If you thought the foldable craze got crazy when only Android OEMs were involved, it got even crazier with the Apple iPhone Duo. A recent analytics report for Q3 2026 spells out how crazy things got and what 2027 could have in store.

A report by Smart Analytics Global (SAG) on global foldable shipment performance in Q3 2026 highlights one Android OEM's staggering lead. The report states that global foldable shipments declined 2% YoY, which translates to "over 7.5 million units shipped." However, Samsung saw a 13% YoY increase this past quarter, thanks to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, accounting for 69% of the foldable market share.

This is important—the form factor, specifically. The Fold 8 is the company's first wide-foldable. Many other OEMs, such as Chinese companies, have also adopted this wider, often shorter foldable design. SAG's report states Samsung experienced "double-digit shipment growth in both South Korea and Europe," as well. A notable competitor, Huawei, accounts for 14% of the foldable share in Q3.

The Pura X View was a significant contributor, despite the report noting a small YoY decline in shipments.

SAG then flips the script. While the market has struggled, it forecasts "a new growth cycle" next year. Shipments might grow 55% YoY in 2027. Wide foldables might account for most phone shipments next year, driven by Samsung's device, the Apple iPhone Duo, and others from Chinese makers.

The market is suffering

Some of this data is a little interesting. This was a while ago, but in 2024, Huawei topped Samsung in foldable shipments. The Chinese OEM became the world's leader in foldable shipments. This was a "turning point," one could say, for Samsung. It came at a time when many believed Samsung had become complacent with its Galaxy Z series: the Flip and Fold.

Samsung's shipments fell 42% year-over-year in Q1 2024, while Huawei increased by a massive 257% YoY. Currently, you have Huawei's Pura X View, the industry's first wide foldable, which didn't perform as well for the company as the Fold 8 did for Samsung. SAG's 2027 outlook is certainly intriguing, but it will take consumers buying new phones to make it happen.

In the broader phone market, global shipments plummeted in Q3, marking the lowest level in 14 years. The market dropped 20% YoY. Still, Samsung claimed the top spot because of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra.

Android Central's Take

Everything is in flux right now. Some analysts foresee a turnaround, while others firmly believe we're in for more trying times in 2027. The main thing is pricing. If phones are priced well and buyers can afford them, things will change. But we've seen how prices have gone. Moto's Signature 27 is $1,599, and that's not even a foldable—it's a standard slab phone. Other foldables are $2,000; I know we were all paying attention to Apple's iPhone Duo launch. Wide foldables are cool (I almost got one), but plenty of variables are getting in the way of a turnaround.

Google Search heads into the weekend with a major update, powered by the latest version of Gemini. The company says Search is now "more visual," and its responses "understand intent."

This week, Google was busy parading around its newest AI model: Gemini 4 Hydrogen. In a blog post, the company states Hydrogen is built for "rapid execution across diverse agentic workflows." In short, for Search users, Hydrogen is positioned as an "everyday helper." Google explains that Hydrogen will shift Search's responses in a more visual direction. If you're searching for recommended food options at a local restaurant, Gemini will surface "relevant" and "easy-to-scan" images and responses for the query.

If a query requires a little more data/information, Google says Gemini might even generate a table for easy perusal. This leads into Search's next major update: "better understanding of intent." The post states that Gemini's ability to understand "nuanced and complicated questions" takes a step forward.

This is no different from what Google did in the previous Gemini update with its 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model. Users asking specific questions, or questions with multiple parts, should find what they're looking for more easily. If you're looking for an Asian restaurant on a budget but are allergic to certain ingredients, or interested in a specific type of sushi or sashimi, Gemini should address each point in its response.

Elsewhere, Gemini 4 Hydrogen makes Search better at back-linking. Google says the AI will try to help users find information from sources/sites they've never visited before.

As you might expect, Gemini 4 Hydrogen is coming online for Search users in AI Mode. From the feature, users can tap the plus icon > 4 Hydrogen. We've already seen this appear, and Hydrogen was selected by default (if you don't have access to other complex models).

Google keeps tinkering away

We were just winding down from another Search update involving AI Mode and AI Overviews.

In its mid-October updates, Google made searching with confidence its sole purpose. Search AI now ensures that it lists sources higher up in its responses. Google's AI Search experience had always done this, but it was never perfect. Users had to scour responses to find the AI's sources and verify the information. Now, Google says links will appear prominently much more frequently.

Google also offers "more engaging" links with thumbnails to catch users' attention. On a related note, if you're familiar with Preferred Sources, Google introduced a timely carousel of news articles. If you're searching for the latest breaking news story, Google Search will now display all relevant reporting at the top of its responses.

Back in September, Google officially wound down Google Assistant on mobile and began automatically moving Android users over to Gemini. Although the newer AI assistant offers a wealth of additional features on paper, such as the ability to respond to more complex requests and even process text and audio, not everyone is happy with the change.

A thread is picking up steam in the r/GooglePixel subreddit, posted by a Pixel owner who argues that "Geminification" has "ruined" their experience with the phone.

"For the most part the experience was great," they begin, before explaining that it has been spoiled by Gemini, which they claim frequently fails to complete basic tasks. They highlight the inability to play music via Apple Music, set destinations in Waze, and send messages with Telegram as particular sticking points.

Far from shouting the poster down, commenters are largely echoing the frustration. Right now the highest-voted reply simply reads: "As a long-time Pixel user, I agree."

"Gemini is the worst pile of slop Google has forced down our throats," adds another commenter. One person even claims that, rather alarmingly, Gemini once called emergency services when asked to turn off a light.

Reading through the replies, there's one common theme: Gemini responding unexpectedly or unreliably to queries that were easily handled by the old Google Assistant.

The sentiment isn't universal, though, and there are some Gemini defenders speaking up.

"Seems fine to me? I use it into [sic] the car for general questions, maps (Google) and music (YouTube). It works fine for those. Maybe it's because they're all Google products," reads one response.

"Gemini is better at answering general queries," another argues.

Now we want to hear from you. How has your Gemini experience been, and how does it compare to Google Assistant? Have your say by voting in our poll, and let us know what you think in the comments!

What you need to know

• It looks like Samsung is working on a function that helps you manage birthdays from the Contacts app
• The tool gives you a nudge when one of your contacts has an upcoming birthday, making sure you don't forget to celebrate
• Additionally, the company is also working on a feature that allows you to send digital birthday cards and gifts

If you have a large family as well as a hefty circle of friends, remembering everyone's birthdays is a challenge in itself. Luckily for Samsung users, the tech company could be working on a management feature that helps take the stress out of this.

As spotted in one of Android Authority's APK teardowns, it appears that Samsung is currently developing a tool that makes tracking your friends' and family members' birthdays easier. According to the outlet's findings, this will be native to the Contacts app on Samsung phones in One UI 9.5, and splits birthdays into three categories: Past, Today, and Upcoming.

As it stands, you can manually add birthdays to the details of individual contacts, but it doesn't notify you when you have an upcoming celebration, meaning you'll have to dig through your Calendar or browse your contacts. The tool would help fill this gap and, more importantly, spare you the backlash from friends and family.

Alongside the feature itself, Android Authority also spotted lines of code that state 'Set a birthday that can be shared with others', which points to an additional function.

When your contacts add their birthdays to their profile on their device, they'll have the option to enable a toggle that allows them to share their birthday with others. Once enabled, you'll be able to see their date of birth when viewing their contact information, and it works the other way around.

Remembering birthdays is one thing, but then gift-giving is a completely different ordeal. Don't worry, Samsung has your back there, too.

As well as birthday nods, additional lines of code reveal Samsung's plans to develop a shortcut tool for sending cards and gifts. The One UI 8 update introduced Now Brief, where you can send AI-generated birthday cards to others, so it makes sense that the gift-giving function also sends them digitally.

It's a small, yet functional trick that makes juggling important dates much smoother. That being said, it also gives you no more excuses if you miss another birthday again...

What you need to know

• Google is adding the ability to create digital home keys to your Google Wallet app via Google Home
• The feature requires compatible smart home hardware and is currently available as part of Public Preview for the Google Home app
• It will roll out more widely in the coming weeks

Chances are your Google Wallet app already has your payment cards on file, but would you trust it with your house keys?

Google is set to roll out an update that will allow you to add digital home keys to Google Wallet from the Google Home app, provided you're using a compatible smart lock. Once set up, you can unlock the smart lock by simply tapping your phone on its NFC reader, or have it unlock automatically as you approach.

The latter relies on the Aliro Ultra-Wideband open access standard, which is maintained by the Connectivity Standards Alliance but was partially developed by Google.

Rather than having to individually link each lock in your home, the official Google support page states that you will only need one key to unlock everything because the digital key is linked to your Google Home app rather than a specific bit of hardware.

The key will also be automatically synced across all your compatible Android phones, so you won't need to worry about being permanently locked out of your house if you happen to lose the one in your pocket.

Members of your household with the Google Home app can add the digital home key to their own personal Google Wallets, too.

The update is currently available as part of Public Preview for the Google Home app, but will roll out to more users in the coming weeks.

In addition to the compatible smart home hardware (which includes a Matter-certified smart lock with Aliro support and a Matter-enabled Google hub device), you'll need a mobile phone running Android 9 or later.

Interestingly, Wear OS smartwatches are not supported for now, but I expect this to change in the coming months.

What you need to know

• Peacock is giving its mobile app a huge overhaul with new interactive features
• This includes short-form video, a conversational AI search function, and Franchise Hubs
• Peacock says these tools are designed to enhance the user experience, but I'm not convinced

Streaming giants are always finding new ways to upgrade the user experience and adapt to evolving usage patterns, and Peacock is the latest platform to take its mobile app in a new direction with its biggest overhaul yet.

NBCUniversal announced a new era of the Peacock mobile app this week (November 11), showcasing a roster of fresh upgrades it hopes will not only enhance the experience, but increase user engagement and get viewers to spend more time browsing its seemingly endless library of titles.

The streamer says it's already started testing the new tools and will continue into 2027.

"Our ambition is for Peacock to be more than a place to watch," said Jim Denney, Chief Product Officer, Global Streaming & NBCUniversal Media Group.

"With this new mobile experience, we’re evolving Peacock into an entertainment platform that gives fans more ways to discover, participate, and strengthen their connection to their favorite stories, teams, and franchises, turning viewing into deeper engagement and lasting fandom and loyalty".

One of Peacock's most notable mobile upgrades is the addition of vertical video — which the platform says is integral to creating an experience that's separate from the one you get on a TV. Netflix jumped on this a while back, so it was only a matter of time before Peacock followed suit.

The new Clips Feed exists as its own section, designed to give you a new means of discovering new titles across entertainment and sports that isn't just simply scrolling the homepage.

Peacock is also launching its new Franchise Hubs as a way to browse more content but with a community or fandom focus. This section of the app packs interactive games, live moments, and relevant episodes and podcasts centered on specific franchises, from Minions, Love Island USA, The Traitors, and more.

As well as short-form video, Peacock is jumping on the AI bandwagon, introducing conversational AI search to give you another way to find new content. With this new function, you can browse titles by name or, if you can't decide what to watch but know what mood or theme you're looking for, it can pull up content based on that information, which you can refine as the conversation progresses.

Helping or hindering discovery?

Audience behavior evolves; there's no doubt, so in order for streaming platforms to adapt to these shifts, they have to make some changes.

In the case of Spotify, for example, its Messages feature lifted a pain point with users by allowing them to share music and podcasts with their friends directly in the Spotify app, rather than having to screenshot everything and send it to group chats on other platforms. Those kinds of features are genuinely helpful, but even then, Spotify has also plagued its in-app hubs with short-form video, and I want to see the back end of it.

When Netflix first unveiled its vertical video feeds, I wasn't surprised per se, but I certainly grimaced at the very thought of it. And now that more services are taking advantage of it, it's suddenly becoming the new norm.

But what gets under my skin most is how these vertical feeds are pitched to viewers. The streaming behemoths claim they're useful discovery tools, but at the crux of it, it's just another way to increase your screen time and how long you spend in apps. Doom-scrolling has taken over the social media landscape as it is; I don't need it to get in the way of how I browse movies and shows.

Products aimed at hardcore gamers aren’t exactly known for subtlety. Aggressive styling, bright RGB lighting, and bombastic colors are common whether you’re buying a gaming chair, a high-end controller, or even a dedicated gaming phone.

The upcoming Redmagic 12 Pro is no exception. Its rectangular chassis is adorned with decorative elements and a smattering of colorful lights, designed to highlight its built-in liquid cooling. There’s a huge illuminated ring on the back panel, tracing the cooling loop that sits on top of the battery, along with a smaller rectangular shape and light bar next to the camera modules at the top, where the SoC is situated.

Although they do offer dynamic RGB lighting, all the marketing material shows them lit up in bright blue. I’m sure it’s meant to make the phone look high-tech and futuristic, but honestly, it just looks like R2-D2 to me — especially that white model.

It’s a phone that makes a statement: “the person holding this is a gamer,” and while there’s definitely value in having a device that stands out from the crowd, I can already imagine the kind of looks that I would get pulling this big, flashy bar out of my pocket on the subway.

A console on the go?

It’s a shame, as the rest of the package looks like strong value given the $949 / £799 starting price.

The phone is powered by the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and up to 16GB of RAM, the same configuration found in the considerably more expensive Motorola Signature 27 and other cutting-edge flagships. The liquid cooling system, which works in tandem with a powerful fan and vapor chamber, should facilitate more reliable and sustained performance than other similarly specced devices.

It’s a great combination given the gaming focus: early hands-on reviews already suggest that this is the fastest-performing Android phone at the moment, allowing for steady frame rates in extremely intensive games like Wuthering Waves at high graphics settings.

You’ll be able to appreciate all of it on the 185Hz refresh rate screen that, while not the biggest or brightest out there (at 6.85 inches and 5,000 nits peak), should deliver butter-smooth motion in supported games.

This is also one of the few new phones to launch with an under-screen selfie camera, so you don't even need to worry about a camera cutout or punch hole blocking your view and getting in the way of the action.

You’re also getting some physical advantages that aren’t present on other phones, namely physical trigger buttons that can be mapped to in-game inputs, cutting down on the need for an external mobile gamepad.

Then there’s the PC game emulation. The Redmagic 12 Pro comes with built-in software designed for running PC games from your Steam library. Not game streaming — these titles are running directly on the hardware.

And no, the performance isn’t going to be perfect, and battery life will take a serious hit, but testers have already got titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 running relatively smoothly, which feels seriously cutting-edge and is not something that I ever thought I would see on mobile phone hardware. I just wish all of this goodness was packed in a less… attention-grabbing shell.

The Redmagic 12 Pro hits shelves on November 18, with early-bird discount vouchers and free gifts available for those who pre-order now.

We're experiencing always-on tech fatigue, which is in part why wearables like smart rings and now screenless fitness and health trackers are becoming popular.

They can capture all the same data as a smartwatch or traditional fitness tracker, but do so passively, in the background, so you can go about your day without distractions. Screenless fitness trackers in particular are on the rise, graduating from a market once dominated only by Whoop to include huge brands like Google Fitbit and Garmin as well as smaller ones like Luna and Amazfit.

Android Central has tested many of the latest screenless fitness bands extensively, often sporting more than one at a time to compare and contrast them and the data they collect. At their core, they all do the same thing. But there are also notable differences in design, battery life, app experience, and subscription options (or membership requirements). You'll want to pick the right one to use alongside your Android device based on your needs, preferences, and budget.

At a glance

Best overall

The Fitbit Air is one of the most accurate screenless fitness trackers, combining Fitbit's long history in the business with top-notch vitals and sleep tracking, along with Google's powerful processing and AI integration. While you can use the Fitbit Air with the free version of the app and get basic details, you will get a lot more out of it with a Google Health Premium subscription.

AI Coach is one of the best I have used, answering questions about the data, like why you might not have slept well and what you can do to improve, what exercise would be good to work around a shoulder injury, and even logging specific dumbbell weights and reps to gather more details about a workout. I love how easy it is to log meals by either dictating what you just ate or snapping a photo. You'll see a detailed breakdown of calories consumed (versus burned), protein, fat, carbs, and more. It's a solid food diary if you want to use it for that, too.

The companion app is easy to navigate with all the essentials at a glance, like heart rate, a detailed breakdown of sleep, blood oxygen, readiness score, and more. Most notably, the app guides you through how to tackle the day with commentary, analysis, motivation, suggestions, and advice. It really is like a virtual coach. A couple of big omissions, our reviewer notes, are the lack of ECG and built-in GPS. But considering how affordable the band is, we can live with that.

Along with what's captured from the band, the more information you provide with food logging, details about workouts, injuries, moments of stress, and more, the more intelligent it becomes in putting this all together. It's one of the few wearables where I'd say the subscription is worth the money.

