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

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

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

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

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

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

The $1,099 price tag ruins the entire point

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

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

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

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

Lenovo built hardware that deserves a better OS

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

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

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

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

Googlebook OS is a mobile OS pretending to be a desktop

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should you buy the Lenovo Googlebook 15?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gemini gives you visual responses and faster voice controls

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

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

Some love for older Nest cams

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

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

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

Google Home becomes more useful than cameras

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

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

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

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

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

Looks maxing - They’ve had some work done!

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

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

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

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

Woah! Upgrades

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More momentum with the audio quality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where are we going...?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For better health

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

A more premium direction?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1000x the comfort of the 1000XM6

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

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

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

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

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

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

A sound improvement over the XM6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My COLLEXION of final thoughts

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

May the odds be ever in your favor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Bringing the magic of music back

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Visceral vs subcutaneous fat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Android gains more control over colors and wallpapers

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

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

Status bar and Quick Settings finally become more useful

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

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

Auracast gets smarter, foldables improve multitasking

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

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

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

Better privacy and a more convenient Linux Terminal

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take to the skies

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

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

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

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

Moving cameras, huh?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

Second two none

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Something to remember

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another round

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

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

Android Central's Take

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

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

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

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

New AI features might be worth the subscription

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

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

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

Samsung has a promise to keep

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bixby wants to do more (again)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The history of smartphone and camera maker collaborations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who is ARRI? Should you know them?

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

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

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

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

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

A partnership that starts with video

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

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

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

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

So... why did ARRI partner with Honor?

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

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

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

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

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

Is this the future of moviemaking?

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

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

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

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

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

What you need to know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some older phones are still running Android Auto just fine

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

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

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

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

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

Google is rolling out its November update for Googlebook, and it includes a handful of improvements to make the platform more reliable and less frustrating to use.

The biggest change is in how Googlebook handles memory used by its on-device AI services. Google has updated its NPU driver and optimized AICore memory management, freeing up 3GB to 6GB of system RAM, as per a Reddit post by Google's Mishaal Rahman. That’s a significant bump for laptops with 16GB of RAM, especially when jumping between a lot of apps and browser tabs.

Chrome should also behave better under heavier workloads. The update improves the way the system reclaims memory when background AI services conflict with browser processes, reducing the chances of unexpected tab reloads and crashes. I’m almost tempted to say the update is the kind of fix that arguably should have been in place before Googlebook launched, but better late than never.

The November release covers a wide range of hardware and software issues. Convertibles should no longer lose keyboard and touchpad input when you switch between tablet and laptop modes. Google has also fixed Zoom crashes using simulated backgrounds, filters, blur effects, and 3D avatars.

External displays get a little love, too. Now you should be able to play DRM-protected streaming content such as Netflix, rather than just seeing a black screen. USB microphones and multichannel audio interfaces should work as expected too. Bluetooth users can also get lower audio-video synchronization delays and more reliable reconnection for wireless mice.

Linux users and security get some love, too

Google hasn't forgotten about those who use Googlebook for development work. The Linux Terminal beta brings in a bunch of fixes, including more reliable shell sessions after sleep, better SSH port forwarding, and improved multi-window management. Google also fixed a memory leak when closing terminal tabs and made Linux VM updates less destructive, preserving user storage and custom SSH configurations.

Security is another part of the release. The Android security patch for November 1, 2026 resolves around 60 vulnerabilities. Google also updated the Linux 6.18 kernel and Ti50 security chip firmware, fixing unexpected restarts, boot loops, and noisy fans.

Google says the update is being rolled out gradually to supported models, including devices from Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Owners can find it under Settings > System > System Update. You want the build number CL3B.260622.286.R2.

Early reactions on Reddit have been largely positive, with some owners already reporting smoother performance. That said, users are reporting issues, including Chrome spell check and notification syncing problems after waking from sleep.

Samsung is ending the week with the arrival of two major products in the U.S. Today (Nov. 6), the company announced that its latest trackers and earbuds are available for purchase.

Samsung said its next-gen tracker, the Galaxy SmartTag 3, features a "slimmer design" and long-range tracking. Additionally, Samsung revealed two new features: Place Notification and Movement Detection Alert. In a joint blog post, Samsung states Place Notification will alert users if "a tagged item moves in or out of a predefined area that they set."

The Movement Detection Alert is much simpler: Samsung states this warning system will inform users if their tagged item is moving. These features likely work in tandem with the SmartTag 3's Compass View. Samsung says this works up to 60 meters away, giving users "distance and directional guidance." The SmartTag 3's Location History helps users keep better tabs on where their tag (or tagged items) have been.

The SmartTag 3 connects to a range of devices, thanks to its cross-OS support and the Galaxy Find Network. The SmartTag 3 is available in the U.S. for $29.99 (single tracker) or in a four-pack for $99.

Today is also the day the Galaxy Buds On officially launch in the U.S. Samsung reiterates that the open earbuds are available for $229 at Samsung's storefront and retailers.

It's all here

Samsung announced the Galaxy Buds On late in October, teasing its forthcoming availability. These clip-on, open-ear buds see the company stepping into a new market. Each bud weighs 6.65 grams and wraps around the user's ear for comfort. Samsung states it uses "over 119 million ear data points" to refine the fit of the Galaxy Buds On. (What's an ear data point, we ask?)

Its post reiterates the device's TwinBoost Speaker. This is an automatic volume adjustment feature that alters your audio to match your surroundings. What's more, since these are open-ear buds, they feature Audio Leakage Reduction tech to keep what you're listening to private. As you'd expect, the Galaxy Buds On supports Google's Gemini Live with voice commands.

Users will also find Samsung's head gestures for answering calls, swiping through notifications, and silencing alarms.

It's been a while since the last wide fold rumor, but they're back — and Vivo is in the spotlight this time.

Recent rumors were set in motion on Weibo by tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), who claims Vivo has continued developing a "wide fold" (via GSMArena). DCS claims Vivo's wide foldable take could land on the smaller side. Allegedly, the device could debut with a screen "under 6.5 inches."

Additionally, DCS claims Vivo is seeking a date in 2027 to release its wide foldable. This is certainly different. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 (which has continued to gain popularity) features a 7.6-inch inner screen. Another comparison: the iPhone Duo also features a 7.6-inch screen. Vivo opting for a sub-6.5-inch screen would certainly make it more "compact" in a space that's trying to go a bit bigger.

But there's still a lot we don't know. DCS replied to one user, stating the majority of the hardware components have been "finalized." What's more, users don't appear phased by Vivo trying to go smaller. Many feel its internal components (its specifications, specifically) would carry the device.

An assortment of rumors

Several wide foldable rumors have circulated ever since Samsung's version took the market by storm. It was originally rumored that Vivo and Honor were developing wide-folding phones to compete with the South Korean OEM. Some claimed that Vivo could debut the device as the "X Fold 6," but that's not possible. Either way, this is the first taste of what could be possible for a Vivo wide fold.

We've seen other rumors concerning its would-be competitors, and Vivo is seemingly the only one going smaller. Honor's wide foldable rumors suggest it would feature a 7.6-inch internal display, a 5.5-inch cover, and a 7,000mAh or higher battery. Even OPPO's been in the rumors with a device sporting a 7.6-inch display, a 5.5-inch cover, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

There's a chance OPPO is looking to debut its take in Q1 2027.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out a new "Notify when left behind" feature for Bluetooth trackers connected to Android's Find Hub.
• The feature sends an alert when you move away from an item with a tracker attached, such as your wallet, keys, or bag.
• Apple has offered similar left-behind alerts through Find My for years, but Android is only now getting the feature.

Android's Find Hub is getting a pretty useful new feature that will notify you whenever you leave an item with a Bluetooth tracker behind.

Google revamped Android's Find Hub last year, introducing a new interface alongside the ability to track devices, Bluetooth trackers, and people in one place. Since then, we've also seen several new Bluetooth trackers arrive on the market, including the Moto Tag and Chipolo trackers. And now, Google is finally adding one important feature that has been missing from Find Hub until now.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google has started rolling out a new feature called "Notify when left behind" for Bluetooth trackers connected to Android's Find Hub network.

What this feature basically does is send you a notification whenever you leave an item with a tracker attached to it behind. For example, if you have a wallet with a Bluetooth card tracker inside and accidentally leave it somewhere, Find Hub can notify you once you've moved away from that location.

Apple has offered similar functionality through its Find My network for quite a while now, but this is the first time we're seeing it arrive for Android's Find Hub trackers.

