Phone companies make it their top priority to make you feel as though you're missing out if you're not buying the latest release. It doesn't matter how recent your existing phone is, or whether it still performs admirably — there's always that little thought at the back of your mind making you wonder what you could get from upgrading.

Admittedly, phone companies also make it fairly easy to ignore new releases, because substantial upgrades seem to be getting much rarer. But there may be a time where the FOMO is really getting to you, even if you can't justify spending a thousand dollars or more on the latest. But before you attempt to sign on for a new phone plan, try what I did and buy a new case instead.

A fresh new look

Picture this: You have your phone for a year, or longer, and you're still using the same case that you had on day one. If your situation is anything like mine, that case is probably looking a little worse for wear.

In my case, the official Google case for my Pixel 10 Pro was slowly starting to fall apart. The silicone was chipping off the edges, and the thing hadn't been properly cleaned for a while, so it was looking pretty tired and worse for wear. Combine that with the big crack along the width of my screen protector, and it generally made my phone look like it was ready to be replaced.

The thing is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the phone itself. In fact, when I reviewed the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, I actually suggested that some people would be better off buying last year's model instead. I found the new versions to be that disappointing.

My response seems obvious: I simply purchased a brand new case for my phone.

The case was nothing special, a translucent black silicone case with Qi2 magnetic charging support and a metal lip around the camera bar. I anticipated that this would be a change, but what I didn't realize was how much of a psychological impact a cheap silicone case would have since it made my phone feel brand new.

I knew it wasn't brand new, and the fact I still haven't replaced the screen protector makes that visually apparent every single day. The phone is the same, performs the same and still has the same disappointing Pixel battery life. Still, the simple fact of having a new case made my phone feel like a totally different device,

Sorry consumerism, you can't get me this year

I'm going to make it very clear right now that I think buying a new phone every year is stupid, and a total waste of money — even if you have generous trade-in deals. The fact is, phones don't change that much year by year, and the upgrades you're actually getting are minimal. That was true back in the early years of iPhone and Android, and it's even more true today. It doesn't actually matter which phone company has your loyalty, it's all the same in the end.

But there's a weird thing about humans (and animals), and it's that our brains don't follow logic. We love having new stuff to mix everything up, especially if we know that other people might get their hands on it first.

I see it in my young son, and the way his attention switches to things that are either new or being enjoyed by someone else. He doesn't want to miss out, and suddenly getting hold of my laptop, the TV remote or the ice cream I'm trying to eat becomes the only thing he cares about.

Sadly, much as our dumb brains might want to, we can't just pick up a brand new phone every year. Phone prices are only getting higher, and we're at a point where ultra-premium flagship phones are inching towards a $1,500 starting price. Thankfully, it seems that, in some cases, that impulse can be curbed with something as simple as $10.

Now, some of you may be practically-minded and believe that there's little point in changing a perfectly good case when it still works. I totally understand that mindset, and held onto it for a long time with previous devices. It's a case I like, and it's doing its job, so why spend the money on a new one?

As it turns out, spending those few extra dollars on a brand new case might be enough to get the demon of consumerism off your back. Because apparently looking and feeling new is almost as good as being new, to the point where you can trick your brain into thinking you have a shiny new phone. Even if it is the same old device you've had for the past year or two.

Bottom line

There are plenty of ways to get a good deal on a brand new phone, but there's no better deal than not buying one. Assuming you are happy with the performance of your current phone, you don't necessarily need to pick up a new model just because it's been released. Especially not if the best upgrade the designers can muster is a glorified RGB notification light on the back.

If you feel the urge, and know full well that it would be a waste of money to give in, simply trick your brain by swapping out the case. It doesn't have to be a nice stylish case, or even an expensive one made by a big name brand. I purchased the first random no-name phone case I liked the look of, and it's doing me just fine. It's practically identical to the one my wife uses, and we mix up our phones all the time, but that's entirely my fault.

So if you've been wondering whether the upcoming Prime Day or Black Friday sales are the right time to pick up a new phone, it might be worth picking up a new case instead. Just to make sure you actually want a new phone, rather than a change of scenery. It worked for me, and it might work for you.

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Update: Google responds to inquiries about this attack.

Sponsored Google ads for fake ChatGPT are leading Windows users to download malware in "ClickFix" traps, according to security researchers from the AI company Island.

The sponsored Google ads lead to Custom GPT sites that are built to look like normal ChatGPT websites. These ads pop up when people type terms like "chatgpt" into Google Search.

Unfortunately, for trapped users, the ads do go to legitimate chatgpt.com sites. However, in these instances, entering a prompt makes the fake service direct people to a "backup domain" due to "high traffic."

Clicking on that link then redirects unsuspecting users to another fake instance of ChatGPT with a fake Cloudflare verification page that contains ClickFix instructions. Island found nearly identical responses across two separate Custom GPTs over a 3-day period in August.

According to the researchers, the malware advertising campaign appeared to involve around 850 paid ads, 26 fake ChatGPT links, and 71 Google Ads campaign IDs over a three-month period from May 2026 through August 2026.

What is ClickFix?

ClickFix traps are built to trick people into installing or executing malicious commands on their devices. In this instance, the instructions from the backup domain trick Windows into running a command that downloads malware onto your computer.

Once installed, the malware infects the system. It can even survive PC restarts and uses a Telegram bot to send stolen info back to the hackers behind this camping The malware utilizes a tool called NetSupport RAT, which lets attackers remotely control an infected computer.

Island found that the domains rotated and other Windows malware-delivery forms were identified too suggesting that the attack is not based on a single website.

The company claims an AI tool highlighted the suspicious activity and human researchers confirmed it. However, it's not clear how many people may have been affected by this scam.

A Google spokesperson told Tom's Guide that it has already suspended accounts associated with this attack.

"Before this report was published, we suspended the advertiser accounts involved to block this scheme and updated our defenses to better detect these tactics," a spokesperson said.

We were told that Google is monitoring new attempts to utilize fake ads. Google does have a policy that does not allow misleading ads about a business, product, service or destination. Per Google, the company blocked more than 400 million misleading ads for violating Google's "Misrepresentation" policies last year.

How to avoid falling victim to online scams

The combination of malware and advertising — also known as malvertising — has a long, storied history, which means you should always be careful when clicking on any advertisement online. To stay safe, you could try using one of the best ad blockers, since Google's "sponsored" links are still technically ads; most blockers will hide them.

Beyond that, if you don't have or want an ad blocker, there are some red flags to note when using a search engine and especially if you get linked to a fake instance of ChatGPT.

As for ChatGPT, if you are an existing user or just trying it out, go to chatgpt.com; no need to search for it.

Likewise, I've covered ChatGPT outages quite frequently over the course of the last two years and even at its worst, the AI assistant never sends you to a "backup domain." Don't click that link. If ChatGPT is having issues, you can always check the OpenAI status page.

At the same time, no website verification or CAPTCHA will ever ask you to open Windows Run and paste a command. If a website asks you to press Win + R or run PowerShell, don't do it.

Finally, you should always have one of the best antivirus software solutions installed on your PC. From there, you want to ensure that your antivirus is current, updated and running on all your devices – both your computer and even your smartphone.

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Google Photos has received a steady stream of smart upgrades recently, adding everything from AI wardrobe sorting to vintage filter presets. But among all the new additions, one simple privacy feature stands out as an immediate, everyday lifesaver for Android users: the new Redact tool.

It’s an addition that feels long overdue — especially since Apple beat Google to the punch by introducing native face-blurring tools back in iOS 18.

Scribbling over private text or faces on screenshots looks messy and can easily leave sensitive details exposed. Google’s new Redact tool finally catches up by swapping those clunky marker lines for a clean, pixelated blur that keeps your images neat and completely secure. Here's how it works, and where you can find it.

How to use the Redact tool in Google Photos

To try it out, open the photo or screenshot you want to edit in Google Photos, tap Edit, and head to the Markup section.

From there, select the Redact pen, choose your preferred blur style, and use the slider to adjust the brush thickness to fit whatever you are covering up.

Simply draw directly over any private text, account numbers, or faces you want to conceal. The tool automatically applies a pixelated blur over your selection.

Once you are happy with the edit, tap the checkmark icon and select Save as copy in the top-right corner so you preserve your original unedited photo.

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Being able to carry a powerful camera in my pocket is fantastic, and I can't tell you the number of times I've been able to pull out my phone to snap something that would have otherwise vanished in a second. The problem is that smartphones are not so great and shooting a lot of photos in a short space of time.

The lack of a burst mode has always irked me, especially since I'm often trying to take photos of things that are moving around — mainly my dogs or my son. My workaround has been to shoot video and then try and screenshot the appropriate frame, but those results are often lacking. You lose resolution and the whole process is rather fiddly, as you try and find the perfect frame.

Thankfully Google and Apple have each developed systems to do this exact thing, without all the same pitfalls. The execution is very different, though, and I set out to see whether Google Pixel 11 Pro's Magic Capture or the Save Video Frame as Photo option from iPhone 18 Pro and iOS 27 offered a better experience.

What are Magic Capture and Save Video Frame as Photo?

Magic Capture is a new AI-powered feature exclusive to Google's Pixel 11 series, and it functions as a separate mode within the Pixel camera app. Magic Capture records videos up to two minutes in length, and once finished, uses AI to analyze the footage and export a handful of frames as standalone photos.

The crucial thing there is that the whole process is automatic. You don't get to choose what Magic Capture picks out, and the number of photos you get is actually pretty limited. You get one photo at first, but that number increases to five once the cloud-based processing is complete.

In contrast to this, Apple's Save Video Frame as Photo feature is all on you. Rather than having a specialist camera mode, or complicated AI integration, it all functions as a feature in the Apple Photos app. Simply find a video you want to pull photos from, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and tap the Save Video Frame as Photo option.

Tapping that option then isolates the frame that's on screen and exports it to Apple Photos as a photo. It doesn't matter whether the video is playing, or if you've paused it, the feature will work as advertised, dropping the newly-created photo at the end of your timeline. Naturally, the manual process means you're not guaranteed to get a good photo, since it only copies what's seen on screen.

How do they actually differ in practice?

Magic Capture is certainly the more convenient method of extracting photos from video, though it definitely comes with some downsides. The fact that you can record a video clip, and have Google's AI do all the hard work for you to get things done quickly and stress-free. That said, the limitations do get in the way.

One issue is that Magic Capture is limited to two minutes of actual use. That's not an issue for short bursts of video, but if you want continuous, uninterrupted recording, you're out of luck. Similarly the feature sticks you with five photos no matter how long the clip is — no more, no less. It doesn't matter whether you record 30 seconds or the full two minutes, you get five photos.

If you want anything more, or you don't like what Magic Capture selected, you're going to have to do things the old fashioned way. That is less than ideal, especially since Magic Capture was supposed to solve this problem. The reliance on cloud processing may also be a little much for some people, depending on how much you trust Google's servers to keep your video clips secure.

Apple's system has no such limitations, because it doesn't rely on AI processing or a specialist camera. You simply record a video as normal, with no extra caveats or conditions you need to meet. The obvious downside is that you need to pull each individual frame out manually, which is not that easy — especially on an iPhone touchscreen.

There's a difference between photographs and video frames, since one is designed to be standalone and the other is one part of something much larger. Without the surrounding frames, that single snapshot could look like absolute garbage. And that happens quite a lot with the Save Video Frame as Photo feature. Not always, and rapid movement definitely makes it a lot harder, but it is something to be aware of.

The process is fairly simple, though. You load up the video you recorded in Apple Photos, and slide the progress bar along until you get to the frame you want to see as a photo. The main issue is that doing it in Portrait mode is not easy, especially if it's a particularly long video. This isn't like VLC, where you can advance frame by frame until you get to the spot you want.

There isn't enough finesse in my fingers to be super accurate with everything, but I found that flipping the phone into landscape mode made the process slightly easier. Similarly, loading up the video on my iPad and cycling through the video using the Apple Pencil made it feel as though I had more control over the entire process. Yes, iPadOS 27 has this feature too, and it works in the exact same way.

Clipping videos down into shorter clips can also be a big help, since the playback bar is the same size no matter the length of the video in question.

Verdict: Which is the better option?

The most important thing to remember about Magic Capture and Apple's Save Video Frame as Photo is that they are both rather different methods of reaching the same goal. The way they work is going to impact which of these is actually right for you, and the truth is that neither of them is a bad option.

Magic Capture has its limits, but it's the easiest way to get a handful of photos from short video clips. Personally I think Google's option is better suited to those times when you know getting a good photo is going to be difficult, but you don't want the moment to pass. So you use Magic Capture to record the video, and have Google AI select five photos of the event in question.

Meanwhile Apple's Save Video Frame to Photo feature is arguably better for those times you know you're going to be recording anyway, but want to be able to export different frames as their own photos. Or, alternatively, for those of you that prefer to put the effort into generating those photos yourself, rather than having a faceless collection of cloud-based AI algorithms do it for you. It's certainly the more labor-intensive option, but it's also the one that ensures better data security. Provided you have the will and means to go through your video frame-by-frame — or close enough to it.

A blend of the two wouldn't be a bad option, especially if Apple can adapt its own version of Magic Capture through Private Cloud Compute. However, we can all agree that it certainly beats the alternative of screenshotting videos and losing all resolution in the process.

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AI has an energy problem, and Google has come up with a solution that sounds like it belongs in a science fiction movie: send the computers into space.

Next week, Google plans to launch its first Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) into orbit as part of Project Suncatcher, an experiment exploring whether some of the enormous computing infrastructure required for AI could eventually leave Earth altogether.

But Google isn't launching an entire data center into space just yet. The first mission is much smaller, designed to answer a more basic question: Can the same chips Google uses for AI survive a rocket launch and continue working amid the radiation and extreme temperatures of space?

But if the experiment works, it will pave the way for much bigger projects. The company ultimately envisions clusters of solar-powered satellites packed with AI chips and connected to one another using high-speed optical links. Instead of building another enormous data center on Earth, some future AI workloads could theoretically be processed hundreds of miles above it.

And as wild as that sounds, Google's reason for looking upward actually makes quite a bit of sense.

AI needs a staggering amount of infrastructure

The AI boom isn't only a race to build better models. It's becoming a race to find enough computing power and electricity to run them.

Google said at I/O this year that its systems are now processing more than 3.2 quadrillion AI tokens every month, up sevenfold from the previous year. The company expects to spend roughly $180 billion to $190 billion on capital expenditures this year as it builds out the infrastructure needed to support that demand.

That means more chips, more data centers and, crucially, more electricity. Project Suncatcher asks what happens if Google moves at least part of that equation somewhere with an enormous source of energy already available.

The answer seems to be the Sun. According to Google, a solar panel placed in the right orbit can generate as much as eight times the power of the same panel on Earth. Certain orbital configurations could also give satellites access to sunlight almost continuously, dramatically reducing their reliance on batteries.

In other words, Google wants to explore bringing the AI data center closer to the electricity.

First, Google has to find out if its AI chips survive

There's an enormous gap between that idea and actually running Gemini from orbit. Google's first test will take place aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 mission, with a prototype satellite developed in partnership with Planet carrying TPUs into low Earth orbit.

Google says the satellite will experience sustained acceleration of up to 10 times Earth's gravity during launch, while individual components can experience forces of 50 to 100 g. And, then there's all the radiation.

Without Earth's atmosphere providing the same protection electronics receive on the ground, cosmic rays and solar activity can interfere with computer hardware, potentially causing errors such as flipped bits.

Google has already blasted its Trillium TPUs with protons at UC Davis' Crocker Nuclear Laboratory while the chips were running AI workloads. According to the company, the processors survived a total ionizing dose greater than what Google expects them to receive during a five-year mission.

Next week's launch will show how they perform in the real thing.

Space creates another surprising problem: heat

Putting AI chips in space might solve one infrastructure problem while creating another. Data centers generate tremendous amounts of heat, which is why cooling has become such an important part of AI infrastructure.

You might assume the coldness of space would make that job easier, but it actually does not.

Space is a vacuum, meaning there's no air flowing around a hot TPU to carry its heat away. Google instead has to transfer that heat to radiators that can release it into space.

The company has been experimenting with heat pipes and radiators and testing the system inside thermal vacuum chambers on Earth. The upcoming mission will give engineers their first opportunity to see how that cooling approach behaves in orbit.

And cooling isn't the only unresolved engineering problem. If Google eventually wants dozens or hundreds of satellites behaving like one giant computer, those machines need to exchange enormous amounts of data while hurtling around Earth. The company plans to use lasers to connect them.

A planned 2027 experiment involving two satellites is expected to test that technology.

Project Suncatcher is still firmly in experimental territory

Just don't expect Gemini to move to space anytime soon. There are still obstacles to consider, even those that aren't technical at all, but rather, cost.

Google's research estimates that launch prices would need to fall below roughly $200 per kilogram before launching and operating an orbital data center could become comparable to the energy costs of an equivalent terrestrial facility.

The company believes launch prices could potentially reach that point by the mid-2030s, but that's a projection, not a guarantee. There are plenty of other unanswered questions too, including reliability, repairs, communication with Earth and what happens when hardware eventually needs replacing.

So Google's launch next week will certainly be an experiment to determine whether that future is even plausible. And, it's very possible that Google's solution might ultimately prove impractical. But apparently we've reached the point in the AI boom where "What if we put the data center in space?" is a question worth launching a rocket to answer.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments your thoughts on AI data centers in space.

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Googlebooks have arrived to shake up the computing world. Billed as laptops for Android users, these machines run on the brand-new Googlebook OS, which combines Android OS and ChromeOS and is designed for Gemini Intelligence. This gives users Apple-like interoperability with their phone and laptop, along with on-device AI tools and features.

Google is launching these new laptops in a crowded field that includes the best MacBooks, the best Windows laptops, and even the company’s own best Chromebooks. If you already own or are hunting for one of the best laptops, it might be difficult to see why you would want or need a Googlebook.

To that end, here are four reasons to buy a Googlebook, along with three reasons you might want to skip them.

Googlebooks: Reasons to buy

Android interoperability

The main reason you’d want to buy a Googlebook is if you’re an Android phone user who wants near-seamless integration with your laptop. This is something Apple users have enjoyed for years, and both Google and Windows have tried and largely failed to deliver. Now, Android users can switch between tasks on their phones and these new laptops.

In the past, if you started writing a document or working on a project on your phone, you’d have to manually move it to your laptop. Thanks to Googlebook’s Continue On feature, you can pick up right where you left off from the desktop taskbar. This also applies to pictures you snap or videos you record, thanks to the updated Files app. All of your photos and downloads appear right in your laptop’s file menu.

When you first sign in to your Google account on a Googlebook, all of your phone’s settings, saved passwords, Wi-Fi networks, and messages are automatically transferred to the laptop over end-to-end encryption. Cast My Apps allow you to stream and interact with your phone’s apps in a desktop window, which makes it simple to (for example) order food from a delivery app

None of this is groundbreaking stuff for Apple users who’ve enjoyed seamless interoperability between the company’s devices. But for Android users, Googlebooks could be a huge game-changer.

Googlebook OS features

It shouldn’t be surprising that Google has baked its Gemini AI right into Googlebook OS. While you can certainly use the company’s LLM for the basics, such as asking it for travel advice or brainstorming, some nifty Googlebook-specific features sound very useful.

The most unique feature is Magic Pointer. Shaking or wiggling the mouse cursor while hovering over content on your screen brings up Gemini. From there, you can ask the AI to summarize text, translate languages, or help you organize your calendar.

There’s also Rambler, an enhanced speech-to-text tool that lets you (as the name suggests) ramble stream-of-consciousness thoughts and then have them converted into neat headers, checklists, and takeaways.

For aspiring vibe coders, Create My Widget lets you describe what you need in plain language to generate custom interactive desktop widgets. Basically, you can create your own Android apps in a few minutes.

Design and specs

At launch, there will be five Googlebooks from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. While each laptop has its own unique design elements, they also share core design elements that identify them as Googlebooks.

All Googlebooks are built with high-end materials like aluminum, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber. While not every Googlebook will have OLED panels, they all have touchscreen displays — which makes sense if you’re using an Android app on the laptop. Other features include ultraportable designs, large trackpads, and backlit keyboards.

Googlebooks will also have a Glowbar positioned on the exterior lid. This light bar sweeps across in bright colors to indicate battery levels, lights up on startup, and shows fun animations whenever you’re using Gemini.

Under their ultraportable hoods, Googlebooks feature high-end processors from Intel, Qualcomm, and MediaTek, with NPUs capable of over 45 TOPS for AI workloads. The laptops also start with at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. Google also claims you’ll get up to 14 hours of battery life.

Googlebooks: Reasons to skip

Platform migration

Even if you mostly work in Google apps, you’ll still be effectively starting over, especially since you’ll need an Android phone to get the most from Google’s new laptops. You’ll also lose Apple features like AirDrop, iMessage, and FaceTime, and Mac-exclusive Pro software like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.

Googlebooks would have made more sense for me back when I was an Android phone user. But now that I’ve owned an iPhone for four years and enjoy seamless integration between my phone, MacBook, and iPad Pro, I don’t relish the thought of starting over on a new platform. If you’re firmly entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, then a Googlebook will be a tough sell.

Compatibility

Googlebook OS relies heavily on web apps, native Android software, and Linux tools. As such, it can’t run native legacy Windows desktop apps, and it certainly won’t run macOS-exclusive software. Due to that, you’ll effectively be in a walled garden like with the Apple ecosystem, only for Android.

Similarly, since this is a brand-new platform that combines Android and ChromeOS, developer optimization for desktop windowing in certain third-party Android apps is still evolving. In other words, early adopters should expect some hiccups along the way, as some of the features I outline above may not work as well as you’d expect.

Price

Googlebooks aren’t outrageously expensive, but as premium flagship laptops, they’re not cheap. Prices range from $899 for the Acer Googlebook 14 to $1,299 for the Asus Googlebook 14 and HP Googlebook 14. That’s pricey on its own, but if you’re also buying a new Android phone and don’t already own one, that’s an even bigger hit to your bank account.

If compatibility with your phone isn’t important and you only need a dependable laptop for basic web browsing or word document editing, then a Chromebook, which can start between $179 and $369, is the more affordable alternative. If you want something higher-end but still affordable, the $699 MacBook Neo and $799 Dell XPS 13 are also brilliant choices.

Outlook

We'll get a true measure of what Googlebooks can do once we've put them through our lab and real-world tests, but for now, they seem like they could be perfect laptops for Android phone users. But as I said, they might be tough sells for Apple users.

The first Googlebooks are expected on October 4, so stay tuned for more soon!

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Even before the iPhone Duo launched, Android and Samsung fans were ribbing Apple for being so late to the foldable phone party. After all, the first Galaxy Fold launched in 2019.

Right after the Apple September event, Samsung tweeted “Let us know when you're done reheating our leftovers.”

