This week’s top stories: Best affordable Android phones [October], more on Pixel, Xiaomi Mi Box review, apps & more

In this week’s top stories: The best affordable Android phones for October, more on Pixel, hands-on with Xiaomi Mi Box, new apps and much more.

We kick things off with our October edition of the best affordable Android smartphones you can buy.

Ben reviews the new the Xiaomi Mi Box— a $69, 4K-capable Android TV. Android Pay looks likely to arrive soon for Canadians.

And more details on Google’s new Pixel smartphones alongside this week’s notable app updates and videos. These and the rest of this week’s top stories below:

Android |

• Best affordable Android smartphones you can buy [October 2016]
• Google’s Pixel ships with Hangouts disabled in favor of Allo and Duo
• Review: The Xiaomi Mi Box hits the 4K/$69 sweet spot for Android TV
• Now that the Galaxy Note 7 is dead, here are a few of the best alternatives
• Rumor: OnePlus to stop current 3 production, bring new model with LCD panel and Snapdragon 821
• Purported images of HTC’s ‘Halfbeak’ Android Wear watch appear online [Gallery]
• Opinion: Google’s forthcoming Android Wear rebirth will be similar to the Pixel launch
• Google explains the Pixel’s lack of OIS, confirms that EIS will still work with 4K video
• How to try Google Assistant on any rooted Android Nougat device now

Chrome |

• This is the upcoming Samsung Chromebook Pro, apparently coming soon for $499
• Chrome 54 enters stable channel for Mac, Windows, and Linux

Apps |

• The latest update for Google’s dialer app introduces a brand new UI, available for download now
• Android Pay likely headed to Canada soon as references and assets for Interac added in latest app update
• Google Photos Android app gets new AI-powered features to highlight memories, fix sideways photos

More |

• Got a device with USB-C? Here are a few useful gadgets you might want to pick up
• Project Fi adds group plans for $15 per month/user, discounts Nexus 5X and 6P

This week’s top videos |

• Google just released two new ads for its upcoming Pixel phones [Video]
• Here’s actual recorded footage of a Galaxy Note 7 smoking in someone’s house [Video]

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