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Apple has embedded the Face ID TrueDepth module beneath the iPhone 18 Pro's screen by redesigning the pixel layout in that area to allow infrared light through. iFixit's microscope analysis found pixel density there is halved, with Apple confirming the brightness is boosted to compensate and an IR pass filter reportedly used to keep the components hidden from view.
A newly released Android app called Pixel Clock, roughly two weeks old, provides alarm, timer, stopwatch and world clock functions with a Material 3 Expressive design that adapts to the user's chosen system color. Android Authority's Andy Walker reports it replaced several other timing apps on his device after he had also tried an app called Chrono as an alternative to Google Clock.
Google's Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1 update lets the Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight LED flash twice when a favorite contact sends a message, a feature previously limited to calls and Gemini activity. The option can be toggled under Settings > System > HiLight or set per-contact, though no new LED colors are included in this beta. A stable version of Android 17 QPR2 is expected in December.
CAD renders posted by Android Headlines and OnLeaks show Google's upcoming Pixel 11A budget phone in a new purple finish, keeping the flat, camera-bump-free design of the Pixel 10A. The leak also suggests the device will use the Tensor G6 chip, the same processor found in the pricier Pixel 11, rather than repeating the older chip used in last year's A-series model.
Google released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1, adding builds for the Pixel 11 lineup after last week's Beta 6 release omitted them. Pixel 6a through Pixel 10 devices receive build CP41.260831.007.A3, while all Pixel 11 models get build CP41.260831.011. Google notes Pixel 11 Pro Fold users may need to re-enroll Face Unlock for it to work properly.
Amazon is selling the 41mm LTE version of the Google Pixel Watch 4 for $329.95, down $120 from its $449.95 list price, a 27% discount. The company describes it as the lowest price the smartwatch has reached since launch.
Android Headlines has published leaked renders of Google's upcoming Pixel 11a, showing a design similar to the Pixel 10a with a slightly reshaped camera module and four color options including black, silver, green, and purple. The leak also details specs including a Tensor G6 chip, MediaTek modem, Titan M3 security chip, 8GB RAM, a 6.3-inch display with 3,350 nits peak brightness, and a battery estimated around 5,000mAh.
Google is bringing the Contacts tab back to the bottom navigation bar of its Phone by Google app, reversing a change made last year that moved it into a sidebar menu. The change is currently visible only to some beta users running version 240.0.98, and it did not appear consistently across all devices tested by Android Authority.
The Google Pixel 8, launched in 2023 at $700, is now available refurbished on Amazon for under $300. Google promised the phone seven years of OS and security updates, meaning it remains eligible for Android updates until roughly 2030. It features a 6.2-inch 120Hz OLED display, a dual rear camera system with 50MP wide and 12MP ultrawide sensors, and AI photo tools like Magic Editor and Best Take.
Renders attributed to leaker OnLeaks and published by Android Headlines show a Pixel 11A that looks nearly identical to the Pixel 9A and 10A, aside from a slightly rounder rear camera module and the same thick display bezels. A separate report from Mystic Leaks claims the phone will upgrade to Google's Tensor G6 chip, replacing the Tensor G4 used in the previous two A-series models. Android Headlines also reports the device will come in black, silver, green, and purple.
WIRED's 2026 smartwatch guide picks the Apple Watch Series 12, priced at $399, as the best option for iPhone owners, and Google's $400 Pixel Watch 5 as the top choice for Android users. The review highlights the Series 12's new Health Sensing System, S11 chip, more frequent heart rate and HRV tracking, a new Readiness score, and faster charging, while noting battery life remains largely unchanged.
Android Authority's Jerry Hildenbrand bought a Pixel 11 for $300 via Google Fi loyalty discounts but hit a boot loop during initial setup, taking nearly an hour to reach the home screen. He says the device then struggled to maintain a stable network connection, and a colleague reported similar boot loop problems on a Pixel 11 Pro roughly a month earlier.