To enable the feature, open the Find Hub app, select your Bluetooth tracker, and then look for the Notify when left behind option in the tracker's settings. Once enabled, Find Hub should alert you whenever you leave that particular tracker behind.

For now, the feature appears to be limited to Bluetooth trackers rather than other devices like headphones. However, there's a chance Google could expand support to more device categories in the future.

It's a pretty nifty addition, especially if you're someone who frequently misplaces things like keys, wallets, or bags. And considering Apple has offered this functionality for years, it's good to see Google finally bringing it to Android's Find Hub as well.

OnePlus has put more of its Android 17 rollout on the calendar, giving owners of several older phones and tablets a clearer idea of when their next major software update will arrive. But the update also marks the end of OxygenOS as OnePlus transitions its supported devices to OPPO's ColorOS 17.

The latest rollout schedule, shared by OPPO's ColorOS Global account on X, confirms November release dates for six additional OnePlus devices. The OnePlus 13R is first in line, with its update scheduled to begin on November 5. The OnePlus 12 follows on November 17, while the OnePlus Pad 3 gets its turn a day later, on November 18.

Owners of the OnePlus Open won't have to wait much longer, either. The company's first foldable is scheduled to receive ColorOS 17 on November 24. Meanwhile, the Nord 6 and Nord CE 6 are expected to join the rollout on November 26.

OxygenOS is officially on its way out

The software transition is arguably more interesting than the rollout dates themselves. OnePlus and OPPO have shared software development resources for years, making OxygenOS and ColorOS increasingly similar. However, the Android 17 update makes that relationship official, with OxygenOS giving way to ColorOS on supported OnePlus devices.

ColorOS 17 is based on Android 17 and brings interface refinements, smoother animations, performance optimizations, and additional AI-powered features. OPPO is also pitching the software around smarter interactions and better continuity between devices.

More OnePlus devices are waiting for December

The November schedule isn't the end of the rollout. The OnePlus 11, OnePlus 12R, and Nord 5 are among the devices expected to receive the update in December. Another group of 13 OnePlus devices is scheduled for December and the first quarter of 2027, although individual release dates haven't been confirmed.

It should be noted that these are rollout start dates, not guarantees that every owner will receive the update immediately. Releases typically happen in stages, and regional availability can vary.

Samsung is expanding its One UI 9 rollout in the US, and owners of its rugged Galaxy XCover 7 Pro are next in line.

The Android 17-based update has begun rolling out to carrier-locked models, bringing a number of interface improvements, new privacy features, and upgrades to some of Samsung’s built-in apps. The unlocked models will take a bit longer, though, but the rollout is expected to reach them soon.

The update comes with firmware version G766USQUADZJ7, spotted by SamMobile, and was first rolled out in South Korea last month.

One of the more obvious changes is to the Quick Settings panel. One UI 9 gives users more customization options, so they can arrange quick controls to their liking. Samsung has also added a location privacy indicator to give users a better visual indicator when an app accesses their device’s location.

There are other improvements beyond the interface. For instance, the Samsung Notes app gets some upgrades that should make it more convenient to work with notes, and Samsung DeX also gets new features. The update also adds a dedicated Warranty and care section in Settings, offering a more accessible spot to find device support information.

Two major Android updates, with more security support ahead

The Galaxy XCover 7 Pro was launched with One UI 7 based on Android 15. The rugged phone now gets two major Android version upgrades with One UI 9. Samsung hasn’t been explicit about how many more major OS updates the device will get, though.

There is better news on the security front. Samsung has committed to providing seven years of security updates for the XCover 7 Pro, offering businesses and users who depend on rugged hardware an extended support period.

For the time being, eligible owners can check if the update is available by going to Settings > Software update > Check for updates.

What you need to know

• Warby Parker Q3 earnings call revealed that pre-orders for Samsung's Android XR glasses, Intelligent Eyewear, will begin "in one week."
• Pre-orders are set to begin on November 12 for the brand's "first collection."
• Recent rumors said Intelligent Eyewear could launch in mid-December, and the company's CEO and co-CEO mentioned the holiday season during the earnings call.

More details are coming to light from a place we didn't expect. Today (Nov. 5), Warby Parker held its Q3 earnings call, where it unveiled details about Intelligent Eyewear.

Through a press release, Warby Parker covered its Q3 earnings; however, it gave us a (very) good idea about when we'll see more of Samsung's Android XR glasses, Intelligent Eyewear (via 9to5Google). According to the company, pre-orders for these glasses will begin "in one week," which puts us at November 12.

Warby Parker states it will begin accepting pre-orders for the device on that date. It adds that this will be for its "first collection" and that it will "look forward to delivering customer orders during the holiday season."

The company's CEO, Dave Gilboa, and its co-founder/co-CEO, Neil Blumenthal, echoed the same phrase: "first collection." It gives the feeling that Warby Parker will continue its work with Samsung for another round—likely with a new design—in the future. That's purely speculative for now, so we'll have to see how the glasses perform.

However, we can't let something go: the company's CEO directly mentioned this holiday season, and we hope you know what we're about to bring up next.

Keep your eyes peeled

It was only three days ago that rumors surfaced about Android XR's Intelligent Eyewear release window. It was reported that Samsung was interested in launching its glasses in "mid-December." What's more, Intelligent Eyewear might release in South Korea and the U.S. only. Reports add that this could be done deliberately. Samsung might launch Intelligent Eyewear and focus on consumer reception.

These rumors went against what was said before. Intelligent Eyewear was originally rumored to launch in November; however, we've since been pushed back a month. This appears more likely now, given what Warby Parker's CEO said in the Q3 earnings call. Android Central went hands-on with Samsung's Android XR glasses, and it was evident that Samsung wants to change public opinion.

Intelligent Eyewear has style. That much is true, as Samsung partnered with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to design frames. Alongside Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1, Intelligent Eyewear is designed to work in tandem with your Galaxy phone, not replace it.

The day is finally here, and we're wasting no time in introducing the Motorola Signature 27.

On Thursday morning, Nov. 5, Motorola announced the launch of the Signature 27, the company's true step toward a premium phone. The company gets started with its revamped display for the Signature 27. The phone comes equipped with a 6.8-inch Extreme AMOLED Duo with up to 12,000 nits of peak brightness. A screen like this goes beyond staying bright outdoors.

Motorola states users can experience "exceptional sharpness, contrast and precision" on a display that's 34% more efficient.

Internally, Motorola went after Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 SoC (this is a first for the company). What's more, gamers might migh find the brand's ArcticMesh cooling system in good faith. Motorola says it's roughly 40% larger in the Signature 27, meaning it'll help keep the device cooler over longer gaming sessions (or watching videos, scrolling, etc.).

What's truly turning heads with the Signature 27 is Motorola's extensive camera system.

Motorola touts this system as its "best ever," and it's certainly caught our attention. According to the post, the Signature 27 features a 50MP Sony LYTIA L910 primary camera. While this lens is said to excel at capturing rich colors and fine detail, the Signature 27's other lens, its 200MP periscope telephoto, is going above and beyond.

This periscope lens offers up to 100x zoom, powered by AI. Motorola states this tech will help "preserve natural color, sharpness and details even at extreme distances." Users will find various other zooms, ranging from 1x to 50x, before hitting 100x. Additionally, consumers will find a 50MP ultrawide lens and a 50MP selfie camera.

In its list of firsts, Motorola says it's integrated a "dedicated EVS action sensor" in the Signature 27. This EVS will capture moving subjects with better precision. However, Motorola says that when this works with Action Shot, users can "freeze motion" to capture the subject in pristine light and clarity.

Premium pricing, too

Aside from an influx of AI tools and features, courtesy of Google's Gemini Intelligence (think Rambler), Motorola says the Signature 27 will receive seven years of OS upgrades.

In the spirit of protecting our privacy (and our data), the Signature 27 fully supports GrapheneOS. Motorola says that it worked alongside the GrapheneOS Foundation when creating the Signature 27 to ensure the hardware could meet its demanding requirements. This announcement is a brief teaser, as Moto says it will reveal more in the future.

Motorola revealed this a couple of months ago, but the Signature 27 features Audio by Bang & Olufsen. It reminds us that this multi-year partnership will bring audio that carries more weight in a redesigned speaker structure. The Signature 27 rocks a 7,000mAh cell with 90W wired fast charging. Protecting the device is its military-grade aluminum frame (MIL-STD-810H) and IP68 and IP69 ratings.

Motorola states the Signature 27 will launch officially on November 26 for $1,599. Consumers will find the device available in PANTONE Coal Smoke and Capulent Olive.

