Today at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, the company announced new features coming to the iPad with iPadOS 27, including optimizations such as apps launching up to 30 percent faster by intelligently preloading needed info and more responsive switching between multiple apps.

As with the new versions of Apple’s other operating systems launching this year, including iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27’s biggest updates will come courtesy of the new Siri AI. Siri will be accessible through iPadOS’s Spotlight search, which will automatically know when you’re prompting the assistant or just searching for apps and documents. Siri AI will also be available through a new dedicated Siri app that can be used like ChatGPT’s app to have conversations with the smart assistant and access and revisit past chats.

You can check out all the new features and capabilities coming to Siri this year right here.

Image: Apple

 

Screen Time is getting a major overhaul under iPadOS 27, giving parents and caregivers the ability to schedule when and for how long kids have access to specific apps and services. Apple will also introduce new APIs for parental controls and a new Declared Age Range API so individual apps can offer a customized or limited experience based on who is actually using them. Updates to child accounts will allow caregivers to limit access to specific apps, as well as who kids can talk to in iMessage. Kids can also be made to ask for approval to view websites, with that safety feature automatically being turned on for kids under 13.

Apple is improving the iPad’s speed and performance with its next OS. Transferring files to an external drive connected over USB-C or just browsing its contents will be up to five times faster. Launching apps will be faster, too, as will AirDrop transfers.

Image: Apple

 

Keeping your browsing organized will get a little easier in Safari. iPadOS 27 will introduce an Organize Tabs feature that automatically sorts open tabs into multiple groups based on each site’s content. Safari Notify Me can be used to monitor webpages on your behalf, notifying you with an alert of a price drop or restock in an online store, for example.

Siri AI will also power improvements to Apple’s Shortcuts app to make it more user-friendly. Apple’s not taking away the ability to manually build shortcuts and automations, but with iPadOS 27 you’ll be able to ask the Shortcuts app to build one automatically using natural language prompts describing what you want it to do.

Image: Apple

 

When it launched last September, iPadOS 26 debuted with more than just a new name based on its annual major updates. Along with iOS 26, the iPad received a major facelift with Apple’s Liquid Glass design language that introduced a mix of glossy and translucent UI elements the company later refined to improve legibility. With iPadOS 27, Apple is further refining Liquid Glass to “ensure exceptional readability with more uniform refraction and improved contrast,” according to Apple’s website. App icons will be sharper and more detailed, while a new slider will let you further customize the appearance of Liquid Glass, from ultraclear to fully tinted.

Accessibility improvements include VoiceOver upgrades making it better at understanding what’s on screen with more detailed image descriptions. iPadOS 27 will automatically generate captions for any video you watch, including videos you shot yourself, and will be able to translate existing captions into other languages.

Photos on iPad is getting more functionality in addition to editing capabilities powered by Apple Intelligence that you can use to fill in empty areas exposed when you straighten an image or reframe a shot when you can’t snap it again. It will be easier for others to join and contribute to iCloud Shared Albums using iCloud.com, while full-resolution photo showing is being introduced. New features for slideshows are en route, including the ability to save slideshows to a video so it can be easily accessed again.

With iPadOS 26, Apple also pushed its tablets closer to being more capable laptop alternatives with a new resizable windowing system that mirrored how multiple apps are managed on macOS, including a menu bar accessible from the top of the screen tailored to the current app. With iPadOS 27, that menu bar, which currently disappears at the top of the screen, can be set to “always show,” making the mobile OS feel even more like Apple’s desktop one.

iPadOS 27 will be available to developers starting today ahead of a public beta expected to debut next month and an official release this fall. The specific iPad models compatible with the update, according to Apple, include the following:

• iPad Pro (M4 and later), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (4th generation and later), iPad Pro 11‑inch (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and later), iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 11-inch (4th generation and later)
• iPad (A16), iPad (9th generation and later)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (6th generation and later)

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Posted Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 7:46 am AEST (my time).

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I hope you have a modern Apple Watch or iPad, because otherwise watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 won’t run on your device. Apple often drops support for older devices with its latest software updates, but this year it’s culling even more device generations than ever before.

Apple is dropping support for four generations of Apple Watch models in watchOS 27. According to Apple’s website, the latest watchOS update will only be available on Apple Watch Series 10 devices and above, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and above, and Apple Watch SE 3.

That means if you have a nearly three-year-old Apple Watch Series 9 model, then you’re out of luck. Likewise, if you purchased the original Apple Watch Ultra in 2022, there won’t be any watchOS 27 update waiting for you this fall.

It’s a surprise support cull for Apple Watch models, which consumers certainly don’t refresh as much as an iPhone. WatchOS 26, released a year ago, supported Apple Watch Series 6 and later, as well as Apple Watch SE (second generation) and later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models. This was the same list of devices as watchOS 11.

Over on the iPad side, iPadOS 27 cuts support for third-generation iPad Air models and eighth-generation regular iPad models. iPad Pro owners will also need a fourth-generation 12.9-inch model or above, or a second-generation 11-inch model and above.

Both watchOS 27 and iPadOS 27 include an improved version of Siri, dubbed Siri AI. This might explain why watchOS 27 is only available on the Watch models that support Apple Intelligence. Surprisingly, Apple is maintaining support for its iPhone 11 models with iOS 27 later this year. This means an iPhone from 2019 is supported by its latest OS updates, but an Apple Watch from 2022 isn’t. Make it make sense.

Correction, June 8th: An earlier version of this article misstated which iPads would receive iPadOS 27. The fourth-generation (A14) and fifth-generation (M1) iPad Air are supported, not unsupported.

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Posted Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 7:45 am AEST (my time).

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At WWDC 2026 in Cupertino, Apple announced iOS 27, the next mobile operating system for compatible iPhones. The update focuses on tweaking and improving last year's iOS 26, particularly in areas like app launch time, Liquid Glass design, and more. It does not offer a lot of major new features or upgrades, as Apple focused on polishing the experience. However, there are some new upgrades, such as reworked parental controls, new Siri AI, better search, and performance improvements.

