Google has started rolling out Gemini Spark to its native Mac app, marking a big step beyond the chatbot-style AI most of us are used to.

Rather than simply responding to prompts, Spark can carry out multi-step tasks across your Mac, from organising folders to pulling information from local files and building documents in Google Workspace.

The idea is simple: give Gemini the boring jobs. Ask it to sort all the PDFs in your Downloads folder, turn a pile of invoices into a budget spreadsheet or summarise documents into a report, and it'll get on with it.

Google says Spark only accesses folders you've explicitly shared, while future updates will even let you kick off jobs remotely from your phone and have them run on your Mac while you're away from your desk. Wow.

It's also gaining connections to apps including Canva, Dropbox, Google Keep and Google Tasks, making it more useful as a day-to-day digital assistant rather than just another AI chatbot.

There's a catch, though. Gemini Spark for macOS is currently in beta and only available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in supported countries, making it a premium feature rather than one everyone can try today.

Even so, it's a glimpse of where desktop AI is heading. Instead of asking AI for answers, we'll increasingly be asking it to tick things off our to-do list. That's the AI we were hoping for, right?

If you've ever wanted an iPhone but didn't fancy buying one from Apple, there may well be a solution for you. That's because Honor has just shown off it's Android 17 update – and it looks very familiar.

Blink and you'd be forgiven for mistaking this for Apple's Liquid Glass operating system. In fact, even if you stared at it longingly, I'd give you a pass – this is practically a clone of Apple's design language.

It's not uncommon for brands – especially those based in China – to take some fairly blatant inspiration from Apple when designing their hardware and software. However, it's fair to say this one goes further than most.

Those glass-like halos surround apps and buttons, control panels and notification all in broadly the same manner that you'd find them on iOS. Even the large clock display shown looks identical to the standard iPhone one, though I suspect that's customisable to a degree.

Check out videos of the design here: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

The MagicOS 11 update is currently being tested on devices in the Honor Magic 8 series. It's expected to launch later in the year for other models, meaning a full launch should only be weeks away.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this. While I understand why brands follow the lead of Apple so closely, I can't help but feel it narrows the pool of what's available.

I've said it time and time again here at T3, but there's a lot less innovation and differentiation between handsets these days, and it's something I'd love to see changed. Who wants to effectively choose between the same offering from Apple, Google, Samsung, Honor, Oppo and more, when we could have something different designed with ingenuity from each brand?

I'm sure the new software will prove popular when it launches, and that's almost certainly enough to justify it. I just hope that brands spring forward from here with a bit more of their own personality.

With the Steam Deck and other gaming handhelds soaring in price (the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a staggering $1,800) you might want to turn to a device that's already in your pocket.

Android games are moving much closer to their console counterparts these days, while emulation apps – such as GameNative – allow you to play almost the entire Steam PC catalogue on an Android smartphone or tablet.

Google clearly recognises this and, as part of its forthcoming Android 17 update, has included a new mode that will turn a foldable phone into a clamshell gaming handheld.

Foldable Gaming Mode will work with devices such as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It effectively turns them into a full gaming phone by utilising the bottom half of the internal display as a controller, while running the game in the upper.

This makes the experience more like a clamshell handheld, such as the Android-powered Retroid Pocket Flip 2, although the controls are touchscreen rather than physical.

I'm not so keen on touchscreen controls, especially during fast-action games that require quick, responsive inputs. I'll often miss a button if I can't feel it, and that can be the difference between dodging or taking a rocket to the face in an FPS.

Be wary...

There's also a major caveat – foldable displays aren't always as sturdy as their single-screen counterparts. As they need to fold, they are normally covered with a softer material rather than glass, and so you could run the risk of damaging your screen if you get over enthusiastic.

Still, it's an interesting concept, especially as Google claims on its blog that the control pad will be dynamic. That means developers can give you the controls you need for their specific game, so the pad can change in style per title.

Android 17 will also improve the use of external controllers, it is said, with native controller remapping. And frame drops and stutters will be better managed though more efficient memory cleanup.

Foldable Gaming Mode will be available as part of Android 17 "in the coming months".

If you're using a Google Pixel handset, you could be in line for a decent suite of upgrades pretty soon. That's because a new set of adverts have been spotted, which seem to showcase the next edition of features coming as part of the Pixel Drop series.

That's expected to arrive pretty soon based on the historic schedule for such releases, meaning we could see it any day now. So, what exactly is coming?

As reported by DroidLife, there are a few different ads being shown at the moment, which each point towards a different feature. Those are Screen Reactions for Creators, Gemini Omni and Music Generation.

As noted in that report, the latter two features are already available as part of the Google Gemini offering. That does suggest that there's something more to this, though it's not something they were able to gleam from the videos. Sadly, they've since been removed.

The Screen Reactions feature essentially enables the user to react to what's on their screen with a cutout of their face from the selfie camera. That does appear to be a feature exclusive for Pixel devices, and will be handy for capturing reaction content.

The report does also note a small – but potentially significant – change in terminology. Previously, the new features for Google Pixel devices were unveiled as part of something called the Pixel Feature Drop, but now appears to only be dubbed the Pixel Drop.

Whether or not that's significant remains to be seen, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on. Regardless, it's exciting to see some new features coming to these handsets after a few months without a new arrival.

With new devices anticipated towards the end of the year, there should be a lot to look forward to for fans of the Google Pixel range before 2026 draws to a close.

We've hit that point where Android Auto moves to a new version number, with Android Auto 17 now rolling out to users. It's part of a phased roll-out, so although it's available, it won't immediately appear in Google Play for all.

The exciting thing about Android Auto 17 is that it paves the way for one of the most highly-anticipated features coming to the in-car app – support for video, with YouTube expected to be the first service available.

That change has been in the works for well over a year, but Google confirmed support for Full HD 60fps video was coming during The Android Show, as well as demoing the changes at Google I/O.

Google has said that if you already have an adaptive video app then you don't need to do much to get it to appear in Android Auto, so hopefully, we'll see a number of services available to watch on in-car screens.

That's only going to be possible when the car is in park, but for those now spending time sitting in cars while charging, the introduction of video will make a big difference to the experience. As an extension, if you start driving, the video can switch to an audio stream and continue playing – if the app supports it.

Now we come to the bad news: actual support for video isn't quite here yet. While Android Auto 17 will support it, it'll take another software update before that feature lands with drivers.

Video support is only expected on phones running Android 17, so for most people that's going to mean waiting for another update before video playback will be supported. For Pixel owners who will get Android 17 first that might not be a cause for concern, but other brands could be waiting for months before it's supported.

As we move into summer 2026, we're expecting Android 17 to go gold and roll out as an update for Pixel phones, while we already know that Samsung's update is well in development too. It's expected that Samsung will announce its first Android 17 device on 22 July, with updates for Galaxy S25 devices to follow soon after.

So, while today is the starting point for video in Android Auto, it's going to take some time to get to the finish line.

Android Auto is also expected to get updates to the design, customisable widgets, Dolby Atmos, new audio widgets, as well as deeper Gemini integration, including Gemini Intelligence.

There's plenty to be excited about, but like all things Android Auto, a little patience will be needed before they arrive.

Google has announced a new Android update that means Google Wallet will allow you to share your car keys digitally, while now keeping more control over how that happens.

Yup, you won't need to hand over your physical keys if you want someone else to drive your car. Instead you will be able to share access via Wallet, allowing them to drive your car. But you can also limit how they have access.

This could be a great move for people who want to let another drive them home after having a few drinks. Or, perhaps after leaving the car at home and going out with your keys, this will let you share a digital version so others can use it and - even better - pick you up.

This also opens the gates on car sharing platforms to utilize this option in dishing out digital keys, and sharing them between devices more easily.

To be clear, Google Wallet has let you share car keys before, but now the level of controls are far more rich, making this a more genuine reality that actually gets used in real life.

This new version allows for three options: co-owner, guest and service. As you'd imagine co-owner gets similar privileges, ideal for a partner you share the car with. Guest is more limited and suits you lending this to a friend, for example. The service option is even more limited, designed specifically for mechanics or a valet to access.

You can set specific restrictions as you want including speed limits, acceleration limits and even caps on how loud the music will go - ideal for parents giving access to their children.

This update also makes moving the key easier across your devices, which should help when syncing across your Android phone and Wear OS device, if you're using both.

When is the Google Wallet car key sharing update available?

Google includes this update in its May Android overhaul that is rolling out right now and will reach devices across the coming weeks.

Ever wished travel could be just that little bit easier? Well, if you're a Samsung Galaxy user, your wish may have just been granted.

As reported by T3's sister publication, Android Central, Samsung phones can now act as a TSA-approved digital passport. The brand has partnered with CLEAR to offer verified Digital IDs in the Samsung Wallet.

The service will be available at over 250 TSA checkpoints and selected sporting venues in the USA, though it's currently only available in that country. To make use of the feature, you'll need a US passport and a Galaxy handset capable of running Android 9.0 or higher.

From there, simply head to the Quick Access section within the Samsung Wallet and click the plus button to add a new option. Under the Digital IDs section, you should now see an option called Samsung ID with CLEAR.

In theory, that then makes travel at any of the approved locations as easy as tapping your phone or scanning a QR code. And there's no need to worry about the safety or security of the system, with the brand's Knox hardware security ensuring everything is kept safe.

Personally, I think this is a really neat addition to the Samsung suite of features. While it's definitely not a catch all solution – you'll only be able to use it for domestic travel, for example – it's a good sign of what's possible with modern technology.

I certainly hope that such a feature could become more commonplace around the world. It would allow us to streamline the process and, potentially, do away with outdated physical documents.

There's still a way to go before we get to that point, though. For now, at least, a large swathe of Android users in the USA can reap the benefits – with the rest of us watching on jealously!