What you need to know

• Rumors from overseas claim Honor is working on a phone battery between 14,000 and 15,000mAh.
• The tipster claims the Chinese OEM is already testing such a battery, and its main feature could be its "guaranteed" ability to last a full week on a single charge.
• Honor stepped down a battery-focused route in 2025, stating it would increase its phone battery capacities with silicon-carbon tech.

Word is that Honor is working on a phone with a huge battery that's also incredibly efficient.

Earlier this week, Digital Chat Station (DCS) posted a few supposed details on Weibo about a future Honor phone's battery (via Android Headlines). According to the tipster, Honor is developing a phone battery between 14,000 and 15,000mAh. DCS states the Chinese OEM is currently "testing" a battery with such an increased capacity. However, it looks like Honor is also trying to ensure the battery remains efficient with low user demand.

Rumors add that this battery could be "guaranteed" to last a full week on a single charge. DCS states this could be the "main feature" of the phone's battery. The tipster replied to user comments, adding that the device (and likely the battery) won't be overly large. So, there's a chance Honor is working on upgrading its silicon-carbon battery technology even further than what we've experienced.

As if it needed to be said, these totals are massive. It feels like Honor wants to place a mini power bank inside a phone. Recently, the company debuted the Magic 9 Pro Max. It marked the start of Honor's shift toward a more cinematic approach with its ARRI partnership. Aside from that, the phone features an 8,800mAh silicon-carbon battery. Honor's been increasing its battery capacities over the years, and this phone is no exception.

The company states the Magic 9 Pro Max supports 100W wired SuperCharging and 80W wireless charging. These have been classics for it over the past few launches, and if this rumor is true, we might expect more of this.

Honor has huge battery plans

A year ago, Honor detailed a stronger focus on phone batteries. We've seen much of this thus far. At the time, the company said it was developing 7,020mAh-7,200mAh batteries for its flagships; however, we've seen that pushed to over 8,000mAh with the Magic 9 Pro Max. Even the company's mid-ranges were said to find a place between 8,200mAh-8,400mAh.

All of this comes off the back of its silicon-carbon tech. We reviewed these details, discovering that Honor's tech will have "higher density." In short, it keeps the hardware smaller (thinner) while increasing its total capacity. It's a great way to not make overly bulky phones, but still make good on what consumers want: bigger batteries. The folks at Android Headlines reminded us of another Honor device: the Win RT 2 gaming phone. That phone offers a 12,070mAh battery. Hearing this rumor that pushes things to 15,000mAh at the highest, maybe it's not too far-fetched.

What you need to know

• All four Galaxy S27 models have reportedly appeared in an import-export database, revealing their expected chipsets.
• The Galaxy S27 Pro could use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 instead of the more powerful Extreme variant found in the Ultra.
• The Galaxy S27 Pro could feature a 6.5-inch display, sitting between the 6.3-inch S27 and 6.9-inch S27 Ultra.

We're slowly inching toward the new year, which means it's almost time for Samsung's next-generation Galaxy S flagship phones. And now, a new leak suggests that the upcoming Galaxy S27 Pro could miss out on Qualcomm's most powerful flagship chipset.

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S27 lineup in Q1 next year. As leaked renders have already revealed, the company appears to be taking some inspiration from Apple's iPhone, with the Galaxy S27 Ultra reportedly moving away from its familiar vertical camera layout in favor of a horizontal camera plateau.

There's also expected to be one more addition to the Galaxy S27 lineup in the form of the Galaxy S27 Pro. The new model will reportedly bring several Galaxy S27 Ultra features, including Privacy Display, to a smaller form factor without the S Pen. However, it looks like the Pro could still fall behind the Ultra in one important area: the chipset.

As spotted by Notebookcheck, all four Galaxy S27 models have reportedly appeared in the NBD import-export database. The listings mention the Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus, Galaxy S27 Pro, and Galaxy S27 Ultra, alongside details about the chipsets expected to power them.

According to the listings, the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus will be powered by Samsung's own Exynos 2700 chipset. The Galaxy S27 Ultra, meanwhile, is expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor. That's not particularly surprising, considering Samsung has traditionally reserved Qualcomm's most powerful flagship chipsets for its Ultra models.

What's interesting, however, is that the Galaxy S27 Pro is reportedly listed with the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 rather than the more powerful Extreme variant.

When Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series earlier this year, the company introduced two versions of its flagship chipset, one with the Extreme branding and another without it. The Extreme variant sits at the top of Qualcomm's lineup, offering clock speeds of up to a whopping 5GHz.

But it looks like the Galaxy S27 Pro could miss out on that top-tier processor. Instead, Samsung may use the slightly lower-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, although the chipset is still built on the same 2nm process architecture.

One possible reason could be thermal management. Since the Galaxy S27 Pro is expected to offer many of the Ultra's features in a smaller body, Samsung may have opted for a slightly lower-clocked chipset to keep temperatures under control. However, that's just speculation for now.

The base Galaxy S27 will reportedly retain its 6.3-inch display, while the Galaxy S27 Plus will continue with a 6.7-inch screen. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to feature the same massive 6.9-inch display, while the new Galaxy S27 Pro could sit somewhere in between with a 6.5-inch panel.

That would make the Galaxy S27 Pro a pretty interesting addition to Samsung's flagship lineup, especially for people who want some of the Ultra's features without carrying such a large phone.

Of course, we're still a few months away from the Galaxy S27 series launch, and plenty could change before Samsung makes everything official. But if this leak turns out to be accurate, the Galaxy S27 Pro may not be quite the smaller Galaxy S27 Ultra that some buyers were hoping for.

What you need to know

• Motorola could revive its Moto One lineup after nearly five years, with a new device appearing in the WPC database.
• The leaked Moto One looks similar to the Motorola Edge from 2025, with curved edges and a familiar rear camera design.
• The phone reportedly supports Qi2 wireless charging through EPP, but won't feature built-in magnets for accessories.

Motorola could be bringing back its Moto One smartphone series after nearly five years.

While all eyes are currently on the Motorola Signature 27, which is shaping up to be one of the company's most ambitious flagship smartphones in years, Motorola is also working on other devices behind the scenes. And now, according to a new leak, the company could be preparing to revive its Moto One lineup.

In case you don't remember, Moto One was a series of smartphones Motorola introduced back in 2018 that ran Google's Android One software. Android One was Google's attempt to bring a cleaner, near-stock Android experience to budget and mid-range smartphones, alongside more consistent software updates. However, the lineup eventually disappeared after a few generations.

Now, it looks like Motorola could be bringing the Moto One name back. As spotted by Notebookcheck, a new Moto One smartphone has appeared in the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) database. The listing also includes an image of the device, which looks eerily similar to the Motorola Edge from 2025.

As seen in the image, the phone appears to feature a curved display along the left and right edges, alongside Motorola's familiar camera housing in the top-left corner of the back.

Interestingly, the WPC listing also reveals that the new Moto One will support Qi2 wireless charging, although there's a catch. The phone reportedly supports the Extended Power Profile (EPP) rather than the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP).

This means that, similar to several Samsung Galaxy smartphones, the Moto One won't have built-in magnets for attaching Qi2 accessories. Instead, it'll support Qi2 wireless charging without native magnetic attachment.

Previous leaks have revealed that the Moto One could be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, a previous-generation high-end processor, alongside up to 12GB of RAM.

For now, Motorola hasn't confirmed whether the Moto One name is actually making a comeback or when the device might launch. But considering the phone has already appeared in the WPC certification database, there's a chance we could hear more about it fairly soon.

I’ve been using Google Messages long enough to appreciate a good interface refresh, but I’m not sold on every redesign making an app better. Google’s latest attempt to give pinned conversations more room on the home screen appears cleaner at first glance, but it also takes away some of the convenience that made the old layout practical. And judging by the early feedback from beta testers, I'm not the only one with mixed feelings.

As spotted by a few Reddit users, Google Messages is giving pinned chats a more prominent place on its home screen, and the new interface is beginning to roll out to beta testers.

The redesign features a dedicated space for pinned conversations above the regular message list, instead of the smaller pinned entries with large contact pictures. It is a more visual way to find favorite conversations, and there is no denying that it changes the look of the app. The layout is also a lot like Apple's iMessage, and that might appeal to users who like a cleaner, more spacious look.

The new design looks better, but takes up more space

I’m concerned about what gets sacrificed in the process. With larger contact photos, recent conversations will appear lower on the screen, and you’ll have to scroll more to get to messages that aren’t pinned.

