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Google Clock 8.1 is now widely rolling out with a Material 3 Expressive redesign. Meanwhile, the last remaining Pixel apps are also getting their revamps.

Google is clearly trying to get more people to switch to Pixel 10, as the company has just launched a new “Head Start” tool that walks users through the process of moving into their new phone.

Every year, Google creates a new statue to commemorate each Android release and, for Android 16, it’s a celebration of Material 3 Expressive in the form of a mini merry-go-round.

Google’s post-purchase support for Pixel has never been fantastic — a quick glance at r/GooglePixel will make that abundantly clear — but with the Pixel 10 series, it seems like the company’s looking to improve on its overall experience with a refreshed premium offering.

Yes, you read that correctly. Google’s lineup of Pixelsnap cases for the Pixel 10 series actually fit the Pixel 9. However, it’s not quite a perfect fit.

If you were hoping to use a Pixel 9 case on your brand new Pixel 10, then we’re sorry to say, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

The Pixel 10 feels like the biggest, broadest step into its own space since the introduction of the Pixel Pro lineup and the base model. It not only sits in the “best” position it can, but it is not as easy to recommend as I had initially hoped.

While AI’s chatbot UI and prompt-based nature showcases the natural-language prowess of LLMs, I think a text field is daunting for most people. I see last year’s Pixel 9 Pro as very much belonging to that initial wave of AI features where LLM capabilities are something you seek out by opening an app. In 12 months, Google has more naturally integrated AI into the core Pixel 10 Pro experience.

Nothing’s made a pretty sizeable splash this year with the launch of three smartphones — including its first-ever flagship-adjacent device — but it hasn’t been without controversy. Following a controversial video comparison earlier this year between the Phone (3a) and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Nothing’s been caught using professionally-sourced stock imagery on in-store demo units of the Phone (3).

Plaud, the AI company behind the Note and Note Pin, is launching a new version of the card-like recorder. The new Note Pro model brings Plaud’s hardware changes that facilitate some of the big software upgrades made through the app.

Batteries have been a big downside of Chipolo trackers for some time, but the brand is now launching two new products – Chipolo Loop and Chipolo Card – which support Android’s Find Hub network and also go all-in on rechargeable batteries over alternatives.

The Google Messages redesign started widely rolling out to the stable channel last week, and Material 3 Expressive is now available on the actual chat screen.

Google has been updating various Android Settings pages with Material 3 Expressive, and the “Backup” redesign brings a rather drastic simplification.

Back in July, Google detailed a new “System services” page to update background apps that help power your Android device.

Gmail was one of the first apps to start testing Material 3 Expressive in June and the redesign is now widely rolling out.

Following the wide rollout last week, release notes for Google Home 3.39 are now available with a trio of new features listed.

We’re still waiting for the eventual launch of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 FE, perhaps timed perfectly with those rumored Galaxy Tab S11 tablets. But if you just can’t wait for an early reveal, one Portuguese retailer accidentally published a full specs sheet earlier than expected.

Most smartphone rumor cycles have some amount of conflicting information, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t immune. Throughout this summer, leakers have gone back and forth on whether or not Samsung’s next supersized flagship would feature a battery upgrade, potentially delivering the brand’s first increase over its usual 5,000mAh cell size ever. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like that’s happening after all.