Now that we’re edging closer to the iPhone Duo pre-order date of Oct 16, I thought it would be interesting to get the reaction of Sameer Samat, who is the president of Android Ecosystem at Google.

We were sitting down to talk about the new Googlebook push, but since those laptops are powered by Android, I wanted to ask him what he thought about Apple’s foldable entry versus Android foldables.

Better late than never

As you might expect, Samat pointed out that Apple’s foldable launch is a wee bit behind the Android camp.

“I think that it's wonderful to see more people realizing after so long that the foldable space is the place to be. And Android is usually where you see the future first.”

It’s true that Android beat Apple to the foldable punch by a long shot, including the wide passport form factor the iPhone Duo has. Samat has been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and is a big fan of that device in particular.

“The Fold 8 is an amazing device, Samat said. “It helps me get so much work done. I actually find myself starting productivity quite often on that device, and then moving to my laptop.”

But the Duo is still a real threat

At the same time, analysts predict a big foldable phone market share for Apple. For example, Counterpoint Research says Apple will gain about 25% of the market in year one, growing to 40% by the end of 2027.

A lot of that likely has to do with the ecosystem factor. I did a story recently ranking the iPhone Duo trade-offs — from the lack of telephoto zoom to a heavier weight versus the Fold 8 — and this reader comment summed up the pent-up demand best.

“Seriously, I've been waiting since the first Galaxy Z Fold for Apple to enter the arena (tried the Fold 5 and Fold 6, but just couldn't do Android because I'm locked into the rest of Apple's ecosystem).”

Despite Apple’s momentum at the moment, Samat is confident that the Duo will have a halo effect on Android foldables, because it will only increase interest in the category overall.

“I think that what this speaks to is something that we've known for a long time in the Android ecosystem, which is that the foldable space, the foldable form factor is awesome.”

Apple = app advantage?

In addition, Apple could have a sizable advantage when it comes to app support for larger foldable displays, as it is making a big push with developers.

In fact, Apple specifically called out Slack during its event as one of the optimized apps, which as we speak still looks like a stretched out phone app on Android foldables. Apple also showed off a foldable-friendly version of Netflix.

Samat admitted that there’s still work to be done. And ironically Apple’s entry could be the tide to lift Android’s boat.

“I think that as this form factor becomes more and more popular, developers realize that there's more and more value in investing in it,” Samat said. “I think one of the things that we've done is to make the tools simpler and easier for them to invest in. And of course there are apps that haven't made that transition yet. Either they're working on it, or we're in conversations with them, but there are also thousands of thousands of apps that have.”

We talked about one of those apps in TikTok, which works very well on the Samsung Fold 8. You get an immersive viewing experience on the outside display, and on the inside you can scroll videos on the left and view comments on the right.

In addition, many of Google’s own apps have been fully optimized for foldables, including Gmail and YouTube.

“We can cherry pick an app or two that you know one platform will have or the other platform will have, but the reality is this form factor is a hit,” Samat said. “It's growing. It was growing even before these last couple weeks, and I'm glad to see more people joining what is now the obvious party.”

More from Tom's Guide

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• iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
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Googlebooks have arrived, and I’m sure you’re wondering how they differ from the best Chromebooks. That’s a fair question, but even though they're Google laptops with similar names, these notebook lines are vastly different from one another. Especially since Googlebooks directly compete with the best Windows laptops and best MacBooks.

I recently tested the first five Googlebooks, and the differences between them and Chromebooks were instantly apparent. Instead of plastic, Googlebooks have sleek, sturdy metal chassis that make them feel like premium devices. Inside, they pack fast processors from Intel, Qualcomm, and MediaTek, with Google Gemini features built in for on-device AI workloads.

Googlebooks aren’t replacing Chromebooks, but it’s still important to know what distinguishes the laptop lines — especially as we draw closer to the busy holiday shopping season. To that end, here are the biggest differences between Googlebooks and Chromebooks.

Googlebooks vs. Chromebooks: Price

Chromebooks have long been among the most affordable laptops, ranging from $150 to over $600. This has been a major reason for their popularity, even though ChromeOS isn't as robust as Windows or macOS. If you frequently work somewhere with a reliable internet connection and exclusively use Google’s suite of apps, Chromebooks are a solid choice.

Since Googlebook are marketed as premium laptops, they generally command premium prices—though their starting prices aren’t unreasonable. For example, the Acer Googlebook 14 starts at $899, while the most expensive offerings like the Asus Googlebook 14 start at $1,299. No matter which Googlebook you buy, you’ll get 12 months of Google AI Pro providing 5TB of cloud storage and Gemini Advanced tools, plus three months of YouTube Premium, Adobe Photoshop, and CapCut.

I should note that these are the current prices of Googlebooks. Given the ongoing RAM crisis, that might change. Hopefully, prices will remain the same or at least not go up too much, as these are relatively affordable machines for what they promise.

Googlebooks vs. Chromebooks: Design

The first Googlebooks are manufactured by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. While the laptops I checked out each had their respective company’s distinctive flourishes, they also share core design elements that identify them as Googlebooks.

The laptops are built with premium materials like aluminum, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber. They all feature a responsive touchscreen, large trackpad, and backlit keyboard. Each also has a Glowbar to denote them as Googlebooks. Some models will have OLED panels, while others, like the Acer Googlebook, will be 2-in-1 convertibles. Basically, expect Googlebooks to come in all shapes and sizes.

Chromebooks can be similarly diverse in terms of design. And while there are certainly more “premium” Chromebooks out there, the line is mostly known for plastic chassis, dim, dull display quality, and so-so keyboards. Yes, these aspects help keep Chromebooks relatively affordable, but you get what you pay for.

Googlebooks vs. Chromebooks: Features

No, Googlebooks do not run on ChromeOS. Instead, they run on the brand-new Googlebook OS, which combines Android and ChromeOS. Google Gemini is also a core part of Googlebooks, as the LLM is built into the OS. As a result, it offers AI-driven features that simply aren’t available on Chromebooks.

One of these is called Magic Pointer, which lets you shake or wiggle your mouse cursor while hovering over content on your screen to bring up Gemini right where you’re looking. In the chatbox that opens, you can ask Gemini to summarize text, translate foreign languages, and more.

Other Googlebook features include Ramber, a speech-to-text tool that can clean up your messy stream-of-consciousness thoughts, and Create My Widget, which lets you generate custom interactive Android desktop widgets kind of like vibe coding.

Taking a page from the Apple ecosystem, Googlebooks are designed to work hand in hand with the best Android phones. For example, the Continue On feature allows you to (among other things) start an email or project on your phone and continue where you left off on the Googlebook later. This also applies to photos you snap or documents you download. Lastly, Cast My Apps lets you stream and interact with your phone’s apps in a desktop window.

Googlebooks vs. Chromebooks: Bottom line

As you can see, Googlebooks and Chromebooks are completely different beasts. Yes, they’re both Google laptops that work well with the company’s apps. However, that’s where the similarities largely end, as they ultimately deliver two divergent experiences.

If you’re a dedicated Android user who wants a higher-end laptop that communicates seamlessly with your phone, a Googlebook could be perfect for you. Conversely, if you just want an extremely affordable laptop for using Google’s apps, Chromebooks are an ideal choice.

Of course, we’ll know more about Googlebooks once we’ve fully tested them under real-world use and in our lab, so stay tuned for more!

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An independent researcher has uncovered what appears to be a cross-site tracking system connected to OpenAI's rapidly growing advertising business. At the center of it is a cookie called "__obi," which can reportedly travel from ChatGPT to websites using OpenAI's advertising technology.

That means if you use ChatGPT and later visit a participating retailer or other website, OpenAI may be able to recognize the same browser and receive information about what you do there.

The finding comes at a particularly interesting time. OpenAI has been rapidly expanding advertising inside ChatGPT, recently announcing new AI-powered advertising tools and Sponsored Agents. The company said last month that ChatGPT Ads had already reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate.

But this isn't quite as simple as assuming ChatGPT is watching everything you do online. There are some important limitations to the research, including one major piece of the system the researcher wasn't able to independently verify.

Here's what we know.

What is __obi?

The research comes from an independent researcher who publishes under the name Buchodi and says they analyzed months of network traffic involving 936 OpenAI advertiser pixels across 1,029 hostnames.

According to the analysis, visiting ChatGPT can result in OpenAI placing a cookie called __obi in your browser.

Cookies themselves aren't unusual; you've probably accepted them on a several websites. They're small pieces of information stored by your browser and are used for everything from keeping you logged into a website to remembering preferences and measuring advertising.

What's interesting here is how this particular cookie is configured. Buchodi found that __obi can last for one year and uses the SameSite=None setting, which allows it to be included in certain requests originating from other websites.

That's where OpenAI's advertising system comes in. Businesses advertising through ChatGPT can install OpenAI's measurement pixel on their websites, similar to the tracking technology used by advertising platforms such as Google and Meta.

When Buchodi visited participating websites, requests sent back to OpenAI included the __obi identifier. In other words, the same identifier created through ChatGPT could show up again when that browser visited another website.

What can OpenAI see?

Potentially more than simply whether you visited a website. According to Buchodi's network analysis, OpenAI's advertising collector received information associated with pages people visited and conversion events on participating sites.

The researcher examined 23,929 observed URLs and found that query strings were stripped before being sent to OpenAI, but URL paths remained.

A URL path can sometimes reveal considerable information about what someone is looking at. Buchodi says paths observed in the dataset included pages involving a medical condition, debt services and a litigation intake form.

The advertising system also supports what OpenAI calls conversion measurement.

OpenAI's own documentation says advertisers can install a pixel and use conversion measurement to understand what happens after someone interacts with a ChatGPT ad. Its measurement integrations can support conversion tracking and attribution across websites, apps and even offline activity.

That's standard practice in digital advertising. What's unusual is that the advertising platform in this case sits alongside an AI assistant where users may share substantially more personal context than they would with a traditional search engine or social network.

Is it connected to your ChatGPT account?

This is where the story gets more complicated. Buchodi found that the process used to generate the identifier included tokens labeled either account_user or anonymous.

Of 932 tokens the researcher decoded, 736 were associated with logged-in users and 196 were labeled anonymous. The researcher also found that anonymous identifiers could remain stable on the same device for at least 27 days.

However, there's an important caveat. Buchodi did not directly observe OpenAI taking an event received from an advertiser website and joining it to a person's ChatGPT account on its servers.

The researcher argues that the architecture makes such a connection possible, but that final server-side step wasn't independently observed.

So it would be premature to say OpenAI definitively attaches every page you visit on participating sites to your ChatGPT profile. What the research does demonstrate is that the same OpenAI identifier can be transmitted from participating websites back to OpenAI.

Buchodi says the identifier appeared across a number of recognizable websites during testing. On one device, the same __obi value was sent to OpenAI from 12 commercial websites using 13 separate advertising pixels. Across the larger dataset, 12 of 30 identifiers appeared with more than one advertiser, while one appeared across 10 different advertisers.

The researcher also notes several important limitations. Testing was performed using Chrome on Android, and desktop Chrome wasn't tested. Safari's anti-tracking protections block the third-party cookie mechanism described in the research, meaning it shouldn't operate the same way on Safari or other iOS browsers using Apple's WebKit.

The identifier also wasn't generated during every ChatGPT session. Buchodi estimates that roughly one in five sessions tested produced the synchronization token.

What does OpenAI say?

OpenAI hasn't publicly responded to the specific findings. Buchodi says they contacted OpenAI's press and privacy teams on September 14 and asked why __obi was classified as an analytics cookie and how it behaves when someone rejects marketing cookies.

According to the researcher, OpenAI acknowledged the inquiry and said the findings would be passed along internally but had not provided answers to those questions when the research was published.

Tom's Guide has contacted OpenAI for comment and will update this story if we hear back.

OpenAI's public documentation emphasizes that advertisers do not receive ChatGPT conversations, chat histories, memories or personal details.

The company also says it does not sell user data to advertisers, and advertisers receive aggregated reporting about things such as views, clicks and conversions.

That's an important distinction here: the research does not suggest advertisers themselves can read your ChatGPT conversations or access the __obi identifier.

Instead, the concern is about information potentially flowing in the other direction — from websites using OpenAI's advertising tools back to OpenAI.

Why this matters

Cross-site advertising measurement isn't new. In fact, Google, Meta and other advertising companies have spent years building systems designed to determine whether someone who saw or clicked an ad later visited a website or bought something. But ChatGPT introduces another dimension.

People don't just search for products using ChatGPT. They use it to discuss relationships, health concerns, finances, careers, travel plans and countless other parts of their lives.

OpenAI itself promotes ChatGPT advertising around this idea, telling advertisers that people share "richer context" in ChatGPT while exploring options and making decisions.

That's why the boundary between your ChatGPT activity and what you do elsewhere on the web matters.

For now, the evidence doesn't show that OpenAI is handing your conversations to advertisers — and OpenAI explicitly says it doesn't.

But the discovery of __obi raises a different question: how much information should be able to flow back into an AI platform after you leave it?

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Googlebooks are Android’s answer to the Apple ecosystem. Powered by a new OS that combines Android and ChromeOS and is designed for Gemini Intelligence, this new class of laptops integrates with your Android phone to deliver a seamless cross-device experience. If you’re an Android user seeking greater interoperability between your phone and laptop, Googlebooks could be a game-changer.

At a Googlebooks event, I went hands-on with the first five of these laptops and was more impressed than I expected. Though each machine has unique design elements, all are thin and light notebooks with touchscreens and haptic touchpads. Each also has a Glowbar to denote them as Googlebooks. These notebooks start at $899, pack 16GB of RAM, and feature premium aluminum shells. Chromebooks, these are not!

While all of the Googlebooks I checked out were solid machines in their own right, one stood out above the rest. I’ll detail which I liked most and why, along with the other Googlebooks expected to hit the market in early October. Also, check out our interview with the head of Android for more.

Quick links

• Acer Googlebook 14: $899 @ Best Buy
• Dell XPS Googlebook: $999 @ Best Buy
• Lenovo Googlebook 15: $1,099 @ Best Buy
• Asus Googlebook 14: $1,299 @ Best Buy
• HP Googlebook 14: $1,299 @ Best Buy

Asus Googlebook 14

The standout is the Asus Googlebook 14, which starts at $1,299. The instant I picked it up, I was astonished by how light this 2.2-pound laptop feels—and I say this as someone who regularly uses a MacBook Air! The Nano Ceramic magnesium-aluminum chassis not only looks and feels great, but it’s also extremely sturdy, which is essential for a laptop that’s only 0.43 inches thin. The Dusk Ash color is also eye-catching.

So, what’s under that lovely hood? The base model packs an Intel Core Ultra 5 Panther Lake CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage (up to 512GB). Asus says the laptop has an advanced cooling system that supports sustained performance and quiet operation. The company also claims the 70Wh battery can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life.

Then we have the 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen, which Asus says can reach 1000 nits of peak HDR brightness. What stood out to me was its anti-glare tech, which effectively reduced the glare from the bright lights at the event I attended. If you work outdoors or in harsh lighting, this’ll be a great addition. I’ll need more hands-on time with the display (not to mention some lab tests), but based on my brief time with the Asus Googlebook 14, it seems plenty bright and colorful.

Other features include a six-speaker system with dual force-canceling woofers and two tweeters, which Asus says create fuller sound for calls, presentations, and media. Then there’s the large haptic touchpad, which uses six-point force sensing that delivers consistent click pressure no matter where you tap. I also liked the relatively roomy keyboard and the springy keys.

Again, all the Googlebooks I checked out were great in their own right, but the Asus Googlebook truly won me over because of its super thin, light design. It’s exactly the kind of laptop I would want to travel with daily because of its ultraportability and sleek aesthetic. I’m eager to put it through its paces and see if it lives up to the hype.

Other Googlebooks

Acer Chromebook 14

After the Asus Googlebook 14, the other one that stood out most was the Acer Chromebook 14. It was the only 2-in-1 convertible I saw at the event, and it was also the most affordable, starting at $899. Like most of the announced Googlebooks, it has an OLED touch display, a sturdy, thin, lightweight aluminum chassis, and claims strong performance and long battery life thanks to its Panther Lake CPU. If you’re looking for a premium device that doubles as a laptop and tablet for under $1,000, keep an eye on this one.

Dell XPS Googlebook

The $999 Dell XPS Googlebook is for folks who want a higher-end laptop than the $699 XPS 13 but much more affordable than the $2,399 XPS 14. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM (up to 32GB), 512GB of SSD storage, and a 13.4-inch 2.5K touch display. This notebook is also 2.2 pounds, like the Asus Googlebook, and has a similarly sturdy machined aluminum chassis. I’m a big fan of XPS laptops, so it’s good to see Dell trying that brand with Googlebooks.

HP Googlebook 14

The $1,299 HP Googlebook 14 is another svelte laptop, featuring a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touch display, 16-32GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, and an all-aluminum build weighing just 2.74 pounds. What stands out most is its lattice-less keyboard, which makes for a denser keyboard deck. Though some aren’t fond of this design, I quite like it—especially since the keys have excellent travel distance.

Lenovo Googlebook 15

Last but not least is the Lenovo Googlebook 15. As its name suggests, this has the largest display of the launch Googlebooks at 15.3 inches. Of the Googlebooks I saw, this has a boxier design reminiscent of a MacBook Pro. It’s also the heaviest at 2.8 pounds, though it’s still relatively lightweight. Other features include a magnesium-alloy and carbon fiber chassis, an Intel Core Ultra 5 Panther Lake CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

Outlook

We don’t often get a new class of laptops, let alone ones also featuring a brand-new operating system. Because of that, Googlebooks are genuinely exciting. That said, given how these machines are primarily targeted at Android users, their appeal might be limited. Even if that’s the case, I appreciate that these laptops are more about fitting into people’s lifestyles rather than being machines focused on pure power and specs.

The first wave of Googlebooks arrives on October 4, so it won’t be long until we can all check them out. We’ll have full reviews of these laptops here on Tom’s Guide, so make sure you don’t miss out—especially if you’re a person these notebooks are targeting. Stay tuned for more!

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Right now if you’re shopping for a premium laptop and want a seamless experience with your iPhone you typically get a MacBook Air or Pro. But what if you have a Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Pixel 11 Pro?

Google believes it has a viable Apple alternative for Android fans in the Googlebook. Going on sale Oct. 4, these laptops from Acer, Asus, HP, Dell and Lenovo are designed to deliver much of the same seamless magic while also adding some unique twists that surpass MacBooks — including Gemini built in.

“First and foremost, we want Android users to feel like there is a laptop for them that is as premium and as beautiful and performant as that high-end smartphone that they have,” said Sameer Samat, president of the Android Ecosystem at Google.

Along with Tom’s Guide senior writer Tony Polanco, I sat down with Samat to nail down what a Googlebook is, how they truly differ from Chromebooks and whether consumers will be willing to pay $899 to $1,299 for this new breed of laptop.

What the heck is a Googlebook?

It’s easy to dismiss Googlebooks as just Chromebooks with fancier designs and higher price tags, but Google is emphasizing a unique software experience.

And it starts right when you power up the Googlebook for the first time. You’ll see a pop-up right on your Android phone, and your Googlebook asks you to biometrically authenticate. Once you do, the Googlebook just sets itself up.

“Your Googlebook asks you if you want to bring all your apps over, all your autofill passwords and payments — all of those things just work seamlessly,” said Samat. “So right out of the gate, you have the feeling that (your phone and Googlebook) were made to go together.”

Once you start using your Googlebook, your phone and laptop offer a pretty seamless handoff experience. For example, if you start a Gmail on your phone, the draft will just pop up when you open the app on your Googlebook. And if you take a picture with your Android phone, it will automatically show up in what Google calls the fused file system.

Working in Chrome is another good example of how Googlebooks and Android phones work hand in hand.

“You're browsing something. In the taskbar there's a suggestion,” Samat said. “You open up your Googlebook, and it knows you've been on your Android Chrome browser, and right there, it's waiting for you.”

Gemini inside

The other key Googlebook ingredient is Gemini Intelligence built in. With Magic Pointer, for example, you can shake the cursor while hovering over something you want to know more about and then you can simply ask Gemini a question. It’s like Circle to Search without having to circle anything.

It works well, but I was surprised that you can’t use Gemini to do things like dim the brightness or control the hardware in other ways. But features like this should come in time.

“We are working on all those things for the phone and for and for the laptop,” Samat said. We we think that you know you should be able to not only get information retrieved, but for Gemini to take action on these devices.”

Raising the hardware bar (Glowbar included)

While Apple is known for high-quality hardware, Google believes it has an advantage in that it’s not locking you into a single design. There’s a wide range of brands, sizes and form factors to choose from.

This includes everything from an Acer convertible that doubles as a laptop and tablet and Dell’s 13-inch XPS Googlebook with Snapdragon to Asus’ amazingly light 2.2-pound Googlebook 14 and Lenovo’s 15-incher.

"What I think really distinguishes this ecosystem is choice,” said Samat. “So you've got your Samsung Fold or your Pixel, and you've chosen the HP or you've chosen the Dell. Maybe you like the ASUS device because it's so light, and that choice paired with whatever premium Android phone you've got is really quintessential to the Android openness and choice experience.”

Google also made a Glowbar on the back of the systems standard, a strip of colorful LEDs that sits towards the top of the lid. It’s an aesthetic statement taken from the original Pixelbook, and it’s definitely intended to draw attention from across the room. But it has a functional purpose, too.

“There's a boot up animation that tells you the power left in the device,” Samat said. But one of the things I'm really excited about is we are opening an API for developers.”

What about the apps?

As you might expect, Googlebooks have Google Play Store support, but Google isn’t just slapping Android apps on a laptop. It has been working with developers to optimize their apps, and it will call ones out specifically in the store that are ready for the desktop with a specific label.

This includes WhatsApp, Capcut, Photoshop Lightroom, Netflix and more.

“For example, I wanted to make sure we had Antigravity. I wanted to make sure we had a fully fledged Linux terminal, which could run Quadcode CLI, Codex CLI, because these are some of the new ways people are working today,” Samat said. “In terms of the apps in the Play Store, we’re really excited about Disney Plus and Netflix. Netflix supports full HDR, which no other platform has, and has offline (playback) as well, which is unique.”

At the same time, you don’t have to reinstall phone apps on the desktop if you just need to check something quickly. For example, you can just pull up Uber Eats on your Googlebook to check on the status of an order.

Can Google justify the high prices?

All of these systems are pricey, ranging from $899 to $1,299, but Google has pretty strict requirements for what can be a Googlebook. Most of these machines have OLED touchscreens, the latest processors from Intel, Qualcomm and Snapdragon, 16GB of RAM and backlit keyboards.

But that isn’t going to stop people from wondering whether Googlebooks are just high-priced Chromebooks.