Some Reddit users welcomed the change and said pinned conversations are easier to spot now and the interface looks better overall. Others are not convinced, arguing that the iOS-inspired layout makes the top of the app feel cluttered.

Another user also pointed out an awkward empty pin placeholder that appears when there are only a couple of pinned conversations. The original poster says that eventually adding more pinned chats makes that empty space disappear. The user also suggested that the limit might be six convos.

Google is also changing how search works

Google is also experimenting with a new search experience. The app moves search out of its normal location and instead puts a floating action button next to the “Start chat” button. Depending on your scroll position, it alternates between a circular magnifying glass and a pill-shaped search button. Where the Gemini shortcut will ultimately end up is still unclear.

The rollout is proving to be as patchy as the early feedback. Some users running the beta version of Google Messages 20261030_00_RC00 have received the redesign, while others haven’t. The original poster said that he got the new interface on a Pixel 9 Pro without any additional Play Store updates, suggesting that Google is controlling availability through server-side changes.

There are also smaller complaints. Some testers have complained about choppy animations, and some have seen different interface changes on their devices.

Google has not set a stable release date. I would love to see a visual refresh, but I'd prefer to see an option to switch between compact and expanded pinned chats. A messaging app should be about making conversations easier to reach, not burying them under big shortcuts. There is still time for Google to get that balance right.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm announced that it's inked a deal with SpaceX to begin creating a 5G Starlink mobile network, with plans to debut in 2027.
• Qualcomm states it views this deal as a chance to build "world-leading cellular infrastructure" in the U.S. to advance 5G with SpaceX.
• It's worth remembering that, a week ago, T-Mobile reportedly denied becoming wireless partners with SpaceX's Starlink network.

Qualcomm announced major next steps in a partnership with SpaceX for a mobile network that's eyeing a 2027 debut in the U.S — not to mention plans for a next-gen,, AI-native 6G network.

Qualcomm will help SpaceX build a "high-capacity 5G" network that's "built for scale," the company announced Wed., Nov. 4. To achieve this, Starlink Mobile will reportedly utilize Massive MIMO radio units. Qualcomm explains this technology will bring "advanced antenna capabilities to its terrestrial network." Without getting too technical, Qualcomm states this tech is necessary to improve Starlink's mobile coverage and efficiency to handle its network traffic.

All of this will be done under Qualcomm's Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure platforms. The press release states that SpaceX selected this particular branch of Qualcomm, seeking out its Dragonwing QRU100 and QDU100 platforms, as well as its Layer 1 software.

"Together with SpaceX, we are building world-leading cellular infrastructure in the United States, advancing 5G today, with an opportunity to lay the foundation for AI-native 6G in the years ahead," said Durga Malladi, EVP and GM at Qualcomm. The company briefly touched on this future 6G network, stating that partnering with SpaceX helps fuel that "broader vision."

While there are still some unknowns about this deal, Qualcomm told Reuters that this "is our biggest 5G deal yet." Qualcomm has reportedly been interested in expanding its reach into mobile networks, as Reuters states it already assists with 5G networks overseas in Japan and Vietnam.

A week ago, T-Mobile said "no"

This announcement comes at an interesting time. It was a week ago that we had a different conversation about a similar topic. SpaceX reportedly approached T-Mobile with its 5G network ambitions, but was turned away. T-Mobile reportedly told the company that there was "no room" for an MVNO deal. The cellular network effectively drew the line at helping SpaceX develop its own 5G network, turning it into a "wireless partner."

It was reported that "Such a deal would let SpaceX offer wireless services on top of T-Mobile's existing cell network, paving an easier route into the U.S. mobile market for the satellite company." However, CEO Srini Gopalan said T-Mobile evaluates partnerships based on distribution channels, the ability to open new addressable markets, and more.

In Gopalan's eyes, SpaceX's Starlink network wouldn't have done that. We're now on the flip side of this, where Qualcomm says the opposite.

What you need to know

• Rumors on social media suggest Samsung has started testing One UI 9.5 on the Galaxy S26 series, as early builds surface.
• Builds were spotted for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, with tipster wondering if an official Beta Program could begin later in November.
• Recent rumors claim One UI 9.5 could introduce a glass design approach to Galaxy phones, similar to Apple's Liquid Glass.

We've had delays upon delays for One UI 9; however, rumors continue in November about Samsung's next major OS beta.

Recently, tipster Kailash on X posted a discovery that could indicate an impending beta for Samsung's next One UI beta for Galaxy phones (via SamMobile). The tipster claims that they found early test builds for One UI 9.5 for the Galaxy S26 series. Versions S948BXXU6ZZK3, S948BOXM6ZZK3, and S948BXXU6CZK3 reportedly concern the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.

Kailash points out that the "bootloader has changed." The S26 series jumps from "U5" to "U6" in the test versions. There's also speculation that Samsung's internal tests are ongoing, meaning we could see a proper Beta Program, where users can start signing up, "soon."

Tipster Tarun Vats also spotted these early beta builds, furthering speculation that we're on the cusp of another beta marathon. It's hard to discern any features in One UI 9.5 from builds alone; however, a few rumors touched on this before.

Get your phones ready

Tipsters on X speculate that the One UI 9.5 beta could start in late November. That lines up with what we've heard before. It's also been assumed that One UI 9.5 won't officially debut until April or May 2027. We hope this next version doesn't face the same onslaught of delays Samsung's previous updates experienced.

Currently, rumors suggest One UI 9.5 could introduce "shiny edges and visual depth" to Galaxy phones. Of course, we're talking about a take on Apple's Liquid Glass. Rumors claim a glass aesthetic is Samsung's next focus. Many elements are reportedly shinier or blur when placed over other objects in the UI. What's more, a tipster supposedly spotted "subtle backdrop shading" for that "visual depth" we mentioned before.

Additionally, App Lock was rumored to return in One UI 9.5, securing apps behind a password, biometric, or other verification method.

I don't think any smartphone has ever been quite as polarizing as the iPhone Duo. After years of waiting for Apple's first foldable, the result is a phone that borrows some lessons from its Android counterparts, ignores plenty more, and feels like Apple is still figuring out what customers actually want from a foldable. Yet, despite some questionable decisions, I can't put it down. That contradiction is what makes the iPhone Duo so fascinating.

My verdict hinges on one factor I think many hardware comparisons overlook: the hidden superstar of Apple's developer ecosystem. It's both a blessing and a curse for Apple's first foldable, but in very unequal proportions. There will be short-term pain as developers, Apple, and users figure out what's possible, but the long-term gain could be enormous.

Objectively, the iPhone Duo gets plenty right, and Apple's choices seem unnecessarily complicated in places, especially since Android manufacturers have spent almost a decade solving many of the same problems. As someone who uses iOS and Android side by side, I appreciate the desire for consistency across Apple's ecosystem. But consistency shouldn't come at the expense of functionality, and some of Apple's decisions feel like an attempt to reinvent solutions that already work.

And yet, I keep reaching for it. Its utility alongside my other Apple devices is difficult to overstate, and the polarizing D-shaped design has grown on me considerably. In fact, it might be my favorite form factor for one-handed use. That's quite a turnaround from my initial reaction. My first 15 seconds with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 told me I loved it; the iPhone Duo took considerably longer. But the destination was the same, and that's an important lesson: unless a design is fundamentally flawed, living with it can change your perception in ways a hands-on session never will.

The inner display is another example. Here, I think Apple has pulled an absolute blinder. The nano-texture layer doesn't just make the crease less distracting; it transforms the screen's entire feel. There's a welcome friction under your fingertips that reminds me of reading on an Amazon Kindle or using TCL's NxtPaper displays. It's wonderful for reading, scrolling, and typing, and makes the experience feel easier on the eyes without compromising brightness. After two weeks, I haven't had a single concern about visibility on either display, even in challenging conditions.

Then comes the inevitable question: is it worth $2,000 or more? That depends almost entirely on what you want from it. For me, the value isn't simply having a folding screen. It's being able to progress coding sprints, access my Mac remotely, and keep working from virtually anywhere in the world, even on airplane Wi-Fi. It's the pocket-friendly, always-connected folding iPad I've wanted for years, though it could benefit enormously from some iPadOS-inspired software capabilities. It finally brings a level of multitasking and utility to an iPhone that changes how I use it. For me, that's worth the asking price, and the reactions from others I've shown it to suggest I'm not alone.

