Ben Schoon

Starting next week, YouTube will change how view counts on a video are measured, with a view now being registered immediately as a viewer starts watching a video.

As the AI race continues to hunt for new data to use for AI training, Google has just purchased a huge dump of old data from the now-defunct Spirit Airlines to be “helpful” in training its AI models.

New evidence suggests that Samsung is possibly, maybe, potentially looking to move away from the vertical camera design on Galaxy phones that it recently called its “core identity” for something closer to a Pixel camera bar, and I seriously hope it happens.

The Pixel 11 series brings Google’s updated Tensor G6 chipset that, while not quite as big of an upgrade as we expected, still brings a big new change in a MediaTek-made modem that Google has some claims about.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an absolute smash hit and, with that in mind, Samsung is reportedly doubling down on the form factor with a second wide device now in the works for the Galaxy Z Fold 9 series, making for a total of five new foldables in 2027.

There are a few trends that have shown up on Pixel phones over the years, but one of the most frustrating is that Google keeps launching half-baked features on its devices that take way too long to reach their potential, just to be taken away afterwards. “HiLight” is the worst example of that to date.

9to5Google Weekender by Ben Schoon is a part of our free newsletter that also includes ‘Inbox,’ a twice-weekly roundup of key stories from around the web by Daniel Bader. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every Sunday along with ‘Inbox’ on Tuesday and Thursday. You can find past issues here.

Google might have another fitness tracker in the works, as a pair of new ads online show off a mysterious little pebble that’s neither a Fitbit Air nor a Pixel Watch 5 – but is it anything at all?

Google came back onto the foldable scene with splash in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but a couple of years later, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is launching in a totally different market. There are several welcome improvements on this device that make it a foldable I actually want to carry, but I think it’s going to be relegated to being the fourth-best foldable mass markets can buy – but that’s really a good thing for the customer.

One of my favorite things about the first few generations of Pixel were Google’s official cases, but that’s not been true in recent years. This year brings Google’s best official Pixel case in years (and it’s worst), but I just can’t stop yearning for what was lost.

While not as major of a release as most years, Google’s Pixel 11 devices bring a lot of new things to the table, including some little details you might have missed during the event or on the store page. Here are some key details we think you should know about.

Following the arrival of third-party Android app stores on Google Play earlier this week, a judge in Google’s ongoing court battle has said that the current state is “not acceptable,” and Google will make changes as a result.

Initially announced earlier this year at CES 2026, 8BitDo has finally opened up sales of its clever little FlipPad game controller that works with Android and iOS, and it’s just $30.

Following a collection of discount codes that were sent out ahead of the Pixel 11 launch this week, Google has another discount code worth up to $175 hidden just beneath the surface.

Another one bites the dust: Early rumors of the Galaxy S27 reviving Samsung’s variable-aperture camera seem to falling short, as the company is already seemingly repeating last year’s cycle.

Google’s first first-party Find Hub tracker is finally here. The Pixel Tag drops in November and, while there’s a lot of promise here, Google has opted for a pretty bold strategy in a world where the AirTag dominates – let’s see if it pays off for ’em.

AI assistants are at their most useful when they can connect to other aspects of your digital life, and Gemini is expanding its integrations with over a dozen new connected apps incoming including the likes of Ticketmaster, Angi, Zocdoc, and more.

It was rumored that Google’s new Tensor G6, debuting in the Pixel 11, would be the first smartphone chip using TSMC’s 2nm process, but it turns out that won’t be the case.

In a nice quality-of-life change, Google says it has moved the NFC antenna on its Pixel 11 phones to the top of the device, making it easier and just more logical to do things such as make mobile payments or use the new “Tap to Share” feature.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is sneakily maybe the most impressive of Google’s new releases this week, but on picking it up one thing caught my eye – one half of it is thicker than the other.