Following the compute-based usage change in May, Google will soon introduce limits on which Gemini models free users and AI Plus subscribers can access. more…

Google’s original Pixel Fold was inherently flawed but also fundamentally way better than I expected and, thanks to recent arrivals, also way ahead of its time. more…

In 2020, Google Pixel was in a remarkably tough spot. A flailing flagship with one of its central features effectively ruined by a global pandemic combined with massive supply shortages meant that grand plans for the future were on hold. It was always going to be a tough year to release a smartphone but, looking back, the Pixel 5 maybe doesn’t get enough credit for making the best of it. more…

Google today rolled out Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 in quick succession to start a new preview cycle ahead of an expected March 2027 stable launch. more…

Following a QPR2 release earlier this week, Google today is rolling out Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1. This should see a stable release in March 2027. more…

Welcome to Pixelated episode 119. This week, Ben Schoon fills in for Damien as we discuss our first Pixel 11a leak and the first 50 days of the flagship Pixel 11 series. We also dive into our thoughts on Amazon’s new $80 button-equipped Kindle case, and Abner’s love of remotes. Enjoy the show? You can listen to our weekly members-only Pixelated Pro bonus episode by signing up for 9to5Google Pro for just $5 per month, or about $1 per episode. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast. Subscribe * YouTube Podcasts * Pocket Casts * Spotify * Amazon Music * Apple Podcasts * Overcast more…

The promise of Gemini for Android Auto is huge, as the AI assistant is theoretically more capable than Assistant was. But, as it’s now becoming the only option, a weird issue is leaving Gemini for Android Auto perhaps less than useless, as it just gives up on answers from drivers. more…

Google Pixel has evolved tremendously over the years, with some radically different designs showing up between generations. As the lineup turns 10, the Pixel 4 remains the one that stands out as my favorite smartphone hardware Google has made yet, and it’s not just about the looks. more…

Alongside the early fall Prime Day deals at Amazon, all of the best Google Play app and game deals are now ready, including ISLANDERS: Mobile, Cell Clone Wars:Pro, Minabo: A walk through life, Unreal Life, Planescape: Torment: Enhanced, Kero Blaster, Newtro Boxing, and more. Just be sure to dive into the new $40 Airfly Drive wireless Android Auto adapter from Twelve South, and a chance to score the 45mm Pixel Watch 5 at $138 off. The apps await below. more…

New Android Auto updates tend to be a bit strange, with changes often showing up for some users but not others, but Google has just recapped a handful of Android Auto updates for media apps from the past few months, including confirmation that the squiggly line design is here to stay. more…

Google has introduced a “Map” tool to aid your location-based Gemini app prompts on Android and iOS. Meanwhile, the Gemini app is already getting ready to replace the forward slash for skills. more…

YouTube says it wants to ‘focus on originality’ in a push to surface better Shorts recommendations for users. more…

Joining the launch of the all-new Twelve South Airfly Drive wireless Android Auto adapter at $40 and Amazon’s updated early fall Prime Day sale, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by the 45mm Pixel Watch 5 at one of the best prices ever (up to $138 off), the all-new Fire TV Stick 4K 50% off, and this all-time low on Belkin’s 25W 3-in-1 magnetic charging station for Pixel and Galaxy users at $50. We also have the epic Sharge metal 300W smart display power bank returning to the all-time low at $50 off, HP’s OmniBook 3 Snapdragon X laptop at $150 off, and loads more waiting down below.  more…

Nothing is bringing back its “Community Review Program” which will give some fans and enthusiasts a chance to try out the company’s new products before they’re released to the public. more…

Google has quietly raised the price of its mid-range Pixel 10a by $100, giving the device a starting price of $599. more…

Alongside a price hike on the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung has rolled out quiet price hikes on a number of its other Galaxy phones in the US as RAMageddon rages on. more…

Google Pixel was designed to be a premium smartphone effort, but that all changed in 2019 with the debut of the Pixel 3a. The budget-conscious launch went on to be a turning point for the Pixel’s history and, looking back, it might just be the single most important Google smartphone ever. more…

The Nvidia Shield TV is an iconic piece of Android hardware but it also hasn’t seen a refresh in the better part of a decade. But, because of the increasingly depressing state of the entire tech industry, Nvidia Shield TV Pro is getting a $100 price hike to $299, seven years after it first launched. more…

Google Pixel’s 10-year anniversary has me taking a look back at a bunch of the milestones throughout this lineup’s history and, when picking up the Pixel 2 XL, hindsight really kicked in as to how this phone was very much a sign of the tumultuous roller coaster that would become Google Pixel. more…

Samsung has officially announced its first truly open-ear Galaxy Buds with the Galaxy Buds On set for a debut in late October. more…

Vivo’s new X Fold 6 doesn’t join in on the wide foldable trend, but it has some pretty wild camera promises. more…

Last year’s Material 3 Expressive redesign of the Phone by Google app removed the Contacts tab, but it’s now coming back. more…

There’s a new phone in town, and like the Pixel 11 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro looks eerily similar to what we saw last year. What can we glean from this duo? Here’s what you need to know. more…

As the early fall Prime day sale at Amazon rolls alongside the deals on the Moto Tag 2 item trackers, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to $546 off the list prices today (Best Buy open-box), alongside a host of Belkin early fall Prime Day deals now live from $13 including 25W magnetic chargers at new all-time lows. We also have a chance to upgrade your TV ahead of the GTA VI release at up to $1,100 off – LG, Samsung, Hisense, more, as well as the ongoing 50% launch deal on Amazon’s brand new Fire TV Stick 4K – it also just unleashed its next-generation Kindle readers. Head below for a closer look. more…