Apple has at least given its first attempt some reassuring foundations. IP68 dust and water resistance, a weight that's only around 50 grams heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the reassurance of AppleCare all help make the compromises easier to live with. But this is still a first-generation product, and Apple's approach will inevitably evolve. Samsung has had years to refine its foldables, and Apple is starting that journey considerably later. There is plenty of catching up to do, and I expect the next generations to be even slicker.

Ultimately, the iPhone Duo might be Apple's most divisive iPhone yet, but dismissing it for what it gets wrong misses what makes it so compelling. Like every first-generation foldable, it charts a different path, makes compromises, and delivers a novelty that established designs simply can't replicate. More importantly, Apple's ecosystem gives it room to grow in ways that extend far beyond the hardware: developers will discover new experiences, users will find new workflows, and missing features will gradually be replicated or surpassed.

The iPhone Duo isn't the perfect foldable, and it doesn't need to be. It's a glimpse of what happens when Apple's ecosystem finally meets a folding iPhone. There are plenty of reasons to wait for the second generation, but after two weeks, I know one thing: I don't want to put this one down. It might not be perfect for everyone, but it's pretty damn close to perfect for me.

Price & Availability

One of the biggest surprises about the iPhone Duo is its starting price: $2,000 in the US and £2,000 in the UK. That's for the 256GB model, and surprisingly, it's lower than I expected.

All the rumors leading up to launch suggested a record-high price, or at least a higher starting point than the competition. Instead, the iPhone Duo seems relatively well-priced by comparison. It's $100 more than the similarly sized Galaxy Z Fold 8, but $200 less than its taller sibling, although both of Samsung's foldables are currently available with sizable discounts.

Of course, 256GB is less storage than Samsung's double-your-storage launch promotion offers, and it falls short of the 512GB included with the Motorola Razr Fold, which starts at $1,899.99. Even accounting for any perception of an Apple tax, the premium seems surprisingly modest. By most comparisons, the iPhone Duo is fairly priced.

But how does it compare with Apple's own lineup? The iPhone Air is perhaps its closest match in terms of specifications and premium novelty, starting at $1,099. The new iPad mini costs $799, with a further $100 premium for the nano-texture finish. Put those together, and you're spending just $1 less than the iPhone Duo. It's hardly a scientific comparison, but it makes an interesting point: you're getting elements of both devices in one pocket-friendly package. If you were already planning to buy both, the iPhone Duo starts to look like a compelling proposition. I'd argue it's better value than its price tag might initially suggest.

The reactions from people I've shown it to largely support that. Three fellow passengers expressed genuine admiration; two immediately saw the utility and said they'd buy one for entirely different reasons, while the third felt it was simply out of her price range. Three small business owners I showed it to wanted one almost instantly, particularly after seeing how it could transform the way they run their businesses. I even encountered a brave parent who said they'd buy one, although with a six-year-old at home, that struck me as a rather bold investment!

Plenty of carrier deals are also worth considering, with all the major US carriers offering substantial trade-in credits to bring the cost down. Ten days after launch, the iPhone Duo is still sold out online, with deliveries pushed back until late January. In-store availability continues to fluctuate faster than a politician changes their stance.

Everyone should copy the iPhone Duo’s nano-texture screen

There, I said it: Apple’s implementation of nano-texture is so enjoyable that I hope every foldable manufacturer copies it. Apple wasn’t the first to bring nano-texture to consumer devices, but its implementation on the iPhone Duo is a genuine differentiator, and for reasons that go well beyond the specifications.

The first is visibility. Apple seems to have understood something important about foldable screens: it’s not necessarily the crease depth that matters, but how much you notice it. The Oppo Find N6 might have the shallowest crease of any foldable, but the iPhone Duo’s nano-texture finish makes its crease far less distracting in everyday use. Apple hasn't eliminated the compromise; it's made it easier to forget.

The same philosophy applies to the under-display camera. Frankly, it isn't very good, but that's almost beside the point. Most of the time, you forget it's even there because it blends so seamlessly into the screen. It's a trade-off I’m happy to make: a less intrusive camera and a less noticeable crease, even if neither is technically the best implementation available. Sometimes the better experience isn't the one with the better specifications.

Beyond that, the display itself is excellent. The nano-texture finish covers a 7.6-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, which is a lot of letters to describe the premium screen you'd expect at this price. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness in bright conditions. The unusual 1.42:1 aspect ratio is particularly interesting for multitasking, allowing two vertical apps to sit side by side. Or, as we'll explore later, it lets Apple retain a side rail while dividing the remaining space into two smaller iPhone-like experiences. The 5.4-inch cover display retains a similar aspect ratio and many of the same premium characteristics, albeit without the nano-texture finish.

Over the past two weeks, I've used the iPhone Duo on planes, trains, and automobiles, both at home and abroad, and one thing has become abundantly clear: both displays are a joy to use. I haven't encountered any brightness or visibility concerns, regardless of the conditions. There have been reports of display failures, as there are with other foldables, but it's too early to draw meaningful conclusions about their frequency or long-term durability.

Ultimately, this is the big iPhone display, or pocketable folding iPad, I've been waiting for. The specifications are impressive, but what makes it special is how little you notice the technology getting in the way.

A decidedly non-flagship, non-Pro iPhone camera

For a $2,000 phone, the iPhone Duo has a surprisingly ordinary camera system. It's not bad, far from it, but it's a clear reminder that even Apple's first foldable comes with compromises, and cameras are among the biggest.

Foldables have always involved trade-offs, particularly when it comes to camera hardware. The smaller passport-style designs are even more constrained by space, which helps explain why Samsung and Apple have opted for two rear cameras rather than three. But Huawei and Xiaomi have already demonstrated that you can fit a triple-camera system and a sizable battery into a similarly compact foldable. It's clearly possible; Apple has simply chosen different priorities, and I suspect most Western manufacturers will continue down the two-camera path for now.

In everyday use, the iPhone Duo's cameras are good, but rarely great. Like the iPhone Air, it lacks a capable dedicated zoom camera, and while the 2x in-sensor crop on the main sensor helps, it's no substitute for a proper telephoto lens. You're not buying the Duo for its cameras. That said, photos at standard focal lengths are more than good enough for most situations, and the foldable design brings its own advantages. Using the rear cameras for selfies, with the cover screen doubling as a viewfinder, is particularly useful.

The 48MP main and ultrawide cameras match those in the iPhone 17, with the main camera also serving as the iPhone Air's sole rear shooter. These aren't old or outdated sensors, and they deliver results broadly comparable to the equivalent cameras in the iPhone 17 Pro. But they fall short of the more advanced 48MP variable-aperture system in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The distinction matters: you're getting capable, modern iPhone cameras, just not Apple's best.

The selfie cameras tell a similar story, although there's an interesting twist. The 4MP under-display camera on the inner screen works for video calls in good lighting, but its quality drops quickly in challenging conditions. Treat it as a convenience feature, not a camera you'd choose for anything important.

Far more useful is the 12MP Center Stage camera above the cover display. Although it has a lower resolution than the 18MP selfie cameras on Apple's other recent iPhones, it retains the clever square, multi-aspect sensor. That means you can capture portrait or landscape photos and videos without physically rotating the phone. Combined with the Duo's flexible hinge, it's particularly handy for hands-free video calls in tent mode.

Ultimately, the iPhone Duo's camera system is perfectly capable, but it's difficult to call it flagship-worthy at this price. Apple has prioritized the folding experience over photographic versatility, and while that's a compromise I can live with, anyone expecting Pro-level photography from a $2,000 iPhone should look elsewhere.

Great battery life and efficiency

If you've been fearing the iPhone Duo's battery life, fear no more: it's excellent. In fact, despite having a battery capacity similar to its closest Samsung rival, it lasts several hours longer in my testing.

Apple doesn't officially disclose battery capacity, but estimates put it at around 4,883mAh, split between both halves of the phone, as is typical of foldables. If accurate, that's slightly larger than the 4,800mAh battery in the similarly sized Galaxy Z Fold 8, although both pale in comparison to the 6,000mAh battery inside the Xiaomi 18 Fold.

The difference is in endurance. With mixed usage, the iPhone Duo consistently lasts around 13–14 hours, compared with roughly 11 hours for the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That's a substantial improvement from a battery that's only marginally larger, and likely reflects Apple's software optimizations and the efficiency of its C2 modem, although isolating their individual contributions would require further testing.

It's much closer to the larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which manages 14–15 hours with its 5,000mAh battery. The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold trails at around 12 hours, while the Motorola Razr Fold also delivers roughly 14–15 hours. I haven't finished testing the Xiaomi 18 Fold, but none of these devices match the Oppo Find N6 or Honor Magic V6, both of which have achieved around 18 hours in my testing.