If you're a fan of tech developments which don't revolve around AI, last nights Google I/O event didn't have too much for you. Indeed, the first 92 minutes of the 111 minute presentation revolved entirely around AI and its implementation across the Google suite.

Still, it seems there's a lot of other news arriving around the periphery of the event, including some interesting automotive developments. As the show was happening, we heard about a new project with Volvo, to bring context-aware AI into your commute.

Now, there's news of another update, which should affect a few more users. As reported by 9to5Google, there's an update coming to the Android Auto Car App Library, which is going to let media apps make some fairly major design changes.

In a blog post, the brand explained, "We're increasing the modularity of existing templates to give developers more flexibility and options for laying out content. These improvements include expanded headers for better visual emphasis, such as on detail pages, spotlight sections that can be placed in scrollable areas to highlight specific content, and grid item variations to support different content types and states."

Any developers interested in making these changes will be able to apply for a beta programme, but there are a range of popular apps which are already making changes. That includes Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more.

It's a great update, and a real opportunity for the brands to return a little of their own personality to the platform. Prior to this update, a lot of the different apps felt quite cookie cutter, with a relatively strict set of requirements on how the apps should appear.

We're expecting more and more developers to take the plunge over the coming weeks and months, so keep your eyes peeled if the one you use most often isn't included yet.

Volvo has just unveiled a new 'world first' collaboration with Google, designed to make driving even easier. The partnership is said to bring together the best of the two brand's respective technologies, making particular use of Google Gemini and the latest advances in AI technology.

In essence, this shift allows Gemini to see and understand the surroundings in real time, from the perspective of the car. That makes use of the cameras and sensors in the car, and relies entirely on the permissions of the driver.

That could help to make some of the more frustrating parts of driving easier. For example, the system could read road signs around you, allowing you to garner information about parking restrictions or other information which flies past as you travel.

Another use case makes sense of lane markings, which sounds like an excellent idea. I've driven in Swindon before, and this would be worth its weight in gold in arenas like that.

This era – being called contextually aware driving – is also coming for your navigation system. Immersive Navigation in Google Maps is used here to help make navigation easier than ever.

Perhaps the most noteworthy addition is the use of context in directions. Rather than simply saying "take the second left", this model will be able to pin directions on the local environment, for example, "turn left after the library."

Speaking about the launch, Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars, said, "In the future, Gemini will make your drive more helpful by allowing you to learn more about your surroundings while on the road. And with Immersive Navigation, we’re bringing Google Maps’ biggest update in over a decade to our drivers.”

The new features will be available first on the Volve EX60, EX90 and ES90 models. Those on site at Google I/O will be able to test the features first hand.

For many years now, the new iPhone has had to compete with the best and brightest in the Android world. Usually, that's meant the top spec Samsung phone, though in recent years other players have entered the fray.

For 2026, it looks like a new challenger is ready to battle the brand's most innovative phone in years. The iPhone Ultra is expected to debut this autumn, marking the first ever foldable phone to come from Apple.

Alongside it, seemingly, will be the Honor Robot Phone. That was first shown off at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, drawing eyes from around the world thanks to its unique look.

That effectively fuses a traditional handset with the gimbal camera head from a device like the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. Previously, the device has managed to keep out of the hands of users, sitting behind glass at other events.

However, the brand brought the device to the Cannes Film Festival and gave it out so some creators. There's not lots to gleam from it, but combined with a confirmed Q3 2026 launch window, it certainly suggests that the handset is very close to being in a usable state.

With the launch window seeming to coincide with that of the iPhone Ultra, the tail end of 2026 could be a big one for new phone designs. Apple will be hoping to show its own, reserved innovation by entering that new space, while Honor seeks to challenge the very concept of what a phone can be.

That device is also said to enjoy the fruits of Honor's partnership with ARRI, offering stabilised gimbal tracking shots and core elements of the brand's Image Science. All signs point towards this being a pretty serious videography device, then.

It looks set to be one of the most interesting phone launches in a long time.

Huawei is reportedly working on a new battery that could mean smartphones offer beyond 10,000mAh for longer than all day life.

Crucially, these batteries are expected to not massively increase the size of phones, only to extend lifetimes. This is thanks to the battery type.

While big name brands like Apple and Samsung have stuck to lithium-ion batteries, Huawei is apparently working on newer tech. This makes sense as Chinese brands have already begun looking into silicon-carbon cells, which can offer the same life as lithium, only in a smaller space.

So while there are currently smartphones with 10,000mAh batteries already out there, you generally have to lug around a pretty big phone. These sizes are usually found in tough phone brands like Oukitel and Ulefone.

The move to this new tech could mean those larger batteries become accessible in more lifestyle friendly devices, that still slide into your pocket with ease.

At this stage the news comes from a Weibo post where the individual claims the new battery material is in testing and it could lead to 10,000mAh+ batteries. So we're still taking this with a pinch of salt. That said, China has form for testing new battery tech so it makes sense this would be in the pipeline.

Other rumours suggest that brands including Huawei, Honor and Xiaomi are working on a double-layer coating battery tech. This could be used to increase battery life while also keeping the size to a minimum.

This double-layer battery tech is currently being tested and refined for electric vehicles. There it can mean better range, faster charging and longer life as well as improved safety. So better all round then.

If this technology can be brought to smartphones, we can expect all round better performance. Although, initially at least, you can expect this to appear in mid-range phones as manufacturers generally like to test out the new tech before unleashing it on the flagship smartphones.

All that should mean we won't see this in an iPhone anytime soon then.

A new Android feature could be the best in years when it comes to helping you fight doom-scrolling. While this shows just how bad doom-scrolling has become – that Google itself is adding features to protect you – it also shows there is hope in the fight to hold onto our attention spans.

The new feature, called Pause Point, does as its name suggests. This will require a 10-second pause from you each time you open an app which you have already labelled as potentially distracting.

The idea here is that those 10-seconds will be enough time to give you pause to consider if you really want to go into that digital world. It adds a buffer between a habitual notification or icon press to open the app, and the reality of actually wanting to get into all that.

In short, Pause Point has been created to help give you back your choice in the moment to make healthier decisions.

This update comes from Google and could even apply to its own algorithm based apps of enticement, like YouTube. While this was a decision to help users, it also comes after Google has been under pressure from all the news and even new laws around restricting or banning minors from using social media.

The impact of these apps are starting to be taken seriously as damaging and so, at last, the company's behind them are having to offset that damage – at the least – with options like this.

Pause Point pauses the app launch, and the dopamine rush that follows, allowing you the space to actually think rather than being at the mercy of the chemical rush these apps can create.

That pause time isn't just dead space though. The Pause Point feature can also be set to suggest other more healthy app choices like a favourite fitness app, audiobook app or the like.

You can also choose to scroll through your favourite photos, perhaps to inspire activities to do other than doom-scrolling, an outdoor walk for example or meeting friends.

Pause Point requires a phone restart to turn it off – helping add a further layer of effort to keep you from taking the easiest path of least resistance to that dopamine hit.

Homey has officially launched dedicated Android TV and LG webOS apps, meaning you can now access smart home controls, automations and live dashboards directly from your best TV. This removes some of the need for buying a separate smart home display, helping cut down on extra screens around the house whilst making better use of the one you already use the most.

Alongside the TV apps, Homey has also launched a browser version called Homey.tv, which the company specifically notes that it works on vehicle browsers too. It’s something Alexa+ is reportedly working towards as well, although it looks like Homey may have got there first, especially in the UK.

Homey has confirmed the new apps will work across Homey Cloud, Homey Pro, Homey Pro mini, and self-hosted Homey Server setups. On the LG side, the webOS app is compatible with supported smart TVs released from 2021 onwards, although availability may vary depending on your region and TV model.

To set it up, you install the Homey app on your Android TV device or compatible LG TV and scan a QR code to sign in. Once inside the app, your Favourites appear first, allowing quick access to devices or custom settings. There’s also a full Devices tab for controlling your wider smart home setup, alongside a dedicated Flows section where you can trigger automations directly from the TV.

For the browser version, Homey highlights smaller practical use cases in its release notes, describing it as “handy for quick things like opening the garage door before you pull in”.

Samsung could be the first brand to roll-out Gemini Intelligence, ahead of Google's own Pixel phones. That could see the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 as the debut devices for Google's new AI system.

Google has just introduced its next-gen AI system that's coming to devices, calling it Gemini Intelligence. It takes Gemini from the chat-based system that we currently have to something that's more personal and integrated with agentic powers.

However, it looks like Google is once again handing the baton to Samsung for the announcement, rather than letting it make its debut on the Pixel 11.

This isn't the first time that Google has turned to Samsung for such an occasion: we saw Samsung lead the way with Circle to Search in the past, using Samsung's huge platform to announce the feature on the Samsung Galaxy S24 before pushing it to Pixel phones.

That seems to be the approach that Google is taking with Gemini Intelligence, too. According to Seoul Economic Daily, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 will come with One UI 9 including Gemini Intelligence.

Indeed, during The Android Show and the announcement of Gemini Intelligence, Mindy Brooks, VP of Android platform, had name-dropped Samsung within the first minute, saying "starting with Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel later this summer".

Samsung's new foldable phones are expected to be announced on 22 July at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London. And it's here we'll likely see the new tech's first outing.

Although, as Google has already confirmed that it's coming to Pixel phones, it's likely that Google will push Gemini Intelligence as an update soon after. This could be within days or weeks, without the need to wait for new devices.

Gemini Intelligence will span all Android platforms including phone, watch, glasses, car, laptop and tablet, making smarter links between your apps, your information and what you want to do. Google calls it "seamless automation", designed to handle "the tedious stuff".

