The leaked configuration includes the following onboarding text:

title: New Xiaomi HyperOS 4
text: Tap to experience new features
landTitle: OS4
landText: New features
aodTitle: Tap to experience new OS4 features
aodText: Tap to experience new OS4 features

HyperOS 4 Setup Lists 10 New Features

The leaked onboarding package contains ten distinct sections:

• Basic Experience — All Models
• Glass Material — Flagships and Fold 5 Only
• New Lock Screen Experience — Flagship, Glass
• Desktop Widget Stacking — Flagship, Glass
• Folder Size Switching — Flagship, Glass
• New Xiaomi HyperConnect Device Center — Glass
• Super XiaoAI Interaction Redesign — Flagship, Glass
• Super XiaoAI Expert Mode
• New AI Notes
• Xiaomi Intelligent Input Method

This matters because the package goes beyond concept images. It includes internal labels describing exactly how Xiaomi plans to present HyperOS 4 features during the setup process.

Glass Features Are Clearly Split by Hardware

One of the most notable entries is “Glass Material,” which supports earlier leaked source-code findings showing that HyperOS 4’s full Liquid Glass rendering won’t be available on every chipset.

Previous code discoveries pointed to support limited to:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite and newer
• XRING O1
• XRING O3
• Dimensity 9500 and newer

The new setup files add another useful clue: Xiaomi itself appears to separate Glass features from the basic HyperOS 4 experience. In other words, a device could receive HyperOS 4 without gaining access to every advanced Glass effect.

Previous coverage looked at Xiaomi’s HyperOS 4 Liquid Glass design direction and the HyperOS 4 V8 Launcher leak. These new onboarding files provide stronger evidence that Glass effects are part of the actual HyperOS 4 feature set, rather than existing only as an experimental launcher design.

New Lock Screen Uses the Glass Interface

The leaked screenshots reveal a major lock-screen redesign. Large transparent clock layouts can sit directly over photos and wallpapers. Some styles feature oversized vertical numbers, while others pair the clock with translucent notification cards.

The setup file specifically labels the new lock-screen experience as “Glass,” suggesting the complete Glass version of the lock screen may be reserved for higher-end devices. The notification design also lines up with earlier reports about stacked lock-screen notifications. Rather than several separate cards taking up screen space, notifications can appear layered inside a single Glass container.

Widget Stacking Is Also a Flagship Glass Feature

HyperOS 4 will introduce desktop widget stacking, according to the leaked setup package.

The screenshots show several redesigned widgets, including:

• Weather
• Clock
• Calendar
• Music controls
• Brightness and volume controls
• Search

Many of these widgets use translucent surfaces that reflect or blur the wallpaper underneath them.

The internal entry for widget stacking again lists both “flagship” and “Glass,” indicating that the full visual implementation may depend on supported hardware, even if a simpler version of the widget functionality reaches more devices broadly. This feature is already usable through the leaked HyperOS Launcher V8.

Large Folders Get Size Switching

HyperOS 4 also appears set to expand Xiaomi’s large folder system. The setup files reference folder size switching, and the screenshots show compact folders capable of displaying multiple system applications directly on the home screen. Earlier HyperOS 4 V8 Launcher builds had already demonstrated more flexible folder controls, and this new setup leak indicates Xiaomi plans to present folder resizing as one of the update’s main features.

Xiaomi HyperConnect Device Center Gets a Full Glass Redesign

Another screenshot reveals the redesigned Xiaomi HyperConnect device center. Connected products appear as large translucent cards, with examples including:

• Xiaomi Buds
• Xiaomi Pad
• Xiaomi SU7
• Xiaomi Watch
• Air conditioner
• Smart camera

Each card blends with colors pulled from the background, making this one of the clearest examples of the new Glass material system shown in the leak. The setup package refers to this feature as the “New Fusion Device Center,” Xiaomi’s term for its cross-device control interface.

Super XiaoAI Gets a New Floating Interface

HyperOS 4 also includes a major Super XiaoAI redesign. One screenshot shows the assistant appearing as a floating interface over the home screen, while another shows a compact status element near the top of the display while the assistant processes a request. This lines up with an earlier Digital Chat Station report describing an AI assistant floating island, compared conceptually to an AI Siri-style interface.

The screenshots also reveal different AI processing modes, including:

• Automatic
• Fast
• Expert

The leaked setup package separately lists Super XiaoAI Expert Mode, suggesting the assistant may let users choose how deeply it processes a given task.

Expert Mode Can Perform More Complex Tasks

The Expert Mode screenshot offers another clue about Xiaomi’s AI direction. In the example, a user asks Super XiaoAI to create a recurring task that collects product information every week and sends the result at a scheduled time. The assistant then generates an AI task card with a weekly schedule attached. This suggests Expert Mode may extend beyond simple question answering to handle multi-step actions across applications.

That said, the screenshots don’t confirm which apps, regions, or languages will support this functionality at launch.

AI Notes Gets Meeting Summaries and Smart Actions

HyperOS 4’s Notes app is also receiving deeper AI integration. The screenshots show:

• Meeting recording
• AI meeting summaries
• AI-generated notes
• Task extraction
• Podcast generation
• Contextual AI questions

One example shows a meeting note paired with an audio recording and an automatically generated summary. Another interface lets users ask questions about stored notes, including requests to recall important recent events or summarize previous meetings. This appears to go beyond a simple visual refresh, with AI features integrated directly into the Notes workflow itself.

Xiaomi Intelligent Input Method Adds AI Writing Tools

The leaked setup package also lists a new Xiaomi Intelligent Input Method. One screenshot shows an AI toolbar positioned above the keyboard, offering options such as:

• AI translation
• Voice input
• Automatic text polishing
• Personalized AI rewriting

This suggests HyperOS 4 will bring system-level AI writing tools directly into text input, rather than requiring users to open a separate assistant app to access them.

HyperOS 4 Could Arrive Very Soon

Based on the current development stage and the appearance of a finished onboarding package, HyperOS 4 now looks much closer to release than earlier leaks suggested. Current information points to a possible launch window at the end of August or in early September 2026. That timing remains unofficial, so it should be treated as an expected window rather than a confirmed date.

The setup package matters because it brings together many previously separate leaks in one place: Glass materials, lock-screen changes, stacked widgets, folder customization, AI input tools, AI Notes, Super XiaoAI, and the redesigned HyperConnect device center.

Encrypted Calls With No Limits, Now Transferable Between Devices

As with every other part of WhatsApp, calls made through WhatsApp Web are end-to-end encrypted, with no time limits or associated costs. Users can now also move a call from one device to another without hanging up and starting a new one. This works across the mobile app, WhatsApp Web, and WhatsApp Desktop in either direction.

New Call Controls and Quality Improvements

Additionally, when someone creates a WhatsApp call link and selects “Require approval to join,” participants will wait in a holding room until approved to join. Noise suppression is also launching, removing background noise so callers sound clearer, and it can be managed directly from the in-call settings.

Finally, video calls will now start in HD quality from the very first few seconds, eliminating the wait for HD to kick in that was previously common. According to WhatsApp, all of these features are rolling out “gradually” and will become available to everyone “soon.”

Nothing’s First Self-Branded Smartwatch Reportedly Coming in September

While there’s reportedly been some turbulence behind the scenes at Nothing recently, the company appears to be moving ahead with new products. Next up, it seems, is a Nothing-branded smartwatch.

Leaker Yogesh Brar claims that Nothing is preparing to launch its first self-branded smartwatch in September, a product expected to cost “under” $300 and launch in “limited markets” with a design that fits Nothing’s usual aesthetic.

This wouldn’t be the company’s first smartwatch overall. Nothing’s CMF sub-brand has already released two smartwatches aimed at budget-conscious customers, but neither carried the Nothing name directly, and those CMF watches were widely considered rough around the edges.

Could This New Watch Run Wear OS?

The “under $300” price point is a telling detail. The CMF watches have stayed well under $100 and run on a lightweight RTOS as a result. A more expensive device suggests something more capable could be on the way, possibly even Google’s Wear OS. Assuming a price somewhere in the $250 to $300 range, that would place it well below the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch lineups, though affordable Wear OS watches aren’t unprecedented. Whether Nothing follows through with this approach remains to be seen, but it would mark a meaningful step up for the brand’s wearable lineup.

Google and TSMC Reportedly in Talks for a Longterm Partnership

According to industry insiders and recent reports, Google and TSMC are reportedly eyeing a longterm partnership that would have the Taiwan-based company produce the upcoming Tensor G5, expected in the 2025 Pixel 10, and the Tensor G6, expected in the 2026 Pixel 11. Currently, Google has been working with Samsung Foundry to manufacture Tensor chips, with the current Tensor G4 built on Samsung’s 4nm process.

News of Google potentially switching to TSMC isn’t new; the first report on this surfaced back in May. What’s new, however, concerns the Pixel 11 and the rumored Tensor G6 expected in 2026. According to the report, the Tensor G6 will reportedly be based on TSMC’s 2nm platform. In practical terms, that would translate to better performance and reduced power consumption compared to the current chip.

What This Could Mean for Future Pixel Devices

The Pixel 10 launch is still a ways off, but development and production of these devices happens well before their official release. Because of that timeline, more details about Google’s plans should emerge relatively soon.

Google Deepens Its Partnership With NBCUniversal

Nearly a year after some heated negotiations, Google is deepening its partnership with NBCUniversal to deliver Peacock Premium access to YouTube Premium subscribers in the US sometime in the coming months. It’s the latest move in a partnership that also includes a handful of live sporting events carried by NBC’s various networks, streaming for free on the NBC Sports YouTube channel.

This access covers the basic, ad-supported Peacock Premium tier rather than the pricier, ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan. Even so, the announcement points to a future deal that would let users upgrade their membership, and international bundles for those outside the US without access to Peacock are also reportedly on the way.

Which YouTube Premium Plans Get the Peacock Bundle

Whenever Google rolls out this perk, it will only extend to subscribers on the fully-fledged YouTube Premium plan. Those on the cheaper, Music-less YouTube Premium Lite plan will miss out on the bundle entirely. For long-time subscribers still adjusting to this summer’s price hike, the added value from this bundle may help soften the blow.

For anyone unwilling to wait for free Peacock access through YouTube, there’s a decent chance a free subscription is already available through another avenue. Walmart+ members, for example, can choose between ad-supported plans from Paramount+ or Peacock, while Apple TV offers a Peacock bundle for just $2 more per month over its standard plan. Even Instacart+ includes Peacock as part of its membership.

Chat Themes Bring Long-Overdue Customization

Some of the changes affect how chats actually look. One of them, called Chat theme, is a new customization tool that’s been trickling out to beta testers over the past couple of months. Android Authority spotted it tucked inside a late-May build, though it hasn’t reached wider availability as of writing. The feature is fairly comprehensive, letting users change the entire color scheme of a chat, including the background and message bubbles.

A new wallpaper can also be applied, either pulled from a personal gallery or borrowed from Google’s ready-made sets. The catch is that changes are only visible to the person who applies them. Still, it’s a much-needed addition, since Samsung Messages has offered similar customization for years, as has Apple’s Messages app.

RCS Upgrades Aim to Improve iPhone Chats

The second major feature is more cross-platform, geared toward making chats with iPhone users more interactive. Despite previous updates, RCS chats between Android and iOS still don’t match the experience of chatting on the same platform, so these upgrades have been a long time coming. The features first arrived with the second iOS 27 developer beta.

One of these changes reworks the message options bar. Currently, it’s confined to a narrow strip that appears at the top of the screen, which is awkward to reach one-handed. Soon, it will be replaced by a floating menu that surfaces closer to the message itself. This was first spotted by 9to5Google in a January 2026 beta and hasn’t rolled out widely yet.

A more useful change introduces a new gesture: swiping left on a thread will reveal when it was sent, along with the encryption lock icon. Previously, this information required tapping individual messages one at a time. Now, it’s visible in a single swipe. This is separate from the right-swipe gesture, which is used to reply to a text. This change is also currently in beta and hasn’t rolled out to everyone as of writing.

Sharing on Messages Gets Better Too

There are also changes around sharing. A Reddit user spotted a new tweak in early July: when sending something to a batch of contacts, two buttons now appear at the bottom of the screen. One lets users send the text to each person in their own private thread, something Messages could already do. The issue with that single option was that sending one item to a group, such as an invite to an event, required creating that group chat beforehand. Now, a second button labeled “Send to a group,” placed beside the “share individually” option, creates a group chat with the selected contacts automatically.

At the same time, Messages is also getting smarter about duplicates. If a group chat already exists with the same set of contacts selected, the message drops into that existing thread instead of spinning up an identical new one. For now, these changes are reportedly part of a limited server-side test.

Forwarding is getting an upgrade too. Android Authority dug this feature out of a beta teardown around the same stretch in early July. Soon, users will be able to forward several messages at once instead of one at a time. Messages can be selected with checkboxes, including images, with a destination chosen and a preview of the batch shown before sending. This should cut down on the repetitive process currently required to forward more than one item at a time.

Tech forums have already made up their minds. Going by the leaks, the G6 looks like a regression. The G6 comes up short on CPU cores, and its graphics hardware is past its prime.

Benchmark fans are already bidding it farewell, calling it outmatched by what Qualcomm or Apple are shipping.

The Pixel 11 is unlikely to be the perfect Android phone, but the evidence suggests Google is building its silicon around what Pixels actually need.

Why a Missing CPU Core Isn’t the Disaster It Sounds Like

The CPU is what everyone’s worried about. Most Android flagships today run eight-core designs, while the Tensor G6, codenamed Malibu, reportedly settles for seven.

A missing core looks like a shortfall on a spec sheet, but that misses the point.

The prime core is reportedly an ARM C1-Ultra running at 4.11 GHz, joined by four C1-Pro cores at 3.38 GHz and two more C1-Pro cores clocked down to 2.65 GHz.

To pull this off, Google leapfrogs a full ARM generation.

The GPU stirs the same nerves. The leaks point to a dated PowerVR architecture whose roots trace to 2021.

To a spec-sheet warrior, that reads like surrendering mobile gaming to Snapdragon. But judged by daily use, this looks like the right call for Google to make.

Sustained Speed Beats Peak Speed Every Time

Chasing peak numbers, peak FPS, peak Geekbench runs, and peak whatever comes next hurts the actual tech experience, and these metrics arguably deserve to be retired.

Efficiency and how a device holds up in real daily use matter more than headline figures, and Apple’s M-series chips remain the clearest example of why.

A phone built to chase peak figures gets hotter, hot phones throttle, and battery life degrades.

Google’s track record here hasn’t been great. Dropping a CPU core and stepping back from extreme graphics performance sounds like a sensible correction.

Tune a chip for sustained output instead, and it finally holds up through a long ride in a hot car with Android Auto running. And while on the topic, the node choice matters too.

Reports have the Tensor G6 on TSMC’s N2 (2nm) node, which means more transistor density. There are two paths a manufacturer can take with that headroom.