Given the affordable price of the band, use the three-month trial to get an idea of what Premium adds and decide from there. It's a no-brainer option to keep on top of fitness and vitals.

Best for fitness buffs

The Garmin CIRQA is thicker and wider than other bands, but it's still incredibly comfortable to wear. Most importantly, it tracks all the essentials for free. You can opt for the Garmin Connect+ subscription for add-ons like Garmin Coach, AI-powered insights, and nutrition tracking. But it's not robust enough to be worth it, and that's pretty much all that's behind a paywall.

The band accurately tracks activity, vitals, and sleep; the data provided is typically in line with other wearables I rely on. What I love is that it's the only screenless band I have seen to date with a physical side button you can press to manually start and stop an activity. You can later clarify in the app what it was, like a cardio class or baseball game. But it does a pretty good job of automatically picking up activities with distinct movements, like walks, runs, boxing, and strength training. I love the ability to add a post-workout selfie to a cute card with workout stats you can share on social media or with friends.

Features like Body Battery, similar to a readiness score, and Health Status are useful. The latter confirms if any baselines for heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), respiration, pulse OX, and skin temperature are out of range. There's lots of additional data you can log in the app to enhance the experience. With LiveTrack, you can send your location to family members or friends, ideal if you're embarking on a hike or running in an unfamiliar town.

If you're looking for a band mainly to track fitness, the Garmin CIRQA is a good option. You don't get all the bells and whistles that come with Google Health Premium and Fitbit Air. It's also a higher upfront cost for the band. But you can keep track of everything that matters, including a detailed diary of your workouts and stats.

Best free AI app

One of the lesser-known brands in this space, Luna is best known for its smart rings. But the company launched its first screenless tracker at CES 2026 with the Luna Band, and it's a serious contender. It tracks all the same metrics as others and does so accurately, based on my month-plus of wearing it. This includes everything from activities to sleep, vitals like heart rate, HRV, stress, respiratory rate, and more.

At the heart of the experience is the Life OS system, an AI-driven system that lets you ask questions, log things like stress and meals, get advice, dive deeper into data, and more. There's an "Ask Luna" hands-free voice option, though it's limited to iPhone support right now.

Seemingly inspired by Ultrahuman smart rings and the company's PowerPlugs, the Luna app also includes downloadable micro apps you can add to customize the experience. These include, at the time of this writing, sleep alarm, cycle tracker, calorie tracker, and circadian rhythm. The app indicates that new features are coming soon, like a Luna Age (cardio fitness score), supplement planner, and hydration analyzer.

The app has been updated and redesigned several times since I started wearing the band. So, if you are looking to get in with a brand that's experimenting and continuously developing, this is a good option. Most importantly, you can be confident that the data is accurate.

Best premium

Around since 2015, Whoop isn't technically the originator of this category, but it has a similar reputation to Oura as the brand that put the category on the map. But before you get excited about a Whoop tracker, they're expensive with a capital "E." And the Whoop MG is the top-line model.

It's a medical-grade tracker that, compared to its little sister, the Whoop 5.0, adds ECG and blood pressure insights. ECG is easy to measure any time by placing your thumb and index finger on the sensors on either side, and blood pressure requires an initial cuff measurement to then provide subsequent trend estimates.

The app is packed (and I really mean packed) with data that you might initially feel like you need a medical degree to interpret. Thankfully, however, it's thoughtfully laid out and explained to help you make sense of it all. It tracks all the expected metrics and has a Healthspan and Pace of Aging feature. After the 31-day logging period, it will report a Whoop Age that you can compare to your biological age and determine your pace of aging. It's a moving target, so if there's ever a stat that prompts you to work out, go for that walk, eat better, and head to bed early, it's that one.

There's an AI assistant, too, but it's more like a deadpan CEO barking orders instead of a motivational fitness instructor. The best thing about this tracker is the included Wireless Powerpack. It slides right onto the sensor while it's still on your wrist and recharges the unit on the go. You literally never have to remove it! For some, that alone might be worth the exorbitant price to sign up.

If the Whoop MG is too rich for your blood and you are willing to forego ECG and blood pressure insights, consider the Whoop 5.0. Its membership options are slightly more affordable, but still more expensive than any other band over its lifetime.

Best Whoop alternative

If you love the concept behind the WHOOP MG but find the pricing too rich for your blood, even for the WHOOP 5.0, the Hume Band 2.0 is worth considering. While I haven't yet tested this model (stay tuned!), it is widely praised for offering some of the same benefits as WHOOP bands, including a focus on longevity and helping you reduce the speed of aging.

While you get the core tracking features for free, including sleep, recovery, strain, HRV, skin temperature, and of course activity tracking as well as blood pressure trends, there is a Hume Premium subscription tier that unlocks more. But it's much cheaper at $8.99 per month, which works out to be almost half the price of the cheapest WHOOP One plan.

The band and companion app capture useful data like metabolic capacity (similar to a readiness score), sleep apnea risk alerts, chronic illness detection (identifying early signs), and AI coaching with the subscription tier. You may have to take the data with a grain of salt. But the price of entry makes Hume Band 2.0 a good starting point if you're considering exploring the concept of a screenless tracker and value overall lifespan data more than daily metrics and workout stats.

Best budget

Amazfit has a solid reputation in the smartwatch space, with many of its models ranking among the best affordable Android smartwatches. This reliability extends to the Amazfit Helio Strap, which is simple, affordable, and, based on customer feedback (we haven't reviewed this one yet), as reliable as its beloved smartwatches.

One of the unique features is live heart rate broadcasting, which allows you to broadcast your heart rate to compatible devices, like a Garmin smartwatch, Apple Watch, or even gym equipment. The best part? There's no subscription required…for anything.

There's a more premium option called the Amazfit Helio Strap Pro that boasts a dual-sensor system and is designed for hybrid athletes and HYROX training. But most people won't need that model. There are also useful accessories like an arm sleeve for wearing it around the bicep, something runners will appreciate so they can still wear a running watch on their wrist. This is a solid budget option for fitness enthusiasts who also want vital health tracking.

• Back to the top ^

How to choose

Choosing the right screenless fitness band comes down to two core things: recognizing your needs and budget.

What is your budget?

If you want something you only need to pay a single price for and that doesn't require recurring fees, choose one of those options. If you are serious about health, want guidance and granular data, and can afford it, you may find value in some subscription-based bands.

What are your goals?

All these bands track both fitness and health, including vitals. But some focus more heavily on fitness, some on health, and some a mix of both. If you only want to monitor daily data, you can look for a simpler option. If you need guidance towards meeting goals, a more advanced one makes sense. For ECG readings, the Whoop MG is your only option in this category. If it's pricing doesn't meet your budget, however, you can consider a smartwatch with ECG instead.

Find the best screenless fitness band for you

You'll be happy with any of these screenless fitness bands. For an AI-driven coaching experience, Fitbit Air can't be beat. But if you want to get something similar without a subscription, Luna Band is worth considering. If you exercise daily and want to track workouts as much as vitals, the Garmin CIRQA is a solid choice.

The Whoop MG is a medical-grade device, ideal for serious athletes or someone who is especially concerned about heart health and/or blood pressure. But it comes in at executive-level pricing. It's worth noting that none of these trackers, even the Whoop MG, is a replacement for consultation from a medical professional, and they are not meant for diagnosis, only supplemental data.

The best overall budget option is the Fitbit Air. It doesn't cost much upfront, and you can gauge how the subscription works through the three-month trial. Once the trial lapses, see the difference without it and decide from there if it's worth paying the nominal monthly fee. Even with Google Health Premium, the cost is one less takeout lunch a month when all is said and done. And even after a year, the overall cost is still less than the upfront cost of most of these other bands.

• Smartwatch deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon | Samsung | Dell

What you need to know

• A new version of the popular battle royale game PUBG Mobile just released
• PUBG Mobile Flash is designed to take up as little storage space as possible, with an initial download of just 0.96GB
• It also supports devices with just 2GB of RAM

Storage can be a constant issue if you're using a more budget-friendly or older device, but downloading the latest games doesn't mean you have to delete loads of pictures from your gallery or uninstall your favorite apps to create space.

That's because developer Level Infinite has just released a new version of PUBG Mobile designed specifically to be the lightest version of the popular battle royale game yet. The initial download of PUBG Mobile Flash takes up just 0.96GB, with multiple tools available to ensure subsequent content downloads are limited to the maps and modes you want to play – keeping as much free space on your phone as possible.

PUBG Mobile Flash also supports a wider range of devices than the base game, including those with just 2GB of RAM, and promises better graphics optimization for smoother frame rates.

Small file size, big features

The file size may be small, but Level Infinite makes it clear that this is still a fully fledged version of what it calls "one of the world’s most popular mobile games."

PUBG Mobile Flash players will be able to squad up with their friends on regular PUBG Mobile. There is also seamless account cross-progression, so you'll be able to pick up where you left off if you already play the regular version of the game.

“Expanding access to PUBG Mobile has always been an important part of our long-term vision, and we’re continually looking for new ways to connect players around the world,” explained general manager and PUBG Mobile head Vincent Wang.

"With PUBG Mobile Flash, we’re taking another step towards that goal, making it easier for more players to enjoy the core PUBG Mobile experience, reconnect with friends, and remain part of our global community."

This new version of the game will likely prove popular in developing markets and among younger players where entry-level devices are common.

You can download it from the Google Play Store now.

It's hard to believe that Spotify Wrapped is about to give us all a brutal reality check on how we soundtracked 2026. Though the idea of it sends shivers through me, it's still one of the most anticipated and exciting events on the tech calendar.

If you thought it was too late to get in your final listening hours, fear not; Spotify hasn't stopped counting them yet. While we don't know when the exact cut-off is (Spotify's never disclosed it before, and the likelihood of it happening is slim), it's widely thought to be right up until the launch of Wrapped, which usually lands in late November or early December.

The good news is that we still have between two and three weeks left before that day arrives, so if there was ever a good time to crack down on the final Wrapped preparations, it's now!

Amend your Taste Profile

For years, your Spotify Taste Profile has been sitting behind the algorithm, using your listening behaviors to determine which new music it recommends to you. While you can exclude individual songs and playlists from infiltrating your Taste Profile, that's pretty much it as far as controlling how Spotify understands you.

Thankfully, the platform brought Taste Profile to the forefront of the experience earlier this year, allowing you to see exactly how Spotify understands your listening habits and how it uses this to shape your recommendations, and to flag any mistakes it makes. Not only that, but you can also speak directly to it and actively shape what it feeds you.

Using text prompts, you can ask your Taste Profile pretty much anything. If you want to explore a particular genre that's been on your list, you can prompt it to recommend more glam rock, experimental pop, or whatever you're feeling in the moment — and the same goes for artists.

To find it, tap your profile image to open the sidebar where you'll find 'Taste Profile', and then the control is in your hands. You should also note that this tool is only available for Premium subscribers based in the US and New Zealand, so it's not available in every market.

Blocking artists goes a long way

If there's one thing that gets under my skin with music streaming apps is that, sometimes, you can run into artists you can't stand. No matter how much you try to ignore them, they're bound to crop up in your Discover Weekly or whenever you're listening to a Spotify-curated playlist — it's better to rid them completely, I say.

That's why I've gotten into the routine of blocking artists entirely from my feed. It's one of those features that, whenever I bring it up, others don't even know it exists. I'm here to tell you that it does, and it will change your life.

All you need to do is head to an artist's page in the Spotify app, tap the three dots next to the 'Follow' button, and then select 'Don't play this artist'. Once that's enabled, their page will go gray, and their discography will disappear from playlists. Their music also won't show up in features like your Discover Weekly or Daylist, so your blocked artists won't get in the way of new music discovery.

Get your kids' music out of here!

If you're on Spotify's Family plan and your young kids can't keep out of your profile, then I feel for you. There's nothing worse than waiting all year for Wrapped to arrive only to find that your top songs and artists are from your kids' favorite TV shows — the Family plan has individual profiles for a reason!

It's been difficult to avoid this in Wrapped's past, but rest assured Spotify has put its foot down on this infiltration this time around, and you can amend your settings to ensure this music stays far away from your Wrapped summary.

In your settings, you'll find a toggle that, when enabled, excludes all kids and family music that's played on your profile. Not only does this help with steering your Wrapped in a more accurate direction, but it also ensures that your kids' favorite music doesn't affect your recommendations, Discover Weekly, and Daily Mix — so it's not just a benefit for Wrapped.

What you need to know

• The latest Google Health app update has introduced a bug that's affecting the visibility of daily vitals
• Users are missing their skin temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen, and HRV metrics
• Google says it's working on a solution, but users are seeking workarounds to get their app back to normal

The latest Google Health app update was supposed to bring a slew of performance improvements for some of the best fitness trackers, but instead, it unleashed a bug that's been plaguing Fitbit users for the past few days.

According to the slew of reports on Reddit, a number of basic health metrics have gone missing from the view in the mobile app on both Android and iOS, including overnight vitals such as resting heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and HRV. Google rolled out its 5.12 update last week, which appears to be the common link between user reports online.

The bug isn't limited to just one device either — users on the new Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge models, the Fitbit Charge 6, and Fitbit Sense 2 are all experiencing this absence. These vitals are tracked daily to establish patterns and highlight changes in your health, so if they miss a day or two, it could have a huge impact on your readings.

But despite these health metrics vanishing from thin air, it doesn't necessarily mean that your device has stopped tracking your data altogether. In some user cases, the device has continued monitoring health patterns, but the app has just failed to display them.

Still, it's not ideal, and users have been quick to jump on Google's case — but the company has issued some reassurance that it's looking into it.

Google is on it, but there are some workarounds

Among the wave of reports on Reddit, one user went the extra mile and reached out to Google directly, sharing the email they received in response: 'it's a joke' they shared.

Other users turned to Google's support forum for answers, where one of Google's product experts said they had escalated the issue.

However, the issues in the app are persisting, and Google has yet to find a solution, leaving users to find their own workarounds for the time being.

One method you can try is simply logging out of the Google Health app and logging back in again. Some users have found this helpful, but it hasn't been the golden ticket for others. In that case, try uninstalling the Google Health app altogether and redownloading it, which is a bit of a pain, but it's worth a shot.

We've reached out to Google for comment on the status of the issue.

Google has officially entered the "Hey Gemini" era with the launch of its first Android XR smart glasses yesterday.

Google has slowly been integrating Gemini into pretty much every aspect of its apps and services. You can now find Gemini everywhere, from the best Android phones to Google services like Sheets, Gmail, and pretty much everything in between.

And with the company retiring Google Assistant last year, Google has been gradually switching everything over to Gemini. The launch of its first Android XR "Intelligent Eyewear" smart glasses yesterday is yet another example of that shift.

When Google announced its Android XR-powered smart glasses yesterday, the company revealed that users will be able to access Gemini not by saying "Hey Google," as we currently do on Android phones and smart home devices, but by using the new "Hey Gemini" hotword instead.

Saying "Hey Gemini" on these smart glasses will trigger the same Gemini-powered AI assistant we've been using for quite some time now. However, this is the first time Google has introduced a different hotword for Gemini, moving away from the familiar "Hey Google" phrase and signaling a clear shift in how the company wants users to interact with its AI assistant.

For now, the "Hey Gemini" hotword doesn't work on other devices like Android phones or smart home devices, which still rely on "Hey Google" to activate the assistant. However, it's pretty clear that Google is moving toward making Gemini the face of its AI-powered experiences, and the new hotword could eventually make its way to other devices as well.

Of course, Google hasn't confirmed whether or when it plans to replace "Hey Google" across its other products. But with "Hey Gemini" now making its debut on Android XR smart glasses, it'll be interesting to see how long the familiar Google Assistant hotword sticks around.

If you're all about Meta's Muse AI, you might want to grab your Wear OS watch. The company announced that its cute AI assistant is rolling out.

On X this week, the Muse account announced that the AI is now available on Google and Apple wearables. The post states, "Works around the clock, and now on your wrist." Meta's AI now supports Wear OS and the Apple Watch. Users will find the cute, cuddly-looking creature that Meta revealed in a previous Muse AI announcement.

We can infer much of Muse AI's capabilities through this short post on X. The AI will almost certainly help users with daily tasks and queries, while also bringing certain capabilities to apps, messages, and the like.

Muse AI continues to expand

Funnily enough, this seems like another expansion for Meta's Muse AI. If you remember, this cute creation debuted with the "Muse Charm" in September. The Muse Charm looks like a Tamagotchi, and the creation only adds to that comparison. Meta said the charm was designed to keep users connected with Muse via 5G. The Muse Charm features a 2-inch OLED touchscreen, a camera, a microphone, and speakers.

