What you need to know

• Google waves goodbye to another features as it announces the end of support for Safety Signal looms for the LTE Pixel Watch 2 and Watch 3.
• Safety Signal included many important emergency features like Emergency SOS and Fall Detection without forcing a subscription plan on LTE Pixel Watch users.
• Google says Safety Signal will leave on December 12, and users will receive an email and notification about its end 30-days before.

Late this morning (Oct. 8), Google announced it's terminating support for an emergency feature on a couple of its past-gen Pixel Watches.

The company detailed the upcoming "end of support" on its Pixel Watch community today. Google stated it will no longer support Safety Signal on the LTE versions of the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3. It adds that this termination is the result of "evolving our connectivity and safety capabilities."

Safety Signal will lose support on the Watch 2 and Watch 3 on December 12. For users who've relied on Safety Signal, the company says they will receive "advance notice via email and push notifications." There will be a 30-day transition period once the email arrives. Users can continue to rely on Safety Signal "without a standalone carrier plan" until everything ends on Dec. 12.

Google turns users toward its other emergency safety features like Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and Safety Check. However, with Safety Signal going away in two months, users will need to rely on a mobile plan or an eSIM when away from their phone.

There when you need them

Safety Signal was a useful system. It was the umbrella that covered many of Google's Pixel Watch emergency features without requiring a cell plan. We highlighted Safety Signal in our Pixel Watch 2 and Watch 3 overviews as it covered Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and more. The feature let users place "phone-free emergency calls or texts without having subscribed to a service plan." The Google Fi connection on your LTE-enabled Watch 2 or Watch 3 is what would've handled these calls.

While it's unfortunate, it might help that users know these features are still around (it'll just take a little more effort). Nevertheless, Emergency SOS is there on your Pixel Watch to sound an alarm and reach out to your emergency contacts whenever there's danger or an accident. While scary, this might save someone's life. Google also added an extra step for Emergency SOS to avoid accidental calls. Fall Detection is another important feature that leverages its AI algorithms to determine the severity of a fall before asking if you require aid.

What you need to know

• Google says certain Googlebooks won't feature full Android app support.
• In a statement, the company warns Googlebooks with Intel processors (Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo) may struggle to support certain apps from the Play Store, but Qualcomm processors (HP and Dell) are fine.
• Googlebook pre-orders opened September 21 and fully launched October 4 (U.S.) and 5 (U.K., etc.)

The Googlebook is available for consumers to start the week, but the company behind it revealed something important — they won't run all Android apps.

Earlier this morning (Oct. 5), the folks at Android Authority reached out to Google concerning the Googlebooks' app support capabilities. The company revealed something crucial: Not every Googlebook is made equal. According to the company, Googlebooks with Intel processors might struggle to support all Android apps that are available via the Play Store, because the majority of Android apps were made to suit ARM chips in phones.

"A small handful of complex apps or games need some developer tuning to run their best on Intel-based platforms," Google told the publication. While the company says it is working with devs, Intel, and Qualcomm to rectify this issue, consumers might not have to worry. "The vast majority of Android apps run smoothly," no matter if you're using an Intel Googlebook or one from Qualcomm, the company advised.

Poor support could mean a myriad of things in today's age. Would these apps not work completely, or would users encounter glitches and frequent error codes? Moreover, are we certain that Intel's chips are capable of running major apps (we'd assume so)?

For the record, the Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo Googlebooks all utilize the Intel Core Ultra 5 processor. Everything else (HP and Dell) relies on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite.

Googlebooks are here

Googlebook pre-orders officially opened on September 21. It was a momentous occasion following Google's earlier laptop reveal during The Android Show. This first wave includes laptops from companies previously mentioned, with prices starting at $899. A few major features include touchscreens, haptic glass trackpads, backlit keyboards, and strong Android phone pairing.

In particular, Magic Pointer is a standout feature for the Googlebook. It brings Gemini directly to your mouse pointer, so you can call on the AI for help whenever you need it. If you don't feel like putting money down for a Googlebook, don't worry. Google started rolling Magic Pointer out in Chrome for Windows and Mac computers.

Consumers can find the Googlebook at the Google Store, Best Buy, and other retailers. There is a motley of included goodies—free trials and the like.

What you need to know

• Reports on Reddit from the Google Messages and Pixel communities state the Messages app is failing to send media in RCS.
• One report states the app will fail outright or "randomly send all the files at once" in their experience.
• Google is reportedly aware of the issue and is rolling out a fix; however, it could take a couple of weeks.
• This problem mirrors another media-related issue Google Messages had last year when media texts failed to send in RCS.

Google Messages has been suffering from a major problem these past few days: If you're one of the (un)lucky, you might've noticed that you can't send photos.

Over the past few days, users on the Google Messages subreddit reported issues sending photos and other media (via SamMobile). One user with a Pixel 10 Pro Fold said they started encountering problems after the August update. They state that the app will enter a "weird cycle" of "undeliverable media and then randomly all the files send at once."

The user said the Messages app will suffer from this for anywhere from two to four days at a time.

As others joined the discussion, it was revealed that these problems occurred over RCS in the app. SamMobile discovered a similar thread on the Pixel subreddit, where one Pixel 8 owner says they're unable to send links, as well as other media (photos, videos). Users attempted to troubleshoot and rectify the issue on their own, but to no avail. One report states the user tried a hard reset of their phone "several times." While this worked (once), the issue has returned.

Good news comes via Android Authority who received a statement from Google about the problem. The company is reportedly aware "of a bug affecting a subset of Google Messages users that can lead to disrupted RCS message delivery." A Google spokesperson informed the publication that a fix is rolling out, but you might have to wait a couple of weeks before you see it.

Similar problems

The current Messages app issue reminds us of another media-related problem that RCS chats encountered. At one point, users couldn't send media messages to others with RCS active, encountering one of two issues: either the message would outright fail, or it would be slow to send. A Google Community manager said the company was aware and "working toward" a fix for users.

And a fix did arrive, thanks to a server-side patch. We're likely looking at a similar situation again. Earlier this year, Samsung Galaxy users ran into a snag with the Messages app after using Smart Switch. Widespread RCS chat failures were reported after users swapped to a new phone. Many received error code 3100 when trying to enable RCS or send a message.

Google confirmed to Android Central in April that it was aware and working with phone carriers to fix the problem. Google has been pretty timely with its fixes for major issues like this. So hopefully anyone experiencing problems this week (or last week) will see them gone soon.

What you need to know

• A rumor claims the Pixel 12 series' model numbers appeared in an important database listing well ahead of its expected launch window in 2027.
• An interesting screen resolution upgrade could boost clarity and detail.
• The earliest rumor we covered came back in 2025 when the Pixel 12's codenames were discovered.

You've just ordered a Pixel 11 series phone. Congrats! But before it's even in your hands, here come the rumors about the next-gen Pixel 12 series, including its supposed model numbers and a potential upgrade. Away we go!

A post by OVR Plus highlights several "Google brand" devices in the GSMA database that reportedly represent the Pixel 12 series (via 9to5Google). The publication claims the database features model numbers GC0QU, GWU59, G7U1Y, and G4D5D. These supposedly align with the Pixel 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro XL, and 12 Pro Fold, respectively. The post states that Google has not only begun development for the Pixel 12, but it's doing so with Android 18.

This probably isn't too surprising. It feels pretty typical that Google would make a move like this, especially considering how much more quickly the company has been developing major Android OS upgrades these days.

Rumors continue, with speculation about a display upgrade. OVR Plus alleges that Google wants to increase the screen resolution for its Pixel 12 series. The Pixel 12 Pro Fold is reportedly increasing from 2076×2152 to 2296×2404. Elsewhere, it's been alleged that the Pixel 12 Pro XL could jump to 1344×2952. The Pixel 12 and 12 Pro would also see slight increases in resolution. As OVR Plus notes, an upgraded resolution would vastly improve the phone's image quality.

In short, it's a visual upgrade, meaning tomorrow's Pixel owners could see sharper, clearer, and more vibrant photos, videos, and more on their phones. These rumors are very early, despite how exciting some of this is. It's worth taking this with a grain of salt, as anything could change between now and August (potentially) when the next series debuts.

Earliest rumors were a year ago...

This may feel like a curveball, but this Pixel 12 rumor is the second we've seen. The first dates back to 2025 ... and yes, you read that correctly. In June 2025, a rumor about the Pixel 12 series codenames appeared. Of course, the Pixel 12 isn't expected to debut until 2027, but in 2025, the rumors couldn't wait. The following codenames were alleged: Galago, Sasquatch, Silverback, and Capuchin. These were reportedly for the Pixel 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro XL, and 12 Pro Fold.

So, since last year, we've expected the Pixel 12 series to remain similar to what we've received over the past few generations. Four models, and one of them is a foldable. What's new is the supposed screen resolution changes. Rumors are still incredibly light, as the series is months and months away (or years, if you saw that in 2025).

Android Central's Take

Rumors are funny sometimes. For me, I'm waiting for a reason to switch to Google Pixel. It's not that I'm actively looking for a reason, though. I like the design of the phones, and Google genuinely has pretty neat features for its phones. Many are Pixel-exclusive, of course, as I've covered several in Pixel Drops. Guess we'll see, huh?

One of the truly new features onboard the Google Pixel 11 series is HiLight — a collection of eight multicolor LEDs on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. It's quite limited at launch, however. HiLight serves two main purposes out of the box: It glows one of five colors when a favorite contact calls, and it glows when the Gemini voice assistant is active.

In other words, HiLight doesn't do a lot. Even if you like the idea of using HiLight to know when your contacts are calling, you can set it up for just five people before the colors get confusing. Luckily, there's a free and open-source app called HiLight Studio that aims to give you more control over the lights.

It takes a bit of work to set up, but after that's done, HiLight Studio delivers what your Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, or Pixel 11 Pro Fold should've been able to do out of the box. Here's the step-by-step guide to getting started with HiLight Studio.

