Forum Meta's Threads is paying some creators thousands of dollars for…

What you need to know Amazon has completely redesigned the Kindle lineup with flush-front, edge-to-edge displays and colors that wrap around the devices. The new reverse-stack display removes the raised bezel, creating a cleaner look while helping make Kindles thinner and lighter. The rollout has already started; some models are shipping now, the Paperwhite and Colorsoft are entering preorder availability. Amazon unveiled a completely redesigned Kindle lineup today, and every model has a flush-front, edge-to-edge display with color that wraps from front to back. The biggest visual change is the new flush-front display. Amazon says it developed a new reverse-stack display construction that removes the raised bezel around the reading surface. The result is a more seamless front while also helping the devices become thinner and lighter. The new models also carry their colors from front to back, with beautiful, colorful options including Ube (after the purple yam from the Philippines, obviously), Alpine Sky, Seaglass Green, Graphite, and Fig. (Image credit: Amazon) The $150 six-inch Kindle is now the smallest Kindle Amazon has made. It gets 16GB of storage, up to six weeks of battery life, and opens books 30 percent faster than the previous model. There’s also a $190 aluminum version with 32GB of storage and an 80-percent recycled aluminum body. The $200 Kindle Paperwhite gets the same design treatment while retaining its waterproof build and promising up to 12 weeks of battery l

What you need to know Samsung's first Android XR-powered Galaxy Glasses are reportedly set to officially launch sometime in November. Galaxy Glasses will work with Galaxy phones and reportedly feature cameras, speakers, microphones and Gemini integration. Samsung is working with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, so buyers should have multiple Galaxy Glasses designs to choose from. Pricing hasn't been confirmed, but previous reports suggest Galaxy Glasses could cost more than Meta's $300 Ray-Bans. Samsung is finally giving us an idea of when we can expect the Galaxy Glasses to launch. At the company's launch event in London, Samsung finally showcased its Android XR-powered Galaxy Glasses . While the company didn't reveal many details about the smart glasses at the time, it confirmed that they would run on Android XR and work more as an extension of your Galaxy phone rather than as a completely standalone smart device. Samsung is also expected to add several Galaxy-exclusive features, including watch gesture controls and instant syncing with your phone. And now, we finally have an idea of when the Galaxy Glasses could arrive. According to a report from The Korea Herald , Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Glasses will launch in November this year. That means we're now only about a month away from the launch of Samsung's first Android XR smart glasses. (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central) There still isn't much official information about the Galaxy Glasses, but they're

What you need to know A report states Samsung has raised prices for its Galaxy S26 series online. The S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra received a $100 price bump for the 256GB and 512GB variants. The S26 Ultra's 1TB saw the highest increase at $200. It now sits at $1,999. Tough times continue in the phone market this week: Samsung is raising prices for its latest flagship Galaxy phones. The folks at 9to5Google reported price increases across the board for the Galaxy S26 series. The price hikes appear uniform for the most part, but Samsung was heavy-handed with one Galaxy S26 Ultra configuration: According to the publication, Samsung is rolling out a $100 price increase for the 256GB variation of the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. This changes the starting prices to $999, $1,199, and $1,399, respectively. For the 512GB version, there's also a $100 increase. Prices have risen to $1,199, $1,399, and $1,599 for the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. And here's where this flat (but still quite meaningful) $100 increase changes. 9to5Google said the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra has jumped by $200. The device is now listed at $1,999. When you factor in taxes, that number is far higher than most would've expected. The publication initially spotted these price changes on Samsung's online store; they've since made their rounds, however. We've now noticed the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra jump to $1,999 on Best Buy . Other retailers (Amazon, Target, Walmart) haven't changed prices, but there's a chance this is ine

What you need to know UGREEN announced a series of price drops for its upcoming HomeAgent AI NAS products as a thank-you to consumer support. For the HA100, UGREEN is reducing its MSRP from $1,799 to $1,599, while the HA100 Pro drops from $5,999 to $5,399. There are several more price changes for the Super Early Bird and Early Bird deposit consumers, as well as gifts. UGREEN has moved its Kickstarter launch from October 27 to November 17. UGREEN recently announced its local AI NAS alongside its first smart home series. However, it states, "This wouldn't have been possible" without consumers' support, so UGREEN is saying thanks. This morning (Sept. 30), UGREEN detailed a series of price drops for its upcoming local AI NAS products. The company's statement reads, "To make HomeAgent accessible to more households and show our appreciation for the trust of our early supporters, we have decided to lower the manufacturer's suggested retail price..." Previously, UGREEN listed its HomeAgent HA100 at $1,799. That's now been reduced by $200 to $1,599. Elsewhere, the company says it's reducing the MSRP of its HomeAgent HA100 Pro by $600, going from $5,999 to $5,399. UGREEN also listed its Super Early Bird and Early Bird discounts in this announcement. The percentage off remains unchanged; however, since the MSRP is different, the final price has decreased. You can view the updated prices below: 50% Super Early Bird price (HomeAgent HA100): $899 to $799; 40% Early Bird price: $1,079 to $9

