Samsung’s mysterious ‘First Look’ event in January teases major reveals

Samsung First Look event Teaser

Credit: Samsung
TL;DR

  • Samsung is hosting a special event at CES 2026.
  • We’re expecting the company to finally showcase the Galaxy Z TriFold in front of global audiences at the event.
  • The company is also expected to unveil its new flagship TVs, appliances, and other products at the event.

Samsung has officially announced a special event titled “The First Look” on January 4 at 10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM PST). The event kicks off two days before the official start of CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

Google Pixel 10 devices are still at a record-low price!

Someone holding the Pixel 10 Pro, showing the back of the phone.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority

If you’re looking for a high-end experience that is also clean and minimalist, it’s hard to beat Google’s Pixel lineup. These phones are nothing short of amazing, and all the main models are currently available at record-low prices. These include the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Buy the Google Pixel 10 for just $549 ($250 off)

Google quietly restores a lost Pixel unlocking convenience with latest Android 16 update

TL;DR

  • The latest Android 16 update brings back the Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock feature to Pixel phones.
  • The feature was introduced in Android 16 DP2 for the Pixel 9 series, but later expanded to older Pixel models.
  • It was mysteriously removed in subsequent Android 16 betas, but the latest stable QPR2 update reinstates it on the Pixel 9 and above.

Android’s latest update is quietly bringing back a useful fingerprint unlocking option to Pixel phones. The Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock toggle has returned in the new Android 16 QPR2 update, a.k.a the second major Android 16 update of the year. Enabling the feature lets users unlock their Pixels with the fingerprint sensor even when the display is completely off.

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Google Photos 2025 Recap is here with the ability to hide unwanted faces

Google Photos logo on smartphone Stock photo

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Google Photos Recap 2025 is now rolling out to users.
  • The recap takes about a day to generate and now lets you hide certain people or photos.
  • You can easily share your recap directly from the app to social media or messaging platforms.

It’s that time of the year when you start seeing recaps and wrapped highlights everywhere across the apps and services you use. Following the recent release of YouTube Recap and YouTube Music 2025 Recap, Google is now starting to roll out the Google Photos Recap for 2025.

First Galaxy Z TriFold hands-on video shows major strengths and weaknesses

TL;DR

  • YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss has released the first hands-on video of the Galaxy Z TriFold.
  • The video showcases the phone’s complex design, impressive multitasking skills, and surprising in-box contents.
  • The YouTuber calls the Galaxy Z TriFold Samsung’s most “definitive foldable,” because it offers both a true smartphone mode and a true tablet mode.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold has just appeared in its first full hands-on video courtesy of YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss (Arun Maini). The video gives us the clearest real-world look yet at Samsung’s most ambitious folding phone to date.

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Netflix quietly killed casting from phones to newer Chromecasts and Google TV Streamer (Updated)

Google TV Streamer box and remote.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Netflix has removed support for casting from its mobile apps to most TVs, including Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer devices.
  • Casting will now only work on older Chromecast models without remotes and TVs with Google Cast.
  • The change applies regardless of whether you’re on an ad-supported or ad-free Netflix plan.

Update: December 2, 2025 (12:07 AM ET): We’ve updated the article with new details about specific devices that support Netflix casting. Netflix added these details to its help section after this article was first published. The facts don’t change. You still can’t cast Netflix from a mobile app to most TVs and streaming devices. It’s just that we now know the devices that continue to support Netflix casting.

Google Messages is making SIM switching while texting a little less painful

Google Messages SMS stock photo 1

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Google Messages is testing a new long-press shortcut to quickly switch SIMs while composing messages.
  • The feature reduces the steps required to swap SIMs after Google previously removed the SIM selector from the compose bar and buried it inside the profile page.
  • The new method for switching SIMs is a helpful improvement, but still redirects to the profile section instead of switching SIMs instantly.

Being able to quickly and easily switch SIMs while texting is an important feature for Google Messages users who use two different lines on the same phone. However, earlier this year, Google made that simple action more frustrating by burying the SIM switcher deeper in the UI and adding unnecessary extra steps to the process. Now, it appears that Google Messages is taking steps to rectify that change.