What HiLight Studio does, and how to download it

Put simply, HiLight Studio gives you full control over the eight individual LEDs that make up the HiLight module on the back of your phone. It can do solid colors and animated patterns, and it's customizable. You can control it from the app or a Quick Settings tile.

HiLight Studio is the brainchild of Dhananjay Bhosale on GitHub, and you can sideload it from there. Crucially, the app is now on the Google Play Store for open testing. So you can download it for free from a trusted source with no sign-up required.

I thought HiLight Studio setup would be tricky — it wasn't

HiLight Studio isn't an app you can simply download and start using, because it requires privileged access to the Android lights service, according to the app's developer. You can achieve this by rooting your phone, using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), or Shizuku — an app that allows other apps to access privileged APIs without the risks of rooting your Android device. Even as an Android expert, the process sounded intimidating, but it wasn't.

Shizuku is available on the Google Play Store, meaning you can set up HiLight Studio without sideloading a single app. To get started, install Shizuku from the Play Store and enable developer options in the Settings app. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, or Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

2. Scroll down to the About phone section, and tap it.

3. Find the Build number and tap it seven times to enable developer options. You will need to enter your device passcode to confirm the change.

After you've enabled developer options, you can use wireless debugging to start Shizuku. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Shizuku and tap the Pairing button.

2. Open the Settings app and navigate to System -> Developer options. Alternatively, you can tap the Developer options shortcut in Shizuku.

3. Flip on the Wireless debugging toggle in Shizuku, and tap the Wireless debugging menu.

4. Press Pair device with pairing code. Hit Allow to confirm your choice to allow wireless debugging on your network.

5. A pairing code will appear. When the notification from Shizuku appears, enter the pairing code in the notification and press Send.

6. Now, Shizuku is paired. Press Start in the Shizuku app to finish setup.

To put the finishing touches on setup, you need to link HiLight Studio to Shizuku. Don't worry, this one is quick and easy:

1. Open the HiLight Studio app.

2. Switch to the Setup page.

3. Look for Shizuku and tap Request access. Finally, approve the request.

That's it — you've now granted HiLight Studio access to the Android lights service. Now, you can enjoy the fun part, which is customizing the lights on the back of your phone. While there are a lot of steps in this process, they're pretty painless, and I didn't run into a single issue during setup.

You'll need to restart the HiLight Studio render and Shizuku every time your device reboots. Unless you reboot your Pixel often, this shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience.

HiLight is finally as customizable as it was meant to be

After setup, opening HiLight presents you with a Live screen that shows you what the HiLight Studio renderer is doing right now. You can test out a lighting effect on this screen. This allows you to get a feel for the nine LED effects supported by the app: Rainbow, Random, Strobe, Comet, Pulse, Heartbeat, Breathe, Wave, and Radar. As you demo each effect, it'll run for four seconds before returning to your default.

Near the bottom of this page, you'll see the App rules you have enabled. If this is your first time trying out HiLight Studio, you won't see anything here. Instead, you'll need to tap the Apps tab. This is where the real magic begins — you can set up exactly what HiLight does for a particular app. Here are a few examples of what HiLight Studio can do:

• Show a color or animation when an app receives a notification.
• Show a color or animation when an app receives a notification from a specific contact.
• Show a color or animation while an app is opened.
• Show a color or animation while Android reports the microphone or camera is active.

There's a ton of room for customization here, and these app rules only scratch the surface of what HiLight Studio can do. In the Setup page, you can specify how long HiLight Studio can keep the LEDs active before they automatically shut off. These lights aren't designed to be active for long periods of time, which is why these limits are in place.

You can override the auto-off defaults and allow up to five minutes of continued use. However, hardware protection is a built-in feature that lowers the brightness after 10 seconds of continuous use. Additionally, the eight-LED array will turn off if it has been lit for more than half of the last 10 minutes.

Why you should try HiLight Studio on your Pixel 11

When you unbox your Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, or Pixel 11 Pro Fold and try HiLight for the first time, you'll immediately realize it has tons of potential. Unfortunately, Google hasn't realized that potential in HiLight's current implementation. The two use cases officially supported by the Pixel 11 series won't meaningfully change how you use your phone.

HiLight Studio will, which is why it's worth giving the app a shot on your new Pixel phone. Hopefully, Google adds similar functionality to HiLight natively in the future.

What you need to know

• Google Maps has added a new McLaren F1 car that you can select as your driving avatar during navigation.
• The new avatar celebrates the United States Grand Prix and will only be available to select until November 23.
• You can find the McLaren F1 car under Settings > Your vehicles > Driving avatar in the Google Maps app.

Google Maps has added a new McLaren F1 car vehicle icon for users.

Google has allowed users to customize the vehicle icon in Maps for quite a while. The icon that appears during navigation used to be the standard blue arrow, but you can now customize its color or replace it with different vehicle types, including trucks and sports cars. And now, Google has added another option in collaboration with McLaren.

In the Google Maps app, if you head to your profile icon > Settings > Your vehicles > Driving avatar, you'll now see a new McLaren F1 car among the available options.

The icon looks quite close to the actual McLaren F1 car, and once selected, you can use it as your driving avatar in Google Maps. So, the next time you start turn-by-turn navigation, the usual vehicle icon will be replaced by the F1 car as you move around the map.

Google says the new avatar has been added to celebrate the United States Grand Prix and is only available for a limited time. You'll be able to select the McLaren F1 avatar until November 23, 2026, after which the option will presumably disappear.

I'm currently seeing the feature live in Google Maps on my iPhone Air, but it hasn't appeared on my Pixel 11 Pro just yet. Both devices are running the latest version of Google Maps, so this appears to be a server-side rollout rather than something tied to a particular app update.

If you don't see the McLaren F1 car on your Android phone yet, it may simply be worth checking again later as Google expands the rollout.

What you need to know

• Google is reportedly preparing a new Fitbit Edge that could sit between the $99 Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch.
• Unlike the screenless Fitbit Air, the Fitbit Edge could feature a small display for health stats and basic controls.
• The Fitbit Edge will reportedly offer 7-day battery life and support both Android phones and iPhones.
• Google could launch the Fitbit Edge later this month, with pricing estimated to fall between $149 and $199.

Google might be preparing to launch a new wearable under the Fitbit branding called the Fitbit Edge.

Google has enjoyed quite a bit of success recently with the launch of the Fitbit Air. The $99 price tag, combined with a screenless design and daily health insights without necessarily requiring a subscription, has made it one of the more interesting wearables in its category. And now, it looks like Google is preparing to fill the gap between the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch.

According to a leak from Android Headlines, Google is preparing a new wearable called the Fitbit Edge. The publication has shared what appear to be marketing renders of the device, giving us our first look at what Google's next Fitbit tracker could look like.

Unlike the Fitbit Air, the Fitbit Edge will reportedly feature a small oval-shaped display. It won't offer the full smartwatch experience you get from something like the Pixel Watch, but instead use the smaller screen to display essential information.

The leaked watch face shows things like the time and date, heart rate, step count, and a quick button to start a workout. Think of it more as a successor to the Fitbit Charge 6, which launched back in 2023, rather than a cheaper Pixel Watch.

The renders also show a button on either side of the tracker alongside a sensor array on the back. The sensor setup looks quite similar to what we have on the Fitbit Air, although there could be additional sensors for tracking more health metrics.

The Fitbit Edge is shown in three colors called Obsidian, Olive, and Canyon, which are similar to the finishes we've seen on the Pixel 11 Pro series.

As for the specs, the Fitbit Edge will reportedly offer up to seven days of battery life, matching the Fitbit Air. Unlike the Pixel Watch, which only works with Android phones, the Fitbit Edge will reportedly support both Android and iPhone, similar to other Fitbit trackers.

The display will also allow the Fitbit Edge to offer some smartwatch-like functionality. The tracker will reportedly support notifications and features from apps including Google Maps and YouTube Music, alongside Find My Phone. It's unclear whether you'll also be able to see notifications from third-party apps like WhatsApp or regular messages.

Google is expected to position the Fitbit Edge as the middle option between the $99 Fitbit Air and the more expensive Pixel Watch 5. Pricing hasn't leaked just yet, but the publication estimates that the Fitbit Edge could cost somewhere between $149 and $199.

The Fitbit Edge is reportedly set to launch later this month, so we shouldn't have to wait too long to learn more about Google's next wearable.

What you need to know

• Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 is rolling out to Pixel phones ahead of its expected stable release next year.
• Google is fixing a long list of issues, including crashes, fingerprint freezes, eSIM problems, Wi-Fi failures, battery drain, and Bluetooth audio glitches.
• A stable release is targeted for March 2027.

Google just released Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1, and if you have a Pixel, you will want to check this out. The update was rolled out to Pixel testers today with builds for everything from the Pixel 6a to the Pixel 11 family. Most devices are getting DP11.260918.006, while Pixel 11 owners are getting DP11.260918.005.

For the uninitiated, these QPR updates ride on top of Android 17's initial launch and deliver fixes and performance tweaks every three months. They avoid breaking changes to the API, so developers are able to test with confidence.

So what's been fixed? Quite a bit. Google killed 20 bugs this round, including a nasty fingerprint unlock freeze, an eSIM profile that quietly flipped back to off, and a camera bug that spun your video feed 90 degrees during desktop-mode calls. Here is the complete list of fixes Google is pushing out.

