Pixelated

Welcome to episode 91 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, with Abner and Damien out at MWC, Will invites Andrew Romero to join him on a whirlwind tour of two new OS upgrades from Google: Android 16 QPR3, and Android 17 Beta 2. The two discuss AI-generated wallpapers, that new Now Playing app, and Android's new bubbles — not to be confused with its own bubbles — while Andrew introduces his SPI: Sandwich Price Index.

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Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription by signing up for Proton Unlimited using this link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring this week's episode.

Timecodes

00:00 - Intro and Android 16 QPR3

03:53 - AI-generated icons

13:15 - Now Playing app and flashlight toggle

22:05 - Pixel Desktop experience, At a Glance, and Gemini Automation

34:18 - Pixel Watch Drop, briefly

36:09 - Android 17 Beta 2 and Bubbles

43:32 - Beta 2 grab bag

50:52 - Wrap-up

Hosts

Will Sattelberg

Andrew Romero

Read more

Android 16 QPR3 rolling out with March 2026 security update

March 2026 Feature Drop: Pixel 10 ‘Comfort’ view, custom AI icons, At a Glance ‘My commute,’ & more 

Pixel Watch Feature Drop: Express Pay, phone reminders, and more 

Pixel homescreens are getting custom icons, but Google’s keeping them locked to AI

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The Sideload

9to5Mac Happy Hour

Electrek

Space Explored

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected], leave a comment on the post, or reach out to our producer. And for even more Android discussion, dive into the official 9to5Google forums!

Welcome to episode 90 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will talk through the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, all of its various Pixel-inspired AI tools, and ask whether it's too boring of an upgrade for Samsung. They also discuss Google's newly-announced agentic features for Android, with support for ordering groceries, deliveries, and more, ahead of next month's release.

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Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription by signing up for Proton Unlimited using this link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring this week's episode.

Timecodes

00:00 – Intro

01:57 - Galaxy S26 launch

18:03 - Samsung's AI features

28:40 - Agentic Android

40:10 - Final Privacy Display thoughts and wrap-up

Hosts

Abner Li

Damien Wilde

Will Sattelberg

Read more

Samsung launches Galaxy S26 series, and higher prices are basically all that’s new

Galaxy S26 series hands-on: More of the same, but not in a good way [Video]

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is thinner and more rounded than ever, and I love it [Gallery]

Samsung is cloning Pixel features for the Galaxy AI suite on S26

Galaxy S26 ‘Now Nudge’ is basically Google Pixel’s Magic Cue, but you’re forced to use Samsung Keyboard

Samsung says the Galaxy S26 will ‘simplify your day’ through Galaxy AI, but can it?

Gemini automation on Pixel 10, S26 can book rides and place orders 

Listen to more 9to5 Podcasts

The Sideload

9to5Mac Happy Hour

Electrek

Space Explored

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected], leave a comment on the post, or reach out to our producer. And for even more Android discussion, dive into the official 9to5Google forums!

Welcome to episode 89 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Will, and Ben talk all about the Pixel 10a, a device where the 'a' seems to stand for 'again.' Without much in the way of new features, the trio dive into all of the nuances that make the Pixel 10a stand out from its predecessor, before asking the obvious: is it time for smartphone makers to take longer generational breaks? Plus: We know when Google I/O is happening, and we talk all through how we'll be controlling our Android-powered glasses.

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Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription by signing up for Proton Unlimited using this link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring this week's episode.

Timecodes

00:00 – Intro

01:35 - Pixel 10a announced

17:30 - Should smartphones start seeing longer release cycles?

26:50 - How you'll control Android XR glasses

39:55 - Google I/O and wrap-up

Hosts

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Will Sattelberg

Read more

Pixel 10a hands-on: Peak design, peaked specs

Pixel 10a gets boosted trade-in values for iPhones, Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a, Galaxy

Where to pre-order Pixel 10a: $100 gift cards, Pixel Buds 2a, free at carriers, more

Here’s how you’ll control and navigate Android XR glasses

Google I/O 2026 set for May 19-20

Listen to more 9to5 Podcasts

The Sideload

9to5Mac Happy Hour

Electrek

Space Explored

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected], leave a comment on the post, or reach out to our producer. And for even more Android discussion, dive into the official 9to5Google forums!

Welcome to episode 88 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Ben Schoon joins Damien and Will to talk through the announcement — and subsequent unannouncement — of Android 17. The group talks through how and why this launch fell apart before discussing exactly what expectations we all should have for Android updates in 2026. Then they turn to Samsung, which just confirmed an Unpacked announcement for late February for a series of phones that has us scratching our heads when it comes to big year-over-year improvements.

This episode was recorded prior to Android 17's eventual release on Friday afternoon.

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Timecodes

00:00 – Intro

01:05 - Android 17 Beta 1 delay

14:14 - What we hope for in Android updates

22:52 - Galaxy Unpacked announcement and the S26 trio

46:13 - Wrap-up

Hosts

Ben Schoon

Damien Wilde

Will Sattelberg

Read more

Google cancels today’s Android 17 Beta 1 release

Samsung confirms Galaxy S26 launch on February 25, up to $900 off with reservation

Galaxy A17 trades performance for Android updates, and I don’t think it’s worth it

Listen to more 9to5 Podcasts

The Sideload

9to5Mac Happy Hour

Electrek

Space Explored

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected], leave a comment on the post, or reach out to our producer. And for even more Android discussion, dive into the official 9to5Google forums!

Welcome to episode 87 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will talk through Google's surprise Pixel 10a announcement, what we might expect from that phone, and whether it's worth picking up a Pixel 9a in its place. Their attention briefly turns to Google's February patch for Android — a patch without any much in the way of actual fixes, it seems — before finally debated Google's oddly-sad Gemini ad ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl.

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Timecodes

00:00 – Intro and Pixel 10a announcement

17:27 - Google's February patch

25:25 - Gemini's Super Bowl ad

38:28 - Wrap-up

Hosts

Abner Li

Damien Wilde

Will Sattelberg

Read more

Google announces Pixel 10a with completely flat camera, pre-order Feb 18

The Pixel 10a is officially coming – here’s why you should get a Pixel 9a instead

Google’s full lineup of Pixel 10a colors leak, including vibrant ‘Berry’

Why does the Pixel 10a look fake?

Android 16 February 2026 update rolling out: No Pixel bug fixes

Google airing Gemini ad at the Super Bowl: ‘New Home’ [Video]

Listen to more 9to5 Podcasts

The Sideload

9to5Mac Happy Hour

Electrek

Space Explored

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected], leave a comment on the post, or reach out to our producer. And for even more Android discussion, dive into the official 9to5Google forums!