Google's Pixel 11 Pro retains the vivid, bright screen praised in its predecessor, but review testing found it throttles and shows overheating and battery-drain warnings when graphics settings are pushed above minimum levels. Google also dropped the 128GB storage tier across the lineup, meaning the cheapest configuration now starts at $1,099 for 256GB, with only 12GB of RAM at that entry level. Google attributed the higher storage and pricing to an AI-driven RAM shortage raising component costs industrywide.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-26
Samsung has begun rolling out its Wear OS 7-based One UI 9 Watch beta to Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic devices, starting in South Korea. The update, roughly 2GB in size, includes a redesigned interface, expanded watch face customization, new safety features, and improved Samsung Health metrics like aerobic load and sleep vitals tracking. Samsung has also streamlined its beta sign-up process, letting users accept terms once for all future beta programs.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-26
Counterpoint Research's Q2 2026 global market share report shows Samsung's $1,300 Galaxy S26 Ultra was the best-selling Android phone worldwide, ranking fourth overall behind three iPhone models. The base Galaxy S26 also made the top-ten list at ninth place, alongside three budget Galaxy A models.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-26
South African retailer Dress Your Tech has jumped the gun by listing about a dozen cases and case-plus-screen-protector bundles for Samsung's unannounced Galaxy S26 FE. The listings include standard and slim silicone options with visible rings for Qi2 magnetic charging, in colors matching previously leaked device finishes plus new pink and transparent variants. Samsung is set to hold a Galaxy Event on August 27, widely expected to unveil the phone.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Samsung's One UI 9 Beta 6 update for Galaxy S26 devices introduces a new 'Touch and hold for AI select' switch under Display > Edge panels settings. Users had complained that lingering too long while swiping out the Edge Panel would accidentally freeze the screen and launch AI Select. The new toggle lets users turn off that long-press behavior while still keeping AI Select accessible as a shortcut icon in the Edge Panel.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
New CAD-based renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, produced by Android Headlines with leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, show a colored, detailed model built from leaked case-maker measurements. The design departs sharply from the S26 Ultra's vertical camera stack, replacing it with a large, lopsided camera island, while the phone's overall dimensions (about 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm) remain close to this year's model.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Amazon is selling the 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra for $961, a 26% cut from its $1,299.99 list price, though the discount currently applies only to the Cobalt Violet color option. The phone has a 4.6-star rating and this is the lowest price seen outside of Prime Day.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
An Android Authority reader poll of nearly 1,600 Pixel 10 Pro owners found that 58% intend to keep their current phone rather than buy the newly released Pixel 11 Pro. Only 29.2% said they're upgrading to the Pixel 11 Pro, while smaller shares are switching to another Pixel 11 model or a rival Android device.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
A teardown of Google Translate version 10.32.66 uncovered hidden strings describing a new 'Listening area' setting built specifically for Android XR smart glasses. The feature would let users toggle Live Translate between a 'Front only' mode for one-on-one talks and a 'Surrounding area' mode that picks up speech from all nearby microphones.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
A CNET poll of 2,605 US adults found that three-quarters have no interest in purchasing a foldable Apple device, even as rumors point to Apple unveiling its first foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, at a September event. Analysts expect the device to cost between $2,000 and $2,500, but survey respondents said they'd only be willing to spend an average of $781 on such a phone.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-25
Samsung has pushed a sixth One UI 9 beta to Galaxy S26 devices, an 851MB update carrying the August 5, 2026 security patch under firmware ZZHE. It fixes display glitches affecting the Now Brief widget, home screen, and camera widgets, plus a photo-saving bug in Expert RAW 24MP mode at certain focal lengths. The update is currently rolling out in Germany, India, Poland, the UK, and South Korea, with US availability expected soon.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
CNET has outlined its expectations for major smartphone launches through 2026, following recent releases from Samsung, Google and Apple. The report suggests Apple may split its iPhone 18 launch, debuting a foldable iPhone Ultra soon while delaying the standard iPhone 18 to early next year, as RAM shortages and AI competition pressure manufacturers to balance innovation with pricing.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-25
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