9to5Google

Welcome to episode 31 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will welcomes Android Central’s Nick Sutrich back to the show to discuss the swirling rumors surrounding OnePlus. From its fate in Europe looking questionable to quiet demand in North America, things aren’t looking great for the “Never Settle” brand. Will and Nick look back at their own histories with OnePlus, what set the brand apart from its contemporaries, and how this situation became a problem to begin with.

Sponsored by NordVPN: Listeners to The Sideload can save up to 76% on a two-year subscription alongside four extra months for absolutely free by signing up for NordVPN using this link. Thanks to NordVPN for sponsoring this week’s episode.

Google’s goal with Gemini is to build a personal, proactive, and powerful assistant. The final tentpole is the underlying model, while Personal Intelligence became free earlier this year. The Gemini app is now readying “Proactive Assistance.”

Several months after appearing as a preview at CES 2026, the Clicks team is sharing updates on when the Clicks Communicator will release and ship to reservation holders, and it’s hoping to get them out by the end of the year.

A lawsuit filed against Samsung seeks damages and a permanent injunction against Galaxy foldables in the US, but whether or not that will actually happen remains to be seen.

Spotify – yes, the music app – is expanding into video workouts in a new partnership with Peloton, and there’s a pretty big advantage over Fitbit here already.

The new ‘Trips’ grouping in Samsung Wallet will become the go-to spot for reservations, tickets, and other travel plans.

Over the weekend, 9to5Google published an early look at Google’s new icons for Workspace apps such as Gmail and Drive and, already, someone has recreated the new look so you can use them early.

The latest set of updates for Pocket Casts on Android has added the ability to prevent auto-downloads to your device if you’re running low on storage.

The Pixel Watch 4’s charger is yet another thing to carry around when traveling or otherwise. That’s why a Google-approved USB-C charger for Pixel Watch 4 is so useful, and it’s finally back in stock – for now, at least.

Samsung has been teasing its arrival in the fledgling smart glasses scene since the launch of Galaxy XR last fall, reportedly developing a pair without a display alongside one with a built-in screen. Now, we’re getting our first look at the display-less variant planned for launch later this year, and in comparison to some of its competition, this pair is looking pretty slick.

Samsung’s upcoming foldable lineup includes its first new mainstream form factor in years, as the “Wide” device enters the fold (ba dum) as a second book-style device. In a new leak of dummy units, we’re getting a better look at just how different the Galaxy Z Fold 8 “Wide” will be.

After weeks of leaks from retail stores, Walmart’s new Onn 4K Pro and Onn 4K streaming stick with Google TV are just about ready to launch, and now live for many more customers.

There are a lot of reasons I love using a Google Pixel phone, but voice-to-text might just be the most underrated upgrade on these devices. Every time I use a Pixel, without fail, I struggle to switch back to literally any other Android device in part because the voice-to-text experience is just so much worse. But, finally, there’s a brighter future in view.

So far, five Google icons have undergone gradient updates. 9to5Google can now report on a complete gradient redesign for Gmail and other Google Workspace apps.

Following the initial launch in two countries, Google Wallet for Android now supports three more passport IDs.

Like other Google apps, Messages for Android A/B tests many features. It can take the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch new functionality in stable. From various reports, Google announcements, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.

Last year saw four Google Store openings, and the next one in San Diego marks the company’s 10th retail location in the US.

An errant message heard by some Google Home users seemed to imply that automations were going away – which would have been crazy. Thankfully, that’s not the case, but Google Home is doing away with its phone-related actions soon.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 sounds pretty familiar based on initial leaks, but Samsung is apparently making a tweak to the selfie camera cutout that sounds interesting, but I’m curious if it’s something anyone really cares about.