Starting with Siri, it is now powered by Apple Intelligence with the help of Google's Gemini. It is now a standalone app where you browse and pin conversations, continue where you left off, and more. You can ask personal questions and get answers with personal context from emails, photos, messages, notes, and more. The updated Siri AI will be English-only at launch, but Apple promises to bring it to more languages and regions later (not available in the EU and China).

Apple Intelligence is also integrated into the Photos app, allowing you to use AI to clean up, extend, and reframe photos with the image context in mind. While most Siri AI features are free for use, Apple has made it clear that image-generation capabilities have daily limits, with higher limits for iCloud+ subscribers.

Another change in iOS 27 is the reworked parental control and screen time. Parents can set time allowances across different app categories, pause device use, allow websites and apps, select essential apps, set communication limits, and more.

Other changes in iOS 27 include improved Apple Maps with a significantly enhanced Flyover view for a much more realistic view. Apple also promises better performance, smarter search, new Health features, new parental controls, and more. For many users, the most important part is that iOS 27 is compatible with all iPhones that can run iOS 26. That means that even the seven-year-old iPhone 11 can run iOS 27 (supposedly better than iOS 26).

iOS 27 will be available this Fall, with the first developer betas expected later today.

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Posted Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 7:44 am AEST (my time).

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Local attackers can exploit the actively abused high-severity Android Framework vulnerability (tracked as CVE-2025-48595) to gain code execution and escalate privileges on devices running Android 14 or later.

"There are indications that CVE-2025-48595 may be under limited, targeted exploitation," the company said on Monday in its March 2025 Android Security Bulletin.

"Exploitation for many issues on Android is made more difficult by enhancements in newer versions of the Android platform. We encourage all users to update to the latest version of Android where possible."

While Google has yet to share technical details about the flaw or provide more information about the ongoing attacks targeting it, similar flaws have been exploited in the past by commercial spyware and by nation-state operations targeting high-profile or high-interest individuals.

With this month's Android security updates, Google has fixed 18 critical vulnerabilities across System, Framework, and Qualcomm closed-source components that attackers can abuse to trigger denial-of-service conditions and elevate privileges on unpatched Android devices.

"The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in the Framework component that could lead to remote escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation," Google added.

On Monday, Google issued two sets of patches: the 2026-06-01 and 2026-06-05 security patch levels, with the latter bundling all fixes from the first batch, along with patches for closed-source third-party and kernel subcomponents that may not apply to all Android devices.

While Google Pixel devices will receive these security updates immediately, other vendors will often take longer to test and tweak them for specific hardware configurations.

A Google spokesperson was not immediately available for comment when BleepingComputer reached out for more details regarding the CVE-2025-48595 attacks and their targets.

Google released patches for two other high-severity zero-days (CVE-2025-48633 and CVE-2025-48572) in December, and for another zero-day flaw in a Qualcomm display component (CVE-2026-21385) in March, all of which were tagged as "under limited, targeted exploitation."

Last month, Google also overhauled its Android and Chrome vulnerability rewards programs, offering bounties of up to $1.5 million for some Android exploits while scaling back payouts for flaws that are easier to find using artificial intelligence (AI).

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Posted Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 7:49 am AEST (my time).

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A leaker on X has shared the first images of iPhone 18 Pro dummy units in four different colors. The images suggest that this year’s Pro iPhones could debut in a new Dark Cherry finish, while Apple also appears set to bring back a black color option to the iPhone Pro lineup.

Our first look at the iPhone 18 Pro dummy units comes from a recent post on X by renowned tipster Sonny Dickson. According to the leaker, the iPhone 18 Pro models will launch in Black, Silver, Dark Cherry, and Light Blue. However, it remains unclear whether Apple plans to introduce additional colors later on.

Previous reports suggested that Apple would replace the iPhone 17’s Cosmic Orange finish with the new Dark Cherry color in the iPhone 18 series, and now we have our first glimpse at how the shade may look on the next-generation iPhones. Dark Cherry features a more muted tone compared to last year’s Cosmic Orange. While it is not as vibrant, it still stands out as an interesting addition to the iPhone lineup.

Also, if you are a fan of all-black iPhones, this year’s iPhone 18 series might have a surprise for you, as Apple is reportedly planning to bring back the popular color option. Images shared by Sonny Dickson appear to show an all-black iPhone 18 Pro featuring a glossy Apple logo on the rear panel. In terms of overall design, however, there do not appear to be any major changes.

The iPhone 18 series is not expected to be a significant departure from its predecessor, with the new models likely retaining the familiar design while introducing the A20 chip, improved cameras, and additional AI-powered features. Some reports also suggest that the iPhone 18 lineup could feature 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB to better support AI capabilities integrated into the upgraded Siri.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to debut in September alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone, while the company reportedly plans to delay the launch of the standard iPhone 18 until later in the year.

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Posted Saturday 30 May 2026 at 7:49 am AEST (my time).

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One of the few notable upgrades that could arrive with the iPhone 18 Pro series this year is a variable aperture lens. However, implementing such a feature reportedly comes at a high cost for Apple, which could potentially affect the final price of the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a new post on X that the variable aperture lenses planned for the iPhone 18 Pro models could cost Apple at least 50% more than the camera lenses currently used in the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

Apple currently uses a seven-element plastic lens in the iPhone 17 Pro series, but switching to a variable aperture system is expected to significantly increase the average selling price of the camera module. In addition, Sunny Optical is reportedly expected to handle around 40% to 50% of Apple’s orders.

Leaked images of the iPhone 18 Pro series suggest that aside from a few new colors and traditional upgrades such as a faster processor, this year’s Pro models may not receive any major changes. Still, adding a variable-aperture lens could be a meaningful improvement for higher-end iPhones.

A 50% increase in the average selling price of variable-aperture lenses could also affect the retail prices of iPhone 18 Pro models, as Apple may need to offset higher production costs. With the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple raised the starting price to $1,099, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s $999 launch price. However, the increase was partially justified by the bump in base storage from 128GB to 256GB.

Rumors about Apple adding a variable-aperture lens to the iPhone 18 Pro first emerged in 2024 from Kuo. Earlier this year, Korean outlet ETNews reported that Sunny Optical had already begun production of variable aperture lenses for the iPhone 18 Pro series. The devices are expected to debut in September.

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Posted Saturday 30 May 2026 at 7:48 am AEST (my time).