“Really what we wanted to do is to make sure that Googlebook enters the world in a clear way for people. This is truly premium hardware. This is a software experience that works extremely well with your Android phone,” Samat said. “We believe that if you're a premium Android user, yep, this is the laptop for you, and you're going to feel that right from the jump.”

Googlebooks are the "new category" of laptops designed to provide Android users with the same seamless bridge from mobile to desktop that iPhone users enjoy with MacBook. After being announced earlier this year at the Android Show, the first devices in this new category are now available to pre-order.

Five different Googlebooks are available today, from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, starting at $899 (with a year's subscription to Google AI Pro thrown in) and each one is built with premium materials like aluminum, magnesium alloy and carbon fiber. They all feature a responsive touchscreen, large trackpad and backlit keyboard. These laptops come with either Intel or Qualcomm processors under the hood and offer up to 14 hours of battery life.

Although Google has made sure certain rules are followed, each of the Googlebooks launching today offer slightly different features to cater to different tastes. Standouts include the Asus Googlebook 14, which weighs just 2.2 pounds and boasts an anti-glare screen with 16 hours of battery life. Acer offers a neat convertible model, while Lenovo is bringing a 15-inch option with a soft-touch finish in Pantone’s Cloud Dancer.

Quick links

• Acer Googlebook 14: $899 @ Best Buy
• Dell XPS Googlebook: $999 @ Best Buy
• Lenovo Googlebook 15: $1,099 @ Best Buy
• Asus Googlebook 14: $1,299 @ Best Buy
• HP Googlebook 14: $1,299 @ Best Buy

Googlebooks: Price and release

Pre-orders are now open on the Google Store, Best Buy, and other select retailers.

Starting at $899, every Googlebook includes 12 months of Google AI Pro providing 5TB of cloud storage and Gemini Advanced tools, plus three months of YouTube Premium, Adobe Photoshop, and CapCut.

Google has also confirmed that Googlebook OS will come with regular feature drops and updates for up to 10 years.

Devices arrive on shelves starting October 4 in the U.S., and October 5 in Canada, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, and Australia.

Apple-like interoperability

These days, most of us switch between doing tasks across our phones and laptops—which is something Googlebooks want to make easier. For example, if you start an email or project on your phone while you’re on the road, Googlebook’s Continue On feature lets you pick up right where you left off from the desktop taskbar.

The same seamlessness applies to your media. When you take a picture or download a document on your phone, you won’t have to email it to yourself or hunt through third-party apps. Thanks to the updated Files app, your phone’s photos and downloads show up in your laptop’s file menu almost like magic.

Setting up a Googlebook is also pain-free, as signing in automatically transfers your phone’s settings, saved passwords, Wi-Fi networks, and messages over with end-to-end encryption. And if you need to quickly grab a two-factor code or order food from a delivery app, Cast My Apps lets you stream and interact with your phone’s apps in a desktop window without breaking your workflow.

Magic Pointer, Rambler, and custom widgets

Google is betting heavily on desktop AI features to justify the launch, and a few of them sound genuinely useful:

• Magic Pointer: Shake or wiggle your mouse cursor while hovering over content on your screen to bring Gemini right to whatever you're looking at. You can ask it to summarize text, translate foreign languages, or organize a messy calendar without juggling multiple tabs. Crucially, Gemini only acts when you ask it to, and you can toggle the feature off entirely if you prefer a standard pointer.
• Rambler: Located right next to the Quick Insert key, Rambler acts as an upgraded speech-to-text tool. You can talk through random notes, action items, or a stream-of-consciousness thought (even switching between languages mid-sentence), and Rambler cleans up the filler words and formats everything into neat headers, checklists, and takeaways.
• Create My Widget: Instead of hunting through app menus, you can describe what you need in plain language to generate custom interactive desktop widgets that track weather, schedules, or stocks in real time. While this isn’t exactly vibe coding, it leads to similar results.
• Quick Insert Key: A dedicated physical key lets you instantly pull up emojis, clipboard items, or recent files. However, I’m still not entirely sold on the fact that it takes over the traditional Caps Lock key real estate.

Google is also bringing back a familiar hardware touch: the Glowbar. Positioned on the exterior lid, this light bar sweeps across to indicate battery levels, lights up on startup, and displays playful light animations whenever you interact with Gemini. It’s a neat way to denote these new laptops as Googlebooks.

App support, gaming, and power-user tools

Android apps on desktop displays haven't always offered the best user experience, but Google claims it is heavily optimizing millions of Play Store apps specifically for large screens, mouse, and keyboard input, with clear optimization labels right in the store interface.

You get full desktop Chrome with extension support, alongside native creative applications like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and CapCut. Streaming apps like Netflix and HBO Max are supported out of the box with offline viewing capabilities. For gamers, Googlebooks run native mobile titles alongside a bundled 1-year subscription to GeForce Now for streaming AAA PC games.

For developers and power users, Google built in a Level 5 security-certified pKVM hypervisor. This powers an isolated Linux environment with full terminal access to run tools like Claude Code or Antigravity CLI. It also includes Antigravity, Google’s agent development platform, letting developers build, test, and deploy AI agents locally on the machine.

Googlebooks: Outlook

To sweeten the deal on those price tags, Google is bundling 12 months of Google AI Pro (which includes 5TB of cloud storage and Gemini Advanced), 3 months of YouTube Premium, and promises up to 10 years of software updates and feature drops.

I don’t know yet if Googlebooks are going to convince traditional Windows or MacBook users to switch, but the tight Android phone integration, high-end hardware specs, and practical AI tools make this one of the more interesting hardware shifts we've seen from Google in a while. We look forward to putting these through our full suite of lab tests soon.

Would you buy a Googlebook, or are you sticking with your current setup? Let us know in the comments.

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AI chatbots can answer questions about almost anything, but there's one surprisingly difficult question: How much does your AI actually know about what's happening right now? And yes, they can search the web, but from my testing, I've discovered that even so, AI isn't always accurate or timely.

An AI model released today wasn't necessarily trained on information from yesterday. Depending on its knowledge cutoff, there could be a gap of weeks or months between the world the model "knows" and the world you're living in.

So I decided to find out just how stale the biggest AI chatbots actually are.

1. What is the newest iPhone Apple has released?

Both ChatGPT and Gemini were accurate, stating that Apple's newest iPhone models are the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Duo (Apple's first foldable smartphone).

Apple announced these flagship models during its "Surprise and Shine" keynote event. Notably, Apple broke tradition by skipping the standard baseline iPhone 18 during this launch cycle, focusing strictly on its premium hardware tier. Both chatbots noticed that the iPhone Duo, Apple's foldable device, launches directly in stores on October 23.

But Claude was stuck on iPhone 17, suggesting "The newest iPhones are the iPhone 17 series."

What is the newest flagship Claude model?

This question tests a fast-moving category where models can become outdated remarkably quickly. ChatGPT got the answer correct, stating, "Anthropic's newest flagship Claude model is Claude Fable 5.1, released in September 2026."

But what's surprising is that Claude 4.6 didn't seem to understand that Claude Fable 5.1 is readily available. It said, "The newest flagship Claude model available to the public is Claude Opus 5, part of the current generation alongside Claude Sonnet 5 and Claude Haiku 4.5. Above Opus, Anthrophic has a newer Mythos tier — the current Mythos-class models are Claude Mythos 5.1 and Claude Fable 5.1, though Mythos is not broadly available to the public yet. It's being used by a small number of trusted organizations as part of Anthropic's Project Glasswing."

Gemini also got the question wrong, stating that Claude Opus 5 and Mythos 5 were the latest models.

3. Who won the World Cup in 2026?

Maybe because the news isn't that recent, but all three chatbots got this answer correct. Each chatbot even shared interesting information about the game such as Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal. Claude even shared information about Spain sweeping individual awards such as Rodri winning the Golden Ball (best player), Unai Simón taking the Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) and Pau Cubarsí named Best Young Player.

4. What major new feature did Apple add to Siri in iOS 27?

All three chatbots also recognized that the newest feature added to Siri in iOS 27 is Siri AI.

Claude described Siri AI as "essentially a ChatGPT-like version of Siri that can answer pretty much anything." Interesting, considering it didn't know that the iPhone 18 is available.

5. Does Google Home offer 3rd party AI integration?

Both Gemini and ChatGPT acknowledged that as of today, Google Home offers 3rd party AI integration. Claude was not aware of that news.

This is especially interesting considering Google Home even mentions Claude in their documentation regarding MCP Home.

The takeaway

Even with Search enabled, Claude wasn't always up-to-date with basic information. This is worth noting, particularly as new AI models launch so rapidly. Often it's easy to assume that "new" means the AI knows more recent information, but the date a model launches and hte date its training data ends can be very different.

And sure, web search can fill that gap, but that would also require the AI to know that it needs to search. In other words, it doesn't know that it doesn't know.

The bottom line here is that it is very important to fact check AI, because even the latest models aren't always aware of the latest information.

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Google's Gemini may be getting smarter, but Google apparently doesn't think it should be the only AI that can control your smart home. Google has just introduced Home MCP, a new way for third-party AI agents to connect directly to Google Home.

This is exciting news for anyone with smart lights, cameras, thermostats or other connected devices around the house. Now, instead of relying exclusively on Google's own Gemini to understand what's happening in your home and control your devices, Home MCP opens the door for other AI agents to do it. Google specifically lists Claude among the personal AI agents that can connect.

And we're talking about much more than asking Claude to turn off a light.

What could another AI actually do with your home?

Home MCP, or Model Context Protocol, is an open-source standard originally created by Anthropic (Claude's parent company) to give AI models a standardized way to connect with external data and tools. Google adopting Anthropic's protocol to let Claude run Google Home is a massive cross-industry plot twist.

In other words, it gives an authorized AI agent several different ways to interact with Google Home. It can see which rooms and devices you have, check their current state, and control compatible devices. That means you could ask an AI whether you left something on and then have it take action.

Google says agents can query past device states and chronological event logs, potentially allowing you to ask questions such as "What happened while I was out?"

An agent could use information from multiple smart-home devices to put together an answer rather than making you dig through individual apps and activity histories yourself.

Google also envisions agents monitoring for unusual activity, summarizing what's happened around your home, and suggesting ways to improve how your devices are being used. In other words, the AI doesn't just become another remote control for your smart home. It can potentially become an interface for understanding what's happening inside it.

Why Claude controlling Google Home is a big deal

Until now, choosing a smart-home ecosystem has generally meant choosing its intelligence layer too. Buy into Google Home and you're using Google's software to control it. Alexa+ sits at the center of Amazon's ecosystem, while Apple Home relies entirely on Siri and Apple's own frameworks.

There's another part of this that could ultimately prove more important than device control: context. Imagine telling an AI agent you're heading to bed. Today, that might trigger a rigid, predetermined smart-home routine that locks the doors, adjusts the thermostat, and turns off the lights.

An agent with access to Google Home could potentially check the current state of your house first. Are the outside lights still on? Is the thermostat set differently than usual? Has something unusual happened recently that you might want to know about?

Instead of blindly executing a routine, an AI could reason across that information and decide what actually needs attention. And because an agent can connect your smart home with other parts of your digital life, the possibilities go far beyond individual devices. That's when a smart home starts to look less like a collection of gadgets you control and more like an environment an AI can truly understand.

Obvious privacy questions being raised

Giving an AI agent access to your home is very different from letting it check your calendar.

Google says Home MCP uses a user-authorized OAuth process, meaning an agent can't simply connect itself to your Google Home account without your explicit permission.

Crucially, Google has also hardcoded safety limits into the system. Third-party agents are explicitly blocked from executing sensitive, high-risk actions, an agent won't be allowed to unlock smart locks, open garage doors or disarm security alarms on your behalf.

An AI that knows whether a light is on is one thing while an AI capable of examining device history, monitoring what's happening around your home and issuing commands is another. The more useful these agents become, the more important it will be for users to understand exactly what information an agent can see and exactly what it's allowed to touch.

Don't expect Claude to run your house just yet

There's one big caveat: Home MCP is currently labeled Early Access and targeted at developers. So this isn't a consumer feature that every Google Home owner can simply switch on today in an app menu to start telling Claude to run the house.

But Google is being unusually explicit about where this is heading. Its documentation doesn't describe Home MCP solely as another tool for Gemini. It talks about connecting personal agents to physical spaces and explicitly names third-party assistants.

That's a potentially massive shift in how we think about smart homes. What do you think? Would you consider using another AI for your home? Let me know in the comments.

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Google is finally ready to let everyone get their hands on the new Googlebook laptops. Sporting a combination of Android and ChromeOS, these premium devices could be what we've always hoped the best Chromebooks would be.

The company says these devices are "a new category of laptops built with Gemini’s helpfulness at its core, designed to work seamlessly with the devices in your life and powered by premium hardware." Whether they can compete with the top MacBooks and premium Windows laptops remains to be seen, but I'm definitely excited to give one a shot, since it sounds like a streamlined laptop with some cool features.

And now that Google has announced that the laptops will be available for pre-order on September 21, I don't have to wait too long to get my hands on one.

Could it be my new daily laptop, replacing my MacBook Air? Maybe. Here are three reasons why I think it's possible and why I can't wait to add one of these to my daily workflow.

Google's Magic Pointer

For my money, the coolest feature of Googlebooks is the Magic Pointer. The mouse cursor has stayed pretty much the same over the years, which makes sense, since it does its job well.

But with all the AI features baked into Googlebooks, it's finally getting a useful tweak. When you give it a wiggle, the laptop will show you contextual information about what it's pointing at (a bit like Google Lens or Circle to Search for your laptop).

I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm constantly stumbling upon things I'd like to know more about online, and this feature sounds like a nice time-saver for looking up information. Plus, it's a very visually appealing cursor.

Android integration

This is a no-brainer for anyone who's ever used a Chromebook. Web apps are great, but in most cases, Android apps offer vastly superior features. And while ChromeOS emulates Android apps, it doesn't always work well. With Googlebooks, the apps are native.

In fact, in an interview with Chrome Unboxed, Google VP John Maletis said, “We now have an ability to run truly native Android applications, not emulated. So performance of these apps is incredible.” That sounds like a vast improvement over Chromebooks.

You'll also be able to cast apps from your Android phone to your Googlebook, which will fill in the gaps for any apps that aren't natively supported.

Custom widgets

What's so exciting about widgets? Just about every laptop in recent memory has had widget support for apps in one form or another.

Well, what makes these so cool is that you can create them on the fly using Gemini, so you're not limited to a bunch of predetermined functions. If you want something specific, you can describe the widget and make it exist.

Google shows an example of someone asking for a custom tracker for an upcoming trip, but there are tons of potential use cases, like live-tracking a package, controlling your music across multiple platforms and so on.

What's missing

While September 21 at 9 a.m. ET is right around the corner, and we know brands like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo are on board; the big unknown is the final price of the new Googlebooks.

The anticipated price is between $700 and $1,000, positioning these as premium laptops. Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions to see if these Googlebooks live up to the hype.

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Out of all the negatives I can admit about myself, setting up dates sticks out as one of my biggest weaknesses.

In the past, I’ve struck out horribly by trying to woo my potential mates by taking them to the sorts of places that made them rethink ever meeting up with me again. My first date fumbles have led me and whoever was unlucky enough to see me to dive bars with horrible lighting, restaurants with disappointing menu options and lounges with booming speakers that didn’t allow for a whole lot of meaningful conversations.

Somehow, someway, I managed to nab myself another opportunity to enjoy a nice night on the town with someone. And this time, I made it my mission to find out her likes and dislikes when it comes to hanging out & having fun.

With all the information in tow, I got a bright idea — take all of my future date’s favorite hobbies, interests, and types of hangouts to Google Maps and use Ask Maps to find the perfect spots worth considering. And to my surprise, it offered me a solid selection of date-worthy locations.

7 date night suggestions that made my planning less of a headache

As I’m sure you’ve already noticed from the screenshot posted above, I told Google Maps’ Ask Maps feature all about my future date’s favorite things—since she’s an old soul with an affinity for the more geeky pastimes I’m also into, I had a feeling there would be plenty of viable options to consider as the perfect date locales. Ask Maps showcased its date spot picks across two categories: Interactive & Playful Dates and Intimate Vibes & Elevated Floors.

Here are the New York City settings that were listed under the first group:

• Barcade: If you want a classic, high-energy date centered around gaming, heading to Barcade in Chelsea is a perfect choice. It keeps the focus purely on adult socializing over retro cabinets rather than tickets and prizes. Reviewers call it a fantastic adult playground for nostalgic gaming. Challenge her to a cooperative game like X-Men or classic pinball. Check out their extensive, rotating selection of American craft beers on tap.
• The Cinemas NYC: For a luxurious spin on movie night, The Cinemas NYC (IPIC Theaters) at the Seaport turns a screening into a premium experience. It is completely different from your standard theater with its plush seating arrangements and top-tier hospitality. Patrons rave about the luxurious, private feel of the double seating pods. Book a “Premium Plus” ticket to get reclining leather seats that come with pillows and blankets. Use the in-seat service to order gourmet dishes and cocktails directly to your shared table without interrupting the film.
• Izakaya Nana: Tucked away in Flushing, Izakaya Nana is an absolute dream destination for anyone who loves Japanese fantasy aesthetics and otaku culture. The entire venue doubles as a massive homage to graphic novels and subculture. Otakus admire the manga-panel-lined walls, traditional tatami spaces, and classic anime projections running in the background. Ask to be seated in a booth surrounded by their massive library of manga volumes. Rent traditional kimonos on-site to fully immerse yourselves in the experience.
• Other Half Brewing Company: If she is a true craft beer geek, making a pilgrimage to the original Other Half Brewing Company in Brooklyn is mandatory. This is the epicenter where modern craft culture evolved. Visitors note the incredibly relaxed, friendly taproom environment. Sample their world-famous Hazy IPAs and innovative Oat Creme double-hopped variations at the source. Snag a few limited-release four-packs from their retail fridge to take home after a date.

After observing the four more adventurous options Google Maps’ Ask Maps assistant provided me with, I took note of the three other nightspots that are geared more towards intimate meetups:

• Eavesdrop: For a sophisticated, audio-forward evening, Eavesdrop in Greenpoint is a minimalist listening bar specifically designed around a high-end sound system. It is curated so that the music remains a central showcase without drowning out your intimate conversation. Patrons love the sleek wood styling and crystal-clear acoustics. Try to secure seating near the cork-lined turntable booth to watch the vinyl selection up close. Sip on their craft cocktail menu, which features creative, Asian-inspired flavor profiles.
• Record Room: Hidden along the Long Island City waterfront, Record Room delivers a speakeasy atmosphere built entirely around the art of the spin. It functions as a cozy neighborhood cafe by day before transforming into a moody, music-centric lounge at night. Visitors frequently praise the highly talented local DJs spinning classic retro sets exclusively on vinyl. Enjoy the dramatic aesthetic of the room, which features custom Hi-Fi loudspeakers and walls adorned with records. Make a reservation ahead of time, as the space is quite intimate and fills up quickly on weekends.
• Gaonnuri: If you want to elevate a standard dinner date, Gaonnuri takes classic Korean barbecue and moves it to a stunning penthouse space on the 39th floor. It offers an upscale atmosphere that feels completely removed from the frantic pace of the streets below. Diners highlight the incredible, unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. Enjoy a fully hosted experience where the attentive waitstaff handles all the tabletop grilling for you. Appreciate the advanced ventilation system, which ensures you leave dinner without any lingering smoke smells.

Out of all the spots that were presented to me, the ones that ended up making the final cut after I sent them to my date were Barcade, Izakaya Nana, Eavesdrop and Record Room. While the skyline views and delicious delicacies presented by Gaonnuri intrigued us, their high prices brought our increased levels of hype out of orbit as we opted for Ask Maps’ more affordable offerings. If we end up talking beyond our initial meetups, then maybe we’ll consider getting a table over there (honestly, that place seems more catered to serious couples).

The takeaway

I know I’m going to be lambasted with comments about how much of an amateur I am when it comes to planning dates. While I’m not guilty of taking women to chain restaurants and overly loud places that lead to us screaming in each other’s ears, I’ve taken plenty of swings and missed with some of the locations I’ve chosen. From now on, I’ll refrain from doing my usual Google search for “best date spots [location],” ask for date recommendations while also considering my date’s hobbies & interests and forward them to my prospective date to see if any of them match their vibe.

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Google is testing an “Ask Google from anywhere” experience in Chrome Canary for Windows that can bring up a floating search box even when you are working in another app. Press Alt + Space, and you can ask Google a question without first opening Chrome or switching back to a browser window.

Sound familiar? Google already offers a similar experience through its standalone Google app for Windows, which uses the same Alt + Space shortcut to summon a floating launcher with Search, AI Mode and Google Lens capabilities. Now it appears to be experimenting with bringing that idea directly into Chrome itself.

There is an important caveat: Google has not said the two are connected, and the Chrome version remains a Canary-level experiment rather than a feature rolling out to everyone. But it offers a revealing look at where Google could be taking Chrome next.

What 'Ask Google from anywhere' actually does

Known in development as the “Everywhere Omnibox” under Project Loom, the experiment gives Chrome a floating search interface that can appear on top of whatever else you happen to be doing on your computer.

Instead of opening a Chrome window or new tab to start a search, users can press Alt + Space to bring up the floating bar while working in another app. The shortcut can also be changed through Chrome's settings.

The latest version makes Google's plans for the feature a little clearer. The interface now uses the language “Ask Google from anywhere” and tells users they can share part or all of their screen and ask Google about what they are looking at.

That could eventually make Google Lens and AI-powered search available without forcing you to leave whatever app you are using. However, those pieces aren't all working in the interface yet. Lens and AI Mode buttons aren't currently visible in the bar, making this very much a work in progress.

Having déjà vu?

This idea isn't new. The standalone Google app for Windows already lets users press Alt + Space to bring up Google without first opening a browser.

That app combines traditional Search with AI Mode and Google Lens and can search local files, installed apps, and Google Drive. It can also use Lens to ask questions about something on your screen.

The similarities make Chrome's experiment more interesting. Both give Google a way to appear on top of whatever you are doing in Windows, both use Alt + Space, and both aim to reduce the need to stop what you're doing and head back to a traditional Google search page.

Google has not said that Project Loom is intended to replace its Windows app or that the two projects are directly connected, so it is too early to know how they might fit together.

Still, putting a similar experience inside Chrome would mean people who already have the browser running wouldn't necessarily need a separate Google app to summon Search from elsewhere on their computer.

Bottom line: Chrome is starting to escape the browser

Chrome has traditionally waited for you to open the browser before you can use it. Search in Chrome reverses that relationship by letting Chrome come to you, even while you're working somewhere else.

It also fits with Google's broader push to bring AI features closer to whatever users are already doing rather than making them continually jump between webpages, apps and AI tools.

Whether Google ultimately ships “Ask Google from anywhere” in this form is another question. The feature is still being tested in Canary, and Google could change it significantly or abandon parts of it before it ever reaches the stable version of Chrome.