The PC market was caught flat-footed by Apple’s MacBook Neo launch earlier this year, and while that laptop’s aggressive pricing strategy has already been forced to adapt to market conditions, it’s only months later we’re seeing Windows-based rivals announce their own respective competitors. Today, it’s HP’s turn, with a brand-new OLED-equipped laptop set to start at that same $699 price point, but not without plenty of strings attached. more…

Samsung is officially rolling out a price hike for the Galaxy S26 series, raising prices by $100 across the lineup. more…

Huawei has just introduced its new Mate 90 Pro Max in China and the big feature is not the cameras built into the device, but rather the giant one you can add on. more…

Google is apparently preparing to bring Proactive Assistance – also known as “Magic Cue” – from its Pixel phones over to Android Auto, which could be a really useful addition. more…

Samsung has apparently confirmed a November 2026 launch for its first Android XR smart glasses. more…

Google yesterday unveiled its new flagship Gemini 4 model with some impressive scores, but a report suggests that it might “struggle” in some cases. more…

On 4 October 2016, Google introduced the original Pixel and Pixel XL, marking a major pivot away from the developer-focused Nexus line and ushering in what is now a decade of “Made by Google” hardware – but which is best and why? more…

Samsung is now rolling out its Android 17-based update, One UI 9, to its collection of supported Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Here’s the full list of devices that have been updated so far, and what you should know about the update. more…

Good morning and happy October. Today, I’m cringing at this gaggle of billionaires pretending to be human, vibing to the new Tinashe album, Popstar, and heartily dining on all the brutal ‘Digger’ reviews. As a reminder, Inbox is the tech newsletter that goes beyond the news cycle. We cover the most important 9to5Google stories from the last couple of days along with a few highlights from around the web. We publish every Tuesday and Thursday, and if you like what you read, please subscribe. more…

Ahead of the Googlebook launch, Google Antigravity is now available in the Play Store. more…

Smart doorbells usually center their features around their security features — person alerts, motion tracking, the works — but they also go a long way in making your front door a little more fun. Google is no stranger to seasonal doorbell chimes, and ahead of a few months packed with holidays, the company is making a big improvement to how you setup your doorbell ringtones. more…

A new Google Home update has arrived with various improvements including better support for the “Find My Phone” voice command on Gemini speakers. more…

One of the biggest headaches facing Google’s push to make Android more of a desktop platform is the professional sector of apps and programs, but one big name is making the effort, as Blender is working to bring its app to Android. more…

A new report details how Google is testing paying web publishers for content used in its AI Overviews, including how much they’re making and how much that varies. more…

Gemini 4 Argon is Google’s “next era of frontier intelligence” and built for “deep reasoning across complex, long-horizon workflows.” It follows the cancellation of Gemini 3.5 Pro and focus on 3.8 Flash. more…

Following the Pixel 11 launch last month, the Pixel Referral Program is now back and refreshed on the Google Store. more…

Today’s best Google Play app and game deals are now up for grabs alongside the thousands of price drops in Amazon’s early fall Prime Day sale. Highlights include Methods: Detective Competition, TABS Pocket Edition, Cyberlords – Arcology PREMIUM, Laser Tanks: Pixel RPG, Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD, Screw Puzzle Premium, and more. Just be sure to dive into this giant $650 price drop hits Galaxy Z Fold 7 at Amazon ($750 less than Fold 8) and the brand new Fire TV Stick 4K that launched today at 50% off. The apps await below. more…

Apple Music for Android is getting a big Liquid Glass-inspired redesign with the latest 7.0 beta. more…

Facer provides a huge library of watch faces for Wear OS and, with a new update, it’s adding even more styles while also redesigning the app entirely. more…

Nearly a decade in, foldables have come a long way. Even Apple has noticed all of the fun Android users are having with their bendable smartphones, jumping into the crowd with next month’s iPhone Duo. Unfortunately, you usually need to break an arm and a leg to afford one, but with this one-day-only deal on the last-gen Galaxy Z Fold 7 at Amazon, your entry fee to the foldable club is down to the price of modern slab flagships. You’ll need to hurry though, as this deal is already halfway to selling out. more…

As we spotted over the weekend, Gemini is replacing Gems with skills, and Google today fully detailed the migration. more…

Alongside the early fall Amazon Prime Day sale and the ongoing Moto Tag 2 Android Find Hub trackers from $17.50 each – single for $20, your 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by Amazon’s brand new Fire TV Stick 4K launching today at 50% off (TCL NXTPAPER Android tablets up to $130 off, HP’s 2K OLED Snapdragon X Copilot+ PC at $150 off, this Made for Google Pixel Watch portable magnetic charging dock down at $25, and loads more down below.  more…

Amazon continues its move away from Android on Fire TV, with its latest Fire TV Stick 4K moving over to Vega OS, though with upgrades including support for using your TV’s USB port for power and a massively improved remote. more…

An Android Auto bug is reportedly blocking outgoing calls from closed foldable phones, like the Motorola Razr. Both Google and Motorola are aware of the issue, which might mean a fix for those affected soon. more…

Samsung has announced its Galaxy SmartTag 3 as a new AirTag rival with an updated design, longer battery life, and support for iPhone users. more…

Following several Pixel 11-specific bugs after the phone’s launch, another one reportedly breaks NFC tap-to-pay, used for contactless payments. But this one is affecting more than just the Pixel 11. more…