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Apple has always paid great attention to the privacy and security of its users. In that manner, a lot of features on an average iPhone are local by design, as some sensitive user data never leaves their devices. The company wants to continue that practice with its new AI tools, as a new report from The Information reveals new details about what Apple might reveal during the upcoming WWDC.

Apple’s AI strategy centers around the existing deal with Google. Apple is using a large version of Google's Gemini model to train a smaller, distilled version capable of running locally on iPhones, Macs, and even Apple Watches. The idea is to use Apple's custom silicon, specifically the Neural Processing Units built into recent devices, to handle everyday AI tasks locally, rather than sending queries to the cloud.

This means Apple devices will run a model similar in nature to current open-source AI models, except it won't actually be open-source. But it carries the main benefit that open-source models offer, and that is data privacy, since user interactions with AI happen entirely on-device. Going this route also means Apple avoids pouring additional billions into its own AI data centers, a trend that's been hard to miss among Big Tech lately.

Not every AI interaction stays local, though. The full Gemini model is too large for Apple's own Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, so tasks that need more reasoning will still be sent to and processed in Google Cloud.

The obvious question is how capable a distilled on-device model will actually be. Running a small AI model locally on a phone is already possible today, but these models are barely capable of performing anything other than the most basic tasks.

Still, Apple's version should be more capable than a typical 2B parameter model, since it will be purpose-built and optimized specifically for Apple hardware. On top of that, Apple is said to be eyeing startups that specialize in shrinking models for local hardware, with Liquid AI, a Cambridge, Massachusetts firm focused on on-device inference, mentioned as one it has considered.

WWDC kicks off on June 8.

Source: The Information

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Posted Friday 29 May 2026 at 7:45 am AEST (my time).

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It’s impossible to totally avoid generative AI when interacting with technology anymore, but Apple has a bit less of it. That’s not entirely by choice, though. The iPhone maker has delayed the AI-enhanced Siri multiple times since first promising it in 2024, but a deal with Google will merge the iconic assistant with Gemini later this year. As we approach the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple has been working to bring big AI smarts to the modest processing environment of a smartphone. Apple fans may not like the outcome, though.

Apple has long crowed about the privacy value of running AI locally, but a new report suggests that despite Apple’s best efforts, the iPhone’s Gemini makeover will lean heavily on Google and Nvidia in the cloud. The Information reports that Apple’s Gemini-infused Siri will run both on-device and in the cloud, an apparent reversal of its privacy-focused preference for local AI.

With every new chip announcement, we hear about how the silicon has been optimized for AI—even Apple does this with its focus on Neural Engine upgrades. You may think from the grandiose language that smartphones are equipped to handle beefy AI models, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, the GPUs in most phones can process more AI tokens than the AI-focused NPUs. Components like Apple’s Neural Engine are designed for contextual, efficient AI processing. Even if phones had faster AI processing, they lack the RAM to keep enormous models in memory.

Even the largest AI models are still middling assistants, and that makes local AI very challenging. The AI models that run on phones are physically smaller, featuring at most a few billion parameters. Compare that to Google’s latest Gemini models, which have trillions of parameters, The Information reports. On-device AI models are also “quantized” to run at lower precision, making them faster but affecting the accuracy of token generation. This all adds up to AIs that feel less smart than their cloud brethren, and even big cloud-based models can be pretty dumb sometimes.

The amazing, shrinking Gemini

Google has versions of Gemini optimized for mobile devices, which it calls Gemini Nano. However, these are designed for powering contextual features like Magic Cue and audio summarization. Siri, on the other hand, is supposed to be a conversational assistant—you talk to it and it does things. That’s a different experience that requires a different kind of model. On Android, Google doesn’t even bother trying to do that locally. Talking to Gemini always goes straight to the cloud.

After inking the Google deal, Apple apparently got to work distilling Google’s giant cloud-based Gemini models. Distillation is a process in which a small, less resource-intensive model learns to mimic a large, expensive one. With enough time, this can reliably transfer useful capabilities while pruning less important weights from the model. That may enable Siri to handle some tasks with private local compute, but a cloud component looks inevitable.

Processing users’ AI data in the cloud could be a problem for Apple. At WWDC, the company will probably promote its years of experience designing chips and how well that positions it for AI. However, The Information claims that Apple has struggled to even get Google’s massive undistilled Gemini models running on its custom Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, which is built on on M-series Mac chips.

When the smarter Siri rolls out, it will probably route more complex tasks to Google’s cloud infrastructure instead of Apple’s, but it won’t be running on Google TPUs. Apple has reportedly signed a deal with Nvidia to use its Confidential Computing platform for this purpose. Confidential Computing keeps data encrypted on Nvidia GPUs while it’s being processed in the cloud, which could help Apple claim it’s still sensitive to user privacy concerns. It might even retain its own Private Cloud Compute branding for the system.

The iPhone probably won’t tell you which version of Gemini is handling individual Siri requests. Device makers designing hybrid systems that rely on local and cloud-based AI like to talk about making the experience feel “seamless.” There might be clues, though.

We’re all familiar with the sluggishness of big AI models, which can churn for a long time while they generate tokens. Nvidia’s fully encrypted Confidential Compute does slow processing compared to other AI options. Users may find it more noticeable when Siri has to talk to a remote server, but local AI will only get you so far when the best models can only run on multi-million-dollar servers.

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Posted Friday 29 May 2026 at 7:45 am AEST (my time).

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Mozilla has finally brought Shake to Summarize, a feature it introduced last September on the iOS version of its Firefox browser, to Android.

Shake to summarize is an AI feature that generates a clean summary of a webpage by shaking your phone, as long as the website has fewer than 5,000 words. If you prefer not to shake your device, you can also find a "Summarize Page" option by tapping the three-dot menu in the browser. The AI can adapt its output based on the content. So if you're on a recipe blog, for example, it will smartly extract just the cooking steps, and on a sports page, it pulls the final scores.

TIME Magazine gave the feature a special mention last October, adding it to the publication's list for the Best Inventions of 2025.

Now that Shake to Summarize is on Android, its summaries are handled by Mozilla's cloud-based AI, which the company says runs on a Mistral-Small model selected for its efficiency. This is a different approach from the iOS version, where Apple Intelligence handles the processing completely on-device for anyone using an iPhone 15 Pro or later running iOS 26, meaning the text never leaves the phone.

