Google Chrome for Android is rolling out a new button that makes it easier to open a new tab in the tab switcher page!

This "new tab" button on the bottom right just appeared for me in the stable channel of Chrome. Previously, you had to tap the three dot menu in the top right then hit "new tab" to open a new tab. That button is hard to reach on taller devices.

This button has been available for some people in beta/dev versions of Chrome for a few weeks now, but today is the first I'm seeing it in the stable version without any manual flag overrides. LMK if you see it!

Vivo is rolling out an Android 15 update to some of its phones, making it the first company to do so.

Is this really a big deal? No, but typically Google is always first. This time they've chosen to delay the update for Pixel phones to make it more stable before rolling it out.

Google released Android 15 to AOSP on September 3 but major OEMs like Vivo have had access to the source code for months before, so it's not like they rushed out this update in less than a month. Still, even if the RC was only a few months ago, they did quick work to port Funtouch OS on top of Android 15.

Google plans to release the Android 15 update for Pixel phones on October 15. They'll likely be the only ones to push out Android 15 QPR updates, which are already bringing major new features like lock screen widgets and desktop windowing.

You can now send a video to Google to ask questions about it!

If you open Google Lens on Android and hold down the shutter button, it'll record a short video that you can ask a question about.

If you're in a region where AI overviews are enabled, then you'll get an AI-generated response to your question.

Google announced this feature back at I/O in May but it's started to roll out for some users in the last few days. LMK if you have it!

(Sidenote: I'm actually using the OnePlus Watch 2 not the Watch 2R, but it wasn't too far off given what little I showed of it.)

Vivo has announced Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15!

The company says Funtouch OS 15 brings the following changes:

Customization

* 3,800+ redesigned elements like system colors, fonts, icons, and illustrations. Users can customize with nine general system themes and Static, Immersive, and Video Wallpapers. There aer also four new fingerprint animations, customizable app icon styles, and adjustable icon shapes and sizes.

Features

* AI Image Lab automatically enhances photo quality and removes shadows from documents.

* Upgraded Ultra Game Mode adds a convenient sidebar with a performance panel, game tools, and Game Small Window feature.

* Integrated Link to Windows support, allowing for app streaming, clipboard sync, and Instant Hotspot.

* Overhauled S-Capture feature lets you annotate during screen recordings, capture multiple audio tracks, and use a control panel for mic volume and system sound recordings.

Performance

* New Origin Animation that enhances animation smoothness and interaction responsiveness.

* "Lightning-Speed Engine" creates a dedicated channel for animation execution and improved app startup response speed by 20%.

* "Aqua Dynamic Effect" enhances system interactions with animated effects that "evoke the movement of water." And 700+ touch scenarios have been optimized.

* New "Memory Enhancement Technology" that employs an "optimized zRAM memory compression algorithm" to improve compression speed by 40% and reduce GPU memory consumption for background apps.

* Swapped Android's "Fair Scheduling" algorithm with Vivo's proprietary "Priority Scheduling" algorithm to optimize computing power for foreground processes, improving average app startup speed by 15%.

Vivo says Funtouch OS 15 will be available for the Vivo X Fold3 Pro, X100 Series, and iQOO 12 starting from "mid-October." So I guess the Android 15 update that rolled out recently for some Vivo users may not have been the stable release after all?

The Google Gemini app is rolling out multi-window support on Android!

On select large screen devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, you'll see a handle at the top of the Gemini overlay. You can drag this overlay to open Gemini in split-screen mode or a floating window.

This feature was announced at I/O 2024 and highlighted at Samsung Unpacked in July, but I haven't seen any reports of it rolling out until a few days ago. LMK if you have it!

(Thnaks to LordServerReset on X for the tip!)

Google is rolling out a new Quick Settings tile that lets you quickly open the Google Wallet app on any page!

The reason this tile is needed is because some OEMs removed the AOSP Wallet Quick Settings tile as well as the Quick Access Wallet feature. And since Google Wallet itself didn't provide its own QS tile until now, you'd need to manually open the app or add a lock screen shortcut (if possible).

With the dedicated Google Wallet tile, though, you can open Wallet from any page. You'll need to authenticate to open it from the lock screen, though.

This tile has rolled out to at least one user, but I don't see it yet on my devices. According to the "what's new in Google System Updates" page, you'll need Google Play Services v24.33 or later for this feature, though it seems to be rolling out as part of a server-side update.

Thanks to Petro on Discord for the tip!

The Android 16 codename has been revealed, and it isn't a dessert that starts with the letter W!

That might seem odd since Android 14's codename was Upside Down Cake & Android 15's was Vanilla Ice Cream, but the reason why makes sense once you read it.

Here's the Android 16 news I was ACTUALLY teasing today:

Google may release Android 16 much earlier than expected. Evidence and sources point towards a release happening in Q2 - not Q3 - of 2025!

Details + evidence can be found in my latest article on Android Authority.

The Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro are Xiaomi's first phones to support dual eSIM!

This means you can enable multiple SIM profiles of them even though they only have a single eSIM chip. This is possible because they support Multiple Enabled Profiles, a feature introduced in Android 13.

For the full list of Android phones that support dual eSIM, check out this article.

You probably heard about Epic's latest lawsuit against Google, which alleges they were involved in the decision to make Samsung's Auto Blocker feature be enabled by default in the latest version of One UI.

(Auto Blocker, if you aren't aware, is a feature that, when enabled, blocks sideloading apps from outside the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store.)

Google is now coming out to say that Epic's lawsuit is a "meritless and dangerous move" and that they did not request Samsung create their Auto Blocker feature. Google goes on to state that "Android device makers are free to innovate and design additional safety features for their devices."

I find the use of the word "create" in Google's statement to be interesting. Epic didn't allege that Google made Samsung create the Auto Blocker feature but rather made them turn it on by default. However, Epic admitted that they don't yet have any proof that there was any collusion. We'll have to see how things go in court.

Edit: And here's Samsung's statement, via The Verge:

Contrary to Epic Game’s assertions, Samsung actively fosters market competition, enhances consumer choice, and conducts its operations fairly.

The features integrated into our devices are designed in accordance with Samsung’s core principles of security, privacy, and user control, and we remain fully committed to safeguarding users’ personal data. Users have the choice to disable Auto Blocker at any time.

We plan to vigorously contest Epic Game’s baseless claims.

📣 Important clarification from Google here in regards to the statement they gave last night:

Google not only denies making Samsung create the Auto Blocker feature but also making them turn it on by default, which is the core allegation made by Epic in its latest lawsuit.

Pebblebee has launched a trio of new item trackers that are compatible with both Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Device networks!

The Pebblebee Universal Card, Clip, and Tag are now available for $34.99.

Here's everything you need to know.