That said, it's clear that Google wants Search, Lens and eventually its AI tools to be available without making you stop what you're doing and head back to a browser tab.

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Google Messages waited far too long to join the personalization party. iMessage and apps like Whatsapp have long offered custom background, while Android's primary texting app kept users locked into plain designs.

That changed recently with the arrival of dedicated chat themes. You can now abandon the default look, swap out boring backdrops for vibrant wallpapers, and give every group chat or contact its own distinct personality.

Interestingly, these changes are only visible to you, so you can go as bold as you like without affecting anyone else's view.

What you need to change your background

Custom themes are built into recent versions of Google Messages, so if your app updated recently, you may already have the feature waiting for you.

However, if you open a chat and do not see the theme settings yet, you simply need to update the app through the Google Play Store.

Open the store, tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, select Manage apps & device, and install any pending updates for Google Messages. Chat themes are available on both standard releases and beta builds.

You also need to make sure Rich Communication Services are active, as custom themes rely on RCS technology. Open Google Messages, tap your profile icon, navigate to Messages settings, and select RCS chats to confirm that the feature is toggled on.

Find the chat theme menu

Opening the theme customization menu takes only three quick taps from inside any conversation thread.

First, open Google Messages and select the specific text thread you want to design. Next, tap the three vertical dots located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Chat theme from the dropdown list to open the visual design editor.

Pick your chat colors and backgrounds

The first customization option is chat colors. By default, your color matches your system accent color, but you can choose from eight additional styles. Each color option changes your conversation background, chat bubbles, and interface elements like the voice recorder button.

Wallpapers offer even more personalization. Google provides pre-selected images organized by category — Animals, Architecture, Landscapes, Space, and others. If these don't appeal to you, tap Choose a photo to select any image from your phone or Google Photos.

What feature are you waiting for next? Now that Google has finally delivered custom chat themes, what should the next feature drop be? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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I’ve been using Pixel devices for years, and I’ve always appreciated the way Google approaches smartphones. Pixels always deliver a mix of clean software, clever camera tricks and the confidence that they don’t need to outdo Apple and Samsung when it comes to raw performance.

But after spending the last two weeks with the Pixel 11 Pro, that charm is starting to wear thin for me. Not because the phone is bad — it’s actually good in plenty of areas — but because Google seems content to coast. And with 2026, packed with powerhouse devices all trying new things, coasting is a dangerous strategy.

This year’s big improvements

First, let me point out that the Pixel 11 Pro nails the basics. The camera is still one of the most reliable point‑and‑shoot experiences around, and the display is genuinely impressive this year. As detailed in our combined Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL review, its screen hits 2,860 nits peak brightness, while its larger sibling reaches 2,877 nits, making them the brightest phone screens we’ve ever tested. That’s brighter than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at 2,687 nits, and more than double the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 1,281 nits. Out in the Australian sun, that difference is immediately apparent.

Camera performance is strong, too. Its 5x telephoto lens produces crisp long‑range shots, and as detailed in our review, Google’s AI‑boosted 120x zoom actually outperforms Samsung’s 100x attempt in clarity. The new Magic Capture mode, which records a video and simultaneously extracts high-quality stills from it, works quite well, and Rambler, which uses Gemini AI to transcribe your rambling speech into well-structured text, is quite impressive. Live Translate for media is also genuinely useful, allowing you to dub content into another language in real-time — it’ll even keep the voice and accent of the original speaker, which is actually kind of mind-blowing.

Impressive AI features, but do they justify a new phone?

Despite being sold as the ultimate AI phone, the Pixel 11 Pro isn’t exactly a compute monster. In fact, our benchmarks show its Tensor G6 chipset landing well behind its rivals in Geekbench AI tests — a surprising result for a device built around on‑device AI features. And that’s what makes this year’s Pixel 11-exclusive AI features feel a bit arbitrary. Rambler, Magic Capture, Live Translate for media — they’re clever tools, but none of them appear to require any dramatic hardware leap. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL simply aren’t delivering the kind of AI throughput that would justify locking these features to new devices.

Google has a long history of keeping software tricks exclusive to the latest Pixel, even when older hardware could clearly cope — think Photo Unblur (exclusive to Pixel 7 at launch) or Audio Magic Eraser (exclusive to Pixel 8 at launch) — and that pattern seems to continue with this year’s lineup. So while the AI perks are fun to play with, they’re far less exciting to me than a refreshed design or a meaningfully upgraded camera system would’ve been. If Google wants the Pixel to feel essential again, it needs to deliver real hardware upgrades — not just software that likely could’ve shipped to last year’s phones.

The feeling of sameness is hard to shake

After two weeks with the Pixel 11 Pro, the sameness is impossible to ignore. The last few Pixels have looked and felt nearly identical. Same silhouette, same camera bar, and same “good enough” approach to performance. I can pick up a Pixel 9 Pro, 10 Pro or 11 Pro and my muscle memory barely registers the difference. That’s not consistency; that’s stagnancy.

And stagnancy becomes even more obvious when you look at the hard numbers. The Pixel 11 Pro’s battery life is 13 hours 25 minutes, which is actually worse than last year’s Pixel 10 Pro at 13 hours 43 minutes. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro hits 15 hours 21 minutes, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra lasts 16 hours 10 minutes. Those are meaningful gaps for devices that aren’t too far off from each other in terms of price.

No meaningful performance gains

It’s a similar story when it comes to performance: the Pixel 11 Pro’s Geekbench 6 scores — 2,649 single‑core / 7,164 multi‑core — are an improvement over the Pixel 10 Pro, but nowhere near Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra (3,785 / 11,563) or the iPhone 17 Pro Max (3,871 / 9,968). And the aforementioned AI benchmark is downright brutal: the Pixel 11 Pro scores 9,148, while Samsung hits 83,047 and Apple reaches 48,549. When a flagship is being outpaced by that margin, especially one that’s being sold as a class-leading AI-centric device, it’s hard to pretend everything’s fine.

Even the exclusive Gemini features — as polished as they are — don’t change how the phone feels in the hand, or how it performs under load, or how long it lasts on a busy day. They’re clever additions, but they’re still additions. They don’t fix the underlying issue: Google hasn’t meaningfully pushed its hardware forward in years.

Good enough is no longer enough

And then there’s HiLight, the only visually distinct hardware update Google has made this year. It’s basically a tiny LED that blinks when Gemini is listening or when an assigned contact calls. It’s cute, but it’s hardly the kind of innovation that keeps a brand relevant. Nothing has been offering similar features for years and to be honest, it never really impressed anyone.

A meaningful redesign would go a long way. And I’m not talking about slightly smaller bezels or a slightly tweaked camera bump — I mean a proper refresh. Something that signals Google is hungry again. Maybe that means an Ultra-style device that actually competes with the big players, or a foldable that doesn’t feel like it’s two years behind the competition. It also wouldn’t hurt if the next Pixel had a Tensor chip that could go toe-to-toe with higher-range Snapdragon chips, or a battery that charges fast and lasts long.

Maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board

Of course, the Pixel 11 Pro’s biggest problem isn’t its performance, battery or price — though all three could be better. It’s that it feels like Google is playing it safe, and that’s risky in a market where everyone else is swinging for the fences.

Google clearly wants the Pixel line to sit alongside Samsung and Apple as one of the industry’s top‑tier smartphone brands, but the reality is that it’s falling behind fast‑moving competitors like Motorola, Xiaomi and Oppo. These brands are pushing aggressive hardware innovation, competitive pricing and rapid release cycles, while Google’s hardware strategy has remained relatively unchanged.

If Google genuinely wants to make a meaningful impact in the smartphone space, it needs more than incremental updates. I want Google’s Pixel line to take risks again and surprise me.

I want a Pixel phone that doesn’t feel like it was designed by a committee trying not to rock the boat. Because if Google keeps serving up “good, but boring,” the Pixel line won’t just fall behind — it’ll fade into the background entirely.

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Ebooks made it possible to carry a collection of books with you wherever you go. Now, Google’s new Expert Intelligence feature could make ebooks more interactive. It lets you add eligible titles purchased through Google Play Books directly to Gemini Notebook formally known as NotebookLM, where you can ask questions grounded in the complete text.

That could mean catching up on a novel you abandoned three weeks ago, creating a book-club guide or turning a nonfiction book into a a study guide. You can also generate quizzes, infographics and Audio Overviews based on what you’ve read.

Here’s how to add a book and seven prompts to try once it’s there.

What is Expert Intelligence?

Expert Intelligence connects Gemini Notebook with selected books from Google Play Books. Google says more than 100,000 titles are eligible at launch, although the feature won’t work with every ebook in your library.

Once a supported book has been added, Gemini can answer questions based on its text and provide citations connecting its responses to the source. You can also turn the material into flashcards, quizzes, reports, infographics and podcast-style Audio Overviews, which can be especially useful for students.

The book doesn’t have to sit in the notebook alone. Gemini Notebook supports sources including Google Docs, PDFs, websites, YouTube videos and EPUB files, allowing you to compare the book with your own notes or other material.

How to add an eligible ebook

First, open the book’s page in Google Play Books and select the Tools badge. Eligible titles will list Gemini Notebook as an available option.

You can also open Gemini Notebook, select Add sources and look for Google Play Books. Choose the book you want to use and check that it appears in the Sources panel before entering your prompt.

Only eligible ebooks obtained through Google Play Books can be added through this integration. Books you uploaded to your Play Books library aren’t supported, although you can upload a PDF or EPUB directly to Gemini Notebook.

Here are 7 fun prompts to try:

1. Create a spoiler-free character guide

Anyone who has returned to a fantasy novel after a break knows the problem: there are 14 characters, three kingdoms and at least two people with nearly identical names.

This prompt asks Gemini to remind you who everyone is without revealing what happens next.

Try the prompt: Create a spoiler-free guide to the characters introduced through Chapter [NUMBER]. For each character, explain who they are, how they are connected to the other characters and what I should remember about them. Do not reveal anything that happens after this chapter.

2. Catch up without starting again

If you haven’t opened a book in several weeks, you may remember the broad plot but not the smaller details you need to continue.

Try the prompt: I have read through Chapter [NUMBER] but haven’t picked up this book in a while. Remind me of the important events, character relationships and unresolved questions up to this point. Do not include spoilers or details from later chapters.

Since the response is generated by AI, there is still a chance it could reveal too much. If avoiding spoilers is especially important, check where its citations lead before reading the entire answer.

3. Start your own book club

Gemini can create a discussion guide that goes beyond asking everyone whether they liked the ending.

Try the prompt: Create 10 book-club questions about this book. Focus on character motivations, central themes, difficult decisions and the ending. Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple fact from the text.

You can make the questions more specific by asking Gemini to concentrate on a particular character, relationship or theme.

4. Turn the book into a podcast

Gemini Notebook’s Audio Overviews turn source material into a podcast-style conversation between AI hosts.

For nonfiction, try the prompt: Create an Audio Overview exploring the author’s central argument, the strongest evidence supporting it and any ideas readers might reasonably question. Keep the discussion conversational and use examples from the book.

For fiction, use: Create an Audio Overview discussing how the main character changes throughout the book. Focus on the decisions that drive that change instead of simply retelling the plot.

5. Apply the author’s advice to your life

A business or self-help book may contain hundreds of pages of advice when you only need help with one specific problem. This prompt asks Gemini to pull out the relevant ideas and organize them into something you can use.

Try the prompt: Using only the principles outlined in this book, help me create a practical plan for [GOAL]. Separate the author’s recommendations from your own suggestions, cite the relevant sections and identify anything I should discuss with a qualified professional.

Be particularly careful when applying information from books about health, mental health, money or the law.

Gemini can help you understand an author’s advice, but neither the book nor its AI-generated interpretation replaces professional guidance.

6. Test what you remember

Instead of rereading your highlights, ask Gemini to find out how much of the book you retained.

Try the prompt: Create a 10-question test evaluating my understanding of this book. Include five multiple-choice questions, three short-answer questions and two questions that require me to apply its ideas. Don’t show me the answers until I submit mine.

You can also tell Gemini which chapters to cover or ask it to increase the difficulty after each round.

7. Explore an untold scene

This is where things get more experimental. Gemini may be able to use its understanding of a novel to imagine a conversation or event that happened outside the original story.

Try the prompt: Write a brief, original scene showing what might have happened between [CHARACTER A] and [CHARACTER B] after [EVENT]. Keep their personalities consistent with the book, but do not copy passages or imitate the author’s writing style. Clearly label the result as unofficial fan fiction.

Gemini may limit or refuse some requests involving copyrighted characters or an author’s distinctive style. Owning an ebook also doesn’t give you the copyright to its characters or story. Treat anything Gemini generates as a personal creative exercise unless you have permission to publish or sell it.

Final thoughts

Sharing a notebook containing an ebook does not give everyone else a free copy of the book. Recipients must purchase the same title through Google Play Books before they can interact with it or view it as a source. According to Google’s sharing documentation, access to artifacts generated from the notebook may also require recipients to own the source ebook.

That restriction is central to Google’s approach. Gemini gets access to the complete text, but only after the reader has purchased an eligible copy. For now, that makes Expert Intelligence an extension of the ebook rather than a replacement for buying it.

Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments.

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Mostly, I try to avoid AI. It's not a moral stance, I just like the challenge of solving problems on my own, and staying hands-on. For me, the fun is in the friction of figuring it out myself.

Most of the time, that hands-on approach works fine. But every so often, stubbornness stops being a virtue and becomes a bottleneck.

I don't turn to AI to optimize my life or try out the latest tech. I turn to it when I’ve hit a wall, the obvious solutions have failed, and I need a way out immediately.

These are the five specific moments my self-reliance hit its limit — and the exact prompts that helped.

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If you've ever tried to snap photos of an unpredictably moving target, you'll know that a smartphone is not the best tool for the job. There's no burst mode in a lot of default camera apps, and actually tapping the shutter button by hand isn't always fast enough. Google thinks it's figured out a solution, though.

In our Google Pixel 11 review, we weren't overly enthused by the phone as a whole, but its "Magic Capture" camera mode is something I've found truly useful. It works by recording a video clip, then uses AI to analyze each frame and pull out the most appropriate stills. It's not quite a dual-capture mode, but it's probably the closest thing Pixel phones actually have right now.

The question is, can Magic Capture actually do what Google has promised? HiLight has turned out to be a colossal disappointment, and the Pixel 11 is about as exciting as beige paint. So can Google recapture user enthusiasm through the camera? I tested it to find out.

How to use Magic Capture

In my experience, a lot of new AI features can be difficult to find, even if you know where to look. That's not the case with Magic Capture. Google has put it front and center in the Pixel 11's camera app. It is prominently displayed at the bottom of the screen, next to the Photo and Video toggles that have been around for years.

Tap it, and the camera interface suddenly gets a whole lot cleaner. Your only serious options are to tap the shutter button and control the level of zoom. There is a settings toggle that lets you control whether you have Video Boost switched on too, should you prefer things that way.

All you need to do is tap the shutter button and your phone will start recording. Once you've finished, the onboard AI will analyze the footage and figure out which frames are worthy of becoming photos. Those new photos then get added to your camera reel automatically.

It's surprisingly simple, and that's one of the things I really like about Magic Capture. You don't need to do a bunch of research to figure out how it works, or what you can gain from it. The button is positioned front-and-center, and it works just like every other video camera mode on your phone.

There are some restrictions on how it works

As simple as Magic Capture is to use, there are a few limitations. The first is that you can't actually capture more than two minutes of video at a time. If you start getting close, a warning message will pop up on screen counting down to the moment the video will stop.

In my experience, you are limited to five photos from each video. It doesn't matter whether it's 30 seconds long, or the full two minutes, Magic Capture seems to have imposed that hard limit.

Google hasn't explained why these limits are in place, but my guess is that it didn't want the AI analysis running indefinitely. A two minute and five photo limit ensures that Magic Capture doesn't try to keep running and eat up too much space on Google's AI servers. Because, yes, this feature does rely on the internet.

You can still film Magic Capture clips while offline, and the on-board AI will find you a single photo that's automatically added to your library. However, if you want the other four, you will need to connect to the internet. The good news is that your video will be effectively held in a pending queue, waiting to connect to either Wi-Fi or cellular data networks — at which point it will process and hand over the missing photos.

Overall, it's a great new feature

The time I've spent with Magic Capture has been, for the most part, very enjoyable. It's so easy to just click on the video, knowing that Google's AI will end up capturing some of the best stills and converting them into standalone photos.

If you are planning on using Magic Capture yourself, I'd suggest tempering your expectations on what it can do. It's not a miracle worker, and it won't suddenly be able to create amazing images out of the shortest and scrappiest video clip you can capture. Likewise, because these photos are being ripped from moving video, you may end up with some blurring and signs of motion in the final result.

The actual resolution and overall size of each photo varies as well, which is worth remembering if you're concerned about that sort of thing. Just remember that high resolution doesn't automatically equal good quality.

But, overall, this is a very handy feature to have. While the restriction on video length and the number of available images is kind of a drag, Magic Capture does make it a heck of a lot easier to grab some photos of awkward targets — like my insanely energetic labradors. It's all hands-off, and it sure as heck beats going frame-by-frame in a video or mass-deleting photos that were taken during an overzealous use of burst-mode photography.

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Earlier this year, I decided to try and write an article with my voice sampling the different dictation software available on iPhones and Google Pixel phones. Both Apple and Google had been hyping up the capabilities of their new dictation software aided by brand new AI models. The results weren't awful, but they were fairly mixed.

At the time, Google had just announced the new Rambler AI dictation software but hadn't revealed exactly how it was going to roll out. Earlier this month, it confirmed that Rambler would be arriving on the Pixel 11 series, allowing a whole new kind of voice-to-text software that uses natural language AI to ensure the most accurate dictation possible — or so Google says.

Naturally, I decided to test the system and see if Rambler really does live up to Google's lofty claims. I was also curious to see whether the natural language systems would be capable of better understanding verbal commands and allow me to edit my work as I speak. Here's what happened.

How Rambler Works

According to Google's original announcement back at Google I/O in May, Rambler is a way to ensure that users "don't have to worry about getting your words exactly right before you start.” It is designed for you to speak naturally to your phone and then use the AI to filter out all the unnecessary little parts of speech that you don't actually want transcribed. The ums, ahs and all the other verbal tics that you say without even thinking.

This essentially means that you can focus on what you're saying and the actual content of your work without having to worry about going back later and filtering out all those little things that would need to be removed later on.

Considering editing was the biggest issue I had with dictation software earlier this year, the idea that you could minimize that, or at the very least verbally make changes to text on the fly certainly piqued my curiosity.

Rambler is powered by Gemini AI, and according to Google, it can understand multiple languages at once, allowing users who can speak multiple languages to switch between them as and when they see fit.

Google claims it's all about speed and accuracy, and Rambler is accessible at the top of your keyboard, replacing the old dictation functionality. While it originally launched on Pixel 11, Google has since confirmed that it will be coming to Gboard on Android, Gemini on macOS, and the Chrome Browser.

How my time "typing" with Rambler is going

So far I've been pretty impressed with how Rambler has done things. Not only has it been able to pick up what I'm saying with impressive clarity, it's also been able to do a lot of the formatting and punctuation without actually requiring me to specifically ask for it.

Generally speaking, as long as I can actually keep my words concise and my thoughts aligned, Rambler is having absolutely no issues with transcribing what I'm saying.

Of course, the main limitation is that I'm not very good at doing that. I find it much easier to write or type than I do to speak, especially when that involves speaking off the cuff; organising my thoughts and relaying them to my own mouth in short order. This isn't a problem with Rambler itself; it's just how my brain works.

Then again, it feels like Google could have done a lot more to make the process a little bit smoother. When you start up Rambler, you get a little bar at the top of your keyboard that features a little visualisation based on what your microphone actually picks up. The more it hears, the higher the visualisation goes and so on. What Rambler doesn't include is a preview of what it has understood you've said, which makes organising your thoughts all the more difficult, especially if you try and correct a mistake mid-flow.

Having that preview would be a small improvement, but it would make a huge amount of difference, at least to me, in ensuring that I can continue my train of thought despite knowing that I just made a blunder or wanted to rewrite part of a sentence.

Despite the advances that Google has made with conversational AI and voice recognition, it is far from perfect — especially with relation to my own accent. For some reason, it recognised the word "other" as "are there" and "asking of it" as "asking for it."

Accent recognition has plagued voice control systems since their inception, and clearly more work needs to be done in this area.

There are some big issues that need addressing

If anyone can tell, the previous paragraph was typed out from scratch, rather than using my voice. That's because attempting to get Rambler to edit and configure the text ended up wiping multiple paragraphs from this article for reasons I cannot understand.

Thankfully Google Docs was kind enough to let me undo those changes, but there were a lot of them, and my dedication to producing this article through voice alone meant I didn't notice for some time — and could have ended up losing about an hour of work in the process. If AI is supposed to make our lives better and improve productivity, it's going to have to avoid doing stupid things like this.

Anyway, back to using my voice, as promised.

Rambler can be used to edit what you've written, but in my brief time testing the feature it has been remarkably inconsistent. Obviously, that culminated in paragraphs of work being erased seemingly out of nowhere, but there have been instances where it seemingly struggles to understand what I'm trying to ask of it.

Naturally, the fact that there is no preview of what it has understood does make the editing process a little harder. You have to be able to memorise what you just said, while simultaneously thinking about what you're about to say, and still have the ability to tell Rambler that you need changes to be made.

Editing text that has already been pasted into the document, especially in such a large block like this, is not something that Rambler is very adept at doing. Sometimes it works, but in other cases it'll mess the whole thing up and that level of inconsistency is far from ideal. If Google just showed you what you said without having to paste it into the document, all of this could be avoided.

Naturally, the fact that it can automatically recognise what you're saying and format it appropriately before you even get to the editing stage is a big help. The way Gboard dictation used to be, you would just end up with huge blocks of text that needed punctuation scattered through it where appropriate—assuming you didn't physically say it while you were dictating.

You can still add your own punctuation when necessary. For instance, I'm very fond of using em-dashes in my work, while Gboard and Rambler are not.

Likewise, if I want to put something in quotation marks, I have to specifically ask for it, and this usually leads me to sprinkle in other punctuation throughout the piece as and where I deem it necessary, because we can't always trust AI to make the correct decisions for us.

Bottom line

Credit where it's due, Rambler is a huge improvement over other kinds of free voice dictation we've been getting bundled with our smartphones. I specifically mean the dictation services afforded by iOS 27 and other Android devices through the Gboard app.

There are issues that people need to be aware of, and you do need to be vigilant about what Rambler is doing. Otherwise, like me, you could end up with huge chunks of your work just being erased because you accidentally said the wrong thing or it misunderstood what you actually wanted.

The editing commands could also be improved and the lack of a preview is quite an oversight on Google's part.