Crank up clocks for higher benchmark scores and keep battery life flat, or keep performance level and stretch how long it lasts.

Google appears to be choosing the latter, which arguably matters far more than marginally better gaming performance.

The Tensor G6’s Best Upgrade Isn’t the One You’d Expect

The star silicon in the Pixel 11 is its modem. Connectivity has been the Pixel line’s fatal flaw.

Leaning on Samsung Exynos modems led to weak-signal battery drain and unreliable hotspot behavior.

The Tensor G6 finally ditches Samsung for a MediaTek modem.

A phone modem is always working. It scans for towers and satellite signals. An inefficient one bleeds the battery even when the screen is off.

Moving to the M90 should end the idle drain that has irritated Pixel owners for years.

8GB of RAM Could Undercut Everything Tensor G6 Gets Right

Google still needs enough silicon muscle to run the features that sell Pixels.

Leaks point to a new TPU codenamed Santafe built for on-device AI, alongside a fresh image signal processor called Metis.

The C1 cores come with SME2 extensions baked in to handle AI inference at lower power. But the chip also has to feed data from the 50-megapixel primary sensor without hiccups.

All of that work eats memory, and this is where the leaks start to raise concerns. The base Pixel 11 reportedly ships with only 8GB of RAM.

Running on-device Gemini models alongside heavy computational photography on 8GB of RAM looks like a stretch.

Never mind Gemini Intelligence, which Google says needs at least 12GB. All the Tensor G6’s efficiency gains could be undermined by constant app reloads and stuttering background tasks.

Google Chose Restraint While Competitors Are Chasing Excess

Phones have long been graded on core counts and benchmark numbers. The G6 leaks suggest Google is done playing to that scorecard, and for the chip itself, that looks like the right call.

But efficiency has a ceiling, and silicon-carbon batteries are where a rival gets to ask, “Why not both?”

Somewhere in Shenzhen, a OnePlus engineer is reportedly fitting a 7,300mAh silicon-carbon battery into a phone thinner than a Pixel.

Whether Apple, Samsung, and Google eventually follow suit remains to be seen.

Google Confirms Pixel Price Adjustments

Barkat explained that, like other consumer tech companies, Google is facing an unprecedented surge in component costs, saying there’s never been a memory price increase quite like the current one. According to the executive, Google has “shielded” its customers from “supply fluctuations for as long as possible,” but the “economics have fundamentally shifted.”

As a result, the entire Pixel lineup will see “price adjustments” that will reportedly “be rolled out dynamically to match supply realities.” That includes the upcoming Pixel 11 series, but also existing devices like the Pixel 10a. Barkat didn’t specify exactly how much more expensive the phones will get, though he confirmed that Google will continue offering promotions and trade-in deals to help offset the increase.

What Leaks Suggest About Pixel 11 Pricing

Recent leaks indicate the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold will each cost $100 more than their predecessors. The standard Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are said to be dropping their 128GB storage tier entirely, effectively raising their base price by $100 as well, though the 256GB configuration is expected to stay at the same price as last year when compared directly.

Adding to the changes, the Pixel 11 Pro is rumored to ship with just 12GB of RAM, down from 16GB in its predecessor. If accurate, that would mark another way for Google to help manage rising costs without pushing prices even higher.

Source: 9to5google

Liquid Glass Interface Leak Details

Screenshots reportedly pulled from internal Xiaomi 18-series prototypes running an early Android 17-based build of HyperOS 4 reveal a “Liquid Glass”-style design language built around translucent interface elements, softer blur effects, and a generally refreshed appearance. Other changes spotted in the leak include redesigned 2.5D app icons, thicker status bar icons, a shortened gesture navigation bar, and a handful of smaller interface tweaks aimed at giving the software a more modern feel overall.

New Wallpapers Reinforce the Redesign

Newly leaked wallpapers add further support to the redesign, showcasing abstract layered graphics with translucent ribbons, smooth gradients, and depth effects that align with the updated visual direction. These wallpapers are paired with revised lock screen layouts featuring bold typography, further reinforcing Xiaomi’s apparent push toward a cleaner, more premium aesthetic across HyperOS 4.

Xiaomi has not yet made any official announcement confirming these features, and specific visual elements could still change before launch. Even so, both the interface and wallpaper leaks point to a substantial redesign rather than a routine visual refresh for the Xiaomi 18 series.

What’s Included in Firmware 6.2.104.6

The rollout covers firmware version 6.2.104.6, now reaching three devices: the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra, the Amazfit Balance 3, and the Amazfit Balance Ultra. Among the additions are a new map orientation mode and automatic dive detection. Detecting diving sessions is relatively straightforward for smartwatches equipped with a pressure sensor, since underwater pressure changes rapidly within seconds while horizontal movement stays minimal, making it easy for the sensor to distinguish diving from other activities.

Bluetooth Speaker Mode and Other Additions

The update also lets these smartwatches function as Bluetooth speakers. The practical value of this feature may be limited for everyday use, since built-in speakers on models like the previously tested Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro deliver reasonable clarity but not much volume. Even so, it’s a welcome bonus feature for users who want it.

Software Optimizations and UI Changes

Beyond the new hardware-facing features, the changelog also details several software improvements. The algorithm used to calculate lactate threshold has been refined, giving runners a more accurate metric to base their training around. The update rounds out with three user interface enhancements, including a redesigned visual layout that appears when reaching a destination during map navigation.

A Confusing Label, But a Real Platform Jump

The HyperOS 3 branding is the same one Xiaomi already used for its Android 16 rollout, which makes the naming a bit misleading. Underneath, though, this is a genuine jump to Android 17, and it puts the Xiaomi 17 lineup among the first phone families anywhere to reach stable status on the new platform this year. Google wrapped up its own stable Android 17 rollout across the Pixel lineup back in mid-June, pushing it all the way down to the older Pixel 6, while most other Android manufacturers are still stuck in beta testing months into the release cycle.

Rollout Details and Affected Devices

A reader based in India reported receiving the update on their Xiaomi 17, arriving as firmware version 3.0.331.0.XPCINXM.C10 with a security patch dated June 5. The rollout doesn’t appear limited to India either, with reports suggesting it’s also reaching Xiaomi 17 series devices in Europe and other regions.

The larger Xiaomi 17 Ultra is receiving the same build, keeping Xiaomi’s two current flagship phones on matching software versions. The Xiaomi 17T Pro has also been included in this wave, which is notable since mid-cycle T-series phones typically fall behind the numbered flagship line when it comes to major platform updates.

Update Rollout Inconsistencies

The standard Xiaomi 17T, on the other hand, hasn’t yet been confirmed as receiving Android 17, creating a clear gap in update timing within the same device family. Adding to the confusion, the update reportedly appeared to one recipient as a routine security patch rather than a full platform upgrade. That description didn’t quite match reality, though, given a download size of 7.2GB, well beyond what a typical monthly patch would require and more in line with a complete OS overhaul. Owners of the Xiaomi 17, 17 Ultra, and 17T Pro who get prompted to install what looks like a routine security update are advised to check the release notes carefully before assuming it’s a minor patch.

The details come from WinFuture, starting with the Galaxy Watch 9, which is expected to be the more affordable of the two. Here’s what the leak reveals about both models.

Galaxy Watch 9 Specs Point to Two Sizes and an LTE Option

The Galaxy Watch 9 is expected to launch in 40mm and 44mm sizes. The smaller model will reportedly feature a 1.3-inch display with a 438 x 438 resolution, while the larger version steps up to a 1.5-inch panel at 480 x 480. Both models are said to keep the familiar round design.

Power will reportedly come from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite (SW6100) chip, paired with 2GB of RAM. The source also points to a 32GB storage configuration, with the watch’s frame constructed from aluminum.

The device is expected to carry a 5ATM water resistance rating. Battery capacity reportedly differs by size, with the 40mm model getting a 325mAh cell and the 44mm version stepping up to 445mAh. Connectivity is said to include Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, and an optional LTE variant.

Wear OS 7 is expected to ship out of the box alongside One UI 9. Pricing for the Galaxy Watch 9 is reportedly set to start at “at least” €409 to €439.

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Adds a Larger Battery and Higher Price Tag

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to arrive in a single 47mm size, featuring the same 1.5-inch, 480 x 480 display as the larger Watch 9 model, but built with a titanium frame instead of aluminum. It’s also rumored to carry a higher 10ATM water resistance rating.

The same Snapdragon Wear Elite (SW6100) chip is expected to power this model, again paired with 2GB of RAM, though storage reportedly increases to 64GB.

Battery capacity is said to jump significantly to 800mAh, notably larger than anything offered on the standard Galaxy Watch 9. Connectivity specs are expected to match the smaller watch, including Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, and LTE.

Like the Galaxy Watch 9, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to launch with Wear OS 7 and One UI 9. Pricing in Europe is reportedly set at €749.

The Watch 6 succeeds the Honor Watch 5, which launched in 2024, and carries forward a Racing Dashboard-inspired appearance. Honor built the case from aluminum alloy, keeping the weight down to 41 grams while giving it a titanium-like texture on the surface.

Display and Battery Specs

On the specifications side, the Honor Watch 6 features a 1.46-inch AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, 322 PPI pixel density, and peak brightness reaching up to 3000 nits. It also supports dual-band L1+L5 satellite positioning and packs a 980mAh battery rated for up to 35 days of use on a single charge.

GPS and Fitness Tracking

For runners and outdoor athletes, the watch includes AccuTrack dual-band six-star GPS, which powers an AI running buddy feature alongside metrics like climb and distance tracking and route deviation alerts. These tools are aimed at giving athletes more precise route and pace feedback during training.

Health Monitoring Features

On the health front, the Watch 6 offers all-day heart-rate monitoring along with tracking for blood oxygen (SpO2), stress levels, body energy, and sleep cycles. A Quick Health Scan feature lets users pull up a detailed snapshot of their health data whenever needed.

The watch also introduces a Video Watch Face option, letting users set short videos or live photos under 10 seconds as animated watch face backgrounds.

Pricing and Availability

The Honor Watch 6 carries an original price of $249.99, but Honor is offering it for $169.99 during the first-month launch sale, along with exclusive freebies for early buyers.

Reddit Reports Detail the Defect

A Reddit user named HKNworld posted photos showing their Galaxy Watch 4 developing a thin vertical green (or white) line running down the right side of the display. A second image revealed an even more severe defect, including a dead pixel. According to the user, the line appeared shortly after installing the One UI 8 Watch update, or possibly a follow-up security patch.

The Galaxy Watch 4 doesn’t seem to be the only device affected. A separate Reddit post from about a week earlier showed a Galaxy Fit 3, reportedly under two years old, developing a comparable vertical green line. It’s still too early to gauge how widespread the issue is, but multiple reports suggest it isn’t confined to a single wearable model.

A Familiar Problem for Samsung’s AMOLED Panels

The pattern echoes the green and pink line issues that have affected many Galaxy phones following major One UI updates. Those defects are frequently linked to thermal stress placed on AMOLED panels during the update process.

The Galaxy Watch 4 launched back in 2021, meaning most units are now well outside their warranty window. While the issue doesn’t appear to be a widespread epidemic on watches yet, its appearance on an older model like the Watch 4, which previously dealt with the notorious Red Screen of Death, is still notable.

What Affected Owners Can Do

Most owners dealing with this defect will likely need to pay out of pocket for a repair, since Samsung may be hesitant to offer free fixes broadly and set a precedent. The situation adds to a string of ongoing AMOLED-related headaches across Samsung’s device lineup.

For Galaxy Watch 4 owners facing this issue, the choice may come down to paying for a screen replacement or upgrading to a newer model, such as the Galaxy Watch 7 or Watch 8 series. Samsung has not issued any official statement addressing these watch reports so far. Anyone experiencing a similar problem should document it thoroughly before visiting an authorized service center.

For the Pixel 10 lineup, Android 17 addresses a number of display-related issues, including a white flickering dot that would appear near the top of the screen and various graphical glitches. There are also multiple camera-specific fixes in this build, aimed at improving stability and reducing unwanted memory leaks during use.

The full list of bug fixes and stability improvements for compatible Pixel phones has been published by Google.

What’s included

The June 2026 update includes bug fixes and improvements for Pixel users – see below for details

Apps

• Fix for a system issue that causes certain background processes to crash unexpectedly*[1]
• Fix for an issue where the Backup settings entry appears in search results but would not open when selected in certain conditions *[5]

Audio

• Fix for an issue that causes system instability and performance delays when using Bluetooth audio devices*[1]

Battery & Charging

• Fix for an issue that causes slow wireless charging speeds when the battery level is between 75% and 80% in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes wireless and wired charging drivers to fail to initialize correctly during device startup in certain conditions*[7]

Camera

• Fix for a camera stability issue that causes the system to crash in certain conditions*[7]
• Fix for an issue that causes the camera app to freeze when changing zoom levels while recording video*[5]
• Fix for an issue that causes the camera service to occasionally crash, affecting overall system stability*[1]

Display & Graphics

• Fix for an issue that causes a white flickering dot to appear at the top of the screen in certain conditions*[5]
• Fix for an issue that causes display or graphical errors on certain device models during standard operation*[5]
• Fix for an issue that causes the device to freeze and become unresponsive when connecting to an external display in certain conditions*[3]

Face Unlock

• Fix for an issue that could cause the device to hang or crash when attempting to use face unlock in certain conditions*[1]

Framework

• Fix for a camera stability issue that could cause the app to crash unexpectedly during use in certain conditions*[5]
• Fix for an issue that causes location services to crash and restart unexpectedly in certain conditions*[7]
• Fix for an issue that causes system memory leaks and performance issues, which could lead to devices becoming unresponsive or crashing*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes the keyboard area to become unresponsive and display incorrectly after unlocking the device*[1]
• Fix for an issue that could cause a system crash when rotating the screen in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue where the text input box in a notification bubble could unexpectedly disappear after rotating the device*[1]
• Fix to improve battery life and performance in certain conditions*[1]

Location & GPS

• Fix for an issue that affects GPS location accuracy and measurement reliability during voice calls on certain network configurations*[5]

System

• Fix for a stability issue that could cause the device to unexpectedly restart during normal operation*[7]
• Fix for an issue that causes system applications to crash during the device boot process in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes the device to crash or display a black screen in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue that prevented apps from correctly managing SIM card subscriptions and carrier settings in certain conditions*[1]

Telephony

• Fix for an issue that prevents certain devices from connecting to mobile networks or causes unexpected service interruptions in certain conditions*[1]
• General improvements for network connection stability and performance in certain conditions*[1]

Touch

• Fix for an issue that causes vibrations to stop working in certain conditions*[2]

User Interface

• Fix for a crash in the home screen launcher under certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes a system crash when a scrolling screenshot was cancelled immediately after being started in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes the launcher to crash when using AI icons in certain conditions*[4]
• Fix for an issue that causes the Pixel Launcher to crash during certain system operations*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes the status bar and quick settings to occasionally disappear or become inaccessible in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue that causes the system user interface to crash under certain conditions involving notifications and the lock screen*[1]
• Fix for an issue where an external display connection causes the home screen to crash in certain conditions*[5]
• Fix for an issue where media controls could become invisible on the lock screen when multiple media apps were active*[1]
• Fix for an issue where the notification footer could become stuck over the notification shade or appear cut off on the lock screen in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue where the screen could freeze and prevent users from returning to the home screen or switching apps in certain conditions*[1]
• Fix for an issue where the taskbar could not be dismissed during certain user interactions*[6]

Since Google has only just begun rolling out Android 17 to Pixel devices, it’s worth keeping in mind that the update could take some time to reach individual phones.

