Since Google introduced Pixel VIPs in June, the widget has become the primary way I message and call people. I use it multiple times throughout the day and it’s close to entering my first homescreen.

The most important thing Google announced last week is generative UIs. Fully embraced by Gemini 3, I think generative AI and interfaces will lead to a new generation of apps, but not in the way you think.

If Samsung or Apple can’t sustain a market for ultra-thin phones, Google is certainly not entering the space. I find that a real shame, but if the Pixel needs an aspirational design direction, might I suggest the flat Pixel 9a.

Apple has had iPhone owners trapped within its walled garden for years, with many genuinely not knowing what lies beyond that ecosystem. But Google has been working over the past few years to poke some holes in that wall, and its latest move in bringing AirDrop compatibility to Android Quick Share is just another reminder of how things are getting better. But… is anyone actually switching?

I’m not really a huge fan of modern AI. For the past couple of years, it’s just been shoved into everything online, and usually not for the better. Google, though, has really hit its stride lately in finding incredible, out-of-the-box ways to use AI to just make things better, and there are a couple of key examples of this.

Gemini for Google Home has arrived and, with it, a glimpse of Google’s view of the future of the smart home. But that future is still held back by the simple fact that, like anything with AI, it makes too many mistakes.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite hit the scene this week with the promise of being a much more affordable smartphone. It is that, but it’s also haunted by some of the quotes and jokes that Nothing has made over the years, and is really putting a sour tone on what should have been a great year for the growing brand.

If there’s one thing Google is good at with Pixel, it’s color. This year, “Indigo” is the standout color, even if it’s not on the flagship series, and my new Pixel Watch band reminded me just how good “Indigo” is.

Following new announcements this week, the future of Google Home is brighter than ever, and that’s exciting.

Over the years, the Google Home ecosystem – Nest included – has changed a lot, largely to fit Google’s priorities of the time. But, more often than not, any one step forward has resulted in taking two steps back which, as a user, means there’s always some annoyance at play. As Google prepares to present Home and Nest news next week, what’s the one thing you would change about Google Home if you could?

Samsung appears to be adopting Qi2 magnets in the Galaxy S26 series, but there’s a key problem with that, and it’s going to require Samsung to eventually redesign its Galaxy phones to fully embrace the standard.

One of the big new announcements coming out of Google’s Pixel 10 launch this week was that the Fitbit app is about to get a massive redesign and, after spending some time playing around with it and getting an overview of all of the new features, I think Google is putting together something that’s going to be incredibly helpful, but bordering on information overload.

The Pixel Watch 4 is set to introduce a brand new charger – the third one in four generations of Google’s smartwatch – and while it really seems like the pros outweigh the cons here, I’m dreading a couple of small things.

As we near the launch of Pixel 10, I’m getting some déjà vu with Google’s new devices, as the company has been pushing forward with its flagship phones for the betterment of the entire Android ecosystem, rather than just its own benefit. Sound familiar?

In July, Google finally launched a bottom address bar for Chrome on Android. Are you using it?

The clear difference between Gemini and AI Mode will be an assistant. That’s already the case today, and what LLMs continue to make possible will only widen that gap. However, the similarities today make me wonder whether this is confusing for most users.

It’s no secret at this point that the Pixel 10 series is not going to be a massive upgrade, but with that in mind, leaks point towards it being perhaps the best kind of subtle upgrade. Here’s why.

Google this week revealed that Nest Aware, the service required to make the most out of Nest Cam, is getting a major price hike, and it’s a tough one to accept as the hardware just keeps aging.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an impressive jump for the company’s book-style foldable, delivering a needed upgrade and some major improvements. But if we’re looking to crown the biggest upgrade in foldable history, I think Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold still earns that title.

Nothing’s new Phone (3) is the company’s self-described first “true flagship,” a designation that, personally, I think is a mistake. But it also brings up the question, if the Nothing Phone (3) isn’t a “true flagship,” is Google’s Pixel?

AI has taken over basically everything in tech. Whether it’s search, social media, or basically every other app on your phone, AI is just everywhere. It demands your attention and is often not optional, but Google Photos just showcased an increasingly rare example of building out AI features with a sense of compromise and care for the end user.

I’d argue that ChromeOS is enough for most people’s personal usage these days given the online services they mainly use and the advancement of web apps. However, I don’t think Chromebooks being third behind Windows and Mac is enough for Google, and that’s why we’re seeing what I’d call “desktop Android” in the near future.

Samsung’s stagnation in the foldable market is finally coming to an end, as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is catching up with the competition in some major ways. However, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 actually has me pretty excited, and not just because it’s going to be super thin.

Google released Android 16 to Pixel users this week, an early release and a big milestone. But despite this update truly having a lot to offer in the long run, it has made an incredibly boring debut for users, and at a time where Android really has a chance to shine above its main competition.