Apart from now supporting Android, the feature is getting more languages on iOS. The list now includes German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese. The Android version, however, remains English-only for now, though Mozilla has stated that support for more languages is coming soon.

Firefox itself may soon be getting a major redesign on desktop under the codename "Nova". Early mockups for a project codenamed "Nova" appeared online back in March, showing a complete visual overhaul that follows previous redesigns like 2021's "Proton".

The new design language uses aggressive curves on its tabs and address bar, creating a softer look with floating "island" UI elements. It also introduces a dynamic color system, similar to Google's Material You, that extracts hues from your desktop wallpaper.

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Posted Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 6:59 am AEST (my time).

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It has been almost seven years since Samsung launched its first foldable phone, and since then, we have been hearing constant rumors about Apple’s first foldable iPhone. While it was previously believed that the wait might finally end in 2026, the latest rumors suggest we may have to wait a bit longer to see Apple’s first foldable device.

Chinese leaker, Instant Digital, claimed in a Weibo post that Apple is still struggling with the iPhone Fold’s hinge design, which could delay the device’s launch this year. Instant Digital also reported in April that the iPhone Fold had entered trial production, but it appears the device has encountered technical challenges related to the hinge and folding display.

According to the leaker’s information, results regarding hinge reliability and long-term durability consistently fail to meet Apple’s quality control standards. As a result, Apple engineers must come up with a solution, or the device’s production could stall and miss its planned launch window.

The iPhone Fold, or the so-called iPhone Ultra, is said to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. It is also believed to adopt a passport-style design, similar to Huawei’s recent foldables or Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold Wide.

Despite issues with the hinge and display, Instant Digital claims that Apple has achieved a visually crease-free display on its foldable iPhone, along with long-term durability. Previous reports suggested that Apple aims to develop a crease-free screen by any means necessary, potentially making it a key selling point for its first foldable device.

However, there is still no clear information about the severity of the hinge issues affecting the iPhone Fold. It was previously reported that the device will debut in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. A report by DigiTimes also suggests that, despite being behind schedule, the foldable iPhone is still expected to be announced in September.

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Posted Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 7:43 am AEST (my time).

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Although Microsoft's Surface Duo handset launched to much fanfare in 2019, interest in the series waned due to a relatively poor software experience and Redmond's deprioritization of mobile efforts. The lukewarm reception of the Surface Duo 2 eventually led to Microsoft canceling the Surface Duo 3 in 2023. Although we have seen some details about what the Surface Duo 3 could have been through patents, another filing now sheds some light on specific aspects of the handset.

Windows Central has spotted a patent filing, available here, describing a "spring-loaded" hinge mechanism that would have made it easier to open the two displays with one hand. This is a fairly common complaint when it comes to this form factor as you need to use both hands to pry apart the displays. It seems Microsoft intended to solve this problem by having a button on the side which would slightly open the displays when pressed, making it easier to properly open the device.

The designs in the patent showcase two potential positions for this button: on the device's spine and next to the power button. Some details about the technical implementation of this spring-loaded hinge mechanism are described below:

A device, comprising: a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably secured relative to a hinge axis through a range of rotation from an open orientation to a closed orientation; a deployable link that in a first position extends between the first portion and a spring to allow compression of the spring as the first portion and the second portion are rotated toward the closed orientation; and, a trigger that is both configured to transition the deploy able link to a second position that decouples the first and second portions from the compressed spring and to retain the spring compression.

In 2023, we had learned that Microsoft was pivoting to a foldable display device which was reportedly codenamed "Neon". It was slated for a launch window sometime in 2023 or 2024, but we know that those plans eventually fell apart as well. As it currently stands, it seems like Microsoft filed the patent application in 2025 and it was only granted last month. It's unlikely that we'll see the firm implement this hinge mechanism in any tangible form in its existing Surface devices, especially considering that it does not offer this form factor anymore.

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Posted Friday 15 May 2026 at 6:11 pm AEST (my time).

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After years of legal battles, Google has finally agreed to pay compensation to up to 100 million Android users over allegations that it collected data without their consent. Android users in the United States now have a chance to claim their share of the $135 million settlement.

The lawsuit against Google was first filed in 2020, alleging that the Android operating system transferred users’ information to Google over cellular data connections without their permission. According to the complaint, the data transfers occurred in the background without notifying users. The lawsuit also claims Google continued collecting data from Android users even when their devices were idle.

The case, known as Taylor v. Google LLC, covers Android users in the United States who used mobile devices to access the internet through cellular data networks operated by mobile carriers at any point since November 12, 2017. The settlement website is now live for eligible Android users.

To be part of the settlement, you must meet the following qualifications:

• You live in the United States.
• You have used an Android device with a cellular data plan.
• You used the Android device between November 12, 2017, and the date the settlement receives final approval.
• You are not a class member in Csupo v. Google LLC, Santa Clara County Superior Court.

The final approval hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026. Settlement administrators will send a Notice ID and Confirmation Code to eligible users. Recipients must then visit the settlement website and click “Payment Election” to choose their preferred payment method.

Eligible users who do not submit a preferred payment method may still receive payment, though the risk of not being paid may be higher. The $135 million is the total settlement, but after tax and other related costs are paid, the remaining amount will be distributed among up to 100 million Android users.

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Posted Thursday 14 May 2026 at 7:09 am AEST (my time).

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Sony’s Xperia 1 flagships have looked more or less the same since 2020, but that’s finally changing with the Xperia 1 VIII, which moves to a chunky square camera island. The phone also boasts what should be a substantially improved telephoto camera, along with an AI camera assistant that looks like an improved version of Google’s Camera Coach.

While every previous Xperia 1 phone has had three vertical cameras, and the last six have positioned them in the same top-left corner spot, the 1 VIII mixes things up. The three lenses are now laid out in a square block, together with the flash and a Sony logo, that’s raised from the phone but slopes towards its edge. It’s a little bit iPhone, but more closely resembles the design of some of Motorola’s recent Edge phones, though with an angularity that feels distinct to Sony. It’s the main part of an overdue design refresh, blowing fresh air into Sony’s slick, but now slightly stale, aesthetic. It’s a surprise too, not least because it doesn’t at all match the Xperia 10 VII, which also got a whole new look recently, but adopted a horizontal camera bar instead.