Wear OS 7 improves the Gemini gesture on Pixel Watch

Compared to what Android 17 brings to Pixel phones, the Wear OS 7 update for Pixel Watch is relatively light on new features — most of the bigger additions aren’t expected until later this year. That said, similar to Android 17, Wear OS 7 focuses heavily on underlying bug fixes and usability refinements.

Among the changes is a new gesture model for Raise to Talk, designed to trigger Gemini more consistently than before. Another notable update is a redesigned three-button layout in the Contacts app for Wear OS. Google has also incorporated more Material 3 design elements into the Contacts app, including a larger contact photo, aimed at improving overall usability.

What’s Included

• Improvements to Raise to Talk with Gemini
  • Improved gesture model for more robust and accurate Raise to Talk activation.
• Remote Media Routing
  • Remote Media Routing lets users manage audio and video output devices from their paired Android phone using their Wear OS watch. This integration streamlines the multidevice experience, allowing for quick switching between outputs, such as Google Cast devices, Bluetooth headphones, and other smart displays and speakers directly from the wrist. With this feature, users no longer need to access their phone to change media playback destinations.
• Wear Contacts changes
  • Three-button layout in Messages
    • Updating to include keyboard and voice search methods on the contact list screen to prevent the need to go to the “Recent Contacts” page on tapping search.
  • Layout changes
    • Changes aim to further utilize Material3 elements in brand new layouts to display the contact List and Card in a fresh new way. This includes the addition of quick action buttons and a larger contact photo within the contact card, and a brand new layout for favorite contacts on the contact list.
• Loss of Pulse, Car Crash, and Fall Detection —now integrated with Emergency Sharing(1)
  • Automatically notify your emergency contacts when a hard fall, loss of pulse, or severe car crash is detected on your Pixel Phone or Watch.

These improvements are rolling out as part of the Wear OS 7 update for the Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Watch 4.

What Google actually showed

Google made it official today: the next Pixel is the Pixel 11, and the Store page has leaned fully into gold to match. The tagline keeps things minimal – “The next generation. Google Pixel 11. August 12.”

The invite also teases Gemini Intelligence for the reveal, though Google isn’t yet specifying how it factors in.

The teaser video also offers the first real look at Pixel Glow. Rather than a light strip wrapping around the camera bar, as many had speculated, Google placed it in the same spot as the flashlight, cycling through colors in a pattern reminiscent of a loading spinner.

Does this settle anything for Galaxy or iPhone owners?

This marks the first time Google has shown Glow outside of code references and leaked renders, and it resolves a question that’s been circulating since a Pixel 11 Pro Fold render leaked two days ago: whether Glow was housed in the flash unit. That’s now confirmed.

Google also appears to be tying the feature into Digital Wellbeing, with the teaser showing a glance at a face-down phone without actually unlocking it.

For anyone satisfied with a Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max, this reveal isn’t likely to change anything. Neither competing device has anything comparable, aside from Nothing’s Glyph interface.

Glow reads more as a personality-driven addition here than a spec Google needed in order to compete.

What’s confirmed and what’s still a guess

The gold color and Glow’s general placement are now confirmed based on this teaser. However, the eight-color, per-contact behavior described in earlier leaks remains unconfirmed until the August 12 event.

For anyone interested in Google’s pre-order promotion, here’s what to know:

• Sign up for marketing emails between July 15 (10 AM PT) and August 7 (11:59 PM PT)
• The promo code arrives by email on August 11 and expires August 27 at 11:59 PM PT
• Must be a US resident, 18 or older, redeemed on the Google Store, limited to one per customer

Take on the gold reveal

Google didn’t reveal a great deal today, and that appears to be the intent. Confirming the name, the color, and roughly where Glow lives is enough to sustain interest for a month without giving away everything ahead of August 12.

It would be reassuring to see Google get the fundamentals right before getting too invested in a light show on the back of the phone. That said, there’s hope that Glow ends up being more than a gimmick — a Pixel with a bit more personality would be a welcome shift.

The Pixel Watch 5 renders show the watch coming in both 41mm and 45mm case sizes, with color options listed as Pyrite, Warm Gold, Dark Anthracite, and Natural Silver. Those names are almost certainly not final, though. Google routinely sends placeholder color names to distributors and importers that don’t line up with the eventual retail names.

A good example of this showed up in yesterday’s Pixel 11 leak, where the black colorway across listings was referred to as both Obsidian and Midnight. Google has stuck with Obsidian as the official name for years now, and there’s no reason to expect that to change with this generation.

Based on the evidence so far, the Pixel Watch 5’s case colors will likely just mirror last year’s Pixel Watch 4 lineup: Matte Black, Polished Silver, and Champagne Gold. The fourth color remains unconfirmed, but “Pyrite” seems unlikely to be the real name.

Setting color naming aside, the Pixel Watch 5 design closely mirrors the Pixel Watch 4. The crown and single side button sit in the same positions, the glass retains its domed shape, and the case remains fully round. In the renders, the watches are shown paired with the Active Band in Olive, Canyon, Obsidian, and Fog — the same four colors expected for the Pixel 11 Pro.

This follows recently shared FCC listings for the Pixel Watch 5, which revealed four separate model numbers, each supporting both LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity. Satellite support is also expected to be included this generation.

On pricing, rumors currently point to $399 and $429 for the 41mm and 45mm Wi-Fi models respectively, with LTE variants expected to climb to $499 and $529.

Beyond the under-the-hood changes, HyperOS 4.0, built on Android 17, is expected to bring a wave of visual upgrades, an interactive lock screen island, deeper contextual AI productivity tools, and stronger privacy and security features. There’s a fair amount to look forward to here.

For anyone wondering when the update will actually land on their Xiaomi phone, this rundown covers eligible devices, the expected release timeline, and what’s coming with HyperOS 4.

Xiaomi HyperOS 4 update: List of supported devices

Note: Xiaomi hasn’t published an official list of HyperOS 4-supported devices yet. The list below is compiled based on the company’s existing software update policy, so it should be largely accurate, though not officially confirmed.

Xiaomi devices
Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Xiaomi 17T, Xiaomi 17T Pro, Xiaomi 15, Xiaomi 15 Pro, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Xiaomi 15T, Xiaomi 15T Pro, Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 14 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 14T, Xiaomi 14T Pro, Xiaomi 14 Civi, Xiaomi 13T, Xiaomi 13T Pro, Xiaomi Mix Flip

Redmi devices
Redmi Note 15, Redmi Note 15 4G, Redmi Note 15 Pro, Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G, Redmi Note 15 Pro+, Redmi Note 15 Special, Redmi Note 14 4G, Redmi Note 14 Pro, Redmi Note 14 Pro+, Redmi Note 14S, Redmi Turbo 5, Redmi 15, Redmi 15 4G, Redmi 15C, Redmi 15C 4G, Redmi 15A, Redmi A7, Redmi A7 Pro, Redmi A7 Pro 4G, Redmi A5, Redmi Pad 2, Redmi Pad 2 Pro, Redmi Pad 2 9.7

POCO devices
POCO F8 Pro, POCO F8 Ultra, POCO F7, POCO F7 Pro, POCO F7 Ultra, POCO F6, POCO F6 Pro, POCO X8 Pro, POCO X8 Pro Max, POCO X7, POCO X7 Pro, POCO X6 Pro, POCO M8, POCO M8s, POCO M8 Pro, POCO M7 4G, POCO M7 Plus, POCO C85, POCO C85 4G, POCO C85x, POCO C81, POCO C81 Pro, POCO C81x, POCO C71, POCO Pad X1, POCO Pad M1, POCO Pad C1

If a device appears on this list, it’s very likely to receive the HyperOS 4 update.

It’s worth noting that Xiaomi hasn’t announced update policies for a number of devices, particularly entry-level and budget models, which makes it harder to confirm whether they’ll get Android 17. To keep this list as reliable as possible, devices with uncertain update status were left off.

Xiaomi HyperOS 4 release date

An exact date hasn’t been announced, but Xiaomi has officially confirmed that HyperOS 4 will be unveiled in July or August. This timing most likely refers to the China launch, with a global announcement following a few weeks later.

As with previous HyperOS releases, a beta program will run before the stable rollout reaches the public. Leaker Digital Chat Station has revealed which phones will be part of the first HyperOS 4 beta wave in China: Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Xiaomi 17 Max, Redmi K90, Redmi K90 Pro Max, and Redmi K90 Pro Max Champion Edition.

Last year, HyperOS 3 was unveiled in China in August, with the global launch following in September. If Xiaomi follows the same pattern this year, the global rollout for HyperOS 4 would likely begin around October 2026.

What to expect from HyperOS 4

While the official launch is still weeks away, several leaks have already painted a picture of what’s coming. Reports suggest Xiaomi is heavily focused on a “Zero-Legacy” framework built specifically for Android 17, under which the company is aggressively stripping out old legacy code and SDKs to cut down on system bloat.

Xiaomi is reportedly rewriting core system applications and frameworks using Rust and Flutter, aiming to improve memory safety, background task optimization, and UI consistency across devices. This should translate into lower RAM usage, faster boot times, and fewer animation stutters.

Xiaomi previously gave a glimpse of its liquid-glass design language in HyperOS 3, and that aesthetic is expected to go deeper in HyperOS 4 — fluid visuals, glossy overlays, frosted-glass transparency effects, and more advanced bounce animations are all reportedly part of the plan. One leak suggests Xiaomi could also expand its Leica partnership to bring a Leica-inspired color palette into HyperOS 4.

Several leakers have also pointed to a possible privacy screen feature that narrows viewing angles, similar in concept to Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26. The key difference is implementation: Samsung’s version relies on hardware, while Xiaomi is reportedly trying to achieve a similar effect through software alone — which will make for an interesting comparison once both are available.

On top of that, HyperOS 4 is expected to bring smarter cross-device multitasking, more refined background task management, and deeper contextual AI tools built for everyday workflows.

Alongside these features — and likely several others yet to surface — the next major Xiaomi software upgrade will also incorporate a range of improvements originating from Google’s own development work on Android 17. It’s shaping up to be a substantial update package, and there’s plenty of anticipation building around what it will actually look like once it lands.

The details come from tipster FixedFocus, who reports that the Huawei Watch GT 7 series will be offered in two variants – Pro and Standard – with 46mm and 41mm case sizes.

It appears Huawei may follow the same sizing structure it used for the Watch GT 6 series, offering a 41mm option exclusively for the standard model while reserving the 46mm size for the Watch GT 7 Pro.

On the color front, the Watch GT 7 Pro is tipped to come in three new shades: Black, Green, and Yellow. The standard model, meanwhile, could be available in up to four different colorways depending on size:

• Watch GT 7 Pro: Black, Green, Yellow
• Watch GT 7 46mm: Black, Brown, Yellow, Blue
• Watch GT 7 41mm: White, Gray, Pink, Blue

Compared to the previous generation, the Watch GT 7 series appears to be moving toward softer, more refined colorways – though the overall selection may be slightly narrower than before.

The tipster hasn’t shared any details regarding specs or additional features for the new Watch GT 7 lineup, but did hint at a possible launch window around the end of July.

Earlier reports had suggested the new Watch GT series might debut in August, potentially alongside the Mate 90 series and other smartwatches. However, it now looks like Huawei could be moving up the launch timeline. None of this has been officially confirmed by the company, so the schedule could still shift.

The 1.3-inch AMOLED display is bright and vibrant, keeping notifications, workout stats, and navigation easy to read across most lighting conditions. That’s paired with integrated GPS, Bluetooth connectivity, and battery life built to comfortably carry through a full day of mixed use. An Energy Score metric combines sleep quality, heart rate trends, and daily activity into a single wellness snapshot, while Advanced Sleep Coaching and Bedtime Guidance help users build better sleep habits over time. Blood pressure monitoring and ECG support add further health data for compatible users. More specs are covered below, and additional smartwatch deals can be found further down the page.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025)

Advanced health and sleep tracking features. A lighter, more snug design for all day comfort. Improved user interface. Personal AI assistant for hands free help.

$349.99$289.99Amazon

What stands out about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, Bluetooth)

A slimmer, lighter redesign

Samsung refined the Galaxy Watch 8 with a noticeably thinner profile and a new Cushion Design that rests more comfortably against the wrist over long wear periods. The lighter build improves everyday comfort without sacrificing the premium fit and finish expected from Samsung’s flagship smartwatch line.

Advanced AI-powered health features

Health tracking remains one of the Galaxy Watch 8’s strongest areas. On top of continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and activity tracking, the watch adds improved Sleep Coaching, Bedtime Guidance, an Energy Score powered by Galaxy AI, blood pressure monitoring, and personalized wellness insights that help users better understand their daily health trends.

Improved running and fitness coaching

The updated Running Coach evaluates pace, endurance, and overall performance, then delivers real-time guidance during workouts. Whether training for a first 5K or a full marathon, the watch can generate structured training plans and adjust coaching based on current fitness level.

A smarter Wear OS experience

Running Wear OS powered by Samsung, the Galaxy Watch 8 benefits from a cleaner, easier-to-navigate interface alongside deeper AI integration. The built-in assistant can help manage reminders, schedules, messages, and daily tasks directly from the wrist, cutting down on how often a phone needs to come out.

Who is this Galaxy Watch 8 deal suitable for?

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (2025)

Advanced health and sleep tracking features. A lighter, more snug design for all day comfort. Improved user interface. Personal AI assistant for hands free help.

$349.99$289.99Amazon

The Galaxy Watch 8 is a strong pick for Android users after a premium smartwatch with thorough health tracking, fitness coaching, and tight smartphone integration. Samsung Galaxy phone owners will get the deepest level of feature integration, though the watch also remains compatible with a wide range of other Android devices running recent OS versions.

The Watch GT 6 already comes packed with sports tracking capabilities, but HarmonyOS 6.1 pushes that further. Rather than just adding new tools, the update also refines several existing features to make them more practical for everyday training.

According to official details, the Watch GT 6 series is gaining a running potential monitoring feature that lets users measure the power output they generate while running.

This new running power measurement tool is designed to help runners control their pace more precisely and adjust their performance accordingly. It presents multi-dimensional data in a way that’s easier to interpret, making it simpler to fine-tune training routines based on real feedback.

