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Samsung has begun pushing the stable One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, to Galaxy S26 Ultra units in the United States. Reports from T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra owners on Reddit show the update carrying a 4.1GB download and the September 2026 security patch, though it's unclear whether AT&T variants are receiving it yet.
Motorola announced the Signature 27 smartphone at the Snapdragon Summit, calling it its most advanced phone yet. The device uses Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, pairs a 50MP main camera with a 200MP telephoto lens, and includes Bang & Olufsen speakers and an upgraded cooling system. It runs Android 17 with seven years of promised OS updates and Gemini-based AI tools, but Motorola has not disclosed pricing, display specs, or an exact release date beyond a 2026 global launch target.
Motorola is rolling out its Qira AI experience to additional devices in its Signature, Edge, and Razr lineups as part of the ongoing Android 17 update. Qira, first unveiled at CES 2026, merges Moto AI, Lenovo AI Now, Creator Zone, and Learning Zone into one assistant with shared memory across devices. Users can access it by saying 'Hey Qira,' tapping on-screen prompts, or pressing a dedicated AI key.
Nothing has opened its Android 17-based OS 5.0 beta to three more devices: the Phone 4a, Phone 3a Pro, and Phone 3a. The update brings a visual overhaul with a new Geist typeface, redesigned Settings and Camera apps, split notification panels, transparent widgets, and more customization options. Users have only one week to enroll before the beta window closes, after which they must wait for the stable release expected in early November.
Code found in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 references an 'Unlock with Google Account' feature that would let users regain access to a locked phone using their linked Google credentials instead of performing a factory reset. Google offered a similar pattern-unlock recovery option through Android 4.4 before removing it, leaving users locked out of forgotten PINs with no option but a full wipe. The feature appears unreleased and possibly optional, suggesting Google is still testing how to implement it.
Google's Play Services v26.37 update, released September 21, extends the Motion Assist feature beyond Pixel devices to any Android phone running Android 17 or later. The tool displays small visual bubbles along screen edges that move in sync with a vehicle's motion, using the phone's sensors to help reduce motion sickness. Users can customize the bubbles' appearance and choose automatic or manual activation.
Clicks announced that its BlackBerry-inspired Communicator smartphone will start shipping in December, almost a year after debuting at CES 2026. The final retail version boosts RAM from 8GB to 12GB and battery capacity from 4,000mAh to 4,350mAh, and it ships with Android 17 alongside a price increase set for October 1.
Google's September Pixel Drop brought Android 17 QPR1 to Pixel phones this week, adding minor features alongside a wave of user complaints about new bugs. Reported issues span performance slowdowns, connectivity failures, display glitches, and unexpected UI behavior, though it's unclear how widespread the problems actually are.
Android 17 QPR1, rolling out to Pixel devices, reportedly changes how the OS exposes developer and USB debugging status to installed apps. This means apps can no longer easily detect that a device has developer options or debugging enabled, a check many banking and finance apps use to block access.
Clicks has finalized specifications for its keyboard-first Communicator smartphone, increasing RAM from 8GB to 12GB and boosting battery capacity from a planned 4,000mAh to 4,350mAh rated for over 800 charge cycles. The device will ship with Android 17 preinstalled, with Clicks promising three major OS upgrades and five years of security patches. The phone begins shipping in December, and its $499 launch price is only guaranteed for orders placed before September 30.
Google appears to be trialing Proactive Assistance, an AI feature originally exclusive to the Pixel 11 series, on the older Pixel 10 Pro XL through the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 update. YouTube channel In Depth Tech Reviews found the settings menu and permission toggles for the feature already present, closely mirroring what appears on Pixel 11 devices. The feature isn't fully working yet, with odd artifacts like a non-functional 'Android Easter Egg' entry in the assistant menu suggesting it's still in early testing.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro launches at $1,199, a $100 increase over the iPhone 17 Pro, adding a variable aperture camera system for photographers. Google's Pixel 11 Pro also rose $100 to $1,099, gaining a larger 48-megapixel telephoto sensor with 30x optical-style zoom and a 120x AI-enhanced Pro Zoom mode. Beyond cameras, the two phones diverge sharply in design, colors and software, running iOS 27 and Android 17 respectively.