A key part of Gemini Intelligence is to act through other apps, to find and organise information. If you don't have the apps, it can also use Chrome, with Google putting the emphasis on "getting things done".

The idea is you spend less time heading to a specific app to do things and have Gemini do it instead. For example, Gemini can find your course books from a list you've been sent and add them to a shopping cart for you to buy, or it can plan a holiday for you - leaving you to make final checks and then hit the buy button at the end.

Gemini Intelligence will also handle things like form filling, able to extract information from places on your phone, while it will also clean up voice inputs to remove the "ums" and "ahs" as you talk for a cleaner message.

While Pixel phones are expected to get Android 17 in the early summer, it's unlikely to be tied specifically to that version of Google's software. Instead, we expect Samsung to showcase Google Intelligence on its new phones, before Pixel executes a much wider update.

Google has updated one of its photo apps, bringing new powers to Android phones – and this isn't a Pixel exclusive, because everything is accessed through an app.

The update has come to Snapseed, one of the best photo editors of yesteryear that's now been fully updated for Android.

The move comes after iOS got Snapseed 4 earlier in the year – and now Android phone owners can benefit from the same features.

Snapseed was one of the standout apps of the last decade, offering multiple editing controls well in advance of them being offered natively by apps like Google Photos.

That relationship flipped in latter years, with Google pouring AI into Google Photos to make it a one-stop shop for all things photo editing, while Snapseed fell by the wayside.

Arguably Google Photos in now more confusing than it's ever been, and so Snapseed has made a surprising return – and it doesn't matter what brand of Android phone you use, because it's available to download from Google Play.

Snapseed now offers both a camera with lots of filters – based broadly around vintage film types – but it's the editing that's always been the most fun in Snapseed.

The app allows easy core image tuning by scrolling up or down through various settings, while swiping left or right to change the values. That's a great starting point, but there's a lot more that's offered.

There's a full selection of tools to comprehensively edit your images, changing just about everything imaginable. There's also the option to apply those filter options after the fact – and in reality, you don't need to use the Snapseed camera, you can use any image on your device.

For portrait fans, there are lots of settings to make yourself look "better", easy options to crop and flip images, and loads of other effects you can apply, either to correct the image to make it more realistic, or to make it more dramatic.

Google highlights that there's a new user interface, non-destructive and batch editing is offered, there are pro features like smart masking, while new tools include Bloom and Halation.

Best of all, there's something decidedly manual to Snapseed. While the last few years have felt like AI is making all the decisions, Snapseed is a good reminder that doing it manually can be a lot more fun. It's smooth and fast to use and best of all, it's free.

Google is tipped as building a Gemini AI style agent that's made to be your personal assistant.

According to sources of Business Insider – that revealed an internal document – Google is developing an AI agent codenamed Remy.

Remy is currently being tested with employees, it's claimed, from within the staff-only version of the Gemini app. It was described as a "24/7 personal agent for work, school and daily life".

The idea here is that the AI works to help you in your life in a more integrated way. So rather than being like Gemini, that you can speak to about things, this will actually help carry out actions for you.

What is Google Remy?

Google's Remy is expected to be able to carry out actions for you, monitor areas you need covered, handle complex tasks, and it will do all this while learning about your preferences over time.

Google has not publicly commented or given any information on this project, yet.

But doesn't the AI idea itself sound familiar? Yup, this appears to be Google's play to offer something similar to the popular OpenClaw free open-source AI agent.

OpenClaw is able to respond to messages for you, manage your files, carry out research and even automate tasks across your computer without you needing to do anything. So popular was this that the Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, called it "definitely the next Chat-GPT".

Claude Cowork is a similar offering, allowing the AI to handle your PC tasks automatically – only with less awkward complexity than OpenClaw when it comes to setup.

So, Google getting in on that action – and offering a seamlessly simply solution – makes a lot of sense.

When will Google Remy arrive?

At this point Google has not commented on Remy publicly, suggesting it's still not at the ready-to-even-tease stage.

The race to offer an AI agent is now well and truly on, so expect Google to unveil this sooner rather than later.

Honor has announced official UK pricing for the Honor 600 and 600 Pro, and it’s proof that you don’t have to spend upwards of a grand on a phone to get high-end specs.

The Honor 600 Pro is the top model in this new series and, at £899.99 when full-price through Honor's UK store, it blurs the boundary between mid-range and high-end Android phones.

It has a top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, although when you dig into the model number, you’ll realise this is actually the last-generation version. It is, predictably, slightly less powerful than the newer one.

Continuing the low and no-compromise angle, the Honor 600 Pro has a full metal and glass design, where the last-gen Honor 400 Pro had a plastic rear panel. And there’s no filler content in the rear camera line-up either: a 200MP primary, 3.5x zoom view 50MP cam (up from 3x last year) and a 12MP ultrawide.

While a jump from the £699.99 cost of the Honor 400 Pro to this year’s £899.99 may come with a sharp intake of breath, the Honor 600 Pro is a more lavishly attired — and better-looking, if perhaps excessively iPhone-like — phone.

Still too rich? The standard Honor 600 starts at £549.99 for the version with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, rising to £599.99 with 512GB storage. Honor’s 600 Pro only comes in the one spec, which has 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.

This represents a £100 increase over the last generation Honor 400, which started at £449.99.

Honor does offer a solution for those sick of constantly rising prices, from baked beans to smartphones. As it so often does, Honor offers some stellar discounts and freebies available during the launch window, if you buy directly from Honor.

There’s £200 off the Honor 600 Pro, bringing it down to £699.99 — just like the last generation. Or you can have £150 off the 512GB Honor 600 or £100 off the 256GB version. And, yes, this means both storage options cost £449.99, which makes absolutely no sense at all.

On the freebies front, the Honor 600 includes a SuperCharge power adapter, which apparently is otherwise not bundled in.

The Honor 600 Pro includes an Honor Choice Projector Air Pro, a Full HD portable projector with Netflix onboard. It’s not battery-operated, but it is highly portable, only weighs 550g and costs £249.99 on its tod. You also get a 100W SuperCharge adapter. for the phone

Alternatively, you can have as freebies the Honor Choice AI Note voice recorder plus a pair of Earbuds Clip earphones (and the power adapter), with the Honor 600 Pro. But a mini projector sounds like a lot more fun.

There’s also an Honor 600 Lite at the bottom of this particular range. It costs £369.99 and is available at £20 off and with a freebie pair of Earbuds Clip when bought direct from Honor, for a limited period.

How do the three compare? Stepping down from the Honor 600 Pro to the Honor 600 you lose the top-end processor, the glass back is swapped for plastic, and Honor drops the 3.5x “zoom” camera.

One further step down, the Honor 600 Lite has a weaker camera array, with only a basic 5MP ultra wide, a less bright screen and less powerful Mediatek Dimensity series processor.

All three phones have super-high capacity Silicon Carbon batteries, though, with capacity of 6320-6400mAh, which should let them breezily outlast most phones that still use the older style of lithium ion battery tech.

Qualcomm has announced the latest Gen 5 updates to some of its lower tier hardware, in the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5. This new 2026 hardware will power more affordable devices – with some big performance gains.

Qualcomm's best-known Gen 5 hardware is at the top end with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that was announced in September 2025 and powers some of the best flagship phones, before the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 was announced, bringing more affordability to top-tier phones.

Now is the time for more affordable phones to get in on the action – with Honor, Oppo, Realme and Redmi all confirmed to be launching devices in 2026 using this hardware.

Starting with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, Qualcomm says that this offers 20% faster app launching and an 18% reduction in stutter experienced on the screen compared to the previous version of this hardware.

It's designed to bring power into the mid-range, found in phones such as the Honor Magic 8 Lite. This is a phone that offers great performance for the price, with core hardware that's a little slower than flagship, but still good for daily use. One advantage of Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 is that it bundles in WiFi 7 for the latest connectivity.

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 is focused more on entry-level devices, with Oppo, Realme and Redmi all expected to release the first devices on this new platform.

Qualcomm says that it brings 43% faster app launches, which should add a little more expedience to phones on this lower tier hardware. There's also a claimed 77% GPU improvement which sounds significant and should boost the experience of entry-level devices considerably.

Key to this hardware advancement is support for 90fps gameplay, so even on cheap devices there should be smoother gaming experiences.

Qualcomm says that we'll see new devices on this hardware in 2026, but it could be in the entry-level devices that the biggest gains are made.

Qualcomm's next flagship hardware announcement is expected in September 2026, with the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (and possibly a Pro version). This should move Snapdragon onto 2nm hardware for the first time.

If you use a Samsung phone, there's some great news coming your way. That's because the brand has just unveiled rollout dates for its next software update – and it should be arriving within a matter of days.

The One UI 8.5 update is likely to be one of the last boosts given to this version of the software. That's because its successor – One UI 9 – is anticipated to arrive in the coming months, alongside the brand's new foldable phones.

The One UI 8.5 update is actually already rolling out to users in South Korea, with the first release on the 6th of May. For those of us in other territories, things are set to kick off on the 11th of May – this coming Monday.

According to a report from SamMobile, that will affect users in Europe, Hong Kong, India, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia and Taiwan. There's no word on release dates for other locations at the moment, but we'd assume it won't be too long after.

There's also a bevy of devices set to enjoy the updates. That includes the Samsung Galaxy S25 series – including the S25 Edge and S25 FE models – the Galaxy S24, the Z Fold and Flip 7 and the Z Fold and Flip 6 models, plus many more.

It even affects some of the brand's tablets, with the Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S10 series devices both set to enjoy the update. And mid-range handsets also see some love, with the Galaxy A56, Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A36 models all getting access.

Once the rollout begins, users will be able to install the update via the Settings menu on their handsets. Simply head there, and then to the Software Update section, where you'll be able to install the new software.