The feature tracks energy expenditure whether the wearer is sprinting or covering long distances, with the goal of making running both healthier and more sustainable over time. It also displays the daily breakdown of aerobic versus anaerobic exercise, helping users balance their training structure through a more periodic, planned approach.

Beyond running power, the update introduces training status monitoring with an optimal load range to help manage exercise intensity, along with performance prediction paired with a detailed training plan tailored to the user’s data.

“#HuaweiWatchGT# 6 series HarmonyOS 6.1 sports experience has been upgraded! New running power monitoring to accurately control the rhythm. Comprehensive insight into multi-dimensional data to help you adjust scientifically, train efficiently, and enjoy the fun of sports.”

Huawei is currently rolling out HarmonyOS 6.1 for the Watch GT 6 in China. Users can install the update manually by opening the Huawei Health App, then navigating to Device > General Settings > Firmware Update > Check for Updates.

“At a Glance” on your watch face

Pixel phones — specifically the Pixel Launcher — have long included a persistent home screen widget called “At a Glance.” It dynamically updates to show relevant information like upcoming calendar events, flight details, sports scores, and travel times, defaulting to weather when nothing else is pending.

A scaled-down version of that same widget is available as a watch face complication on the Pixel Watch. It used to be limited to the extra-wide complication slot, but it can now be placed anywhere on the face. On the watch, it primarily shows time until the next calendar event, reminders for when to leave, flight information, and weather. It’s added the same way as any other complication — just select “At a Glance” from the complication picker when customizing a watch face.

Use Gemini without wake commands or buttons

There are several ways to launch Gemini on a Wear OS smartwatch. Every device supports activation through “OK Google” or by mapping it to a hardware button shortcut. The Pixel Watch 4 adds a third option: “Raise to Talk.”

The feature works exactly as described — instead of pressing a button or saying a wake phrase, raising the Pixel Watch 4 toward the face and speaking immediately activates Gemini. A blue glow appears at the bottom of the screen once it’s ready to listen.

To turn it on, go to Settings > Gestures > Raise to Talk, then toggle it on. Sensitivity for both the raise gesture and voice detection can be adjusted from the same menu, and the visual indicator can be disabled entirely if preferred.

Google Wallet Express Pay

On a phone, tapping to pay is as simple as unlocking the screen — there’s no need to manually open Google Wallet first. That convenience hadn’t historically extended to Wear OS devices, which required manually launching Google Wallet before tapping the payment terminal.

Earlier this year, the Pixel Watch closed that gap with a feature called Express Pay. Once enabled, tap-to-pay works without opening Google Wallet at all — the watch screen just needs to be unlocked, which only has to happen once each time it’s put back on the wrist.

Express Pay is enabled through the Pixel Watch app on the paired phone. Go to Google > Google Wallet > select the default card > Express Pay, then toggle it on and choose “Tap to pay and transit.”

Full remote camera control

Most Wear OS devices offer some level of remote camera control from the wrist. On a Galaxy Watch paired with a Galaxy phone, that means switching between photo and video mode, toggling the timer, and using the bezel to zoom — and that’s about the extent of it.

A Pixel Watch paired with a Pixel phone, by contrast, gets close to full camera control. Beyond switching between photo and video, users can swap between the front and rear cameras, adjust zoom, set timer length, and select shooting modes including Night Sight, portrait, slow motion, time lapse, and even cinematic blur for video. Most of these controls live in on-screen buttons, with the front/rear camera swap handled by double-tapping the screen.

Take advantage of your perks

“Exclusive” features weren’t always part of the Android smartwatch experience. There was a time when every device ran the same interface with the same basic feature set, back when the platform was still called Android Wear. That changed when Samsung adopted Wear OS in 2021, which pushed the platform toward the same manufacturer-specific differentiation seen on Android phones — distinct UIs and features included. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on perspective, but Pixel Watch owners specifically have real advantages worth using.

Weibo leaker SuperDimensional reported that the Huawei Nova 17 Air, also referred to as the Nova Air, is currently in development and likely to launch sometime around November or December. The new Airy phone could take over the role previously held by the flagship Mate lineup this year, arriving with a set of notable spec upgrades.

Huawei already kicked off its 2026 Nova lineup with the Nova 16, launched earlier this month. The company is reportedly now working on the follow-up series — the Nova 17.

Should Huawei stick to last year’s release pattern, the Nova 17 series could arrive as soon as December. It remains unclear, however, whether the Air variant will launch as part of that same series, get its own dedicated event, or arrive with a quieter, unannounced debut.

The Nova 17 Air is expected to lean into a compact form factor, potentially positioning itself as Huawei’s widest non-folding phone to date, paired with a relatively small 6.39-inch OLED display.

According to the leak, the camera setup includes a 50MP triple rear array with a multispectral sensor. Additional specifications are expected to surface as more details emerge.

Huawei introduced its first Air-branded device last year with the Mate 70 Air — a 6.6mm-thin phone that stood out for packing the largest battery capacity among ultra-thin smartphones at the time. Rather than mirroring Apple’s approach to slim phone design, Huawei opted for its own distinct camera layout.

It appears the company may be taking a different design direction for this next-generation Air device as well. More details on the ultra-slim Nova handset are expected to continue surfacing in the coming weeks.

Typically, when a company like Qualcomm releases a new chipset, some level of improvement over the previous generation is expected. But the latest Geekbench benchmark for the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 suggests that very little has actually changed — which is somewhat concerning.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 Geekbench benchmark reveals almost no changes

A listing on the Geekbench benchmark website shows an unidentified Honor device running the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, posting a single-core score of 1,095 and a multi-core score of 3,355.

On their own, those numbers don’t say much. But compared against the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 running in the Honor Magic 8 Lite — which scored 1,112 on single-core and 3,124 on multi-core — the picture becomes clearer. The Gen 4 actually outperformed the Gen 5 in single-core testing. The Gen 5 did edge ahead on multi-core, but even that gain looks marginal at best.

As for the device behind these numbers, speculation points to the Honor X80 Pro Max, which recently launched in China with a massive 11,000mAh battery. More real-world testing will be needed to confirm whether these benchmark figures hold up.

What does this mean for users?

It’s worth keeping in mind that benchmarks rarely tell the full story. Further software tweaks and updates could still improve the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5’s performance over time.

It’s also common for newer chipset generations to prioritize things beyond raw CPU power — improved graphics, better AI handling, and greater efficiency are all typical areas of focus. A modest jump in raw performance numbers doesn’t necessarily mean the chip isn’t better in practice; it could translate into meaningfully longer battery life instead.

That said, this is speculative. Based purely on the current numbers, there’s little here to get excited about. For anyone shopping for a mid-range phone, it might be worth holding off. Once the Gen 5 officially rolls out, prices on Gen 4 devices tend to drop. Given how marginal the performance difference appears to be right now, picking up a phone with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 at a lower price could end up being the smarter buy.

Alongside the specific bug fixes Google detailed for this build, the update introduces a handful of new features as well. Development on Android 17 continues past its initial release, and in the meantime, Samsung is still working through Beta testing for its own One UI 9 build.

The new features in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 include distance and calorie tracking through Health Connect, a new Settings icon design that first appeared on the Pixel Watch, and a redesigned wallpaper picker.

New features

• Health Connect on phones can now track distance and calories
• New Settings icon
  • This design was first introduced on the Pixel Watch
  • It appears when the icon is moved around on the home screen
• Redesign for the wallpaper picker

On Samsung’s side, One UI 9 Beta, built on Android 17, launched back in May 2026. The company has since rolled out three Beta updates, with a fourth expected shortly. The stable version of One UI 9 is set to launch alongside Samsung’s upcoming foldable phones later this month.

Bug fixes

• Users were unable to select multiple spell checker languages. (Issue #147312111)
• Pressing the device volume buttons within the Clock app failed to trigger the expected user interface actions. (Issue #527400457, Issue #527395501, Issue #524895625)
• Rapidly swiping through the media carousel caused visual glitches in the Quick Settings layout and settings icon by improving animation and layout state handling during rapid transitions. (Issue #514947195)
• An issue in WindowManagerGlobal that resulted in app crashes. (Issue #516639947)
• Enabling the Wi-Fi hotspot displayed a generic default SSID instead of the user’s saved custom name. (Issue #485168823)

Refined Design with Subtle Enhancements

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 builds on its predecessor’s foundation with a series of understated but meaningful design updates aimed at modernizing the watch’s look without compromising functionality. Key changes include:

• A circular OLED display housed in a square-shaped case, now featuring slimmer bezels for a more contemporary and immersive appearance.
• A redesigned bezel with 1-to-12-hour markings, giving the watch a sportier, more premium feel.
• An updated silicone strap with a cleaner, more elegant look suited to both casual wear and professional settings.
• A reshaped side button, now boxier with an orange outline, improving both visual appeal and usability.

Together, these refinements point to Samsung‘s continued effort to balance style with practicality, aiming for broad appeal across different types of users.

Advanced Hardware for Active Lifestyles

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is built with hardware suited to fitness-focused and active users, pairing durable construction with capable internals. Key hardware highlights include:

• A 47mm case built from durable materials and protected by sapphire crystal for added resistance to scratches and impact.
• 10 ATM water resistance, suitable for swimming, diving, and other water-based activities.
• A Snapdragon Elite processor paired with 2GB of RAM for smooth, efficient performance.
• An 800mAh battery designed to support extended use throughout active days.

On the connectivity front, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is well equipped:

• GPS, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 6.0 for reliable communication and navigation.
• Ultra-wideband (UWB) and NB-IoT technologies for advanced connectivity and integration with other connected devices.
• Dual speaker vents, improving audio clarity for calls and media playback.

The watch also includes an expanded set of health sensors, enabling more comprehensive fitness and wellness tracking — a feature set clearly aimed at users who want detailed insight into their activity levels and overall health.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)

 Longest-lasting battery yet. Advanced health and sleep tracking features. Personalized Running Coach. Durable titanium casing. 10ATM Water Resistance. Dual-frequency GPS. Personal AI assistant for hands free help.

$649.99$449.99Amazon

Software Innovations for a Seamless Experience

Samsung has also made meaningful software changes on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, with a focus on usability, personalization, and everyday functionality. Notable updates include:

• A redesigned Samsung Health interface, with a more intuitive layout and cleaner visual design to simplify health tracking.
• An updated watch face selection screen, making customization more straightforward and accessible.

These software refinements go beyond surface-level polish — they reinforce the watch’s role as both a health-monitoring tool and a productivity companion, with a streamlined interface that keeps the experience functional without feeling cluttered.

Versatile Color Options

According to current rumors, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will be offered in three finishes: black, silver, and beige. These color choices are designed to work across a range of styles, from casual everyday wear to more formal settings — a small but practical consideration for a device meant to transition between a workout and a business meeting without feeling out of place.

Debate Over the Rotating Bezel and Classic Model

One of the more contentious elements surrounding the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the potential removal of the rotating bezel — a feature long appreciated for its tactile feedback and intuitive navigation. Reports also suggest Samsung may be discontinuing the classic model entirely, shifting its focus solely to the Ultra variant.

Reaction to these potential changes has been split. Some fans are disappointed at the possible loss of these long-standing design elements, while others see the streamlined approach as a welcome modernization. The disagreement reflects a broader tension in the smartwatch market between preserving familiar, well-liked features and pushing the design forward.

Launch Timing and Ecosystem Integration

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to launch in July 2026, timed to coincide with the release of several other Samsung flagship devices. This coordinated rollout reflects Samsung’s broader strategy of positioning its hardware as part of a connected ecosystem rather than standalone releases. Devices expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 include:

• Galaxy Watch 9
• Galaxy Z Flip 8
• Galaxy Z Fold 8
• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

By folding the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 into this wider release, Samsung is aiming to offer a more interconnected experience across its product lineup.

The leaked details surrounding the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 have already generated considerable discussion within the tech community. While some fans remain skeptical about losing the rotating bezel and the classic model, others are looking forward to the refined design and hardware and software improvements on offer. The level of interest speaks to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2’s position as a flagship product within Samsung’s wearable lineup, and its potential to influence direction across the broader smartwatch category.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)

 Longest-lasting battery yet. Advanced health and sleep tracking features. Personalized Running Coach. Durable titanium casing. 10ATM Water Resistance. Dual-frequency GPS. Personal AI assistant for hands free help.

$649.99$449.99Amazon

As the expected July 2026 launch approaches, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 continues to draw attention from fans and industry watchers alike — whether the interest is driven by its updated design, expanded feature set, or deeper ecosystem integration.

The reveal took place during the MWC 26 first-day event on June 24, where Honor laid out its vision for a next-generation, AI-driven operating system for its mobile devices, branded Agentic OS.

Fang Fei, President of Honor’s Product Line, explained that the features tied to this new operating system, along with its rollout milestones, will reach Honor device owners through MagicOS 11.

According to Fang, the new system is built around a distinct design framework anchored by four core capabilities: intent-driven operations, more realistic interactions, an AI-powered Agentic kernel paired with supporting components, and native cross-platform connectivity.

Some of these capabilities — particularly the enhanced interaction elements — may surface in the upcoming MagicOS release, though exact implementation details remain unclear at this stage.

Fang described Agentic OS as a system designed to connect with users on one side while interpreting real-world context, and simultaneously linking with cloud-based models on the other side to draw on additional computing power. The goal, according to Fang, is to strengthen the broader AI service ecosystem surrounding Honor’s devices.

Beyond that, an Agentic OS-powered device is positioned to function as its own cluster — combining computing power, sensors, interaction capabilities, and other advanced technical functions into a single cohesive unit rather than operating as a conventional standalone device.

The announcement follows Honor’s recent introduction of the ROBOT PHONE, a new form factor that signals the company’s broader ambitions. With Agentic OS, Honor appears to be pushing traditional operating system design toward a more human-centered model, built around three foundational pillars of AI: perception, planning, and action.

“These three core points of the AI agent will drive the entire industry to complete a full-dimensional reconstruction of product form, human-computer interaction logic, and system user experience, essentially making existing smart hardware a complete overhaul with AI technology.”

This isn’t the first time the watch has appeared publicly. The Pixel Watch 5 was previously spotted in what can only be described as genuinely unexpected circumstances. The latest leaks, however, are regulatory rather than physical, and suggest Google is moving closer to an official announcement.

Spotted by Droid Life, the Pixel Watch 5 has completed its standard FCC registration process, with the relevant specifications now posted on the committee’s website for carrier review.

The listings themselves don’t reveal much at first glance. Each device is classified as a “wireless device,” which is entirely standard for Google’s wearables. What stands out, however, is something that isn’t there: a Wi-Fi-only model.

Four models are registered – G25QD, G1XJ6, G0F3Y, and GFW3R – and all four are listed with both Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity.