During its reveal, Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, said, "We’ve packed a lot of technology with this little guy. So, if you’re not wearing glasses, this is going to be by far the fastest way to talk to your Muse and to show it what’s going on around you." What's more, the included camera gives the Muse Charm some real-world practicality. Users can ask it about what they see, such as a sign in another language.

The Muse Charm was also said to encroach on smartwatch pricing (which sounds a little weird following this Wear OS announcement).

An AI that's "people first"

The Muse Charm, or rather Muse AI in general, is a part of Meta's ambitions for a "people first" era.

Meta revealed Muse Spark earlier this year as its newest LLM, marking a new direction. The company says the AI is "small and fast by design, yet capable enough to reason through complex questions." Muse Spark uses multiple AI agents to tackle tasks accurately and quickly. For health-related queries, Meta says Muse leverages its knowledge base, built from training data provided by over 1,000 physicians.

Fairphone finds optimism in a struggling phone market. Today (Nov. 12), the company unveiled its first U.S. mobile services partnership.

In a press release, Fairphone announced a partnership with U.S. mobile service provider Boost Mobile. Fairphone is quite commonly associated with highly repairable devices. The company believes devices should last, and that starts with making most of them repairable for consumers. This partnership with Boost Mobile brings "software support through 2033 alongside an industry-leading 5-year warranty" to the Fairphone Gen. 6 Plus.

As you might've guessed, the Gen. 6 Plus is the main event in this partnership. Fairphone's CEO, Raymond van Eck, said, "The Fairphone (Gen. 6+) shatters that status quo, and just months after launch, the response has been incredible." Van Eck adds, "While competitors ‘shrinkflate’ their new models, Fairphone is giving people more: power, features, and longevity. The Fairphone (Gen. 6+) simply makes sense."

The device will be supported on Boost Mobile's 5G network and will deliver Android 16, 12GB of RAM, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 4.

The phone will be available in Cobalt Blue, Forest Green, and Horizon Black. Additionally, Fairphone reminds consumers that the Gen. 6 Plus includes 12 replaceable parts for at-home self-repair. Alternatively, consumers can still purchase the Fairphone Gen. 6 Plus unlocked from the company's storefront or Amazon.

More to know

If you're curious, the Cobalt Blue option is new—it arrived when the phone launched in August. Fairphone's Gen. 6 Plus launch caught our attention. Yes, the device features 12 replaceable parts, making it easy to repair yourself. Consumers will also find a 4,415mAh battery and 256GB of storage. However, you don't see expandable storage every day.

Fairphone's Gen. 6 Plus lets users expand their phone's storage up to 2TB. A 6.3-inch display will greet users out of the box, alongside a 50MP main camera with 4K video support.

Arlo has unveiled its next-generation video doorbell, with prices starting at just $80.

Arlo undoubtedly makes some of the best video doorbells out there, and the company's second-generation model already offered several premium features, including 2K video recording, a 180-degree field of view, and two-way audio. And now, the company has unveiled its third-generation Arlo Video Doorbell, bringing several upgrades over the previous generation.

According to Arlo's official announcement, the new lineup includes two models: a battery-powered video doorbell and a wired version. Both models are available in four color options, including White, Black, Greystone, and Sand Dune.

In terms of features, the Arlo Video Doorbell (3rd Gen) retains the same 2K video recording and 180-degree field of view but adds 12x digital zoom and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity. The latter is one of the biggest improvements over the previous generation, which only supported 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.

Arlo also says the new doorbell is designed to withstand heat, cold, rain, and sun. It also works with several popular smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT.

The new video doorbell also supports the company's Secure Early Warning System, which can provide detailed event descriptions, recognize familiar faces and vehicles, and alert users to potential threats.

The AI-powered system also includes person, animal, vehicle, and package detection, while its threat assessment feature provides additional context around detected activity.

However, these advanced features require an Arlo Secure subscription, with the company offering three plans: Smart Aware, Smart Secure, and Ultra Secure. It's worth noting that the wired version supports 24/7 continuous video recording, although that requires a subscription as well.

As for availability, both the wired and battery-powered Arlo Video Doorbell (3rd Gen) models are available for pre-order at $79.99 each, with shipping expected to begin later this month.

Over a hundred thousand frustrated users were left with broken inboxes and unable to get work done as Microsoft Outlook went down on Thursday, November 12.

Outlook users in the Americas began reporting they could not access their Exchange Online mailboxes, and the complaints were rolling in fast, with Downdetector reporting more than 125,000 complaints as of this writing.

If you attempted to refresh your inbox only to be greeted by infinite loading screens, you were not the only one. Users are reporting being completely locked out of their accounts across desktop apps, web browsers, and mobile clients. Microsoft’s official 365 Status account confirmed the hiccup on X, blaming Exchange Online, the cloud backbone that powers your Outlook email, calendar, and contacts.

The company initially said the connection failures were limited to the Americas, but the company later confirmed that the connectivity bug could be hitting users in just about any region.

The problem is due to the way Outlook clients authenticate and connect to Exchange Online mailboxes using different connection methods.

Microsoft engineers are currently scrambling to resolve problems on the server end and mitigate the impact, but the company has not yet provided a concrete timeline for a full fix.

Apps in Microsoft 365 that rely on the same service connectivity may also be slow or throw error codes until the dust settles, though Exchange Online takes the biggest hit. For now, the best course of action is to keep an eye on the official Microsoft 365 status feed, enjoy a rare, guilt-free excuse to ignore your boss’s emails, and wait for the servers to wake back up.

Samsung and AI have become synonymous over the years. The company now says it wants to add more AI-powered support to its Health app to help users and medical institutions.

Today (Nov. 12), Medigate News (Korean) reported that Samsung is preparing major AI-driven overhauls to its Health app (via SamMobile). Samsung's digital vice president for the digital health team, Choi Jun-il, attended DHP 2026. According to Choi Jun-il, Samsung is preparing to "transform" the Health app "into a service." To achieve this, Choi states Samsung must tackle a few tasks.

The first task is to power the Health app with AI to "analyze health information, such as sleep, exercise, and diet, and provide personalized solutions," according to the publication. However, Samsung also wants to collaborate with established medical institutions in South Korea. Choi says Samsung has already started "opening up wearable sensor data to external companies with which we have signed agreements."

The goal is to standardize health data available through the Samsung Health app to deliver greater value to users. There's still a long road ahead for Samsung and its partner institutions, as the post says the company is working on (and providing) proofs of concept with hospitals.

In the U.S., Choi says Samsung wants to leverage its acquisition of Xealth. Xealth excels in digital health solutions for hospitals. It reduces the gap between the health data you capture on a Galaxy Watch and what your doctor sees and knows about you. Samsung says it wants to pursue deeper partnerships with U.S. hospitals through Xealth by 2030, potentially connecting users with over 100 institutions.

Virtual visits are another option

Samsung has more work to do on home soil to get to the same point as it is (or is going to be) in the U.S. Speaking of which, if all goes smoothly, Samsung would be able to transfer/share a user's "sleep, exercise, and blood pressure" insights from its Health app with their hospital.

It's no surprise that Samsung wants to bridge a gap between users and doctors. Last year, the company launched virtual doctor visits, which you can find in the app today. Through a partnership with HealthTap, the Find Care feature helps match users with a doctor for a virtual visit. Users can also text their virtual doctor in case new symptoms appear.

The company also introduced Health Records with Walgreens, which made it easier to manage prescriptions. Personalization took a major step forward this summer with Samsung's major Health app update. Vitals combines a user's Daily Cardio Load, Heart Health Score, and more to take your daily Energy Score to another level. What's more, Heart Health Score gives users a more comprehensive understanding of what's negatively affecting their heart.

Samsung and Google are finally launching their Android XR smart glasses, as previously reported. The first collection pairs Samsung’s hardware prowess with designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker and will include 30 frame variations.

The Korean tech giant announced today that preorders have now opened, but you’ll have to check if your phone is on the compatibility list to get a pair.

The idea with this collection is that it looks like regular eyewear, not another piece of conspicuous tech strapped to your face. Gentle Monster has six different frame styles, each with a different lens treatment, whereas Warby Parker has three styles: Alden, Reid, and Wren.

Both collections come in various colors and prescription lens options. The glasses weigh around 41 grams, which is relatively lightweight for all-day wear, Samsung says.

Gemini does the heavy lifting

The real attraction is more than just taking pictures without reaching for your phone. With Gemini in particular, you can identify landmarks, interpret unfamiliar objects, translate restaurant menus, and provide turn-by-turn directions through Google Maps. It can summarize meeting whiteboards and save the results to Samsung Notes.

You interact with Gemini through voice commands or by tapping the frames. The glasses can also make phone calls, read out notifications, and help with day-to-day tasks. You get a 12MP HDR camera for photos and video, two open-ear speakers, and four mics.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform is the engine behind the experience, with up to nine hours of battery life. The included charging case provides up to seven additional charges.

Warby Parker’s collection starts at $395, while Gentle Monster’s more premium frames start at $449 and go up to $489. That’s an affordable starting price compared to some rival smart glasses, but expect the final cost to be impacted by prescription options and individual frame choices.

Privacy gets a bit of attention, too

Of course, when you start putting cameras and microphones on people’s faces, it raises some questions. Samsung says there’s an external LED that should indicate when the camera is recording, with safeguards in place to prevent it from recording if someone covers the indicator or disables it. Gemini also automatically blurs faces of bystanders in visual requests. Google says it doesn't use visuals captured for AI training or ad targeting.

There’s another catch, however: it’s not universally compatible. Supported devices are newer Samsung Galaxy phones running One UI 9 based on Android 17, Google Pixel 7 and later, and iPhone 13 Pro or later.

Preorders are now available through Google, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker ahead of its December 10 launch in the US and South Korea (Gentle Monster models only).

Samsung may be working on something more exciting than another Galaxy Z Fold or Z Flip refresh. The company is reportedly developing a smartphone with a sliding display that can change shape depending on how you want to use it.

The latest information comes from well-known leaker Ice Universe, who shared concept renders on X that showed the device may switch between 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratios. The images reveal a slightly squat handset that tapers off into a more traditional smartphone shape.

As per the leak, this device could expand vertically instead of folding in half, so you get a small phone when you want it but a taller screen when you want more screen.

A screen that slides instead of folds

It's not an entirely new idea. Samsung Display has been working on rollable panels for quite some time, and Samsung even demoed a similar concept at MWC 2026. But that prototype required manual shifting and not a fully automated mechanism.

Samsung’s patent filings give us a better idea of what might be going on behind the scenes. One application consists of two sections of housing, which move relative to each other, connected by a flexible display.

Instead of users having to pull the screen out, it could roll around an internal mechanism and extend when needed, maybe by a motor.

Battery life may be the biggest headache

Of course, fitting a motorized screen into a smartphone has some compromises. The sliding assembly occupies space inside the chassis, and this space is no longer available for the battery. A bigger screen could also mean higher power consumption when extended, making battery life a particularly important question.

Samsung’s patent work reveals reinforced sliding rails and supporting slats behind the flexible panel to protect it in motion. The company might also look at silicon-carbon battery technology to get more capacity into the tight space, just like it did to the Galaxy Z8 series. But these are still possible solutions, not confirmed specs for a finished phone.

Samsung has not confirmed whether the device will be available in stores. Earlier reports have suggested a 2028 commercial launch could be possible, but that's a long way from being a firm commitment.

For now it suggests Samsung is looking beyond traditional foldables, exploring ways to make a phone’s screen adapt to its owner rather than the other way around.

What you need to know

• A new free-to-play mobile title has just launched
• UnGodly is the debut title by Azra Games, a studio founded by an ex-BioWare and EA exec
• The game is a dark fantasy RPG with a focus on character progression and rewarding daily play

A new game just launched on the Google Play Store, promising a console-quality RPG experience on the go – and you can dive in for free right now.

UnGodly is the debut game by developer Azra Games, a studio set up by former BioWare and EA executive Mark Otero. It's described as a dark fantasy action RPG, with a major story focus. It follows a mercenary called Vander, who rescues a young woman from a sinister ritual and assembles a squad of warriors called Primals to take on a sinister force that threatens the world.

Each Primal is descended from an ancient god and brings their own distinct abilities and roles to combat. There are currently more than two dozen to unlock, with more on the way, including Conan the Barbarian thanks to an official crossover collaboration.

Character progression is an important part of the game, with unique character quests and the ability to develop platonic (and even romantic) relationships with your team.

Meaningful play each day

According to Azra Games, UnGodly offers tens of hours of play, though the action has been designed to be enjoyed in short bursts with meaningful progression each time you log in. This sounds particularly promising, as many popular mobile games are designed to be practically endless time sinks that require multiple hours of input every time you log in.

Otero says that "console games on mobile" has been an aspiration for years, and this release finally "delivers on that promise." He adds that UnGoldy offers "the same depth, fidelity, and experience you'd expect on PC or console."

The game is currently available on the Google Play Store, with an enhanced experience and more precise controls for those playing on PC via Google Play Games for PC.

It will also come to the Samsung Galaxy Store and One Store next month.

Nothing can hear those sleigh bells ringing, and so will you. Today (Nov. 12), the company announced it is strengthening its U.S. presence in stores with its audio catalog.

In a press release, the company said it's rolling out its audio catalog to Target stores in the U.S. Consumers won't find these products everywhere, as Nothing says you'll find its devices in "select Target stores." However, they will be available online at Target. Nothing says its audio catalog will start filling select Target stores today (Nov. 12) and continue into "early December" for the holiday rush.

The brand's CEO, Carl Pei, said, "The U.S. is a key growth market for Nothing, and our audio sits at the heart of that growth." As such, consumers will find Nothing's Headphone 1 and Headphone a. Additionally, you'll come across the Ear 3 and Ear 3a from Nothing's portfolio. What's more, Nothing is bringing CMF's audio products into U.S. Target stores and online storefronts.

Consumers will find the CMF Headphone Pro and CMF Buds Pro 2.

Continuing what Carl Pei said, Nothing states that the North American market saw 110% YoY (year-on-year) growth in shipped audio devices in 2025.

Something to note

Nothing has been expanding into the audio space for years now, building on its "design and culture-first approach," as its press release puts it. If you missed the Ear 3a's launch, Nothing announced the model in early July for $99. This was a unique launch. Nothing's Ear 3a features Audio Snapshot and internal storage, which let users record phone calls and more.

On a related note, the Ear 3a boasts 12mm drivers, 45db ANC (active noise cancellation), and Hi-Res Audio support. It was revealed in four colorways: black, white, yellow, and pink. It's unclear whether the Ear 3a's U.S. Target arrival will include all four, but this at least gives you something to think about. Elsewhere, the CMF Headphone Pro flexed on the competition with supreme battery life at a low cost.

A physical roller lets users adjust volume and ANC, while the included "Energy Slider" tweaks bass and treble. What's more, the Headphone Pro offers up to 100 hours of battery (ANC disabled) in dark gray, light gray, and light green.

Picture this: you upgrade your phone, and it feels like a fresh start. You can finally make the most of advanced features and new tech, but some of them are paywalled behind a silly subscription — well, that’s what the future Samsung experience could look like.

Earlier this week, it was leaked that Samsung might experiment with charging for Galaxy AI, meaning that tools such as Bixby Action, Daily Briefing, and Gen Video will be shunned into a subscription plan. It got me thinking: if you spend good money on a device, would these additional services make the experience any better?

This is something that Apple is particularly notorious for, and once you’ve scored a new device, there’s a whole manner of add-ons out there. Of course there are its flagship streaming services, Apple Music and Apple TV+, but Apple One is a handy way to cut the cord on services by bundling them into one subscription plan.

The difference with Apple is that these add-ons are designed as almost entirely separate services even though they still exist within the Apple ecosystem. For example, Apple Music is an Apple brand, but it operates as its own entity like Spotify or any other major music streaming platform. It’s also available to non-Apple users.

As smartphones develop alongside the evolution of AI tools, more phone manufacturers are starting to embed them into the core mobile experience. Just look at Gemini and Pixel Phones.

It's not looking pretty

With that in mind, is it fair to charge for tools that are already built into the device when you take it out of the box? According to Samsung Galaxy users, it’s not.

While some existing features (Now Brief, Browsing Assist, and Samsung Keyboard tools) are expected to remain free for now, not everyone is thrilled about the possibility of having to pay extra for the complete Galaxy AI experience, as one user on Reddit bluntly puts it (see below).

But despite the integration of AI services in Samsung’s smartphones, it turns out that not everyone knows they even exist, as another Redditor shares: ‘I have a S25 Ultra, and I'm pretty sure I've never used any of the Galaxy AI stuff. Just looked in my settings and didn't even realize there were so many different AI features available’.