• Audio output device cannot be switched while playing audio from apps without active media controls. (Issue #259180936)
• Apps crash when attempting to start a foreground service from a Quick Settings tile. (Issue #299506164)
• Application icons in the app menu display with excessive spacing. (Issue #316288379, Issue #300758716)
• App previews fail to display in the recent apps screen. (Issue #515091621)
• NFC service crashes with DeadObjectException and stops detecting tags after the initial scan on Android 16. (Issue #456078994)
• Device freezes and becomes unresponsive when unlocking with the fingerprint sensor. (Issue #490719716, Issue #514867650, Issue #523022829)
• Device crashes when selecting the require eyes to be open option in Face Unlock settings. (Issue #466618368, Issue #522677686)
• MediaPlayer crashes when handling non-ASCII audio attribute tags. (Issue #552043106)
• Applications freeze and trigger an Application Not Responding (ANR) error when launched. (Issue #484969809, Issue #475406236)
• Camera feed is rotated 90 degrees when using video calling apps on an external display in desktop mode. (Issue #432390710)
• User interface issues when navigating back to the home screen from an app. (Issue #566639975)
• Unexpected dot displayed on the Mobile Data icon in Quick Settings. (Issue #551150806)
• Front camera fails to function while screen recording is active. (Issue #523313834)
• Calling apps crash with ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException when handling calls immediately after device reboot. (Issue #409069722)
• eSIM profile cannot be enabled and silently reverts to off in Settings. (Issue #541436675)
• Excessive battery drain during idle when Flip to Shh is enabled. (Issue #560036427)
• Settings app crashes when opening battery settings. (Issue #554603197)
• Audio playback stops on active LHDC v5 Bluetooth devices when a second connected device disconnects. (Issue #554992287)
• com.android.phone crash loop and complete loss of cellular service when the modem reports unexpected SIM slot indices. (Issue #554049220)
• Wi-Fi fails to automatically reconnect during background wakes when hardware PNO scans fail or are unsupported. (Issue #551970385)

QPR3 should see the final, stable release by early next year. Want to jump back to the stable channel without completely wiping your phone? Don't install this update yet and wait for the public QPR2 launch by unenrolling from the Android Beta Program.

What you need to know

• Google is testing a requirement for fingerprint or face scans before Chrome autofills saved passwords.
• After testing and pulling the feature over a year ago, Google revived it in the latest Chrome Canary build.
• The extra verification could prevent someone with an unlocked device from accessing all your saved website passwords.

Chrome on Android might soon be a little less trusting with password autofill.

It looks like Google is testing a biometric check for stored passwords in Chrome that would require your fingerprint, face unlock, or another supported method of confirming that it’s really you before Chrome auto-fills the password.

That change is back in the latest Chrome Canary build, with Google adding a “Biometric reauth for password filling” flag, first spotted by @Leopeva64 on X.

When enabled, tapping a saved credential can trigger authentication before Chrome hands over the password. Thus, unlocking your phone may no longer be enough to unlock your entire password vault.

That extra step closes a security hole in Google Password Manager. While this security check is already available in apps for filling passwords with biometric protection, Chrome has handled autofill in the browser differently in the past.

Google previously teased this protection was coming to Chrome soon, and the Canary test shows the company is still working toward it.

In fact, Google has been circling this idea for a while. The feature was tested over a year ago but vanished before it got to Chrome's stable channel. Now Leopeva64 has seen it again in Canary, with a flag for it, indicating the project is back on the table.

Interestingly, there is already biometric authentication for password autofill in iPhones. On Apple's devices, Face ID or Touch ID can authenticate Password AutoFill when you fill saved usernames and passwords in Safari.

The difference is that the potential Chrome feature from Google seems to be targeted at bringing in biometric reauthentication at the point when Chrome goes into a saved password. Apple already has biometric authentication built into its password management and AutoFill system.

If Google does ship the feature, it would mean stealing an unlocked phone wouldn’t automatically provide you with access to every saved website password. For now, though, Chrome Canary is the testing ground, and Google hasn't announced a stable release date.

What you need to know

• Google has increased the Pixel 10a's U.S. price by $100, taking the base 128GB model from $499 to $599.
• The 256GB Pixel 10a now costs $699, with the new pricing already live at Google, Amazon, and Best Buy.
• Google hasn't explained the increase, but rising memory and RAM costs could be contributing to the higher price.

Google has officially increased the price of the Pixel 10a by $100, meaning the mid-range smartphone now starts at $599 in the U.S.

It's apparently the season of price increases. Just a day after Samsung raised the prices of some Galaxy S26 variants, Google has now increased the price of its mid-range Pixel 10a by $100 (via 9to5Google). The Pixel 10a, which originally launched for $499 in the U.S., is now officially available for $599.

Google hasn't said anything about the reason behind the price increase. But with component costs, particularly memory and RAM, continuing to rise, we presume that's playing a major role here.

When Google launched the Pixel 11 series earlier this year, the company also increased prices by $100 compared to the previous generation. At the time, though, the Pixel A-series remained unaffected. It looks like that's no longer the case, with Google now raising the Pixel 10a's price as well.

This means the base 128GB Pixel 10a now starts at $599 in the U.S., while the 256GB model comes in at $699. The new prices have already kicked in at the Google Store, as well as retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.

What makes the price increase particularly difficult to swallow is that the Pixel 10a itself didn't change much compared to last year's Pixel 9a. In fact, it uses the same Tensor G4 processor that first debuted with the Pixel 9 series back in 2024.

Google did make a few improvements, including upgraded wireless charging and satellite connectivity. But paying $100 more for the exact same phone that cost $499 until recently is still a pretty hard pill to swallow.

Unfortunately, that's the smartphone market we're in right now. We expected mid-range and budget phones to be among the devices hit hardest by rising component costs, and with the Pixel 10a's new price, we're now starting to see that play out.

What you need to know

• Google Play is bundling its biggest sales, rewards, and promotions into a weeklong event.
• Google Play Fest runs from October 13 to October 19, combining the store's biggest discounts, point boosts, and contests into a single event.
• Huge discounts across apps, games, books, devices, and select digital gift cards will be live throughout the week.

Google Play is bringing all its biggest sales and rewards in one big event, called Play Fest, that will run for a whole week. The tech giant calls this inaugural event the most rewarding week of the year, and it runs from October 13 to October 19.

Google Play Points launched all the way back in 2018 as a way to reward users for buying apps, games, movies, and books. Over time, it grew into a full-fledged loyalty program where regular spending is converted into store credit and digital perks.

The Play Fest Sweepstakes is the biggest draw here. Beginning October 13, Play Points members will be able to redeem their points for a chance to win thousands of prizes, including exclusive merchandise, premium tech gear, and tickets to major sporting events around the world.

Gamers are also given something new to chase. Google is adding Play Fest leagues to Angry Birds 2, 8 Ball Pool, and Free Fire. You can register and compete on global leaderboards for a chance to win prizes.

There’s also a broad sale covering apps, games, books, and devices from October 13 through October 19. Select digital gift card brands will get exclusive promotions as well, although those offers are available only while supplies last.

Google is also increasing the pace at which users can earn Play Points. Members can earn points faster with daily purchase boosts, and book buyers get a 15x multiplier on books from October 16 through October 18. Starting October 8, Play Pass members will earn double points and 6x boosts.

If you have an app wishlist or points you're saving, hold off until the event kicks off to get the most bang for your buck.

What you need to know

• Users with Android Auto in their cars report that, if their foldable is closed, the system will fail to place a call unless they open it.
• Several reports involve Motorola's Razr series, but Gemini has also been mentioned heavily in a series of online reports.
• Motorola and Google are aware and are reaching out to users for information.

Drivers beware: A fresh Android Auto bug seems to be unfolding. The issue has drawn increased attention this week regarding a call failure bug — and user reports on social media and official OEM forums claim that the state of their foldable is the cause.

Reports are spread across Reddit, Google's Forums, and Motorola's (via Android Authority). A user reported this issue on Reddit a few months back, stating they're unable to make a call through Android Auto when their Moto Razr Ultra 2025 is closed. They must open it before their call can be placed. They questioned whether this is the result of Android 16, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Others chimed in, reiterating the same issue as the OP. A report on the Google forums sheds more light: It states that "ever since Gemini became active," attempting to place a call while the user's foldable is closed will result in an Android Auto failure. The post adds, "it pulls up the person and phone number, but doesn't process the call."

These reports share something in common: closed foldable results in failure and Gemini's wider rollout. The timing is far too close for comfort, and it seems some users clocked this, too. Back on Reddit, one user discovered that if they disabled Gemini and reverted to the old Google Assistant, their calls would go through, regardless of whether their foldable was opened or closed.

While concerning, the publication noticed that Motorola and Google have been active and watching these reports. It looks like both companies are aware of what's going on with Gemini and with the Razr foldables. All we have to do now is wait for a fix.

Android Auto woes continue

Android Auto has its issues (no one's denying that). There was a problem with the Pixel 10 that users encountered when connecting the device. According to user reports, a gray screen would appear when their phone was connected to Android Auto. What's more, there was a freezing issue that didn't get fixed when Google rolled out a patch. Elsewhere, Android Auto users had a problem in March with the signal icon.

This wasn't as terrible as what some are facing today. The signal icon for cellular connectivity was disappearing on the car's display. In short, it was a UI bug. Users reported that everything else worked perfectly fine: connectivity, calls, data, and navigation. The problem was linked back to Android Auto version 16.5. Users found relief by reverting to an older version.

What you need to know

• Gemini Gems are being phased out as Google replaces them with more flexible, reusable Skills.
• Skills roll out October 5 in Workspace and October 13 in the Gemini app, with Gems starting their exit in November.
• Multiple Skills can work together, letting Gemini combine specialized instructions for more complex tasks.

Google is swapping out Gemini's customizable Gems for a more flexible system called Skills, and the transition is now getting a firm timeline. Skills will begin rolling out to Google Workspace on October 5, followed by the Gemini app on October 13, with Gems beginning their gradual exit in November.

In case you didn’t know, Gems were basically customized versions of Gemini built to follow a specific set of instructions. Skills take that further and make those instructions reusable and modular building blocks.

Google said in a blog post that Skills can capture a company’s brand voice, templates, processes, and other reference material in a blog post and then be reused whenever a similar task arises.

The biggest upgrade is that skills can now be stacked. Instead of just one custom assistant, you might have a Skill for writing a weekly newsletter and another Skill to ensure you adhere to your brand guidelines. Gemini also has the ability to automatically recognize when a Skill applies to a prompt, so you don’t need to manually select it every time.