That’s unusual. Pixel Watch lineups have typically included a Wi-Fi-only variant that comes in at a lower price point and lacks cellular network access. If these four models represent the complete Pixel Watch 5 lineup, it would suggest Google is dropping the more affordable option entirely.

It’s also possible the listings contain errors or are missing critical details. If all four models truly carry both Wi-Fi and LTE, having two pairs of essentially identical watches wouldn’t make much sense from a product strategy standpoint. A more logical interpretation is that Google might be preparing a second distinct model —- something along the lines of a “Pro” variant – offered in two size options. That would mirror what Samsung has done with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, carving out a premium tier within the same lineup.

Neither reading is confirmed, and the FCC page doesn’t resolve the ambiguity.

FCC documentation of this kind typically surfaces close to a product’s launch window. If Google follows the same release pattern as last year, an announcement for the new Pixel Watch series could come as early as August.

WhatsApp username reservations are now rolling out

Starting today, users will begin receiving an in-app notification when the reservation option becomes available to them. Once it does, the username can be claimed through Settings > Account > Username.

When usernames fully launch, WhatsApp users will be able to message new contacts and businesses, or join group chats, without having to share their phone number in the process. The company emphasizes that the feature is optional, but frames usernames as an added privacy layer – giving users more control over who gets to see their number.

WhatsApp is opening reservations early for a practical reason: with more than three billion users on the platform, demand for popular names is going to be high. The company recommends choosing a username that’s only shared with people users actually want to hear from.

Beyond personal accounts, WhatsApp has also set up a claims system for creators, small businesses, and organizations that want to maintain a consistent identity across platforms. This allows accounts to claim the same username they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping to preserve their existing online presence.

One thing WhatsApp is explicitly not building is a user directory or recommendation system. Usernames are designed to stay private. As the announcement makes clear, “people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time.” There’s no way to search for or browse users by their handle.

For an additional layer of control, users will also be able to create an optional username key – a secondary requirement that others will need to provide before making contact for the first time.

While reservations are beginning to roll out today, usernames themselves will become available more gradually over the coming months, region by region. Users will receive an in-app notification once the feature is live in their country.

To learn more about WhatsApp’s username reservation system, follow this link.

Reports surfaced on the Google Pixel subreddit, with multiple users across different device generations describing the same issue. The original poster noted that after downloading Android 17 on a Pixel 9 Pro, the phone dropped to LTE and wouldn’t reconnect to 5G — despite having maintained a consistent 5G connection before the update. Similar reports followed from Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 8a, and Pixel 6a owners, all experiencing the same LTE-only behavior after updating.

The problems don’t stop at 5G. One user reported that their eSIM disappeared entirely after the update, leaving the phone unable to connect to any mobile network. Another described losing both 5G and 4G, with the phone falling back to satellite connectivity as a last resort.

A Google Support representative responded to the thread and linked to a document intended to help users troubleshoot the 5G issue. However, the original poster credited a fellow community member with the fix that actually worked: putting the Pixel 9 Pro into repair mode and restarting the device restored 5G connectivity.

A bumpy start for Android 17

Google released Android 17 on Tuesday and moved quickly to begin rolling it out to eligible devices, starting with its Pixel lineup. The update brings a range of new features alongside strengthened security and threat detection capabilities — but the launch hasn’t been without issues.

Beyond the 5G problems, some Pixel users have reported that widgets disappeared after installing Android 17. The issue doesn’t appear to be widespread based on early reports, and it seems to be largely limited to devices with a work profile set up. Google has acknowledged the problem and confirmed it’s working on a fix for a future patch.

Alongside Android 17, Google also released a June Pixel Drop. Highlights include the addition of Bubbles and the Bubble Bar — the latter being particularly relevant for Pixel Fold owners, while Bubbles more broadly enables app multitasking through a floating menu on the device. Pixel Watch users also received an update to emergency detection features, with new sharing capabilities added.

That matters more here than it would for a typical post-update complaint. Touch input is the entire interface between a user and their phone. When it misfires unpredictably, the device isn’t just degraded – it’s difficult to trust for basic tasks.

What the Android 17 Pixel touchscreen bug looks like

The bug presents in at least three distinct ways: touch inputs register either more or fewer times than intended, top-to-bottom swipes are processed as bottom-to-top, and in some cases the screen goes fully unresponsive for several seconds before recovering on its own, as reported by Android Police last Thursday.

A Pixel 8 Pro owner described the experience concretely: after around five swipes through YouTube Shorts, the screen freezes briefly, recovers, then repeats the cycle. Upward swipes in Messages and on the home screen were scrolling downward instead, according to Phandroid. Separately, some users swiping through their X feed found the app responding in the wrong direction entirely, while others were getting no touch response at all.

What makes this particularly difficult to live with is that the symptoms aren’t constant. The screen works fine, then doesn’t, then recovers. That intermittent pattern is harder to diagnose and harder to work around than a straightforward failure. A phone that refuses to respond is frustrating; one that responds unpredictably is worse.

No one has publicly identified the root cause. Whether the issue lies in refresh rate handling, touch drivers, or gesture navigation processing is unknown. Google hasn’t said, and no independent analysis has pinpointed the source.

Which Pixel models are affected

Reports cover the Pixel 7, 8, 9, and 10 series, per Phandroid. Android Police described the bug as appearing to affect the “entire Pixel lineup,” though that assessment is based on aggregated user reports from Reddit and social platforms rather than any systematic device audit.

The scale of the problem isn’t fully known. Not every Pixel running Android 17 appears to be affected, and the available evidence is community-sourced. That said, reports span multiple generations and multiple outlets, which is enough to treat this as something beyond an isolated complaint.

The cross-generation spread matters. These are four distinct hardware families with different display panels, different chipsets, and different manufacturing runs. The one thing they share is the same software update. That points directly at Android 17 as the source rather than any particular device’s hardware – and it means a software patch is the only realistic path to a real fix.

What Google has said – and what it hasn’t

The bug has been logged in Google’s IssueTracker. The company’s official Pixel Community account on Reddit confirmed awareness and stated Google is actively working on a fix, as reported by Android Police and Phandroid. That’s the full extent of the public communication: no root cause, no timeline.

Google did offer one troubleshooting suggestion: clear the Pixel Launcher cache by going to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Pixel Launcher > Storage & cache. Users who tried it largely report it had no effect, according to Android Police.

A community-sourced workaround has also circulated. At least one user reported that toggling off “Smooth Display” in display settings resolved the issue – and the fix held even after re-enabling the feature. Android Police noted the reception has been mixed, and it doesn’t appear to work consistently across affected devices.

The absence of a reliable workaround is itself telling. Simple misconfiguration bugs typically have repeatable fixes. When one user’s solution doesn’t transfer to another device running the same software, it suggests the underlying problem is more complex – possibly involving interactions between specific hardware variants and certain Android 17 components. That doesn’t narrow the cause, but it does lower expectations for any user-side resolution before a patch ships.

What affected Pixel users can try now

For those already running Android 17, two options exist, though neither is guaranteed to help.

Start with the Smooth Display toggle. Go to Settings > Display > Smooth Display, turn it off, then test whether touch behavior improves. The risk is zero and the effort is minimal. Results have been mixed, but it has the best anecdotal track record of the two available options. Google’s own suggestion – clearing the Pixel Launcher cache via Settings > Apps > See all apps > Pixel Launcher > Storage & cache – is worth trying as a second step, though user feedback on its effectiveness has been largely poor, per Android Police.

Beyond those two options, nothing else is confirmed to help. Monitoring Google’s Pixel Community Reddit account and IssueTracker for patch announcements is the most practical remaining step. Those are the channels where a fix timeline, if one surfaces, will appear first.

For Pixel owners who haven’t updated yet, Android Police flagged last Thursday that holding off may be worth considering. That’s not a categorical recommendation – the scale of the bug remains unclear, and not every device appears to be affected. But if reliable touch input is essential to how a phone gets used, waiting for a patch is a reasonable position. Android 17 will still be available once the fix ships.

A rough week for Android 17

The touchscreen issue is the most disruptive of several problems surfacing since the June 16 rollout. Wi-Fi connectivity drops and 5G instability have also been reported in the same window, according to Phandroid. A separate bug has been wiping home screen widgets for some users, removing them entirely from both the home screen and the widget picker. 9to5Google reported four days ago that Google confirmed the widget issue is tied to Work Profile users, with reports actually dating back to the February beta period, and that a fix is coming “soon.”

These are distinct bugs with separate causes. But their timing reflects a familiar pattern: Pixel phones receive Android updates first, and that comes with the corresponding downside of being first in line for whatever shipped with them.

Google’s IssueTracker acknowledgment on the touchscreen bug at least confirms the company is aware and working on it. The open question is whether a targeted hotfix arrives before the next monthly security update cycle or gets folded into it. That’s the gap affected users are currently sitting in – workarounds that might help on some devices, a fix that hasn’t arrived yet, and a timeline that Google hasn’t provided.

By the end of this guide, Quick Launch will be enabled, an action will be assigned, and there will be a clear picture of what the feature can and can’t do.

One thing worth addressing before setup: app launching. Official documentation describes Quick Launch as triggering “custom actions,” which implies configurability beyond the two named examples. But AT&T’s support pages don’t confirm app launching as a guaranteed option across all compatible phones. The action menu inside settings is where to check — if app shortcuts appear, they’re available to use. If they don’t, the explicitly documented actions are still useful in their own right.

Can Motorola Quick Launch launch apps?

This question comes up often enough to deserve a direct answer. The short version: maybe — and it depends on the specific device and software version.

AT&T’s documentation uses the phrase “custom actions” across multiple device pages, which leaves room for options beyond the two named examples. Support pages for both the Moto G 2025 and Moto G 2026 describe Quick Launch as enabling a double-tap to trigger custom actions, without specifying a fixed list. That language is consistent across models, but it doesn’t confirm that every phone will expose an app-launch option in the action selector.

The practical approach is to go through the setup steps, open the action menu, and see what the specific device actually offers. If an app-launch option is listed, it’s available to use. If it isn’t, the documented actions are the reliable baseline — not a consolation prize. Treat app launching as a device-specific possibility to check, not a feature that can be counted on before looking.

Which Motorola phones support Quick Launch

AT&T documents Quick Launch support on several 2025 and 2026 Motorola phones. Based on available support pages, the current list includes the Razr Ultra 2025, Razr+ 2025, Moto G 2025, Moto G 2026, and Moto G Play 2026. That range covers both premium foldables and budget handsets, so the feature isn’t exclusive to any particular tier.

If a phone isn’t on that list, it’s worth checking for pending software updates before assuming the feature isn’t available. Support documentation doesn’t always keep pace with software rollouts, and the device’s own support page is the most reliable place to verify. Some older Motorola hardware may not support the feature regardless of software version.

How to set up Motorola Quick Launch

Before starting: confirm the device is one of the supported models above and that its software is current. The steps below reflect AT&T’s documented setup path for Gestures & Motion across recent Moto devices.

Step 1: Open Settings
Tap the gear icon from the home screen, or swipe up to the app tray and find Settings there. Alternatively, pull down the notification shade and tap the settings shortcut in the top corner.

Step 2: Navigate to Moto Actions or Gestures & Motion
Look for either Moto Actions or Gestures & Motion in the Settings menu. The label can vary by model — on some recent Motorola software it may appear under Gestures. The Razr+ 2025 tutorial lists Quick Launch alongside other gesture features like Fast Flashlight and Three-Finger Screenshot, so spotting any of those confirms the right section has been found.

Step 3: Select Quick Launch
Tap Quick Launch from the gesture list. On supported phones, the feature controls will appear, including a toggle to enable it.

Step 4: Enable Quick Launch and assign an action
Turn the toggle on, then select an action from the available options. AT&T explicitly names taking a screenshot and returning to the home screen as examples of what Quick Launch can do on the Razr+ 2025.

Which action makes sense depends on usage patterns. Frequent screenshot takers will find the back-tap replaces whatever multi-step method they’re currently using. For anyone who regularly drills out of nested apps and menus, the home screen return is the more useful default. Neither is permanent — returning to this menu and swapping the action at any time is straightforward.

If the action menu shows options beyond those two, including any app-launch shortcuts, those are genuine choices worth taking. The “custom actions” language in AT&T’s documentation across multiple device pages suggests some phones may surface additional options — but they shouldn’t be expected on devices that don’t show them.

Step 5: Test the gesture
Open any app and double-tap the back of the phone firmly. If nothing happens, return to settings and confirm the toggle is on and an action is assigned. Both conditions need to be true for the gesture to register.

What the two documented actions actually give you

It’s worth being specific about what AT&T names, because “taking a screenshot or returning to the home screen” can sound underwhelming until the frequency of both is considered.

Screenshot via back tap. Most Motorola phones already offer multiple screenshot methods — the Razr+ 2025 support page documents Three Finger Screenshot as a separate gesture, for example. Quick Launch adds another route. Whether the back-tap is more convenient than the existing method depends entirely on how the phone is held and which hand is being used. It’s a genuine alternative, not a universal upgrade.

Home screen return. This provides a fast exit from wherever the user currently is, without reaching for a navigation button. On a foldable like the Razr+ 2025, where the display and navigation bar layout differs from a standard slab phone, having a consistent back-of-device gesture for home screen return has practical logic. On a phone where the home gesture is already easy to reach, it’s a smaller win.

Both of these are things most people do throughout the day. The case for Quick Launch isn’t novelty — it’s doing familiar things from a different physical input that may better suit how the phone is already held.

Who should enable it, and who should skip it

This ultimately comes down to habit and grip. Anyone who takes frequent screenshots or navigates home repeatedly may find the back-tap genuinely faster once it becomes muscle memory. People who hold the phone in one hand while the other is occupied have more to gain, since both documented actions can otherwise require adjusting the grip.

If navigation is primarily by swipe gestures and screenshots are rare, Quick Launch is unlikely to change anything meaningful. The honest approach: enable it, assign an action, use the phone normally for a day, and decide based on whether the back of the device was actually reached for. If the gesture becomes instinctive, leave it on. If it goes forgotten, disable it through the same Moto Actions or Gestures & Motion menu.

When Quick Launch doesn’t work as expected

A few things to check if the gesture isn’t registering or is causing unexpected behavior.

The gesture isn’t firing. First, confirm the toggle is on and an action is selected — both are required. If settings look correct, consider whether a phone case might be reducing sensitivity to taps. This isn’t documented in AT&T’s support pages, but it’s a reasonable first variable to rule out: test the gesture without the case and compare.

The feature doesn’t appear in settings. Check for software updates before concluding the phone doesn’t support it. AT&T documents Quick Launch on several 2025 and 2026 Motorola models, but it may not be present on every device or software version. The model’s own AT&T support page is the definitive reference.

The action selector doesn’t show the desired option. If app launching isn’t listed in the action menu, current documentation doesn’t confirm it will be added. Work with what the device actually offers.

