Pixel 11 Pro users running the Android 17 beta are reportedly seeing VoLTE and 5G connectivity activate in markets Google previously didn't support, according to a user report and firmware analysis. The change follows last month's announced partnership between Google and the GSMA to use the Network Settings Exchange (NSX), a shared database of carrier settings, to broadly enable VoLTE starting with the Pixel 11 line. Firmware checks reportedly confirm VoLTE enablement for carriers including China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, and Hong Kong's CSL.
Huawei has released the Ruiying Z10, an attachable lens for its Mate 90 Pro Max collector's edition and Mate 90 RS phones that contains a 1-inch-type, 50-megapixel RYYB sensor larger than any sensor in the phone itself. The accessory offers a true variable 24-240mm zoom with f/2.0-f/4.5 aperture, screws directly onto the phone's camera island without needing a case, and weighs 346g while costing roughly $895.
Multiple Pixel owners, including users of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 Pro, say the September 2026 software update has broken their lock screens, preventing correct PINs or patterns from registering. Affected users describe patterns resetting mid-gesture and PIN entries being rejected after only the first digit, leaving them unable to access their phones. Troubleshooting steps like Safe Mode, cleaning the screen or reinstalling the build have not fixed the issue for at least one user, who resorted to a factory reset.
Reports indicate Huawei and other Chinese smartphone makers saw increased demand for their foldable devices following the announcement of Apple's iPhone Duo. China is emerging as a key battleground where Apple will compete against established domestic foldable brands.
Vivo is rolling out its X Fold 6 foldable outside China after debuting it domestically in June. The phone keeps a traditional tall, narrow foldable shape with a 6.51-inch 20:9 cover screen and 8.02-inch inner display, but pairs it with a large 1/1.4-inch 200-megapixel main sensor, 50-megapixel telephoto and ultrawide cameras, a 6,900mAh battery, and a custom MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip. Vivo has not yet disclosed pricing or which markets will get the device.
Thomas Kennedy, an Argentinian-American writer and immigration advocate, has sued the federal government alleging that a Customs and Border Protection agent searched his bags and phone upon his re-entry into the US at Miami International Airport. He says the agent took his phone for about 45 minutes, during which he believes data was copied, before releasing him without charges. Kennedy is seeking a court order requiring the government to delete any data taken from his device.
Google has released its third Google Home app update this September, focused on making Gemini for Home better at filtering background noise to register voice commands and respond faster. The update also improves multilingual recognition, Find My Phone reliability, smart light controls, camera tiles, and device setup, alongside fixes for Matter switches, Favorites tiles, camera playback, Onn camera history, and Automations.
A company called Freckle has launched a phone designed for children that strips out internet browsing and app stores in favor of tactile buttons, a walkie-talkie feature, and outdoor 'quests' meant to encourage play away from screens. Co-founder Sam Terris said the device draws on his own childhood spent playing outdoors in Concord, Massachusetts, which he credits with shaping his development.
Android Authority ran a two-week reader poll asking Pixel owners whether Android 17 QPR1, which began rolling out this month, introduced new problems. Of 1,458 respondents, about 68% reported some new issue, with performance (19%), UI behavior (16%), display glitches (14%) and connectivity (11%) as the top complaints, while nearly a third said they saw no new problems.
Android Authority released its latest 'Wallpaper Wednesday' collection, featuring six reader-submitted images and three from its own team. The wallpapers are free, watermark-free, and available in both landscape and portrait formats as JPG or PNG files via a shared Drive link.
HONOR has quietly released the Life S3, a 3.68-inch E Ink display that magnetically attaches to the back of any phone using an included magnetic ring. The device supports Wi-Fi 6 book transfers, microSD cards up to 1TB, and claims up to 30 hours of reading on its 650mAh battery, running a custom RTOS with JD Reading preinstalled.
An Android Authority writer tested three storage-cleaning tools — Samsung's built-in Device Care, Google's Files app, and the power-user tool SD Maid SE — after nearly filling a 256GB Galaxy phone. The cleanup recovered 15GB, less than hoped, largely because the reviewer chose to keep many large personal files rather than delete them.
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