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Qualcomm has just introduced its latest flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and it’s already powering many upcoming Android heavy-hitters. But even with that release still fresh, rumors about its successor are gaining momentum. The next high-end processor, expected to launch as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, may arrive in two distinct tiers: a Standard version and a more powerful Pro variant.

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Google and Epic Games may finally be close to ending their long-running legal dispute over the Play Store. Both companies have jointly filed a proposed settlement with the court, which could bring about big changes to how Android and Google Play operate in the US.

There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and Google restricting background work. With every new Android release, Google seemingly further restricts what apps running in the background can do. This is understandable because battery power is a finite commodity on Android phones, so allowing apps to do whatever they want whenever they want would be detrimental to battery life. To prevent rogue applications from draining your phone’s battery, the Android OS implements a number of battery management tactics to control when apps can run and how long they can run.

Apps that need to perform critical, real-time tasks like downloading a file, tracking a run, or playing music can create a foreground service, but in order to do so, they must show a notification so users are aware. Instead of creating a foreground service, Google recommends most developers use APIs like JobScheduler and AlarmManager (or a higher-level wrapper, like WorkManager) to queue tasks in the background.

This week, Mishaal Rahman and C. Scott Brown discuss the upcoming addition of home screen widgets to Android Auto, a new “Min Mode” in Android 17 that could revolutionize the always-on display for apps like Google Maps, and the disappointing gaming performance of the Pixel 10.

The Authority Insights Podcast is a new weekly show from the Android Authority team hosted by Mishaal Rahman and C. Scott Brown. In each episode, we’ll break down the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, and leaks from the Android Authority team.

The past ten months have got to be the start of one of the most embarrassing years for tech heavyweights in recent memory. One after the other, firms like Apple, Meta, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon, and of course, Google, have been prostrating themselves before a government administration they’d previously butted heads with. But in 2025, acquiescence is the name of the game, and rather than bracing for another four years of conflict, they’ve instead been kissing the ring.

A few weeks back, that extended to YouTube performing a massive about-face on the necessary steps it had taken to ban some of the worst voices on its platform, spreading lies, hate, and disinformation — instead opening the door to restore their access. That move was telegraphed in late September when Alphabet legal counsel submitted a letter to the House Committee on the Judiciary, blaming COVID-era YouTube moderation policies on pressure the company had received from the Biden administration.

Mint Mobile has made a name for itself as one of the most recognizable prepaid carriers in the US, thanks in part to Ryan Reynolds’ ads and its simple approach to mobile plans. It runs on the T-Mobile network, but as an MVNO, it already undercuts the big three networks by a wide margin. However, a new offer that you won’t see advertised on the site makes its 12-month plans even cheaper.

For a limited time, new customers can get 30% off all 12-month fixed-data plans using the code YEAROFMINT. That drops the 5GB plan from $15 to $10.50 per month, paid upfront for the year. The code should automatically apply if you use this link or widget below, but it’s worth noting down just in case.