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Google and Apple today announced that testing of encrypted RCS messaging between Android and iPhone is now underway.

Google Maps is more than just a navigation app, as it contains a treasure trove of data about locations across the globe. But, suddenly, Google Maps appears to be changing how it functions for users who are signed out, including hiding reviews and images.

If there’s one thing we all agree on, it’s that weather apps almost universally kind of suck. You’re often stuck choosing between a nice design and an accurate forecast. Now, “Acme Weather” is confirmed for a launch on Android, and it’s a reboot of the popular Dark Sky app that embraces the inherent uncertainty of forecasting.

If you’re diving into the accelerating trend of crossbody straps and other mobile accessories, Peak Design might deserve your attention. The company responsible for some of the best photography straps and gear has expanded its mobile line, and these Peak Design phone straps might make me a believer in the form factor.

Samsung’s next Unpacked is set to kick off this Wednesday, and in addition to a very familiar Galaxy S26 lineup, we’re expecting two new earbud pairs perfect for pairing with your new phone. The Galaxy Buds 4 series might shy away from its predecessors’ AirPods comparisons, but that doesn’t mean Samsung isn’t following Apple’s lead on at least one upcoming feature.

The biggest feature being announced on the Galaxy S26 Ultra this year is Samsung’s new Privacy Display, and it looks pretty great in early leaks. And, apparently, other Android flagships will adopt the same tech as soon as later this year.

The Galaxy S22 is celebrating its fourth anniversary this week, but if you’ve been rocking with Samsung’s 2022 flagships since launch, this milestone probably hasn’t been going well for you.

The Galaxy S26 is effectively no longer a secret, with one creator’s early retail Galaxy S26 Ultra on full display. The posted leaks showcase some curiosities for the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, like an S Pen that might infuriate people for more reasons than a lack of Bluetooth.

Ahead of its March 5 launch event, Nothing has just revealed the first official image of the Nothing Phone (4a), and it looks surprisingly, refreshingly normal.

Android might not be an official mobile branch to any desktop operating system — not yet, at least — but the past decade or so has seen plenty of first and third-party integrations with Windows. WhatsApp users might be next in line for a big desktop upgrade, as it could be the next service to see native support for Microsoft’s “Cross-Device Resume” feature.

Samsung’s phones are now seeing an update with its latest security fixes and improvements. The February 2026 update is rolling out to most of Samsung’s newest devices, including the Galaxy TriFold, which still isn’t quite back in stock.

Voice-to-text on Android is really good if you’re using a Pixel, and pretty hit or miss everywhere else. But the new “Wispr Flow” app promises some big improvements to voice-to-text on Android, all without replacing your keyboard of choice.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launch is just days away but, somehow, one YouTuber managed to buy a Galaxy S26 Ultra early and has shown off the Privacy Display, design, and basically everything else.

Following the first iOS 26.4 preview, Apple Music 5.2 entered beta earlier this week with three new features.

This week saw the debut of the Google Pixel 10a which, frankly, feels like a mostly recycled Pixel 9a. As we approach the launch of another barely-changed release, the Galaxy S26, it’s a good time to take a step back and remember that, while these phones aren’t all that new, that’s in part because they’re not for you.

The “phone look” for smartphone photography is a well-known thing and, while it’s not always bad, it’s not always what you want. Zerocam launched on Android in 2024 as a way to do away with AI overprocessing, and it’s now getting a major 2.0 update that includes new photographic color profiles.

Samsung has confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy S26 series will support a new Perplexity hotword – “Hey Plex” – as part of an “open and inclusive integrated AI ecosystem” that also includes Google and Bixby, which have their own hotwords.

In the lead-up to Samsung’s Unpacked event next week, a major leak of promo materials confirms a few key details such as faster charging, while also showing the Privacy Display in better detail than we’ve seen.

Following last month’s big Gemini in Chrome update, AI Mode in Google’s desktop browser is getting its own upgrade in the address bar.

At I/O 2025, Google One AI Premium (and Gemini Advanced) became “Google AI Pro,” while a higher, more expensive tier was introduced with “Google AI Ultra.”

Google is getting rid of Android’s de facto Weather app in favor of Search results. This deprecation slowly started a few months ago, but is now picking up steam.