The other issue is the value that’s being brought to the table. Because the market is becoming increasingly saturated, there are a plethora of AI services that can assist you with all manner of things, but for existing Galaxy users, the quality just isn’t there with Galaxy AI.

With Google’s own Gemini services taking the reins of the company’s smartphones and home tech devices, the competition is fierce. In response to the Redditor above, another user added, ‘Most of which can be done better directly with Google services anyway. If I want AI I'll just use actual AI services, though I appreciate there's a local option (which dumbs most of these features down). There are a few useful things, but the vast majority of it is a solution in search of a problem.'

Equally, ChatGPT gives Galaxy AI a run for its money, but even though its premium features are also paywalled, the value factor is unmatched, making it even more difficult for Samsung to compete with the big dogs.

‘The only thing of 'value' is the device automation, which requires device integration. Otherwise, people are better off using external frontier models,’ a Redditor concludes.

Honor has officially lifted the curtain on its next batch of mid-range phones in China, where buyers can now place a deposit for the upcoming Honor 700S, Honor 700, and Honor 700 Pro.

If the company’s previous releases are any indication, the budget-oriented 700S is unlikely to see the light of day in the West, but the more premium 700 and 700 Pro could hit shelves in the coming months.

And, honestly, I’m hoping that they do, because both models are set to bring some impressively high-end features to a market segment otherwise dominated by boring-looking slabs like the Oppo Reno 16, Xiaomi 17T, or Google Pixel 10.

With that in mind, here are the three reasons the Honor 700 is worth looking forward to — and one reservation that could put a damper on the global launch...

It's got a beautiful backside

You might think cool rear displays are exclusive to high-end flagships like the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, but Honor is set to bring them to a cheaper price point with the Honor 700 series. All three models come with a small color display on the rear, and the brand has already been showing off what you can do with them in a flurry of posts on the Chinese social media site Weibo.

This includes the ability to play some cute little time-killing mini-games or unwind by tapping it to rotate a virtual wooden meditation bracelet. It also has some more practical applications, like reading your notifications at a glance without having to pick up the phone when it’s face down on your desk, or seeing a live preview of the rear camera when you’re shooting photos for easier posing. These aren’t exactly brand-new features in the world of phones with rear screens, but the idea of them being available at a more affordable rate is certainly appealing.

For its part, Honor does seem to have some innovation up its sleeve too. One video shows how easy it is to change its appearance with your own pictures, emojis, or GIFs. A new option appears when you hold your finger down to activate the Honor Magic Portal feature. Drag an image to it, and it’ll appear on the rear screen, which seems like a very Gen-Z approach to customization.

I can already imagine quickly tweaking it to reflect my mood, or show off the latest TV show I’m watching or game that I’m playing.

This phone is (literally) on the pulse

There’s another surprising feature buried here as well, revealed in a recent image post. It appears as though the phone will be able to read your heart rate and blood oxygen level, conveying it with a little graphic on the rear display.

It’s not exactly clear how it will do this, but there’s most likely some kind of sensor hidden somewhere on the exterior of the device that you’ll have to hold for a few seconds in order to get a reading.

Smartwatch users might shrug, but as an analog watch wearer who relies on their phone for step tracking and logging exercise routines, I think it's a pretty cool addition that gives you access to some more health data without the need for a standalone accessory.

Similar specs, with some solid improvements

Honor hasn't officially revealed the specs of any of the 700 series phones just yet, but the folks over at GSMarena have put together a 700 Pro spec sheet based on the latest leaks from internet tipsters — and it's certainly promising.

It looks like a very well-considered follow-up to the already excellent Honor 600 Pro, maintaining the same glass back and aluminum frame build that made that phone feel impressively premium despite its less-than-flagship price.

The main screen will seemingly be a very similar AMOLED panel, with the same smooth 120Hz refresh rate and incredible 8,000 nits peak brightness to ensure legibility in even the harshest of lighting conditions.

The camera setup appears to be identical too, with a 200MP main shooter, 50MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide on the rear, and the same 50MP selfie shooter on the front. I used the Honor 600 Pro as my daily driver for multiple weeks and couldn’t fault its camera performance given its market position. It offered poppy, bright pictures that were perfect for a social media feed, so I can understand Honor not wanting to shake things up this time around.

That said, I am disappointed that the phone will still apparently ship with a USB 2.0 connector, meaning that it will suffer from very slow file transfer speeds if you hook it up to a PC to export all of your pics.

The biggest improvements will likely be to the SoC, with the more recent Qualcomm SM8845 Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 replacing the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite for a solid performance boost.

The battery is also getting an upgrade, coming in at 9,000 mAh rather than the 7,000 mAh (or 6,400 mAh in Europe) of the last model for even longer-lasting performance — very promising given I was able to squeeze multiple days of use out of the 600 Pro in my testing. Of course, whether markets outside of China get lower capacities is yet to be seen.

But it all depends on the price

The real elephant in the room here is price, as it could make or break the Honor 700 series as a package.

I’m hoping that Honor will be able to maintain the price point of the 600 line (which would help explain the overall rather similar specs), though this might be tricky given the huge hike in costs of key components like RAM and flash storage.

The Honor 600 Pro retailed for £899.99 in its 12GB of RAM and 512GB storage configuration, though it is almost perpetually discounted to around £599.99, where it represents pretty incredible value. The base Honor 600, meanwhile, retails for £549.99, though, again, it is frequently on sale for £449.99.

If the 700 series is available for the same rates, I could see it being a seriously tempting proposition when put up against major flagships. I'll be following the China launch closely.

I don’t know why the Lenovo Googlebook 15 exists. More importantly, I don’t think Google can defend why it does, either. Not just this one… but all Googlebooks.

Make no mistake: this isn't on Lenovo. On paper and in the hand, the hardware here is phenomenal. The 15.3-inch 2,8K 120Hz OLED display is vibrant with solid touch response, and Lenovo also packed quad Dolby Atmos speakers, an array of ports, and a Glowbar RGB alert bar into a 2.84-pound featherweight body. This would not be out of place on any true premium laptop.

Which makes what Google did to it even harder to forgive. We’ve been down this road before. We’ve been down this road before. Google created Chromebooks as simple, $200 to $300 browser-first machines, and through sheer determination and low pricing, carved out a real niche. Those early laptops had clear limits, but they were forgivable because they were affordable. Then came Chromebook Plus in 2023, pushing prices from $399 up toward $749 on the theory that better specs and AI perks justified a bigger spend.

From that trajectory, it’s no surprise Google tried to move even further upmarket with the Googlebook. Given how half-baked many of Google’s hardware and software pivots are, it’s also no surprise that Googlebook OS is the most half-baked of them all. Why? Because running Android apps sounds great in theory until you remember that most of them still lack proper desktop features on foldables and tablets, let alone when you try to use them as your primary computer.

The crazier part is Google’s hubris. The company had enough confidence in this half-finished platform to talk five prominent PC makers (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo) into launching Googlebooks. The problem is that Google paired their hardware with an operating system that makes Windows Vista look like Windows 11. Seriously: do not buy any Googlebook.

Google wants you to pay a flagship premium for a platform it hasn’t bothered to finish. It’s almost certainly destined for the Killed by Google scrapyard, and that’s where it belongs. Google has yet again proved it doesn’t understand desktop computing, and all five PC makers should rightly think twice before trusting Google with a new category again. It’s time for Google to leave desktop computing to the adults in the room.

The $1,099 price tag ruins the entire point

Pricing is where the Lenovo Googlebook 15 and all Googlebooks immediately trip over themselves. The cheapest Googlebook from each of the five PC makers ranges from $899 to $1,299, with the base Lenovo Googlebook 15 variant starting at $1,099.99. That gets you an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 256GB of storage. Stepping up to the 512GB configuration pushes the price to $1,149.99 (though Lenovo throws its "AI Mouse" into the box), while European buyers face an eye-watering €1,379 sticker price.

At $500 or $600, you can forgive rough software edges as the cost of admission. At $1,100, forgiveness evaporates. That price puts the Googlebook 15 directly in the crosshairs of Apple's MacBook Air, Apple's cheaper MacBook Neo, and dozens of capable Windows 11 ultrabooks. All of those machines run mature desktop operating systems with decades of pro-grade software behind them. Crucially, Microsoft and Apple actually know how to build desktop platforms, and Google’s naivety shines right through in Googlebook OS.

Google is asking customers to pay full flagship laptop prices for the privilege of beta-testing a first-generation platform. It’s barely ready for a free beta release, let alone a four-figure price tag. That creates an obvious chicken-and-egg trap: mainstream buyers will not spend over a thousand dollars on a machine that relies on mobile apps, and without a massive install base, major developers have zero incentive to build proper desktop-class apps for Googlebook OS.

Simply put, there’s no reason anyone should root for the Googlebook, from computer makers and developers to retailers and customers.

Lenovo built hardware that deserves a better OS

Strip away Google’s half-baked OS, and Lenovo’s engineering prowess shines. Picking up the Lenovo Googlebook 15 for the first time is a pleasant surprise because a 15.3-inch laptop has no business feeling this light yet premium. Weighing 2.84 pounds and measuring 0.63 inches thick, the magnesium-aluminum and carbon-fiber chassis is lighter than my 14-inch MacBook Pro and feels much better in the hand. This is one of the few Lenovo laptops to feature a textured coating, reminiscent of Asus’ Ceraluminum, and the soft, unglazed-porcelain feel on the off-white Cloud Gray chassis is beautifully designed and made.

The 15.3-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED touchscreen is the star of the show. Text looks razor-sharp, blacks are properly inky, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling fluid. It is an ideal canvas for running two browser windows side by side or kicking back with HDR movies on a flight. Lenovo also nailed the port layout by placing a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 port on both sides of the chassis alongside a full-size HDMI 2.0 port, a 10Gbps USB-A port, and a headphone jack. Being able to charge from either side without carrying a dongle is how every modern laptop should be built.

Then there’s biometrics: some people prefer face unlock, others prefer a fingerprint sensor. The Lenovo Googlebook 15 gives you both choices, like any good Android phone, and while it might seem superfluous to some, it’s a pattern I’d like to see on all laptops.

Then there is the Glowbar, an exterior LED strip mounted along the lid near the hinge in a deliberate throwback to the original Chromebook Pixel. When the laptop is closed, it acts as a handy battery fuel gauge and pulses with a Gemini gradient during voice sessions. Across a table, it is a neat visual cue. Once you open the lid to actually use the computer, however, it’s as pointless as much of the OS, since you can’t see a single pixel of it.

Googlebook OS is a mobile OS pretending to be a desktop

The only real problem with the Lenovo Googlebook 15 is a terminal one: Googlebook OS.

Built on a hybrid of Android 17 and ChromeOS windowing, it feels like the big-company equivalent of prompting AI to build this and forgetting the details. It looks pretty, then falls apart in seconds.

This is not new to Android. The chief complaint with Android foldables and tablets is that Android apps are poorly optimized for larger, more varied form factors. It's no surprise, then, that they are incredibly poorly optimized for desktop. The core issue is that Google still thinks scaled-up Android apps are an acceptable substitute for desktop software.

Yes, you can resize Play Store apps into floating windows, and Google touts optimized versions of apps like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Spotify. In practice, most of them still behave like stretched tablet apps. Basic desktop muscle memory breaks constantly: right-click menus are inconsistent, click-and-drag gestures don't always register where you expect, and UI elements feel oversized and awkward when you navigate with a trackpad rather than a fingertip.

More often than not, running the browser-based web app version of a service works better than installing its native Android counterpart. That begs an uncomfortable question: if web apps are still doing the heavy lifting, what exactly is the $1,100 upgrade over a $450 Chromebook Plus?

Under the hood, running ARM-compiled Android apps on an x86 Intel Core Ultra 5 325 chip causes occasional stutters and compatibility hiccups. Even Google seems painfully aware of how rushed this launch build was. Earlier this month, Google pushed an emergency November software update specifically to patch NPU memory leaks and browser tab bloat, freeing up between 3GB and 6GB of RAM on 16GB systems. Needing a day-ten rescue patch just to stop a 16GB laptop from choking on its own AI overhead tells you everything you need to know about how ready Googlebook OS was.

To be fair, Google did get a few ecosystem touches right. If you carry an Android flagship, initial setup links your phone seamlessly. Features like Continue On app handoff and instant access to your phone's local files feel effortless, showing that Google could one day build desktop-mobile integrations as slick as Apple's Continuity suite. Gemini integration is also thoughtfully executed in spots: Rambler does an impressive job turning rambling voice dictation into clean, structured checklists, and Magic Pointer lets you hover over on-screen text for instant contextual actions.

Sounds great, right? Don’t get too excited: these few redeeming software features cannot rescue an OS that lacks real desktop depth, nor can they fix mediocre endurance. Despite a sizable 70Wh battery, real-world stamina hovers around six to eight hours of mixed work with noticeable overnight standby drain, trailing both Apple silicon and modern Windows ultrabooks by a wide margin. Lenovo already knows how to build laptops with excellent battery life, so I’m putting this firmly on how unoptimized Googlebook OS actually is.

Should you buy the Lenovo Googlebook 15?

No, not at $1,099. In fact, there’s little reason to buy any Googlebook; the OS is that bad.

If you love the idea of a featherweight 15-inch OLED laptop, buy an ultrabook from Lenovo’s Yoga or Slim lineups, or look at the MacBook Air. Either option will cost you roughly the same money (or less), give you vastly better battery life, and run genuine desktop software without forcing you to compromise your workflow. Conversely, if you live entirely inside Google Workspace and Chrome, buy a Chromebook Plus for half the price and keep $600 in your pocket.

The Lenovo Googlebook 15 is a painful reminder of what happens when hardware and software teams operate on completely different wavelengths. Lenovo showed up ready to build a flagship laptop; Google showed up with a half-baked mobile OS and expected consumers to pay a premium. Until Google figures out what a desktop operating system actually needs to be, skip this entirely.

At this point, I doubt it ever will. So don't buy the Lenovo Googlebook 15. Do not buy any Googlebook. Unless something drastic changes with Google’s approach, I probably wouldn't buy any Google desktop computer, ever.

Google is rolling out another round of Google Home improvements, and older Nest cameras are getting some much-needed attention alongside upgrades to Gemini.

The main changes are divided between Gemini for Home (Early Access) and the Google Home app. On the Gemini front, Google is making its voice assistant better at understanding complex smart home requests. If there are multiple devices that match a command, Gemini can now ask a quick follow-up question to determine exactly which device you mean instead of guessing or giving up. That’s a far better way to go than arguing with your smart speaker about which bedroom light you want off.

Gemini gives you visual responses and faster voice controls

Google is also offering Nest Hub owners a more useful way to interact with Gemini. Now, smart displays can show relevant images alongside on-screen answers when they’re helping to explain a response. This should make some queries easier to understand without relying entirely on verbal explanations.

Other improvements include faster responses when setting, checking, or canceling timers and alarms, and more reliable media sleep timers. Google has also made voice feedback more conversational, enabling users to add details or revise their messages before sending them. Connected displays and speakers should also start playing broadcasts more quickly.

Some love for older Nest cams

The Google Home app update fixes a number of camera problems, especially for older Nest hardware that has been moved to the newer app. Google has fixed some live-streaming connection issues with the first-generation Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, wired Nest Doorbell (Nest Hello), and both Nest Cam IQ models.

The fixes target particular network setups like PPPoE connections, fiber internet, and mobile hotspots. Nest Cam IQ owners should also get back event thumbnails, and improved clock accuracy should provide more reliable timestamps on recorded footage. Google also updated security certificates and fixed stability issues that could lead to unexpected camera restarts.

Android users also get a handful of smaller, but welcome, fixes, like more reliable camera history controls, fewer unwanted Nest account-linking prompts, and clearer instructions on how to re-link third-party cameras. The ability to remove an offline, unmigrated 1st-generation Nest Doorbell is also returning.

Google Home becomes more useful than cameras

Elsewhere, Google has added an Eco Mode Everywhere toggle for households with multiple Nest thermostats, which allows you to activate energy-saving mode across devices with one press. Compatible Aliro smart locks also allow you to add digital home keys to Google Wallet on supported Android devices, including hands-free unlocking when you approach the door.

Google Home MCP is also getting an expansion. AI agents can now set up and manage home automations and get extra controls for devices like appliances, robot vacuums, EV chargers, thermostats, and more.

Over the coming days, make sure your devices update to the latest firmware—or pull the update manually via the Google Home app—to see these camera fixes and Gemini features go live.

Sennheiser is one of my go-to audio brands for quality consumer and reference audio. And for good reason: they often produce products that have crystal clarity, are well-balanced with great detail retrieval, while still being fun to listen to rather than clinical.