Rambler does have a pretty good grasp of what you're trying to say and the commands you're trying to give, but it does seem to be better suited for smaller blocks of text rather than feature-length articles like this one. The more text there is, the easier it is for things to start going wrong and the more likely it is that you're not going to notice them until it's far too late.

Still, if you find yourself in a situation where you can't type with both hands on your phone, or you simply prefer to express your thoughts verbally, even if you're sending an email or a text message, Rambler is actually doing a pretty good job and it is a massive improvement on what was available before.

Is it the best dictation software out there? I doubt it. There are probably premium options that do this sort of thing absolutely flawlessly, but for free software that is included on your phone's keyboard, it's doing a pretty good job so far.

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Earlier this week, I wrote about the growing backlash against the secrecy surrounding AI data centers.

One of the biggest problems for residents is that you can't object to, ask questions about or even investigate a data center if you don't know one is coming. And apparently, searching your town's planning agenda for the words "data center" may not be enough.

A new report from Erin Brockovich and Suzanne Boothby highlights some of the surprisingly ordinary language that can appear in zoning applications, permits and council agendas long before a massive data center project is publicly identified.

That matters as the AI boom moves beyond the traditional data center hubs. According to Pew Research Center, 67% of planned U.S. data centers are in rural areas, while 39% are planned for counties that don't currently have one.

So if you're wondering whether one could be headed for your community, here are seven terms worth knowing.

1. Light industrial

This might be one of the easiest phrases to overlook. Many local zoning codes were written before anyone had to figure out where to put an enormous building filled with thousands of servers and GPUs. As a result, there may not actually be a zoning category for "data center."

Instead, developers can seek land zoned for "light industrial" or "heavy industrial" uses.

That doesn't mean every light-industrial zoning request is secretly a data center. But a request involving a particularly large piece of land — especially one near major electrical infrastructure — may be worth investigating.

In Coweta County, Georgia, for example, early discussions around what eventually became the enormous Project Sail data center included rezoning rural land for light industrial use. The project is now planned as a nine-building data center campus covering more than four million square feet.

2. Data processing

This one sounds almost comically mundane considering what it can describe.

Rather than "AI data center," local documents may use terms such as "data processing," "data hosting" or "data processing and related services."

Again, this doesn't mean something is being hidden, but it means searching local government websites only for "data center" could cause you to miss relevant documents.

The Brockovich Report points to Ashville, Ohio, where the village's own data center moratorium referred to uses involving "data processing, hosting and related services."

3. Technology campus

"Technology campus," "technology park," "advanced manufacturing" and even "flex space" can cover a wide range of legitimate developments. They can also encompass data centers.

A huge parcel of land, nearby high-voltage transmission lines, plans for a new electrical substation, backup generators or unusually large power requirements can tell you far more than the project's branding.

That's particularly important because a "technology campus" sounds very different from what residents may eventually see: enormous windowless buildings packed with servers, cooling equipment and electrical infrastructure.

4. A mysterious 'Project [Something]'

Project Sail. Project Louie. Project Baccara. Project Stratos. Once you start reading about proposed data centers, mysterious project names appear everywhere.

Companies commonly use codenames while assembling land and planning major developments, so spotting "Project Whatever" doesn't mean Google or Microsoft is secretly moving into town.

But it's another reason to look beyond recognizable company names.

Project Sail in Georgia, for example, was originally associated publicly with Atlas Development rather than Prologis, the giant industrial real-estate company now developing the data center campus.

In Indiana, environmental permitting documents for something called "Project Louie" identify plans for a six-building data center campus.

5. An LLC you've never heard of

This is probably the biggest reason Googling "Is Amazon building a data center near me?" probably won't get you very far. Land purchases and development applications can be made through LLCs or real-estate affiliates rather than the company that will eventually use the site.

There are legitimate business reasons for doing this. Keeping a buyer's identity private while assembling a large site, for example, can prevent land prices from soaring as soon as word gets out that a trillion-dollar tech company is interested.

But for residents, it makes following a project considerably harder.

If an unfamiliar LLC suddenly appears on documents involving hundreds of acres of land, try searching the company name in your state's corporate registry. Look at the people associated with it, its registered address and whether those names connect to other developments.

6. Development agreement or term sheet

If I saw these words on a town council agenda, up until recently I might skip over them. But here's why you should look closely at these keywords: A development agreement, framework or term sheet can spell out what a developer and local government have already discussed, including infrastructure improvements, tax arrangements and money for schools, roads or emergency services.

The details can also reveal the scale of a project long before the name of its eventual tenant becomes public.

One thing I'd look for in particular is new infrastructure. If an agreement suddenly includes millions of dollars for water-system upgrades, electrical infrastructure or road construction connected to an industrial project, it's worth asking why those upgrades are necessary and who will use them.

7. Emergency

Strange one to be on the list, I know. But an "emergency" resolution can change how quickly a government action takes effect.

That's what makes Ashville, Ohio, such an interesting example.

According to the Brockovich Report, a data center permit there was filed on a Friday. The following Monday, the village council approved an emergency 180-day moratorium on data center zoning permits. Two days later, the permit was issued anyway.

The dispute has since made its way into the courts.

For residents, the takeaway is simply that "emergency" is one of those words I'd stop scrolling for if it appeared beside a major land-use or development decision.

The takeaway

All of these key words matter most when you put the clues together because noe of the terms prove much of anything on their own.

Local planning and zoning agendas are usually posted online, as are meeting minutes and many permit applications. Property records can tell you who bought the land, while state corporate databases can help identify who's behind an unfamiliar LLC.

Utility regulators are another place to look. A data center that isn't named publicly may still need an enormous amount of electricity, and substations, transmission upgrades and other infrastructure can leave their own paper trail.

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I'm not a big fan of the Pixel 11 Pro. As I mentioned in my Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL review, these are not bad phones but it feels as though Google hasn't done enough to help justify their existence. One of the few hardware changes the phones do include is the HiLight LED, which lives on the camera bar.

HiLight is part of the camera flash on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, utilizing a range of colored LED lights. It's essentially a modern day take on the notification light smartphone companies mostly ditched years ago.

Unfortunately, the way HiLight works right now feels like a missed opportunity, but there is potential if Google is willing to put some effort into it.

What HiLight can do

Looking at the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, you'd never know that HiLight was actually there. Though if you are familiar with Pixel phones you may recognize that the flash is totally different, with a smooth solid-colored surface rather than the fresnel-looking lens utilized on the likes of Pixel 10 Pro.

Here's how it works. When you place your phone face down, and whenever the right trigger occurs HiLight will flash one of six colors. Blue is reserved for Google Gemini, but at the moment the HiLight icon can also flash teal, yellow, magenta, purple and white. Unfortunately, the feature is limited in what it can actually do.

The way Google described HiLight, you might have assumed that it would support a bunch of different notification types. I know I did, but that isn't the case. As it stands, HiLight will only flash for two reasons. The light will flash blue whenever you're talking to Google Gemini, but it can also be set up to flash one of the five other colors when your starred contacts are calling you.

At the moment, that is all HiLight can do. Any other kind of notification is completely off limits, and there's no way to set up HiLight to flash up when you get an email, text message or something else entirely.

It's also worth noting that HiLight won't engage if your phone screen is not facing directly down. It doesn't have to be a flat surface, only that your phone screen is pointing towards the ground. In fact, you can test this yourself, because HiLight will actually turn off if you tilt your phone too far in any other direction.

The limitations are disappointing — but it didn't have to be this way

It feels like Google has only done half a job with the way it's rolled out HiLight to the Pixel 11 Pro. The limited functionality means that the one thing that could have become the Pixel 11 Pro's standout feature is nearly pointless for me.

I can't tell you how many times my starred contacts actually bother to call me. Usually they send me a text message, or call me via WhatsApp — which is not compatible with HiLight.

Honestly, it feels like Google hasn't put a lot of effort into making HiLight a feature that people will actually get much benefit from. Everything about it is limited, from the compatibility to the color options.

Google did state that HiLight will be updated with more features at some point in the future, but the only specific detail we've been given is that HiLight will flash when you get messages from favored contacts. We just don't know when that might happen, or what further plans Google has in store for the feature.

App developers have been hard at work trying to crack the system behind HiLight and give users the freedom to utilize the LED however they want. One of them claims to have succeeded, which is crazy considering we're just a few short days out from the phones' official release.

Developers step in

HiLight Studio has garnered attention for its bold claims, promising that users can control the rear-lights colors, and program the lights to activate with an even larger range of apps. I haven't been able to test it for myself, because the setup process is a lot more complicated than simply installing an APK file. This is a system level feature, after all, and it's not one that Google will want you messing with.

In other words, this is for people with patience and technical ability to get everything going. The fact that you need to relaunch the service every time your phone reboots is enough to put me off.

Still, it shows that HiLight is not necessarily limited to the few features Google has graced the Pixel 11 Pro with so far. It's a lot more versatile and potentially a lot more useful than I initially gave it credit for — or it could be.

Bottom line: HiLight could be a lot better than it is

I can see potential in HiLight, and the ability to keep tabs on your notifications without constantly checking your phone screen. In an ideal world you could map different notifications to a veritable rainbow of different colors and use that to determine whether you should actually open up your phone or not.

But in its current state, HiLight is basically a non-starter. It's only compatible with two features, and while I understand why Gemini was chosen I have no idea why Google decided adding support for phone calls was a priority. Actually receiving a phone call is unusual enough that it grabs my attention, I don't need a colorful light to go with it.

HiLight could be something, but it's going to rely on Google actually rolling out a bunch of updates to improve the usefulness of the entire mechanism. But if things stay the way they are, it's just one more phone feature destined for the scrap heap.

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Gemini is so much more powerful than a chatbot, and yet many people haven't even scratched the surface of what it can. Now that Google is offering Gemini Pro to students free for a year, it's time to see what it can do — and students of all ages can appreciate these features.

Gemini now works across Gmail, Meet, Slides and several other Google apps, so it can help with the work that usually eats up the most time. Think overloaded inboxes, sprawling research projects and meeting notes no one wants to write.

Some of these features require a Google AI subscription or an eligible Workspace plan, and availability can depend on your account. Still, there’s plenty here for free users too.

Here are seven Google AI features worth putting to work.

1. Create a Gem for work you repeat every week

If you regularly give Gemini the same instructions, you shouldn’t have to paste them into a new chat every time.

Gems are custom versions of Gemini that follow a set of instructions you write once. You could create one that checks a draft against your company’s style guide, turns rough meeting notes into a standard recap or reviews a proposal from the perspective of a skeptical customer.

The instructions can include the role you want the Gem to play, the format it should use and any rules it needs to follow. You can attach reference files as well, which is useful for brand guidelines, examples or background material it should consult.

A useful Gem needs more than a vague description such as “help with my writing.” Spell out what it should look for, what it should leave alone and how you want the answer presented. For example, you might tell it to flag repetition and unclear sentences without rewriting the entire piece.

Once it’s set up, you can open that Gem whenever the task comes up again. It’s a small change, but it removes the tedious setup that often comes with using AI for repeat work.

2. Turn a rough brief into a presentation or video

Starting a presentation from a blank slide is often harder than editing a rough version. Gemini can now create that first draft inside Google Slides.

Gemini in Slides can generate an editable presentation from a prompt, including text and images. You can provide Drive files as references, which means the presentation can be based on an existing report or set of meeting notes instead of a short prompt alone.

It can help after the deck is built too. Ask Gemini to rewrite a crowded slide, create a new slide using information from a document or generate an image that fits the presentation. The result will still need a human pass, particularly for visual consistency and factual accuracy, but it gives you something concrete to edit.

For projects that would work better as a video, Google Vids can turn a prompt and reference material into a draft with suggested scenes, scripts and voiceovers. You can use it for a training video, project update or internal walkthrough without recording yourself from the beginning.

Google’s AI tools are most useful when they work with information you already have. Connect Gemini to the email, document or meeting where the work is happening, give it a specific task and check the result before it goes anywhere important. That’s where the time savings begin to add up.

3. Make the most of research with Gemini Notebooks

Gemini Notebooks, formally NotebookLM, allows you to make the most of your research by keeping all of your sources in one place. From there, you can ask questions about them, turn them into quizzes, flash cards and more.

Since Notebooks bases its responses on the material you provide, it’s easier to check where an answer came from. Citations link back to the relevant passage, so you can verify a claim without searching through the entire original document. That doesn’t make it incapable of getting something wrong, but it gives you a much clearer path for checking its work.

The chat is only one part of it. The platform can turn your sources into study guides, FAQs, briefing documents and Audio Overviews. Those conversational audio summaries are especially handy when you need to absorb a long report but don’t have time to sit and read it.

The best way to use Notebooks is to give it a defined job. Ask it to identify where several sources disagree, build a timeline or pull out every unresolved question from a set of meeting documents. Those prompts produce much more useful results than simply asking for a summary.

4. Use Canvas when a chat becomes too messy

Regular chatbot conversations work well for short request but when there is a lot of back and forth, particuarly with edits, open Gemini Canvas for optimal productivity.

Gemini Canvas gives the project its own workspace beside the conversation. You can edit the output directly, then highlight a specific section and ask Gemini to change only that part. It works with text as well as code, making it a much safer space to select and make changes within your work.

If you’re planning a project, for example, you could ask Gemini to turn your notes into an interactive timeline or task tracker rather than settling for another block of text.

5. Let Google Meet handle the notes

There are a lot of AI notetakers, and I have tried a few, but if you want simplicity, let Gemini take the notes in Google Meet.

With Take notes for me, Gemini creates an organized Google Doc containing the meeting notes. The recap can be shared with selected participants after the call and linked from the Calendar event, making it easier to find later.

If you arrive late, you can request a “summary so far” rather than interrupting the meeting to ask what you missed. Google’s separate Ask Gemini feature also lets eligible users privately ask questions about an active meeting, including what decisions have been made or whether a particular topic has already come up.

There are limitations. Take notes for me requires an eligible Workspace edition or Google AI plan, supports one language at a time and shouldn’t be treated as a flawless record. Names, technical terms and fast-moving discussions still need to be checked.

It’s also worth deciding who should receive the notes before the meeting begins. Google lets organizers configure the recipients and the sections included in the recap, which is better than automatically sending every internal detail to the full invitation list.

6. Deep Research in Gemini Live

Whatever reason you're doing research, you can now hand the first stage of a big project to Deep Research in Gemini Live. Gemini’s Deep Research feature handles that initial digging for you. Give it a detailed question and it creates a research plan, searches the web and produces a report with links to the sources it used.

The quality of the result depends heavily on the assignment. “Research poisonous frog” will produce something broad and predictable. A request to compare the types, sizes and habitats of three specific amphibians gives Gemini a much clearer target.

Deep Research works well for building a starting brief, comparing products or getting familiar with a subject before you dig deeper. You can then question the report, ask it to expand one section or move the finished research into a Google Doc.

You still need to open the sources and check important claims. A citation proves that Gemini found a webpage; it doesn’t guarantee that the page is reliable or that Gemini interpreted it correctly. Used carefully, though, it can clear away much of the repetitive searching at the beginning of a project.

7. Get through your inbox faster with Gemini in Gmail

A long email thread can easily turn into a scavenger hunt. You scroll back through days of replies trying to find the final decision, only to realize it was buried somewhere around message 14.

Gemini in Gmail can summarize an entire conversation and pull out the main points without requiring you to read every response. You can then ask follow-up questions in the side panel, such as “What did we decide about the deadline?” or “Does anyone still need to approve this?”

It’s useful for finding information across your inbox too. Instead of trying to remember the exact subject line of an old email, ask Gemini to locate the message from a particular person or catch you up on emails about a project.

When it’s time to reply, Gmail’s Help me write feature can draft a response using the context of the conversation. Just give it a little direction and watch the magic happen.

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I’ve always had a keen interest in how much information about me is floating around the World Wide Web.

Ever since I learned the basic about coding and built my own MySpace page, I’ve left a pretty prominent digital footprint that more than likely includes a ton of publicly available information. Of course, I know about most of my personal and professional milestones. But I’ve always been curious about the data everyone with an internet connection can look up that paints a full picture of who I am, what I do and what I’m into.

I went from constantly thinking about that digital deep dive to putting it into action by asking ChatGPT to find every piece of information that could exist about me across the World Wide Web.

Not only did it bring up an assortment of details I already know about myself, but it also brought up things I’d forgotten about my professional life, inferred a slew of observations about me and even found someone with the same name as me.

A prompt meant for probing my own internet identity

I generated this prompt with ChatGPT’s assistance to make sure it produced the most comprehensive results possible once I tasked it with analyzing my digital footprint:

I want you to investigate what the public internet knows about me.

My name is Elton Jones. I am a journalist who writes about AI and video games, and I am associated with Tom's Guide.

Using publicly available information on the internet, find as much information about me as you reasonably can. Look across news articles, websites, social media profiles, professional pages, public databases, interviews, forums, archived pages, and other publicly accessible sources.

Organize your findings into these categories:

1. Who I am — basic biographical and professional information.

2. My work — jobs, companies, projects, articles, websites, or other professional activity.

3. My online presence — social accounts, profiles, websites, and other pages that appear to belong to me.

4. My interests — topics, hobbies, communities, or activities associated with me.

5. Public history — notable events, articles, interviews, appearances, or other publicly documented activity.

6. What you can infer — reasonable conclusions about my interests, career, or online activity based only on the evidence you found. Clearly label these as inferences rather than facts.

7. Potentially sensitive information — identify categories of personal information that appear to be publicly exposed, but do not reproduce private details such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passwords, financial information, or other highly sensitive personal data.

8. Unexpected discoveries — anything particularly surprising or that I might not realize is publicly associated with me.

For every significant finding, provide the source and explain how confident you are that it actually refers to me rather than someone with a similar name.

Do not assume that two people are the same person simply because their names match. Cross-reference details such as occupation, location, employer, usernames, photographs, and other identifiers before connecting information.

At the end, give me a “What the internet knows about me” summary containing:

- 5 things that are strongly established

- 5 things that are probable but less certain

- 5 things I should consider removing, changing, or making less publicly accessible

Focus on information that is genuinely discoverable through public web searches rather than trying to guess private information.

The known, forgotten and surprising details ChatGPT uncovered about me

ChatGPT did everything it could to search the public domain using a combination of my full name, bylines, previous/current employers, older job roles, publications I’ve written for, social media usernames, educational record and clues to my main location.

The chatbot referenced a bunch of information about myself that I’m already privy to. The fully summarized take it gave me about me is as follows: The public record strongly supports that Elton Jones is a New York–area technology and gaming journalist who currently writes about AI for Tom's Guide and previously spent years covering video games and geek culture for outlets including ONE37pm, Heavy, Complex, TechRadar, Okayplayer/OkayplayerGO, SVG, and The Christian Post.

While it brought up additional information about my career and hobbies/interests, ChatGPT also mentioned more interesting bits of info that kickstarted my memory. I know my journalism career reaches back to 2010, but I totally forgot I won a contest that allowed me to write a guest article for GamesRadar. The chatbot recognized it as a “documented origin story” for my career as a writer. I was also caught off guard when it pointed to a blog I had written around that same time about a disco tribute band my father was once a part of (we all have to start our writing careers somewhere, am I right?).

Imagine my shock and awe when ChatGPT listed a pretty funny detail that made me think it found a version of me hailing from another universe. It mentioned someone by the name of “Elton E. Jones,” who happens to be a video game voice actor with an official IMDb page.

Reading those details made me say to myself, “So this would probably have been my life if I actually pursued a career in video games that put me in the recording booth…” It’s fun to know that there are people out there with my same name who are doing something completely different with their career.

How this ChatGPT self-investigation compares to Googling myself

I've tried looking myself up just by Googling my name before and was treated to a page full of links to an obituary, a blog page for a tribute band called "Elton Jones and The Jets" and the actual Elton John as the top result (since I'm so sure that Google thought I made a spelling mistake and wanted to actually look him up instead).

ChatGPT's thorough internet investigation into me was more targeted toward identity resolution by zeroing in on Elton Jones, the journalist. Instead of giving me a mixture of results from unrelated individuals and other entities who just happen to have my same name, the chatbot actively looked for me and rejected questionable matches.

Alongside that, ChatGPT ignored obvious search results and relied on multiple searches across a wealth of sources. Plus, it cross-referenced all the information it could find about me, built a timeline of my career, looked for strong connections between my social media profiles & my professional identity and unearthed old/archived material that would take a lot longer to find through a Google search.

Google's raw search results still come in handy from time to time, but I got way more than I bargained for from ChatGPT's digital researcher-assisted look into everything the internet has on me.

The takeaway

ChatGPT lifted all the data it could about me by simply looking at all the journalism-related information Google had on me.

It stated that my public footprint is substantial and surprisingly coherent thanks to the throughline that follows the star of my career up until now.

And on the topic of what my biggest online privacy concern could be, here’s what ChatGPT had to say: The biggest privacy concern isn't some hidden scandal or mysterious database entry. It's actually the sheer accumulation of information across 15+ years: old social posts, historical biographies, professional databases, location references, archived articles, and your newer first-person AI experiments.

Thankfully, I’m not too worried about the articles I’ve written about my MCU fandom and love for pizza exposing too much about my private life. And I have to thank ChatGPT for painting a full picture of me with all the information it searched for, giving me some warm reminders about the beginning of my writing career and showing me who I could have been in an alternate universe.

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I’ve reviewed dozens of the best tablets over the years, and the one thing they almost always have in common is less-than-ideal speaker quality. While the best iPads tend to produce great sound, their speakers can’t compete even with built-in TV speakers. Perhaps that's why Lenovo decided to slap a giant speaker on its Tab Plus Gen 2 to buck this trend.

I’m currently testing the Tab Plus Gen 2 and will have a full review for you soon. But I wanted to write a dedicated piece on the tablet’s sound since it’s so darn impressive. Whether it’s ear-scorching heavy metal or your favorite podcast, everything sounds fantastic on this tablet thanks to its enormous JBL speaker and its various sound settings.

If you’re like me and are generally disappointed by tablet speakers, then the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 will be literal music to your ears. Let me tell you why.

Speaker tech

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 features a JBL 9-Unit Pro speaker system, tuned by Dolby Atmos. That 9 isn’t superfluous, as it’s exactly how many speakers this thing packs.

To be specific, this includes four tweeters, three woofers, and two passive radiators. The latter two allow the speaker to produce truly deep bass, while the tweeters handle higher-frequency sounds. Combined, they deliver exceptional audio quality for a tablet.

My initial experience

I decided to go into the deep end right from the start by firing up Amon Amarth’s “We Rule the Waves” to see how the speakers handled melodic death metal at max volume. While the bass was punchy and the overall sound was room-filling, I wasn’t impressed by the thin midrange. This is a demanding genre even for a good speaker system, so I initially chalked it up to that.