Built on open standards

Skills are also coming to non-work accounts on Google. When the Gemini app rollout begins, Skills will be available to users of personal Google accounts and Google Workspace customers. They're based on an open SKILL.md format using Markdown, which Google says makes Skills portable across compatible platforms.

The catch is that skills developed in Gemini and Workspace will not automatically sync between them. If you want it in both places, you will need to create the same Skill separately.

The transition happens in stages. Gems will be transferred into Gemini’s Settings on November 17, where they’ll be usable for a time. Business and enterprise accounts will not lose Gems before March 1, 2027, and education accounts will not lose Gems before June 1. Remaining Gems will eventually be converted to draft Skills.

What you need to know

• Google has started warning users in Gemini Gems that it will replace this feature with "Skills."
• Gems will be replaced by Skills on November 17, 2026; however, users can continue to use Gems until they migrate.
• Skills are "reusable custom instructions" that are stackable and easier to access for users in Gemini chats.
• Google introduced Gemini Gems in August 2024.

Google is shutting down an old Gemini feature in the next couple of months. It states it will replace Gems with the next iteration of its AI tech.

In Gemini's Gems view, Google has posted an alert to inform users that Gems will be replaced by Skills on November 17, 2026 (via 9to5Google). The company's alert reads, "...we'll automatically begin migrating your Gems to skills. You will be able to use your Gems until they migrate." Learning more sends users to a support page where Google details its move from Gems to Skills.

According to the post, Skills are "reusable custom instructions" that users can utilize for automated tasks in Gemini. However, there are a few more uses. Skills are "stackable." Google states this means users can combine multiple Skills in one chat with Gemini for complex tasks. What's more, the company says you can type the Skill's name in a chat with Gemini for easier access.

It's worth noting that Google is working on a way to type "@" followed by the Skill's name for an even easier experience. Gemini's awareness of your Skills will have it "automatically recognize when a skill is relevant to your current prompt." Gemini will then apply that Skill for you without much manual input. If you've been using Gems and are curious about how to recreate them as a Skill, we suggest reading this.

The support document states Skills are available now in Gemini's chats for users over 18 years old and signed in (personal account). Google says it plans to expand Skills to work and school accounts in the future.

Watch the skills

We've had Gemini Gems for two years. Perhaps it's been a good run? Google first introduced these custom Gems in August 2024, stating they let users "create a tailor-made version of the AI for a specific need." Users can instruct the AI on its purpose and "how it should respond." Gems were available (still are, technically) on desktop and mobile. Since its introduction, Google has brought Gems to Workspace.

Google delivered a pre-made selection of Gems for Gmail, Drive, Sheets, and Slides. Users still had the ability to create their own, too. What's replacing it now—Skills—is the result of Gemini Spark. This is Google's latest proactive AI agent to help streamline users' workdays. Gemini Spark can manage tasks and workflows in the background without disturbing you. Google explains that Skills are "a set of instructions and preferences that teaches Gemini how to handle a specific type of task the way you would."

What you need to know

• Long-pressing a message now triggers a floating menu right beside the bubble on Google Messages — complete with a blurred background and shortcuts for copying, starring, or replying.
• You can finally drag selection handles to grab specific snippets like codes or addresses instead of being forced to copy the entire message.
• Swiping left across a chat reveals all message timestamps and encryption statuses at once, while swiping right lets you reply instantly.

Google Messages is making some subtle changes to the basic gestures that Android users have relied on for years. Google appears to be changing how you copy text, check timestamps, and reply to individual messages, alongside the new long-press menu.

The biggest visual change is the new long-press menu. Google Messages now places a floating menu next to the selected bubble instead of pushing controls to a toolbar on top. You have quick access to Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info, while images add options like Save and Remix, as spotted by a Reddit user (via Android Authority). As you open the menu, the background of the conversation also blurs.

Copying text is also getting a very useful upgrade, as was previously discovered through an APK teardown. Instead of copying the whole message when you just need a phone number, address or snippet, you can press again and select a specific piece of text. Google has confirmed that the touch-and-hold actions work on text, images, videos, links, files, locations and contact cards.

Gesture changes may take longer to become muscle memory. Swiping left anywhere in a conversation will now show message timestamps and the RCS encryption status, while replying requires a right swipe directly on the message bubble (via 9to5Google). Tapping a message still displays read receipts, and Messages briefly displays timestamps after a tap to tip you off to the new behavior.

One practical consequence may be easy to miss: the new timestamp gesture gives you a quick way to scan an entire conversation’s timing rather than opening message details one by one. That makes the change more useful in long threads where it’s important to figure out when messages were actually sent.

The rollout is linked to recent Google Messages builds, including 20260910_03_RC02, but it’s server-side, so all phones won’t receive the new behavior at once.

What you need to know

• Google Calendar now supports three time zones on the web.
• Three zones appear side by side in Day, Week, and Custom multi-day views.
• The rollout started September 25, covering Workspace, Workspace Individual, and personal Google accounts.

Google Calendar is making life a little easier for anyone who routinely schedules meetings across borders. Now the web version can show up to three time zones at once, so global teams can see when everyone is actually working.

Previously, Calendar allowed you to see a primary and secondary time zone. That worked well enough for two locations, but things can get messy quickly when a meeting involves people in San Francisco, New York, and Zurich, for example.

Google’s new third time zone adds a third reference right on the calendar grid, so you don’t have to keep doing the time conversions yourself.

The three zones are displayed side by side for the Day, Week, and Custom multi-day views, per Google's blog post. These will also be added to the Find a Time scheduling screen, where they’ll be visible when creating or editing an event.

You also can assign a custom label to each time zone. You could also use labels like SFO, NYC, or ZRH instead of abbreviations to make the calendar easier to scan.

There's also one more small upgrade that makes this setup less tedious: Google overhauled Calendar’s time-zone picker earlier this year, so you can now search for a city or country instead of scrolling through a long list.

The update began rolling out September 25 for Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and personal Google accounts. Rapid Release users could see it within 15 days; Scheduled Release domains begin rollout on October 12.

There is no need for an admin switch. When the extra zone reaches your account, you are able to set it up yourself.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 to Pixel testers, aiming to fix an assortment of crashes and unexpected reboots for a few phones.
• The Pixel 9 Pro Fold experienced an unexpected reboot, thanks to a third-party app issue when trying to open the camera's viewfinder.
• QPR2 Beta 5 rolled out almost ten days ago; however, we are down the final stretch since Google achieved Platform Stability with this update.

Google continues to press ahead with its Android !7 QPR2 Beta with another update for Pixel users.

Over on the Android Beta subreddit, Google announced that it's rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 to Pixel testers. The company states all devices are synced up on build numbers, so all users will find vCP41.260831.007. Eligible phones include the Pixel 6a up to the Pixel 10 series (10a, too). There's a handful of fixes arriving late this week, and one concerns a major Pixel 9 Pro Fold reboot problem.

This was a fairly prominent issue for Pixel testers in the QPR2 Beta. Several threads have appeared on the Issue Tracker, informing Google that their devices have experienced an "unexpected reboot." Google states the issue would occur when "initializing the camera viewfinder in third-party applications." The fix for this should hopefully alleviate any problems users have been experiencing.

Elsewhere, QPR2 Beta 6 offers a fix for a severe "system kernel crash." This problem also affected devices when a third-party app would "request simultaneous camera and microphone access" during biometric verification stages.

Clarity to the situation

• A visual regression causing letterboxed content to leak through the status bar during activity transitions
• The screensaver displays a blank screen while charging
• Locked applications could not be dismissed using swipe gestures in Recents
• An issue that caused device crashes, reboots, or hangs when scrolling

There are two things to note about Beta 6. One user reports that Google removed blurred notifications on the lock screen. This drew quick attention from Mishaal Rahman on Reddit, who clarified the situation, stating, "The product team temporarily reverted the lock screen blur effect from this recent beta release in order to fix some bugs."

Other users note that their phones (Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 7, Pixel 9) have received Kernel 6.12. Many note improved fluidity on their devices.

QPR2 Beta 5 rolled out almost ten days ago, and it seems Google is keen on getting these major fixes in as quickly as possible. A few additional Bluetooth fixes were included last week, following Android 17 QPR2's "Platform Stability" achievement. We continue our trek down the final stretch toward a full release.

What you need to know

• Motorola's Signature 27 will be one of the first phones powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.
• GrapheneOS has confirmed initial support for the Signature 27, expanding beyond Google Pixel phones for the first time.
• GrapheneOS is based on AOSP but focuses heavily on privacy, with optional Google Play services running sandboxed.

Motorola's Signature 27 is shaping up to be a serious contender for one of the best Android phones of the year. But beyond all the top-tier specs Motorola is packing into the phone, one of the most interesting features just confirmed for the Signature 27 is support for GrapheneOS.

At the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit 2026, Motorola took to the stage to showcase one of the first smartphones powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. Qualcomm's new flagship chip is built on a 2nm process and can reach clock speeds of up to 5GHz, and the Signature 27 will be one of the first phones to use it.

The phone also breaks away from Motorola's previous Signature design with a new camera layout and packs plenty of other high-end features, including Audio by B&O. But alongside all those beastly specs, there's another interesting detail about the Signature 27, and that's support for GrapheneOS.

If you're unfamiliar, GrapheneOS is a privacy-focused take on Android that has grown significantly in popularity over the past few years. It's based on the Android Open Source Project, or AOSP, but is built with a much heavier focus on privacy and security and doesn't come with Google's services deeply integrated into the operating system.

You can still install Google Play services if you want, but they run sandboxed like regular apps rather than having the deeper system-level access they typically have on Android. Think of it as a much more privacy-focused version of Android that gives you greater control over how much access Google and other services have to your device.

Historically, GrapheneOS has officially supported only Google Pixel devices because of the project's strict hardware and security requirements. But that's finally changing, with the Motorola Signature 27 set to become one of the first non-Pixel smartphones to receive official GrapheneOS support.