What you need to know Users with Android Auto in their cars report that, if their foldable is closed, the system will fail to place a call unless they open it. Several reports involve Motorola's Razr series, but Gemini has also been mentioned heavily in a series of online reports. Motorola and Google are aware and are reaching out to users for information. Drivers beware: A fresh Android Auto bug seems to be unfolding. The issue has drawn increased attention this week regarding a call failure bug — and user reports on social media and official OEM forums claim that the state of their foldable is the cause. Reports are spread across Reddit, Google's Forums, and Motorola's (via Android Authority ). A user reported this issue on Reddit a few months back, stating they're unable to make a call through Android Auto when their Moto Razr Ultra 2025 is closed. They must open it before their call can be placed. They questioned whether this is the result of Android 16, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Others chimed in, reiterating the same issue as the OP. A report on the Google forums sheds more light: It states that "ever since Gemini became active," attempting to place a call while the user's foldable is closed will result in an Android Auto failure. The post adds, "it pulls up the person and phone number, but doesn't process the call." These reports share something in common: closed foldable results in failure and Gemini's wider rollout. The timing is far too close for comfor

What you need to know Samsung is entering the clip-on earbud race with the Galaxy Buds On, featuring an open-ear design inspired by the comfort and awareness of outdoor-friendly earbuds. A wider contact area helps reduce pressure, while the clip-style band is designed to stay secure during workouts and runs. The Galaxy Buds On go on sale October 27 for approximately $220, with global availability coming later. I’ve been using Shokz's clip-on earbuds for outdoor runs for one simple reason: they stay comfortable without blocking my ears. I can listen to music and still hear the traffic, the cyclists, and everything around me. Samsung sees the same appeal, and its first clip-on Galaxy Buds are now official. Unlike Samsung’s usual in-ear Galaxy Buds , the Galaxy Buds On sit around the ear, leaving the ear canal open, as we've seen through leaks . Samsung says it studied different ear shapes and used simulations to optimize the placement of the speaker and battery, while a larger contact area helps spread pressure more evenly. The band is also designed to stay in place during movement, making the format particularly well-suited to workouts and outdoor use. There might also be a bigger reason why Samsung is getting into this category now. Market research firm Omdia reported that open-ear earbud sales grew 12% in the year to Q2 2026, even as the overall wireless-earbud market declined 2%. Clip-on designs made up 61% of open-ear sales. Samsung Samsung The open-ear design brings with

It takes a lot for a power bank to leave a mark on me. I test Android devices and accessories for a living, and because of the sheer volume of releases, I try at least one new power bank or charger every week. Having tested all of the very best, worst, and mid-tier power banks, I can confidently pass the verdict on the best slim Qi2 power banks released in 2026. Three of my top picks won't surprise you, because Baseus, TORRAS, and INIU have long established themselves as key players in the market. A new bombshell has also entered the villa, and she is a sleek and chic, solid-state affair from a brand called ReelCharge. Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central Before I dive into what makes each of these Qi2 accessories so great, here's a quick comparison table to sum up their specs in a nutshell. One look at the table should help you decide which power bank is most to your liking, if a new power bank is on your shopping list. Baseus Picogo Air AM71 TORRAS MiniMag Pro INIU SnapGo Air ReelCharge ReelSafe Capacity 5,000mAh 10,000mAh 10,000mAh 5,000mAh Wired charging speed 22.5W (output), 20W (input) 30W(input/output) 45W (output), 27W (input) 20W (output), 18W (input) Wireless charging speed 7.5W 15W 25W 15W Cable Standard USB-C cable provided Standard USB-C cable provided Lanyard-style built-in USB-C cable provided Standard USB-C cable provided Extras NFC PowerSense, CCC ce

What you need to know Gemini Gems are being phased out as Google replaces them with more flexible, reusable Skills. Skills roll out October 5 in Workspace and October 13 in the Gemini app, with Gems starting their exit in November. Multiple Skills can work together, letting Gemini combine specialized instructions for more complex tasks. Google is swapping out Gemini's customizable Gems for a more flexible system called Skills, and the transition is now getting a firm timeline. Skills will begin rolling out to Google Workspace on October 5, followed by the Gemini app on October 13, with Gems beginning their gradual exit in November. In case you didn’t know, Gems were basically customized versions of Gemini built to follow a specific set of instructions. Skills take that further and make those instructions reusable and modular building blocks. Google said in a blog post that Skills can capture a company’s brand voice, templates, processes, and other reference material in a blog post and then be reused whenever a similar task arises. The biggest upgrade is that skills can now be stacked. Instead of just one custom assistant, you might have a Skill for writing a weekly newsletter and another Skill to ensure you adhere to your brand guidelines. Gemini also has the ability to automatically recognize when a Skill applies to a prompt, so you don’t need to manually select it every time. (Image credit: Google) Built on open standards Skills are also coming to non-work accounts on Googl

