The Galaxy S26 Series Is Now Officially on Sale, and the Trade-In Values Have Plummeted
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series has hit stores, but the generous pre‑order trade‑in credits have been slashed. The top‑tier S26 Ultra now offers up to $720, roughly $200 less than the pre‑launch incentive, while trade‑ins for devices like the Z Fold 6 and iPhone 15 Pro Max fell dramatically. Carrier promotions still provide free S26 units for new Unlimited lines, but instant credit without trade‑ins caps at $150. Consumers must weigh reduced rebates against carrier bundles or wait for future discounts.
Galaxy S26 Switching to ‘Hey Perplexity’ Wake Word for Its Third AI Assistant
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series rolled out its first software update, removing the previously announced “Hey Plex” wake word for the Perplexity AI assistant. The change is temporary, as Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas confirmed the wake word will be reintroduced as “Hey Perplexity.”...
Find Hub for Android Removes Biometric Login
Google's Find Hub app has removed the biometric confirmation step that previously required a fingerprint or PIN before displaying the Devices and People lists. The change rolled out server‑side in early March 2026, following a February Play Store update. While...
These Smart Glasses Are Similar Meta Ray-Bans, but Support Google’s Gemini
Rokid has rolled out a software update that adds native support for Google’s Gemini large‑language model to its AI‑powered smart glasses. The “Style” model mirrors Meta’s Ray‑Ban glasses with open‑ear speakers, a 12 MP camera, and a 12‑hour battery, but costs...
The Sideload 025: Folding Tablets and Other MWC Wishes
The Sideload episode 25 recaps Ben Schoon’s highlights from MWC 2026, focusing on Qualcomm’s new wearable‑focused chipset, Lenovo’s concept gaming tablet with a foldable screen, and Honor’s experimental robot smartphone. The podcast underscores a broader industry shift toward hybrid devices...
UAG Launches Its First Android Find Hub Tracker, Priced at $45
UAG has entered the Google Find Hub market with the Metropolis Tracker Card, a 3 mm‑thin, IPX4‑rated device priced at $45. The Android‑compatible card offers up to five months of battery life, Qi wireless charging, and a built‑in speaker for location...
AAWireless TWO+ Adapter with Wireless Android Auto and CarPlay Is Finally Back in Stock
AAWireless has restocked its TWO+ wireless adapter on Amazon after a four‑month shortage. The device enables seamless switching between Android Auto and Apple CarPlay without cables, catering to mixed‑platform households. It returns at its launch price of $65, though shipments...
Samsung and Google Pixel Keep Making the Same Phone Case Mistake
Samsung and Google’s official silicone cases for flagship phones have drawn criticism for being overly grippy, making it difficult to slide devices in and out of pockets. Recent hands‑on testing with the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro confirms the material feels...
Samsung Wants to Let You Vibe Code Apps and More on Future Galaxy Phones
Samsung announced it is exploring "vibe coding," an AI‑driven feature that would let Galaxy users personalize apps and the overall user experience without writing code. The concept draws on recent trends like Nothing’s AI‑generated widget suite and Google’s developer‑focused AI...
Oppo’s Find N6 Leaks in Spectacular Orange Color Before OnePlus Could Make a Second Foldable
Oppo has leaked images of its upcoming Find N6 foldable, revealing a vibrant orange variant alongside grey and black options. The device retains the thin profile and hinge design introduced with the Find N5, suggesting incremental rather than radical changes....
Pixel Journal Gets Short Material 3 Expressive Bottom Bar
Pixel Journal has been updated with Material 3 Expressive’s short bottom bar, reducing the space above the tab indicator and aligning its look with Google Home and Phone. The UI tweak introduces a floating toolbar similar to the recent Pixel Now Playing...
Android 16 QPR3: Pixel Launcher Search Bar Loses M3 Expressive Redesign
Android 16 QPR3 reverts the Pixel Launcher search bar to its legacy layout, discarding the Material 3 Expressive redesign introduced last year. The update restores the single‑container design with AI Mode positioned left of the microphone, and re‑enables long‑press customization of the AI...
