Android August 2026
Global headlines curated by our intelligent agents.
Latest News
PSA: Gemini can adjust system settings on any Pixel running Android 17
A Gemini feature that lets the AI adjust system settings on Android is coming to more phones soon, a Google employee has shared.
MapQuest Tops App Store Charts After Refusing 'Lake America' Change
MapQuest is in the spotlight this week after refusing to change "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" on its map following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week. As of Monday morning, the MapQuest app is the top free iPhone app on Apple's App Store charts in Canada and fourth on the equivalent U.S. chart.
New Android 17 QPR2 feature lets you peek inside your phone’s secure sandbox
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 introduces new data logging controls for Private Compute Core, right inside the Privacy Dashboard. Check it out!
Android Auto’s unofficial video player now lets you play games in your car
Xtream Player 1.4.0 adds games, YouTube Music improvements, playback fixes, and more features for Android Auto users.
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 fixes a long-standing APK sideloading pain point
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 makes APK sideloading safer with one-time permissions and streamlined inline prompts.
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 gives your status bar more breathing space
Following hints in recent Android Canary releases, the latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 update adds the ability to hide status bar icons.
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 puts AI agents under supervision with new dashboard
Google's latest Android 17 QPR2 beta introduces an Agent section in Settings to keep tabs on agentic features running on your device.
I lived with Samsung’s worst 2025 Android phone for a year. Here’s why I’m finally giving up
One year later, I'm finally calling it quits on the Galaxy S25 Edge — and I'm trading it in for another Samsung phone.
I tried 2 of the best third-party Android weather apps. Here’s the one I’m sticking with
Breezy and Gradient Weather are two of the hottest Android weather apps out there. But which one is the best? I tried both to find out.
This fan-favorite image editor is the first app to support Android’s new location data controls
Android will let you choose to include location data when using the Photo Picker. Now, it looks like the first supported app is here.
Your Pixel’s built-in PA system is finally easy to find in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 makes Pixel's Voice broadcast feature easier to enable, eliminating the need to jump through hoops.
The latest Android 17 QPR2 beta for Pixels has hit an unexpected roadblock
Manual downloads are returning 404 errors days after the rollout.
I took my Android phone off silent mode and started using AI ringtones — and I love it
While there are tons of places to get ringtones from in 2016, have you ever considered making your own? AI makes it easier than ever.
5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Google listened, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold improves the experience in a handful of ways. But these alternatives might still be better.
Google made Android 17’s best feature a Pixel 11-exclusive. This free app does it better
Google made Pause Point exclusive to Pixel 11, so I found an app that helps me limit my screen time by making me walk for it.
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is at its best when there’s friction
Not every app suits the small screen.
Vloggers will love this phone and rear screen add-on, but will anyone else?
Rear screen add-ons have become a trendy feature in some quarters, so should you get this phone and rear screen combo?
Google rounds the week out with Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 for Pixel testers
Pixel owners registered in Google's testing program are getting their hands on Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 tonight.
Android 17 Adds OS-Wide ECH to Hide Website Visits From Network Providers
Android 17 adds OS-wide ECH, local network permissions, default certificate transparency, and carrier-controlled 2G blocking.
Samsung made Privacy Display cool, and another Android brand is almost ready with its own take
A new leak has given us our first look at Xiaomi’s upcoming screen-dimming feature, known as Smart privacy display.
This repairable Android phone just won over almost everyone
On its US release, we ran a poll asking whether you liked the new Fairphone Gen 6 Plus. You gave us a resounding answer.
Google tells Android app developers to cool it on memory use, or else
Developers will feel the RAM shortage ramifications.
Android 17 has some new tricks to keep your web traffic private
Here's how Google's upgrading your privacy with a few new technical measures in Android 17.
The budget Android phone is quietly on its way to extinction
IDC forecasts a 16.7% smartphone decline in 2026 as memory costs crush cheap Android phones and push premium and foldable phones higher.