The Xperia 1 VIII is available in four colors: black, silver, red, and a gold that’s exclusive to Sony’s online store. There’s a subtle texturing to the camera island, the frosted glass back, and the aluminum edges, along with a knurled finish on the dedicated camera shutter button. Like previous Sony phones there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack too, plus a microSD slot and a combined IP65/68 resistance rating (this used to be the best around, though has since been bested by a number of IP68/69 phones).

There’s the welcome return of a dedicated shutter button.

Image: Sony

 

The display still has a big bezel, but it fits front-firing stereo speakers.

Image: Sony

 

I’m a fan of moving the logo to the camera and leaving the rest of the phone bare.

Image: Sony

The redesign may be overdue aesthetically, but it probably serves practical purpose too, allowing Sony to fit in a substantially larger sensor for the phone’s telephoto lens. The 1/1.56-inch-type sensor here is almost four times larger than the Xperia 1 VII’s, much bigger than either Apple or Samsung’s best, and close in size to those found in the Vivo X300 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra. With a relatively fast f/2.8 aperture and 48-megapixel resolution, this 70mm-equivalent lens could be one of the best telephotos around, so long as Sony nails the processing. The only downside is that to fit in the larger sensor, Sony has given up on the continuous optical zoom found on its last four flagships — just as Xiaomi has copied the feature in its own 17 Ultra.

The telephoto is joined by main and ultrawide cameras, both 48-megapixel and essentially unchanged from the previous phone. The camera system as a whole has been improved with a new RAW multi-frame processing pipeline, better bokeh, and updated macro shooting that’s been incorporated into the default camera mode and now supports autofocus too.

The other big camera upgrade is an AI camera assistant. When you’re preparing to take a photo, this will suggest different options for filters, framing, and which lens to use, together with more fine-tuned tweaks like brightening the photo’s subject, but not its background. The suggestions pop up before you take a photo, though Sony says you can turn the feature off entirely if you prefer. It seems much more powerful than the rather basic AI Camera Coach functionality on Google’s Pixel 10 phones, though I suspect many will prefer the fact that Google’s mode must be activated manually, while Sony’s appears to be on by default.

Sony has packed in a few other upgrades too. There are new full-stage stereo speakers, apparently tuned together with Sony Pictures and Sony Music, which are clearer and louder than before. The 5,000mAh battery and 30W charging are unchanged, though Sony says the phone will last an hour longer than before thanks to a few optimizations under the hood. It’s now powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (though only in the online-only gold finish). One big downside is that it will only receive four years of OS updates, and six of security patches, fewer than almost any other comparable flagship.

The Xperia 1 VIII starts from £1,399 / €1,499 (about $1,765) for the standard model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 16GB / 1TB model is a punchy £1,849 / €1,999 ($2,355). The phone is available to order now in Europe and Asia, but Sony has no plans for a North American launch.

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Posted Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 4:56 pm AEST (my time).

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Google’s I/O conference is next week, and we expect to hear a lot about the company’s AI endeavors. The company says there’s so much to talk about that it’s spilling the Android beans a little early, and yes, a lot of AI is involved. In the coming months, Google will roll out more smartphone AI features under the Gemini Intelligence banner, bringing more automation and customization to your phone.

App automation will be a major element of Android going forward, Google says. Automation for apps is expanding after Google began testing it earlier in 2026 with DoorDash and Uber on Pixel and Samsung phones. It was a very frustrating experience at launch, but Google says it has spent the intervening months fine-tuning the system.

Google promises that Android will be able to handle more complex automations across apps. For example, the robot could find a course syllabus in Gmail and then hop to a shopping app to add the necessary books to your shopping cart. Google also suggests taking a picture of a travel brochure and telling Gemini to book something similar in the Expedia app.

New app automations

This could theoretically reduce busy work, but that’s only true if it works and your task takes advantage of the right apps. Android won’t just automate any old app on your phone. The automation will only work in select apps, mostly limited to food and grocery ordering and ride-hailing. For everything else, there’s Chrome.

The Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature that debuted on desktop Chrome several months ago will launch on Android toward the end of June for all Android 12 and higher devices. This feature uses powerful cloud-based Gemini models to parse webpages and handle multi-step tasks for you.

We were not overly impressed with the speed or accuracy of Auto Browse in desktop Chrome, but simpler, mobile-optimized pages might be a little more usable for the robot. Like the desktop version, you’ll be able to watch the AI navigate the web for you or let it do its thing in the background until your authorization is needed for something sensitive.

Auto Browse on Android

Similarly, the Autofill system in Android is getting an AI automation upgrade. Google says Autofill with Google will soon plug into Gemini’s Personal Intelligence, allowing it to fill in more information when you encounter an online form. It can still handle your name, address, and other established personal details, but it may also be able to add data like your car’s license plate. Google says the feature is opt-in, so you can keep the traditional autofill experience.

Gemini is all ears

Gemini Intelligence is also powering some new convenience features in Android, including those rumored AI-generated widgets. Google calls that “Create My Widget,” but don’t expect miracles here. These widgets appear mostly to be about displaying data from your account or around the web.

AI-generated widgets

For example, Google says you might want a widget that recommends meal plans on a set schedule or sets a countdown to an important event. You can do that with Create My Widget. You can even mix and match the kinds of included data. Android will offer suggested recipes for new AI widgets, but you can also simply enter a prompt describing what you’re looking for. Perhaps you want to see a countdown widget with specific weather metrics—that should be possible with Gemini-powered widgets. No matter how you make them, the widgets are fully Material themed and resizable.

Google is also bringing more AI to voice input with a feature called Rambler, which is integrated with Gboard. Plenty of people already use AI to polish text in emails or other documents before sending them, and this is essentially the same thing for voice input. With Rambler, you can just start talking—or rambling, if you will—and the AI will get the gist of what you say. All the “ums” and “uhs” will go away, and the final result will essentially become a summary of what you said.