When it comes to their Bluetooth devices, they prioritize audio quality over active noise canceling, but with the introduction of their new Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5, they’re closer than ever to ANC market leaders Sony and Bose.

Looks maxing - They’ve had some work done!

While I love Sennheiser’s sound quality, their boxy Bluetooth earbuds have not been the stuff of aesthetic excellence.

I’ve never called previous models “ugly,” but their looks have been rather dull. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 (Momentum TW5 from here on) look like an artisan took the TW4 and carved away the boxy shape, smoothing those angular edges into a sleek, aerodynamic aesthetic (see the photo comparison in the gallery above).

This year, I have the Copper colorway, which is a combination of beautiful copper earbuds and case trim with textured brown case exteriors and the signature Sennheiser logo in copper on the ‘buds and silver on the case top. The case fits much better in my pants’ coin pocket this year than last year. Gone is the small, boxy case. Instead, you get a slim, pocketable case with wired and wireless charging, plus other features I’ll touch on shortly.

The earbuds from the previous generation fit my ears well, thanks to their shape and the silicone wings around the edges. The wings are gone now, but with the new shape and ergonomics, they fit my ears just as well as they did before, and that’s despite actually being heavier than the Momentum TW4, which also feels bulkier in my ears compared to the new Momentum TW5.

Woah! Upgrades

Though the aesthetic upgrade is definitely welcome, the most important upgrades for many people will likely be the audio improvements in both sound reproduction and active noise canceling.

Let’s talk ANC, first. During my day one testing, I realized I’d need to pull out my previously tested Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds because my first listen had me wondering whether Sennheiser had upped their ANC game to those levels; it was that good!

When it comes to noise-canceling earbuds, you can focus on either sound quality or aggressive noise canceling. Prioritizing one often comes at the expense of the other, so while Sennheiser’s ANC on previous models was good, it wasn’t market-leading. This time, Sennheiser’s engineers have greatly improved ANC across the frequency spectrum.

Though I wouldn’t run out to upgrade my earbuds just for improved ANC, this year’s model is definitely more aggressive at canceling noise than the Momentum TW4. You’ll hear more complete cancellation across the frequency spectrum. That means that you’ll hear less high-pitched urban traffic noise or subway sounds. Keyboard keystrokes should be a bit quieter. Cars whizzing by you; their engine noises will have decreased compared to the previous generation.

And while that's true when you compare the Momentum TW5 to the TW4, Sony’s WF-1000XM6 still hushes more of those same frequencies than the TW5. The difference in 2026 is that Sennheiser has closed the distance between the ANC it offers and what you’ll get from Sony.

While the durability hasn’t changed, the Momentum TW5 carries the same IP54 rating as the previous generation; Sennheiser has upgraded the longevity of this year’s model with user-replaceable batteries in both the earbuds and the charging case.

On the charging case, that upgrade is pretty clear if you look at the single Philips head screw on the bottom right side of the case, across from the oddly placed USB-C charging port on the left. I’m guessing that port placement is the result of making the battery removable.

The Momentum TW5 comes with a prying tool to remove the battery, but you’ll need to provide the Philips PH000 screwdriver. This is a Phillips head (the “star”) screwdriver with a 7mm blade. Sennheiser lists the battery part number as BA 501, but it isn’t listed for sale on their site yet.

More momentum with the audio quality

I thoroughly enjoy Sennheiser’s sound signature. I use their IE900 IEMs as reference in-ear headphones, and their HD660S as one of my over-ear reference audio headphones, along with pairs from Dali and Fosi. The Momentum TW5 expands sound quality across the frequency range, with its signature focus on the mid-range to deliver great instrument separation and strong vocal presentation without sacrificing low-end energy.

Listening to Charles Mingus’ “Moanin’,” the TW5 does a much better job than the Sony WF-1000XM6 at maintaining a strong sense of instrumentation during the song's most frenetic parts. Where Sony turns those sections into a pot of mashed potatoes, Sennheiser allows you to continue to hear where the sound of different instruments comes from in the stereo image.

Listening to various folk songs, including Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,” where his voice can get sibilant with audio products that have harsher, or overly energetic high-frequency reproduction, the TW5 were smooth. No sibilance from Simon, and no eardrum-fatiguing high notes from Joni Mitchell’s “River (With French Horns) [Blue Sessions].”

Around the minute mark on Mitchell’s song, she hits some sustained high notes that drive me batty on clinical headphones or those with poor high-frequency reproduction, but again, the TW5 are more on the smooth end of the spectrum.

If you listen and disagree with my assessment, the good news is that this year the Sennheiser Smart Control+ app has expanded its five-band EQ to eight bands, so you’ll have more control over shaping the sound to your preferences, and the pair of buds take well to EQ adjustments.

My only real issue with the TW5 was the microphones when making phone calls. They sound excellent indoors, but outdoors, they'll block noise superbly, but at the cost of audio stability. At times, when the AI is working hard to block background noise, I've found that audio quality can take a hit. Overall, you'll sound great, and so will the folks calling you, but be aware that, depending on ambient noise, you may experience some finicky behavior.

In terms of battery life, I've found that I can get a day's use out of them with ANC off. For me, that's around 10 hours, including a trip to my local climbing gym. ANC on has given less, though a little better than some competitors, getting a little over six hours in my testing. More bass-heavy tracks in your rotation will affect that, though.

In the final analysis, you have Bluetooth earbuds that folks love for various reasons. Some lock you into an ecosystem and are superior in part because of how they work inside that walled garden, while others are more open and fully stand on their own.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 are the latter, and while they aren’t market leaders in ANC or calling, they’re solid performers in those areas and offer a delightfully entertaining, engaging sound signature that you’ll get extra years out of, thanks to their user-serviceable batteries.

Nothing is reportedly working on a "screenless AI" device, which has remained shrouded since its earliest teasers. However, the company's feeling playful, and we've gotten our first glimpse of its design.

Early this morning (Nov. 11), Nothing's CEO Carl Pei teased this screenless AI device on X. Pei posted a short clip of the device, alongside a tagline that reads, "Context doesn't live in a chat box." The design is a bit vague (as you'd expect from a Nothing teaser). It's clear the device is curved and has a metallic aesthetic. There are also two glowing LEDs: one green and one orange.

It certainly gives old-school sci-fi vibes (we're thinking Lost in Space). The device also features a white button with a red circle in its center. It's largely unclear what the intent behind most of these elements is. However, the centered button could be what users press to voice their queries or tasks to the AI.

Carl Pei didn't say or confirm anything else—not that we expected him to. Curiously, this teaser follows roughly a week after Pei's "Toolmakers" article on X. Pei's post started by saying, "Every few generations, a technology arrives that changes how everyone lives and works. Fire. The printing press. Electricity. The internet. Now, intelligence." We can gauge where things are headed from here.

Toward the end, Pei gave the briefest, vaguest teaser for Nothing's screenless AI device, shrouded in shadow. The post says, "It has no new screen, and it couldn't have been an app." Additionally, Nothing intends to launch this screenless device "next month," in December.

Where are we going...?

Let's not forget something important here: Nothing prioritized AI over the Phone 3 two years ago. To explain, its CEO, Carl Pei, said that the company would focus on building its AI presence rather than launching the Phone 3 in 2024. The phone launched the year after, so it wasn't that much of an issue (unless you were really waiting on it in 2024).

At the time, Pei said, "There's been a lot of hype around AI. Some great, some confusing. It’s great to see new companies rethinking the user experience and form factors." He then teased a few features users would expect, and we've seen the majority of this debut with Essential Space and the like. In late 2025, Nothing announced it had secured $200M in Series C funding. The company would use it to develop AI-native devices and an OS for future phones.

This week's been exciting for Galaxy Watch 8 users who've eagerly awaited Samsung's Wear OS 7 update. A tipster claims the update is rolling out, and we have a good idea of what's in store.

This week, tipster Kailash on X reported that the Wear OS 7 update (One UI 9 Watch) was rolling out for Galaxy Watch 8 series users. They state the update features firmware vL320XXU2BZJ7 and vL3200XM2BZJ7 for the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic. However, when the update finally arrived for stable users, it was restricted to South Korea. Now, the tipster reports that the update is reaching users worldwide, including the U.S. (via SamMobile).

The tipster once again highlighted the update's arrival. The firmware matches the one Korean users received, with only minor differences: L500XXU2BZJ7 and L500OXM2BZJ7. Users on Reddit are also reporting that the update has arrived.

The publication broke down part of the changelog, saying users should see additional Samsung Health updates. The company revamped its "Key health metrics," placing them in circular charts that better fit the watch face. The workout experience gets reworked, as users can now "Pause or end your workouts using the 'back' button, without needing to touch the screen"

The Wearables app has also been redesigned, and Samsung has included smartwatch face suggestions based on your current watch face design. We haven't seen the One UI 9 Watch update on our Galaxy Watch 8 yet. But you can keep checking periodically as the week winds down.

For better health

It's worth noting a couple of things. First, this patch appears to be rolling out to beta users before those outside it. Second, users on Reddit mention that this One UI 9 Watch upgrade should hit Bluetooth models before LTE devices. As we've already said, just keep checking your device this week and into next week.

Samsung's been busy stepping up its Health app and health-focused features lately. A recent update changed the Sleep and Running coaches. The app's Sleep Coach now requires only three days' worth of data (over the past two weeks) to start helping you get better rest. For the Running Coach, Samsung increased its training levels to 12 (up from 10) and strengthened its Strava partnership.

Users can now import their running routes from Strava into the Samsung Health app.

What you need to know

• Huawei is preparing to launch a new sub-brand on November 20
• It will be called OSTA in English or “Xingmang” in Chinese, which roughly translates to "Starlight"
• Its first phone, expected to be called the OSTA O1 Pro, could be an interesting wide-screen model according to the latest leaks

Huawei is preparing to launch a new smartphone brand, and we might already know what its first model will look like.

The announcement was made by Huawei executive director Richard Yu on the Chinese social media site Weibo, where he confirmed that the new sub-brand will be officially unveiled on November 20.

According to South China Morning Post, it will be known as OSTA in English or “Xingmang” in Chinese, which roughly translates to "Starlight." Interestingly, Weibo states that Yu's post was made using an OSTA O1 Pro – a device that hasn't yet been officially announced.

The latest leaks from reliable tipsters suggest that the OSTA O1 Pro will be a wide-screen phone available in three colors: basic black, plain white, and more adventurous purple. There will also apparently be four RAM and storage configurations on offer, ranging all the way from 12+256GB and 12+512GB to 16+512GB and 16GB+1TB.

The overall design looks very similar to that of the existing Huawei Pura X View (a wide-screen foldable that has yet to be released outside of China), albeit without the folding hinge.

A more premium direction?

The announcement of Huawei's latest sub-brand comes just six years after it spun off Honor in the face of US trade sanctions.

Honor, which launched back in 2013, originally focused on more budget and mid-range phones. It has since shifted its offering to a more premium lineup that competes directly with its former owner and other major Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Oppo.

It's currently unclear how OSTA will be positioned in the smartphone market, though this leaked device seems pretty high-end judging by its RAM and storage specs. Given its unusual wide-screen design, I wouldn't be surprised if OSTA becomes the marquee name for some more experimental releases from Huawei.

I'll be keeping an eye out for more news in the build-up to its launch.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 1000X, first launched in 2016, Sony’s 1000X The Collexion is meant to be the pinnacle of its design aesthetic, offering “a spacious, wide-range sound designed for relaxed, immersive listening.” Sony truly delivers on those promises, elevating the 1000XM6 to new heights.

If you already enjoyed the previous 1000X over-ear headphones, you’ll love The Collexion.

Nothing is perfect, though, so let’s dive into Sony’s luxury headphones, and I’ll get into all of the details that you need to know!

1000x the comfort of the 1000XM6

I’ve reviewed luxury headphones from Bowers & Wilkins, Noble Audio, FiiO, Dali, and others, and the 1000X The Collexion feels every bit as luxurious. While the 1000XM6 headphones are very comfortable, I have a huge melon, and the earcups can feel a bit too cozy after long periods of wear.

That’s no longer the case with 1000X The Collexion (1000X going forward). They are beautifully crafted, from the yokes to the accents. Though they no longer fold into a “ball” like the XM6, their case is only slightly larger.

The cans glide on new metal arms with ease and look every bit the high price you’re going to pay for them. The metal, soft faux leather, and soft-touch materials create a tactile experience unlike what the XM6 offers. The 1000X feels hefty, substantial, but not heavy on my head at all.

The earcups are deeper and softer than the XM6, and though those have plenty of vertical travel to adjust to the right fit for you, the 1000X just feels more premium in its glide and fit. They kept the springs that let them tilt so they sit firmly against your head, but the clamping force never felt fatiguing for me. Not even after hours-long listening sessions.

The oversized silver grommets around the ports and silver buttons give the headphones an industrial-art aesthetic that complements the mirror-polished yokes. During my testing period, I found the 1000X more comfortable than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, which cost $150 more. That's largely because of the generous earcups and their soft faux leather.

All of the embellishments and comfort should be expected, though, at $650 for this limited-edition pair of active noise-canceling headphones that you can pick up directly from Sony or at various online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

A sound improvement over the XM6

I listened to my test playlists, utilizing Bluetooth 6.0 with both the LDAC and LE Audio codecs, connected to a Google Pixel 11.

I also connected via wire to the FiiO M21 DAP and listened to Hi-Res audio and MP3 audio to test the DSEE Ultimate. During my testing, I compared them to the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, Sennheiser HDB 630, and the Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear headphones, with some interesting results.

The venerable WH-1000XM6 sits atop many people’s lists for its sound quality and its active noise canceling, but Sony has taken sound quality even further. Let’s talk about ANC first, though, because what you get with the 1000X ultimately comes from the decision to upgrade the sound quality.

When it comes to top-tier over-ear wireless headphones, there are generally two camps: those that prioritize ANC potency over audio quality, and those that prioritize audio quality over ANC. For the former, we’re talking about Sony, Bose, and Apple. For the latter, we’re talking about Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins, Noble, Dali, and Focal.

So, how does Sony do with its everyday-use XM6 against the luxury 1000X? ANC efficacy across the frequency spectrum is better with the XM6. You’re getting better mid- and high-frequency performance out of the XM6, and that’s because sound quality is prioritized with the 1000X.

That said, most people who do a 1-to-1 test between the two and their ANC strength probably won’t notice a significant difference. The difference I did notice was an audible improvement in soundstage size with the 1000X with ANC on. While ANC may be slightly weaker with the 1000X, they’re more open.

They have a noticeably larger soundstage where the airy feeling of Lady Blacksmith Mombaza’s intro on Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes” feels like you’re listening to it at the Hollywood Bowl. Jazz arrangements like that on Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Dream (Take 8)” sound more like live productions than the somewhat constricted headspace you get with the XM6.

My only complaint with the stock sound of the 1000X is that it’s missing a bit of sparkle, like what you get with the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. Listening to those, music really comes alive and feels live, like you’re sitting next to the musician. The Px8 S2 also excels with microdetails, though the 1000X has very good detail retrieval.

The 1000X exceeds the Px8 S2 in bass response, though. The Px8 S2 can’t match the 1000X’s low-frequency rumble and sub-bass reproduction, and if you want to dial that low-end frequency response back a bit, you have more control with Sony’s Sound Connect app’s 10-band EQ. Bowers & Wilkins gives you only five bands.

The next-best option is the Sennheiser HDB 630, which has a stock EQ and bass response very similar to the 1000X, but you get even greater sound-shaping control with Sennheiser’s parametric EQ. What you don’t get with the large HDB 630 is the same level of ANC as the 1000X or the same portability, since the HDB 630 has a larger case and feels bulkier.

My COLLEXION of final thoughts

Sony’s Sound Connect app is very well done. It’s well laid out, easy to customize, and gives you plenty of options to tailor the headphones' listening, calling, and ANC experiences.

I really like the case, too. It is a bit large, but I like the styling, with the built-in handle. That detail feels like a luxury upgrade over the XM6. As much as I do like the Platinum color that I have for review, if I were buying, I’d go with black. I can see the soft-touch surface on the earcups becoming problematic with smudges.

These don’t have enough clamping force to wear to the gym. Also, for $650, I’d avoid getting them sweaty. If I need tunes to propel me through workouts, I’d worry a lot less about gym-centric headphones like Apple’s Beats 360.

You can listen to them via a wired connection, which I don’t think many will take the time to do. You should, though, because that opens up a whole world of lossless audio options. Given that these are more for static passive and active listening sessions, wired listening could be a “no-brainer.” Just keep in mind that they support wired via a 3.5mm cable, not USB-C.