The update offers a liquid glass design, complete with enhanced Galaxy AI features and advanced security.

Google has confirmed that The Android Show is returning with a special Google I/O edition. It should give us some juicy details on what's next for Android ahead of I/O itself.

In 2025, The Android Show served as a way for Google to showcase some big parts of Android that it didn't want slowing down the main keynote. That included a reveal of Material 3 Expressive, the new design language for Android 16.

A short teaser video for The Android Show: I/O Edition sets the date for 12 May at 10am PT (6pm BST), before Google I/O kicks off on 19 May and we're expecting to hear a lot more about Android 17's new features.

The content of the teaser video has raised some concerns, however. It shows the green droid jumping around and pulling a light switch. It then appears to turn transparent, a visual that's being used elsewhere in I/O teasers.

That has led some to think that Google might be about to implement a "liquid glass" effect like Apple, although that's been flatly refuted by Sameer Samat, Google's president of Android. Replying on X, Samat confirmed that it was "not happening".

What we might see is increased transparency, in keeping with what we see in a number of third-party skins on Android. Others have suggested that it might be something to do with jelly animations instead.

What might Google announce at The Android Show?

Samat said to expect the "Biggest. Android. Updates. Ever", without revealing exactly what that might be. But there's plenty that we're expecting.

It's been said that new widgets, new home screen customisation, transparency and multi-tasking bubbles could be introduced. The latter is common on other Android brands, allowing any app to pop-out into a window for multi-tasking.

Personally, on a smartphone, I find that windowed use doesn't help because there's not enough space, but with Google's focus on larger screens, that could be a useful native feature.

That might go hand-in-hand with a proper desktop mode to rival Samsung DeX, again making big screen Android use better.

Talking of bigger screens, we've previously heard Samat talking about the advent of the Android PC, likely as a post-Chrome device. Aluminium OS is thought to bring Chrome OS onto the Android technology stack – and mostly to benefit from the AI gains that have boosted Android.

Talking about AI, the move to make Gemini a proper agentic AI platform has been talked about for a long time, but really hasn't come to fruition yet. We also know that Google wants Android to have more automations, powered by AI, for a smarter user experience.

I'm expecting to hear a lot about Gemini at Google I/O – whether Google would use The Android Show as a warm-up for agentic AI remains to be seen.

Apple is preparing to add end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices, so those messages will be as secure as native messages sent with iMessage or Google Messages.

The messaging situation between iPhone and Android has been a bit of a mess for years. While Apple was quick to evolve iMessage to a more complete messaging system, it was locked away for iPhone users only.

Google in the meantime adopted RCS messaging, designed to be a universal messaging protocol that supported chat functions – and moved beyond the previous SMS system. But the two didn't play nice together.

Support for RCS was long discussed between the two brands, but confirmation finally came in 2023 that it would be supported by Apple. The problem, however, was encryption, lacking the end-to-end encryption that native systems benefit from.

Now though, according to 9to5Google, that's coming with iOS 26.5, said to have appeared in beta form in the latest release candidate.

Why is encrypted RCS messaging important?

This is important, because it means that messaging using RCS between iPhone and Android will be encrypted, so only the sender and receiver will be able to read the message and no one else along the chain will be able to.

It was previously thought that this encryption would appear with iOS 26.3, but now it looks like it will finally arrive when iOS 26.5 drops.

The delay in supporting encryption is down to Apple using the default RCS profile up to this point, rather than using Google's encryption. The evolution of Universal Profile 3.0 from the GSMA has put the pieces in place so that Apple can deploy encryption using a universal standard, rather a proprietary Google solution.

For some parts of the world, the evolution of RCS messaging on iPhone came too late, with many phone owners choosing to use WhatsApp instead.

Even with this latest addition, iMessage users are still expected to see green bubbles when chatting with Android users.

We've all been there: standing in front of a wardrobe packed with clothes, absolutely convinced we have nothing to wear. Well don’t worry, because there's a fix coming for this daily issue, and there’s a good chance you won’t even need to download a new app to take advantage.

Google has announced its Photos app will be getting a new AI-powered feature this summer that will transform your existing photo library into an organised digital wardrobe. Rather than requiring you to manually log every item you own (thank god, I’d be there all day), the update will see the feature automatically scan through your photos and pull out the clothing you've been snapped wearing over the years, cataloguing it all into a dedicated wardrobe collection.

Once your digital closet is assembled, you can browse everything at once or filter by category – think tops, bottoms, jewellery and more – which will no doubt be very handy for rediscovering pieces you'd completely forgotten about. Remember that shirt you bought on holiday three years ago and then buried under seventeen other shirts?

What else will the 'wardrobe' feature be able to do?

The feature goes beyond a simple inventory tool, though. You’ll be able to mix and match items to build outfits and save them to themed digital moodboards. You could have separate boards for work looks, summer weddings, or an upcoming holiday for example. For those who have multiple Pinterest boards full of various outfit ideas, this feature will likely be a dream come true because it should allow to you plan outfits with clothes you already own.

That’s not all either. The feature’s party trick is virtual try-on. You’ll be able to select the pieces you want to combine and tap "try it on" to see a preview of how the outfit will actually look on you before you commit to getting dressed. Virtual try on features have gradually been appearing in online shopping apps for years, but this feature will at least lets you do it with your own clothes rather than tempting you to buy new ones.

The Google Photos wardrobe feature will roll out on Android first, with iPhone following later in the summer. We will keep you posted on exactly when.

EU battery regulations are coming in less than 12 months that will change the manufacture and sale of mobile devices forever.

New rules will be enforced in the European Union from February next year making removable batteries a legal requirement for all portable gadgets, including smartphones. And while other regions might not have similar restrictions, manufacturers will invariably change designs universally or face a ban in EU member countries.

That includes Apple, Samsung and other major makers of Android phones.

The battery does not need to be easily swappable, but the device has to be built in such a way that any user can remove and replace it with only basic skills. In addition, replacement batteries have to be made readily available for every device sold, and will continue to be available for at least five years after a device's original release date.

Some manufacturers have already made changes to their phone and tablet designs with the new regulations in mind. However, all products released after 18 February 2027 will need to be compliant (via The Olive Press).

The new rules are part of the EU's drive to reduce e-waste, with approximately five million tonnes of electronic waste being discarded each year. Europe has already enforced regulations on system software updates, requiring at least five years of patches per device, to lengthen the lifespan of phones and other personal electronics.

Gaming handhelds are also thought to be included in the new guidelines, with very few exemptions. Nintendo is expected to introduce a new version of the Switch 2, for example, with a battery that can be more easily replaced.

And, as a Lenovo Legion Go S owner who has already had to open it up to repair a broken trigger, I know just how hard it can be to access some components without damaging others. So I wholly approve of any measures to make it more simple.

It's no secret that foldable phones have been gently creeping up in popularity over the years. What started as a niche has now got multiple different brands involved, offering their own take on the form.

2026 is tipped to be an even bigger year for the segment, with the anticipated launch of the iPhone Fold expected to bring new swathes of interest. Now, users may have a final chance to get their hands on one of the most interesting devices on the market.

That's because the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold looks set to be restocked later this week, for what is presumably the final time. As reported last month, the model is set to be wound down, marking it as something of an experiment from the Korean brand.

Its discontinuation doesn't point towards an issue with sales figures, though – quite the opposite in fact. The model has continued to sell out almost immediately every time it was restocked, with the next drop expected to offer much of the same.

The new stock is expected for the US online store, which currently has a timer set to run out at 9am ET (6am PT / 2pm BST) on the 10th of April.

There's no telling how much stock is coming, but its likely to be minimal, with the overall stock levels for the handset said to be low. For those who do miss the online allocation, there's also the opportunity to pick up some stock in stores.

According to 9to5Google, those locations include:

• Los Cerritos Center – Cerritos, CA
• Mall of America – Bloomington, MN
• Queens Center – Elmhurst, NY
• Roosevelt Field – Garden City, NY
• The Americana at Brand – Glendale, CA
• The Galleria – Houston, TX
• Stonebriar Centre – Frisco, TX

For anyone still hoping to get their hands on one of the most futuristic pieces of tech of the modern era, this could well be the last chance.

In rather unexpected news, there's a new variant of the Google Pixel 10a which has launched. That features a new colour variation, which is likely to be a popular one.

The Isai Blue model comes to market in addition to standard colours like Lavender, Berry, Fog and Obsidian. There is just one issue for most people – it's an exclusive launch for the Japanese market.

That means anyone who doesn't find themselves located in the land of the rising sun will have to make do with the standard suite of colour options. For anyone who isn't able to get their hands on one, the Lavender is the next best option, offering a blue-purple hue.

The limited edition Android phone will only be available from the 20th of May, according to Android Police, so there's a little bit of a wait for those seeking to snag it. Those who do manage to get their hands on one won't just have the limited edition phone, with a unique box as well as stickers and a case.

There's even a wallpaper and theme pack offered, to ensure the limited edition notion goes at least a little more than skin deep. It's good to see – most brands would simply slap the colour on the back and call it a day.

The remainder of the handset is identical to the standard version. There's no boost to the internal hardware here, which some might have hoped for in a limited edition model.

Still, it's a pretty capable handset, with a Tensor G4 processor, 8GB of RAM and a minimum of 128GB of storage on board. You'll also enjoy a capable camera system complete with great zoom and a slew of dedicated features for shooting in different scenarios.

Right now, there's also another alternative for those seeking a gorgeous blue hue. The base model Google Pixel 10 is currently reduced to just a hair more than the Pixel 10a on Google's site, and comes in the Indigo colour. Opting for that model will snag the newer Tensor G5 processor, and a much more advanced camera system.

