GoKawiil
Tech News
Samsung's Certified Re-Newed program is now available on Amazon, offering 14 refurbished Galaxy phones from two generations, priced from $489 for the Galaxy S24 FE (128GB) up to $1,029 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB). Each unit passes Samsung's 147-point quality check, receives a new IMEI number, and comes with a one-year warranty.
Multiple Samsung Galaxy owners, including S26, S25 Edge, S24 Ultra and A55 users, report that Android Auto fails to connect or repeatedly disconnects after installing One UI 9. Fixes like re-pairing, clearing app data, and using a wired connection have not resolved the issue for affected users. Google has confirmed its Android Auto team received at least one complaint and forwarded it internally, but has not identified a cause or fix.
Samsung is now offering its certified renewed Galaxy devices through Amazon for the first time, each including a new battery and a one-year warranty. The renewed Galaxy S24 FE with 128GB storage starts at $489, down from its $649 original price but still more expensive than comparable used units from third-party sellers like Back Market.
Samsung has started deploying the stable version of One UI 9, based on Android 17, to the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in South Korea. The update for Galaxy S24 beta users is approximately 500MB, while non-beta users will receive a 3.8GB download, which includes the full Android 17 upgrade. The rollout is expected to expand to other markets such as the US and Europe soon.
Samsung has begun rolling out a new update for the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, S24 Ultra, and S24 FE globally, carrying the September 2026 security patch that fixes 90 vulnerabilities. The update is roughly 450MB for the standard S24 models and 438MB for the S24 FE, but it does not include the stable One UI 9 build based on Android 17, which Samsung has not yet scheduled.
Multiple users, including on Reddit and Android Authority's own test devices, report that the built-in camera in Google Messages either fires the LED flash too early, producing dark photos, or fails to trigger it at all. The bug appears across stable and beta versions of the app, on different phone models and carriers, and has reportedly been occurring for over a month. The flash works normally in other camera apps and outside the Messages interface, indicating the fault is specific to Google Messages' in-chat camera.
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking whether long-term software support is a priority when buying a new phone, drawing 1,455 responses. About 46% called it a top priority, 38% said it matters but isn't a dealbreaker, and roughly 16% said price matters more than software longevity.
Reviewers compared the Galaxy S24 against three newly released mid-range rivals—Google's Pixel 10a, Nothing's Phone 4a Pro, and Samsung's own Galaxy A37 5G—all priced near $450-$500. Each offers a distinct edge, from the Pixel's long software support and camera software to the Nothing phone's larger screen and periscope zoom, to the A37's battery life and display quality within Samsung's own lineup.
Samsung has begun rolling out the first One UI 9 beta build, based on Android 17, to the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra. The update, confirmed live in the US, India, and South Korea via the Samsung Members app, weighs around 3.6GB and includes a security patch dated August 2026 along with new personalization and productivity features.