Android News Today: Pixel 11 Still Waits for Android 17 QPR1 as Samsung Reverses SmartTag 3 Support

Google’s newest phones are oddly behind the rest of the Pixel lineup on software this week. Samsung also reversed itself on SmartTag 3 support, and Android Auto is fixing one of its most annoying habits. Here’s what Android users should know today.

Pixel 11 Series Still Hasn’t Received Android 17 QPR1

Google’s October update came out on October 6, but the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold are still on base Android 17. Every other supported Pixel moved to the QPR1 release in September. The October build did fix two Pixel 11 bugs: the keyboard sometimes didn’t appear in search fields, and some photos and videos were saved in the wrong orientation. Google hasn’t explained the delay, and Android Authority says it has asked for an ETA. 9to5Google thinks the next realistic window is November, or possibly December alongside QPR2. This follows the Pixel 11’s late arrival on the QPR2 Beta 6 build last month.

Source: 9to5Google

Samsung Walks Back SmartTag 3 Support for Non-Galaxy Phones

Earlier this week, Samsung told reporters the SmartTag 3 would work with any Android phone that has Google Play. It has now reversed that. A Samsung spokesperson told Android Authority the tracker works only with Galaxy devices among Android phones, and that there are “no plans to support other Android devices.” If you use a Pixel, OnePlus, or another non-Samsung phone, the SmartTag 3 still isn’t a practical tracker for you. Google’s Find Hub-compatible tags are the safer choice.

Source: Android Authority

Android Auto Fixes Music That Plays Itself When You Start the Car

Google is rolling out a fix for a bug that made Android Auto briefly play music at startup, even with autoplay turned off. With the fix, Android Auto stops sending play commands at startup when autoplay is disabled. It also skips apps you haven’t used recently when choosing what to autoplay. If you often pause playback right after it starts, Android Auto will now offer a one-tap prompt to turn autoplay off. Google hasn’t named an app version, so the fix may take a while to reach every phone.

Source: 9to5Google

XREAL Aura With Android XR Gets Its Price: From $1,279

XREAL has priced its first Android XR glasses. The Aura costs $1,279 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, or $1,499 with 16GB and 512GB. The glasses connect to a tethered puck powered by a Snapdragon Reality Elite chip, and they offer a 70-degree field of view, hand tracking, and a built-in trackpad. Shipping starts in mid-November in the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, and buyers who placed a deposit get priority. More markets are planned for 2027. It’s the clearest signal yet of what Android XR glasses will cost early adopters.

Source: Android Authority

Pixel 9 Starts Getting the Upgraded Docked Screen Savers

The redesigned Pixel screen savers are starting to reach the Pixel 9. They first launched on the Pixel 10 and expanded with the Pixel 11. When the phone is docked and charging, you can swipe between Clock, Charge, Weather, Photos, and Home Controls styles. This is a gradual server-side rollout, so most Pixel 9 owners won’t see it yet. Expect it to arrive over the next few weeks rather than with a specific update.

Source: 9to5Google

Google Play Is Testing an AI Game Finder Called “Gamer DNA” (Unreleased)

Note: Teardown finding. This feature is not live and may change or never launch.

Code in Play Store version 53.4.34 points to “Game Finder,” an AI-powered game discovery tool built around a “Gamer DNA” profile. The profile would use your play history, ratings, and interests, and you could edit it at any time to adjust recommendations. Android Authority could open the interface but couldn’t get it working. If Google ships it, Play’s game recommendations would work more like a music service’s taste profile.

Source: Android Authority

The Bottom Line

The Pixel 11’s missing QPR1 update is today’s most important story. Google’s own flagship is now behind older Pixels, and Google hasn’t given a timeline. Samsung’s SmartTag 3 reversal and the Android Auto fix matter most for day-to-day use. We’ll keep watching for a Pixel 11 update and for when XREAL opens Aura orders to everyone.