A bug with Ambient Mode on Cast-powered Chromecasts drastically shrinks the time and weather that’s displayed in the bottom-right corner.

At the start of 2025, Google announced a Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program with a new Android 13 OTA update, free battery replacement, and/or appeasement option. As part of this, Google has removed all previous Pixel 4a updates.

Despite offering some magnetic accessories, Samsung hasn’t spent any time talking about the Galaxy S25 series being ready for Qi2. Yet, the Galaxy S25 series is the first set of smartphones with Qi 2.1 support, but without any upgrades to charging speed.

This week, Samsung launched its new Galaxy S25 series and, in so many ways, it’s just a slightly newer version of the same thing. From the perspective of someone who’s job is to talk about these devices, it’s getting really boring, yet these devices still continue to sell. So, are you actually happy with these devices?

After selling out in barely 48 hours when it launched earlier this month, Lenovo has re-stocked the Legion Tab, its small yet powerful Android tablet.

Still in testing, Google Messages has made a small color tweak to the upcoming redesign of RCS read receipts that makes the indicator bolder.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is Samsung’s best phone, hands down. During the pre-order event, it is possible to get the AI-filled Galaxy flagship for only $399, as long as you trade in an eligible phone. That tempting deal includes a free pair of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds.

Officially, the Pixel 9 is “twice as durable as Pixel 8,” with Google crediting the new design language. A new blog post from the company this week discusses the internal testing process.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is technically Samsung’s best phone ever made, and it brings loads of AI features to the consumer. However, it doesn’t look incredibly different from other generations in specs and appearance. Given that, here are a couple of reasons you might want to pick one up, as well as a couple of reasons you might want to hold off on upgrading to the Galaxy S25.

Welcome to episode 38 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the Galaxy S25 launch event and new Gemini app features.

Subscribe

• YouTube Podcasts
• Pocket Casts
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Overcast

Sponsored by Yaber: Check out Yaber’s latest projectors that combine exceptional image quality, powerful sound, and smart features to revolutionize your viewing experience. On sale now.

• 9to5Rewards: Win a Google Pixel 9 from Yaber [Giveaway]

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Yaber to give away Google’s Pixel 9 and Yaber’s T2 Projector to one lucky reader to celebrate the launch of their newest smart projector models, including the K300s, L2 Plus, and T2 Series. You can head below now to enter the giveaway and check out Yaber’s new projectors the K300s, L2 Plus.

Yaber has just unveiled its latest and most advanced projector—the Yaber K300s. This ultra-short throw (UST) laser projector delivers a massive 100-inch display from just 9 inches away, making it perfect for tight spaces. Packed with incredible features, the K300s is a game-changer for anyone looking to bring cinema-quality visuals to their home.

Back in October, Gmail redesigned its summary cards to be more glanceable and actionable, with the updated Google Calendar card now available. 

Google on Friday published a blog post on Friday sharing some details about how the Pixel goes through stress, durability and temperature tests. As part of that, there’s a short drop test video, but we’re not too sure what Google Pixel is being shown.

Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 series is unsurprisingly not particularly colorful, but what’s more annoying than that is the new naming scheme the company has gone with which leave truly bizarre descriptions of the various colors at the very least, and feel like a failed attempt to capture the charm of past Pixels.

The last big update to the Pixel Sounds app/service introduced a “Gems” ringtone and alarm collection with the Pixel 8 in 2023. Google is now working on letting you set different Pixel vibration patterns. 

Oppo’s upcoming Find N5 foldable is the basis for a future OnePlus Open sequel, and it’s thankfully fixing one of my biggest complaints about the original.

Samsung has made a change to the S Pen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra which removes remote control features that have been in place for years, and the reason is because essentially no one was using those features.

We just detailed some exclusive deals on Samsung’s brand-new Galaxy Book 5 Pro and Book 5 360 Copilot+ PCs as well as the Galaxy S25, S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra – you can even score a FREE $250 set of Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, but for now we are moving on to Friday’s best deals on Android games and apps. Alongside offers on Microsoft’s most affordable Surface Pro Snapdragon X Plus Copilot+ PC and Samsung’s 512GB Galaxy Tab S10+, today’s app highlights include titles like Paths & Danger, Dungeon Tracer, Candy Disaster TD, Water Tracker: Hydro Coach PRO, and more. Head below for a closer look. 

Following its launch earlier this month, a new software update is now rolling out to OnePlus 13 which delivers improvements to the already-great camera, as well as adding a new AI feature to the mix.

Another AI assistant is rolling out for Android, but this one brings the promise of real-world value. The Perplexity Assistant is an AI model that can actually hail rides from Uber and perform tasks through apps on your phone.