Apple has also made an interesting engineering trade-off. Unlike several Android manufacturers, including Samsung, which adopted silicon-carbon battery technology for the first time with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, Apple has stuck with conventional lithium-ion cells. The Duo is approaching the practical capacity limits of that technology within this form factor, so Apple appears to be relying on efficiency and a slightly thicker chassis to deliver competitive endurance. Given the results, that's a trade-off I'm happy with.

Charging is similarly reassuring. The iPhone Duo supports up to 60W wired charging, although thermal constraints prevent it from sustaining that peak. Using a MacBook Pro charger and an Apple USB-C cable rated for 60W, I recorded 43% charge in 15 minutes and 68% after 30 minutes. That's competitive with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and most other foldables I've tested, although the Duo appears to reduce charging speeds earlier and falls slightly behind some rivals by the half-hour mark.

There's also support for 25W magnetic wireless charging, complete with built-in magnets and Qi2.2 compatibility. It's a welcome convenience, particularly on a foldable where built-in magnetic alignment isn't always a given.

Ultimately, I have zero complaints about the iPhone Duo's battery life or charging. This is where the benefits of Apple's thicker design become particularly clear: you're trading a little sleekness for excellent endurance, fast charging, and everyday convenience. If Samsung takes a similar approach with the presumed Galaxy Z Fold 9, particularly by adding built-in magnets, I'd have very few complaints.

Apple nailed the iPhone Duo hardware in a few key ways

There's something particularly interesting happening with Apple's recent iPhones: the company has made enormous strides in battery life and connectivity. Bigger batteries explain some of that progress, but a handful of less obvious hardware decisions are making just as much difference.

Two of the most important are the Apple C2 modem and N1 wireless networking chip. The former is Apple's second-generation in-house cellular modem, replacing the third-party solutions it previously relied on. Having tested both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo extensively, I've noticed one particularly meaningful improvement: network connections feel considerably more stable and reliable.

It's a difference that's hard to appreciate from a specifications sheet but immediately noticeable in daily use. My iPhone 18 Pro delivered substantially better battery life than the iPhone 17 Pro on the same networks, and I've seen similarly impressive endurance from the Duo. The C2 modem likely contributes to that efficiency, while the N1 brings more of Apple's wireless connectivity hardware under its own control. Together, they represent an increasingly important advantage, although separating their individual contributions would require more controlled testing.

Then there's the A20 Pro chip, which is absurdly powerful. The iPhone Duo flies through everything I've thrown at it, without a single noticeable slowdown or stutter. More importantly, that performance enables experiences that distinguish it from a conventional iPhone, including driving the cover and inner displays simultaneously. It's not simply about benchmark scores; it's about having the headroom to make a folding iPhone feel effortless.

Not every hardware decision is quite as successful. The earpiece sits above the cover display, and I've repeatedly found myself misaligning it with my ear when answering calls. Perhaps it's muscle memory from using larger phones, but I didn't encounter the same issue as often with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. I usually have AirPods in anyway, so it's hardly a dealbreaker, but it's worth mentioning if you frequently make handheld calls.

iPhone Handoff makes me want to own two iPhones

Finally, there's iPhone Handoff, and this might be one of Apple's most underrated new features. On supported carriers, it lets you seamlessly transfer your active SIM connection between two iPhones as you switch devices. My UK carrier, EE, supports it, and moving between the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo has been remarkably slick. It's the sort of experience that feels quintessentially Apple: a complicated technical process made almost invisible to the user.

Everything important already syncs between my iPhones, but Handoff removes one of the last remaining inconveniences of using two devices. I no longer need a separate SIM or mobile plan for each phone; my connection simply follows whichever one I'm using. If you want the iPhone 18 Pro's cameras and the Duo's folding versatility without juggling multiple numbers or subscriptions, this makes that combination far more practical.

Apple hasn't nailed every aspect of the iPhone Duo, but the combination of reliable connectivity, effortless performance, and seamless device switching makes a compelling case for the hardware choices it has made. These aren't necessarily the features that sell a phone in a store, but they're the ones that make you appreciate it every day.

iOS, Apps & The Apple Ecosystem

Here's where the iPhone Duo positively outshines every other foldable: Apple's ecosystem, and specifically the developer relationships it has spent nearly two decades cultivating. The company that popularized the mobile app store was always going to lean on third-party developers to unlock new experiences for its first folding phone. That strategy is both its greatest advantage and, at least initially, a double-edged sword.

Apple's developer ecosystem is its hidden superstar

At launch, relatively few apps were optimized for the Duo. Black bars, awkward layouts, and wasted space were particularly jarring on the large inner display in portrait orientation, and Apple understandably received plenty of criticism. But the situation is already changing rapidly. Less than two weeks after launch, with millions of devices still awaiting delivery, more than a thousand apps have reportedly been optimized for the Duo's unusual form factor.

I've also spoken with several developers behind apps I use regularly, and many told me that delayed device deliveries have prevented them from fully exploring what's possible. Crucially, though, they already have substantial updates planned, including features designed specifically around the Duo's folding screen.

This is what makes Apple's approach so compelling. It has built the framework and handed developers a new canvas on which to experiment. There are already playful examples that let you make toasties, pour a drink, or play Battleship, alongside a growing number of genuinely useful optimized apps.

There's also an interesting knock-on effect: as developers rethink their interfaces for the Duo, some of those improvements could eventually benefit Android foldables through cross-platform apps. Of course, the reverse is already true in places. British Airways, for example, works particularly well on Android foldables, while its iPhone Duo app remains poorly optimized. Apple's ecosystem has enormous potential, but that doesn't mean it's ahead in every individual app today.

Multitasking is limited, but fundamentally different

Then there's multitasking. Finally, we have an iPhone that can properly run two apps at once, and Apple has adopted an iPad-like split-view layout. As expected, though, it's a fundamentally different experience from Android multitasking: inferior in several ways, but arguably better in one particularly important respect.

Let's start with the limitations. You can't resize the split between apps; it's an even, side-by-side division or full-screen, with nothing in between. There's no advanced window management, floating apps, or support for more than two simultaneous applications. By comparison, the Xiaomi 18 Fold can run six or more apps in independently resizable windows. If flexibility is your priority, Android remains comfortably ahead.

But here's where Apple has done something clever: multitasking on the iPhone Duo isn't really about running two apps side by side. It's about turning one large screen into two iPhones running side by side.

Each half effectively behaves like the Duo's cover display, allowing you to run an app on one side while continuing to use your phone normally on the other. That includes interacting with the home screen and widgets, rather than being locked into two active applications. It's a subtle distinction, but one that makes the experience feel immediately familiar to anyone who already uses an iPhone.

And it works. I use multitasking extensively on the Duo, particularly when cross-referencing information between apps or keeping one task visible while working on another. I'd still love the flexibility Android offers, but Apple's approach makes a surprising amount of sense for its existing interface.

Eventually, more capable AI assistants might make some of these manual workflows unnecessary. Siri has improved significantly, but I still find myself using it far less than the AI features on my Android devices, and we're nowhere near that future yet.

For now, the Duo offers a distinctive compromise: less freedom than Android, but a familiar, genuinely useful multitasking experience that feels designed around how people already use their iPhones. It's another example of Apple prioritizing consistency over flexibility, and while I don't agree with every limitation, I can see why it made that choice.

The iPhone Duo is my favorite first-generation foldable

This will come as no surprise: I love the iPhone Duo. It's far from the perfect foldable, and it has many of the quirks you'd expect from a first-generation device, but it's also one of the most thoroughly enjoyable phones I've ever used.

Apple's ecosystem plays a huge role in that, particularly the developers who build experiences you simply can't find elsewhere. But there's also the wonderful nano-texture display, the surprisingly useful form factor, and, yes, the sheer novelty of a folding iPhone. Some of that novelty will inevitably wear off, but for now, the Duo feels every bit as special as Samsung's first foldable did at launch, or as the passport-sized Galaxy Z Fold 8 did more recently. The iPhone 18 Pro is a better phone, but the iPhone Duo is a better experience.

Apple could have made plenty of different decisions, and I've spent much of this review explaining where I wish it had. Yet, somehow, its first foldable has become my favorite iPhone ever.

That's the distinction that matters most to me. Like the larger display of the iPhone 6 or the all-screen design of the iPhone X, the Duo represents a meaningful shift in how an iPhone looks and feels. But unlike those transitions, its larger folding screen offers possibilities that should continue expanding as developers discover what to do with it.

