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Like other Google apps, Messages for Android A/B tests many features. It can take the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch new functionality in stable. From various reports, Google announcements, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.

The social media age begs businesses and everyone else to bridge the gap between quality and quantity and, with Vmake’s AI studio of tools, you get an all-in-one, one-stop shop for everything you need to more easily create content.

As a lazy, lapsed programmer, I feel that tools like Antigravity and Codex have changed my day-to-day workflows and, despite some major foibles, I cannot recommend them highly enough.

If you own a Google TV Streamer or plan to get one, you have an exclusive audio option in the Google Home Speaker. Connecting two of them gets you spatial audio, and it’s certainly a step up from some more expensive options.

Welcome to episode 106 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien talks Abner and Will through his first impressions of Google’s latest Home Speaker, a reboot of sorts of the company’s smart speaker lineup. After the break, we’re joined by Jonah Becker and Taylor Helgren of Google to discuss the launch of the Fitbit Air and Google Health.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Pixelated listeners can get started with Bitwarden’s free individual plan by clicking this link. Thanks to Bitwarden for sponsoring the podcast.

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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Google Messages is finally giving Android users more customization and personalization options with “Chat themes.”

As previewed at I/O 2026, the Gemini app on Android now integrates with the Google Play Store.

Nothing’s foray deeper into the budget smartphone space is set to launch the Nothing Phone (4b) in a little over a week. The official design has already been revealed and, now, leaked specs hint at where the Nothing Phone (4b) fits into the market.

Prime Day is usually a great time to save on everything from smart home gear and kitchen upgrades to everyday essentials, and water filtration systems are no exception. With summer in full swing and many households spending more time hosting family get-togethers, backyard gatherings, and watch parties for the season’s biggest sporting events, it’s also a practical time to upgrade your drinking water setup.

Waterdrop Filter’s lineup of reverse osmosis filtration systems is seeing solid discounts for Prime Day this year, with huge savings on some of its most popular models, including the flagship X12, the best-selling G3P800, and the installation-free M6H countertop unit. The brand’s Prime Day offers will be available from June 23 through June 26, and you can head below for a closer look at the lineup and the deals available during the event.

Amazon’s 2026 Prime Day is in its final hours, and today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by your last chance to save up to 39% off TCL NXTPAPER Android tablets from $140 as well as Lenovo models from $110. Those deals also join all-time lows on Pixel 10 now starting from $519, the Google TV Streamer 4K dropping even lower from $72 (30% off, Amazon all-time low), and even lower prices Amazon Echo Spot at $40 (50% off), plus more Prime Day Amazon Device all-time lows. Head below for a closer look.

The Google Home Speaker is now the easiest and most affordable way to get Gemini into your smart home, but how does it perform against the device it’s meant to replace – the Nest Mini?

The Google Home Speaker comes in four colors including the US-only “Jade” which is slipping in its shipping dates, but there are some alternate places to order where you don’t have to wait.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset lineup is eternally confusing, with slight variations generating new names and options that aren’t all that different. But it sounds like the next few releases are going to be especially confusing, with several new chips in the works including the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.”

Some months after its confirmation, Gemini for Android Automotive appears to be finally rolling out to existing vehicles.

The 2026 Amazon Prime Day sale is now flying with a countless number of price drops across just about every product category. We are tracking new all-time lows and up to $400 off Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the best price to date on Pixel 10a starting down at $424 shipped, as much as $350 off Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S11 Tabs, Galaxy Watch 8 deals, and much more. Those deals sit alongside loads of price drops on tech accessories and charging gear, power stations, apparel, and much more. Everything awaits below. 

XREAL continues to pioneer the smart glasses form factor, and with power from Asus display hardware, the ROG R1 is born. The XREAL ROG R1 glasses make a solid companion for mobile gaming and, to an extent, an at-home option.

Following two big Google Health app updates, the Fitbit Air is getting its first post-launch firmware update.

Ticketmaster, love it or hate it, is the company you’ll be dealing with for the vast majority of live events, which is why it’s great news that Ticketmaster is launching a new partnership with Google Wallet that will open the door to more detailed passes.

Oppo has just launched its new Reno 16 series which offers some solid upper-mid-range specs and a nice design, but also a neat “Bubble” screen accessory that, man, would just be so much better if this phone had Qi2 magnets inside.

YouTube today announced a number of updates to the Shorts player meant to “create a more intuitive Shorts experience.”

After beta testing got underway last August, the AI-powered redesign of Google Finance is now launching alongside a new Android app.