With Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, the Pixel Launcher search bar is getting a redesign to match the Google app’s updated homescreen widget.
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The first beta release of Android 16 QPR1 rolled out a redesigned lock screen with a “seen notifications” section. That newly introduced UI element has now been made a little bit better in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.
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Along with updates for Pixel phones and the Watch this week, Google is rolling out new firmware for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 today.
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Before it made a big splash, Nothing had purchased some of the remains of Essential, and it turns out that was almost exclusively about the name of the company.
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Following discovery in the latest Android 16 beta, Google has confirmed that Pixel 6a owners will receive “mandatory” software update that will reduce battery capacity.
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Following yesterday’s announcement, Google is widely rolling out the new Pixel VIPs widget to the Pixel 6+ on Android 16 (and QPR1).
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As announced with the June 2025 Feature Drop, Gboard is getting deeper integration with Pixel Studio that lets you generate custom AI stickers. This is beginning to roll out on the Pixel 9 and newer.
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Pixel 6a owners may soon see their devices limited in terms of battery life, as code shows that Google is preparing to “reduce” the battery to avoid “a potential overheating” issue.
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Small Android tablet fans rejoice, a new 9-inch tablet with an OLED display is launching next month on the global market in the Redmagic Astra, which has just debuted in China with an impressive spec sheet.
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Following Android and iOS, Google Search on the web wants to add an “AI Mode” shortcut right on the iconic homepage.
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Samsung is in full hype mode around the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (and, to a lesser extent, Flip 7), with its latest teaser hinting at camera improvements, but only ones related to AI.
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Your Wednesday edition of the best deals surfacing on Google Play for your Android devices is now ready to go down below. On your way down, be sure to scope out the all-time low we spotted this morning on Samsung’s all-new 2025 65-inch The Frame smart TV and this refurb offer on the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 down at $110. As for the apps, highlights include NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM, Doom & Destiny Worlds, Heroes of Flatlandia, and more. Hit the jump for a closer look.
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One of the big new features coming to Android 16 later this year is a new desktop mode that makes it possible for a phone to connect to a monitor and display a desktop-like environment with resizable apps and more. While tablets will be able to run this new desktop mode on their own displays, Google says that foldables running Android 16 will not get the same treatment.
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Visually, Google’s upcoming phones look the same, but the big hardware hope is the presence of Qi2 wireless charging with magnetic attachment. The latest Pixel 10 rumor suggests Google is preparing first-party Qi2 accessories called “Pixelsnap.”
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Today’s Androidverse deals are now ready to roll starting with the ongoing Google Father’s Day sale and a chance to land a serious $120 price drop on Best Buy refurb Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 at $110 (or $189 brand new). We also spotted ASUS’ Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ PC at $300 off, 8Bitdo’s Hall effect Ultimate Mobile Android Gaming Controller at $27 again, and a new all-time low on the brand new 65-inch Samsung The Frame 2025 model at $270 off. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
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The Android 16 update introduces “Battery health,” though specific functionality depends on what Pixel phone you have.
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The polls are in, it paints a very clear picture as to how people feel about the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic’s design language.
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Reports are starting to float around that indicate Samsung has set a shorter manufacturing quota than initially expected, lowering the number of Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 devices being made.
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A year after its initial debut, the Moto Tag is finally the first Find Hub (formerly Find My Device) tracker for Android that supports UWB, but you’ll need a couple of updates to get things working.
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Google kicked off the rollout of Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 yesterday, but Pixel owners looking to skip the lengthy on-device OTA installation are still waiting for sideloading files to become available.
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Besides Connected displays support, Beta 2 of Android 16 QPR1 is focussed on refining Material 3 Expressive, including the volume and brightness sliders.
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Apple introduced its new “Liquid Glass” redesign of iOS 26 this week at WWDC and to say that the reactions have been mixed is an understatement. Amid the various comments, though, have been a bunch of comparisons between iOS 26 and ancient Android skins.
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Following the news at I/O 2025, HP today announced the “HP Dimension with Google Beam.”
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Following its debut in beta last month, Google is now rolling out the Android Auto 14.4 update more widely, but don’t expect much from it.
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