Of course, you should never buy a phone solely for its future potential. The iPhone Duo is already an excellent all-around device today, albeit one with obvious trade-offs and a price that demands serious consideration. It's improving with every passing day, and I expect that evolution to continue for years.

I have no regrets about buying it. You might decide its compromises aren't worth the asking price, and that's entirely reasonable. But for me, the Duo has done something few phones manage anymore: it's made using an iPhone feel genuinely exciting again.

What you need to know

• Next-gen foldable rumors suggest Samsung's cameras on the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra could remain the same on the Fold 9 and Fold 9 Ultra.
• If true, the Fold 9 would retain the same 50MP primary and ultra-wide lenses, while the Fold 9 Ultra would see similar 200MP primary, 50MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto lenses.
• Rumors from October suggest Samsung could "double the number" of foldables next year with a "Galaxy Z Slide," TriFold 2, and a Fold 9 Pro.

We're still enjoying our time with the Galaxy Z8 series; however, a recent rumor about the next-generation models throws doubt on a specific upgrade.

Over on X, tipster WalleGalaxy claims Samsung might not develop any worthwhile camera upgrades for its next foldables (via SammyGuru). The tipster claims Samsung could retain the same dual-camera array specifications on the Fold 8 for the Fold 9 in 2027. If true, that means consumers are in for the same 50MP primary and ultra-wide camera lenses.

The post didn't share anything about the phone's selfie cameras. The Fold 8 features a 10MP internal and cover display lens.

Regarding the Fold 9 Ultra, rumors speculate that Samsung could continue with the same 200MP main lens, 50MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom. A user in the comments brought up an important topic: DC dimming. Samsung's displays aren't really the "gold standard" we'd like them to be. However, a recent rumor suggests the Galaxy S27 Ultra could take eye strain more seriously. Hopefully, if it bears fruit, maybe we'll see it on the next foldables.

Only getting started

There's no hiding that the rumors are just getting started. A rumor from mid-October said Samsung could "double the number of phones" available for its next Galaxy Z series in 2027.

Allegedly, Samsung is working on a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 and a Galaxy Z Fold 9 Pro. We have something to base our imagination on with another trifold, but the "Fold 9 Pro" is a wildcard. What's more, those same rumors said Samsung could finally debut its long-conceptualized slideable phone. You'd have to step into a time machine to remember this one. At CES 2025, Samsung Display showed off the "Slidable Flex Duet" and "Solo." These were slideable phones that would go from a "regular" sized phone to almost tablet size.

For those wondering what Samsung could do with a TriFold 2, rumors suggest a "more durable," thinner, and lighter design.

What you need to know

• Google will disable Gemini and other AI tools by default for K-12 student accounts starting in 2027.
• Schools can manually enable individual AI services, but disabling AI will also remove access to Google Search.
• Schools that enable AI will get "Guided Learning" tools designed to help students solve problems instead of giving direct answers.

Google has announced a major policy change that will disable access to its AI tools, including Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini Classroom, by default for K-12 student accounts.

Google has been pushing AI tools into pretty much every product it offers for a while now, but there have also been growing concerns about how these tools affect the learning process, especially for younger students.

And now, in a bid to give schools more control over AI use, Google announced on Tuesday that it will disable access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini Classroom, and even Google Search by default for K-12 student accounts (via The New York Times).

School administrators will still have the option to enable these services individually if they want, but they'll remain disabled by default starting in 2027.

The catch, however, is that schools won't be able to completely block Google's AI tools while keeping access to regular Google Search. Google says AI is now so deeply integrated into Search through features like AI Overviews and AI Mode that disabling AI will also mean losing access to Google Search altogether.

Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, told The New York Times that Search and AI are now deeply integrated. He added that schools choosing to disable Google's AI features will also lose access to Search, with students instead seeing a message explaining that the service isn't available through their school.

For schools that do decide to enable AI, Google is also introducing a new "Guided Learning" experience within Gemini and Search. Instead of simply giving students direct answers, the feature is designed to walk them through problems step by step, helping them understand how to arrive at the answer rather than just copying it.

Google says the policy change is intended to give schools more choice over which services students can access, allowing administrators to enable or disable tools based on their requirements.

But there's a pretty big contradiction here. On one hand, Google says it's giving schools more control over AI in classrooms. On the other, schools that don't want students using AI Overviews or AI Mode will also have to give up regular Google Search.

So, schools are technically getting more control over Google's AI tools, but only if they're willing to lose access to one of the most widely used search engines in the process. And that seems like a pretty strange way of giving schools more choice.

More than 80 Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices are receiving HyperOS 4 worldwide, and this update is much more than just a new interface.

Xiaomi will start a global stable rollout in November 2026 and the company has split the eligible devices into three waves, as per its post on X. The first list includes the Xiaomi 17 and 15 series, Redmi Note 17 and Note 15 families, POCO F8 and X8 lineups, and Xiaomi Pad 8 tablets.

The second wave will kick off in mid-November, and will include the Xiaomi 15T series, POCO F7 and F9 families, Xiaomi Pad 7 and several Redmi and POCO tablets.

The update for older hardware will arrive in December and will include the Xiaomi 14 and 13 series, the Xiaomi MIX Flip, Xiaomi 13T lineup, Redmi Note 14 family, and POCO F6 series. These are launching dates, not set install dates, so availability will be region-specific.

HyperOS 4 gets a glassy treatment and more

Building on the core foundations of Android 17, Xiaomi engineered this update around a brand-new "Soft Light Glass" aesthetic. It's a new UI with translucent panels, redesigned notifications, customizable lock screens, flexible app folders, and stacked widgets. Xiaomi also promises improved floating-window support and smoother animations.

Its performance claims are of particular interest. Xiaomi claims that HyperOS 4 cuts down the overall launch time for 30 apps after 9 hours of usage from 40.3 seconds to 36.8 seconds, which is an 8.7% jump over HyperOS 3. Camera performance also sees an improvement with HDR photo capture dropping from 313.38 milliseconds to 240.16 milliseconds. Xiaomi also claims fewer dropped frames while playing video.

Xiaomi hands its AI assistant a larger role

HyperOS 4 will feature Super XiaoAi 2.0 based on Xiaomi’s MiMo large language model. The assistant can also do more complex tasks such as searching photo libraries, organizing schedules, controlling supported smart home devices, and even identifying products from things shown on screen.

Xiaomi is also beefing up privacy protections, such as requiring confirmation prompts for sensitive actions like deleting or sharing data. Its Super Island feature now supports over 130 services.

Some of these capabilities are still limited to supported devices and China-specific software versions. But HyperOS 4 looks like a much bigger upgrade than a cosmetic refresh, and its global rollout should reveal how much of Xiaomi's AI ambitions actually make it to international users.

What you need to know

• Samsung announced that its upgraded Sleep Apnea feature has been cleared in the U.S. by the FDA and in South Korea by the MFDS for the Galaxy Ring and Watch 9.
• The feature is now rolling out in the app, bringing deeper insights about any breathing disruptions for users to present to a doctor if necessary.
• Samsung revealed during Unpacked this summer that Sleep Apnea was headed to the Galaxy Ring, making it the "first and only" smart ring to feature it.

Samsung has been working to improve its Sleep Apnea detection while navigating the necessary government procedures. Today (Nov. 3), Samsung says the feature has been cleared.

In a Newsroom post, Samsung announced that its "upgraded Sleep Apnea" detection software has cleared the FDA in the U.S. and the MFDS in South Korea. This is crucial because Samsung's Sleep Apnea software was cleared for the Galaxy Ring. According to the post, the company has become "the first company in the world to bring sleep apnea risk detection on a smart ring."

Regarding what's changed, Samsung says it's increased the level of depth of Sleep Apnea insights provided to users. In the Health app, users will see the level of breathing disruption experienced the night before. The company intends for this to help users better identify how severe their underlying condition could be before seeking medical attention.

As this form of detection arrives for Galaxy Ring users, Samsung reminds them that they only need "two nights of monitoring within a 10-day period." After that, they should begin seeing Sleep Apnea insights in the app. Preventative Care features will continue to expand to more Samsung devices.

This upgraded Sleep Apnea detection is rolling out today (Nov. 3) in the Health app for the Galaxy Watch 9 (and Galaxy Ring) with Wear OS 7 or higher. What's more, Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 are eligible; however, those users need to wait for a software update. Samsung didn't give a date, so we'll have to wait for now.