Rambler fixes your words on the fly

The company claims that Rambler will understand the context and nuance of what you’re saying, so the end product still sounds like you. There will be a prominent indicator when Rambler is enabled, and Google promises that no audio or text will be retained.

Android in cars

Plugging your Android phone into a car that supports Android Auto will be different soon, too. For starters, Google says Android Auto will now adapt to varying display sizes and shapes. So even if your car has a weird polygon screen, Android should fill it completely.

Credit: Google

What you see on that screen will be different, too. Android Auto is getting a makeover with greater support for Material 3 Expressive themes and a new navigation experience. Yep, Immersive Navigation, which Google announced earlier this year, is almost ready to actually roll out to users. Accessing data from other apps in the car will be easier as well due to the addition of widgets. Google says there will be widgets for contacts, weather, and select third-party apps. For cars with Google built in, the vehicle’s cameras will plug into Maps to provide more accurate lane guidance. Gemini will also be able to answer questions about the vehicle’s status, including warning lights and cargo capacity.

Android Auto media apps have hardly evolved over the years, but 2026 will bring some notable changes. Popular apps like YouTube Music and Spotify are getting design overhauls that make them easier to use in the car. Video playback is also coming to Android Auto for the first time. Naturally, this will only work when you’re parked and using a supported app like YouTube.

Video to audio transition in Android Auto

Google says Android Auto will switch seamlessly to audio-only mode when you start driving, but this requires buy-in from automakers for safety and technical reasons. Video will only be available in supported cars from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata, and Volvo. More vehicles may come later.

What about Android 17?

Google has announced all these new Android features while barely mentioning Android 17, which is slated to launch in June. Almost everything new in Android will arrive via Play Services, app updates, or on specific devices (like Pixel and Samsung Galaxy) through partnerships.

There are a few tidbits for Android 17 itself. Google says flagship Android 17 devices will see some changes to the camera experience, including better video quality in social media apps like Instagram and “screen reaction” overlays in video. There will also be native support for Ultra HDR, native stabilization, and Night Mode in the Instagram Edits app on Android 17 devices.

Only a few of the new features are tied to Android 17.

Credit: Google

On the security front, Google will enhance lost device features to require both a PIN and biometric unlock to better prevent bad actors from using your device. This will disable quick settings and block new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. Android 17 will also get a new option for location access, allowing you to share your precise location with an app only for the current session. A new location indicator, similar to the ones for the camera and microphone, will make it clear when an app is accessing your location.

There’s also Pause Point, which lets you add a 10-second cooldown timer to apps you’ve labeled as distracting. This will be bundled into the existing Digital Wellbeing suite.

Lastly, Google has redesigned its emoji yet again. No, the blobs aren’t coming back. Emoji now have a more detailed 3D appearance, but you’ll see them first on Pixel devices over the summer. Other Android 17 devices will have to wait until “later this year.” Most device makers craft their own emoji, so you may never see Google’s new smileys outside of apps like YouTube and Gmail.

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Posted Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 7:14 am AEST (my time).

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Apple has announced that it has begun rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messages in beta for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest version of Google Messages. When encrypted, these messages can’t be read while they’re sent between devices.

When messages are encrypted, users will be able to see a new lock icon in their RCS chats. By default, encryption will be switched on automatically and enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations.

As a bit of background, RCS stands for Rich Communication Services and replaces SMS. While it has been on Android devices for a very long time, it only arrived on iOS in 2024, with Apple clinging onto its own proprietary messaging technologies in iMessage.

It its announcement, Apple said that it has led a cross-industry effort with Google to bring E2E encryption to RCS, making it a more secure and private option when compared to traditional SMS. It also said that iMessage has been built with privacy in mind and remains the best way to communicate between Apple devices.

To use E2E RCS, Apple says you must be on iOS 26.5 and using a support carrier, which you can see a complete list of here. Apple has not said when this feature will graduate from beta, but if you want to start using it you will need to install iOS 26.5 by going to the Settings and checking for device updates.

Let us know in the comments what you think of this development. iPhone users, do you use iMessage or do you prefer to use a different messaging client?

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Posted Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 5:30 pm AEST (my time).

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This week, Google announced that it has begun rolling out its May 2026 software update for supported Pixel devices. The update brings a series of bug fixes focused on charging, display stability, camera performance, and UI responsiveness. According to the release notes, the patch addresses a battery-related issue that caused slow wireless charging speeds when battery levels were between 75% and 80% under certain conditions.

However, it does not appear to address the widely discussed idle battery drain problem that is still affecting Pixel users after recent Android updates. These reports from several frustrated users describe excessive battery drain even when phones are not actively in use, with some users claiming devices lose charge unusually fast overnight or while idle. As such the issue status remains open with "no update yet".

On the positive side, the update does include fixes for several usability problems reported by Pixel owners in recent weeks. Google says it resolved a camera bug that could cause the app to freeze while users recorded video and adjusted zoom levels simultaneously. Additional fixes target display-related glitches, including screen flickering, fuzzy visuals, and frozen or noisy lines appearing on some devices. The company also patched issues affecting keyboard and input interface alignment in certain apps.

The full release notes are given below:

Battery & Charging

• Fix for slow wireless charging speeds when the battery level is between 75% and 80% in certain conditions

Camera

• Fix for an issue where the camera app could freeze while recording video and adjusting the zoom level

Display & Graphics

• Fix for an issue that caused a persistent flickering white dot or visual noise to appear at the top of the display in certain conditions
• Fix for an issue that could intermittently cause the screen to appear fuzzy, frozen, or display noise lines

Framework

• Fix for an issue where the keyboard or input screen could appear frozen or incorrectly positioned in some apps under certain conditions

The company also shared applicable software update versions for corresponding Pixel models:

You can check out the release notes on Google's official announcement here. The issue can be found on the issue tracker website here under ID 502262230.

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Posted Friday 8 May 2026 at 7:12 am AEST (my time).

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Google is killing Google Fit and the Fitbit app, replacing both with a single, unified platform called Google Health. The company announced the overhaul today, combining health tracking, AI coaching, and new hardware into one place while promising some "noticeable upgrades" for existing users.

