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Android Authority found code in Pixel Search app version 1.0.983036833 referencing devices from the 2021 Pixel lineup onward, suggesting Google plans to officially bring the expanded search app beyond the Pixel 11 series. The app currently requires Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 or later to function, with the stable release expected around December 2026.
A new version of Google's Pixel Search app adds a 'Privacy & Permissions' settings section with toggles for 'Help improve Pixel Search,' 'Call Logs,' and 'SMS.' These let users control whether their call and message history is used to improve contact suggestions, though disabling them doesn't stop call or SMS results from appearing in search unless app permissions are revoked separately. Code analysis by Android Authority also uncovered references to an unreleased 'Gemini-powered suggestions' feature.
Users running Android 10 on phones like the Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact are reporting in-car warnings that their devices will soon lose Android Auto support. The messages appear during wired connections and state the phone cannot update to the Android version Android Auto will require going forward. Google has not announced any change, and its support pages still list Android 9 Pie as the minimum for wired Android Auto.
Android Authority found a work-in-progress Gemini interface redesign inside Android Auto app version 17.9.664004, which it enabled to preview. The new animation adopts Google's Neural Expressive design style with dots around the Gemini interface, spanning the full screen width with Live and close buttons on either side, replacing the current subtle glow indicator.
Google told Android Authority that most Android apps run well on both Intel and Qualcomm-powered Googlebooks, but acknowledged that a small number of complex apps and games need extra developer work to perform properly on Intel chips. The company said this stems from many Android apps originally being built for Arm processors rather than Intel's architecture.
In an Android Authority reader poll of nearly 2,300 votes, 61.5% chose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra as the preferred alternative to Apple's iPhone 18 Pro, beating out the Google Pixel 11 Pro, Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), and other Android flagships by a wide margin. The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs about $100 more than the iPhone 18 Pro but includes features like a Privacy Display, an additional camera, and Samsung's Galaxy AI tools.
An Android Authority columnist praises the Pixel 11 Pro's hardware, cameras and software but says testing uncovered three recurring weaknesses: inconsistent gaming performance, limited battery capacity, and slow wired charging. The writer cites a colleague's investigation finding that the Tensor GPU's rendering approach causes microstutters in games because it lacks native support for certain graphics features.
GrapheneOS says it has traced a regression in Google's Android 17 QPR1 update that causes lag, stuttering, freezes, and app crashes on Pixel devices under memory pressure. The project says the bug originates in Pixel firmware and drivers supplied by Google, meaning it can affect stock Pixel software too, and it has already patched the issue in its own OS release while Google has not yet issued a fix.
A leak from Android Headlines details an unreleased Fitbit model called the Fitbit Edge, expected to succeed the 2023 Fitbit Charge. Reported specs include a small display, seven-day battery life, GPS, an altimeter, and limited app support for Google Maps and YouTube Music, with color options matching upcoming Pixel 11 phones like Rose Peach and Olive.
As Googlebook laptops go on sale, Google has added new support documentation explaining features unique to the Android-based devices. The pages detail the RGB Glowbar strip's various lighting states—covering usage, charging, battery level, and Gemini interactions—as well as Game Controls, which lets users map physical keys to on-screen touchscreen controls for Android games.
Multiple Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro/Pro XL owners say Google Maps freezes, flickers, or shows pixelated graphical artifacts when used with Android Auto, over both wired and wireless connections. The issue persists despite clearing app data, reinstalling apps, switching cables, or changing resolution settings, and doesn't affect all users or vehicles.
Android Authority found a new lock screen customization page hidden in the Wallpaper & Style app on the first Android 17 QPR3 beta. The page is mostly empty but shows buttons for wallpaper, colors, clock, widgets, and a new 'media' option not seen in the current menu. Currently, Pixel owners customize lock screens through a swipe-based menu with separate settings for clock, shortcuts, and notifications.