That popular YouTube alternative on Android TV was secretly distributing infected builds

smarttube android google tv 1

Credit: SmartTube
TL;DR

  • A new report reveals that SmartTube, the popular YouTube app removed from Android TV and Fire TV devices last week, contained malware after the developer’s build machine was compromised.
  • Some official app versions released earlier this month were unintentionally distributed with that malware.
  • A clean, newly signed version of SmartTube is now available for download.
  • Users who may have installed the malware-infected versions of the app are recommended to reset their devices and take additional steps to review their YouTube and Google account information.

Google Play Protect disabled SmartTube last week after the app’s digital signature was exposed. At the time, it was believed that the signature leak was the primary reason Google and Amazon forcibly removed the app from users’ devices.

The 5 best ways to watch YouTube without ads and interruptions

Don’t let Google know, but I’d be quite lost without YouTube. I use the video platform daily for background noise during the workday and for enjoying my favorite creators’ content in the evenings.

The platform doesn’t offer the best user experience, at least not one that prioritizes the content. Constant interruptions and visual clutter within the app have prompted me to seek alternative ways to watch YouTube. And you don’t need to put up with them, either.

5 hardware upgrades I want to see on Pixel phones

Google Pixel 10 in Frost vs Google Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (2 of 5)

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

I have a long list of software features I want to see on Pixel phones, including improved gestures — like those available on OnePlus phones — contextual app selection triggered by a Bluetooth connection, and more.

But software is only half the story. While Pixels offer a lot of value in terms of computational photography and AI, there are still areas in which they fall behind the competition when it comes to hardware. These are the upgrades I want to see on upcoming Pixel phones that would make them that much more appealing overall.

Black Friday 2025: The best deals on phones, wearables, and a lot more

Black Friday is upon us, and all of the major brands have already launched their best deals. Retailers are competing for your attention, and that means plenty of big discounts you can make the most of right now. From Android phones and tablets to headphones and smart home hardware, your options are wide-ranging and numerous. We’ve pulled together our curated pick of the best Black Friday deals of 2025.

The offers will change, and new ones will be launched, so we’ll keep updating this page regularly. Feel free to bookmark it if you want to periodically check out what deals are available.

Google Maps is making sure you ‘know before you go’ on this holiday weekend’s travels

TL;DR

  • Last week, Google announced a bunch of upgrades for Maps, including “know before you go” tips for destinations.
  • These tips are designed to deliver actionable information to help maximize what you get out of your visit.
  • Google’s also been deploying its new power-saving navigation mode for Pixel 10 phones.

Even with AI already permeating what feels like every corner of our lives, we’re still very much in the early days of figuring out where its potential is best utilized, and companies are constantly experimenting with new ways to employ it. Just one week ago, Google was sharing news of a Gemini-powered AI upgrade it was introducing to Maps, and now we’re already getting the chance to try it out.

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Survey reveals no one will miss ChromeOS as Google prepares its successor

Android Bot on laptop screen

Google’s long-rumoured shift toward merging ChromeOS and Android into a single platform is finally beginning to take shape with the “Aluminium OS” project. But how do users feel about ChromeOS potentially being sunset in favor of this new unified operating system? We ran a survey on Android Authority asking our readers whether they would miss ChromeOS if Google ultimately replaces it with Aluminium OS, and the results were loud and clear.

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Google Maps’ Pixel 10-exclusive power saving mode is now rolling out widely

TL;DR

  • Google Maps is now getting the new Power Saving Mode announced in the November Pixel Drop.
  • The low-power navigation mode is exclusive to the Pixel 10 series.
  • It tackles display-induced battery drain by switching to a simple, low-power interface that shows only essential information like your next turn.

Google is finally rolling out the new Power Saving Mode in Google Maps for Pixel 10 phones. The feature was announced as part of the November Pixel Drop and is now appearing for more users. As the name suggests, the new mode aims to extend your phone’s battery life during navigation.

Turn-by-turn navigation can be a pretty power-hungry feature because it relies on constant GPS access, mobile data, and a bright display that stays on for the duration of your route. The new mode tackles the display-induced battery drain by switching to a simple, low-power interface that shows only essential information like your next turn.

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admin December 11th, 2025

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