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While you’re usually best served by the camera app built into your smartphone, there’s a growing number of third-party apps that can offer a different, often even better experience. Released this week, VWFNDR + MBL is a new camera app that adapts to you as the photographer, putting out results free of excessive processing – and it’s Android-only to start.

Cloud storage is undeniably useful, but you’re often giving up privacy for it. That’s where Proton Drive comes in, offering cloud storage and many of the same tools you’d get with Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, but with a focus on privacy, and great pricing on top. Right now, you can try it for just $1.

Google I/O 2026 starts today, and every bit of developer and Android news that comes with it will be announced via livestream and in person for all to watch. Here’s how to tune in.

Robot vacuums aren’t a new idea, but if you’ve been using the same old one for years, you’d be shocked at what newer models are capable of. One of those highly-capable new models is Narwal Freo Z10 Turbo, which packs flagship-tier features that would often cost upwards of $1,000 into a package that costs just $599, but only for a limited time.

YouTube is no stranger to redesigns, but the next one could throw your muscle memory for a loop. The mobile app might be getting an all-new layout that removes the Subscriptions tab from the navigation bar, and I can’t say I’m a fan.

Walmart is not the first brand anyone thinks of when it comes to Android tablets, but the retailer’s Onn brand has just dropped six new models all running Android 16 and, on paper at least, they look surprisingly good.

According to a new report, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 will finally get some needed spec updates, including improved cameras and battery size.

Gboard introduced a Material 3 Expressive redesign of shortcuts in January that is now seeing wider availability for beta users.

Google is rolling out an update to the Find Hub app on Android that lets you add location sharing notifications.

Following our report last month, Google is beginning to roll out its gradient icon redesign for Workspace apps.

Earlier this week, Google revealed a first look at some new 3D redesigns for the emoji found on Google Pixel phones and other Google products, and now we’re getting a closer look at all of the changes ahead of their Android 17 release.

Ahead of I/O 2026, Google continues to roll out Gemini app features, with some users now seeing a “Thinking level” option.

We’ve been hearing about Google’s behind-the-scenes work to move its laptop efforts over to Android, but now that we’ve seen “Googlebook,” I’m not really sure I’m sold yet. Honestly, I don’t think Google has shown any reason for these laptops to exist at all.

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.

If you’re currently sitting at a desk for work or gaming and feel that little ache in your back, you’re not along. Thankfully, LiberNovo has a solution in its Maxis and Omni chairs that are designed not only to be the ultimate ergonomic solution – Omni is the world’s first dynamic ergonomic chair and the winner of the Red Dot Product Design and iF Design awards for 2026, with GreenGuard Gold Certified on top of that – but also designed for you in mind, not just the “Average Joe.”

Welcome to episode 34 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will is joined by 9to5‘s own Ben Schoon as he breaking his usual release schedule to bring you a guide on what to expect next week at Google I/O 2026.

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.

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As we head into I/O 2026, Google is tweaking the Gemini app icon to be a touch more colorful.

Google’s new Gemini Intelligence push was announced this week and it has pretty steep requirements for Android devices to support the new features, cutting off the Pixel 9 series and even last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 due to one spec.