Long road of approvals

This was a huge announcement during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked this past summer. During the keynote, the company announced that Sleep Apnea was headed to the Galaxy Ring. This would mark the device as "the first and only" smart ring to offer such capabilities. Samsung said the feature would arrive "this fall," and we've now seen that here in early November.

Sleep Apnea is an incredibly important medical condition. Samsung has been down a long road of approvals, dating back to 2023 when the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) in South Korea approved it for the Galaxy Watch. Consumers in the U.S. had to wait until 2024 before the FDA finally cleared it. However, it didn't actually arrive on a Galaxy Watch 2025—long road, right?

What you need to know

• Peak Design has introduced what it calls the world's first Qi2.3-certified magnetic power bank with a built-in kickstand.
• The 5,000mAh power bank supports 15W wireless charging on battery and up to 25W when connected to external power.
• Peak Design's new accessories start at $65, with a lifetime guarantee and additional battery performance coverage.

Peak Design today introduced a new Qi2.3 magnetic power bank alongside several other charging accessories that put some of the first-party accessories from brands like Samsung and Google to shame.

Peak Design, the brand popularly known for its backpacks and everyday carry gear, has slowly been expanding into mobile accessories as well. And today, the company unveiled its latest lineup of charging accessories, bringing some pretty interesting features that go beyond what first-party brands like Google and Samsung currently offer.

One of the most interesting products announced today is the Kickstand Travel Battery, which Peak Design says is the world's first Qi2.3-certified wireless power bank. It packs a 5,000mAh battery and supports up to 25W wireless charging.

The magnetic power bank delivers up to 15W wireless charging when running on its internal battery, but that increases to 25W when you plug it into a power source. It also features a built-in kickstand, making it easier to prop up your phone while charging.

The Kickstand Travel Battery starts at $99.95 and comes in two colors, Moon and Black. It's already available to purchase.

In addition to the power bank, Peak Design has also introduced a new 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. It features two equally capable Qi2.2 charging pads, each supporting up to 25W wireless charging. There's also an additional port on the side for charging another accessory.

What's particularly interesting about the charging station is that it folds completely flat, making it much easier to pack and carry while traveling.

Peak Design has also unveiled the Dual Slim Charger, a GaN charging brick that's just half an inch thick while still delivering up to 65W of charging power. You can use it to charge a laptop and smartphone simultaneously, and its slim design makes it easier to carry around without taking up much space in your bag.

The company has also introduced new Ultra Strand USB-C cables in 60W and 240W configurations. The higher-end 240W version supports USB4 data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.

In terms of pricing, the 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station starts at $99.95, while the Dual Slim Charger is priced at $65.

It's also worth noting that all of these accessories are backed by Peak Design's lifetime guarantee, while the battery products come with an additional two-year battery performance coverage.

What you need to know

• Google has confirmed a battery drain bug affecting a small number of Pixel Watches, with a fix already rolling out.
• Some Pixel Watch owners reported battery life dropping to around 12 hours, even when the watch was barely being used.
• Google says users should update all apps through the Play Store on their Pixel Watch to receive the fix over the coming days.

If you've been experiencing severe battery drain on your Pixel Watch lately, Google has confirmed that a fix is already rolling out.

It's not uncommon for Google Pixel devices to run into software issues every now and then. Recently, Pixel 11 Pro users reported problems with video recording when Video Boost was enabled, while others have also faced issues with Google Photos.

And now, it looks like a bug affecting Pixel Watches has been causing unusually high battery drain as well. Thankfully, Google has confirmed that a fix is on the way.

In a statement today, Google confirmed that a battery drain bug affected a "small number of devices" and that a fix has already started rolling out (via Android Authority). The company says the rollout should be completed over the next couple of days.

To get the fix, Google says you'll need to update all the apps installed on your Pixel Watch through the Play Store. To do this, open the Play Store app on your Pixel Watch, scroll to Manage apps, and then select Update all to install any pending app updates.

It's worth noting that the issue wasn't limited to any particular Pixel Watch generation. Instead, reports suggest the bug affected multiple generations of Google's smartwatch, with some users experiencing battery life dropping to just around 12 hours, even with minimal use.

Google hasn't revealed exactly what was causing the excessive battery drain or which app or background process was responsible. But thankfully, the company has now started rolling out a fix, which should reach affected devices over the next couple of days.

So, if your Pixel Watch has suddenly started losing battery much faster than usual, make sure you've updated all the apps on the watch itself. And if the issue continues, it's worth checking again over the next few days as Google completes the rollout.

Google has taken down a huge Android malware operation that turned over 1.3 million Android TV boxes into weapons for cyber criminals.

The company revealed that the operation was performed by Videostrong Technology, a device maker that has been accused of intentionally putting a hidden backdoor on its products and selling access to criminal affiliates.

The malware, dubbed XCPE or x.cpe, was directly embedded in the firmware of Android TV boxes sold under different brands. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group said that Videostrong developed the backdoor as a business, not letting it slip through accidentally. Criminal partners could use infected devices to generate fake ad views, reroute internet traffic through unsuspecting homes, and install more malware.

A backdoor that gives criminals control of your TV box

Google is particularly concerned about XCPE because it runs with Android system-level privileges. It connects to remote command-and-control servers, enabling attackers to silently install applications, execute shell commands, take screenshots, and collect device information.

Google also found that the malware could collect account information, application lists, and system logs. Some operators even used the ability to remotely access the devices to capture keystrokes and establish reverse shells.

Just removing the malware application isn’t enough, though. The backdoor can restore itself from a protected firmware partition on every device reboot. It can also affect Google Play Protect by changing the security settings, making it much more difficult to detect and remove.

The most common way the infection spreads is through Android TV boxes, but researchers also saw XCPE on other Android-based devices such as karaoke machines, telehealth equipment, and digital signage systems.

Google cuts off Videostrong and its criminal partners

Google worked with Japan’s National Police Agency, Lumen, HUMAN Security, Plume, Synthient, and TrendAI to take the operation down. Its complaint targeted command servers operated by Videostrong, as well as the infrastructure behind more than a dozen other families of malware.

The company also banned Videostrong and future subsidiaries from making certified Android devices or supplying software to certified manufacturers.

The disruption could spread even further. Disabling the command infrastructure used by criminal affiliates will cut off access to at least 10 million more compromised devices infected through different distribution channels, Google figures.

Infected Android TV boxes might need replacing

There is a catch for consumers, however: the takedown does not automatically remove XCPE from impacted hardware. According to security researchers, users should identify potentially compromised devices, disconnect them, and consider replacement rather than relying on an ordinary app uninstall.

Google also tightened its firmware integrity checks and manufacturer vetting process after it found that Videostrong used obfuscation to load malicious code after a device initially booted up.

What you need to know

• New rumors suggest Samsung could launch Intelligent Eyewear, its Android XR glasses, in December.
• The latest murmurings add that the company could also launch them in South Korea and the U.S., while also evaluating consumers' reception.
• Previous rumors said Intelligent Eyewear would debut in November.

There's been talk about Samsung's Android XR glasses for months now. Recently, a report claims to have discovered (once again) when they might launch.

A post by ChosunBiz (Korean) claims that Samsung's Intelligent Eyewear could launch in two major markets closer to Christmas 2026 (via 9to5Google). According to its sources, Samsung has allegedly "confirmed" that its Intelligent Eyewear will debut in "mid-December" in South Korea and the U.S. Samsung will reportedly view both of these regions critically before bringing the product to more places.

The company will supposedly "monitor initial demand and user reactions" in South Korea and the U.S. once the glasses launch. The publication touches on another missing aspect: pricing. We've been going round and round about its purported price; however, these rumors state nothing's set in stone.

Samsung is reportedly still considering the final price point for Intelligent Eyewear ahead of its launch next month (if this is to be believed).

So, we're still a month away...?

There are a few things to talk about, but first things first: the old expected launch window. At the top of October, rumors suggested Samsung was interested in launching Intelligent Eyewear in November. It was exciting at the time, despite this only being a rumor. However, the latest round has scrubbed that out in favor of a December launch. With so much back and forth, it'll be wise to take this with a grain of salt.

Regarding the supposed price, rumors suggest Samsung could price Intelligent Eyewear "reasonably." These aren't our words. In July, Samsung said Intelligent Eyewear could see a "reasonable" premium price; however, it'll likely sit above Meta's $300 Ray-Bans. The glasses are positioned as an extension of your Galaxy phone, not a replacement.

Users can control the glasses through gestures on any compatible Galaxy Watch, alongside photo capture. On the other hand, we have Intelligent Eyewear's official reveal, showing off its Warby Parker and Gentle Monster designs and more.