What you need to know

• Google's latest search engine Easter egg is entirely Hunger Games-themed, building anticipation for the upcoming movie
• It's essentially a scavenger hunt that puts you through a series of quests, testing your Hunger Games knowledge with interactive games
• The next movie comes out on November 20, so it's likely Google's hidden gem will disappear by then

The anticipation for the next installment of The Hunger Games saga has never been this fierce (I should know; I've had my IMAX screening tickets booked for weeks), and it seems Google is holding its own celebrations ahead of the Second Quarter Quell.

If there's one thing Google is great at, it's the fun Easter eggs in its web and mobile search engines, especially when it comes to huge movie launches. The company did one for Wicked (2024), making your search results 'defy gravity', but its latest one is all about the upcoming The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping movie, which arrives in cinemas on November 20.

When you search 'The Hunger Games', 'Sunrise on the Reaping', or 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' on Google, you'll find a symbol depicting a snake entwined with a mockingjay bird (or the 'flint striker' as hardcore fans know it). Click on it, and you'll be transported down an interactive rabbit hole that tests your knowledge of all things from the world of Panem.

May the odds be ever in your favor

Basically, the feature is a 12-step quest that leads you through a series of questions intertwined with interactive games you have to play to unlock the answers. Split into six sections, once you complete each one, it unveils one digit of a six-digit code that you can crack to unlock files and 'access The Capitol vault'. It's simple, but once you get sucked in, you'll find it's quite addictive.

Starting off simple and easy, Google tests your Hunger Games literacy with questions such as 'Who said "I volunteer as tribute"?', which you have to unlock by completing a memory game. It seems like a breeze at first; you're also asked questions about other characters, but then it really tests your Panem knowledge — I can't lie, I started to sweat a little.

As you complete each quest, the tasks and questions get progressively more challenging to the point where you're quizzed on each District's specialty trade, which, if you've read the books back-to-front, should be a piece of cake. For someone who hasn't read the books (me), this part takes some time to complete.

Luckily, these rounds are quite lenient, eliminating the options you get wrong until you find the correct answer. Although that does mean you have to keep track of which District matches which trade. I played them multiple times, and I still can't remember if District 3 is technology or fishing.

Once you've completed every quest, you unlock access to a video that stars one of the actors from the upcoming movie, along with one final clue to complete the final puzzle. However, each outcome is different for each player, but when you combine the final clues, it forms the phrase 'the snow may fall, but the sun also rises'.

Type this into the Google search bar, and you'll be taken through to an exclusive, unlisted YouTube video with additional trailer footage from the movie, marking the end of Google's Hunger Games scavenger hunt.

Google's Hunger Games search engine quest is still live, but it's likely to disappear when the movie is released on November 20.

What you need to know

• An Android developer has come up with a cool way to make use of old phones: turning them into retro music players
• NostalgiaPod is an iPod-inspired music player with plenty of cool modern features
• It was created by Italian developer Jesús Manuel Curreri, who tells Android Central that the response has been 'incredible' thus far

We all have some old phones lying around, and one Italian Android developer has come up with a nifty way to repurpose them as retro music players.

NostalgicPod is an app that transforms your Android phone into an iPod-inspired music machine, complete with that classic, simple menu interface and simulated click wheel navigation. There are no ads and no distractions — unless you count the small handful of throwback games that are built in, including the likes of Snake and, of course, Brick Breaker.

I've been testing the app throughout the morning, and it's a pretty impressive package that offers a cool way to play local music files. Despite the retro appearance, there are plenty of modern features here too, such as the ability to connect your Apple Music account to access your virtual libraries and a separate menu that lets you browse a selection of internet radio stations and podcasts.

If you host your own music collection, you can even hook the player up to your personal Plex, Jellyfin, or Navidrome servers — something I've been meaning to set up for a while in order to digitally preserve some of the rarer items in my CD collection and might finally now get around to.

Bringing the magic of music back

"There are millions of old phones sitting in drawers that still work perfectly fine, but we simply don't use them anymore. With NostalgicPod, you can turn one of those phones into a dedicated music player," NostalgicPod developer Jesús Manuel Curreri tells Android Central.

"I've always loved that era when devices had their own personality. The iPod Classic, for example, was something special: a wheel, a screen, and all your music," he adds. "You didn't need much more than that. My brother and I actually had one that we shared, and I remember thinking it was the perfect device for listening to music."

He argues that most modern music apps are too focused on recommendations and algorithms, losing some of the "magic" of truly curating your own library.

The app, first released a few months ago, was an immediate success and has since been launched on iOS. "I honestly never imagined the project would go this far," says Curreri. "When I first launched NostalgicPod on Android, the response was incredible. Several tech publications covered the app, and some of my Reddit posts received an amazing response."

"I eventually decided to bring the project to iPhone, although getting Apple's approval turned into quite an adventure. It took months of rejections, appeals, and conversations with Apple, but I finally got there!"

The iOS version of the app shot up to the number three spot in the paid Music category in the US and became number one in Germany. Curreri estimates that across all platforms, NostalgicPod has reached "around eight thousand users over these past few months" thanks to pure word of mouth.

He also says that he intends to continue updating the app with new features, customization options, and performance improvements based on user feedback: "My goal is to keep NostalgicPod a complete, fast, customizable music player that people can enjoy for years, without losing the simplicity of the original experience."

If you're interested in giving it a go for yourself, you can pick up NostalgicPod for $4.39 / £3.99 on the Google Play Store.

What you need to know

• A new patent suggests that Samsung could introduce visceral body fat tracking to target the deeper parts of your anatomy
• It would use an ultra-wideband (UWB) radar, combined with your Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) data and other basic metrics to give you an accurate reading
• We don't know how Samsung plans to introduce this, but our guess is through the next Galaxy Watch

There's pretty much nothing that Samsung's Galaxy Watch lineup can't do, but deep body fat tracking is one area the tech giant hasn't quite been able to master — not yet, anyway.

This speculation comes from a new Samsung patent filing describing a possible upcoming tool as a ’Method and system for estimation of abdominal fat’. Additionally, the patent says the system would use an ultra-wideband (UWB) radar and would be combined with existing Galaxy Watch tracking metrics to present you with a result.

According to the patent description, 'the technical result is reduced complexity and increased accuracy and speed of estimation of the abdominal subcutaneous fat area and the abdominal visceral fat area with portable devices'.

I know what you're thinking: Samsung wearables have been able to measure body fat since the launch of the Galaxy Watch 4 back in 2021, so what makes this rumored feature any different? Turns out, quite a lot!

Visceral vs subcutaneous fat

When it comes to the new patent, the tracking feature is designed to target and analyze visceral fat, which isn't like standard (or subcutaneous) body fat, which sits just beneath the skin. Visceral fat is found much deeper, mainly around your internal organs, and can only be read with the help of clinical tech such as MRI and CT scans.

Not only does visceral fat require advanced tools to be measured, but it's also much more difficult to burn than regular body fat. If the tech in the patent is used, it means that Samsung could be one of the first consumer tech companies to embed a feature into a wearable that's historically been in the control of medical professionals. Smart scales can give you an estimated visceral fat reading, but can come with some inaccuracies.

As mentioned, Samsung's visceral fat tracker would be used against existing features for analysis. As per the finding, the system's UWB radar emits radiation into the abdominal region and measures reflected signals, combining this information with Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) data and basic metrics including your weight, height, age, and gender.

The only thing that isn't mentioned in the patent is through which device Samsung intends to introduce visceral fat tracking, but the Galaxy Watch is the safest bet since it already packs BIA sensors that measure patterns and changes in body fat percentage, skeletal mass, BMI, and much more.

The next step for Samsung would be to integrate a UWB sensor — could this be the biggest upgrade for the Galaxy Watch 10?

Google just pulled a fast one on the calendar by releasing Android 17 QPR2 a month early. Riding shotgun with the November Pixel Drop, the update is rolling out to supported Pixel devices, from the budget-friendly Pixel 6a to the latest hardware.

The update, shared by Google's Mishaal Rahman on Reddit, comes after a lengthy beta period, and while some of the changes are currently exclusive to Pixel devices, others may eventually be coming to phones from other Android manufacturers. There’s more than just more bug fixes here, especially if you like to have control over how your phone looks and behaves.

Android gains more control over colors and wallpapers

One of the more apparent changes is a more robust color customization system. Users don't have to stick with Google's preset color schemes anymore but instead can bring up a rainbow hue slider and pick a custom system color. There are also four intensity options: Neutral, Soft, Bright, and Bold.

Google is also introducing adaptive light and dark wallpaper support. Compatible wallpaper collections can automatically switch between light and dark versions of their wallpapers depending on the system theme.

Status bar and Quick Settings finally become more useful

Google is giving users more control of the status bar. There’s a new settings page to select whether to show all notification icons, priority notifications only, or none. You can also hide individual system indicators like battery percentage, mute, and vibration.

Another welcome adjustment is the brightness controls. Previously, some apps could lock screen brightness at maximum, preventing users from reducing screen brightness through Quick Settings. QPR2 removes that restriction so you can change the brightness even if an app overrides the setting.

Auracast gets smarter, foldables improve multitasking

Bluetooth LE Audio gets a major upgrade with the addition of a new Voice Broadcast feature. Users can broadcast their voice using the phone’s microphone or a connected wired headset, with nearby listeners tuning in using compatible Auracast headphones, hearing devices, or Android phones. You can also password protect private broadcasts.

Google is improving Auracast discovery with QR codes, NFC tap-to-join, and a dedicated Quick Settings tile. Compatible devices can also make broadcasts easier to follow with Live Caption and Translation.

Foldable users also get a new handle at the top of app windows, making it easier to move between full-screen apps, split-screen layouts, and floating bubbles.

Better privacy and a more convenient Linux Terminal

Security-wise, Android has a cleaner app-install dialog, letting you choose between temporary or permanent permission options for sideloading. It also prevents some risky actions during calls from unknown contacts, such as enabling Developer options, and asks you to confirm before executing call-forwarding codes.

There’s also a new Private Compute Core logging option that lets users see data shared with on-device AI features.

Meanwhile, the Linux Terminal app now supports guest-to-host file sharing. The Android file manager will let users manage the Linux virtual machine files and browse, edit, and move them.

Android 17 QPR2 also brings accessibility improvements, lets you customize the keyboard’s vibration, offers better hearing-device controls, and adds an option for a home time zone.

Make sure to opt out of the Android Beta Program first if you want the stable OTA build without wiping your storage. Pixel owners can pull down the over-the-air update from system settings right now, while non-Pixel users will need to wait for their respective manufacturers to adapt the codebase.

What you need to know

• Google's November Pixel Drop brings several Pixel 11-exclusive AI features to the older Pixel 10 series.
• Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 users can now create custom widgets and matching app icons using Google's AI tools.
• Pixel Search is expanding to Pixel 6 and newer phones, while the Pixel 11 gets upgraded Gemini Call Screen features.

Google has announced the November Pixel Drop for Pixel phones, bringing a massive list of new features to both newer and older Pixel smartphones.

Google releases Pixel Drops every few months, bringing new features and improvements to its Pixel devices beyond the usual security patches and bug fixes. While some of these updates are relatively minor, the latest November Pixel Drop is a pretty big one, especially if you're using a Pixel 10 series smartphone.

That's because Google is bringing several features that were previously exclusive to the Pixel 11 series to last year's flagships.

According to Google's official announcement, the November Pixel Drop brings Gemini Intelligence to the Pixel 10 series, including features like Rambler, Gemini's ability to handle multi-step tasks, and personalized suggestions.

For example, if someone sends you a text asking about your ETA while you're already using Google Maps, your Pixel can provide timely suggestions and actions based on what you're doing.

Another interesting addition is Create My Widget, which lets users create home screen widgets with natural language prompts. Instead of relying on existing widgets, you can simply describe what you want, and Google will generate one for you.

The feature is available on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series, although the Pixel 10a is notably missing from the list.

Google has also introduced new custom icon styles with the November Pixel Drop. The company has added 10 different styles to choose from, which use its Nano Banana AI model to generate matching app icons and give your home screen a more consistent look.

Beyond customization, Google is bringing its Pixel Search experience to older devices, allowing users to search across apps, messages, photos, emails, and device settings directly from their phones. The feature is now available on the Pixel 6 series and newer devices.

Google hasn't forgotten about its latest phones either, and there are a couple of features exclusive to the Pixel 11 series. Google is upgrading Call Screen with Gemini, allowing the AI assistant to have more natural conversations with unknown callers while showing a live transcript on your phone.

There are upgrades to the HiLight feature on the Pixel 11 Pro phones as well, which can now light up when you receive a Google Messages notification. Unfortunately, there's still no support for third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.

In addition to the Pixel Drop, Google has also announced the availability of the Pixel Tag, which it first unveiled alongside the Pixel 11 series in August. The tracker is now available individually for $29.99 or as a four-pack for $99.99. It uses Google's upgraded Find Hub network and supports ultra-wideband (UWB) for precision tracking.

As for availability, Google says the November Pixel Drop started rolling out on November 10 and will continue reaching supported devices over the next several weeks. We haven't received the OTA update on our Pixel 11 Pro just yet, but considering Google's usual rollout schedule, you should hopefully see it arrive on your device within the next few days.

What you need to know

• Samsung has introduced Galaxy Sync, allowing Galaxy users to back up photos and videos directly to Google Photos.
• The new integration lets users access synced photos across Galaxy devices without switching to the Google Photos app.
• Galaxy Sync is rolling out with One UI 9, but older photos already stored in Google Photos won't appear in Gallery.

Samsung has finally announced Galaxy Sync for Galaxy smartphones, allowing users to automatically sync photos and videos from Samsung Gallery to Google Photos in the background.

After Samsung ended its partnership with Microsoft OneDrive earlier this year, there were reports that the company would partner with Google to bring a new Gallery Sync feature to Galaxy smartphones, allowing users to sync their photos directly from Samsung Gallery to Google Photos. And now, the feature is finally here.

According to Samsung's official announcement, the new Gallery Sync feature allows users to back up their photos and videos directly to Google's cloud storage without having to switch to another app. All you need to do is sign in with your Samsung and Google accounts and enable the feature in the Gallery app.

What's interesting is that the new integration also makes it easier to access your photos across multiple Galaxy devices.

For example, if you take a photo on your Galaxy smartphone, you'll be able to see it in the Gallery app on your Galaxy tablet, provided both devices are signed in with the same accounts and have syncing enabled.

Samsung is also introducing a new "Free up space on this phone" feature that lets users remove photos and videos from their device once they've been backed up to Google storage. The Gallery app will continue showing thumbnails of those files, and you can download the original versions whenever you need them.

As for storage, the feature uses your existing Google account storage, which is shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. This means you get the same 15GB of free storage that comes with a Google account.

If you need more space, you can subscribe to one of Google's paid storage plans. It's also worth noting that Google recently increased the storage included with its Google AI Pro plan from 2TB to 5TB, which could come in handy here.

There is, however, one limitation worth keeping in mind. The new integration doesn't mean your entire Google Photos library will automatically appear in Samsung Gallery. For now, only photos and videos synced through Samsung Gallery after enabling the feature will show up across your supported Galaxy devices.

In terms of compatibility, Galaxy Sync has started rolling out to Galaxy devices running One UI 9, and Samsung says it will expand availability to more devices in phases.

Today (Nov. 10), Amazon's "Ring Robotics" begins a new path in home security for homeowners. In a press release, the company states Ring Robotics will focus on security measures that patrol, move, respond, and investigate. Jamie Siminoff, founder and chief inventor of Ring, said Ring Robotics is the product of users wanting "eyes in the places a fixed camera couldn’t reach, and peace of mind in the spots they’d never want one."

Sminioff adds, "The honest answer wasn’t more cameras; it meant reimagining what a security device could be." As a result, we've got the first two products of Amazon's continuous work with Ring Robotics: the Ring Rover and Ring Drone Cam. The Ring Rover Cam is exactly what you think—an automated security robot that conducts "regular sweeps" of a given space.

Amazon states the Rover is intended more for businesses (think office spaces and wide, expansive warehouses). If you remember the Ring Astro, this is sort of like that. The post states that once the Ring Rover receives its orders and it arrives at the intended location, it will perform a "360° scan to give you a comprehensive view."

The Rover is deeply connected with other Ring devices (doorbells, cameras), and if one of those detects a disturbance, the security robot will investigate for you.

A periscope camera lets users adjust its height depending on location, and constant 4K streaming never lets you miss a beat. The Ring Rover also features a built-in siren and light tower.

Amazon states the Ring Rover Cam can be pre-ordered now for $999. The robot will begin shipping in the U.S. on December 16.

