Ahead of I/O 2026, Google continues to roll out Gemini app features, with some users now seeing a “Thinking level” option.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini app rolling out ‘Extended’ thinking level, new 3rd-party app integrations
Author
Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
What new Google Messages features are rolling out [May 2026]
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.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle has ever so slightly tweaked the Gemini app icon with more color
As we head into I/O 2026, Google is tweaking the Gemini app icon to be a touch more colorful.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit 4.69 rolls out with redesign of focus stats and logging
Google has rolled out version 4.69 of Fitbit for Android as the last update before the Google Health rebrand.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Phone, system dialers can show calls from third-party apps
Google is giving developers of third-party calling apps the ability to integrate with Phone by Google and other system dialers.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid Canary 2605 brings the blur to Pixel system UI
Google today released Android Canary 2605, with this preview build adding much more blur to the system UI on Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding Close‘Gemini Spark’ is Google’s upcoming AI agent in the Gemini app
In the ramp up to I/O 2026, Google has been working on adding a more advanced agent capability to the Gemini app. It now looks like it will be branded as “Gemini Spark.”
Expand Expanding CloseSnapseed 4.0 update adds Camera shortcut on Android [Changelog]
Following last week’s launch, Snapseed 4.0.1 for Android is rolling out with a shortcut to quickly launch the new Camera experience.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid rolling out AI-powered ‘Contextual suggestions’ that learn from your habits
Google is using on-device AI to analyze how you use your Android phone and provide “Contextual suggestions.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle on its ‘continued commitment to Chromebooks’ after Googlebooks
Following yesterday’s Googlebook announcement, the company released a post aimed at existing enterprise and educational Chromebook users.
Expand Expanding CloseDeepMind details Googlebook ‘Magic Pointer’ with demos you can try, also coming to Gemini in Chrome
The Magic Pointer on Googlebook was built with Google DeepMind. The research team behind this underlying capability shared more about the premise of AI-enabled pointers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Home & Nest Community forum gets ‘snip snap’ as Home app integration teased
Last month, Google said it was redesigning the ‘Home & Nest Community’ and we now know what it looks like.
Expand Expanding CloseFind Hub ‘Mark as lost’ will require biometric unlock & hide Quick Settings, more
At The Android Show, Google today announced the latest security and privacy features for the mobile operating system.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome for Android adding full Gemini integration and auto browse
In January, desktop Chrome gained an auto browse capability powered by Gemini. This is now coming to Chrome for Android with deeper Gemini integration.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces Googlebooks with Gemini Intelligence focus, coming this fall
At The Android Show today, Google previewed Googlebooks as a new category of laptops that takes the best of Android and ChromeOS.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini Intelligence brings gen UI widgets, Gboard ‘Rambler’ to Android, debuting on Pixel & Samsung
Google today announced “Gemini Intelligence” as the overarching name for a new series of AI features on premium Android devices.
Expand Expanding CloseEverything announced at The Android Show: Gemini Intelligence, Googlebooks, and more
Like last year, Google is making most of its Android announcements a week before I/O 2026. At The Android Show, we got four sets of announcements.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet rolling out big homepage, search redesign [U]
Google Wallet is beginning to widely roll out a big redesign of the app on Android that upgrades the passes experience.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini overlay on Android basically adds Circle to Search
Google is rolling out an update to the Gemini overlay on Android that essentially lets you “Circle to Search” and focus your prompt.
Expand Expanding CloseEncrypted RCS starts rolling out to Android and iPhone with iOS 26.5
With the launch of iOS 26.5, end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS between Android and iPhone is now gradually rolling out in a process that will take place over the coming months.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit Air has status light & double-tap gesture, gets Whoop size comparison
The hardware design of the Fitbit Air is quite straightforward, but there are two features that aren’t particularly obvious until you start wearing the wearable.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out big Snapseed 4.0 update for Android
In June of 2025, Google surprisingly released a major update for Snapseed after a long dormancy. After confirming at the start of this year that iOS exclusivity was set to end, Snapseed 4.0 is now rolling out to Android.
Expand Expanding CloseGmail adds AI Inbox to the bottom bar as Help me write becomes more personal
After its introduction on the web, AI Inbox is coming to Gmail for Android and iOS. In the navigation drawer, “AI Inbox” appears below Inbox, just like on desktop. The more notable access point is in Gmail’s bottom bar.
Expand Expanding CloseThese Fitbit features won’t be available in the Google Health app: Badges, sleep animals, more
Ahead of the Google Health app rolling out next week, the company has detailed what Fitbit features are going away or significantly changing.
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