Google Starts Calling Out Android Apps that Drain Your Battery Before You Download Them
Google Play has begun displaying a battery‑drain warning on Android app listings, alerting users that an app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity. The warning launched on March 1, 2026, alongside a new developer metric that tracks...
AirDrop over Android Quick Share Support Will Roll Out This Month, Oppo Says
Oppo announced that its Find X9 series will receive AirDrop‑over‑Quick Share support, allowing native file transfers between Android, iOS, iPadOS and macOS devices. The feature will roll out as a software update later in March, built in partnership with MediaTek and Google....
Pixel Homescreens Are Getting Custom Icons, but Google’s Keeping Them Locked to AI
Google announced that Pixel 6 and newer devices will receive AI‑generated custom icon packs as part of today’s Pixel Drop. The new packs—named Cookies, Treasure, Scribbles, Easel and Stardust—are created by Google’s generative AI and replace the limited Material You color scheme....
Today’s Best Android Game and App Deals: Skul Hero Slayer, Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, Defenchick, More
9to5Toys’ afternoon roundup spotlights a wave of Android game and app discounts, featuring titles like Skul: The Hero Slayer, Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, and Defenchick. The same list bundles aggressive pre‑order incentives for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series, with...
Google Chrome Is Switching to a Two-Week Release Cycle
Google Chrome will move its major milestone releases to a two‑week cadence, beginning with Chrome 153 stable on September 8. The change aims to deliver new features, performance tweaks, and fixes faster while retaining weekly security patches. It applies to desktop, Android,...
Google Home Just Announced a Bunch of Gemini, Smart Home Updates Rolling Out Now
Google announced a suite of Gemini for Home updates that tighten voice‑command precision, improve device and location context, and cut premature cut‑offs. The changes ensure commands like “turn off the kitchen” affect only lights and that “turn off all the...
Samsung’s Digital Home Key Will Work with UWB and NFC Smart Locks
Samsung announced that its Samsung Wallet will now include a Digital Home Key, extending the Digital Key feature from vehicles to residential smart locks. The new function relies on the open Aliro standard—managed by the CSA group behind Matter—and supports...
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra Shipped Early for at Least One Person
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra began shipping a week before its scheduled March 6 launch when a Reddit user received the device early. The premature delivery appears to be a logistics slip rather than a deliberate giveaway, and similar incidents have...
Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon Wear Elite for Next Gen of Wear OS, Galaxy Watch
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon Wear Elite at MWC 2026, a premium Wear OS chipset built on a 3 nm process with a big.LITTLE CPU and an upgraded Adreno GPU. The SoC delivers up to five‑fold single‑core CPU performance and seven‑fold GPU frame‑rate gains,...
Motorola Confirms GrapheneOS Support for a Future Phone, Bringing over Features
Motorola announced a long‑term partnership with GrapheneOS at MWC 2026 to ship a future Motorola phone with GrapheneOS pre‑installed and to back‑port select security features to existing models. The collaboration will involve joint research, software enhancements, and new security capabilities. Current...
Samsung’s Excuse for Skipping Qi2 Magnets in Galaxy S26 Ignores the Big Picture
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series skips built‑in Qi2 magnets, citing a push for thinner, lighter devices. The phones still support Qi2‑compatible cases, meaning 25 W wireless‑charging speeds depend on magnetic alignment provided by a case. Currently, no 25 W Qi2 charger operates without magnets,...
YouTube Test Lets AI Create a New Video Using Someone Else’s Shorts
YouTube Shorts is piloting AI‑driven Remix tools for a limited group of English‑speaking creators. The "Reimagine" feature lets users turn a single frame from an existing Short into a brand‑new video using custom or suggested prompts, while "Add object" enables...
Chrome for Android Rolls Out Always-Available Reading Mode Redesign [U]
Google has begun rolling out a major redesign of Chrome for Android’s Reading mode in version 145, making the feature widely available across devices. The exit button now appears in a rounded‑square shape, improving visibility, and a new Lexend font...