Take to the skies

The Ring Drone Cam gives us Always Home Cam vibes (if you also remember that from 2021). However, Ring Robotics' latest take brings a more modern aesthetic to the flying security drone. Amazon states the Drone Cam "gives you whole-home visibility without the need to mount a camera in every room." AI is built directly into the Drone Cam, as is its integration with Ring's scope of home security devices.

Similar to how you can designate areas and orders with the Rover, the Drone Cam requires flight routes. Amazon says the Drone will fly those routes on its own when scheduled; however, users may deploy it at any time. The Drone Cam offers a 148-degree FOV and 360-degree rotation in 2K resolution.

If a disturbance is detected by your other Ring devices, the Drone Cam will investigate and report to you via the app. Curiously, the Ring Drone Cam comes with a major disclaimer. Amazon says the device "has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission." This is probably why Amazon is encouraging users to sign up for notifications about the Drone Cam, instead of a pre-order listing.

Currently, Amazon says the Drone Cam will be sold for $249, released on January 27, 2027.

Moving cameras, huh?

Cameras in the home. Flying, roving cameras in the home. It's enough to stir concern in one's mind. Amazon tries to offer relief, stating that when the Rover and Drone are powered down (or in an idle state), their cameras are off. For the Drone, its camera turns off completely, while the Rover retracts its lens (mic off, too). Additionally, when everything is functioning and active, Amazon says, "Both have LED indicators, and Ring Rover tells you right on its screen."

What's more, these devices are loud. The company highlights its use of TAKE security encryption for the videos each device captures. This reportedly helps to secure the footage the devices capture for consumers.

Homeowners with Google's O.G. Nest Doorbell are reporting problems with the device, which is leaving users in a state of limbo.

Recently, on the Google Home subreddit, users have started voicing their frustrations and experiences with a string of Nest Doorbell problems (via 9to5Google). The OP (original post) states the doorbell's Live View has been broken "for over a week now for older Nest doorbell cams." The user tested their newer (wired) outdoor cam, and that's working fine.

The user states they've raised this issue with Google, only to receive a "we are aware of many issues" response. After reaching out, many others have recounted their troublesome experiences. One user says their Nest Doorbell quit in the past few days; however, they're still receiving "movement alerts and clips, but no live video." Then comes a user who tried to troubleshoot the problem, only to wind up with a more serious issue.

The user reports that their Live View broke on their older Nest Cam. They proceeded to reset the device using the pinhole on the back; however, they say, "...now the unit is dead." There was also a reported instance of an Arlo camera suffering from this Live View bug.

Google has responded to the thread, asking users to follow these troubleshooting steps. It hasn't appeared to work, though. Curiously, at the time of writing this post, one report says Live View has started working again. It's unclear if Google has rolled out an update. If it did, it didn't list it in its changelog.

We've run into this issue with faulty Nest doorbells and cameras before. At one point, users encountered an "offline bug." Users of first-gen Nest doorbells and cameras reported issues shortly after migrating from the Nest app to the Google Home app. The devices showed an offline error, which removed many features. Live video feeds were dismantled, as were the doorbell's ringers with connected speakers.

Alternatively, Google Home and Nest speakers and displays became unresponsive, failing to answer the most basic of questions.

Google's recent Google Home, Nest, and Gemini for Home update arrived late in October. The patch offered a lengthy list of fixes, most of which concerned Gemini and Matter devices. Google's changelog highlighted a few Nest fixes, but they concerned Nest Wi-Fi and speakers.

What you need to know

• Google has confirmed that new Googlebook 2-in-1 "detachables" are coming "soon"
• The form factor will allow users to remove their laptop's keyboard and use the display like a tablet
• Lenovo is reportedly set to release a new Chromebook Duet successor in the form factor, rumored to be called the Googlebook Duet m

Google has confirmed that new 2-in-1 detachable Googlebook models are on the way.

The announcement comes from a segment of the recent Android Dev Summit 2026 keynote, in which Marisol Ryu, Google's director of product management for laptops and tablets, described the current Googlebook lineup.

"We worked closely with five top-tier laptop OEMs to build a fleet of high-end laptops designed to handle modern workloads," she said. "Googlebooks span large-screen form factors from clamshells, convertibles, and, soon, detachables."

This is the first official word on the new Googlebook form factor, which will allow users to remove their laptop's keyboard and use the touch-screen display more like a traditional Android tablet.

Second two none

Even so, the announcement shouldn't come as much of a surprise to those who have been keeping up with rumors over the last few months.

Images of a 2-in-1 detachable model purportedly manufactured by Lenovo and called the Googlebook Duet m leaked all the way back in November, shortly after the release of the first wave of Googlebook models.

The name and overall design point to this upcoming device being a successor to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet line, a selection of budget-friendly 2-in-1 detachable laptops that were particularly popular with students.

While the Chromebook Duet line ran on ChromeOS, the leaked Googlebook Duet m will presumably be powered by Googlebook OS: the company's new Android-based operating system. Android app compatibility and AI capabilities will likely be a focus and, in keeping with the current Googlebook Lineup, this new model's price is expected to be higher than its ChromeOS predecessors.

It remains to be seen whether other manufacturers will release their own 2-in-1 detachable models

What you need to know

• Samsung is reportedly working on a new AI-powered voice typing feature for Galaxy phones with One UI 9.5.
• The new "Refine voice input" feature could automatically remove filler words and hesitations from dictated text.
• The feature appears to work similarly to Google's Gboard Rambler, which debuted with the Pixel 11 series.

Samsung could soon introduce its own AI-powered voice typing tool on Galaxy smartphones.

One of the best new features on the Google Pixel 11 series is Gboard's Rambler. For those unfamiliar, Rambler is essentially an upgraded AI-powered voice-to-text feature that allows users to speak whatever they want to type, even in an unorganized manner, and then uses AI to structure the text properly.

It refines sentences, removes filler words like "um" and "uh," and can even understand commands. For example, you can use Rambler to turn a dictated message or email into a more casual or formal tone. And now, it looks like Samsung is planning to bring its own version of Rambler to Samsung Keyboard on Galaxy phones.

As spotted by SamMobile, Samsung has started working on a Rambler-like feature for One UI 9.5. The report reveals that the latest internal test build of One UI 9.5 includes a new feature called "Refine voice input" in Samsung Keyboard settings.

The description says the feature can clean up filler words, hesitations, and more, with the refined text appearing once you've finished speaking. The feature is reportedly powered by Galaxy AI within Samsung Keyboard.

Samsung hasn't released any One UI 9.5 beta builds just yet, but once the beta arrives, we expect the feature to become available on Galaxy smartphones that support Galaxy AI. Based on the description, it will presumably work similarly to Google's Rambler, although we'll have to wait to see exactly how it works.

Of course, there are already other ways to access similar AI-powered voice typing features on your Android phone, including Microsoft's SwiftKey and even unofficial apps that bring Gboard's Rambler functionality to other devices.

Still, Rambler is arguably one of the best new features Google has added to Pixel phones, and it's good to see Samsung working on bringing something similar to Galaxy smartphones as well.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out Memory summary for Gemini, which gives you a snapshot of the information it gathers about you based on your chats
• You can add and edit context to each section, and also delete information if it's incorrect
• Google says Memory summary is only available in English for US users with a Google AI plan, but its web version seems to be working outside the US

Google is boosting the Gemini experience with a new upgrade that's designed to give you more control over how you manage the information the chatbot saves about you.

The new Memory summary tool gives you all the information Gemini has gathered about you from your chatbots, allowing you to edit its summaries to provide additional data or delete things Gemini gets wrong, as spotted by Android Authority.

It's a pretty handy way to tailor your Gemini experience exactly to your liking, but it presents your data in a specific way. Instead of compiling everything Gemini thinks it knows about you into one big chunk, Memory summary divides your information into distinct sections that cover specific areas.

For example, the Essentials tab functions as a quick one-stop area showcasing your background, location, and key relationships. Gemini also has other other sections for giving you a snapshot of what it remembers about your career, interests, etc, all of which you can chop and change to tailor its knowledge of you more accurately.

However, as helpful as it sounds, Google's support page says Memory summary is currently available to users in the US with an active Google AI plan who are over the age of 18, and it needs Keep Activity and Memory enabled to work. According to the company, it's also restricted to English-only, and it's unclear whether Google will expand its language availability.

But despite the apparent limitations Google lists, it doesn't seem to be the case with Gemini's web version. That said, Memory summary appears to be working for some free users on web and mobile browsers, but not in the Gemini mobile app. We've tried to access Memory summary on Gemini's web and mobile browser versions, but have had no luck so far.

As far as finding it goes, it's quite simple. Head to Gemini and tap the Settings icon, then tap Personal Intelligence and then Memory summary. It's available in both the Gemini app and web browser, though it won't appear in the former unless you're based in the US and signed up to a Google AI plan.

What you need to know

• Spotify is upgrading the AI DJ experience with nine new voice presenters across English and Spanish
• Its English voices come in new American, British, Irish, Australian, and Indian accents
• Spotify has also rolled out new control functions, and now you have the choice to switch off commentary between songs

Spotify’s flagship AI DJ is like Marmite; users either love it for hands-free playback or hate it for infiltrating music discovery. One thing that both types of users can agree on is how jarring its voiceover can be — but that’s about to change.

Rolling out today (November 10) in markets where AI DJ is available, the in-app tool is getting a slew of fresh voices, allowing you to tailor your playback experience exactly to your liking. It marks AI DJ’s biggest overhaul since the launch of its requests feature in May 2025, and is coming to both Android and iOS.

There are nine new voices in total, with seven new English-language DJs spanning British, Irish, American, Indian, and Australian accents, as well as two new Spanish-language voice options. Instead of the one bog-standard voice that grates on you after a few listens, each new addition is designed to offer something different depending on how you want the experience to run.

Whether that’s a cool, collected tone for laidback listening, or an engaging radio host-style personality for high-energy playback, AI DJ’s new personas seem to cover it all. That said, it’s not just the new voices that make up AI DJ’s latest revamp.

When it comes to AI DJ, the interruptions between songs plague users just as much as its voice, which is why Spotify is allowing you to toggle off DJ’s extensive commentary between segments in the playback. Though Spotify says you’ll still hear AI DJ’s introduction when you start a session or refresh it with new requests, the experience will be completely commentary-free to put the focus back on the music.

A fun upgrade, but it doesn't fill in the cracks

Despite Spotify’s advanced features, AI DJ isn’t my personal favorite, and not just for the reasons mentioned above. That said, some of my music-obsessed friends stand by it as an easy way to get your daily listening minutes in, and I think its new voice presenters will be a welcome addition for them in particular.

For starters, most of the new personas seem significantly less intense and in-your-face than Spotify’s existing host, most notably DJ Declan and DJ Nell, who are Spotify’s new Irish and British voices. The same goes for DJ Sam, the Australian presenter.

As for the three new American voices, this is where Spotify is sticking with its roots. With the exception of DJ Tess, the ‘direct but inviting’ presenter with a laid-back cadence, DJ Casey and the southern-sounding DJ Lane sound just as jarring as Spotify’s inaugural AI DJ voice.

Spotify is really tapping into its personalization ethos with its new family of AI DJ personas, and yes, it gives users more choice, but it doesn’t fix the biggest issues with AI DJ — those being its repetitiveness and hindrance to music discovery as a result.

As you could probably gather, my experiences using AI DJ have been less than thrilling, and hitting the play button just triggers a listening session packed with my most-played songs from the past week or so. The same goes for using it to find new artists.

I’m constantly on the hunt for new artists and sounds, but AI DJ doesn’t quite get that. Whenever I request a list of new songs from rising artists based on the music I already listen to, it gives me nothing but tracks from artists that are already on my radar.

Given my tumultuous relationship with AI DJ, there’s no wonder I left it in the dust years ago. Even though Spotify peddles it as a handy music discovery tool, I’ve found more luck with using my Daylist for fresh finds — it’s how I discovered Chappell Roan before the virality kicked in, and I’ve never looked back.

All things considered, Incognito Mode in Google Chrome is a useful feature; however, it's not without fault. The company might be trying to solve a key security issue that users have had to endure.

Earlier today (Nov. 9), it was reported by Windows Report that Google was finally working on solving a security issue when browsing in Incognito Mode. The publication noticed a new Chromium commit, stating that it's working on adding "Safe Browsing protections" for Incognito mode. Essentially, this would bring real-time protections to users while they're browsing. This is no different from operating Chrome without Incognito active.

The publication pointed out something interesting: while Incognito mode doesn't (currently) offer real-time protections, the browser will "fall back" on its knowledge of dangerous sites stored "locally." But that's as far as its protections go, and in this day and age, it's not good enough.

Additionally, while this is a good thing, the point of Incognito mode is to remain private in your browsing (many aspects don't get logged in your browser). The publication notes that developers are staying aware of this. Developers are working to ensure that privacy-related details about your Incognito session don't leave your device.

There's much for Google to do; however, according to the Chromium commit, it looks like Incognito will benefit from Standard and Enhanced browsing protections—it'll be the user's choice.

Something to remember

As we've said before, Incognito Mode is supposed to be your gateway to more private browsing. But that wasn't always the case. Google admitted to tracking users while they had the feature active. In 2024, Google settled a class-action lawsuit for $5 billion. The lawsuit alleged that the company "misled users" into thinking they were privately browsing, meaning tracking wasn't involved.

Google's disclaimer said that it wouldn't save a user's browsing data; however, others (ISPs and websites) could still see it. That disclaimer has since been updated. The company now states the browser isn't tracking you, but Google still can. This didn't sit well with users, as you'd imagine. Shortly after, Google said it would delete all of the data it captured about users who had Incognito mode active. This was part of the settlement.

What you need to know

• Samsung is reportedly planning four Galaxy S27 models next year, including an all-new Galaxy S27 Pro.
• The Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra could account for over 70% of Samsung's total Galaxy S27 production next year.
• Samsung reportedly plans to produce 18 million Galaxy S27 Ultra units and another 7 to 8 million Pro models.

Samsung is expected to introduce a new Galaxy S27 Pro model next year, and it looks like the company is betting big on its higher-end models.

We've already seen several leaks surrounding Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S27 series, which is expected to launch in early 2027. Unlike previous years, Samsung is reportedly planning to introduce four models this time around, including the standard Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus, Galaxy S27 Pro, and Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The new Pro model is expected to bring several Ultra-level features at a slightly lower price, and now a new report suggests Samsung has pretty high expectations for its two higher-end variants.

According to ET News, Samsung is planning to allocate more than 70% of its total Galaxy S27 production to the Galaxy S27 Pro and Galaxy S27 Ultra. The company is reportedly targeting around 35 million units across the entire lineup, with the Galaxy S27 Ultra alone accounting for approximately 18 million units.

Interestingly, Samsung is also reportedly planning to produce 7 to 8 million units of the Galaxy S27 Pro, bringing the combined production of the two premium models to around 25 to 26 million units. This means the standard Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus will account for just the remaining 9 to 10 million units.

For comparison, Samsung reportedly produced around 18 million units of the Galaxy S26 Ultra this year, accounting for roughly 50% of the entire Galaxy S26 series production. While the company isn't necessarily increasing production of the Ultra model next year, it's expecting the new Galaxy S27 Pro to attract buyers who would otherwise have gone for the standard or Plus models.

For those unfamiliar, the Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to sit between the Galaxy S27+ and Galaxy S27 Ultra. Previous leaks suggest that the phone could feature a more compact design while retaining several premium features from the Ultra, including the Privacy Display. However, unlike the Ultra, the Pro model reportedly won't come with an S Pen.

Of course, these are still reported production plans, and plenty could change before Samsung officially unveils the Galaxy S27 lineup next year.

That said, Samsung's strategy of focusing on higher-end Galaxy smartphones has worked well for the company in the past, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 reportedly seeing strong sales against Apple's iPhone Duo. And it'll be interesting to see whether the Galaxy S27 Pro can find similar success next year.

Honor has started teasing its next phone series, set to debut later this week. The phones feature a familiar rear display, but with a health feature many didn't expect.

Over on Weibo, tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) posted a few alleged details regarding the Honor 700 series (via Huawei Central). DCS claims the Honor 700 features a 6.5-inch display and extremely thin bezels. However, the biggest feature that's turning heads is the phone's rear display. While the likes of Xiaomi feature a rear display (the 17 Pro series and the 18 Pro series), Honor's version is a bit smaller.

The tipster alleges Honor will host mini-games, "dynamic notifications," and an "industry-exclusive" (machine-translated) feature, alongside a 200MP camera. It wasn't clear what this exclusive feature could be, but Huawei Central spotted another 700 series teaser that could give us an idea.

