GM Tech Nerds!
Today weโre talkinโ Android 16โs bold new move, OnePlusโ controversial design decision, and the wildest Pixel price drop weโve seen in a minute.
You already know the drillโwe dig through the tech trenches so you donโt have to.
๐ฆ In this drop:
- ๐ป Android 16 is getting external display superpowers
- ๐ OnePlus kills the beloved Alert Slider (RIP, old friend)
- ๐ฅ Pixel 9 Pro hit $599 in a Best Buy fever dream
- ๐ Pixel 4a batteries overheatingโentire country pulls the plug
- ๐ฑ Galaxy Fold 6 nails app continuity with One UI 7
- ๐ง Nothing Phone (3a) gets its first update
- ๐ฃ Xiaomiโs launching monster-sized flagship tablets
Letโs go ๐
The Main Event...
APPLE'S iOS IS GETTING A MAKEOVER โ AND ITโS NOT JUST COSMETIC
Big news for iPhone fans: Apple is prepping a major visual redesign for iOS, and itโs reportedly the biggest UI overhaul since iOS 7.
Yep, the flat, minimalist look thatโs been clinging on since 2013 is finally getting a facelift.
While Apple hasnโt shown its cards just yet, insiders say we can expect a more modern, fluid, and immersive experienceโthink dynamic elements, updated system icons, and possibly deeper personalization features.
๐ Why it matters:
- iOS has been looking real samey for over a decadeโitโs time
- A fresh design could bring new life to old habits (and drive those sweet upgrade cycles)
- Apple may finally be catching up to Androidโs customization game
๐ Get the full breakdown here โโ
๐ป ANDROID 16: EXTERNAL DISPLAY TOOLS INCOMING
Googleโs cooking up some big-screen heat in Android 16โliterally.
According to this scoop, Android 16 will introduce new external display management tools, making it easier to connect and customize second-screen experiences.
Think dock-ready interfaces, better multi-display workflows, and a more PC-like experience for tablets and phones.
Pair it with a keyboard and monitor, and suddenly your Android phone isnโt just a phoneโitโs a workstation.
๐ Why it matters:
- Could bring Samsung DeX-style functionality to more Android devices
- Makes Android tablets way more compelling for productivity
- Huge win for power users and Android tinkerers
๐ Dive into the full story โโ
โ ๏ธ ONEPLUS SLAYS THE ALERT SLIDER
Big news from OnePlus, and not in a good wayโtheyโre killing off the iconic Alert Slider and replacing it with... a button. Yeah, just a regular button.
Itโs like removing the volume knob from a guitar and calling it an upgrade.
The brand claims itโs about design efficiency and internal space optimization, but fans are fuming.
๐ Why it matters:
- The Alert Slider was one of OnePlusโ last signature features
- Could signal further drift away from enthusiast roots
- Expect some heavy backlash (and maybe a community mod revival?)
๐ธ PIXEL 9 PRO FOR $599?! BEST BUY WENT WILD
โBest Buy briefly dropped the Pixel 9 Pro to $599, no trade-in required.
That deal is over but you can still get 50% off here.
Absolute steal, if you ask me. I'm a HUGE fan of the Pixel 9 Pro XL (find out why I think it is totally worth the money here).
If you blinked, you missed itโbut it shows how aggressive Google is getting with pricing battles.
๐ Why it matters:
- Major undercut to flagship competitors
- Signals a potential shift in Pixel pricing strategy
- Alsoโฆ who doesnโt love a good deal?
๐ฅ PIXEL 4A BATTERY RECALL: THINGS GOT HOT
Back in January, Google pushed out a โBattery Performance Programโ update for the aging Pixel 4a.
The goal? To improve battery stability.
The result? Battery chaos.
Instead of improving things, the update actually reduced battery voltage on certain devices, which led to overheating risks and brutal capacity dropsโup to 50% in some cases. ๐ฌ
Turns out, this wasnโt a bugโit was by design.
