid a lot of attention to the tuning of the sound with each mode. The idea of Muse OS is interesting in its own right, and I want to see how it evolves over the years. The DAC has enough power to drive demanding headsets, and on the whole, it's a great all-round choice in the sub-$500 category — I didn't think I would enjoy using the DAC as much as I did.

Xiaomi is now rolling out the stable Android 17 update to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17. I just got the update on both phones today, and there's no telling when other Xiaomi phones will make the switch — my Xiaomi 17T Pro is still on Android 16.

Xiaomi has struggled to deliver platform updates on time in the last two years, so this is a refreshing change of pace. It's almost as if someone at Xiaomi read my post on Android 17 updates and decided to take action. As it stands, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 are the only phones outside of Google Pixels to have made the switch to Android 17.

There's just one problem: I don't see anything new with the update. Although the phones are now on Android 17, they're still based on HyperOS 3.0.332, so I don't see any changes to the interface or new feature additions. It's possible we will get those with HyperOS 4.0, so if you're looking to delve into all the new stuff that Google introduced with Android 17 on your Xiaomi phone, you will have to wait until Xiaomi updates its skin.

Interestingly, Android 17 isn't mentioned in the 9.6GB update changelog; it just lists the usual stability tweaks and June 2026 security update. While I didn't see any changes in the UI or features, the only difference is that the interface has slightly better fluidity.

Outside of that, it's virtually identical to the Android 16-based version of the interface. That's by design; Xiaomi largely ignores Google's platform-related changes, instead focusing on its own interface and features as a point of differentiation. While that was a positive in the past, Xiaomi's interface is in need of an overhaul, and I was counting on the brand to do so with Android 17 and HyperOS 4.0 — leaks pointed to an iOS-esque Liquid Glass design that looks much more modern. It looks like I'll just have to wait a little longer.

The Pixel 10 is one of our favorite smartphones of 2025, but now that we approach the Pixel 11 launch, I'm taking a speculative look at both phones to determine whether it's worth upgrading from the Pixel 10. Or at least which phone you should consider buying.

For now, we don't have any official information on the Pixel 11, aside from rumors and leaks. Fortunately, there have been plenty of both, allowing us to paint a pretty good picture of what to expect. And having reviewed the Pixel 10 myself, I'm more than interested to see what upgrades Google is bringing to its successor.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: More of the same design with one illuminating mystery

From the leaks we've seen, the Pixel 11 won't look much different from the Pixel 10. The dimensions are supposedly very similar, although the Pixel 11 may be a hair thinner. The Pixel 10 is already pretty thick, so we welcome any way Google can reduce that, especially given the battery bump.

More noticeable design changes may appear on the rear. The camera visor appears to have removed the aluminum bit housing the camera flash on the Pixel 10. Instead, the entire housing appears to be covered in glass for a more uniform look.

There's also the matter of this mysterious Pixel Glow. We're not entirely sure what this is, but based on Google's Pixel 11 teaser on the Google Store, it appears to be part of the LED flash unit within the camera bar, serving as a colorful indicator light (not a light bar as previous rumors suggested). This could be an indicator for notifications or AI interactions, similar to what we expect with the upcoming Googlebooks.

There's also a chance this won't be available on the base model, but I have my fingers crossed!

On the front, the display won't change much either. It will likely remain a 6.3-inch OLED panel, and Google may improve display brightness, as companies usually do with each generation. With any luck, Google could include some of the accessibility features introduced with the Pixel 10 Pro, but we won't hold our breath.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: Rumored specs point to some important changes

The biggest changes to the Pixel 11 will mostly be under the hood. The phone is expected to be powered by the Tensor G6, likely a 2nm chipset built by TSMC, which should make it more efficient. I didn't have many problems with the Pixel 10's performance, but any improvements here are welcome.

One benefit of the Tensor G6 may be a new MediaTek-built modem. This could mean we'll see marked improvements in connectivity, which users often complain about on Pixel phones with Samsung modems.

Interestingly, the Pixel 11 may come with an outdated GPU, so you probably won't count on it for heavy gaming. Fortunately, compatibility should improve, especially after the Pixel 10 initially lacked updated GPU drivers, which made games look a little wonky.

Unfortunately, there probably won't be much in the way of battery gains, but I didn't have any issues with battery life on the Pixel 10. I hope Google improves charging speeds from the Pixel 10's 30W wired and 15W Qi2 wireless, but I won't hold my breath.

One thing I'm excited to see with the Pixel 11 is the new base storage. These days, 128GB just doesn't cut it for a flagship, so I'm happy to see that 256GB may become the new standard. Unfortunately, this may come with a higher price tag for the base Pixel 11, with rumors pointing to a $100 increase to $899.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: How will the Pixel 11 enhance the software and AI experience?

One good thing about Pixels is that the software experience will be pretty much the same across models. The Pixel 10 adopts Material 3 Expressive, so it's very colorful and full of fun shapes. I actually enjoyed the Pixel software experience for the first time with Android 16, thanks to improvements like the customizable Quick Settings menu and the notification organizer.

That extends to the AI experience, which has been enhanced with the Tensor G5 chip. Google introduced some neat new AI features, like Camera Coach and automation that lets Gemini place orders for rideshares and food deliveries on your behalf. And with features like Gemini Live, the Pixel 10 is the full package.

The Pixel 11 will no doubt improve upon the software and AI experience, especially with Gemini Intelligence set to arrive this summer. The Pixel 10 will likely receive many of these features as part of the upgraded AI experience, but a new chipset could bring exclusive capabilities to the Pixel 11.

For now, we don't know what features the Pixel 11 will launch with aside from the potential Pixel Glow light array. It's expected to launch with Android 17 out of the box, and since we're still waiting on some previously announced features to arrive, there's a good chance they'll come with the Pixel 11.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: Welcome camera improvements in tow

Last year's Pixel 10 featured a 48MP primary camera "downgrade," although it still took great photos. Thanks to the addition of a third 5x telephoto sensor, zoom photos were excellent. For the Pixel 11, rumors suggest Google is returning to a 50MP primary sensor, which could improve noise reduction and low-light performance.

Overall, we could see minor improvements in image quality compared to the Pixel 10. However, I would like to see the Pixel 11 receive the same camera features as the Pro models, since the Pixel 10 missed out on a few.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: So should you upgrade?

If you already have the Pixel 10, I expect there will be little reason to upgrade to the Pixel 11. The Tensor G5 is a very capable chipset and will likely support most of the new features coming to the Pixel 11. And even so, I doubt any new features will be enough to convince many to swap their device.

Plus, with seven years of OS upgrades and security patches, the Pixel 10 still has a lot of life left in it.

Still, the Pixel 11 may be a good phone to consider for anyone who doesn't own a Pixel 10. That is, if you can handle the rumored base price increase (which will likely include double the storage, mind you). Perhaps if you're coming from a Pixel 9 or earlier, the Pixel 11 could be worth the upgrade, especially if it means you're getting a third camera lens.