At a time when most devices are getting price increases, TCL has been releasing Android phones and tablets that are surprisingly affordable, fun to use, and perhaps most importantly, quite innovative. If you're concerned about eye health, TCL's NXTPAPER series has some of the best devices around, and now the company's offerings are up to 35% off at Amazon for a limited time. TCL's NXTPAPER devices utilize unique displays that sit somewhere between E Ink and LCD technology. The screens have matte layers that reduce eye strain and blue light exposure, plus you get multiple display settings that let you customize the overall visual experience. Protecting your eye health doesn't come at the expense of user experience, however, as many of TCL's phones and tablets come with premium features such as 120Hz refresh ratings and IP68 durability. Just days before Amazon's Big Deal Days sale kicks off on October 6th, the retailer is slashing prices on a bunch of this TCL tech, with deals that include 15% off the NXTPAPER 70 Pro and a whopping 35% off the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus tablet. These are some of our favorite cheap Android devices around, and this sale makes them even cheaper — so what are you waiting for? Let's jump in. Prime Big Deal Days returns October 6-7: see the full list of early deals My favorite TCL deals at Amazon today TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro 128GB: $329.99 $279.98 at Amazon The TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is a budget phone that punches well above its weight class, with powerful perfo

What you need to know Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K promises 35% faster app launches and up to 20% faster content playback. The new model supports Wi-Fi 6, 4K 60fps video and ships with Amazon's Vega OS out of the box. Amazon has redesigned the Fire TV remote with a new shape and tactile buttons that are easier to find by touch. Amazon today announced the next generation of its Fire TV Stick 4K. While there are plenty of great Android TV and Google TV streaming devices out there, Amazon's Fire TV Stick remains one of the most popular streaming options. And today, the company updated its lineup with the new Fire TV Stick 4K (2026). Amazon says the new model brings faster performance, ships with the new Vega OS, and comes with a redesigned Fire TV remote. The new Fire TV Stick 4K is powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz processor and supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and 8GB of internal storage. For video output, it supports HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9, and AV1 at up to 4K 60fps. Amazon says the new Fire TV Stick 4K should also feel noticeably faster in everyday use. According to the company, apps can now launch over 35% faster, while content starts playing up to 20% faster than before. (Image credit: Amazon) The Fire TV Stick 4K also supports Direct Power, which allows you to power the streaming stick directly through your TV's USB port instead of requiring a separate power adapter. It also ships with Amazon's new Vega OS out of the box. Alongside the new Fire TV Stick 4K, Am

What you need to know Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Tab S12 Plus, powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chipset. The Tab S12 Ultra has a 14.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, while the Tab S12 Plus gets a smaller 12.6-inch panel. Samsung has made the Tab S12 Ultra just 5.1mm thin while still fitting an 11,600mAh battery and a 3D vapor chamber. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,400, while the Tab S12 Plus starts at $1,200. Samsung today took the wraps off the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S12 Plus, its latest generation of flagship Android tablets. We've been hearing leaks about the Galaxy Tab S12 series for a while now, and Samsung has finally made the new tablets official. The company says the new models bring improved performance, longer battery life, and the latest Galaxy AI features while retaining the ultra-thin design the Galaxy Tab S series is known for. Powering the Galaxy Tab S12 series is the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset . This is MediaTek's last-generation flagship chipset, which we've previously seen powering high-end smartphones like the Oppo Find X9 Pro and Vivo X300 Pro . (Image credit: Samsung) On the front, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra features a massive 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, while the smaller Galaxy Tab S12 Plus still packs a large 12.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with the same 120Hz refresh rate. Both displays can reach up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness and support S Pen input, with the

Google launched the Fitbit Air in May, and nearly five months later, the fitness tracker is making its debut in India. Google will start selling the Fitbit Air starting October 2 for ₹13,999 ($146), and it will be sold in Obsidian, Berry, Lavender, and Fog. I didn't think it would be priced quite as high, as resellers had the fitness tracker at ₹12,999 ($135), but that's what you'll need to shell out if you want to buy from Google. The Fitbit Air is intriguing because it is Google's take on what a screenless tracker should be. There's clearly a lot of demand for smart rings and trackers, and I routinely see Whoop bands at the gym. But the key difference is that unlike Whoop, Google doesn't charge a subscription to use the Fitbit Air — you just buy once, and get all the features. It's a refreshing change of pace from the brand that gave us the Nest Cam . In his review, Derrek Lee had this to say about the fitness tracker: "The Fitbit Air is exactly the type of product Google needs, short of a smart ring. It's simple, distraction-free, and comfortable to wear, even to bed." (Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central) The Fitbit Air has continuous heart rate tracking, heart rate variability, irregular heart rhythm (Afib) notifications, blood oxygen (SpO2) tracking, and sleep analysis. My favorite feature is the automatic activity tracking; not having to do so manually is a big deal. Reviews point to the feature being a bit of a hit-and-miss, but I'm eager to see how it holds