One of such upgrades is a new layout designed to make your data easier to find. The app is now organized into four tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health. The Fitness tab is where you will find your "weekly plan" with workout suggestions, while the Today and Health tabs feature a dashboard that you can customize to show the metrics you care about most.

Google said the app is compatible with hundreds of devices and services through Health Connect, Apple Health, and the Google Health APIs. This integration allows you to see data from different sources in one place, like your Peloton workouts or your meals logged in MyFitnessPal. The company is also bringing back expanded friend leaderboards, letting you compete with others on steps and cardio load.

Of course, there are some AI features built on the Gemini model. The new Google Health Coach interprets your data to provide adaptive fitness plans and sleep insights. You can log information using text, voice, or by snapping a photo of your food or a gym machine's screen. For users in the United States, the AI can even read and summarize uploaded medical records to offer personalized wellness advice.

You won't need to download a new app to get this. The update launches May 19 as an automatic, over-the-air change for everyone currently using the Fitbit app. Later this year, Google will notify Google Fit users and provide a tool to help them migrate their historical data over to the new Google Health platform.

The new Google Health app comes as the company creates a more direct answer to the likes of Whoop and Oura. Dubbed the "Fitbit Air," this screenless fitness band comes with a tiny 5.2-gram sensor pebble, a 7-day battery life, and a fast-charging feature that provides a full day of power in just five minutes.

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The next update to Apple’s operating systems could allow users to choose their preferred AI model for running Apple Intelligence. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to allow third-party chatbots to power its AI features system-wide in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, all expected for this fall. In addition to running Siri, compatible third-party AI models, called “Extensions,” will also now be able to run other Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Image Playground.

According to Gurman, Apple will also allow users to choose different Siri voices for different AI models — Siri responses from one of Apple’s AI models could have one voice, while an instance of Siri running on ChatGPT could use another voice.

Users will be able to “choose from AI model providers that opt in by adding support through their App Store apps.” Once a compatible AI app is installed, users will be able to set it as their preferred AI through the Settings app. Gurman says Apple is already internally testing integrations with Google and Anthropic’s AI models. Google’s models are also the backbone of Apple’s upcoming Siri revamp, but so far ChatGPT has been the only third-party AI model integrated into Apple Intelligence, which may not be the case much longer.

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Posted Wednesday 6 May 2026 at 7:34 am AEST (my time).

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Apple’s September event is still months away, but that hasn’t stopped leakers from offering an early glimpse of what the next-generation iPhones might look like. The latest rumor suggests that the base iPhone 18 could share some components with its stripped-down counterpart, the iPhone 18e.

Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital shared this information on Weibo, claiming that the iPhone 18 and 18e use the same manufacturing process and may have some interchangeable components.

However, it remains unclear which components might be shared between the two models. Still, this aligns with previous rumors pointing to a potential downgrade for the iPhone 18, narrowing the hardware gap between it and the e-branded model. Fixed Focus Digital has previously suggested that Apple may scale back the iPhone 18’s display and processor as part of cost-cutting efforts, making it more similar to the iPhone 18e.

The impact of the RAM shortage and rising manufacturing costs has also hit Apple, and the company may have no choice but to downgrade certain aspects of the iPhone 18. However, from a business perspective, making the base iPhone 18 more similar to the iPhone 18e doesn’t seem entirely reasonable.

If recent rumors prove accurate, here’s how the upcoming iPhones could shape up: the base iPhone 18 is expected to launch with 12GB of RAM, as previously reported, and feature the A20 chip. Other anticipated specifications include a dual-rear-camera setup, a ProMotion display, and a 6.3-inch screen with Dynamic Island.

On the other hand, the iPhone 18e might come with 8GB of RAM, a binned version of Apple’s A20 chip, a single rear camera, a 6.1-inch display with a notch, and no ProMotion support.

Fixed Focus Digital also reinforces earlier rumors about changes to Apple’s release cycle, suggesting that September and October could become the company’s “flagship season,” featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone, while the base iPhone 18 and 18e may arrive in spring 2027.

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Posted Wednesday 6 May 2026 at 7:34 am AEST (my time).

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Google’s next round of Pixel phones could be a downgrade compared to the Pixel 10 lineup due to the ongoing RAM shortage. Leaked specs for the Pixel 11 lineup shared by MysticLeaks include a possible starting configuration with only 8GB of RAM, rather than the current 12GB, as Android Headlines reports.

According to MysticLeaks, Google may also add a second configuration for the Pixel 11 Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold with 12GB of RAM, down from the current 16GB in each model. There will be 16GB configurations available for each, but adding a lower-spec model could mean the 16GB version is getting a price hike. However, the silver lining is that the specs from MysticLeaks also include camera upgrades and brighter displays for the Pro models.

The RAM shortage is pushing other phone makers, including Samsung, to raise prices, too. It’s not just phones feeling the RAM squeeze, either; everything from gaming handhelds to Raspberry Pis are experiencing price hikes and spec changes.

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Posted Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 7:16 am AEST (my time).

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Google has updated its AICore support page, providing an explanation for why the system service often balloons to take up gigabytes of your phone's storage.

According to the Mountain View tech giant, the reason why AICore's storage use spikes is that the service temporarily holds two versions of an AI model at once. When the system is updating to a new version of a model like Gemini Nano in the background, it keeps the old one handy for up to three days. This acts as a "fail-safe" that you can revert to if the new update has a bug, preventing a long re-download over a spotty connection. The company states the extra space frees up automatically once the new model is confirmed stable.

AICore was launched alongside Android 14 to serve as a background system service for on-device AI for Android. It is basically like a centralized manager that downloads, updates, and runs foundation models, most notably Google's Gemini Nano.

It also powers AI features across the OS, such as Magic Compose in Google Messages, Summarize in the Voice Recorder, Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, Call Notes, and Smart Replies. While it started on the Pixel 8 Pro, it is now found on newer Pixels, Samsung Galaxy devices like the S24 line, and select phones from OnePlus and Xiaomi.