Enable it, assign it

Quick Launch is a narrow feature that works well for the right user. AT&T documents it on phones ranging from the Razr Ultra 2025 to the budget Moto G Play 2026, so it’s accessible across a meaningful portion of Motorola’s current lineup without any additional purchase or unlock required.

Setup takes a few taps. The real question is whether the gesture fits the way the phone is already held and used. Assigning it to screenshot, using the phone normally, and revisiting settings once — that’s the whole test.

Android has come a long way, but there are still areas where iOS leads in ways that matter. The six features below are baked into the iOS operating system and its default apps, working out of the box without third-party software. That’s the standard being applied here — if it requires additional apps or setup, it doesn’t count as a native feature. Some of these do extend across the broader Apple ecosystem beyond just the iPhone.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

$1012.97$1,099.00Amazon

Seamless, Native PC Mirroring

Android has had Windows notification integration for years before Apple got around to it. Phone Link is a well-designed app with a solid feature set, and it works — but it requires a third-party app, a fair amount of setup, and a significant pile of permissions, granted to an operating system that practically demands walking back privacy settings the moment it’s installed fresh. iPhone Mirroring, by contrast, works on any iPhone running iOS 18 and any Mac running Sequoia, and setup requires nothing more than a passcode.

Android gets some latitude here — Windows is a separate operating system, which makes a native solution genuinely difficult. That’s unlikely to change unless Chrome OS somehow overtakes Windows in market share and builds in a native mirroring feature. Linux users face an even longer road. On iPhone, this is a core function of both iOS and macOS.

iPhone Mirroring isn’t a direct Phone Link replacement, nor does it need to be. Its focus is full control of the iPhone from a Mac in a single click, with integrated iPhone notifications being the headline feature. Many of Phone Link’s capabilities are already built into macOS through iCloud anyway — calls, for instance, can be taken on a Mac through the Phone app entirely outside of iPhone Mirroring. On Android, any equivalent functionality requires a third-party app.

iPhone Microphone on Mac via Continuity Camera

The camera on a smartphone almost always beats the one built into a laptop, and iPhones have long been able to let Macs borrow that hardware wirelessly. Android has copied the camera-sharing side of this. What it didn’t copy is the microphone-only sharing option built into Continuity Camera. With an iPhone nearby, the microphone can be selected on demand as an audio input on any Mac — for calls, dictation, voice notes, or anything else — without any additional setup.

Apple positions this primarily for Macs without built-in microphones, like the Mac Mini, but it works across the board. It’s also useful in situations like running a MacBook in clamshell mode with the microphones physically covered. Testing confirms the feature works well, with minimal latency, and given how good recent iPhone microphones sound — particularly with newer voice isolation features — it can genuinely outperform built-in laptop audio.

On Android, microphone sharing to a PC does exist, but only through third-party apps and additional configuration. Microsoft’s Phone Link would be the obvious candidate for a native version of this feature, but currently it only supports camera sharing. High-quality microphone arrays are common on Macs, but far less so on Windows laptops — which makes this feature significantly more useful on the Android side than it would be for most Mac users.

More Comprehensive Family Management via Family Sharing

Both platforms support digital family groups. Android allows up to six members to share a payment method, manage subscriptions, and use Family Link for parental controls over a child’s activity. That’s a useful set of tools, but Apple’s Family Sharing goes further.

Shared payments and eligible subscriptions are covered, as on Android. Screen time tracking and parental controls are present too, with further expansion of those controls coming in iOS 27. But Family Sharing also integrates automatic location tracking through Find My — which extends to family devices and AirTags — along with the ability to set custom arrival and departure notifications. Emergency contacts, account recovery contacts, legacy contacts for posthumous account access, shared family calendars, shared Reminders lists, and secure password sharing are all part of the same system, accessible from settings without additional apps.

None of these things are technically impossible on Android. But doing all of them from one place, with no extra setup, isn’t how the Android ecosystem works. Family Sharing has been used extensively, and the implementation is genuinely polished. The main limitation is the obvious one: it only works if everyone in the family has an Apple device.

Cross-Device Copy-Paste via Universal Clipboard

Universal Clipboard is one of those features that’s hard to appreciate until it’s part of daily life — and then becomes nearly impossible to give up. Copy something on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and paste it almost instantly on any other device logged into the same Apple account. No setup required. Works automatically as long as the devices are nearby and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aren’t disabled. For anyone who regularly moves text, links, or images between devices, this is one of the most genuinely useful features in the Apple ecosystem.

Android has partial versions of this. Samsung supports clipboard sharing between Galaxy devices, though it requires setup and is limited to PCs via Phone Link. Google appears to be building something similar for Android 17, passing copied content over Google Play Services — but early indications suggest it’ll initially be limited to Pixel devices and PCs, and will likely require some degree of setup on Windows, if it gets broad support at all. Third-party apps can bridge this gap, but the point is that Apple ships this working by default across every device on the same account.

The same pattern shows up with audio device switching. AirPods switch between Apple devices automatically, with no configuration, as long as the same account is signed in. Both Google and Samsung have added similar functionality for their own earbuds, but these features are platform-limited — Google’s Audio Switch works only with Android devices, and Samsung’s Auto Switch has similarly narrow device compatibility. The experience isn’t universal by default, which is exactly where Apple still holds the advantage.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

$1012.97$1,099.00Amazon

Improved Browsing Privacy via Private Relay

Private Relay is an Apple-exclusive privacy feature with no real Android equivalent. It routes browsing traffic through two separate servers before it reaches the destination site — not through a single encrypted VPN tunnel, but through a dual-relay architecture that limits any single party’s knowledge of both who the user is and what they’re browsing. The concept loosely echoes the Tor network, though Private Relay is not a VPN and operates quite differently in practice.

The appeal is practical: it obscures browsing activity from the ISP, from Apple, and from the destination website — which is one of the core reasons people use VPNs. Unlike most VPNs, though, Private Relay exits at a relay near the user’s actual location, meaning regional content like local search results remains intact. It’s also designed to have a smaller impact on speeds and latency than a traditional VPN. There’s no manual configuration needed — toggle it on in settings and it runs in the background.

It’s not free, but it’s cheap. The minimum requirement is an iCloud+ subscription at the 50GB tier, which costs $1 per month — less than even the most aggressively discounted multi-year VPN plans. Android’s closest equivalents are DNS-over-HTTPS or proxy configurations, neither of which is accessible or automatic for the average user.

More Comprehensive Accessibility Features

Around 28.7% of U.S. adults — roughly 1 in 4 — live with some form of disability, according to the CDC. Many of these disabilities are not immediately visible to others, and it’s been a slow, frustrating push to get meaningful software accommodations for these users. Android has a solid list of accessibility features, but Apple has consistently been further ahead in this space.

Personal Voice is a clear example: the feature recreates a user’s voice so it can be used with tools like Live Speech if they lose the ability to speak. Android has no equivalent. Eye Tracking, Sound Recognition, Name Recognition, and Vocal Shortcuts are other iOS capabilities without Android counterparts. The gap does narrow over time — Android 17 is finally bringing a Motion Assist feature to reduce car sickness, something that’s been on iPhone for years — but development isn’t always consistent. Features like Google’s Project Relate have stalled, leaving users dependent on them uncertain about their future.

The data reinforces the point. WebAIM found that while around 56% of people without disabilities use iPhones, that figure jumps to 72% among people with disabilities — a pattern that holds in other countries too. Older research has pointed to a similar preference among blind users. Some manufacturers of dedicated accessibility hardware have also noted that Apple’s native tools require the least additional configuration. The numbers tell a clear story.

Not every Samsung device shows this behavior, and the history of it stretches back to specific model generations. The Samsung Galaxy S10 series was the first to move the proximity sensor under the display, and the phenomenon has appeared across several subsequent lineups. On the Galaxy S20 and S21 series, users noticed two flashing dots. Some Galaxy S21 FE owners reported seeing two static dots rather than flashing ones. By the time the Galaxy S23 arrived, reports described four dots instead. Galaxy S25 FE owners have also flagged the issue, this time with three green dots visible on the screen.

Samsung’s official position is that these flashing dots are not a defect. They’re described as part of the proximity sensor’s normal operation – which is another way of saying there’s no fix coming, because as far as Samsung is concerned, nothing is broken.

Why do the flashing dots appear?

The under-display proximity sensor works by emitting infrared rays through the screen. A light-receiving component in the sensor detects the reflected rays bouncing back, which allows it to calculate how close an object is to the display. When something – like a face during a call – gets close enough, the sensor triggers the display to turn off, preventing accidental touchscreen inputs like mistouches or unintended taps.

Proximity sensors used to live in the slim gap between the screen and the bezel, but the push toward Samsung’s bezel-free Infinity Displays eliminated that space entirely. The sensor had to move somewhere, and under the display was the answer.

Because the infrared emitter sits behind the screen, the display itself has to allow those rays to pass through. Under certain conditions – a dark room, low screen brightness, during an active call in the Phone app, or when the screen is viewed from a particular angle – that infrared activity becomes faintly visible as small flashing dots or points of light. It looks odd, but it’s a normal side effect of the sensor doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

Can anything be done about it?

For a problem to get a solution, it first has to be recognized as a problem. Samsung’s own documentation classifies the flashing dots as expected behavior, not a defect, which makes an official fix essentially off the table.

That said, not all Samsung phones are affected. Several flagship models – including the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy S26 Ultra – are not confirmed to display these dots. There have been some reports of the issue appearing on foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and on certain units the proximity sensor is faintly visible through the display, particularly after a screen replacement. Some Galaxy S24 Ultra units have also been reported as showing the dots, though this wasn’t observed on every device tested.

For Samsung owners dealing with this, the honest answer is that a fix isn’t coming. Samsung views it as normal hardware behavior, and short of switching to a different device, there’s little to be done about it.

It’s an unusual addition – a PDF tool on a car display isn’t the most intuitive pairing – but the implementation is more thoughtful than it might seem at first glance.

What’s free on Android Auto with Adobe Acrobat Reader?

The standard mobile version of Adobe Acrobat Reader includes quite a bit: Liquid Mode PDF viewing with adjustable font sizes and navigation, annotation tools like sticky notes, comments and text highlighting, a PDF signer for filling out and sending documents, and Google Drive integration. These are genuinely useful features on a phone screen.

On Android Auto, however, none of those visual tools are accessible. The app disables them entirely – understandably, since reading a PDF while driving isn’t something anyone should be doing. What the free version does provide is a built-in Read Aloud text-to-speech function. Think of it as a basic media player for documents: the app converts standard text PDFs into audio using system voices, letting users listen to reports, articles, or any text-based document during a drive without touching the screen. It’s not flashy, but for anyone who regularly reads work documents, it’s a practical hands-free option.

What do paid subscribers get on Android Auto?

Paid Adobe Acrobat subscribers get a noticeably better experience. While the update labels the enhanced voice feature as “Paid,” it also notes that users can “choose free voices or upgrade for high-quality options” – pointing to the more natural, human-sounding voices Adobe has developed for a significantly better listening experience. For working professionals reviewing research papers, reports, or lengthy documents during a commute, this is where the feature becomes genuinely useful. A long document, or even a full book, could theoretically be consumed entirely during a drive without reading a single word.

Beyond audio quality, the paid version is also listed as including Adobe’s AI assistant, which supports voice and text prompts to query documents, generate summaries, and connect with email, text, notes, and blogs. The full mobile editing suite, optical character recognition (OCR), PDF merging tools, and compression features are also part of the paid subscription.

There’s a catch, though. Even for subscribers, it appears the Android Auto version of the app currently functions primarily as a media player. The hands-free features – including the AI assistant – don’t appear to be accessible through the dashboard at this point, despite being theoretically well-suited to a hands-free environment. Whether these features will open up in a future update remains to be seen, and some users have speculated that’s exactly where things are headed.

For now, free users get a workable document audio player, and paid subscribers get better voices and the promise of more functionality down the line. Those who want to test the paid tier before committing can do so via Adobe’s 7-day free trial.

Weibo leaker @FixedFocus reports that Huawei is optimizing HarmonyOS 7 specifically for the upcoming Kirin chips built around Tau’s Law. As part of this, the software will introduce new scheduling mechanisms designed to take full advantage of the new hardware, with the goal of delivering better operational efficiency and a noticeably smoother day-to-day experience.

A scheduling mechanism, for context, is the logic or algorithm that determines how computational resources – CPU cycles, memory, network bandwidth – are allocated and assigned to tasks on the device. It controls which processes run and when, manages multitasking, keeps the system performing well under load, and ensures time-sensitive tasks are completed without delay. These mechanisms operate at multiple levels of the software stack, from low-level hardware interactions to broader application management.

Huawei’s approach here sets it apart from most other smartphone manufacturers. Rather than relying entirely on the mobile chip to drive performance, the company consistently pairs hardware development with software-level tuning – using both sides of the equation to extract efficiency from its devices.

Huawei has confirmed that its 2026 Kirin chips will be built around the Tau Scaling Law, and optimizing HarmonyOS 7 to align with that architecture is a logical extension of the same strategy. The combination is expected to push performance and system responsiveness on the Mate 90 series noticeably further than the current generation.

Further details on what HarmonyOS 7 will bring specifically in relation to these new Kirin processors were expected to emerge at HDC 2026.

The official MagicOS page on Weibo confirmed that the new software version will introduce what Honor is positioning as Android’s first Liquid Glass UI. Tipster DigitalChatStation added further detail, reporting that MagicOS 11 will support three simultaneous UI elements: dynamic wallpapers, liquid glass effects, and HDR effects – all running together.

According to official information, the visual direction centers on greater depth and translucency. Panels become more see-through, widgets take on a softer glass-style appearance, and the overall design gains a more layered, polished look across the system.

The two core features driving the redesign are described as:

• Liquid Glass — a glass-like layer applied across the UI
• Light Flow — motion, lighting, and transition effects throughout the interface

In practice, this means a full-screen liquid glass treatment on both the home screen and lock screen. Icons and wallpapers will appear transparent with a flowing liquid effect, creating a visual depth that differs from the flat or semi-flat designs MagicOS has used previously.

Dynamic wallpaper performance has also reportedly been improved. The wallpapers are said to run without stuttering during use – a common complaint with animated wallpapers on other platforms. Beyond wallpapers, the bottom navigation tabs, media widgets, Smart Magic capsules, and call interface are all receiving animation refinements.

New animation settings are being applied across MagicOS 11 more broadly. The goal, based on available details, is a more visually consistent system with smoother transitions, more depth in lighting effects, and greater transparency throughout – tying all of the individual changes into a coherent design language rather than isolated upgrades.

On the visual side, HarmonyOS 6.1 introduces the Sweet Companions watch face — an animated face featuring small characters that react to interactions. Tapping the display, playing music, waking the screen, or placing the watch on its charger all trigger different animations, making the watch face noticeably more lively than a static dial. A second new watch face, Dream Star, offers more straightforward customization with adjustable background and complication options.

