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Android Authority writer Megan Ellis describes how her HONOR 600 Pro, like Motorola's Razr, Edge and the Nothing Phone 4a, ships with a dedicated physical AI button on its frame. After finding the button's default AI-launching behaviour unwanted, she discovered a settings option letting her reassign it to trigger other phone functions instead of an AI assistant.
Android Authority writer Zac Kew-Denniss outlined features found on other Android phones but absent from Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, including ultra-fast charging, IR blasters, dual desktop modes with advanced app cloning, Moto Actions-style gestures, and Nothing's Glyph lighting system. The piece notes Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra tops out at 60W charging and the Pixel 11 Pro at 45W, compared to phones like the OnePlus 15 at 80W and even faster options available outside the US.
In an opinion piece, Android Authority's Aamir Siddiqui writes that after being a longtime advocate for book-style foldable phones, he has grown disillusioned with the category. He argues that the multitasking benefits of a combined phone-tablet device rarely justify the added complexity, fragility, and cost of folding mechanisms, saying he only uses split-screen multitasking a few times a month.
Reports on Apple's foldable iPhone Duo say its screen uses a matte coating that reduces glare and makes the fold line less visible than on rival foldables. Early hands-on impressions describe the crease as more noticeable by touch than by sight, but reviewers note this only reflects the device's current, unused state.
Smartphone makers including Apple and Google caution that IP67/IP68 water-resistance ratings do not mean phones are waterproof, and that steam from hot showers or saunas can condense into liquid that seeps in through charging ports, speakers, buttons and seals. Apple's support documentation specifically advises against bringing iPhones into saunas or steam rooms, noting that liquid damage isn't covered under warranty; Google offers similar guidance and suggests using a Bluetooth speaker instead.
A week after Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched with new colors like Glacier, Burgundy and Deep Black, a 9to5Mac reviewer tested numerous third-party cases and shared personal favorites. Highlighted picks include Pitaka's ultra-thin Edge case, made of aramid fiber at 20g and 1mm thick with MagSafe magnets, priced at $59, and Nomad's Sport Case, which offers a soft-touch exterior, metal buttons and microfiber lining for everyday protection.
A third-party app called Merge Watch lets users pair an Apple Watch with an Android device after initial setup with an iPhone. Users install the app on both the Apple Watch and an Android phone, grant Bluetooth, health, notification and battery permissions, then pair via a six-digit code. Health data syncs to Google Fit, though it can take time to appear after setup.
Samsung devices running Android 12 or later include a Phone Diagnostics tool under Settings > Device care > Diagnostics, letting users test individual hardware components or run all checks at once. The same diagnostics suite is also accessible through the Samsung Members app. A test run on a Galaxy S26 Ultra produced 22 separate checks covering the phone's hardware.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 alongside two other foldables at its July Unpacked event, introducing a shorter, wider form factor distinct from prior Z Fold models. The device measures 123.9mm tall, 9.7mm thick folded and 4.5mm unfolded, weighing 201 grams, making it lighter than the Z Fold 8 Ultra. A hands-on review after two weeks of use found it a strong but not flawless entry into the wide-foldable category.
An Android Authority reviewer highlights Face Unlock on the Pixel 11 Pro, noting it can authenticate not just the lock screen but also sensitive apps and mobile payments, thanks to security processing on Google's Tensor chip. This capability has existed since the Pixel 8 series in 2023 and remains largely unchanged, while competitors like Samsung and Motorola limit face unlock to lock-screen access only.
Android Authority polled over 2,200 readers on which phone they'd choose instead of the Pixel 11 Pro. The Galaxy S26 Plus won with 26.2% of votes, followed by the Pixel 10 Pro at 21.8%, the Nothing Phone 3 at 20.5%, and the Motorola Razr at 19.5%. The standard Pixel 11 finished last with just 12% of the vote.
Multiple Samsung Galaxy device owners, mostly using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, report that YouTube videos freeze with audio still playing after switching away from the app and back. The issue has been discussed for weeks on a Korean Samsung community forum, with some users of the standard Z Fold 8 and Galaxy S26 Ultra also reporting similar problems. Samsung has not publicly responded to the reports.