Next, I fired up Lion’s “Transformers” from the legendary (and childhood trauma-inducing) 1986 film. This song sounded better than the Amon Amarth track since everything came through evenly and punchy. 80s songs also aren’t nearly as compressed as modern songs, which also helps.

After that, I watched an episode of the The Comics Pals on YouTube and was equally stunned by how natural the dialogue sounded. All the panelists came through clearly, even if some had better microphones than others. I also liked how well the speaker handled the dialogue and music in the latest Avengers: Doomsday trailer, making everything sound appropriately cinematic.

I was already impressed by the out-of-the-box sound experience, but then I realized you could select different sound profiles within settings. This is when I went from impressed to having my mind (or my ears) completely blown.

Optimized sound

The Dolby Atmos sub-menu is where you can get the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 to sound its absolute best. There are three presets: Dynamic, which identifies the content and automatically adjusts for the best sound; Movie, which provides surround sound and clearer dialogue; and Music, which delivers detailed audio so every note and beat sounds punchy. Music also has its own presets: Detailed, Balanced, and Warm, along with a manual equalizer.

Listening to the aforementioned songs with the Music preset enabled makes a world of difference, as everything from the highs and mids to the lows packs an appropriate amount of power and bass.

For Amon Amarth specifically, the Warm preset in Music helps the guttural vocals stand out more. The Transformers track sounded fantastic and made me even more stoked to see the 40th-anniversary screening next month!

As you’d expect, Movie mode is perfect for movies, TV shows, and trailers. For instance, I felt like I was in the theater when I fired up the Doomsday trailer again. Dialogue-focused videos also sound fantastic in Movie mode, though I found the sound was a tad richer and fuller in Music mode.

I didn’t mess around too much with the equalizer settings, as I’m no audio engineer. But I like that this option exists for the true audiophiles out there. While the Dynamic preset is decent enough, its mid-range is too thin to my liking. The Movie and Music presets are the best bet for nearly all the content you’ll be engaging with on this tablet.

Music to my ears

If you’re looking for a tablet with phenomenal speaker quality, you can’t do much better than the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2. While that giant speaker looks somewhat awkward and makes the slate heavy to hold, it excels at what it's designed for. The out-of-the-box sound is pretty impressive, but it can sound way better with some minor fiddling.

There’s more to discuss about this entertainment-focused Android tablet, such as its display quality, performance, battery life, and more, so stay tuned for that. But if you found what I said interesting, then don’t hesitate to check out this tablet, especially since it’s pretty affordable at $299. Trust me, your ears will thank you!

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Google is giving Gemini users more control over how their AI-generated images, videos and music look when they leave the app.

A new Media Watermark setting allows users to turn off the visible watermark Google normally adds to content created with its AI models. That includes images generated with Nano Banana, videos made with Omni and music from Lyria.

The setting is rolling out now across Gemini and Google’s Flow filmmaking tool. Google Search will get the same option later.

For anyone using Gemini to create a presentation, mockup or social media post, this could be a welcome change. The small Gemini sparkle may clearly identify an AI-generated image, but it can also be glaring in a presentation.

Turning it off gives you a cleaner file without requiring you to crop the image or open it in an editor. It does not, however, remove every sign that the content was generated by Google AI.

Google says this approach gives creators more control over the appearance of their work while keeping machine-readable transparency measures in place.

The visible watermark is optional, not the invisible one

While the visible watermark can be removed, the invisible one remains. Google will continue embedding its invisible SynthID watermark and C2PA Content Credentials metadata in generated files. Those signals remain whether the visible mark is switched on or off.

SynthID is designed to identify content created using Google’s AI models without changing how the image, video or audio looks or sounds. C2PA metadata can carry information about where a file originated and how it was created or edited.

This means removing the Gemini sparkle doesn’t make the content untraceable. Someone can still upload supported media to Gemini and ask whether it was created with Google AI. Google also uses tools including “About this image,” Lens and AI Mode to surface available provenance information.

How to turn off visible watermarks in Gemini

The setting applies to content you create after changing it. It does not automatically remove the mark from files you have already downloaded.

Open the Gemini app or visit Gemini on the web.

Select your profile picture or account menu.

Open Settings.

Select Media Watermark.

Switch the visible watermark setting off.

Generate and download a new image, video or music file.

If Media Watermark does not appear in your settings yet, the rollout may not have reached your account. Google says the feature is arriving over several days.

How to turn off visible watermarks in Google Flow

Flow uses a slightly different menu:

Open Google Flow.

Select your profile picture.

Find Visible watermarking in the drop-down menu.

Turn the toggle off before creating your next image or video.

Google’s Flow support page says visible watermarks are applied automatically in India, South Korea and Vietnam, so users in those countries may not be able to remove them.

The takeaway

Visible AI watermarks are useful when people encounter a realistic image or video without any context. They’re less useful when the content is clearly an illustration, a creative asset or part of a larger project in which the mark becomes a distraction.

Until now, users who wanted a clean result often cropped the watermark out or removed it with editing software. Making the mark optional acknowledges what people were already doing while preserving the less intrusive provenance signals underneath.

The new setting doesn’t eliminate the need to disclose AI-generated or substantially altered media where a platform requires it. YouTube, for example, asks creators to label realistic content that depicts a person, place or event doing something that did not actually happen.

For everyday creative work, though, Gemini users can now download a clean-looking result without paying for another editing tool or cutting off part of the image. Just remember that turning off the sparkle changes what people can see. It doesn’t remove the AI provenance attached to the file.

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Google's on-wrist safety features go above and beyond your standard fall and crash detection. In fact, I'd argue that the new Pixel Watch 5 offers better safety tech than other brands on the market, especially with the introduction of Breathing Emergency Detection and Blood Pressure Trends, not to mention 2024's Loss of Pulse Detection (which no brand has yet replicated).

But what's Google's end-game with this ever-growing list of just-in-case features? I wanted to find out. So, I sat down with Pramod Rudrapatna, a Google product manager, and Jake Sunshine, a Google researcher, both of whom worked closely on the latest Breathing Emergency Detection tool.

Our conversation touched on how Google tests such a potentially lifesaving piece of tech to ensure true positives are logged, and false positives aren't. We also discussed Google's changing view on the benefits of wearable tech, and whether holding your breath might trigger Breathing Emergency Detection (it won't, but don't try).

I additionally learned which other Google wearables support these shiny new safety tools (and it's not just older Pixel Watches).

'Like an airbag on your wrist'

Google may not have invented fall/crash detection; that was Apple, but in 2026, Google has expanded the safety toolkit far beyond the competition, with features like Loss of Pulse Detection and now Breathing Emergency Detection (which is still waiting for FDA approval in the U.S. as of publication).

"The Pixel portfolio has been many 'firsts of its kind.' Loss of pulse was a first in the wearable category, and breathing emergency joins that family," says Rudrapatna. "We're looking at population-level problems," he adds.

Smartwatch makers have been incredibly focused on expanding fitness and training tools over the past few generations of product launches. Google is still focused on helping you work out, but that's perhaps no longer the brand's main focus.

"We're really trying to shift the Overton window about what these devices can do —moving beyond just fitness and wellness to really build them with potentially life-saving capabilities," says Sunshine.

Put another way, Sunshine says that the Pixel Watch is "conceptually, like an airbag on your wrist. A lot of testing has to go into it to make sure that it's performant for both true-positive and false-positive scenarios."

Like your vehicle's airbag, the aim is to never actually need Loss of Pulse or Breathing Emergency Detection. But the fact that it's there provides peace of mind.

Tackling an 'invisible' health crisis

Breathing emergencies are, unfortunately, pretty common, and similar to loss of pulse emergencies, response time is everything. Like fall and crash detection, Loss of Pulse and Breathing Emergency Detection automatically send for help and/or contact a loved one when triggered.

That's important because a lot of the time, these health crises are "invisible," meaning they occur without warning and often when no one else is around to help. This is where Google comes in.

"Breathing emergency detection solves a population-level problem. There are hundreds of thousands of people impacted by these breathing emergencies, which can be caused by various reasons, including accidental drug overdose, severe pneumonia, and choking," says Rudrapatna.

Balancing true-positives from false ones

But how does Google ensure the feature actually works when a breathing emergency occurs? Likewise, what has Google implemented to minimize false positives?

"We're looking for a signature that really shouldn't be present in otherwise healthy individuals: sudden drops in blood oxygen levels where it was normal in the recent past, combined with an inability to respond as well as if they are not moving," says Sunshine.

Okay, but how does Google actually test such a feature? Are test subjects holding their breath in a lab?

"These events are, by definition, rare and quite dangerous, so we have to work with specialized labs where people can be made safely hypoxic — basically having their oxygen levels drop rapidly but in a controlled environment," confirms Sunshine.

On the flip side, "We don't want to annoy users [and] we don't want to overburden our emergency medical services, which are precious public assets. We bring together algorithm innovation and user-centered design to minimize false positives," adds Rudrapatna.

One of these design implementations is a thirty-second countdown timer that begins if/when a breathing emergency or loss of pulse is detected. Users simply need to cancel the alert before the countdown finishes; otherwise, the Pixel Watch will automatically contact emergency services on your behalf.

What Google's Health Guardian tools are, and are not

There are, of course, limitations to Google's suite of on-wrist "Health Guardian" tools. For example, there's no guarantee that the Pixel Watch 5 will pick up each and every instance of a cardiac or breathing emergency.

Rather, Google's goal is to make a meaningful dent in the number of these emergencies that go unnoticed or aren't responded to.

Similarly, other new features like Blood Pressure and Insulin Resistance Trends aren't a replacement for a proper blood pressure cuff or a blood glucose test. Instead, they are meant to clue users to important holistic trends that they may not otherwise be aware of.

"What it's not is that it's not meant to screen, diagnose, or be used for conditions like hypertension or diabetes, or to change your medication pattern. It's meant to tackle issues that are invisible in nature — things people don't know are happening," says Rudrapatna.

'Our goal is to bring it to as many devices as possible'

While Google's lifesaving tech, including Loss of Pulse and Breathing Emergency Detection, may not be as ubiquitous as car airbags in 2026, its purpose is the same.

"If you invent the airbag, you don't want your loved one to ever have to use it. But still, we know that given a large enough population, there are going to be people who do need these systems," says Sunshine.

So, outside of the Pixel Watch 5, which other Google wearables support these groundbreaking new safety tools?

"Our goal is to bring it to as many devices as possible," says Rudrapatna, "but our focus now is to bring these capabilities to our premium line of Pixel watches... we're also bringing that to the Pixel Watch 4."

Got a Pixel Watch 4 and live somewhere where Breathing Emergency Detection is live? You can switch the feature on right now. Blood Pressure and Insulin Resistance Trends are also live on the Pixel Watch 4.

No word on whether the Fitbit Air will support Breathing Emergency Detection, but Google has confirmed that Blood Pressure and Insulin Resistance Trends will both be supported by the $99 screen-free tracker.

Ultimately, brands like Apple, Garmin, and Samsung have their work cut out for them if they want to keep up with Google when it comes to on-wrist safety. And I suspect Google will remain at the head of the pack for the next several launch cycles.

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There has been a lot of hype surrounding Googlebooks, since these new high-end devices are expected to compete with the best MacBooks and best Windows laptops. But if you’re tired of waiting for the new hardware to launch, there’s a way to see what’s in store.

And how do you do that? By plugging any of the more recent Pixel phones, like the Pixel 11 Pro, into a monitor and trying Android 17’s beta desktop mode. It’s pretty similar to the Googlebook experiences and leaks we’ve seen so far. So while the experience likely won't be the same, you basically have a Googlebook in your pocket right now.

Android 17 desktop mode with a skin

From everything we know about the devices so far, Googlebooks will be powered by Android. Reading past the AI hype and the fancy features like Magic Pointer, leaked images show the underlying experience looks a lot like the Android 17 desktop.

Of course, there are a few custom layers and touches that we have yet to see in action. Overall, it doesn’t seem too different from anything you can’t already try today.

The basics from Android 17 are there

I plugged my Pixel 9 Pro XL into a monitor in our test lab and chose the “Desktop” option for display mirroring. The similarities between the leaked Googlebook experience were noticeable right away.

On my Pixel in desktop mode, I have the taskbar on the bottom for pinning apps, as well as a button to access the apps. It seems, though, that for Googlebook, Google has removed Android’s multitasking buttons from the right side of the screen, which isn’t too surprising, since the UI is likely optimized for keyboard and mouse.

More interestingly, apps open and surface in a similar windowed experience in both Android 17’s desktop mode and the leaked Googlebook interface. You get an app window with a title bar, and options to resize and arrange. To access apps, you get the same centered-facing app launcher that the Android 17 desktop mode has.

In apps like Gmail, you even get the foldable-friendly two-pane layout. You even have the same. So clearly, Google has been putting thought into this behind the scenes and right under our noses.

But some things are missing

Of course, Google will not just roll out the Android 17 desktop experience to everyone and call it a Googlebook. There are a lot of things missing right now from the Android 17 desktop experience that I look forward to trying on a Googlebook.

Based on leaks, it seems you’ll be able to pin apps to the desktop, customize the OS colors, assign corner shortcuts, and much more. Notifications also seem to work differently, with a dedicated notifications drawer, similar to Samsung’s DeX.

That could help Googlebook feel more like a full-fledged desktop operating system rather than simply Android running on a bigger screen, like Android 17’s desktop mode does today.

I'm excited for Googlebook

Android 17’s desktop mode definitely reveals the foundation of Googlebook, and I'm excited.

Google’s upcoming hardware in September will likely add the polish and desktop-specific features that we’re not seeing in Android 17’s desktop mode today. With features like folders on the desktop, this can turn it into a true Windows and macOS competitor backed by Android. In the meantime, I’ll keep using the Googlebook in my pocket.

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When my grandfather would write me while I was away at school, he would end each letter with, "It's been fun to visit with you for a few minutes." That's the way I still feel about any correspondance -- it's a way to visit with someone regardless of how quick or meaningless.

And now that Claude can not only draft an email but send it, I feel like that's just another AI feature I simply don't need. However, I feel differently about everything surrounding that conversation.

There’s nothing personal about sorting newsletters, searching for a buried attachment or rereading a 20-message thread to work out what everyone decided. These are the jobs that could easily consume my day, and I’m more than happy to hand some of them to AI.

Features such as Google’s AI Inbox and AI Overviews in Gmail can identify priority messages, summarize conversations and answer questions about information scattered across multiple emails. I still write my own replies, but I spend much less time figuring out which ones I need to send.

Here are five ways AI can make your inbox easier to manage without writing a single email for you.

1. Show you what needs your attention

Most inboxes present every unread email as one more thing demanding your attention. A message from someone waiting on a decision can sit beside a sale announcement, an automated receipt and a newsletter you might read later.

Google’s AI Inbox is designed to separate those signals. It surfaces top priorities and groups together topics you may need to catch up on, giving you a more focused starting point than a long chronological list.

This is particularly helpful when I return to my inbox after being away from it. Instead of opening messages one by one to see what happened, I can begin with the conversations Gmail has identified as important.

AI won’t always understand your priorities perfectly, so keep that in mind. A routine-looking message may matter because of the person who sent it or something discussed outside email. I still scan the rest of my inbox, but I no longer have to treat every unread message as equally urgent.

2. Summarize a long email thread

Few things make me want to close Gmail faster than opening a thread with dozens of new replies.

Some messages repeat information from earlier in the conversation. Others branch into separate discussions, and the detail you need may be buried somewhere in the middle. By the time you reach the bottom, it’s easy to forget what prompted the exchange in the first place.

Gmail’s AI Overviews can summarize long conversations, pulling together the key points and recent replies. This gives me enough context to understand what the thread is about and where I should start reading.

I don’t rely on the summary when I need an exact quote, firm deadline or final decision. AI can miss a qualification or flatten a disagreement between two people into a cleaner consensus than the thread supports. For anything consequential, I go back to the original messages.

The summary still saves time because it directs me to the parts of the conversation that need closer attention.

3. Find an email when you can’t remember the keywords

This one is a life saver for me. With three kids, there is always a form or permission slip that I need to not miss. And while traditional search works when you know what you're searching for, sometimes all I have is a date or name. Unfortunately, that isn’t usually how I remember email.

I may remember that someone recommended an app or sent me a meeting date without recalling who said it. Sometimes I know an attachment arrived but have no idea what the file was called. That can lead to several rounds of searching with slightly different keywords.

AI search allows you to describe the information instead. In Gmail, you can ask a natural-language question, and Gemini can use relevant messages to generate an answer or surface the conversations containing it.

You might ask, “What date did we agree on for the interview?” or “Who sent me information about the new subscription?” The wording doesn’t have to match the original email.

As with summaries, I open the source message before using the information. The advantage is reaching it without having to remember how someone phrased the subject line three weeks ago.

4. Pull out action items and deadlines

An email doesn’t need to contain the words “action item” to give you something else to do.

A request may appear at the end of a long update. Someone might mention a deadline in passing or ask a question halfway through a message covering several unrelated subjects. Read it too quickly and the request disappears beneath everything that arrived afterward. That drives me crazy! However, AI can scan a conversation for outstanding questions, dates and tasks. You can ask Gemini which messages require a response, what you agreed to send or whether a thread contains an upcoming deadline.

This is one of the most useful ways to catch up after a busy stretch. I’d never treat that picture as a definitive to-do list. A missed deadline matters far more than a few saved minutes, so I check the original messages before adding anything to my calendar. AI acts as a second pass, catching details that could otherwise remain buried.

5. Bring related conversations together

One project rarely stays inside one neat email thread. The initial discussion may have one subject line, the scheduling conversation another and the follow-up a third. Add several participants and forwarded messages, and the information becomes scattered across your inbox.

AI can identify relationships between those conversations even when they don’t share the same wording. Instead of opening one thread and searching separately for the rest, you can ask for the latest information about a topic or project.

AI can work with the inbox I actually have, including the conversations I forgot to file correctly.

It still requires oversight. Two projects may have similar names, or the same person may email you about unrelated subjects. I check which messages informed an answer before assuming AI has assembled the right set.

Bottom line: I want AI handling the clutter, not the conversation

AI-generated replies will probably become harder to avoid as email providers place them directly beneath our messages. For some people, they remove the stress of writing and make communication faster. I understand the appeal.

They just aren’t the feature I need. Choosing my own words takes a little longer, but it preserves the reason for sending an email in the first place. The administrative work surrounding that exchange is where I’m happy to save time.

Do you use AI to save time with your inbox? Let me know in the comments.

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Once again, Google is giving eligible college students in the U.S. an opportunity to utilize AI tools for studying and more with 12 months of Google AI Pro for free. Normally, $19.99 a month, the plan comes with higher Gemini usage limits, Gemini inside apps including Gmail and Google Docs, 5TB of storage and access to tools such as Gemini Spark.

Students outside the U.S. haven’t been forgotten, although the offer is different. Eligible students in more than 140 markets can receive Google AI Plus free for one year, with twice the Gemini usage limits available to free users, Gemini Omni and 400GB of storage.

Google is also offering student discounts on a bundle combining Google AI Pro with YouTube Premium. The company says the savings can reach 70%, depending on the market and offer.

You’ll need to verify your student status through SheerID and provide a valid payment method when you sign up. The free plans automatically become paid subscriptions after the 12-month period unless you cancel. Students have until December 31, 2026 to redeem the offer.

In addition to the free subscription, Google has a plethora of new tools designed to help students organize classes, create study plans and work through difficult material. Here’s what’s coming to Gemini and Search.

A new student hub inside Gemini

Google has created a dedicated student hub inside the Gemini app that brings its learning features together in one place.

Available at gemini.google.com/students, the hub provides shortcuts for starting a study notebook, creating flashcards and taking practice quizzes. Google says it will add new learning tools to the hub as they become available.

The student hub is rolling out on mobile and the web to signed-in personal accounts in every language supported by the Gemini app. Support for school-issued Google accounts and younger users who meet Google’s age requirements is expected in the coming weeks.

Study notebooks build a plan around your class materials

Study notebooks are designed for those moments when you have a stack of lecture notes and no idea where to begin.

Upload your class materials and Gemini will break the subject into smaller topics. You can then take a diagnostic quiz so the AI can identify what you already understand and where you need more work. It uses those results to generate shorter lessons and quizzes, while a progress dashboard tracks how much you’ve completed.

Google plans to add graphs and images to notebook lessons in the coming weeks. Gemini will also be able to pull exam and assignment dates from an uploaded syllabus and add them to Google Calendar, although it will ask for permission before doing so.

The feature itself is available to free Gemini users, but Google AI Plus and Pro subscribers can create more notebooks and include more sources.

Gemini can now generate interactive 3D visuals

Some subjects are much easier to understand when you can see what is happening instead of reading another paragraph about it.

Gemini’s interactive visualizations can create functional 3D simulations based on a question. Ask it to show how DNA works, for example, and it can generate a structure that you can rotate and zoom into. Other examples provided by Google include watching a pendulum transfer energy or exploring cash burn rates in an interactive table.

Besides 3D models, Gemini can also design tables, grids and simulations depending on the subject and the way you phrase the request.

Interactive visualizations are rolling out globally to personal and school-issued Google accounts, subject to age requirements and usage limits.

Deep Research is coming to Gemini Live

Google is also bringing Deep Research into Gemini Live, allowing students to start a research report by speaking rather than typing out a detailed prompt.

Once the research begins, you don’t need to leave Gemini Live open. You can close the chat, lock your phone or continue another conversation while Gemini works in the background. The app sends a notification when the report is ready.

You can then talk through the findings in Gemini Live, ask follow-up questions or tell Gemini to refine part of the report. That could be useful for working through research while walking across campus or reviewing a subject without sitting in front of a laptop.

Deep Research in Gemini Live is rolling out globally now, although availability and age restrictions may vary.

Google Search can create interactive learning tools

Google is adding generative visual tools to Search as well as Gemini. Search for a broad subject such as the pH scale and an AI Overview may generate an interactive visual explaining the basics. You can then open AI Mode and request something more specific, such as plotting different citrus fruits on that scale.

You can also go directly to AI Mode and describe the learning tool or simulation you need. Google says these generative interface tools are available globally in English in AI Mode and are beginning to roll out in AI Overviews.

Practice quizzes are coming to AI Overviews and AI Mode

Students can now ask Google Search to create a practice quiz on subjects ranging from math and science to foreign languages and the humanities.

The quizzes include an explanation for each answer and links to further reading. Search can also generate practice questions for the ACT, AP, ENEM, GRE, JEE, LSAT, MCAT, NEET and SAT.

Google is sourcing some of this test-prep content through partnerships with The Princeton Review, Careers360, PhysicsWallah and Akira Enem. Practice quizzes are available globally in English through both AI Overviews and AI Mode at no charge.

Additionally, AI Mode can now create files using material from uploaded documents and previous Search conversations. You could upload a photo of handwritten notes and a set of lecture slides, for example, then ask Search to turn them into a one-page guide covering the main concepts. It can create documents, slide presentations, spreadsheets and text files in several formats.