Sleep tracking gets a meaningful addition with the new Nap Summary feature. It automatically detects short sleep phases during the day and generates a personalized analysis for each nap — a useful addition for anyone whose sleep patterns go beyond a single overnight window. Nightly sleep assessment has also been refined as part of the broader optimization pass in this update.

Running training becomes more structured, with tools to help manage pace and energy distribution during a run. Outdoor cycling also receives a notable upgrade: the watch can now display virtual cadence, virtual power, gradient data, and bike type. When paired with a physical power meter, it calculates FTP (Functional Threshold Power) values for more precise performance tracking.

Health Insights also expands in this update. Running routes, cycling routes, and VO2max data can now be viewed on the Health Insights map within the Assistant TODAY screen.

New Features

• Adds the Sweet Companions watch face, with selectable characters and personalization options. Playful animations trigger when tapping the watch face, playing music, turning on the screen, or charging the device.
• Adds the Dream Star watch face, with customizable background and complications.
• Introduces the Nap Summary feature, which tracks naps and generates a personalized summary.
• Adds running performance tracking tools to help manage speed and conserve energy during runs.
• Enhances outdoor cycling by displaying virtual cadence, virtual power, gradient, and bike type. When paired with a physical power meter, calculates FTP values for improved performance analysis.
• Displays running routes, cycling routes, and VO2max on the Health Insights map in the Assistant TODAY screen.

Optimizations

• Improves the nightly sleep assessment experience.
• Optimizes automatic segment settings and interval reminders for select workout types to deliver a more consistent experience.
• Improves system stability.

The phone comes in four color options: Phantom Purple, Sunburst Gold, Bamboo Rhythm Green, and Phantom Night Black. It measures 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.76mm and weighs 196 grams — notably lean for a device packing an 8560mAh cell.

Display and Performance

The Honor X70 Pro Max features a 6.79-inch AMOLED panel with a 2640 x 1200 pixel resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 6,000 nits. The display covers the DCI-P3 wide color gamut, supports 1.07 billion colors, 3,840Hz ultra-high-frequency PWM dimming, and 10-point multi-touch.

Under the hood is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 octa-core chipset, configured with one large A720 core at 2.3GHz, three A720 medium cores at 2.2GHz, and four A520 efficiency cores at 1.8GHz, paired with an Adreno 810 GPU.

Durability

Durability is a clear priority here. The X70 Pro Max carries certification for 10-sided hardcore drop resistance, achieved through Honor’s self-developed bulletproof vest anti-drop structure. It also holds IP69K, IP68, and IP66 ratings — covering high-pressure water jets, submersion, and dust ingress simultaneously.

Software, Camera, and Battery

The device runs MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. Camera hardware is straightforward: a single 50MP rear shooter with 10x digital zoom and an 8MP front-facing camera. The photo feature set, however, goes beyond the hardware — AI tools include AI Eliminate, AI Image Cutout Displacement, AI Face Expressions, AI anti-reflective correction, AI stylization, and more.

The 8560mAh Qinghai Lake battery supports 90W SuperCharge. Honor claims the following real-world endurance figures from a full charge: 15 hours of video calling, 14 hours of continuous gaming, and 27 hours of short video playback.

On the connectivity side, Honor has implemented Hongyan Communication technology, which the company says improves performance on weak network signals by 93.2%.

Price

The Honor X70 Pro Max is available in two storage configurations, both with 8GB RAM. The 256GB variant is priced at 1,999 yuan, while the 512GB model costs 2,399 yuan.

OpenHarmony serves as the open-source foundation that device manufacturers and software developers use to build custom operating systems for smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices. This Beta 1 release brings a range of new capabilities spanning ArkUI, ArkWeb, ArkTS, camera management, media handling, and more.

On the UI and application side, the update introduces dynamic layout containers, global reuse of custom components, and a redesigned window management system. Notification handling gets more flexibility with support for custom notification ringtones, while granular per-app controls have also been expanded. ArkWeb receives optimized web page control capabilities and a kernel upgrade to Chromium 144, along with URL whitelist control support.

The full list of changes is detailed below.

Application Framework

• The “Last Exit Information” field in the Ability section now supports retrieving the exit reason.
• The AbilityStage context includes a new launchElement field, informing the application which Ability is being loaded when onCreate is called in AbilityStage — enabling dynamic resource loading.
• The AbilityStage component manager adds a callback for when the first Ability is about to be created, plus a callback for when a process starts from an application snapshot.
• Added support for retrieving the application name using a specified package name and clone index.
• C API now supports managing ModularObjectExtensionAbility, including querying information and handling connection and disconnection.

Media

• The C API adds a callback function for privacy protection settings, used to respond to privacy events triggered during screenshots and screen recordings.
• The C API now supports retrieving multi-screen recording capability information and selecting multiple screens for recording via DisplayID.

Camera Management

• Added support for creating deferred preview output objects that can be added to data streams in place of standard preview outputs, with Surface configuration support for deferred preview.
• New professional camera capabilities added to photo and video modes, covering flash, optical image stabilization, exposure, manual focus, ISO sensitivity, and physical aperture settings.

Background Task Management

• The countdown reminder instance object now includes repeatInterval and repeatCount parameters.

Basic Communication

• Added support for obtaining Wi-Fi connection information via C API.
• Added playback status broadcast support for A2DP and SCO broadcast events.

Network Management

• TLS now supports certificate chain verification, with the ability to handle up to 1,000 certificates by passing in an array.

Content Embedding Service

• A newly added Content Embed service provides a framework for cross-application document embedding and collaborative editing, offering encapsulated client and server development interfaces to simplify the implementation of cross-app document collaboration.

The Google Play Store has no shortage of wallpaper apps, which is part of the problem. There are dozens of options, and quality varies significantly. To save the time spent sifting through mediocre options, here’s a curated selection of the best free and freemium wallpaper apps for Android, covering everything from AI-generated designs to massive photography libraries and AMOLED-optimized collections.

1. Tapet

Tapet takes a different approach from most wallpaper apps — it doesn’t pull images from the internet. Instead, it generates wallpapers directly on the device using algorithms, producing Material Design-style visuals based on color preferences and patterns chosen by the user. The result is a randomized wallpaper that’s uniquely suited to the device. Tapet also functions as an automatic wallpaper changer, cycling through new designs at a set interval, and it detects the phone’s screen resolution to ensure the output always fits perfectly.

2. Wallpapers by Google

Google’s own wallpaper app is worth knowing about. It allows users to set images from personal photos or curated collections sourced from Google Earth, Google+, and a range of third-party providers. Wallpapers can be set separately for the home screen and lock screen from within the app, and the library is organized into categories like landscapes, cityscapes, abstractions, and geometric patterns.

3. Resplash

Resplash is built on Unsplash.com, giving it access to over 1,200,000 HD photos that are continuously refreshed with new contributions. The interface is clean and minimal, available in both dark and light themes. Features include automatic random background rotation, raw photo downloads, and the ability to view photographer profiles and EXIF data for any image. It’s a strong option for anyone who wants high-quality photography as a wallpaper source.

4. Muzei Live Wallpaper

Muzei Live Wallpaper is aimed at users who want something more dynamic. The app refreshes the home screen daily with famous works of art, and offers options to blur or dim them so icons and widgets remain readable. Personal photos from the gallery or other apps can also be used. Beyond its wallpaper collection, Muzei is open-source, which may matter to some users, and it supports Android Wear devices.

5. Walli

Walli built a reputation for distinctive, artist-created wallpapers — good enough that they were featured on Google Pixel devices. The app connects users to a curated global community of artists, and the quality of work available reflects that curation. Automatic wallpaper shuffling is available, letting users select a set of favorites and choose a rotation frequency. Walli includes a 3-day free trial; ongoing access to the full library requires a paid subscription.

6. Abstruct

Abstruct is the official app from Hampus Olsson, an award-winning wallpaper artist known for his work with OnePlus. All wallpapers are rendered in 4K resolution, and the full catalog of official OnePlus wallpapers created by Olsson is available here. The app features a clean modern interface with a favorites system for easy access to preferred wallpapers. A portion of the library is free; the rest requires payment.

7. Backgrounds HD

Backgrounds HD has accumulated over 2.4 million ratings averaging 4.5 out of 5, with more than 120 million downloads. The app updates its library with new backgrounds daily and supports live clocks and video backgrounds. Users can create a profile, interact with others, and follow people with similar tastes. The paid version allows users to upload and sell their own images and videos.

8. ZEDGE

ZEDGE is one of the oldest names in Android customization, and with over 350 million installs, it remains one of the most downloaded wallpaper apps available. It offers millions of free wallpapers, video backgrounds, ringtones, and notification sounds. The library supports full HD and 4K wallpapers across all screen sizes, and users can apply filters and stickers to further personalize their chosen background.

9. LitWallz

LitWallz is a free app with a regularly updated library of HD, 4K, and live wallpapers. It keeps things simple with a clean, minimal interface and daily updates to keep the selection fresh. Live wallpapers are included alongside the standard static collection.

10. AmoledPix

AmoledPix is purpose-built for devices with AMOLED panels. Its library consists of high-quality true-black wallpapers in 4K resolution, updated daily. The deep blacks in these wallpapers literally switch off screen pixels on AMOLED displays, which translates directly into battery savings. The app also includes automatic wallpaper rotation with adjustable frequency and change settings.

11. Backdrops

Backdrops features a daily-updated collection of original wallpapers created by the Backdrops team and their contributor community, covering both photography and vector art. Users can like wallpapers to build a personal favorites list, and signing in with a Google account enables syncing across multiple devices. There’s also an option to share original photography or artwork with the community.

12. STOKiE

STOKiE focuses on stock wallpapers — the kind that come pre-loaded on manufacturer devices — and lets users take them further. Once an image is selected, it can be adjusted across brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, blur level, and RGB channels. The app also supports creating gradient-style wallpapers from scratch, making it a decent option for users who want something close to stock but more personalized.

14. WallCandy

WallCandy offers a catalog of over 5,000 artworks optimized as wallpapers, primarily designed for lock screens. All images adapt to the device’s screen size — whether it’s a tablet, an older Android phone, or a current flagship. Like several other apps on this list, WallCandy includes AMOLED-specific wallpapers and an automatic rotation feature with configurable frequency settings.

Samsung has published a page with instructions on making the switch to Google Messages, including guidance for phones still running Android 12 and Android 13. Samsung has historically bundled its own Messages app on Galaxy devices, though it began shifting toward Google Messages as far back as 2021.

To nudge users toward making the change, Samsung’s instructions highlight what Google Messages brings to the table: RCS-enabled features like typing indicators, improved group chats, higher-quality image sharing, AI-powered spam detection, spam filters, multi-device message access, and built-in Gemini AI features. Google Messages is also the default texting app on most Android phones, including Samsung’s own Galaxy S26. For those who’d prefer not to use Google’s app, there are alternative SMS apps available on the Play Store.

Samsung hasn’t specified an exact date in July when messaging will stop working in the app, and a Samsung representative didn’t respond to a request for comment. Once the app is deactivated, Samsung Messages will only function for emergency service contacts – everything else goes dark.

Samsung stopped making Samsung Messages the default texting app back in 2021, but continued preinstalling it alongside Google Messages until 2024. The Galaxy S26 can’t download Samsung Messages at all, and once the July sunset hits, no other phone will be able to download it either.

Users on Android 11 or lower are not affected by the end of service, though Samsung notes they would still benefit from switching to a supported app like Google Messages. To make the switch, users need to download Google Messages from the Play Store if it isn’t already installed, then set it as the default SMS app when prompted after launching it.

There’s one additional consideration for older Galaxy Watch owners. Watches running Samsung’s Tizen operating system won’t have access to full conversation history after the switch, since these devices aren’t compatible with Google Messages. Samsung says Tizen watch users will still be able to read and send text messages, but the full conversation view won’t carry over. Owners of newer Samsung watches – Galaxy Watch 4 and later, which run Wear OS – won’t have this issue and will retain full access to their conversations.

Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7 are receiving the June 2026 patch

The rollout is following Samsung’s usual regional release pattern, starting in Korea and spreading to additional markets over the following days. It’s also being distributed in stages, so even once it reaches a particular region, it may take a little longer to appear on individual devices. The update applies to the full Galaxy S25 family – Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the Galaxy S25 Edge.

45 security fixes included

The patch addresses 45 vulnerabilities in total. Google contributes 33 of those fixes – 5 rated as critical and 28 classified as high severity. Samsung adds 12 more patches of its own: 11 from Samsung MX and one from the Exynos division, with the latter addressing a vulnerability in the DRM HDR driver.

The Samsung-specific patches cover a range of One UI components and services, including Smart Suggestions, Samsung Account, Samsung Cloud, Theme Manager, and various Settings-related elements. Most of these fixes apply to devices running Android 14, Android 15, and Android 16.

To check whether the update is available, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Triggering a manual check won’t force the update through, but the phone will prompt once the build is ready for that specific device.

The Galaxy Watch can serve very different purposes depending on the person. Some users track every workout, heart rate zone, and sleep stage. Others just want notifications and a few basic apps. Either way, a handful of default settings can be turned off or scaled back to squeeze considerably more battery life out of each charge. How many to disable depends entirely on what health data actually gets used.

Continuous heart rate tracking

Out of the box, the Galaxy Watch is configured to track heart rate – and on some models, the default is set to “Measure continuously.” For anyone not actively analyzing detailed heart rate graphs, that’s a lot of unnecessary sensor activity.

There are two more reasonable alternatives. “Every 10 mins” limits measurements to once every 10 minutes while not actively exercising, which is a decent middle ground for casual health awareness. For those who rarely check heart rate data, “Manual only” goes further – heart rate is only recorded when triggered manually. Both options are found under Settings > Health > Heart rate.

Automatic workout detection

“Auto detect workouts” sounds like a training feature, but in practice it’s far broader. The Galaxy Watch interprets walking to work or cycling to a train station as potential workout activity. When enabled, the watch continuously monitors movement and, once it decides something qualifies as a workout, begins tracking vitals, location, and other variables depending on the activity type. That constant background monitoring takes a real toll on the battery.

The fix is straightforward: disable it entirely or limit it to specific activities. Head to Settings > Health > Activities to detect, and toggle off anything that isn’t useful. Several activities also include an option to automatically record GPS location, which can be disabled separately for additional savings.

Advanced sleep tracking measurements

Sleep tracking is one of the Galaxy Watch’s more appealing features, but the deeper metrics come with a cost. Blood oxygen (SpO2) and skin temperature measurements require the infrared sensors to run continuously throughout the night – and that’s happening during the exact window when the watch isn’t being charged.

For those who like sleep tracking in general but don’t need that level of detail, disabling just those two metrics is a useful compromise. Go to Settings > Health > Sleep and toggle off “Blood oxygen” and “Skin temperature.” The result is a less sensor-intensive night and a bit more battery remaining when the alarm goes off.