OnePlus could be planning to change the selection of cameras on the OnePlus 16, introducing a 200-megapxiel sensor. That would see it joining other major manufacturers offering a high-resolution lens – but it might not be what you think.

While Samsung is best known for using a high-resolution sensor, it's not to the only Android phone brand to do so, as we've seen the same move made by the likes of Xiaomi, Honor, Vivo and Redmi, with Realme and Oppo also offering that high pixel count.

Such sensors are used in different ways. On one hand, Samsung uses it as the primary sensor, but for others, that high resolution is used for the telephoto camera, which is where the last two companies on that list come into play.

The details of OnePlus moving to a 200-megapixel camera first appeared in January, with Digital Chat Station making the suggestion on Weibo. More recently, Smart Pikachu has said that OnePlus will implement the same solution as Realme, which means using it as a 200-megapixel telephoto camera.

This, perhaps, shouldn’t come as a surprise, because that's the same as the Oppo Find X9 Pro, where the Samsung HP5 sensor is used for the telephoto camera. As Oppo and OnePlus operate under the same umbrella, it looks like OnePlus will just be following Oppo's lead.

That sounds like a great solution too, because the Oppo Find X9 Pro is a great phone. The design of the Find X9 Pro and OnePlus 15 was already very close, so it would shock no one to see the move to a 200-megapixel sensor for OnePlus.

The idea behind using a higher resolution sensor is to boost the performance of hybrid zoom solutions, allowing sensor cropping while retaining fidelity in the image to help get closer to the subject. The result should be better images, before any processing comes into play.

It's also thought that OnePlus will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, which has yet to be announced. We'd predict that to appear at Snapdragon Summit, which in 2025 was held in September.

That could outline the timeframe for the launch of the new OnePlus flagship device – which is thought to be getting a price increase as it moves towards the flagship end of the spectrum. So far OnePlus device have been about challenging those top devices, but with price increases expected across Oppo and OnePlus phones, it may move into more direct competition.

The launch of the new OnePlus phone is likely to run in line with a new Oppo flagship phone, but before we get to the launch of those next-gen devices, we're expecting to see the OnePlus Nord 6 launched as well as the Oppo Find X9 Ultra.

If you own an older Samsung phone, getting new updates can be a little like having a new phone all over again. As we speak, beta versions of the One UI 8.5 update have been rolling out to a range of handsets, and that now includes another older model.

It's great news for anyone still rocking a Samsung Galaxy S23 series handset, as the first builds for those has been spotted online. That was spotted by a Twitter user called Tarun Vats, and points to the potential launch of the software on those handsets in the not-too-distant future.

That would be a significant upgrade. Across the board, the update brings improvements to things like AI-powered image generation. For example, the updated Photo Assist feature allows users continuously edit imagery, without needing to save each different iteration.

There's also an improvement made to the Quick Share functionality. That can recognise the faces of people in your photos and suggest sharing them with them, which could be a really handy addition for the group photographer.

Another new feature sees Auracast functionality implemented, with Audio Broadcast. That allows users to share audio from their handset, as well as their voice via the built-in microphone in the device.

For anyone who has a full Samsung ecosystem, the new Storage Share feature allows you to browse files from across your Samsung devices, including tablets and PCs. That also works in reverse, so you'll be able to see files from your phone on your TV, if it's also a Samsung model.

There's no telling if all of that functionality will be possible on the older handsets – sometimes hardware limitations mean certain things simply aren't able to work. We'll have to wait and see on that front, but if it can keep full functionality, this looks set to revamp your old handset once again.

Is there anything more frustrating than falling in love with a phone, only to realise that the selection of colours it comes in is mediocre at best? That could be a thing of the past, if new technology from Tecno becomes the norm.

The brand has unveiled a concept Android phone which features a colour-changing rear panel. It works by analysing colours seen by the rear camera, and matching that to the back panel.

In theory, that makes this a bit of a chameleon – anything your phone sees can have its colour picked and used to dress up the handset. It's a seriously cool innovation, and one which would allow you to switch up the look of your handset on the fly – perfect for fashion-conscious folk who want to match their phone with their outfit.

What's perhaps even more impressive is the technology it's using to make it happen. The device employs an e-ink panel on the rear, which is similar to the tech you'd find in an Amazon Kindle Scribe Coloursoft, for example.

There's no word on exactly what kind of panel is in use, but one report on GoodEReader suggests that it could be an E Ink Prism 3. That technology is able to display seven colours – black, white, red, yellow, orange, blue and green – and can be combined with different patterns. It's the same technology used in the colour-changing BMW from a few years ago.

If that is what's under the hood here, the possibilities could be much greater than just single colours. These panels can offer shapes and even movement, which could make personalisation a lot more interesting. It also doesn't use any battery when static, meaning you'll only see a drain when you decide to switch things up.

Of course, there's one snag right now – it's a concept. Will it ever see the light of day on a commercial handset? I'm not sure, but it would certainly streamline one part of the manufacturing process.

When the Samsung Galaxy S26 was first announced, one point on the spec sheet was notably different. The entry level storage for the base model started at 256GB, and with that came a price hike across the board.

But did you know that a 128GB version does exist – and it's cheaper? That's according to GSM Arena, which has spotted such a device online.

It comes as part of the brand's Enterprise Edition models, which are designed for its corporate customers. These models are offered with specific perks, including the Samsung Personal Data Engine and a year's subscription to the Knox suite for security.

According to the report, there was a 128GB version of the Galaxy S26 listed on the Enterprise site, with a retail price of £660 (approx. €760 / US$870 / AU$1,250). That's notably lower than the cost of the lowest spec retail model, which costs £879 (approx. €1,000 / US$1,160 / AU$1,690).

It's worth noting that when we checked out the site while writing this, we were unable to find such a device. That does raise some questions – was it pulled because it was a mistake, or because it simply wasn't meant to come to market just yet?

While it's purely speculative to say, I really hope that there might be a less costly version of the flagship Android phone with less storage coming. Samsung has always been good with mid-tier handsets, but snagging a flagship for less is always a more attractive prospect. It's exactly the reason why people look to sales events like Black Friday for previous generation kit.

It's not the only headlines the Korean brand has garnered in recent weeks. The first leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide were seen recently, showing off the device expected to go toe-to-toe with the first iPhone Fold, when that launches later in the year.

It feels like just moments have passed since the Google Pixel 10 range debuted, yet already attentions have switched to its successor. Today, we've seen a suite of renders for the Google Pixel 11, showing off the handset in all its glory.

If you were hoping for a revolutionary Android phone design, this probably isn't it. Instead, the brand has made some very subtle tweaks to a design which has already won them legions of fans.

The leaks come courtesy of OnLeaks and Android Headlines. That seems to be a combination made in heaven right now, as the pair also leaked imagery of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide last week.

So, what do these images tell us about the impending handset? Well, the first thing is the bezels, which appear to be slimmer than the current model.

The other notable change comes on the camera bar, which is depicted in all black. That's in contrast to the current model, which has a colour matched portion around the flash unit.

Like I said, it's not exactly a drastic redesign, though it does at least help to make the rear panel feel a little more balanced. If this does end up being an accurate representation of the device which is launched, I'm sure there will be some criticism.

We've seen this kind of design for a few years now, though that's really nothing too uncommon in the tech space. When something works, brand's tend to stick with it – look at the iPhone, which has been in a relatively similar state for the better part of a decade at this point.

These renders really don't point to anything major with regards to the internal specs, either, though we can make some educated guesses in that department. It's likely to include an as-yet-unreleased Tensor G6 processor, likely paired with 12GB of RAM.

A new OnePlus phone has just been announced, complete with an enviable spec sheet. The OnePlus 15T – the successor to last year's OnePlus 13T, with 14 skipped for superstitious reasons – seems to come complete with just about everything you'd want in a modern Android phone.

That centres around a whopping 7,500mAh battery, which is on par with some of the top consumer handsets around. It's not quite as impressive as the 9,000mAh touted for the OnePlus Nord 6, but it's still much more than most.

In fact, it's even bigger than the 7,300mAh cell found in the flagship OnePlus 15 handset. That's made possible thanks to silicon-carbon technology, which offers greater energy density in the same footprint as traditional mediums.

What makes it a greater feat is that all of that fits into a relatively compact handset. The model makes use of a 6.32-inch display, which is dinky in todays world of near-seven-inch panels.

Elsewhere you'll find RAM in 12GB or 16GB variants, and storage options in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB varieties. There's a pair of 50MP cameras on the back for standard and telephoto duties, as well as IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance and 100W wired charging.

So, what's the catch? Well, it's currently not available anywhere other than China. That's not unheard of for some brands, but there's another layer to the story with OnePlus.

Recently, suggestions arose in a fresh report that the brand could be shutting down some of its global operations. It's not the first time such comments have arisen, with a well-publicised saga earlier this year as well.

With all of that in mind, I wouldn't place too much hope on seeing one of these handsets in Western markets. For now, we'll simply have to admire from afar, and hope that it can inspire similar models from other brands.

This year looks set to mark a landmark one for the Samsung foldable phone range. While the brand has long offered two models – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7, in its most recent form – there's set to be another addition this time out.

That's another book-style foldable with a shorter, fatter frame, designed to go toe-to-toe with the heavily rumoured iPhone Fold, also set to debut late this year. Now, fresh leaks have given us a first look at the handset in all its glory.

Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide in the leak on Android Headlines, the report also contains a suite of renders of the handset. Those come courtesy of OnLeaks – a well-regarded leaker with a track record for accurately sharing images of impending devices.

Based on the renders, this certainly looks like an interesting device. The altered aspect ratio still looks really odd to my eye, though I'm sure it will become easier to look at as other manufacturers inevitably take their design cues from the big players.