GrapheneOS confirmed on X that initial support is planned for the Signature 27, although it stopped short of revealing many more details. We don't yet know exactly when support will arrive or what the installation process will look like, but we now know that Signature 27 owners will have the option to run GrapheneOS.

Motorola hasn't announced the exact release date or pricing for the Signature 27 just yet. But between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, the new flagship hardware, and now official GrapheneOS support, Motorola is certainly giving Android enthusiasts another reason to keep an eye on this phone.

What you need to know

• The Google Health app is rolling out blood pressure trends, insulin resistance trends, and sleep breathing quality tracking to its Health Guardian suite.
• The features analyze long-term pattern changes over weeks rather than providing instant clinical readings, functioning as wellness indicators instead of direct medical diagnostic tools.
• The update is available for free to Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5 users, while Fitbit Air owners can access it via a Google Health Premium subscription.

Google is expanding the health-monitoring tools available on its Pixel Watch lineup, with three new Health Guardian features starting to roll out this week. The update adds blood pressure trends, insulin resistance trends, and sleep breathing quality metrics to the Google Health app.

The features are intended to look for changes over time, not to replace traditional medical measurements. Pixel Watch owners can start to set them up this week, Google says.

According to the tech giant, the Health Guardian system uses AI models trained on billions of minutes of sensor data to recognize subtle physiological patterns, so the watch can estimate trends from signals it already collects without a dedicated blood-pressure cuff or blood sample.

That approach is especially notable for trends in insulin resistance, which Google says can analyze multiple weeks of physiological data without requiring a blood draw. The company says the feature is meant to promote overall wellness, not to diagnose diabetes or replace clinical testing.

The additions join Google's broader Health Guardian suite, which also includes Breathing Emergency Detection on the Pixel Watch 4 and Watch 5 in select European countries.

Existing owners also get in on the fun, as the new tools will be offered for free on the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5. Users of the Fitbit Air will soon have access as part of a Google Health Premium subscription.

The first detailed trend reports are expected in early October, offering users their first real glimpse at how Google’s trend-based health monitoring functions outside of the company’s launch messaging.

What you need to know

• Pixel 11 users can now delegate routine calls — like checking store inventory, booking appointments, or changing reservations — directly to Gemini.
• You can monitor the entire conversation via a live transcript on your screen and take over the call at any moment.
• The preview begins September 24 for Gemini paid subscribers in the Phone by Google Public Beta.

Google today introduced a new task for Gemini on the Pixel 11: helping you dodge those pesky calls you keep putting off. The company is testing a feature that allows Gemini to contact businesses for routine tasks such as checking inventory, booking appointments, and changing reservations.

The idea builds on Google’s existing Hold for Me and Direct My Call features, which already take care of parts of the experience of a phone call. This time, Gemini goes one step further. You tell it what you need, and it will call the business, identify itself, go through automated menus, wait on hold, and speak with the person who answers, all through the Gemini app.

Google’s updated terms say these agentic calls are placed from your own phone number and use an AI-generated voice. That makes the feature less like a glorified voicemail assistant and more like an AI impersonating you.

You aren't handing over the phone altogether, though. The experience will include a live transcript so you can follow the conversation as it happens, Google says. If Gemini starts to go off the rails, you can take over the call at any point.

Google says it’s limiting the initial rollout as it works through the nuances of real-world conversations. There’s a good practical reason for Google’s decision to limit the initial rollout. These are conversations that are real. Gemini's calls are from real customers trying to book appointments, hold items, or change the date of services, meaning that businesses and the people who work for them have to deal with the AI on the other end.

The preview starts on September 24 for Gemini paid subscribers enrolled in the Phone by Google Public Beta, which is limited to Pixel 11 phones in the U.S.

What you need to know

• Google believes Apple's entry with the iPhone Duo validates a foldable category Android brands have built for years.
• The company believes the iPhone Duo's halo effect could increase consumer interest in Android foldable phones as well.
• A bigger foldable market could finally push developers to properly optimize more apps for Android's larger displays.

Apple is finally entering the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo very soon. And Google actually thinks Apple's arrival in the category could be a good thing.

We've been waiting for a foldable iPhone for years, but it's finally no longer a dream. Apple is opening pre-orders for the iPhone Duo next month, and as expected, the company's entrance into the category is expected to shake things up. Counterpoint even believes Apple could capture around 25% of the foldable smartphone market within a year of the iPhone Duo's launch.

So technically, Google and its Android partners should be worried about Apple jumping into the foldable phones market, right? Apparently not. In fact, Google believes Apple's arrival could be beneficial for the entire category.

Android president Sameer Samat sat down with Tom's Guide this week to talk about the foldable market and the iPhone Duo. Samat, who says he personally uses the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, praised the multitasking experience and noted that Android is often where consumers get to experience new technologies first, with foldables being one example.

But rather than seeing the iPhone Duo as a threat, Google views Apple's entrance as a long-awaited validation of the foldable category that Android manufacturers have been building for years.

Despite the momentum Apple currently has, Samat believes the halo effect of the iPhone Duo could actually increase consumer interest in Android foldables as well. More importantly, he believes a larger foldable market will finally give developers more reason to properly optimize their apps for bigger folding displays.

That's one area where Apple already appears to have an advantage. The company showcased apps like Netflix and Slack properly optimized for the iPhone Duo, while some of those same apps on Android foldables still look like stretched-out versions of their regular phone interfaces.

Samat, however, believes Apple's entrance could help change that. As foldables become more popular across both platforms, developers have more incentive to invest in the form factor, and Google says developers are already in conversations or actively working on better foldable-optimized Android apps.

What you need to know

• Google is expanding the motion-sickness feature to more Android phones through Google Play services.
• You’ll need an Android 17 or newer device running Google Play services v26.37.
• Motion Assist uses your phone’s motion sensors to move on-screen bubbles in sync with the vehicle.

Google is taking one of the more unusual features from its September Pixel Drop and bringing it to a much wider audience. Motion Assist, the company’s attempt to reduce motion sickness while you’re using your phone in a moving vehicle, is now rolling out through Google Play services.

The feature arrived on Pixel phones a few weeks ago, but the latest update to Google Play services v26.37 extends support beyond Google's hardware. You’ll need an Android 17 or later phone and the latest version of Google Play services.

For starters, Motion Assist places small visual bubbles around the edges of the display. Then, it uses the phone’s motion sensors to move those shapes in sync with the vehicle. This works pretty much like Apple’s own take on the feature, which has long been available on iOS devices.

The idea is to provide your eyes with a visual reference that correlates more closely with what your body is experiencing. This might lessen the mismatch that can cause motion sickness.

The appearance of the feature can also be customized, including the opacity, color and shape of the bubbles. Motion Assist can turn on when your phone detects that you are in a moving vehicle, or you can turn it on manually through Quick Settings.

The September 21 update is not solely about motion sickness. Google is also working on making it easier to transfer real-time health metrics from Wear OS watches to phones, making it easier to find Driving Do Not Disturb, and creating larger, more refined system emoji fonts.

Google Play Store v53.3 also includes a few extras such as local-currency purchases in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Ethiopia; changes to Wear search results; and the ability to add a pre-registered paid app or game to your wishlist after it launches.

You can find the full changelog on Google’s help page. Keep an eye out for the system update rolling out to your device over the coming days — your stomach will thank you on your next road trip.

What you need to know

• Googlebooks are finally here, and Google says pre-orders have begun as promised today (Sept. 21).
• The Googlebooks feature touchscreens, haptic glass trackpads, backlit keyboards, and strong Android phone pairing.
• The company says users can cast apps or stop and start projects from their Android phone on their Googlebook.
• Googlebooks from ASUS, Dell, HP, and more start at $899; available at Best Buy, Google Store, and other retailers ahead of an October 4 market release.

In case you haven't checked your phone, it's September 21. Googlebook pre-orders officially begin today, and Google's full announcement is finally here.

Today (Sept. 21), Google announced that pre-orders for the first wave of Googlebooks have begun. The post states that Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo build this initial wave. Pre-orders are open, and laptops begin at $899. Each brand features distinct craftsmanship, ranging from custom keyboards to cinematic audio. Google states these laptops from these brands were crafted in "premium materials like aluminum, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber, making them exceptionally light, sleek, and durable.."

These Googlebooks provide touchscreens with up to 2.8K OLED displays, haptic glass trackpads, and backlit keyboards. Powered by Qualcomm and Intel processors (depending on the brand), these laptops also offer up to 14 hours of battery life. It's also hard not to mention that the Glowbar is back.

Google says this illuminates on startup and offers information about your battery percentage, as well as fancy animations when talking to Gemini.

You also shouldn't miss out on what's powering the Googlebook: Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite. The first Googlebooks are being powered by this chip, delivering a 12-core Oryon CPU setup, clocking in at up to 4GHz.

Google is taking its Android software on the Googlebook seriously this time around. These laptops "bring the best of the web and the Play Store" to consumers, but everything you enjoy on your phone is right on your Googlebook.

The post states that when users sign in, everything moves with them. By "everything," Google means your "Android phone’s settings, saved passwords, Wi-Fi networks, and messages." Users can pick up where they left off with projects or booking tickets at a venue. App casting makes it easy to continue what you're doing on your phone, but on a bigger screen. Additionally, you can search your phone's files from your computer. The Googlebook's Files app lets users "view, search, and open files and photos" from their Android phone.

We briefly mentioned the Googlebook's support for the web and Play Store, but the company stresses this for the user experience. Major apps like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom feel right at home on the Googlebook, alongside streaming services and games (since the Play Store is supported). What's more, users can launch AAA titles from popular gaming studios thanks to "a complimentary year of GeForce NOW included with every purchase."

Of course, Google wouldn't leave out its AI: Gemini. Googlebooks feature "Magic Pointer." If you remember its I/O 2026 reveal, you'll recognize this feature. Magic Pointer lets users bring Gemini directly to what they're looking at on their screen by wiggling their pointer. When it appears, you can give it a task to complete or ask for assistance. Among the major Pixel 11 features this year, there was Rambler.