Samsung Teases ‘More Advanced’ S Pen, No TriFold or Edge Sequels Yet
Samsung’s chief operating officer confirmed that the S Pen remains a core component of its flagship Galaxy line and is slated for a major upgrade. The next‑generation stylus will feature a new display‑integrated structure that reduces the physical penalty of the...
Samsung Galaxy Update Removes Android Recovery Menu Tools, Including Sideloading
Samsung’s February 2026 One UI 8.5 update strips several core utilities from the Android recovery menu on Galaxy devices, including ADB and SD‑card update options, cache wipes, and log viewing. The remaining menu items are limited to reboot, factory reset, and...
Pixelated 090: Hey Gemini, Order Me a Pizza
Episode 90 of 9to5Google’s Pixelated podcast dives into Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launch, highlighting its modest hardware tweaks and the rollout of Pixel‑inspired AI tools on the device. The hosts also unpack Google’s new agentic Android features, powered by Gemini, that let users...
Walmart Onn 4K Plus, the Best Deal in Google TV at $30, Is Finally Back in Stock
Walmart’s Onn 4K Plus streaming device, priced at $30, is back in stock after weeks of unavailability. The Google TV‑powered dongle offers 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage and Wi‑Fi 6, delivering solid performance as a Chromecast alternative. Both online and in‑store inventories are limited, with...
No, the Galaxy S26 Series Doesn’t Support AirDrop (Yet)
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series does not yet support Apple’s AirDrop through Quick Share, despite circulating rumors and a leaked One UI 8.5 screenshot. Google’s Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 already offer seamless AirDrop integration, setting a benchmark for cross‑platform sharing. Samsung confirmed the feature...
Google Photos for Android Rolls Out Sticker Creation
Google Photos for Android has introduced a built‑in sticker creation tool in version 7.64, following a similar iOS rollout earlier this year. Users can select a clearly defined subject, press and hold to generate a cut‑out sticker, then copy or share...
Google Photos Rolling Out Shortcut to Local Folders
Google Photos for Android is introducing a new folder‑icon shortcut in the top bar, positioned next to the plus and notification icons. Tapping the icon jumps straight to the “On this device” page, where local folders such as Screenshots, Quick Share,...
Samsung Confirms Satellite Connectivity for Galaxy S26 and Older Galaxy Devices
Samsung announced that its upcoming Galaxy S26 series – S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra – will support satellite connectivity in major markets such as the United States, Europe and Japan. The feature is also being back‑ported to select older Galaxy flagships and...
Nvidia Shield TV Is Getting a New Update Following Promise of Continued Support
Nvidia announced that its Shield TV line will continue receiving software support, rolling out the Shield Experience 9.2.4 update for all devices. The patch brings January 2026 security updates and resolves several high‑profile bugs, including Disney+ playback and Bluetooth remote disconnects. This...
Motorola Teases ‘Every Detail’ About Razr Fold Is Coming Next Week
Motorola unveiled a preview of its upcoming Razr Fold at CES 2026, showcasing a surprisingly thin, book‑style foldable that sits between the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold in design. The company hinted that full specifications and a potential launch timeline will...
Google Releases ‘Gemini Enterprise’ Mobile App, Adds @Google Chat for Workspace
Google has released Gemini Enterprise mobile applications for Android and iOS, extending its AI work‑assistant platform to enterprise users. The apps are offered in early‑access by invitation only and are packaged as a standalone 33 MB Android app. Gemini Enterprise now...
Google Teases ‘Amazing Things’ in Android 17
Google’s Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat announced that Android 17, currently in beta, will shift the platform from a traditional OS to an AI‑powered intelligent system. The upcoming release, slated for finalization by May and stable launch in June, will embed...
![Samsung’s Audio Eraser Now Works with YouTube and Other Apps, and It’s Impressive [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/galaxy-s26-audio-eraser-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Samsung’s Audio Eraser Now Works with YouTube and Other Apps, and It’s Impressive [Video]
Samsung has upgraded its Audio Eraser tool on the Galaxy S26, enabling real‑time voice isolation across popular streaming and social apps. Integrated into One UI 8.5, users can toggle the feature, adjust its strength, and enable a Voice Focus mode. Demonstrations show...
