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Android Authority polled nearly 5,000 readers on their preferred alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, which costs $50 more than its predecessor with few added features. The Motorola Edge (2026) narrowly won with 25.6% of votes, edging out the Samsung Galaxy S26 at 25.4%, while the Pixel 11 placed third with 20.3%.
Android Authority found code in a recent Google Messages build showing Google testing a redesigned pinned chats experience. Planned changes include an animated Material 3 Expressive typing indicator that replaces the plain 'typing' text with a moving contact photo, plus thumbnail previews for images, videos and GIFs instead of generic labels. The teardown also revealed a feature to pin or unpin multiple contacts at once, though none of these features are live yet.
A columnist for Android Authority describes turning off eight built-in features in Google Messages, including the Gemini AI shortcut, profile sharing, outgoing message sounds, floating chat bubbles and follow-up reminders. The writer says disabling these options over a week made the app less cluttered and reduced notification interruptions, and provides steps for other users to switch them off.
Android Authority found evidence in Google Messages beta version 20260921 of a new feature that surfaces a floating search icon when users scroll up within a chat thread. Tapping the icon opens the existing search interface, bypassing the current three-dot menu route. The outlet says it activated and tested the feature on a device, and it appeared to function smoothly, though it is not yet publicly available.
An Android Authority writer who used the iPhone 17 for nearly a year switched to the Pixel 11 as their main phone for over a month and compared the two. They highlight the Pixel 11's 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a feature the iPhone 17 lacks, as the standout advantage, praising its detail, natural colors and low noise, especially in portraits.
Android Authority's Stephen Radochia has published a comparison review of Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL against the Pixel 8 Pro after a week of testing. He reports that the new phone feels lighter and more refined, with a matte black finish and color-matched aluminum frame, while gaming performance remains a weaker point. He now says it's harder to recommend holding onto the Pixel 8 Pro than in previous years.
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.
Android Authority highlights lesser-known Google Lens features, including identifying items for purchase by pointing a camera at them and returning direct shopping links, and decoding laundry care symbols on clothing tags. The tool also works for interpreting car dashboard icons, nutrition labels, and troubleshooting device issues, aided by its integration with Gemini for follow-up questions.
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.
Google Health version 5.09 is rolling out on Android and iOS, bringing the newly announced Pixel Watch Health Guardian features—blood pressure tracking, insulin resistance trend charts, and sleep breathing quality data—to Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5 owners. The update also lets Garmin and Apple Watch users sync workouts into Cardio Load calculations, adds new activity-logging options, fixes a step streak display bug, and improves how custom food items handle serving units and meal times.
An Entrepreneur contributor and author of 'The Authority Advantage' argues that books, keynotes and courses generate value mainly through indirect channels—faster client conversion, referrals, partnerships and pricing power—rather than through royalties, speaking fees or enrollment revenue. The piece frames this as a shift from being an 'operator with something to sell' to an 'authority with something to teach.'
Amazon is currently selling Samsung's Galaxy A57 5G for $449.99, down from its $549.99 list price, an 18% discount. The phone features a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a triple-camera system, and a 5,000mAh battery, and carries a 4.4-star customer rating.