This spruces up your text, cutting out any filler words you might've said while speaking. Elsewhere, consumers will find "Create My Widget" with AI, which will create a custom widget displaying information you want.

Meet the Googlebook

As previously stated, pre-orders are open today (Sept. 21) for the Googlebook. Users can pre-order a laptop from Best Buy and the Google Store, alongside other retailers. The Googlebook won't arrive on shelves until October 4 in the U.S. Consumers in Canada will see them on October 5 with the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, and Australia. There are also several goodies you'll earn upon purchasing a Googlebook for Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is powering Googlebook, a new laptop category built specifically for Gemini Intelligence.
• Equipped with a 12-core Oryon CPU (up to 4GHz) and a Hexagon NPU pushing 45 TOPS, the platform is engineered to run complex generative and agentic AI directly on-device.
• Preorders are open now for the first wave of hardware, including the HP Googlebook 14 and new models from Dell.

Qualcomm today announced it will bring its Snapdragon X Elite platform to the first Googlebook laptops, a collaboration with Google to power a new breed of computers built around Gemini Intelligence.

Dell and HP are the first manufacturers to release Googlebook devices, and both models are currently available for preorder.

The collaboration pairs Google’s Gemini-based software with the Snapdragon X Elite’s emphasis on performance, efficiency, and on-device AI. Qualcomm’s platform also features a 12-core Oryon CPU that can clock up to 4GHz and a Hexagon NPU that can deliver up to 45 TOPS, meaning Googlebook will have dedicated hardware for generative and agentic AI workloads.

Googlebook also aims to make Android devices feel more connected to the laptop. Qualcomm's press release mentioned features including Cast my Apps, Magic Pointer, and Rambler, which are designed to provide information from e-mail, calendars, and on-screen content. Native Android app and game support also broadens what users can run directly on the laptop.

The Snapdragon hardware also has plenty of connectivity and display support. It supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, LPDDR5x memory with up to 135GB/s bandwidth and up to three external 4K displays at 60Hz. The platform also supports 4K HDR capture and can decode 4K120 video.

Again, preorders are already open for the first wave of hardware, including the HP Googlebook 14 and new designs from Dell. HP’s Samuel Chang says the HP Googlebook 14 blends Snapdragon efficiency with Gemini smarts for productivity.

Should Qualcomm and Google fulfill their promises of smooth multi-device continuity and serious NPU efficiency, this shift could finally give Windows laptops and MacBooks a run for their money in everyday productivity.

What you need to know

• Google has apparently admitted that Gemini had escaped its testing environment and independently accessed systems belonging to three real companies.
• A misconfigured internet connection was the initial opening, while a matching company name added to the confusion.
• Gemini eventually stopped itself after recognizing that it was targeting real companies.
• Google initially kept the incident quiet, arguing that Gemini self-corrected and caused no damage.

Google's Gemini adds to the long list of AI models that have gone rogue.

We have already seen similar digital jailbreaks handled by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta in third-party safety testing. Now, it’s been revealed that Google’s Gemini model escaped its containment area in May, hacking its way into systems at three real companies, all on its own.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the incident took place during a “capture the flag” exercise conducted by AI security firm Irregular. Gemini was intended to test a fictional company in a closed testing environment, but an unplanned internet connection gave it an escape. The fictional company also had a real business with the same name, creating another opening for confusion.

Once online, Gemini found its way into three real companies. In one case it just kept guessing passwords until it got through. In two others, it found working credentials stored in public repositories and used them to access protected systems.

It turns out that throughout the entire process, Gemini didn’t require any exotic movie-style exploits. It just combined elementary security vulnerabilities with the ability to search, decide, and persistently try, without a human directing each and every move.

Google said Gemini stopped when it realized the targets were real companies and did not cause damage. In fact, while Anthropic’s Claude 4.7 kept going during a similar incident, Gemini backed off on its own volition. The impacted organizations were informed, although Irregular says the known testing issues were corrected weeks later.

The search giant felt the incident didn't warrant a public announcement at the time because the AI self-corrected. But third-party researchers were not told until late July, and details are only now emerging after media inquiries pushed the issue.

As AI agents gain broader access to the internet and computers, companies will need to establish tighter boundaries around what those systems can reach and clearer rules for what happens when those boundaries fail.

What you need to know

• Leaked images of the ASUS Googlebook show a distinctive dark gray chassis, slim display bezels, a giant trackpad.
• We're also seeing a dedicated Google "G" key and a signature glowing, multicolored light bar on the lid.
• The physical hardware looks practical, packing two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and a fingerprint sensor.

Google’s first Googlebooks will be available for preorder on September 21, and a new set of ASUS images is giving us a much better look at what one of these new laptops will actually look like.

The ASUS model has a familiar laptop shape, but it’s clear Google is trying to give the new category a visual identity of its own. Leaked images from The Mac Observer reveal that the new Chromebook features a dark gray body, a large touchpad, thin display bezels, a dedicated Google "G" key, and a multicolor light bar on the lid.

There’s an ASUS logo at the bottom of that glowing strip and “Googlebook” branding on the palm rest.

The hardware looks refreshingly practical too. Side views show at least two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack, giving users plenty of options for peripherals without immediately having to reach for a dongle. There’s also a fingerprint sensor and a keyboard that appears to have a reasonable amount of key travel.

From the leaked renders, it looks like ASUS is using active cooling on the inside with a fan and heat pipe visible. That implies this particular Googlebook could be aimed at heavier workloads than today’s average Chromebook, although the processor and other specs are unknown.

Googlebook is Google’s new premium laptop class that blends Android tech with the familiar desktop feel and Gemini features like Magic Pointer, Create My Widget, Cast My Apps, and Quick Access. ASUS is one of five launch partners, alongside Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

The big missing pieces are price, exact specs, shipping dates, and whether this ASUS model will be available on September 21. Those answers should be coming soon, as Googlebook moves from leaked hardware to something you can actually order.

What you need to know

• Samsung is officially ending its long-standing OneDrive integration on September 30 in favor of direct Google Photos backup inside Samsung Gallery.
• Starting with Gallery app update 15.9.01.7, you can link your backup by tapping Menu > Settings > Sync photos and videos and connecting a personal Google account.
• You can selectively sync specific local folders (like Screenshots or Camera) or toggle off main camera roll uploads entirely.

I’ve been using OneDrive integration with Samsung Gallery for years, so seeing that setup disappear in a few weeks feels a bit strange. It was one of those Galaxy features I hardly ever thought of. I'd just take a picture, let Gallery back it up, and move on with my life. Now Samsung is giving that job to Google Photos, and frankly I’m more intrigued than irritated.

Samsung has already started rolling out the Google Photos integration with the latest Gallery app update, version 15.9.01.7, as per Ice Universe on X. Once you open the app, you may see a new “Sync photos and videos” option to connect your Google account and backup photos and videos without leaving Samsung Gallery.

The move comes as Samsung’s more than decade-long partnership with Microsoft winds down. OneDrive integration has been part of the Galaxy experience for years, allowing users to automatically upload their Gallery content to Microsoft’s cloud in a convenient way. But that arrangement officially ends September 30, after which Samsung Gallery won’t provide the same direct OneDrive sync.

Google Photos makes more sense to me simply because I already have a Google account on my Galaxy phone. That means I can use Samsung Gallery as my daily photo app and let Google handle the cloud backup.

How to enable Samsung Gallery Cloud Sync with Google

• Open the Samsung Gallery app on your Galaxy phone or tablet device.
• Tap Menu in the bottom-right corner, then tap Settings.
• Tap Sync photos and videos.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to choose your Google Account.
• Grant Samsung permission to sync your photos and videos with Google.

The feature, however, is only available on Android 13 or later, a compatible Samsung device, and a personal Google account.

Synced albums also let you have some control over what gets backed up. You can select specific device folders like Camera, Screenshots, or Downloads, and even disable syncing of the main camera roll while still syncing other folders. You can disable syncing for individual local albums, but if Gallery Cloud Sync is enabled, Samsung Gallery will behave as a read-only cloud gallery. It will display synced media but will not upload any new photos from that device.

There's one caveat: don't expect Samsung Gallery to become a full Google Photos browser. Google's documentation says the integration is meant for backing up photos and videos, not for browsing your entire Google Photos library within Gallery.

If you’d rather not use the new Google Photos sync, Samsung makes it easy to switch off. Open Samsung Gallery > Menu > Settings, then turn off Sync photos and videos. This prevents new backups, and photos already backed up to your Google account remain accessible in Google Photos.

What you need to know

• Google has launched Android Bench 2.0 to test AI models on complex Android development tasks that can take days.
• The new benchmark includes tasks like upgrading dependencies, adding major features, and building Android apps from scratch.
• GPT-6 Astra currently leads Google's new benchmark with a 28% pass rate, while Gemini 3.8 Flash scored just 8%.

Google has announced Android Bench 2.0, an updated version of its benchmark for evaluating how well large language models (LLMs) and AI agents handle complex Android development tasks.

Earlier this year, Google introduced the first version of Android Bench to measure how AI models perform on real-world Android development work. The company has now updated the benchmark with Android Bench 2.0, which is designed to evaluate models and agents against more complex tasks that better reflect actual software development.

One of the biggest additions is what Google calls long-horizon tasks (LHTs). These are significantly more complex development jobs that could take a human engineer several days or even a week to complete.

Google says the first version of Android Bench, along with many other early AI coding benchmarks, focused primarily on smaller, incremental changes. Android Bench 2.0 is designed to raise that bar with tasks such as upgrading dependencies, adding major new features, and even building Android apps from scratch.

With Android Bench 2.0, Google has changed how models are graded. Rather than relying entirely on a binary pass-or-fail system, Android Bench 2.0 uses "continuous scoring." The company says this provides a more "meaningful indication" of how well a model performed, even when it wasn't able to fully complete a task.