In terms of other specs, the report suggests that the model will be packing a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 For Galaxy under the hood. That's a top-of-the-line processor, and is expected to be paired with a 5,000mAh battery and 45W charging.

On the back, a pair of rear cameras can be found, with a design not dissimilar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. That does mean we're missing a camera compared to the Z Fold 7, which will make this an interesting prospect indeed.

While that might point to it being a sort of stripped-down, cut-price foldable in a similar vein, I can't see that being the reality. Instead, rumours point to a price tag in the US$2,000 (approx. £1,500 / €1,730 / AU$2,880) range. That's pretty consistent with other models in its range, and should make this an interesting prospect indeed.

The toe-to-toe battle between Apple and Android handsets has been ongoing for the best part of two decades. But while they might be portrayed as the nemesis of one another, there are some users who can enjoy both in harmony.

One such example is those with an Android phone, but who make use of Apple software like Apple Music. That's a popular one, with Apple's streaming service offering lossless audio quality as standard and marking itself out from the competition.

Now, a suite of new features have landed for those who do just that. Those come as part of the Apple Music 5.2 update, which has had its stable release in the last few days.

That sees support for ten new languages on the system. Those include Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

There's also a change to the video subtitles, which allows you to change the font, style and background. That's fun for customisation, but could also be a benefit for those with additional accessibility requirements, to make the text more legible.

If you're someone who loves live music too, there's also a new Concerts function coming to the app. That allows you to find shows in your area for artists you enjoy, similar to how it works on Spotify.

Personally, I'm a big fan of this. Anything which makes it easier to find and support local live music is a plus in my book, and with apps like this able to leverage the power of their algorithms for suggestions, it's a perfect place.

All of that comes just after the announcement of Playlist Playground. That's a new function, which utilises the power of Generative AI to build playlists from a short prompt.

It's certainly an interesting prospect, though the purist in me feels I'd still do a better job. Either way, it's a useful suite of new features.

In the world of Android phones, battery capacity has been a hot topic over the last few years. Larger cells have been making their way into handsets, as manufacturers seek to offer more power and longer stints between charges.

Now, it looks like OnePlus could be readying a handset which will blow the competition out of the water. That's because OnePlus India has just confirmed some additional details about the impending handset, including the battery capacity.

That's set to be a whopping 9,000mAh, which would be the first OnePlus handset available globally with such a large capacity. Even in the wider context of the market, that's one incredibly large battery.

The nearest consumer-grade options include handsets like the Oppo Find X9 Pro and the Nubia Redmagic 11 Pro, both of which feature a 7,500mAh battery.

Beyond the battery, the brand has confirmed that it'll be powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. They suggest that will be capable of running several high-intensity games at 165 fps.

That suggestion also gives away another spec – a 165Hz display. That's the same as the OnePlus 15, and should offer stellar experience for those who love gaming on the go.

We also know three colours which the device will be offered in. That includes a standard black, a silver – complete with patterns and lines along the edges of the back panel – and a lovely mint green.

The announcement also confirms the launch date. The model will be unveiled on the 7th of April, which is just a few short weeks away.

There's no word yet on pricing or availability, though leaks suggest it could be around the £399 / €449 (approx. US$535 / AU$765). It's also expected not to arrive in the USA, though most other markets should be well served.

With just a few weeks to go, we're expecting to see something cool in a short while.

The head-to-head between Samsung phones and iPhones is a tale as old as time. The two brands have been battling for the industry top spot for generations, with many siding staunchly with one or the other.

Up to now, the ability to share content between the two systems has been relatively convoluted. But a new initiative launching today could make that process a whole lot smoother.

That's because a new feature called AirDrop over Quick Share is coming, and it stands to unite the two systems. The feature should be fairly easy to understand from the name alone – AirDrop is Apple's system for sharing content quickly and seamlessly among its devices, and Quick Share is the Android equivalent.

According to the report on 9to5Google, the feature will debut on Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices today, with the early rollout kicking off in Korea. That will come to the USA later in the week, with other regions including Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia and Taiwan also set to enjoy it.

There's also said to be support for other devices in the Galaxy ecosystem, though there's no word on when that will arrive. It's worth noting that Samsung won't enable the new feature by default, though – users will need to head into their Quick Settings to enable 'Share with Apple devices'.

It's also not a new feature, with it debuting as part of the Google Pixel 10 launch last year. However, seeing the functionality expand to Samsung handsets should be seen as a good sign for all Android phone users.

Having two of the biggest players on the platform utilising the feature makes it much more widely accessible, and should encourage others to follow suit. That's a tantalising prospect for me, as someone who uses an Android device with a MacOS laptop. For as long as I can remember, the sharing of devices has been a real pain point, but it looks like that's finally going to disappear.

It's no secret that foldable phones of all shapes and sizes have become incredibly popular in the last few years. Recently, the preference seems to have shifted to the larger, more expensive book-style foldables, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

But before they caught the zeitgeist, flip phones were all the rage, invoking a healthy dose of early-noughties nostalgia. Right now, you can pick up the iconic Motorola Razr+ handset for an absolute bargain – just $399.99!

That's a saving of 60% against the retail price, which is positively bonkers! For just $399.99, you're snagging a handset with more credence in the space than any other, owing to Motorola's prevalence back in the earliest days of flip phones.

In 2026, this handset is still incredibly capable, complete with a pair of 50MP rear sensors and a 32MP selfie camera on the unfurled internal display. That internal display is a 6.9-inch pOLED unit, while the outer option is a four-inch display crafted from the same material.

Inside, you'll find a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, which is a little older, but still very capable of keeping up with modern tasks. That's paired with a 4,000mAh battery, which should just about keep the device powered for a full day of use.

That's capable of up to 45W for fast charging, which is pretty good going if you need a quick top up to keep you going, too.

Frankly, this was always a pretty decent handset, even at the retail price. The device was always locked in a fairly well matched battle with its Samsung opposite number, which shows just how well it performs.

At the current price, it has one more advantage – and this one is pretty much impossible to ignore. There are very few handsets you can pick up for this price which will have the fit and finish of a flagship – and there's no telling how long this particular deal will hang around.

Google has announced an update to its Maps service which uses Gemini AI to offer a more intelligent and helpful service when it comes to navigation.

The new Ask Maps feature means you can talk to your Maps app as you would Gemini to receive specified answers that lead to real-world directions.

The new conversational experience, as Google describes it, allows you to ask complex questions and get helpful answers. For example, you might ask: “My phone is dying, where can I charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee?"

Now you can hit the Ask Maps button and the answers will come back in a similar conversational style, along with a customised map that shows the options available to you.

What's new in Google Maps?

Usefully, if you're planning a trip, you can just say where to and ask about stops along the way and it will tailor the options to you – based on your Maps searches – specifically. This is done using information from over 300 million places and the reviews of over 500 million contributors.

Ask Maps goes beyond just directions though. It will also help you plan the trip. So if you're going to meet friends for dinner it will suggests places – based on your dietary needs – and even help you make reservations at the restaurant, for example.

Google has begun rolling out the Ask Maps service now in the US and India across Android and iOS, with desktop coming soon. When this is planned to roll out to more countries has yet to be announced.

What's Google Maps Immersive Navigation?

In addition to Ask Maps, Google has also announced the app will offer a more detailed 3D view in its navigation when driving, called Immersive Navigation.

This means you can now see buildings, overpasses and terrain with useful road details like likes, crossings and traffic lights. This, Google says, is all thanks to Gemini analysing street view photos and recreating that in the maps.

Immersive Navigation is beginning to roll out across the US on iOS, Android, CarPlay, Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.

Sameer Samat, head of Android at Google, has confirmed that sideloading remains something that will continue on Android. "It's not going away", he said in a recent interview with Android Authority.

Sideloading has always been something that Android supported – in stark contrast to Apple's iPhone – allowing owners to install apps that don't come from Google Play.

On one hand, that allows plenty of freedom, so users can install older versions of apps, apps that are no longer supported, or apps that they develop themselves. On the other, it’s a simple route to getting malicious apps onto phones.

That's why the issue of sideloading has become a hot topic for Android, with Google recently saying that there's "50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources" than from Google Play.

That, according to the tech giant, saw governments pushing the company to address the problem. "The warnings we currently have are insufficient," Samat freely admitted, which is why developer verification is coming in to protect users.

That will result in apps needing to come from verified developers before they can be installed on certified Android devices. It will allow verified developers to distribute apps directly if they want to, but users will have an additional layer of protection.

Confirming news that previously broke, Samat said: “We will have a flow that allows more sophisticated users to install software that has not been verified.” This will allow "experienced users" – such as hobbyists – to install their own apps, while making it more difficult for casual users to accidentally install malware.

How will Android sideloading change?

While there are a number of warnings and protections in place (the ability to install sideloaded apps is off by default on Android devices) it's currently not a difficult process, much like installing an executable file on a PC.

"We would like to be able to tell the user this app is from this source. Now, that doesn’t mean that the app is safe. The user still has to make decisions. But at least you know who it’s from, and you can decide better. Do I trust this person, or do I not? That’s very important,” said Samat.

Android has thrived because of its open nature. That's one of the things that has attracted users and developers, while Apple continues to be a lot more closely regulated – a "walled garden", as it's often referred to.

For many Android users, giving up those freedoms would be to abandon the reason they were attracted to the platform in the first place, so it's a balance between maintaining openness for fans, while protecting those a little less savvy.

Google has announced that changes are coming that will change Android going forward. It will evolve the mobile platform into something that's more open, with greater flexibility and access to more app stores.

The changes come off the back of the rolling legal battle with Epic Games, which started with Google removing Fortnite from Google Play Store several years ago.

