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Android Authority's Zac Kew-Denniss has published a piece arguing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the standout Android flagship for power users in 2026. The phone reportedly runs a customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, alongside a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.
An Android Authority reviewer who has used every US foldable released this year, including Motorola, Samsung and Google models, spent five days testing Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo. The device ships unfolded with a nano-texture matte finish on its folding screen, created via laser-etched microlenses over each pixel, which diffuses glare but also dims and desaturates the display compared to glossy foldables.
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 rolling out One UI 9 Watch to its Galaxy Watch lineup, having already shipped it on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 and pushed beta versions to the Watch 7 and 8 series. However, because older models only qualify for four major OS upgrades versus five for the newest watches, a couple of devices have aged out and won't receive the update.
Android Authority has outlined five upcoming Android devices it considers worth saving for, including Motorola's Signature 27, Samsung's Galaxy S27 Ultra and Galaxy Z TriFold 2, Google's Pixel 11a, and the OnePlus 16. The Signature 27 is tipped to use a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset and offer seven years of software support, though pricing details remain unconfirmed.
CNET has been using a mechanical Fold-a-Phone machine to repeatedly open and close Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo, reaching over 139,000 folds after a week of near-continuous testing. The crease remains visible when the screen is off but is largely hidden when the display is on, thanks to Apple's nano-texture matte coating, which also happens to be removable and replaceable through an Apple service.
Amazon is selling the white Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus with 512GB storage and 12GB RAM for $970, a $429 cut from its $1,399.99 list price. The deal applies only to the white color option, and the phone otherwise retains its 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and Galaxy AI features.
According to leaker kro, Samsung is reconsidering its software update policy and may stop delivering major OS upgrades to older Galaxy Watch models, though security patches would continue. The leaker did not specify which watches would be affected, and noted Samsung has not resolved recurring processor and bug issues on the devices.
Xreal has opened preorders for its Aura mixed-reality glasses, which connect to a separate processor puck and run Google's AndroidXR software. The device ships mid-November at a discounted $1,099 for the 256GB/12GB RAM model and $1,299 for the 512GB/16GB version, down from previously announced prices of $1,279 and $1,500 respectively, with the lower pricing lasting through year-end.
Amazon is selling the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $799, down from its $1,299.99 list price, marking a 39% cut and the phone's lowest price yet. The 256GB flagship retains its full specs, including a 6.9-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, titanium frame, Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, 200MP camera system, 5,000mAh battery, built-in S Pen and Galaxy AI features such as Gemini integration and Audio Eraser.
Samsung has entered the clip-on open earbuds category with the Galaxy Buds On, priced at $229 and available in black starting early November. The earbuds feature 11.3mm dual-woofer drivers, three microphones with AI-based call noise reduction, an IP54 splash and dust resistance rating, and up to 9.5 hours of battery life per charge, or 38 hours with the wirelessly charging case.
According to leaker Lanzuk citing display supply chain sources, Samsung is internally evaluating two additional versions of its wide foldable successor: a larger 'Plus'-style model and a cheaper, spec-reduced 'FE'-style model. Only one of these is expected to actually launch alongside the previously reported Galaxy Z Fold 9 Wide, with an internal decision reportedly pending. The plans are still in early testing and wouldn't reach the market until mid-2027 at the earliest.