1Password’s Annual Subscription Plans Are Getting a Price Hike Next Month
1Password announced a price increase for its annual plans effective March 27 2026. Individual subscriptions will rise to $47.88 per month and family plans to $71.88 per month, representing a $12 yearly bump. The company attributes the hike to added value and...
Google Messages More Widely Rolling Out Circular Read Receipts Redesign
Google Messages is now broadly rolling out a circular redesign for read receipts to beta testers, following an August 2024 test. The new UI places a single circular indicator in the bottom‑right of each bubble, showing four states: sending, sent,...
Oppo Teases the Find N6’s Crease-Less Display Ahead of Rumored March Launch
Oppo has unveiled a teaser for its upcoming Find N6 foldable, highlighting a crease‑less interior display. The device retains an 8.12‑inch main screen and a 6.62‑inch outer panel, with a larger battery hinted at. Launch is slated for China in...
NotebookLM Reportedly Testing Custom Banners Beyond Limited Emoji Labels
NotebookLM, Google’s AI‑driven note‑taking tool, is testing a new custom banner image feature that appears as a “customize” button with an image‑generation icon. The functionality may let users upload personal graphics or generate AI‑based visuals tied to notebook content. This...
The Sideload 023: Cable TV, Now with More Hoops
The Sideload episode 23, hosted by 9to5Google’s Will Sattelberg, features Brady Snyder discussing recent shifts in streaming media. They examine YouTube TV’s newly introduced channel packages, noting higher prices and added complexity for subscribers. The conversation then pivots to Apple Music’s Android app,...
Google Messages Preps Find Hub Location Sharing Integration
Google is testing real‑time location sharing in its Messages app, leveraging the Find Hub service. The upcoming feature will let users share live coordinates directly within a chat, with preset durations of one hour, today, or until manually stopped. Strings...
Gemini App Adds Video Templates to Quick Start Generation
Google’s Gemini app now includes a library of fifteen video‑generation templates, letting users start clips with predefined styles such as Cyberpunk, Cosmos or Action Hero. The update adds an "Ingredients to Video" option where a personal photo can become the...
Android Auto Users Hit with ‘Voice Commands Aren’t Available Right Now’ Bug
A software bug is preventing Android Auto users from invoking voice commands, displaying a "voice commands aren’t available right now" notice at launch. The problem spans multiple manufacturers, including Samsung and Google Pixel devices, and appears to have intensified after...
Google, Apple Start Testing Encrypted RCS on Android and iOS 26.4
Google and Apple announced that encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging is now in beta testing between Android and iPhone devices. The feature leverages the GSMA RCS Universal Profile and provides end‑to‑end encryption, visible as a lock icon in both...
Acme Weather Is an Upgraded Dark Sky Reboot that Knows Your Weather App Sucks, Coming to Android
Acme Weather, built by the original Dark Sky team, is set to launch on Android after an iPhone debut. The app differentiates itself by displaying "alternative possible futures" that illustrate forecast uncertainty alongside the primary prediction. It also incorporates crowdsourced weather...
Samsung’s Galaxy Book 6 Laptops Start at $1,049 in the US, Launch on March 11
Samsung announced the U.S. launch of its Galaxy Book 6 laptop series on March 11, with three models priced from $1,049 to $2,449. The lineup, revealed at CES 2026, features a slimmer design, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, and an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU in...
Galaxy S26 Will Have a ‘Hey Plex’ Perplexity Hotword Alongside ‘Hey Google’ & Bixby
Samsung confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy S26 series will ship with a new Perplexity hotword, “Hey Plex,” adding a third AI voice assistant alongside Google’s “Hey Google” and Samsung’s “Hey Bixby.” The integration is system‑level, with Perplexity pre‑installed and reachable via voice or a...