Since that time, dominos have seemed to fall to a point where, five years later, Google has announced it'll change its payment policies, fees and app store restrictions.

Sharing the news via the Android Developers Blog, the tech giant has confirmed that developers will have more options for handling payments, with the ability to process their own payments, rather than using Google Play's billing. That will include guiding users to websites to make payments.

For example, that could mean that the Kindle app will finally allow users to buy books directly, rather than having to pay through a browser to get access.

In addition, Android will start allowing registered app stores to be accessible.

Developers will have to meet particular requirements to ensure security, after which app stores can be sideloaded on Android devices. Up to this point, only app stores from partners (like Samsung) were permitted.

UK and Europe will see the changes first

Interestingly, Google says that this is going to start outside of the US before then moving to include the States. This would open the door for a fully-featured Epic Games Store app, for example, offering direct access to game installs and payments.

It has also confirmed that it is lowering its fees through Google Play. That will mean developers are charged less, which should encourage more to engage with the platform.

The changes might see app developers offering better experiences for Android users, with payment systems restored in a more convenient fashion and more options. New app stores could see specialised stores, although it will be interesting to see exactly how the quality is managed for third-party stores, and how much interest there is beyond what Google Play already offers.

In terms of timeline, the changes will be in place in Europe, UK and US by 30 June, while Australia will see the changes by 30 September, before it rolls out to Korea, Japan and then the rest of the world.

If you're a fan of photography or videography, you might find yourself dismayed with the quality available on most phones. There's no denying just how far they've come in recent years, but when compared to a proper camera rig, you're still likely to notice the difference.

Now, it seems that Vivo is making an attempt to bridge that gap. Showcasing at MWC 2026, the brand has been teasing its next flagship phone – the Vivo X300 Ultra.

It's not yet ready for release, so there are quite a few missing specs, but you're likely to be wowed by the look of the thing alone. See, this handset is very clearly designed to appease those looking to get more from their phone photography.

For starters, we see a second generation of the Telephoto Extender, which was present on the previous X200 Ultra model. This one is slightly larger – though still not a patch on what those kinds of lenses look like on proper cameras – and the Zeiss engineered optics should ensure decent image quality.

Notably, it's said to also come with a "pro-grade" camera cage, courtesy of a collaboration with SmallRig. That's a really interesting prospect – cages are fairly commonplace for anyone with a videography setup, but I've never come across one as an out-of-the-box accessory.

Clearly, this is being marketed to a very specific clientele. Only time will tell whether or not that proves to be the right move – I could imagine a lot of 'regular' users being put off by the extraneous scaffolding the device is marketed with – but it's certainly an intriguing one.

For many years now, we've seen phones trying desperately to be all things to all people. Now, Vivo is pitching itself firmly within one camp – appealing to a niche in order to better serve the needs of that group. We'll have to wait and see if the spec sheet can match the hype, but I'm certainly excited to watch this one unfold.

Google has shown off a new update to its AI image generation model Nano Banana 2, and it's looking fresh.

This is part of the Google Gemini AI sub-model that's specifically focused on the task of image creation based on requests.

The idea here is to bring the original Nano Banana model, released in August, more up to speed with the top-end Nano Banana Pro that landed in November. This latest Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, Nano Banana , is here to offer high-quality results at faster speeds.

What's new in Google Nano Banana 2?

One of the key offerings in this latest AI image generation model is speed. Since this now uses the high-speed smarts of Gemini Flash, image generation is faster than ever.

Crucially, this means quick iterations and edits can be done without lots of waiting. That should mean even if it isn't right first time, you can tweak and adjust to perfection quickly.

Accuracy is also important here as information is pulled from Gemini's real-world and real-time information base. That should mean more accurate renders with deeper understanding of what you're asking for.

Text is also more usable now, with precision addition, making this far more useful for marketing, greetings cards and mock-ups alike.

Creative control is improved with higher-quality photorealistic imagery available. Character resemblance can be maintained for up to 14 objects in a workflow. Better instruction understanding allows the model to follow commands, even when complex, with greater results.

You are also able to output to production ready quality, including up to 4K outputs, ideal for social posts or wide-screen backdrops. Thanks to more vibrant lighting and richer textures, details should be far more impressive also.

Google Nano Banana 2 is available to try and use now via the Gemini app, Google Search, AI Studio + API, Google Cloud, Flow and Google Ads.

Honor's been bandying about its Robot Phone for a little while now, and gave it plenty of airtime during its keynote presentation at MWC 2026 in Barcelona today, but also shifted one big label off the phone's back. It's previously been pretty much a concept device, but now it will seemingly actually hit the market.

During his presentation, Jian Li (Honor's CEO) confirmed that the Robot Phone will be available to buy in the second half of 2026, raising some genuinely curious questions about how much it'll cost and when exactly it'll be up for pre-order.

Until now, I've assumed that we'd eventually get a toned-down version of the phone, perhaps in 2027, but it would seem that Honor has had different ideas. Its presentation emphasised that the phone has gone from an idea to a physical product in an impressively quick span of time.

That said, while demonstrations at the event made it clear how it could be useful for filming content, thanks to intelligent subject-tracking and a really stable gimbal system, nobody could actually go hands-on. That suggests the versions being shown off right now aren't quite ready for public dissection.

The phone's main attraction is that bundled-in gimbal, something that leaves it looking a lot like a high-end Android handset with a DJI Osmo built into it. The camera can flip up from its storage pod on the phone's back when you want it, and it seems to be activated by sliding open that pod where a traditional camera bump would sit.

It's a neat idea, but there are some big questions about durability, since it involves more than one micro-motor to make its folding arm work. Plus, of course, that additional manufacturing and development cost will surely make for a handset that's far more expensive than your average flagship.

Still, that'll remain speculation until Honor has more to say about the device, which I suspect won't happen for at least a couple of months. It has other fish to fry, after all, in the form of the now-unveiled Magic v6 and other devices shown off during its presentation.

Honor is going big once again at MWC, a show at which it’s made itself very comfortable over the last couple of years. It just unveiled a pretty comprehensive new suite of devices, including another flagship folding phone and a pretty tempting Android alternative to the iPad.

The big headliner this year is the Honor Magic V6, the obvious follow-up to the Magic V5 from a couple of years ago. This is very much Honor trying to mount a sort of insurgent campaign in the folding phone space, to grab some of that market share that Samsung’s so proud of.

It’s got a thickness of just 8.75mm when it’s folded, an impressive marker at a time when sheer slimness has become a pretty key stat for foldables. It also embraces silicon-carbon battery tech, to pack in a 6,660mAh battery, which should reassure those who’ve found foldable phones to be battery hogs in recent years. That just so happens to be the biggest battery in any foldable available today.

Displays are the core of the foldable experience, obviously, and two LTPO screens in this case should excel. It’s a 6.52-inch external display and a 7.95-inch one when unfolded, both with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. Crucially, Honor says it’s reduced the crease depth on the folding display by 44%, making it more imperceptible.

All of this is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and Honor’s keen to point out that it’s got the first foldable with that flagship at its core. It should make for super-smooth performance, although you shouldn’t be too shocked if there are soon others with similar boasts.

Away from the phone, Honor’s also launched the MagicPad 4 and MagicBook Pro 14 – both of which look to be aimed squarely at Apple. The MagicPad 4 is an iPad-esque Android tablet that has a hugely sleek design, at just 4.8mm thick. It’s also got a 12.3-inch 3K OLED display with 165Hz refresh rate, and I’ve been using it for a week or so: it’s a beauty.

It has the same Snapdragon chip as the Magic V6, and a battery that comes in at over 10,000mAh, for genuinely impressive battery life potential. Plus, that thickness makes it thinner than the iPad Air or iPad Pro, which isn't to be sniffed at. That said, its price of £599.99 also isn't to be ignored.

The MagicBook Pro 14, meanwhile, brings Intel’s latest generation of processors to the table, the Core Ultra Series 3. That makes for superb power to back up its 14.6-inch OLED display. Frankly, it should be a banker for light gaming, too, based on my recent experimentation with these chipsets.

To round things off, Honor seems to have wilfully grabbed the opportunity to again point people at its so-called Robot Phone, complete with its own little gimbal and camera. Whether the concept wins people over is something I’ll be interested in through the next few months.

In 2026, there's a good chance that most of the images we see and take on a daily basis come from a phone. These pocket powerhouses have come on leaps and bound, with imaging solutions which are convenient and offer incredible quality.

Now, Leica has put its iconic red dot on an Android phone for the very first time. Dubbed the Leitzphone, the model is crafted in partnership with Xiaomi – a brand which Leica has a long-running history with.

Now obviously this phone is going to be pretty well-geared for photographic applications, but that's not the only area where Leica has made its mark. The brand's design ethos of reduction to the essential has been employed here, to help keep everything as simple as possible.

The defining part of the design is the mechanical camera ring, which sits around the camera. That's designed to make the experience of shooting with this phone similar to doing to with a camera, and can be customised to control things like zoom, exposure value, ISO and shutter speed.

The triple camera setup on the rear is also designed to meet the brand's impeccably high standards for image quality and and optical performance. That covers a total equivalent focal length range of 14-100mm, with apertures ranging from f/1.67-f/2.9.

The main camera uses a one-inch, 200MP sensor, complete with something called LOFIC, which significantly expands the dynamic range. The telephoto sensor is also a 200MP unit, meaning there's lots of resolution on offer.

Crucially, this model also makes use of the Content Authenticity Initiative, which is something we've seen on some of the brand's cameras like the Leica M11-D. That's a really important addition, which hard codes metadata into every image to prove it isn't the product of AI generation.