Google Lens will coach students through mistakes

Taking a photo of a homework problem with Google Lens will soon produce more than an answer.

The new experience is designed to break down the problem, explain individual steps and point out where a student may have made a mistake. If the explanation still isn’t clear, students can continue asking questions in AI Mode and open relevant websites alongside the conversation.

The Lens learning feature will roll out globally in English over the coming weeks through the Google app on Android and iOS.

Notebooks are moving into Google Search

Google is bringing Gemini Notebook, the tool previously known as NotebookLM, directly into AI Mode.

Students will be able to create a separate notebook for each class or project, then fill it with lecture slides, syllabi, web articles and previous AI Mode conversations. Search can answer questions using those selected materials rather than starting with the entire web each time.

Existing notebooks from Gemini Notebook and the Gemini app will automatically appear in Search, with their sources and instructions synced across Google’s products.

Notebooks in AI Mode are rolling out in English across more than 180 countries over the next few days. They won’t initially be available in the European Economic Area, and support for additional languages will follow later.

Tools to ace the school year

Taken together, these updates give Google a fairly complete AI study setup. Students can collect their class materials, find gaps in their knowledge, generate a study plan and test themselves without moving between several unrelated tools.

As always when using AI, students will still need to check Gemini’s work, particularly when using it for research or complex homework. It's also important to remember to use AI as a study partner and not the main character. With a free year of Google AI Pro taking on your toughest assignments with confidence may just be easier with an AI study buddy.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 Gemini features ChatGPT still can’t match
• Meta files patent for AI facial recognition glasses that identify people around you and record automatically
• 5 features that give Claude the edge over ChatGPT

Take a quick trip into Claude’s collection of connectors and you’ll instantly lock eyes with several recognizable tools catered to everyday use.

It’s no surprise that Google has the top three slots covered, as its Drive, Gmail and Calendar apps take top billing among its offering of Workspace connectors. At first, the Gmail connector was capable of searching for and finding important emails and summarizing long email threads. But thanks to a recent update, Claude’s Gmail connector can actually send, reply to, and forward emails from Gmail without having to leave the chatbot’s interface.

While this feature sounds like a great way to streamline your workflow, it may be worth testing first before you decide to make it a core part of your daily inbox interactions.

Here are more details about what Claude’s Gmail connector can do, as well as the many ways the chatbot’s Drive and Calendar connectors can assist you.

Claude’s Gmail connectors can do a whole lot more than before

The Gmail connector’s primary specialties include the following:

• Searching and reading emails by relying on natural language queries.
• Drafting emails with proper formatting and message context.
• Managing email organization with clear labels and specified message threads.
• Sending, replying to, and forwarding emails from Gmail. By default, Claude asks for a user’s approval before taking any of those actions. On Claude Team and Enterprise plans, owners decide whether members can allow these actions to run without asking every time.
• Listing all the saved drafts that exist in your Gmail account.
• Accessing email metadata, including attachment metadata (not actual attachment content).

Having Claude send a message via Gmail on your behalf certainly sounds intriguing.

But it’s certainly worth reminding everyone reading that the consequences that come with an AI making a mistake via hallucination when you permit it to send emails without you reviewing them could be severe. And after a recent report from researchers who found a flaw in Claude for Chrome that could allow rogue extensions to read your data and take actions in your accounts, it’s worrying that that sort of extension could potentially ask Claude to send emails without you even knowing. I'm curious if Claude watermarking every word it writes may show up in its Gmail responses as well.

It certainly makes all the sense in the world to always have Claude’s Gmail connector ask for your approval every time it’s ready to send out an email on your behalf.

As for what the Drive and Calendar Claude connectors can do, check out their respective official descriptions from the Claude Support page below:

• Search and retrieve Google Docs from your Drive.
• Share, move, and trash files in Google Drive. By default, Claude asks for your approval before each of these actions. On Team and Enterprise plans, owners decide whether members can allow these actions to run without asking each time.
• Look up file metadata and preview directly without searching first.
• Read Sheets, Slides, PDFs, images, and MS Office files.
• Upload any file type, with optional auto-convert to Google formats.
• Create folders.
• Add Google Docs directly to chats and projects by pasting URLs or selecting from recent documents.
• View file permissions and list recent changes to your Drive.
• Save Claude-generated files directly to your Drive (requires code execution and file creation to be enabled).

• View events and calendars, including shared calendars you have access to.
• Create, update, and delete events with full customization.
• Find mutual availability across attendees.
• Manage attendee lists and respond to invitations (accept, decline, or tentative).
• Set up recurring meetings.

Final thoughts

Even though I practically use AI for everything, I still haven’t gotten comfortable with the idea of copy/pasting an email into it and asking it to draft a reply.

I’m even more iffy about allowing a chatbot to have full access to my inbox and be able to send replies, with or without my approval. Claude’s Gmail connector is super useful, plus its latest ability to handle your replying, sending and forwarding needs is impressive. But give it a test run first to see if it's truly capable of generating a message that wouldn’t make the reader think a chatbot wrote it.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I connected Claude to my daily apps — here are the 5 that actually made it useful
• Claude is now watermarking every response — here's what that means if you use AI for writing
• Meta files patent for AI facial recognition glasses that identify people around you and record automatically

Googlebooks will have a major unveiling on September 15, and Tom’s Guide has been invited. I'll be there to check out the company's new laptop line, which will run on Android and be manufactured by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Details are scarce at the moment, but as a laptop reviewer, I find this exciting.

The email I received says those in attendance will be among “the first to see and experience the Googlebook.” This is an all-new category of laptops that combine the “best of ChromeOS and Android.” There will be a keynote presentation from Google’s leadership, along with demo stations to test out the new laptops and features.

What to expect

I first reported on Googlebooks back in May, when Google announced the laptop line during the Android Show. We were told that these laptops are built with Gemini Intelligence at their core and designed to work within the Android and Google ecosystem. Though not directly called that, you can consider these “AI PCs.”

Googlebooks are optimized for the Android ecosystem. You can use apps from your phone directly on the laptop. Google says you won’t have to download anything or use emulated touchscreen controls, as you would with iPhone mirroring on a MacBook. You’ll also be able to view, search, or insert your phone’s files on your laptop using a feature called Quick Access.

At the show, I’ll finally see what the first Googlebooks will look like, as the original announcement only gave us slight hints of what to expect. Google says these laptops will be “built with premium craftsmanship and materials, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes.” We do know that Googlebooks will have a unique glow bar to set them apart from competitors.

Outlook

September 15 will be here soon, so it won’t be long until we see what Googlebooks are all about. The main thing on my mind is price, which has been a challenging thing for manufacturers and customers thanks to RAMageddon.

I don’t expect Googlebooks to be as affordable as the $699 MacBook Neo, but if Google can keep the price at around $1,000, these laptops could be legitimate competitors to the MacBook Air. Stay tuned for more!

More from Tom's Guide

• Google just revealed ‘Gemini Intelligence’
• Android Auto is about to change the way you drive
• I gave ChatGPT permission to disagree with me with this prompt

Buying a new iPhone 17 Pro Max is only part of the equation. The shiny new device can do a lot once it's finally out of the box and in your hands, but it doesn't change the fact that your experience can still be improved with a few add-ons.

There are countless accessories out there that you can buy to enhance the entire iPhone experience — whether you're picking up an iPhone 17, the larger 17 Pro Max or waiting for the foldable iPhone Ultra. The prospect of spending even more money after dropping at least $1,200 on a brand new phone may not sounds appealing, but trust me, you will be much happier than without — and you don't need to spend a fortune on them either.

Here are 5 accessories that helped improve my iPhone 17 Pro Max that all cost less than $50.

Easy-application screen protector

I used to hate applying screen protectors to my phone, because the whole process was so finicky and I'd inevitably get something wrong. I'd always end up with dust or bubbles under the screen, or screw up the alignment so much that I needed a fresh protector.

And these were the days when screens weren't nearly as durable as they are today. But even with the stronger display glass of the modern day smartphone, screens are still vulnerable to scratches and more serious kinds of damage. The good news is that screen protectors have adapted, and the process of applying them is easier than ever and almost completely pain-free.

Most screen protectors now come with some kind of application tool, but my personal favorites employ a pull-tab. Not only does this ensure perfect alignment with your phone, the fact that the sticky underside of the protector is only exposed to the air for a split-second minimizes the risk of foreign particles getting between it and the screen.

Just remember to clean the screen correctly first. Nothing can account for the fact you left smudges and dust all over your screen before applying the protective layer

While you're at it, make sure to pick up a case for your phone. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is notorious for taking taking damage, as I found out first hand not too long ago.

MagSafe PopSocket

The PopSocket is easily my favorite phone accessory, especially since the modern designs are compatible with Apple's MagSafe.

PopSocket grips make it so much easier to keep hold of your phone and access all corners of the screen one-handed — which is essential for a phone as big as the 17 Pro Max. I've always felt that they ensure a much sturdier grip of my phone too. This stops the phone taking as many unnecessary tumbles and potentially makes it harder for thieves to snatch it out of my hands.

A PopSocket also functions as a handy stand in certain situations, while the magnetic connection ensures the mount has a strong grip on your phone — all without compromising your ability to take it off later.

UGREEN 10,000 mAh Magnetic Power Bank

Apple's MagSafe connection has opened the door for a whole new range of iPhone accessories, all of which take advantage of the magnetic ring hidden in the back of every modern iPhone.

It also means that portable battery packs now include wireless charging. The magnets ensure the battery securely snaps onto the back of your iPhone, and ensures the charging session continues regardless of how much your phone might move.

There are a lot of possible options to choose from, but my personal favorite is the Ugreen Magnetic Power Bank, which offers 10,000 mAh of power and 20W charging speeds. It's not quite enough to recharge your iPhone 17 Pro Max twice, but it'll get you pretty close — and quickly. All without any wires getting in your way.

Anker Nano II GaN 65W charger

Apple doesn't sell phones with charging bricks anymore, which means you need to go out and buy one for yourself. But the good news is that there are affordable options that are far better than anything Apple would freely give away, like this compact 67W charger from Anker.

The Anker Nano II compact charger measures just 1.65 x 1.65 x 1.42 inches and weighs 5.28 ounces. Which is pretty darn small, and is aided by the fact the connection pins fold away for easy storage. In fact I'm pretty envious of this particular design, because electric plugs here in the U.K. have to be way bigger than those across the Atlantic.

Despite the small size, the charger packs a lot of power, thanks to the Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor inside. GaN chargers can handle higher voltages and produce less heat — allowing chargers to be smaller and lighter than they used to be.

Plus, not only is the 65W charging limit enough to charge your iPhone 17 Pro Max at the fastest possible speeds, it's also enough to power other devices — including iPads and MacBooks.

Belkin 2-in-1 Qi2 Foldable Stand

If you need a stand that does more than simply prop up your phone, then I can personally recommend Belkin's foldable 2-in-1 Qi2 wireless charging stand. This stand is compatible with MagSafe and offers up to 15W charging speeds for your iPhone. The magnetic connection also means you can secure your phone in any position you like, including the horizontal view that activates StandBy Mode.

This particular Belkin stand only charges at 15W, which is lower than the 25W speeds the iPhone 17 Pro Max can handle. However it also comes with a charging pad for compatible AirPods, which enables you to charge both devices at the same time.

Plus, since this is Qi2, rather than MagSafe, it's compatible with even more devices — including Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 (with a case).

More from Tom's Guide

• I've been using Pixel phones for the past 5 years, but the lack of Pixel 11 upgrades is indefensible
• iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold? Sudden questions emerge over foldable iPhone
• iOS 27 brings 5-star ratings to Photos — here is how to use them

If you've been paying attention to the news, you've probably heard about GrapheneOS. The Android-based mobile OS hit the news a few weeks back over a dispute at the U.S. border, in which a traveller is alleged to have wiped their GrapheneOS-powered phone using a "duress" password — and now faces charges of destroying evidence.

You may have heard about GrapheneOS but never gave it much thought for one reason or another. I know that was the case with me, and while I knew it was based on Android I hadn't ever done much digging into exactly how it differed from the Google-provided Android experience.

But this news got me curious, and I realized that it was about time I got to grips with what Graphene actually has to offer.

What is GrapheneOS?

GrapheneOS is an open source mobile operating system that emphasizes both security and privacy. It's completely free to install, and the project is supported by donations.

The software is built with the Android Open Source Project, and is focused on one of the biggest issues many people have with Google's mobile OS — the fact that it's severely lacking when it comes to protecting user privacy.

GrapheneOS also strips out most Google systems and bloatware, which means you won't set up your phone and find that it's filled with a bunch of apps that you can't remove. The software also features a bunch of dedicated privacy features that you won't find on most Android phones.

GrapheneOS device support: Which phones does it work with?

GrapheneOS is currently only officially compatible with Pixel phones, with the site listing all Google-made phones up to (and including) the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Pixel Tablet is also supported.

The software's official support pages confirm that other devices do support GrapheneOS "at a source level," but without official support it means that more work is needed to actually install the software — which makes everything a lot more complicated.

Earlier this year Motorola confirmed it had partnered with GrapheneOS, with the aim to "strengthen smartphone security and collaborate on future devices engineered with GrapheneOS compatibility. " In other words, future Motorola devices will eventually support GrapheneOS as well. But we don't know which devices will offer it, or when they will be released.

How do you actually install it?

I've never really been one for tinkering with software, and it's never really been something that interested me. I did try my hand at rooting one of my Android phones about ten years ago, to see what I might be missing out on, but never made much progress.

The phones I had at the time came from companies that weren't very big on letting people mess with their phones' software, and trying to root them proved to be a task worthy of Sisyphus himself. Obviously, being the quitter that I am, I gave up and never bothered to try that sort of thing ever again.

That's partly why I never gave GrapheneOS a second thought. I wasn't sure what to expect when I finally decided to try and install it on one of my older phones.

GrapheneOS has a full guide on how to install the software on a compatible phone, and at first glance looks a little intimidating. It has its own table of contents, and that's never something you want to see when you don't really know what you're doing. Fortunately, the whole process is actually pretty simple, and based on my experience it's quite difficult to screw up.

I'll admit that I did screw up a couple of times because I wasn't reading the instructions carefully, and the worst thing that happened was that I had to wait for my phone to restart — at which point I ended up exactly where I left off.

All the actual hard work is done by GrapheneOS's Web Installer, which makes the process more or less idiotproof. Best of all, you don't even need to root your phone.

Reverting back is proving to be a little trickier for me, simply because I couldn't get GrapheneOS's web installer to recognize that my phone is available and needs its bootloader unlocked. That's going to require some troubleshooting on my end.

What is GrapheneOS actually like?

The first thing I noticed about GrapheneOS is just how sparse the software selection actually is from a design point of view. This is a version of Android software that is effectively free of all Google influence, and that means the number of pre-installed apps is at its bare minimum.

After years of using smartphones running Android and iOS, this is actually quite refreshing. It's like finding yourself in a quiet, minimally-furnished room after walking off a crowded city street. The lower emphasis on Google products also makes the setup process a lot smoother, since you don't have to link to Google accounts or deal with setting up features like Gemini.

It's a similar story with the built-in App Store. Since there are no Google apps pre-installed, this is the place that lets you install certain Android features like Android Auto, the Thermometer app (if you have a compatible Pixel) and other app stores — including Google Play. There are only 14 apps available, and anything else you need has to be acquired from a different source.

The distinct lack of color when GrapheneOS loads up for the first time is rather jarring, if I'm being totally honest. But that's a non-issue that quickly solves itself once you actually start using the phone.

If you're familiar with stock Android or Google's Pixel Launcher skin, then GrapheneOS isn't going to be that much of a surprise. The developers haven't taken many, if any, liberties with the general feel of the software. This means navigating and accessing the various settings menus is pretty simple, and doesn't require having to relearn where everything is. You can't say that for other smartphone brands.

It's not exactly the same under the hood, though, and there are some extra optional features that are designed for security and privacy reasons. This includes the duress password, PIN scrambling, and a bunch more things I don't have room to list here. There's a lot to come to grips with, and so far I haven't actually made a huge dent.

Sadly, there is one catch I've found so far, and that's the fact my phone always warns me that I'm loading up a different operating system. It doesn't require you to confirm you want this to happen, but it is a little annoying that you don't seem to be able to switch this off.

The Google Play conundrum

You may wonder what the point of having GrapheneOS is if you're just going to install Google Play? The sad thing about Android is that some apps won't work without Google Play Services installed, which means sideloading or using a third-party app store won't work.

Banking apps are the one that caught me off guard, and it meant that I would either have to rely on browser-based banking (which is not ideal) or bite the bullet and install Google Play.

Thankfully, GrapheneOS does have a compromise, and sandboxes Google Play Services so that it doesn't have the same level of privileged access you'll see with a typical Android OS. This effectively means you can still enjoy access to apps that are only compatible with Google Play, but without handing over unfiltered access to the software.

As this thread on Reddit put it, the idea behind Graphene isn't to deGoogle. The software comes with a Chromium-based browser after all, albeit with more security-focused features than the stock Chrome app. You can deGoogle if you like, but that's not something that is forced upon you.

Sideloading is possible, since Graphene is an Android-based operating system, but it's up to you to decide which app-installation option is the right one for you.

Bottom line

The switch over to GrapheneOS wasn't as drastic as I expected it would be. Not only was the installation an absolute cinch, the fact it looks and feels so close to stock Android means that there isn't much of a learning curve when it comes to getting started. All you really need to do is figure out where all the extra privacy and security features are.

The switch rom Google services is certainly very appealing. While I wouldn't go completely cold turkey (I need my banking apps), the fact that Google Play is available in a sandbox means that you don't appear to be missing out on much by ditching the Pixels' particular brand of Android. It's rather like having the most important parts of the Android ecosystem, but without compromising your own personal privacy in the process.

Switching back to the Pixel's Android OS has proved a little difficult, and I'm not entirely sure where the problem lies. So for now, I recommend that anyone hoping to try GrapheneOS for themselves either knows more than I do about installing Android software, or tests it out on an older device first to make sure they like it.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Pixel 11's Tensor G6 chip isn't 2nm despite the rumors — opening the door for iPhone 18 Pro
• iOS 27 brings 5-star ratings to Photos — here is how to use them
• I've been using Pixel phones for the past 5 years, but the lack of Pixel 11 upgrades is indefensible

I've been using Pixel phones for the past five years now, starting with the Pixel 6 Pro. Over the years I have learned to live with the various disappointments that come with Pixel hardware, for the simple fact that Pixel software is the only mainstream mobile OS that I actually like using. But it's getting to the stage where Google's decisions are becoming indefensible.

Google just had its annual "Made by Google" event, and with it came the official launch of the Pixel 11 series of phones — plus a new Pixel 5 watch and a Pixel Tag Bluetooth tracker. I haven't spent a lot of time with the new Pixels yet, but my overall impression based on what Google has revealed is that it's an incredibly lazy upgrade.

It's not as lazy as the Pixel 10a, which was easily one of the worst "upgrades" I've seen a phone company try and hawk throughout my career. But it isn't far off, and it's enough to make you wonder why Google is still bothering to make phones.

The Pixel 11 problem

If you look at the Pixel 11 series and compare it to what's come before, you'll notice that there isn't a whole lot of difference between them all. I'm not just talking about the design, which has only had minor tweaks to the camera bar and, in the case of the Pro models, a new scratch-resistant coating on the display.

The hardware is more or less the same on paper, and the upgrades that we do get feel like the absolute bare minimum of what Google could actually offer. There's the usual incremental stuff, like the Tensor G6, and the brighter Super Actua Displays, alongside small quality of life upgrades like 256GB of base storage and faster 25W wireless charging speeds.

Those last two were also found on the Pixel 10 Pro XL last year, which means that the largest Pixel 11 model really got the short end of the stick when it comes to new stuff.

Pixel 11: Where are the big camera upgrades?

I have very mixed feelings about the camera, because at first glance it seems as though things are identical to the Pixel 10 Pro. That's not entirely true, but considering the Pixel 10 Pro's cameras were the same as the Pixel 9 Pro's, and produced photos that were indistinguishable, the lack of new hardware is still rather disappointing.

The Pros' main lens is the same, though the official specs show that the ultrawide and telephoto lenses both have larger sensors. This means both lenses will capture extra light, which improves low-light performance and captures much cleaner images in a variety of conditions.

The Pixel 11 also promises to have a larger sensor on the main lens, though the rest of the cameras don't seem to have changed.

To make matters worse, the cheapest Pro models, which have 256GB of storage, have actually had a RAM downgrade. Considering RAM is essential for on-device AI, the loss of 4GB is just another proverbial kick in the head.

I don't imagine that the Pixel 11 will be a bad phone, but there's nothing really exciting about these devices. In fact, the upgrades we do have here feel as though Google is phoning it in because they have to release something.

Obviously, things might change once we can test the Pixel 11 and find out whether it's had a magical boost to performance or battery life. But until then it feels as though everything has been put together with cool disinterest, if not active laziness.

It feels like Google is getting lazy

There's far more to a new phone than having a bunch of flashy hardware, and you can't have incredible game-changing upgrades every single year. But it still feels as though the Pixel 11 series lacks the thing that would actually make the phone appealing to people. Because the Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight feature sure as heck doesn't make me want to drop over a grand on a new device.

The Pixel 11 isn't nearly as lazy as the Pixel 10a, which was left with the same Tensor G4 chipset as the Pixel 9a. Back in February, I claimed that there was no good reason to buy a Pixel 10a, at least not while the Pixel 9a was still on sale, and I stand by that assessment.

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say that the Pixel 11 is a pointless upgrade. It's certainly uninspiring and lacking in any exciting qualities. Even the new AI features, which Google has spent a great deal of time and money pushing with each successive Pixel launch, are rather disappointing this year. Not in terms of what they can do, but because there are so few of them this year.

Rambler sounds great, especially since Apple's own AI-powered dictation model is coming as part of iOS 27, and real-time speech-to-speech translation will never not be useful. Gemini Omni is not something I personally care about, but if it improves the quality of Gemini's generative capabilities and makes them easier to use then I can certainly see the importance of it. Similarly, 120x Super Pro-Res Zoom is a nice upgrade to the existing 100x zooming capabilities

But that's all there is, and like the hardware side of things it feels like Google just does not care about what the Pixel 11 series has to offer on the software side. The same is true for Android 17, come to think of it, and off the top of my head I can't recall anything particularly noteworthy in the update. I certainly didn't notice any change when my phone auto-updated during the middle of the night.

Figuring out a way to make people care about your next wave of devices, and the software running on it, is the end goal. But first Google needs to get off its behind and actually put the effort in.

Bottom line

The question I keep asking myself is this: Why should anyone go out and buy one of these phones? And honestly, I'm really struggling to come up with a solid answer. People that are still rocking older Pixels, such as a Pixel 6 or Pixel 7, would probably gain a lot here — especially if battery life is anything like the Pixel 10 series.