Limit health features in Power Saving mode

The Galaxy Watch‘s built-in Power Saving mode handles the basics when battery gets low – it disables wake gestures, always-on display, and Wi-Fi, and limits background CPU activity. But there’s an optional extra step that goes further.

Enabling “Limit health features” within Power Saving mode turns off workout auto detection, heart rate alerts, and various background health tracking processes. It’s a meaningful additional saving that doesn’t kick in until Power Saving mode is already active, so it doesn’t affect normal use. Find it under Settings > Battery > Limit health features.

The range of options on a Galaxy Watch is one of its strengths, but it also means a lot of features are active by default regardless of whether they’re being used. Health and fitness tracking gets significant marketing attention from smartwatch brands, but it genuinely isn’t a priority for every person who wears one. Turning off what isn’t relevant is one of the simplest ways to improve battery life without sacrificing anything that matters.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Charger Included, 1.34″ Super AMOLED Display (438x438px), Sapphire Crystal Protection, 3000 nits Peak Brightness, IP68 Water Resistant (up to 50m), MIL-STD-810H Compliant

$214.00Amazon

The most visually striking addition is spatial personalization. Using the device’s hardware capabilities, HarmonyOS 7 can convert scenes into 3D effects rendered directly on the phone’s display. The most immediate example is on the lock screen, where the wallpaper and UI elements combine to create a depth-enhanced 3D presentation.

System UI elements – sliders, buttons, and similar controls – are also getting a new immersive light effect that draws comparisons to Apple’s liquid glass design aesthetic. Huawei’s implementation is described as slightly more interactive and intuitive, though the visual direction is clearly similar in spirit.

Agentic AI is positioned as the next major phase of the HarmonyOS software ecosystem, and HDC 2026 placed significant emphasis on what HarmonyOS Intelligence can now do. The built-in AI assistant is gaining expanded generative AI capabilities, enabling it to produce a broader range of text content, retrieve real-time information faster, and execute system-level tasks. Huawei says the assistant’s integration has been deepened to support more in-app commands, pushing it well beyond the scope of a conventional voice or chat assistant.

AI is also touching the photos and personalization side of the OS, with new editing tools and customization options making their way into the system settings.

Under the hood, Huawei has implemented the HarmonyOS Intelligent Agent Framework 2.0, built around intent-as-a-service architecture, which Huawei claims delivers a task execution success rate of over 90%.

Performance has also received a substantial lift. Across all the new improvements combined, HarmonyOS 7 delivers more than a 15% performance increase compared to HarmonyOS 6.1. That improvement is tangible across everyday use cases – app launches, gaming, and online streaming all benefit from the gains.

The HarmonyOS 7 developer beta launched on the same day as the announcement for eligible devices, with the full public release scheduled for this fall.

With this latest Android 17 preview build, there’s now a clearer picture of how the green screen-like effect actually works. It’s built directly into the system screen recorder — no separate app or external editing tool required. A new “Show selfie camera” option appears alongside the existing controls in the built-in video recording menu, and toggling it activates the feature right there in the system.

This is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement for anyone who previously had to export footage and edit in a third-party app just to layer themselves over a screen recording. The whole process now stays local, and the result is ready to upload or share the moment recording stops — no post-processing needed.

One thing worth knowing: Screen Reactions only work when recording the full screen. The option doesn’t appear when using the “Single app” recording mode. Once enabled, a preview shows up immediately before recording starts, giving time to frame the shot, check positioning, and get ready.

There’s also a color picker included, offering a solid background behind the selfie overlay for anyone who wants their face to stand out more clearly against the screen content. The current selection is limited to six colors — black, purple, red, blue, green, and orange — which feels a bit restrictive. Hopefully a custom color option or a broader palette gets added in a future build.

Microphone recording toggles on automatically when Screen Reactions is enabled, though it can be switched off independently — it doesn’t appear to be required for the feature to function.

Subject isolation is genuinely impressive. The cutout is sharp and holds up well around the face, shoulders, hands, and other objects that enter the frame. Given that Screen Reactions rely on the selfie camera and work even on the lower-resolution front cameras found on Pixel A-series devices, the quality of the results is well above what might be expected.

The price gap is $200 — the Pixel 10 starts at $799 and the Pixel 10 Pro at $999. That’s not a small difference, and it’s worth knowing exactly what that extra money gets you. The short answer: a better camera and a slightly improved display. Beyond those two things, the phones are more alike than different. Both run the same chip, both have 6.3-inch screens, and they weigh nearly the same. The distinction comes down to a handful of meaningful upgrades rather than a wholesale redesign.

Google Pixel 10 Pro

Google Pixel 10 Pro is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI with Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, impeccable design in two sizes, and the next-gen Google Tensor G5 chip

$999.00$749.00Amazon

For the majority of buyers, the Pixel 10 is the more sensible choice. It’s the first base-model Pixel to include a triple camera setup, which makes it a capable and versatile shooter – a notable step up from previous A/standard models. The OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits of peak brightness is excellent for everyday use. There are a few things the Pro does better, but they won’t matter much for most people most of the time.

When the Pixel 10 Pro’s extra cost makes sense

The camera is the clearest differentiator. The Pixel 10 Pro packs a 50MP wide camera, a 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide with a 123-degree field of view. If photography is a priority, the Pro also offers more manual control within the camera app – specifically the ability to adjust ISO and shutter speed independently, rather than relying entirely on automatic settings. That level of control matters in tricky lighting conditions or when the automatic result isn’t quite right. The Pro also tends to produce stronger images in challenging environments compared to the standard Pixel 10.

The display is another area where the Pro edges ahead. It uses an LTPO OLED panel, which is sharper and brighter than the standard model’s screen. For most day-to-day tasks the difference is subtle, but it’s perceptible side by side and particularly noticeable in direct sunlight or when watching high-quality video.

Storage is the third consideration. The base Pixel 10 tops out at 256GB, with the entry option sitting at 128GB. The Pixel 10 Pro extends that with 512GB and 1TB configurations – meaningful for anyone who shoots a lot of video, doesn’t want to manage storage regularly, or simply prefers not to think about it. This matters more on Pixel phones than on some competitors because Google has never included a microSD card slot in any Pixel smartphone, so the internal storage is all there is.

If none of those three factors – camera flexibility, display quality, and storage ceiling — apply to how the phone will actually be used, the standard Pixel 10 delivers nearly the same experience for $200 less.

Smartwatches also offer things a phone simply can’t. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch tracks heart rate, calories, blood pressure, and stress levels throughout the day. But all of that constant monitoring comes at a cost – battery life. It’s one of the most common reasons people give up on smartwatches altogether: the thing dies before the day is done.

Wear OS 7 is bringing meaningful battery improvements to compatible smartwatches, but that update won’t reach every device right away. In the meantime, there are practical steps to stretch a Galaxy Watch from one day to as many as three. These involve dialing back features that aren’t essential, keeping the software current, and knowing where to look in the settings.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Advanced health and sleep tracking features.* A lighter, more snug design for all day comfort.* Improved user interface.* Personal AI assistant for hands free help.

$349.99$289.99Amazon

1. Reduce how often health trackers run

Health monitoring is the whole point of wearing a smartwatch for many people. Tracking heart rate, blood pressure, calories, and other stats throughout the day is genuinely useful — but it’s also one of the biggest contributors to battery drain.

By default, the Galaxy Watch measures certain health metrics either continuously or every 10 minutes. Running those sensors that frequently adds up quickly. Changing how often they activate can make a noticeable difference.

To adjust these settings, scroll down on the watch to open Settings, go to Health, and select the specific tracker to change. Heart rate and stress sensors are set to update every 10 minutes at rest — both can be switched to manual-only, meaning they only activate when specifically triggered. This doesn’t affect workout tracking, which continues to monitor heart rate continuously when exercising. Additionally, heading to Settings > Health > Stress > Sleep and disabling overnight sensors like blood oxygen and body temperature monitoring can save meaningful battery while asleep.

2. Turn off the always-on display

The display is typically the biggest battery drain on any device, and smartwatches are no exception. A phone screen isn’t active unless it’s being used, but a smartwatch with always-on display keeps showing the time even when the wrist is at rest — and that steady trickle of power adds up.

Turning off always-on display stops the screen from running when not in active use. The watch face only wakes when the wrist is raised or the screen is touched. The toggle for this is under Settings > Display > Always on Display. It can also be accessed by swiping down and tapping the watch icon in the Quick Panel.

For those who don’t want to give it up entirely, Sleep Mode is a middle ground. Hold a palm over the watch screen until it darkens, and the display stays off without fully disabling always-on. Lowering screen brightness under Settings > Display is another simple adjustment that helps across the board.

3. Disable frequent syncing

The Galaxy Watch works best when tightly connected to the Android ecosystem — syncing health data to the phone, displaying Live Update notifications with Wear OS 7, and essentially serving as a second screen. That tight integration is genuinely useful, but constant syncing pulls on the battery throughout the day.

Disabling frequent syncing in the Samsung Health app provides an immediate improvement. The trade-off is that health data won’t update in real time on the phone, but for most people, checking step counts or heart rate trends a few times a day rather than constantly is perfectly fine.

Inside Samsung Health, navigate to Steps, tap the three-dot menu, and select Frequent Syncing to disable it. If the option doesn’t appear, uninstalling and reinstalling Samsung Health from the Play Store typically resolves the issue.

4. Keep the system and apps updated

Software updates often include battery optimizations that older versions simply don’t have. Running an outdated OS or an app that hasn’t been updated can mean missing out on efficiency improvements — and in some cases, apps optimized for a newer system version may run less efficiently on an older one.

To update the Galaxy Watch’s system software, go to Settings > Software Update on the watch, or use the Galaxy Wearable app on the paired phone by going to Settings > Watch software update > Install. An active internet connection and a connected phone are required.

Third-party apps can be updated through the Google Play Store app on the watch, the same way as on a phone. Automatic updates can be enabled by going into Settings within the Play Store app and turning on Auto-update apps. For native Samsung apps, go to Settings > Apps > Samsung app updates on the watch to update individually or tap Update all.

5. Use power saving mode for an instant battery boost

Tweaking individual settings one by one takes time, and when a Galaxy Watch is down to a few hours of charge with a long day still ahead, there’s a quicker option. Power saving mode handles it in one tap.

Enabling power saving immediately turns off the always-on display, limits background network activity and app processes, reduces CPU speeds, disables syncing between devices, cuts Wi-Fi, and pauses system updates. It’s a significant cutback, but it’s designed for exactly these situations — when battery life matters more than features for a few hours.

Power saving can be enabled by going to Settings > Battery and toggling on Power saving.

The announcement came during the launch of the Honor Magic V6 foldable in Malaysia. Honor stated that the full Magic series – including foldable models – will qualify for this extended support window in the EU and UK, with the Magic 7 Pro expected to be among the first devices to benefit.

The move pushes Honor beyond what many brands currently offer. While five to six years of software support has become the benchmark for flagship Android phones, Honor is now exceeding that standard – at least in these two markets. The 7-year commitment also aligns with the EU’s Circular Economy and Ecodesign regulations, which are designed to reduce the environmental impact of discarded electronics by extending device longevity.

It’s worth noting that the policy isn’t universal. Honor has confirmed the 7-year update commitment specifically for EU and UK customers; users in Malaysia, Singapore, and other markets appear to be on a different plan, likely capped at 6 years of major OS updates.

Under the new policy, both regular Magic smartphones and foldable devices will receive 7 years of major Android OS updates alongside security rollouts and system improvement patches – putting them on par with Samsung’s Galaxy S series and Google’s Pixel lineup in terms of long-term support.

The Honor Magic V6, which launched in Malaysia and Singapore via pre-orders last week, is now heading toward European markets.

The update itself isn’t a single headline feature — it’s a broad set of improvements covering cross-device activity syncing, an expanded Daily Briefing, more structured training tools, HYROX additions, better recovery context, and navigation upgrades.

When Zepp OS 6 is coming

Balance 3 and Balance Ultra remain the launchpad for the new OS, having shipped with Zepp OS 6 already. They’re still the primary showcase devices for what the software can do.

The first follow-up wave lands in June with just two models: Cheetah 2 Ultra and Bip Max. It’s an interesting pairing — the Cheetah 2 Ultra sits squarely in the performance-watch segment, while the Bip Max makes clear that this rollout isn’t reserved for top-tier hardware only.

July is the big month. Zepp OS 6 is scheduled to arrive on the Balance 2, T-Rex Ultra 2, both T-Rex 3 Pro sizes, T-Rex 3, Cheetah 2 Pro, and Active 3 Premium. Active Max follows in August to round out the schedule.

A few models are still without confirmed dates. The original Balance, Active 2 Round, Active 2 Square, and Bip 6 don’t appear in the current rollout schedule. That doesn’t rule them out, but owners of those devices are still waiting for news.

What’s new in Zepp OS 6

One of the more practical additions is Multi-Device Activity Sync, which allows the Zepp Health app to combine daily activity data across supported devices — similar in concept to how Garmin handles multi-device setups. For anyone who switches between an Amazfit watch and another tracker, or wears more than one device at a time, this finally addresses a long-standing gap.

Daily Briefing has also been expanded. Building on the old Morning Update, it now covers both ends of the day. Morning sessions can surface sleep data, weather, schedule, training plans, and recovery context. Evening check-ins can review completed workouts, activity totals, and health trends.

Training tools get the most substantial upgrade. Zepp OS 6 introduces a Training Calendar and Training Library, making it easier to follow planned sessions directly from the wrist. Hybrid training gains AMRAP, TABATA, and EMOM modes, plus HYROX-specific tools including Virtual Pace and dedicated training templates.

Runners get a few targeted additions: grade-adjusted pace, lactate threshold estimates, and lactate threshold-based heart rate zones. Some of these watches already offered lactate threshold estimates, so it remains to be seen whether Zepp OS 6 refines those calculations or simply extends them to more models.

Recovery tools have been restructured around HybridCharge, which builds on BioCharge with a new set of features: LifeLoad, RPE logging, Weekly Focus, Training Balance, and Hybrid Training Plans. LifeLoad lets users account for physical strain that doesn’t come from a tracked workout, while RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) allows manual logging of how demanding a session actually felt — useful context that raw data often misses.

Navigation has received some attention too. Route Progress can now display remaining distance, ascent, and descent to both the next waypoint and the final destination. An Elevation Chart offers a forward-looking view of upcoming climbs and descents, a feature that suits the T-Rex and Cheetah lineup particularly well.

The Launcher has also been reworked, with swipe gestures and button behaviors made more consistent across different devices. It’s not the most exciting change, but it helps Zepp Health’s lineup feel more unified rather than each watch having its own quirks.

Taken together, Zepp OS 6 is less about one splashy addition and more about connecting things that previously felt separate — syncing devices more intelligently, adding real structure to training, and giving recovery data more meaningful context. The rollout schedule now tells owners exactly when they can expect that experience to arrive on their wrist.