Google was trying to compensate for faulty batteries made by a supplier called Lishen, lowering the voltage from 4.45V to 3.95V to keep things from frying.
The trade-off? Your battery life tanks.
Now itโs official: Australia has issued a recall, and affected users are being offered repairs, compensation, or future discounts.
๐ Why it matters:
- A software update that deliberately kills battery performance is... bold
- Googleโs transparency game needs serious work
- This sets a precedent for how tech companies handle quiet hardware failures
๐ Full story here โโ
๐ฑ ONE UI 7 ON GALAXY FOLD 6: APP CONTINUITY NAILS IT
Samsung just dropped a slick little upgrade for Galaxy Z Fold 6 users inside the One UI 7 beta, and itโs a subtle change that makes a big difference: App Continuity just got a new โSwipe to continueโ mode.
Hereโs the deal:
Previously, you could toggle App Continuity per app, deciding which apps should transfer from the main screen to the cover display.
But with One UI 7, Samsung ditched that per-app toggle in favor of three new global options:
- Always โ apps jump to the cover screen when you close the fold
- Never โ apps stay on the inner screen and close when folded
- Swipe to Continue โ the fun one: you swipe on the cover screen if you want to keep the app running, otherwise the phone locks itself after a few seconds
Itโs a smooth quality-of-life upgrade, giving users a little more control and intention over how apps behave when switching screensโwithout all the app-by-app micromanagement.
๐ Full story here โโ
๐ Why it matters:
- Foldables are all about flexibilityโand this makes multitasking even slicker
- Less friction = better UX = more reasons to love that fold
- Samsung keeps quietly polishing the foldable experience while the rest play catch-up
๐ฑ NOTHING PHONE (3A) UPDATE ROLLS OUT
From major Essential Space upgrades to slick new camera tools, this oneโs a full-on glow-up for your Nothing device.
Hereโs whatโs fresh:
๐ Essential Space Improvements
-
Quick Note, Faster:
- Tap the Essential Key to snap whatโs on your screen + add notes
- Long-press to instantly record voice notes while saving ๐ข
- Widgets FTW: Add Essential Space widgets right to your home or lock screen.
- Redesigned Homepage + Details View: Cleaner, smoother, easier to use.
- New 'Upcoming' Section: Stay on top of tasks with a centralized list.
- Smart Insight Update: Now speaks your systemโs language. ๐
๐ธ Camera Enhancements
- Camera Presets: Save, share, and import custom setups for different scenes.
- Custom Filters: You can now import cube files to create your own filter vibes.
- Better Macro Mode: Sharper, more detailed close-ups.
- Improved Portraits: Smoother background blur, more natural results.
- Faster, Smoother Camera App: Less lag, more snap. โก
๐ Other Upgrades
- AI-Enhanced Gallery: Smarter face & scene detection.
- Gallery UX Polish: Cleaner interaction, slicker flow.
- Power-Off Verification: New password lock when shutting down.
- Bug Fixes Galore: Smoother, stabler, less crashy.
๐ Why it matters:
Nothing isnโt just pushing styleโitโs backing it with substance. This update brings smarter tools, better visuals, and a genuinely more polished experience. And yes, weโre here for it.
๐ฒ XIAOMIโS PAD 7 MAX LOOKS MASSIVE
โNew leaks show Xiaomi Pad 7 Max and two other big tablets are on the way, and theyโre not holding back. Expect huge displays, flagship specs, and likely budget-friendly pricing (because China doesnโt play around).
๐ Why it matters:
- Android tablet market is heating up again
- More options = more pressure on Samsung and Lenovo to innovate
- We might actually care about Android tablets in 2025?!
โก Get up to 50% off select Google phones
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Use promo code SWEETDEALโ
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Thatโs a wrap for this week, mobile fam ๐ฑ
Donโt forget to smash that โforwardโ button if youโve got a fellow phone nerd who needs this in their inbox.
Catch ya in the next drop,
โThe I/O Newsletter Crew โก
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