Now, all of that doesn't come cheap. Priced at £1,700 / €1,999 (approx. US$2,300 / AU$3,200) this is one of the most costly phones out there. Is it worth the cash? It's too early to say – watch this space for a fuller review in due course – but for those who really value phone photography, this certainly seems like an appealing offering.

Not only have foldable phones grown in popularity in recent years, they've evolved massively as products, too. In fact, if you were to look at the sleek, slim designs which are common across the market today and compare them to the doorstops which first arrived, you'd think they were different species.

Still, all of that evolution doesn't mean that things have stagnated. The latest reports suggest that Samsung is adding a cool new feature to its next generation of foldable devices, which should help to protect the displays.

That comes in the form of a new software feature, which is designed to alert you to any substances which may be impeding the closure of the device. The news comes from the team at Android Authority, who found it in early builds for the upcoming One UI 9 software.

Their findings include two strings of code, which say, "Phone not fully folded," and "Your phone didn't fold completely. Open your phone again, and check if there is any foreign substances on the screen to avoid screen damage. If you don't need this detection alert, you can turn it off in the Settings," respectively.

Those are accompanied by a trio of images, each of which represents one of the foldable phones we're expecting from the brand this year. That includes successors to the current Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 models, as well as a rumoured 'Wide Fold' version, made to go toe-to-toe with the iPhone Fold.

Speaking of Apple's long-awaited entry into that market, this is one feature which hasn't been rumoured for that device. To that end, it could be something which differentiates the two brands – though it's not entirely unique as I've seen something similar on my Honor Magic V5 in the past.

It's not the only news for the Korean outfit. Tonight, the brand looks set to unveil a new range on non-folding Android phones as part of a big event in San Francisco.

It's Samsung Galaxy S26 week, people, and in a little over 24 hours, were going to know everything there is to know about the new Android phone range. But fear not – if you're the kind of person who need the information right now, we've just seen a huge leak which gives us everything in advance.

The information comes courtesy of renowned Samsung leaker, Ice Universe, who has shared a few images on Twitter. Those are marketing materials a Spanish language source, though we can gleam a lot of the intended messaging.

First up, let's talk cameras. The rear of the device is shown with the usual four sensor array, complete with a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, a 200MP complete with a 2x 'optical quality zoom', a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 10MP 3x optical zoom.

Then there's the battery. That's a 5,000mAh unit, which is said to offer 31 hours of video playback time, and can recharge from 0-75% in just 30 minutes. That comes courtesy of the new 60W charging on the model.

Ice notes that these figures come from testing in Samsung's controlled environment and that things can change in real-world scenarios. Even so, that's a marked improvement in an area which has plagued the brand for the better part of a decade.

All in all, it sounds like a fair upgrade over previous generations. It's not exactly a groundbreaking update, but those are becoming rarer, with the brand opting to make incremental changes over a longer period of time.

Of course, these leaks don't tell us anything about changes to the software on those devices. Given the more modest changes listed for the physical devices, I'd expect those to be more emphatic.

Of course, there's no way to know for sure until the new products are showcased at the brand's event. That's taking place tomorrow evening, so we don't have long to wait.

A new Google Gemini AI update has been announced which will enhance the artificial intelligence in a big jump forward.

Gemini 3.1 Pro has been announced by Google as the next iteration in the AI. Usually Google does a .5 upgrade and this will be the first with .1 at the end. Despite the smaller number jump, Google is clear this will be a big jump forward in terms of development.

Google says this new version is "for tasks where a simple answer isn’t enough," and that this upgraded core intelligence "represents a step forward in core reasoning."

In fact this, according to Google, "more than doubles the reasoning performance of 3 Pro." This is based on the ARC-AGI-2 score of 77.1% in testing.

So what does all this mean for us?

How will Gemini 3.1 Pro offer me more?

This new advanced reasoning system will be adept at offering practical use cases. Specifically this is designed to help in situations where a simple answer isn't enough.

So, rather than giving the most simple and concise answer, this version of Gemini can offer rich and complex outputs for you to work with.

Specifically Google says this works well when "you’re looking for a clear, visual explanation of a complex topic, a way to synthesize data into a single view, or bringing a creative project to life.”

So this can mean, quite literally, more rich image and video outputs when you want an idea visualized graphically.

When is Gemini 3.1 Pro available?

Google has begun rolling out the Gemini 3.1 Pro app to subscribers. It will also be available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers as well as those using NotebookLM.

For developers, it's also available in the Gemini API via Google AI Studio, Antigravity, Vertex AI, Gemini Enterprise, Gemini CLI, and Android Studio.

Initially this will launch in preview mode, to help perfect everything, before rolling out on a wider scale in the near future.

When Google announced that the Pixel 10a was right around the corner, I wasn't the only person out there to assume that we'd get a pretty similar offering to normal.

For a few years now, the "a" line has been a cost-effective way to get Google's latest Tensor chip in a cheaper package, a little later than when it first arrives in a flagship design.

This year, though, Google is switching things up in a way that's sure to attract plenty of criticism, by sticking with the Tensor G4 from last year's lineup, making the internal differences between the Pixel 10a and Pixel 9a pretty tough to pick out, where any even exist.

The design is different, sure, but largely by a matter of millimetres – in the now 100% flat camera enclosure, for instance, or bezels around the display that have become ever so slightly thinner.

That one big decision to keep the G4 chip, though, when the G5 came out months ago in the Pixel 10, is a huge attention-grabber for what would otherwise be a pretty 'as expected' phone, so I couldn't turn down the chance to query Google about it during a behind-closed-doors live Q&A session.

Talking to Laura Kastilani, Product Manager at Google, I asked why the 10a hardware had foregone the upgrade to Tensor G5, but only ever received impressively media-trained responses – suggesting this topic was very much expected to come up.

Kastilani was only willing to underline that, from Google's point of view, the "Pixel 10a is packed with value" – having had no price rise this year – and underlining the claim that it's the "only phone under $500 to have the incredible Google Pixel camera" experience.

That boast is because the Pixel 10a has added some camera features from the Pixel 10, but it begs the question – if the Pixel 9a also has the same processor, why can't it get the same features?

In fact, my core question for Google went basically unanswered – how can the Pixel 10a be the best value for Google AI experiences at the asking price, if the Pixel 9a has the exact same processor and can now be readily found for around £100 or even $150 less?

Google also couldn't comment on whether the Pixel 9a will remain on sale through its own store. My guess is that it won't.

Which leaves the 10a in a curious place. I've little doubt that it'll be a great handset in its own context, but one of the biggest reasons to go for the "a" lineup will disappear if it no longer gets the newest chip each year.

Google has announced the dates for Google I/O, the company's annual developer event that usually brings plenty of details about Android, Search, Gemini, Chrome and everything else in the Googleverse.

The company hasn't shared much detail at this stage, apart from confirming that it will take place on 19-20 May 2026 – exactly when we'd expect it.

Google I/O was notable in 2025 because of the shuffle around Android that happened at the same time. We had an additional Android Show to introduce changes coming to the mobile software, specifically an introduction to Material 3 Expressive, the new design language on Android phones.

What to expect at Google I/O 2026

For 2026, it's likely that Google I/O will introduce a lot of new features in Android 17.

The latest version of Android has just gone into beta, but currently there's little information about what consumer-facing features we'll see. That's likely to come out on stage at Google I/O, as we're introduced to the latest tools that Gemini will power.

Google has a natural advantage over Apple thanks to the revised timing. While Apple's WWDC also takes place in spring, the features it announces often don't arrive until September. But for Google, we're potentially going to hear about new features in May, with Android 17 landing in June.

It's likely that AI will remain at the core of Google's announcements, with the accelerated delivery of Gemini features, as well as pushing Gemini to more Google properties.

We could be looking at more information on Google XR – including headsets to expect, as well as more information about smart glasses. That might reveal some more firm details on hardware partners and when we might actually be able to buy some of this promised gear.

Search and Chrome might also be in the frame, perhaps more talk about the rise of the Android PC and how Chrome OS will evolve.

We're sure that Google will be sharing more as we get closer the event. Currently, there's no published schedule and that might reveal exactly what Google wants to talk about.

Google is preparing for the launch of Android 17, which is expected to land in final form sometime around June 2026. The unexpected news comes as the result of Google talking about the beta process coming to an end for Android 16.

In recent years, Google has pulled forward Android releases, meaning that Pixel devices appear to be well ahead of many Android rivals in terms of software version. Android 16 was officially released on 10 June 2025, so the timeline shouldn't come as a surprise, but it's a big change from the October updates that we previously saw.

One of the big changes here is the departure from having new software linked to the launch of a new device, with Android seemingly doing its own things separately from Google's Pixel hardware programme.

The news comes directly from Google in a Reddit thread (via TechAdvisor), mentioning that the Android 17 Beta 1 is just "around the corner". These betas normally don't have much that's consumer-facing, focusing on core changes that developers would need to adapt to.

As the beta process rolls out, there might be the introduction of new features, but that's not always the case. For Android 16, the software landed without making huge changes – that instead came with the Material 3 Expressive update, which changed a lot of the visual design around Android.

Why Google Pixel phones benefit most

Pixel phones are the first beneficiaries of the new software and that remains one of the key advantages of owning a Pixel device – as well as getting early access to beta software if you want to have a look at it.

The original message talks about the transition from the Android 16 beta into Android 17 and how users can opt out of the beta programme without having phone data wiped. That's basically the route to get back to running normal release software.

We don't currently know a lot about Android 17, but it was previously suggested this would be when Google opened up to third-party app stores as part of the settlement of the Epic vs Google case.

It's thought that moving from Android to iOS could be easier in Android 17, while it's also been suggested that frosted backgrounds and increased translucency could come to the visual design, while splitting the Quick Settings and Notifications could also be an option.

These features are popular on third-party Android skins common from other manufacturers and could become a native Android feature.