Google has rolled out its latest Pixel feature drop, giving Pixel 6 and newer users home screen widgets for quick calls or texts to VIP contacts, plus new scam detection warnings built into the Gboard keyboard for chat apps. The update also brings Harry Potter-themed customization packs and two free months of Audible, tied to the release of a new full-cast audiobook series, alongside gesture improvements for the Pixel Watch line.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-15
Google has released its September Pixel Drop update, bringing the Android 17 QPR1 build to the stable channel for supported Pixel devices. The update package includes several additional features alongside the core software upgrade.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-15
Google is rolling out its Scam Detection feature to preview notifications on Pixel devices, extending the protection beyond just calls and messages to more countries. However, the most advanced version of the feature, which offers deeper analysis, remains limited to users in the United States.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-15
Google has rolled out an update to its Pixel VIP feature, adding quick action buttons directly to the widget, notification badges for VIP contacts, and a more streamlined way to navigate between profiles. The changes target usability gaps that had limited the feature's appeal since launch.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-15
Google rolled out its latest Pixel Feature Drop, adding expanded home-screen widgets and notification badges for quickly reaching VIP contacts on Pixel 6 and newer. The update also broadens Scam Detection across chat apps and Gboard in ten countries, brings a Wear OS 7 update with offline Gemini and improved GPS to Pixel Watch 5, and introduces Harry Potter-themed customization packs with free Audible access.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-15
Former TikTok employees Melody Chu and Jing Liu have launched Superpose, an iOS camera app that uses AI to generate four suggested poses for a selfie or photo of a friend. Users can save these AI-generated poses or use a match feature to align themselves within the frame, and the app has been downloaded over 22,000 times with more than 190,000 poses generated since its July launch.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-15
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.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-14
Amazon is discounting the newly released Google Pixel 11 Pro by $93, bringing its price down to $1,006. The deal arrives less than a month after the flagship phone first went on sale.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-14
Most major phone makers, including Apple, Google and Samsung, have phased out the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of USB-C for wired audio, charging and data transfer. Apple made the switch starting with the iPhone 7 in 2016, followed by Google in 2017 and Samsung in 2019, with Apple finally adopting USB-C for the iPhone 15 due to EU regulation. Sony remains an exception, still including a 3.5mm jack on its upcoming Xperia 1 VIII.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-14
The 41mm LTE version of Google's Pixel Watch 4 is now selling for $329.99, a $120 discount from its usual price and the lowest price recorded since launch. The smartwatch runs Wear OS with Fitbit health tracking and supports cellular connectivity for calls without a paired phone nearby.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-14
Google has cut prices across its Pixel 11 lineup just before Apple's iPhone 18 Pro debuts on September 18th. The Pixel 11 Pro is now around $1,007 at Amazon, the standard Pixel 11 has dropped to about $840, and the budget Pixel 10A has fallen to $424.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-14
Screen defects that appear as small persistent dots generally fall into two categories: stuck pixels and dead pixels. Stuck pixels remain lit with a color that doesn't change, often appearing as red, green, or blue dots, while dead pixels stay completely dark because they receive no power at all. The two look similar but differ in cause and, crucially, in whether they can be repaired.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13