Google has already tested several of the latest AI models using the new benchmark, including Gemini 3.8 Flash, GPT-6 Astra, Claude Fable 5.1, GPT-5.6 Sol, and Claude Opus 5, among others. According to the results, GPT-6 Astra currently sits at the top of the benchmark with a 28% pass rate. Gemini 3.8 Flash, meanwhile, scored just 8%.

Google says testing models against the LHT dataset should give it a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, while also providing developers with more practical guidance about which models are better suited for different Android development tasks.

The updated Android Bench 2.0 leaderboard is available now, and Google says it plans to continue expanding it with more models and results over time.

What you need to know

• Google's September Pixel Drop is live, hitting Pixel phones, tablets, and watches with home screen upgrades, fraud protections, and new watch gestures.
• Pixel VIPs gets a proper home-screen upgrade: one-tap calls and texts, notification badges for unread or urgent messages, and a floating nav bar to swipe between contacts.
• Scam Detection now covers more languages and regions for chat notifications, and Gboard flags suspicious messages as you type.

Google today rolled out its September Pixel Drop, which includes a new batch of updates for Pixel phones, tablets, and smartwatches. The latest release brings updated home screen tools, improved fraud protections, new smartwatch gestures, and a spellbinding audio partnership to tie it all together.

Google has been working on its VIP contact concept for some time, but this update makes it really useful. The tech giant is giving the feature a new home-screen experience, letting you call or text your favorite contacts with a single tap. New notification badges indicate unread messages or urgent messages, and a floating navigation bar lets you swipe between VIP profiles without having to dig through menus.

The update works on Pixel 6 and newer phones worldwide, provided the required Contacts and Pixel VIPs app versions are installed.

Scam Detection is also expanding to more languages and regions for chat notifications, and Gboard can now flag suspicious messages from supported chat apps directly as you type. Availability varies by country and language, so this isn’t a universal rollout just yet.

Pixel Watch gets a smaller but useful upgrade. Raise to Talk gets enhancements on Pixel Watch 4 and newer. On Pixel Watch 3 and newer, you can launch and scroll through the notification tray with a one-handed pinch gesture.

There’s also a much less serious addition: Harry Potter Audiobook Packs can change a Pixel’s wallpaper, icons, and sounds, and eligible users will receive a two-month Audible trial. The packs are good through December 31.

What you need to know

• A mysterious Google-made wearable has appeared at the FCC with clues suggesting it could run Wear OS.
• The device reportedly skips Wi-Fi and relies on Bluetooth LE, suggesting it may be a fitness tracker.
• GPS support and a metal frame are also listed, while ADB testing suggests some form of Wear OS software.
• The device could sit between the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch, potentially filling the gap left by Fitbit Charge.

A mysterious new Wear OS fitness tracker has been spotted at the FCC, and there are a few clues suggesting it could be an upcoming Google Pixel or Fitbit-branded device.

Google has been enjoying success with both the Pixel Watch lineup and the recently launched Fitbit Air, and it looks like the company could be preparing to expand its fitness tracking lineup even further. As spotted by 9to5Google, a mysterious new Google-made device has now appeared in an FCC listing.

The device, described as a "Wireless Device," carries the model number G8BL6 and is manufactured by Goertek, a company that has previously manufactured several generations of Pixel Buds.

Interestingly, the FCC listing suggests there's no Wi-Fi connectivity onboard. Instead, the device appears to rely entirely on Bluetooth LE. There are also clues suggesting the device could run some form of Wear OS, as the EUT operation test setup specifically mentions ADB testing.

In terms of other connectivity, the mysterious device reportedly supports GPS or GNSS and features a metal frame that will also act as its antenna.

The lack of Wi-Fi is particularly interesting, since most traditional Wear OS smartwatches have supported Wi-Fi. That could suggest we're looking at a different type of wearable altogether, potentially a more traditional fitness tracker rather than another Pixel Watch.

And there might already be another clue. During the Pixel 11 launch, Google briefly showed an unannounced fitness tracker with a small display in one of its teasers, and there's a chance this FCC listing could be related to that device.

If so, the new wearable could potentially sit somewhere between the Fitbit Air and Google's more expensive Pixel Watch lineup. It's also worth remembering that Fitbit hasn't updated its Charge lineup since 2023, so this device could fit quite nicely into that missing middle ground.

What you need to know

• Googlebook pre-orders will officially open on September 21 at 9 a.m. ET, Google has confirmed.
• The first Googlebooks are expected from brands including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
• Googlebooks will focus heavily on Gemini, with features like Magic Pointer and AI-generated custom widgets.

Google has revealed that you'll finally be able to pre-order the first Googlebooks starting next week.

At The Android Show earlier this year, Google had its "one more thing" moment when it teased its next category of premium laptops called Googlebooks. Google says these are a new category of laptops built for the "intelligence system" era, but at the time, the company didn't reveal much about the devices or when you'd actually be able to buy one.

Now, Google has started emailing users confirming that Googlebook pre-orders will open on September 21 at 9 a.m. ET. The company hasn't revealed exactly which models will be available to pre-order next week, but we're expecting devices from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other partners. It's also unclear when the first Googlebooks will actually start shipping.

Google has also set up a new website that currently shows the Googlebook branding, a few teasers, and the September 21 pre-order date.

The company is highlighting some of the key Googlebook features on the page as well, with a heavy focus on Gemini. One of those is Magic Pointer, which lets you access Gemini directly through the pointer on your Googlebook. You'll also be able to create your own widgets simply by describing what you want.

Google is also positioning Googlebooks as the perfect companion for Android phones. Users will be able to open apps from their Android phone directly on a Googlebook, as well as access files stored on their phone from the laptop.

Googlebooks will be the first laptops built on Google's new Android-based technology stack rather than ChromeOS. Interestingly, Google still hasn't revealed the official marketing name for the operating system that will power Googlebooks, but we expect to learn much more as pre-orders open.

It'll also be interesting to see how Googlebooks fare in an increasingly crowded laptop market, especially with new RTX Spark-powered laptops on the way and RAM prices continuing to rise.

What you need to know

• Google has officially removed the Pixel Tablet from its online store after listing it as out of stock.
• The Pixel Tablet has also disappeared from major retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.
• Google reportedly canceled plans for second- and third-generation Pixel Tablets due to sales and profitability concerns.
• Existing Pixel Tablet owners will continue receiving software updates until mid-2028 despite the lineup's end.

The Pixel Tablet is finally dead. Like, properly dead dead.

Google launched the Pixel Tablet back in 2023 as a hybrid device that could work as both a traditional Android tablet and a smart home display when placed on its charging dock. At $499, the Pixel Tablet offered a pretty interesting combination on paper, but reactions to the device were mixed after launch.

Google reportedly had plans for a second-generation Pixel Tablet in 2025 and even a third-generation model in 2027. But amid poor sales and profitability concerns, the company reportedly pulled the plug on those plans back in 2024. Despite that, the original Pixel Tablet remained available through the Google Store and retailers for quite some time. Until now.

As spotted by Jetstream, Google has officially removed the Pixel Tablet from the Google Store. The tablet was listed as "out of stock" until a few days ago, but the product page has now been removed altogether, effectively confirming that Google is done selling the device. The Pixel Tablet has also disappeared from retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy.

That means there's now no official way to buy a new Pixel Tablet. You may still be able to find remaining stock through smaller online retailers or pick one up from a reseller, but Google's own inventory is officially gone.

The good news for existing Pixel Tablet owners is that software support isn't ending anytime soon. Google is expected to continue supporting the device with updates until mid-2028. But unless Google decides to resurrect its tablet ambitions again, there won't be another Pixel Tablet waiting to replace it.

The Pixel Tablet was an interesting idea. Having one device that could work as both an Android tablet and a smart home display made plenty of sense, especially inside Google's ecosystem. Unfortunately, the idea never really took off.

So, RIP Pixel Tablet. This time, it looks like it's actually over.

What you need to know

• You can now move passwords and passkeys directly between supported apps on Android without exporting sensitive data to an unencrypted file.
• Your new password manager hands the process to Android, which detects compatible managers installed on your phone and coordinates the transfer.
• Once authorized, Android moves the credentials between apps without requiring manual file handling.

Android has always made it a pain to switch password managers. Moving passwords usually involved exporting your data into an unencrypted text file, and passkeys were pretty much stuck in place. Android is tackling both of those issues with a new transfer experience that makes moving your credentials much more secure and simple.

In a blog post, Google said the new system lets you transfer passwords and passkeys directly between password managers, without first having to download a file.

That eliminates one of the biggest security hassles of the old process, which was that sensitive credentials were sitting unprotected on your device for a while. Furthermore, passkeys weren’t transferable, so you had to manually recreate them across websites and apps.

The process is built to be mostly out of your way. Start in your new password manager and select the option to import or copy credentials from another provider. The app then hands the job to Android, which knows which compatible password managers you have already installed on your phone and shows you where the data can come from.

You are then sent back to the password manager you already use to select, review, and approve the transfer. Once approved, the passwords and passkeys move between the apps in just a few seconds.

The feature is already available with Google Password Manager, 1Password, Bitwarden Password Manager, and Dashlane. Dashlane notes that CXP is compatible with devices running Android 10 or newer with the latest Play Services update. Bitwarden needs Android 14+ with Play services 26.21+.

It is not merely a matter of convenience. Passkeys are more secure than passwords and resistant to phishing. Adoption has been stalled in part due to user concerns around vendor lock-in. CXP removes that barrier.

Bitwarden says the creation of passkeys peaked this summer at over 500% compared to early 2024, with nearly half of all passkeys created in the past three months alone.

Google says more partners are on the way. If you’ve been waiting to change password managers because of the hassle, that excuse just went out the window.

Foldable phones are all the rage right now, but these innovative devices can get pretty expensive without a good deal attached. Fortunately, I've tracked down all of the best foldable phone deals on the web so you don't have to go looking.

We've reached the point where pretty much every OEM is selling a clamshell or book-style foldable phone, and each manufacturer is racing to build the thinnest, most powerful, and most creaseless device on the market. Even Apple has entered the fray with the upcoming iPhone Duo.