Honor's latest teaser shows the rear screen displaying a user's heart rate (BPM) and blood oxygen. However, everything beyond this is speculation. Honor hasn't confirmed how this feature works. Currently, there's a theory that an in-display sensor on the rear display would capture a user's BPM and blood oxygen content, similar to a smartwatch.

We'll know for sure once the series debuts on November 13 in China.

Another round

Honor is following the 600 series quickly after its spring debut. The 600 series launched in April, and it wasn't particularly groundbreaking. It's worth reminding you that the Honor 600 series is a mid-range series. The 700 series will likely bring more of the same vibes. The 600 and 600 Pro feature a 200MP primary camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens. However, the Pro tacks on another lens: a 50MP telephoto lens.

Honor opted for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC for the 600 Pro; however, the base model settled for the mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. This upcoming series is confirmed to feature three models: the Honor 700, 700 Pro, and 700S. Regarding specs, those are in a weird spot. Honor hasn't confirmed anything, and the publication believes it could vary depending on which model you're talking about. Right now, it's best to wait until November 13 to know for sure.

Android Central's Take

I'm a little surprised to see Honor following up so quickly after the 600 series. The base model wasn't intriguing enough, but the Pro was. These are mid-range phones, so they're never really seen as something amazing or enticing. Honor made it work, at least for one model. A concern that I've seen mentioned in other reports—similar to what we mentioned in our review—is the price. Our take was purely based on what the 600 offered. Considering how the phone market is (RAM, memory shortages), the price could get wild.

Samsung may soon be charging for Galaxy AI, potentially ending the uncertainty surrounding how long its artificial intelligence tools will remain free.

A new leak, courtesy of SammyGuru, reveals an interface for Galaxy AI Premium, a monthly plan that adds more AI capabilities. It appears Samsung is working on it, but existing features will likely be spared from the paywall.

According to the leak, customers will have to pay $4.99 a month or $47.99 annually to get access to the premium package.

New AI features might be worth the subscription

Samsung is apparently looking to reserve new features for subscribers, instead of charging users for continued access to existing Galaxy AI tools. These include Bixby Action, an AI agent that can automate tasks across different apps, Daily Briefing, and Gen Video, which can create AI videos from existing photos.

The leaked details also indicate that free access could have stricter usage caps, which means the difference between free and paid access is likely to be more subtle than it looks at first glance. Free users may have to buy credit packs after they run out, while premium subscribers could get up to four times the usage allowance, per the leak.

The existing tools, including Now Brief, Browsing Assist, Creative Studio, and AI-powered Samsung Keyboard features, are likely to remain free.

Samsung has a promise to keep

The latest developments are not shocking. The Korean tech giant had previously said Galaxy AI features would remain free through the end of 2025, leaving the door open to future charges. The company later said, however, it had no plans to roll out paid features.

Samsung has not yet confirmed pricing, feature lineup, or if the paid subscription is coming soon or when.

If the plan goes official, Galaxy owners won’t necessarily lose the AI tools they’ve been using already. But Samsung will have to convince customers that $5 a month is a worthwhile price to pay for its new features.

Samsung’s got a potentially bigger problem than subscription fatigue: some Galaxy owners aren’t sold on its AI tools being worth paying for in the first place. Comments in Reddit’s r/Android community indicate users don’t understand the need for another subscription when services such as Gemini and ChatGPT already provide more capable alternatives. One commenter even noted that some Galaxy S25 Ultra owners aren’t even aware of the AI features their phones have.

Others said they'd pay if Samsung could deliver a more unified, reliable experience. That puts the pressure on Samsung to prove that Galaxy AI Premium offers something genuinely useful, rather than just putting a price tag on features that many owners rarely touch.

It's said that the Galaxy S27 series could be the initial supported lineup, but it could come more broadly later.

Slowly but surely, Samsung has been upgrading Bixby with modern capabilities. With One UI 9.5 in the works, reports claim another huge upgrade is on the way.

A SamMobile report notes that a recent version of Samsung's AI assistant, Bixby, suggests the AI is moving toward a more "AI Agent" future. An AI Agent approach would give the previously stagnant or "old school" assistant more freedom to complete tasks for the user (similar to Gemini). Inside Bixby's main app, the publication notes that users may be able to create "actions."

These "actions" would serve as the automated tasks that Bixby can perform on your behalf. For example, the publication asked Bixby to tell them the "USD to INR exchange rate" every morning at nine. After confirming, the action is (quite literally) set in motion. Users seemingly remain in control of the actions/tasks they've given Bixby.

The post highlights a delete, pause, and pin option for set actions. What's more, it's suspected that there will be a log or history of that action. The publication presumes users could hop back in and revisit what Bixby told them. Since this is in "early testing," the full scope of Bixby's AI Agent capabilities isn't fully realized. However, speculation says the AI could book hotels and more for users.

There's a chance Samsung could roll out Bixby's AI Agent capabilities sometime in 2027.

Bixby wants to do more (again)

We'd have to hop back into testing Samsung's One UI 8.5 for other Bixby upgrades. Earlier this year, the company revealed new features for Bixby, including "more natural interactions and intuitive device control, reducing friction in everyday tasks." When Samsung's MX business COO, Won-Joon Choi, brought this up, they said users wouldn't have to know the ins and outs of their device to receive assistance.

So long as users know what they're looking for, they can describe it as best as possible, and Bixby would do the rest. Additionally, Bixby got a little better at web searches. Won-Joon Choi said Bixby would deliver "live and up-to-date information" if users are searching for hotels, restaurants, and more. We already know about Bixby's on-screen translation capabilities and ability to understand more complex queries.

However, a more agentic push brings it closer to what Google's doing with Gemini. All that's left to see is whether it happens, and if there's any real comparison.

Smartphone makers have long turned to the world’s best camera makers to perfect and refine their smartphone cameras. The trend has grown considerably over the past 10 years, but it dates back more than 20 years to Nokia’s partnership with Zeiss, which began with the legendary Nokia N95 in 2005.

The birth of the iPhone a couple of years later changed the trajectory of the mobile phone industry, with companies forced to focus on building a smartphone. It would take another ten years before the next big partnership began, but Huawei’s partnership with Leica bears fruit to this day.

Since that partnership began in 2016, the same year as Motorola and Hasselblad, we’ve seen many of the world’s biggest phone makers follow suit. From Vivo to Oppo, Xiaomi to Sony, and this year, even Honor, it’s become commonplace to see companies like Hasselblad, ZEISS, Leica, and more all adorn the back of smartphones.

However, is this just a marketing exercise? How much impact can camera makers have on a smartphone camera? Or is this the inevitable direction for smartphone cameras? To learn more about these partnerships – and how they manifest in the new Honor Magic 9 Pro Max – I flew to LA for a tour of ARRI’s labs to understand more.

Here’s the fascinating history of these partnerships, and why camera makers actually partner with smartphone makers.

The history of smartphone and camera maker collaborations

The Nokia N95 was the first global partnership between a smartphone maker and a camera company, and its partnership with ZEISS produced some of the most iconic smartphone cameras in history, ultimately leading to the legendary Nokia Lumia 1020.

Nokia’s ultimate demise in the face of the iPhone then led to a decade-long hiatus, until 2016, when two companies partnered with two camera makers. The irony? Both camera companies still have phone partnerships today, but neither is with the original partner from that year.

Motorola’s partnership with Hasselblad lasted one year and focused on the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod for devices like the Moto Z Play. The other? Huawei and Leica, a partnership that produced some of the best smartphone cameras of that decade and helped birth the modern zoom-toting flagship smartphone camera.

Huawei’s problems with US sanctions cut the partnership short, but Leica didn’t take long to bounce back: the partnership ended on March 31, 2022, and less than two months later, Leica and Xiaomi announced a new partnership on May 23, 2022. Four years later, Xiaomi and Leica continue to release excellent, distinctive smartphones, including the special-edition Leica-branded Xiaomi 17 Ultra earlier this year.

Not to be outdone, both Oppo and Vivo have turned to camera makers. Oppo’s partnership with Hasselblad started with OnePlus in 2021 and has yielded some of the best smartphone cameras over the past two years, including the new Oppo Find X10 Pro Max, the world’s first phone with three 200MP cameras.

Meanwhile, Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss began a year earlier, in 2020, but it comes with a key difference: the two companies launched the partnership with a joint Imaging Lab that has produced some of the most powerful smartphone cameras to date.

This leads to Honor and the company announced a partnership with the 109-year-old ARRI earlier this year. The first two phones have both proven unique for different reasons, but why did Honor choose ARRI, and is this just a marketing exercise? My tour of ARRI yielded answers that may surprise you in their refreshing candor.

Who is ARRI? Should you know them?

You probably haven't heard of ARRI, but you've felt the effects of their extremely expensive, extremely precise cameras. Founded in Munich in September 1917, the company has numerous cameras that have made incredible breakthroughs, without which we likely wouldn’t have the smartphone video recording capabilities that we do today.

The biggest impact has been on filmmaking: ARRI is the filmmaker’s camera of choice for many reasons, not least because each camera is individually tested and precisely made. Every company says this, but after seeing ARRI’s labs in LA, I can attest to their precision. Don’t take my word for it; just look at the awards the company has received:

• 20 Academy Scientific and Technical Awards
• 6 Engineering Emmy Awards
• 35-40 Best Picture winners captured on ARRI cameras

The latter point is key, but it's even more pronounced over the past 20 years. Of the last 20 Best Picture winners, 17 were shot on ARRI cameras, and you’ve likely heard of many of them, including Oppenheimer, Everything Everywhere All at Once, CODA, Parasite, Argo, and Slumdog Millionaire.

With such pedigree, what prompted the move to smartphone cameras, and how does Honor fit into this?

A partnership that starts with video

A lot has changed in ARRI’s 109-year history, but the biggest threat the company likely faces is the generational divide that has coincided with the smartphone. As traditional cameras have fallen by the wayside, the latest generation of consumers likely has no brand affinity for ARRI or other traditional camera makers.

The partnership between Honor and ARRI has the makings of something special. Before this partnership kicked off, Honor had already proven its imaging chops with the Honor Magic 8 Pro last year, but the two devices released with ARRI could yield the biggest jump yet, this time in video.

The partnership with ARRI focuses purely on video, and the new Magic 9 Pro Max has an ARRI-branded camera mode reminiscent of the company’s actual cameras. The partnership focuses on color science, accuracy, and quality in video recording, but crucially, ARRI does not make any of the hardware, at least not right now.

There’s a simple reason: although ARRI cameras have gotten considerably smaller over time, they are still much larger than you can conceivably fit into a smartphone. Further, the company insists on devices meeting the ARRI quality barometer that its customers have come to expect from its cameras. Instead, it turned to the devices customers use most and, in Honor, found what may be the perfect partner.

So... why did ARRI partner with Honor?

Flying to LA to meet ARRI, I had one key question: why Honor… and why ARRI?

To find out, I spoke with Stephan Ukas-Bradley, VP of Product Innovation, who has worked at ARRI for over 20 years, and he gave a surprisingly honest, transparent answer: ARRI’s goal is to introduce customers to its moviemaking magic, no matter what device they’re using.

This shows up especially well in the first two phones in the partnership. As I discovered, the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max takes excellent photos and videos, but the first device in the partnership is the most unique: the Honor Robot Phone.

The world’s first smartphone equipped with a gimbal stabilizer, the Honor Robot Phone is a videographer’s dream… and a moviemaker’s dream, too. Both phones are videographers’ and moviemakers’ dreams, but the most interesting part is how ARRI’s color science is being used.

Both phones can shoot in LogC3, but what makes them unique is the ability to preview the effect of different LUT profiles directly in-camera, rather than waiting for post-production. Taking it further, ARRI has almost 90 different LUT profiles that can be downloaded from its website and installed on the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max, and these are the same LUT profiles used in its actual cameras.

Is this the future of moviemaking?

This also offers a unique ARRI benefit: the Magic 9 Pro Max and Robot Phone can dramatically change how you scout movie locations.

Traditionally, a filmmaker needs to hire a cameraman, several production assistants, and camera gear just to scout locations. ARRI’s best cameras can cost almost $100,000, but a smartphone can dramatically reduce these costs and complexities.

The ability to preview LUTs is the biggest unlock for moviemakers; walking around a shoot and filming on the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max with one of the LUTs – or a custom LUT – installed means you have a strong understanding of the final result while you're on site.

Beyond the current partnership, both companies see an opportunity to expand. For Honor, ARRI provides critical insight into color science, processing, and features, starting with video and possibly extending to photography. For ARRI, it lets it introduce the company to the next generation of moviemakers, especially those focused on social media content creation.

Whichever direction this partnership heads – and as history has taught us, not all partnerships last forever – one thing is clear: ARRI and Honor are a powerful partnership that has already yielded some of the most impressive video recording on a smartphone to date. I can’t wait to see what this leads to in the future. There's a strong chance that Honor and ARRI will make every best smartphone roundup if this partnership continues to bear fruit.

What you need to know

• Motorola's upcoming Razr Flex 2027 has appeared on its Australian support website, hinting at a launch next year.
• The Razr Flex could be Motorola's first wide foldable smartphone, designed to compete with Apple's iPhone Duo.
• Leaks suggest a 6.9-inch inner display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery.

Motorola has seemingly confirmed that it's working on a new wide foldable smartphone for 2027, which could take on Apple's iPhone Duo.

Apple's iPhone Duo seems to be the talk of the town right now, with several smartphone brands looking to jump on the wide foldable bandwagon. Samsung has already launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while Oppo is also rumored to be working on something similar. And now, it looks like Motorola is preparing to join the competition with its own wide foldable called the Razr Flex.

As spotted by Android Authority, Motorola has listed the upcoming Razr Flex 2027 on its Australian support website. The device appears alongside other Razr smartphones in the company's security update section, suggesting that Motorola is indeed working on a new smartphone under the Razr Flex branding.

Interestingly, the listing also includes 2027 in the device's name, which strongly suggests Motorola plans to launch the Razr Flex next year.

That said, apart from the name, Motorola's support website doesn't reveal much about the upcoming phone. There are no official images, specifications, or other details about what the Razr Flex will actually look like.

However, previous leaks have already given us a pretty good idea of what to expect. The Razr Flex will reportedly feature a relatively small 4.9-inch cover display alongside a larger 6.9-inch OLED inner screen with up to a 165Hz refresh rate.

Under the hood, the phone could be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and a 5,000mAh battery. Similar to the iPhone Duo, Motorola is also expected to offer a dual-camera setup on the back.

For now, Motorola hasn't officially revealed the Razr Flex or even confirmed if the phone is coming or not. But with the phone already appearing on the company's support website, we should hopefully learn more about its plans in the coming months.

Google is drawing yet another line in the sand for Android Auto users with older phones. The company has officially bumped up the minimum Android version required for wired Android Auto connections to Android 11, so devices on Android 9 and Android 10 will no longer be supported.

If you visit the official Android Auto support page, you’ll now see the updated language, which previously required Android 9 Pie at a minimum. That means Android 11 is the new baseline for anyone trying to connect their phone to a compatible car via USB. An active data plan is also required.

Not that this should be a complete surprise. Google has been slowly phasing out support for older versions of Android, removing Android 6 in 2022 and Android 8 in 2024. This latest change follows warnings that started appearing in October 2026, informing some Android 10 users their phones would soon stop working with Android Auto.

Some older phones are still running Android Auto just fine

Nevertheless, Android Auto 18.1, the latest version of the app, continues to support Android 10, according to 9to5Google. That means the transition is not necessarily being enforced across every device just yet. But the new Google documentation makes it clear that long-term, it’s not going to change.

Android Auto uses a phone’s software and services to bring navigation, calls, messaging, and media controls to a vehicle’s infotainment display. Raising minimum requirements keeps Google compatible, but it also means people with perfectly usable older phones are stuck with an unnecessary hardware expense.

The reaction from affected drivers suggests this change might be more of a nuisance than a normal software cutoff. On Reddit, one user who owns a Galaxy Note 9 said that they received Google's warning message every time they started the car, but Android Auto still worked fine in their 2023 Kia Rio. Others aren’t overly excited about swapping out their phones, particularly when their current hardware is still up to the task for their daily activities.

Some have even tried installing older versions of Android Auto to circumvent the restriction, but at least one Galaxy S9 owner reported that rolling back to releases as old as version 1.0.x didn't help. Others suspect that Google Play Services is enforcing the restriction regardless of which version of the app you have. And some drivers are looking to use cheap, newer phones just for Android Auto instead of replacing their main devices.

Some commenters point out that Google shouldn’t intentionally break functionality that still works. Others say that older versions of Android that no longer receive security patches can leave users exposed to vulnerabilities. In any case, if you're still using an older Galaxy or Sony phone in your car, your familiar dashboard experience could be on borrowed time.