If you search places like r/Android or r/pixel_phones, you would find users wondering what this mysterious app is and why it is using up so many of their phone's resources. And it is not just storage issues. People are complaining about how AICore continuously runs in the background, consuming memory. On some newer devices like the Pixel 8 Pro, the OS actually locks away a significant portion of RAM exclusively for AICore and the Tensor chip's AI processor. Here is a review a frustrated user left on the AICore Play Store page:

STOP INSTALLING THIS. I have uninstalled it 5 times now and it keeps coming back. It eats up to 10GB of my storage, which I have to clear every single week when I do my weekly uninstall of this app. I don't want it, I don't use any of the AI functions on this app, and I have not given you any permissions to install this app on my paid device.

Perhaps the most egregious fact is that there is no simple "uninstall" button for AICore since it is a core system app. The best you can do is cripple it by navigating to Settings > Apps > See all apps > AICore, hitting "Disable", and then tapping the menu to "Uninstall Updates". This action purges the large downloaded models and stops the service. The only downside with this approach is that local AI features like offline smart replies or Pixel Screenshots will no longer function.

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Posted Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 7:15 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft will soon end support for Clipchamp on iOS. The retirement will take away an option for editing videos on the go, leaving users to look for alternatives.

I received an email about the retirement of Clipchamp recently. Microsoft also explains the retirement of Clipchamp in a support document:

"We have found most users prefer editing their video projects on our web and desktop applications. In order to deliver high-value features and improvements, we are focusing our efforts on these applications to benefit users."

Clipchamp for iOS will be retired on June 9, 2026. After that cutoff, it will not be possible to export video files through the mobile app. Users will be encouraged to uninstall the app after that date as well.

If you have Clipchamp projects on the iOS version of Clipchamp, you'll need to export them as MP4 files. Alternatively, you can use the Clipchamp web app on a desktop.

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Apple has released new versions of iPadOS and iOS for compatible devices. Version 26.4.2 is now rolling out, bringing unnamed bug fixes and security updates. Apple is not saying what was fixed in today's release. The official changelog only says "This update provides bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone."

You can update your device to iOS or iPadOS 26.4.2 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update. Your iPhone or iPad will check for updates and offer to download and install version 26.4.2. The exact update size depends on your device, but expect to download and install over 500 MB.

According to the official documentation, iOS and iPadOS 26.4.2 fix a bug flagged as CVE-2026-28950 that could lead to notifications "marked for deletion" remaining on the device.

iOS and iPadOS 26.4.2 are available on iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later. However, the security issue also affects devices that do not support iOS / iPadOS 26. For these, Apple also released iOS 18.7.8 and iPadOS 18.7.8. These do not contain new features and only bring fixes for CVE-2026.28950.

Later this year, Apple is expected to ship iOS / iPadOS 26.5 ahead of the iOS 27 announcement at WWDC 2026. Version 26.5. will bring changes to Apple Maps, messaging, and other changes. In June, Apple is hosting its annual developer conference, where it is expected to talk about this year's "27" releases, improved Siri, and more.

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Posted Thursday 23 April 2026 at 7:34 am AEST (my time).

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Your gas price isn't the only thing going up these days; production costs for manufacturers are rising for several reasons. This has created a significant challenge for tech companies trying to maintain their product's price point. As it turns out, Apple is now considering a downgrade for the iPhone 18 to cut costs.

Initial speculation about an alleged downgrade to the iPhone 18 emerged after Fixed Focus Digital reported that the next-generation base iPhone might undergo certain reductions to help Apple manage production costs. The leaker claimed such cost-cutting measures could bring the base iPhone 18 closer to the iPhone 18e in terms of specifications.

The Chinese leaker initially suggested that Apple’s cost-cutting strategy might include changes to the manufacturing process, chip specifications, or memory. Now, more details have surfaced. In a new Weibo post, Fixed Focus Digital claimed that the iPhone 18’s display might also see downgrades. The extent of these changes is still unclear, but they are most likely to affect screen brightness. Another possibility is that Apple could drop ProMotion support and reserve it exclusively for the Pro models.

Fixed Focus Digital said in another post that the iPhone 18 chip (A20) might also undergo certain downgrades. However, it is still unclear what specific changes Apple might make to the A20 chip, though reducing the number of GPU cores could be one possible approach. Apple has proven to be a master of optimization, and this is why products like the MacBook Neo exist today.

Moreover, the leaker claims that EVT (Engineering Verification Test) for the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e is being conducted simultaneously, which could be another sign that Apple plans to narrow the hardware gap between its base iPhone and the cheapest model.

Due to changes in Apple’s release cycle, the base iPhone 18 might hit the shelves toward the end of the year. As a result, Apple still has enough time to reconsider its plans and potentially phase out any intended downgrades. Any changes to the base iPhone 18’s specifications would also likely affect the iPhone 18e.

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Posted Thursday 23 April 2026 at 7:32 am AEST (my time).

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Google has just released the fourth and final beta of Android 17 and with it has begun enforcing strict hardware-level memory limits that will kill apps to preserve system stability. Other big changes include preventing devs from opting out of resizability and orientation constraints on large-screen devices, local network access now being blocked by default and requiring permission for persistent connectivity, and the movement toward quantum-safe security by integrating NIST-standardized cryptographic signatures into hardware.

According to the search giant, the final beta marks a stability schedule before it’s released to the public around June. This beta is an excellent time for developers to ensure their apps are Android 17-ready as there won’t be any big changes going forward.

The company said its big focus in this beta is to make Android more deterministic, where it can dictate resource boundaries, rather than developers. This beta introduces device-specific RAM limits and an anomaly detection service that allows Android to actively monitor and terminate apps that exceed the memory baselines Google has set. This will be good for users because it means developers will have to make any of their bloated apps more efficient, making devices run better.

Another big change for developers is that the opt-out compatibility for tablets and foldables in ending. This will force all apps to support resizability and aspect ratio changes. This will help push Android towards a more unified ecosystem where developers can’t ignore larger-screen devices.

Android 17 will also boost security with Certificate Transparency and local network blocks now being set as the default These changes will ensure developers adopt privacy-preserving pickers and explicitly justify why they need network access, reducing the window for background data collection.

Regarding quantum-safe security, this update integrates the ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm) into the Android Keystore, providing hardware-level security against future quantum computing threats. This feature provides no benefit right now, but prepares Android for the 2030s when quantum computers should be ready.

You can find out more about this beta on the Google Developers blog.

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Posted Friday 17 April 2026 at 5:49 pm AEST (my time).

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