Pixel 8 would be borderline, but Pixel 9 and above? These phones haven't actually changed that much over the past two generations to warrant upgrading. Your best argument would be for non-users, since the standard Pixel 9 only offers two cameras, but even then you have to ask whether the money you're spending is worth it.

Last year I admitted that swapping a Pixel 9 Pro for a Pixel 10 Pro was a mistake, and the new phone didn't offer enough to make the switch worthwhile. The Pixel 11 Pro takes that to a whole new level, and I know for a fact that my Pixel 10 Pro is more than good enough to last me until the launch of the Pixel 12 Pro next year — and likely beyond that.

If Pixel phones are supposed to be the idealized version of what an Android phone can be, then Google seems to be doing a pretty shoddy job of it. And it could fix that problem by actually making a phone that elicits a response beyond "huh, ok then."

More from Tom's Guide

• Google bamboozled me into paying for Google Photos a decade ago — and now it’s doing something similar with the Pixel 11 Pro
• I held the Pixel Tag and it does one critical thing that the AirTag doesn’t — here’s what it is
• I tried the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and it's more 'Ultra' than Samsung's foldable (for $200 less)

Google released Gemini 3.7 Flash Thursday and it's already calling it the company's most intelligent “workhorse” model yet. Naturally, I decided to give it an enormous job.

Rather than testing the new model with trivia questions or a collection of small prompts, I wanted to see what it could do with the kind of task I routinely put off: organizing my life.

Between work, school messages, appointments, bills, forms and managing my family of five, important information is scattered across my Gmail and Google Drive. I may remember that someone sent me something, but not whether it arrived as an email, a PDF or a document someone shared weeks ago.

That made it an ideal test for Gemini Spark, Google’s personal AI agent for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Spark now runs on Gemini 3.7 Flash, giving regular users one of the first ways to experience the new model.

Google says the upgrade makes Spark better at using Workspace tools and completing complicated jobs that involve several different skills. It can consolidate files, draft emails and update status documents, all while working toward a larger goal.

So I gave it one monster prompt and asked it to find everything that might need my attention over the next 30 days.

The epic Gemini prompt I tried

Here is the complete prompt: Act as my personal life-admin assistant for the next 30 days. Search my Gmail and Google Drive for messages, documents and forms from the past 30 days that contain an upcoming deadline, appointment, payment, event, form, reservation, purchase, school obligation or task I may need to complete.

Before taking action, create a master list organized by date. For each item, include what needs to happen, the deadline or event date, who it involves, where you found the information with a link to the original email or file, whether the task is confirmed, unclear or possibly outdated, and the next action I need to take.

Look for conflicts, duplicate information, missing forms and messages I may have forgotten to answer. If two sources disagree, show me both versions instead of deciding which one is correct.

Then create a realistic plan for completing everything. Group tasks that can be handled together, prioritize anything urgent and avoid scheduling more than three substantial tasks on the same day.

Draft any necessary replies, follow-up messages or questions, but do not send them. Suggest calendar events and reminders, but show them to me before adding anything. Do not delete, move or change any existing emails or files.

Finish with a short section titled “What needs my attention first” containing the five most urgent items. Clearly tell me if you could not access something or if any conclusion is based on an assumption.

Why this prompt is my favorite one yet

This prompt is incredibly long, so if you are going to use it, just copy and paste it directly into Gemini 3.7 Flash. It's long because it tackles a lot, and every part has a job. As much as I wish I could simply tell Gemini to “organize my life” and hope it understood what that meant, AI just isn't there yet (thank goodness!).

I told it where to search, which information to extract and how to organize the results. I also gave it clear boundaries. It could draft messages and suggest reminders, but it couldn’t send, change or delete anything without my approval.

Gemini found important messages that I completely missed

Gemini worked quickly but slow enough that I knew it wasn't skipping any details. It searched Gmail, reviewed Drive files and even asked for clarification (I have two email addresses; one for work and one for my personal life, so it was quick to ask if I wanted to check both.

Eventually, it found several items that required action over the next month. These included permission slips for my son's middle school computer use and my kindergartener's food allergy form. It also discovered updated insurance information and a charge for an app that I no longer use.

The biggest discovery was that I had completely forgotten to switch my expired credit card over and was getting notices that well, I hadn't noticed. This could have been a delayed payment nightmare for my phone and cable bills.

For each response, Gemini traced back to the original email or document so I could personally read it and make a note of it.

Gemini turned chaos into a plan

The prompt fills an immediate purpose. It wasn't just Gemini rearranging information I had already handed to it, rather it found finding something useful inside accounts I no longer had the time or patience to search manually.

Gemini linked back to every source, which made checking its work much easier. Instead of trusting an AI summary, I could actually open the original message and confirm the date, amount or requirement myself.

Although I wrote this prompt with high hopes, it worked even better than expected. It was so helpful and I can already see the improvements Google has made to this lightweight model.

For example, I had missed a Popsicle Social that's coming up for my five-year-old, not only did Gemini show me that I hadn't responded, but it responded for me and added it to my calendar. I know my kiddo would have been really disappointed had he missed that event, so not only did this prompt save me from missing the event, but a possible tantrum, too (if you know, you know).

Gemini 3.7 Flash stayed on track — mostly

This prompt proves that Gemini 3.7 Flash is ready to take on heavy-duty assignments. Keep in mind that it may not work for your corporate email if you have not given Gemini access. You may need to talk to your administrator if it doesn't work the first time.

Gemini 3.7 Flash handled constraints like a pro and even processed messages and files for me. This is important because AI assistants frequently follow the beginning of a prompt but have trouble or drop requirements completely near the end.

I did notice that the AI is still not perfect. Gemini avoided emails that it should have sorted and missed some Google doc files because they were unnamed, but overall it followed through.

Gemini 3.7 Flash is designed to put more effort into multi-step planning and tool calls. Google says the model follows instructions more closely and is better at adjusting when it encounters a roadblock.

The takeaway

My prompt makes use of Gemini's unique abilities. It can search two Workspace services, understand different kinds of messages and documents, extract exact dates, spot contradictions and turn the results into a realistic plan. It then prepared follow-up actions without crossing the line and taking them without permission.

The prompt also makes Gemini show its work. Requiring links to original files, confidence labels and clear disclosures of any assumptions makes its findings easier to verify.

You can change the search window or categories to fit your own life. If you are planning a trip, ask Gemini to focus on reservations, confirmations and payments. Parents could prioritize school notices like I've done, including forms and activities, while freelancers might search for invoices, assignments and unanswered client messages.

After using Gemini 3.1 Flash with this prompt, I can see why Google describes its newest model as a workhorse. Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments

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There are two types of rumors in the run-up to device launches like the new Pixel 11 series. One kind of rumor includes annual claims that some feature will finally make its debut, like the constant claim that Apple will drop the current Face ID for under-display tech.

The other type is more specific to the device and tends to be correct, more often than not. However, sometimes they're wrong.

It was rumored that the new Tensor G6 silicon in the new Pixel 11 series would be made using TSMC's 2nm process, the first smartphone that would feature the more efficient CPU platform. This would have beat Apple to the punch, which typically gets the latest chip upgrades.

But it turns out that isn't true.

In an interview with the Chinese publication CNA, Peng Yu-chun, a VP of Hardware at Google, revealed that the G6 was built using TSMC's 3nm process.

That means that either the iPhone 18 Pro series will likely be the first smartphone to feature a 2nm chip.

What does Tensor G6 offer?

Despite not featuring the 2nm platform, Google claims the G6 has several upgrades.

That includes "25% faster web browsing, 15% quicker app launches" and 50% more TPU compute. It does feature an upgraded Titan M3 security chip, which was previously rumored and should make the phone more secure.

The chip also enables an upgrade Image Signal Processor to support the new Night Sight and a claimed upgraded digital zoom.

A worrying weakness

There was some excitement about a 2nm process because it would have been able to feature more nodes and deliver efficiency and power upgrades.

Pixels have long lagged behind Apple and Samsung's flagship phones. Unfortunately, that may continue. Just before yesterday's Made by Google event, a new Geekbench listing popped up that revealed a weak CPU. That listing showed a multicore score of 5,196 and a single-core score of 2,112. It's 50% slower than the S26 Ultra.

At Tom's Guide, we run our own tests; we'll see if the listing is an outlier or not. But at first blush, things aren't looking good.

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• The Pixel 11 is available to pre-order, but you probably shouldn't right now — here's why
• After 10 years of Pixels, why is Google still making phones?
• I checked out the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL — here’s the one I recommend

Google has officially revealed the Pixel 11 series, and pre-orders are now open ahead of an official release date of August 20. The four new phones don't offer amazing upgrades compared to the Pixel 10 series, but there's enough that some of you are probably prepping to pre-order this phone as soon as you can. I'm here to tell you why you shouldn't do that.

The thing about Pixel phones is that they're like video games. You could buy them as soon as they're released, and pay full price to experience them right away, but you're just spending money that could be better used for other things. And it all comes down to the fact Pixel phones are essentially the mattresses of the smartphone world.

Considering how often, and how quickly the newest Pixel phones go on sale, paying full price is essentially agreeing to be ripped off.

Pixel discounts happen regularly, and quickly

Imagine you're looking at a new phone that's just been released. The $900 price tag is a little expensive for your tastes, but you know that waiting for a major discount is a fool's errand. Maybe you'll be able to save a bit of money during the next sales event, like Black Friday or Prime Day, but there's never any guarantee that it'll actually happen — or how much money you might save.

For the last few years I've noticed that this isn't the case with Pixel phones. In fact, sometimes the discounts can start coming within a few weeks of the phone actually going on sale. If you're willing to wait for the Fall Prime Day sale, or the Black Friday season, you could be looking at a pretty hefty discount.

Admittedly I am making an assumption about what the future holds for the Pixel 11 series. I don't have a crystal ball or magic powers that let me see into the future. But this is not the first time I've noticed this trend, and I would be very surprised if the Pixel 11 broke rank.

Pixel 10 discounts we spotted last year

The first Pixel 10 discount we spotted was at the start of September 2025, during Amazon's Labor Day sales. The phone didn't get any discounts, per se, but buying one did net you a free $200 Amazon gift card. While it's not the same as cold-hard cash, Amazon's ubiquity means that this is almost as good as getting $200 off your total.

I should mention at this point that the Pixel 10 was released on August 28, with pre-orders opening eight days earlier on August 20. This means the first Pixel 10 retailer deal happened just four days after release day.

The first actual discount happened in early October, during Amazon's fall Prime Day, with the $799 price tag dropping to $649. That's just on Amazon too, and further price drops did happen elsewhere — including Mint Mobile who started selling the Pixel 10 for $549 around the same time.

Further discounts towards the end of the last year eventually saw that price matched at Amazon, with occasional discounts to that same price happening in the early months of 2026

Price trackers show similar trends with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL — though the larger phone's discounts are a little more erratic. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold took longer to go on sale, and didn't get any meaningful discount until November, with the likes of Amazon, Google and Best Buy all knocking $300 off.

This trend isn't exclusive to Pixel 10 either

The quick discount situation is an ongoing trend for Pixel phones and it is pretty common to see those prices dropping within a couple of months of release date.

Pixel 9 prices first dropped in October 2024, following the late August launch, though the price tracker does seem to have more ups and downs than a rollercoaster during the later months of 2024.

We saw the price drop as low as $548 during that year's Black Friday sales, though prices seemingly stabilized until before the Pixel 10 launch — after which they started to dip even further and more frequently.

Things never seem to get quite as low as the Pixel 8, which has been spotted for as low as $399. However, that low price happened in February 2025, almost a year and a half after it was first released.

I don't think waiting that long is worth it, but the price trackers do show the first dips in price happening around the Black Friday and holiday shopping seasons — occurring less than 2 months after the phone's October 2023 release.

The Pixel 7 followed a similar trend, eventually tapering out at around $449 almost a year after its initial release.

Though going back, it seems the Pixel 6 wasn't quite so quick to drop in price, and the price trackers don't have a lot of information from that far back. But considering the Pixel 6 started at $599, there wasn't a lot of room for price cuts until much later in its life cycle.

Regardless, we've seen that the last four generations of Pixel phones have enjoyed generous discounts very soon after release. Which tells me that we should certainly wait and see whether the Pixel 11 follows the same trend — because odds are that it will.

The Pixel 10 might be the better option right now

Saving money is all well and good, but there is one more question you need to ask yourself before you pick up a Pixel 11 series phone. And that is, "would you be just as happy with a Pixel 10 instead?"

Not only are Pixel 10 series phones cheaper than their Pixel 11-series counterparts, the differences between them aren't actually that extreme. Whether you're looking at the standard model or the Pixel 11 Pro XL, you're not getting a lot of upgrades.

There's a new modem, 256GB of base storage, faster wireless charging (25W vs 15W) and the Tensor G6 chipset. There's also a smaller battery, which doesn't fill me with much confidence.

The difference on the Pixel 11 Pro XL is even worse, since the 10 Pro XL already came with 25W wireless charging and 256GB of storage as standard. It apparently charges a little faster, gaining an extra 5% battery in half an hour, but that's the only extra upgrade it has compared to the smaller 11 Pro.

Admittedly we haven't done any lab testing with the Pixel 11 series yet, so we don't know how much of a change there is in terms of performance and battery life. So our opinion on the Pixel 11 upgrades may change later.

It's also worth noting that the Pro models also suffer from reduced RAM on their cheapest option, with 12GB of memory on models with 256GB of RAM. Meanwhile 16GB was standard on all Pixel 10 Pro and XL variants, including 128GB and 256GB storage variants.

Considering additional RAM is essential for on-device AI features, this actually puts the cheapest Pixel 10 Pro models at an advantage compared to their successors.

You can pick up a Pixel 11 Pro or Pro XL with 16GB of RAM, but you'll need to pay out for the higher 512GB and 1TB storage variants. That'll cost you an extra $120 for 512GB or $350 for 1TB. All while the equivalent Pixel 10s are available with heavy discounts, even if that means you need to pick up a refurbished model.

Bottom line: It all comes down to pre-order bonuses

The one thing that may affect your decision to pre-order or wait are the pre-order bonuses that are on offer. Google is offering increased trade-in credit during the pre-order window, gift cards with each new phone sold and discounts on the Pixel Watch 5. However the amount you get will vary depending on the device you buy and what you trade-in, and different retailers may have their own promotions in mind.

Pro buyers get up to $600 trade-in credit, a $200 gift card and $250 off a Pixel Watch 5. Meanwhile Pixel 11 owners are restricted to $500 trade-in credit, a $100 card and $130 off the Watch 5. This could be enough to sway you into buying, especially if you were planning on buying a Pixel Watch 5 and other Google accessories anyway.

But if all you're interested in is the new phone, then you are better off waiting. A little bit of patience could save you a few hundred dollars compared to buying the phone outright, especially if you weren't planning on trading in your old device — or it's in such bad condition you wouldn't get much for it. Because, odds are, in a couple of months we'll have seen the first Pixel 11 deals already, and you might be kicking yourself for paying the newly released prices right away.

And if the prices somehow don't go down in the next few months, it's not like you lost out on anything by waiting.

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Google’s latest hardware drop has officially arrived and, just like last year, consists of a trio of flagship models: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL. They all pack upgrades over their predecessors, including a first for the series: a Tensor G6 chip built on a new 2-nanometer manufacturing process.

That’s not all they share, either, because they all come with built-in Pixelsnap magnetic wireless charging, refreshed IP68 dust and water resistance, and a suite of new AI features. Then there’s the matter of their pricing, with each model seeing a $100 price bump — which at this point is inevitable with most gadgets.

I spent solid hands-on time checking out the trio, so I’ll tell you exactly what the base Pixel 11 lacks compared to the Pros. While the Pixel 10 emerged as my recommendation last year, you might be surprised by which one gets my vote this time around.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Specifications

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Price and availability

Yes, there’s a $100 price hike across all three models. That brings the starting price of the Pixel 11 to $899, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL go for $1,099 and $1,299, respectively.

Meanwhile, Australian pricing for Google's new lineup starts at AU$1,499 for the Pixel 11, AU$1,849 for the Pixel 11 Pro and AU$2,099 for the Pixel 11 Pro XL. That works out to starting price increases of between AU$100-AU$200 depending on model.

While the price increase isn't surprising at this point, the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro do see their base storage upgraded to 256GB. Unfortunately, the Pixel 11 Pro XL doesn’t get the same upgrade boost, remaining at 256GB just as before. Preorders are live now, with all three officially hitting shelves on August 20.

Personally, I’m drawn more to the standard Pixel 11 colors because they’re much bolder and richer compared to the muted colorways of the Pro models. If I had to choose, Hibiscus is easily the standout option on the Pixel 11.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Design

While all three phones sport the same signature look that made the previous lineup distinctive, I wouldn’t say there’s anything too different this time around apart from their colorways. Well, the Pixel 11’s camera cutout actually gets trimmed down by 40% — so when it’s paired with one of the new cases, the entire backside remains perfectly flat. The same can’t be said for the Pros, as their camera compartments still stick out.

The one big design addition on the Pros is the introduction of the HiLight LED on the back, which acts as a notification system for your contacts. Depending on who calls, you can set custom colors to coordinate with specific callers. It’ll also activate when you initiate Gemini, so you know it’s listening to your voice command.

It’s certainly a fresh hardware feature that’s great for quick glances when the phone is face down, but I feel it’s a bit gimmicky. At the same time, it doesn’t yet work with things outside of phone calls — like new text message notifications. I’m still a bit confused about why it’s here, especially when it doesn’t feel fully integrated into the experience.

Despite this, I’ll admit that all three devices feel superb in the hand. The Pixel 11 opts for a polished glass back matched with a satin aluminum frame, while the Pros have a matte glass back paired with a polished frame. However, the Obsidian colorway on the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL features a matte frame. Not only do they look premium, but they’re also plenty durable thanks to their drop resistance and IP68 ratings for dust and water protection.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Display

Taking a look at the specs, there doesn’t appear to be much change to their displays. The Pixel 11 packs the same 6.3-inch Actua display as before and delivers the punchy visuals that make it ideal for watching videos.

Similarly, the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL feature the same 6.3-inch and 6.8-inch Super Actua displays — which Google rates as its brightest ever at 3,600 nits, besting the previous year’s rating. It was hard to discern much of a difference when I loaded up the same HDR videos on YouTube, but I will admit that they’re gorgeous with their vibrant colors, wide viewing angles, and deep, pitch-black contrast.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Cameras

Just because the camera specs don’t look like a complete overhaul, you shouldn’t dismiss what Google is offering in its new Pixels. For starters, the Pixel 11 features a larger sensor on its main camera — which reportedly offers a 56% improvement in light sensitivity. This should make a substantial difference in action and low-light situations by capturing more light in the same amount of time. If that’s not enough, the 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom can now shoot even farther with support for up to 30x Super Zoom.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL get a new main camera sensor as well, while their 48MP telephoto shooter gets a larger sensor with 32% better light gathering, support for 5x Portrait Mode, and even farther reach with an updated 120x Pro Zoom. I got a demo of the latter with an Android figurine hidden across the room, resulting in a crisp shot that almost looked like I took it up close.

And since they’re powered by the new Tensor G6 chip, it unlocks even more powerful creative tools for serious shooters. Camera Looks are available to get your photo looking distinct right at the point of capture. Unlike standard photos that get processed after you press the shutter, Camera Looks preserve a specific look based on the aesthetic you choose. It sort of reminds me of LUTs (lookup tables) that color grade footage, and it can definitely elevate your photos.

The other intriguing feature powered by the Tensor G6 is Magic Capture. It’s a camera mode that intelligently analyzes frames to pull out high-quality still photos while recording video. It looked pretty impressive during a demo I saw of a pair of ballet dancers, delivering picture-perfect moments with clear facial expressions and great poses.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Performance

Powered by the new Google Tensor G6, every device in the Pixel 11 family feels snappy out of the gate. That’s crucial given how previous Tensor silicon has lagged behind competing flagship chips, making this year’s hardware a key proving ground.

Google claims the Tensor G6 boosts web browsing speeds by 25%, app launch times by 15%, and on-device AI execution by an impressive 3.5x. While it's impossible to fully evaluate those benchmarks during my quick preview, all three phones felt exceptionally fast and responsive in hand — including how fast it processed videos with Magic Capture to find those perfect snapshots at full resolution.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Battery and charging

Strangely enough, the Pixel 11 is the only model to gain a larger battery than its predecessor — packing a 4,985 mAh capacity. I suspect it’ll yield a noticeable improvement in endurance simply due to that larger capacity combined with its smaller screen and the power efficiency of the Tensor G6.

Conversely, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL actually feature slightly smaller capacities, coming in at 4,850 mAh and 5,115 mAh, respectively. Again, I think the reasoning here is that Google feels confident in the efficiency gains of its new silicon.

Even though the Pixel 11 Pro XL doesn’t gain any charging speed upgrades, its 45W wired and 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging speeds are still solid by today’s standards. I’m happy to report, though, that the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are now treated to the same 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging speed as their top-tier sibling.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Software and AI

Shipping with Android 17 right out of the box, Google’s latest hardware puts Gemini Intelligence front and center. Powered by the Tensor G6 chip, on-device AI tasks process up to 3.5 times faster while using significantly less power.

Beyond context-aware cards across your apps and proactive lock screen insights, one standout addition in Android 17 that I found especially superb in action is Rambler — a new Gemini-powered voice input feature in Gboard built for the way people actually speak. Instead of forcing you to speak without any mistakes, Rambler automatically filters out filler words like "um" and "ah," transforming your scattered dictations into clean, concise text on the fly.

Media creation and global communication get a massive boost, too. Android 17 taps into Gemini Omni, Google’s generative model that makes creating and editing video through natural conversation as seamless as editing a photo. I tried this out on an existing video by asking Gemini to swap out the logo of a bear for a chrome-looking pizza slice — and it did exactly that with impressive accuracy.

Meanwhile, Live Translate offers real-time, speech-to-speech translation that automatically dubs foreign-language videos, podcasts, and audio content directly into your preferred language. Google has focused heavily on AI over its last few generations, and this year’s suite convinces me that these are still the best AI phones on the market.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Outlook

After getting hands-on time with all three, the Pixel 11 Pro emerges as my top recommendation because it strikes the ultimate sweet spot in Google's lineup. It offers the exact same flagship camera array as the Pixel 11 Pro XL (including 120x Pro Zoom and the upgraded main sensor), the brilliant 3,600-nit display, the ambient HiLight rear LED, and Google's full suite of Gemini AI capabilities.

On top of that, it gains faster 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging and double the starting storage at 256GB — all for $200 less than the XL. For most buyers, the standard Pro easily delivers the best value. Of course, my final verdict could shift once they're put through our rigorous lab testing, but for now, the Pixel 11 Pro leads the pack.

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