This spells good news for you as a consumer, as stiff competition generally means a wider variety of tempting deals to choose from. These manufacturers want you to use their foldable phones and no one else's, which gives you all of the buying power you need. From straight discounts on Motorola flip phones to trade-in offers on the latest Galaxy Z Fold, keep reading for my favorite offers of September 2026.

Samsung

Motorola

Google Pixel

What you need to know

• You no longer need a Google AI Plus, Pro, or Ultra subscription to access Gemini's Daily Brief feature.
• Daily Brief pulls useful information from Gmail, Google Calendar, connected apps, and past Gemini chats to create a personalized rundown.
• Free access is currently US-only and is being introduced gradually. Users also need Personal Intelligence, Memory, and Google Workspace integration enabled.

Google is rolling out Gemini’s Daily Brief to free users in the U.S., removing one of the biggest hurdles to a feature that’s supposed to make the AI assistant genuinely helpful every morning.

Once tied to a paid Google AI subscription, Daily Brief is now a daily digest of what needs to be done for eligible personal accounts without the need for Plus, Pro, or Ultra.

Introduced back at I/O 2026, Daily Brief is your proactive AI assistant that works for you while you sleep. It taps into Gemini’s Personal Intelligence to scan your Gmail, Google Calendar, connected apps, and past Gemini chats. This gives you a nicely organized morning briefing that will send you off to a running start.

You can tick off tasks, start a Gemini chat about an item, or tell Google if a certain suggestion was helpful. Gemini Live can also deliver the brief when you say, “What’s my daily brief?” Google also sends a morning notification.

There are a few catches. For now, the free rollout is only for users in the U.S., and Google is rolling out access gradually, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see the feature right away.

You'll also need a personal Google account with Personal Intelligence, Memory, and Google Workspace integration enabled. Daily Brief is available via the Gemini mobile apps and on the web.

Beyond the feature's expansion, the company is said to be working on audio Daily Briefs and potentially bringing the feature to the Android lock screen. For now, giving Daily Brief away for free gives more users a reason to let Gemini do the morning catch-up.

What you need to know

• For September's Android Drop, Google is introducing "Motion Assist," a feature to help users suffering from motion sickness while using their phone in a vehicle.
• On the Accessibility front, Gemini Live can help users find items or read fine print with "Guided Vision," delivering audio descriptions to guide users.
• Google states Motion Assist will rollout on Android 17 devices, while Guided Vision prepares a debut on Android 9 and newer.

It's September, and right on time is Google with the latest Android Drop. This month, the company is focusing on the accessibility and comfort of Android with two major updates.

Google's press release details a laundry list of new features for September; however, we're focusing on two items: Motion Sickness and Guided Vision. If you've ever tried using your phone while riding shotgun in a car, you might've put it down. Motion Sickness could affect anyone, but Google is rolling out "Motion Assist" this month to help. According to Google, Motion Assist "adds a subtle bubble overlay to your screen that moves with the vehicle."

The post states these bubbles will bridge the gap between "what your eyes see and the movement of your ride." Users can start it via the Quick Settings tile, or they can set it to automatically turn on when you're in a moving vehicle. These moving bubbles will appear on the sides of your phone to help reduce motion sickness. The automatic option states Motion Assist will activate if it detects the user in a car, bus, or train.

What's more, users will find a few customization options to make Motion Assist theirs.

A point to Accessibility

Google states Motion Assist will roll out on phones running Android 17.

The second major update is Guided Vision. The post states this feature relies on Gemini Live, meaning users will have to share their camera with the AI. After sharing, Gemini Live will provide audio descriptions of what's in front of you. Google says the AI can help with "reading fine print on a food label, ordering from a menu in a low-lit restaurant, or locating household objects." In one example, Gemini Live guides a user to a seasoning they're looking for on a shelf.

If the subject leaves your frame, Gemini Live will guide you back so it can help you appropriately.

Guided Vision is rolling out "soon" to phones running Android 9 or newer where Gemini is available. Once it arrives, users can add Guided Vision to their Accessibility shortcuts or launch it via the TalkBack menu.

Android Central's Take

I will always prefer updates like this over some "new thing" for AI. While one of these features relies on Google's AI, this is the direction I like seeing it go. A direction where it's incredibly helpful to people who may have trouble seeing or what have you. Tech should make life easier. We've got enough to worry about as it is.

What you need to know

• Google Messages gets two standout updates, including Custom Chat themes and Google Keep integration as part of the September Android Drop.
• You can tap the plus button to add a Keep note, letting everyone view, edit, and contribute without leaving the conversation.
• Personalize individual chats using curated wallpaper collections (like Animals, Landscapes, or Space) or your own gallery photos.

Google's September Android Drop is here, and while there’s a lot to go over, two features for Google Messages are stealing the spotlight: custom chat themes and seamless Google Keep integration.

Beginning today, you will be able to bring a Keep note directly into a Google Messages conversation by tapping the plus button. This lets everyone in the chat view, edit, and add to shared notes, whether you're building a grocery list or planning a vacation.

The idea appears to be to turn your Messages conversations into the place where plans are actually made. This might be particularly handy for group chats, where information can get lost in the flood of messages.

Google is also rolling out Chat theme, which lets you set different backgrounds and color treatments for individual conversations. Google has curated collections of wallpapers to choose from — including Animals, Landscapes, Space, and more — or you can upload your own photo from your gallery.

Google recommends everything from a latte theme for a coffee buddy to a beach photo for a vacation group chat. Messages automatically matches the chat bubble colors. This is much more than the simple “Change colors” option we saw back in 2024. It’s rolling out now in Google Messages.

Remember, these customizations are just for you, so that beach photo you set for the vacation chat isn’t going to show up on anyone else’s phone.

Google actually announced these custom backgrounds and themes a few days ago, in a post to the Google Messages Community, so the September Android Drop is another confirmation that the feature is coming.

Expect to see both features become more prominent as Google pushes the September Android Drop to supported devices.

What you need to know

• Gemini can now remember where you left important items, even without a tracker.
• You can tell Gemini where you stashed an item or snap a quick photo, and it logs the detail directly to Find Hub.
• Then, ask Gemini where your item is later, or view all saved locations in Find Hub's new memory tab.

Google’s September Android Drop is introducing a handy upgrade to Find Hub that allows Gemini to remember where you left important items, even if those items don’t have a tracker attached.

With the latest change, you can tell Gemini where you put an item instead of using a Bluetooth tracker to find it later. For example, you could say, “Hey Google, remember in Find Hub that I put my passport in my bedroom drawer” and optionally attach a photo for additional context.

Gemini then saves that information in a dedicated “remembered items” tab in Find Hub so you can easily get back to it again by just asking where it is.

This feature plugs a hole in Google’s current tracking setup. While Find Hub is ideal for tagged belongings, there are plenty of things you routinely misplace — such as passports, spare keys, documents, or other small essentials — that aren’t worth attaching a tracker to. This new feature essentially provides a lightweight memory layer for those items.

The feature will be rolled out to Android 16 and newer devices in countries where Gemini and Find Hub are supported. Google says it will be available soon.

This is just one part of the September Android Drop, which also includes enhancements such as Motion Assist to help alleviate motion sickness and new upgrades to Google Messages.

However, for those of us who spend far too much time looking for lost items, this new Gemini feature may be the most impactful update of them all.

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

Critical bug fixes

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

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

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

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

Positive user feedback

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consistency is key

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Pixel Watch is still hanging on

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

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

Google is finally ready to talk more about Googlebooks

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Google's placement in the world

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

Android Central has contacted Google for comment.

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

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

What you need to know

• Google has started rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 for enrolled Pixel testers, bringing huge restrictions for call-forwarding fraud.
• The company is also fixing a couple of reported bugs from testers, while rolling out new features such as Quick Settings layout customization and app options for foldables.
• The Pixel 11 series has now debuted, and in the days ahead of its market launch, there are still pre-order deals users can check out.

Google's QPR2 beta continued this weekend, and enrolled Pixel testers should start seeing it become available on their devices.

On Reddit, Google detailed the arrival of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 for Pixel phones and tablets. The company states users with a Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet will download vCP41.260731.005.A2. All others will find vCP41.260731.005.B1. Google keeps Beta 3 pretty light, only detailing two important fixes.

The first involves opening the notification shade and Quick Settings. Users reported "visual corruption" and a strange device restart when attempting to open either option. This should now be fixed. Additionally, Google rolls out a fix for "erroneously displayed false battery capacity degradation warnings" in Device Health and the Support tool.

What takes center stage in the latest beta is Google's new "security restrictions" for call-forwarding fraud. Not only has the company rolled out API restrictions, but it's giving users direct system confirmation when forwarding calls. It states, "To combat social engineering scams, users manually dialing call-forwarding codes in the system dialer will now see a new OS-level confirmation dialog before the command is executed."

Elsewhere, a post by Android Authority shined a spotlight on the new features Google packed into QPR2 Beta 3, as detailed by Mishaal Rahman on X. Among them is a new set of Quick Settings options that lets users alter its layout. The publication discovered three options, which shift around a few major buttons: brightness, tiles, and media. One option places the media card between the tiles and brightness bar, while others place brightness at the very top.

The post mentions a change for foldables, which brings an app handle to apps in a window. The publication states this handle lets users drag the app, capable of switching between full-screen and split-screen viewing.

Another beta & Pixel 11

If you're wondering, QPR2 will likely be Google's December 2026 Pixel Feature Drop. It's been consistent in releasing new versions for its test since the first got underway in mid-July. This update was pretty minimal; however, it did well to solve stability problems across the board (or at least try to). Google was intent on fixing several Gemini-related reboot crashes, touch input bugs, and more.

Another major change was the removal of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro from the Android beta program. Both devices have reached the end of their upgrade cycles, meaning they are now excluded. From here on out, users will see past-gen devices starting from the Pixel 6a and up. On a related note, Google's Pixel 11 series is here and available for pre-order before the phones begin shipping in a few days.