Android Roundup: Galaxy Tab S12 Goes on Sale as Pixel 11 Still Waits on Android 17 QPR1

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra are now on sale in the US, giving Android its most powerful tablets of the year. At the same time, Google’s newest Pixel 11 phones are still missing Android 17 QPR1, XREAL has finally priced its first Android XR glasses, and Samsung has confirmed the SmartTag 3 won’t work with non-Galaxy Android phones.

Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra Are Now Available in the US

Samsung’s latest flagship tablets went on sale on October 7 through Samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores and major US retailers. The 12.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12+ starts at $1,199.99, while the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99. Both run Android 17 with One UI 9 out of the box, include an S Pen, carry IP68 protection and use 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays rated up to 1,600 nits.

Samsung says the Ultra’s NPU is 61% faster than the Tab S11 Ultra’s, and launch buyers get bundled offers that include a six-month Google AI Pro trial and Adobe Photoshop. For Android users looking at a tablet as a laptop replacement, this pair is now the benchmark to beat.

Source:
Samsung Newsroom

Update: Pixel 11 Series Still Isn’t on Android 17 QPR1

Following Google’s October 2026 Pixel update, the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold remain on the original Android 17 release, even though older Pixels received QPR1 in September. The October build does fix two Pixel 11 bugs: the keyboard sometimes failing to appear in search fields, and photos or videos saving in the wrong orientation.

9to5Google doesn’t expect a second October release and suggests Google may wait until November, or even December’s QPR2, to bring every Pixel onto the same build. Until then, owners of Google’s newest phones are behind older models on platform features.

Source:
9to5Google

XREAL Aura Android XR Glasses Get a $1,279 Starting Price

XREAL has priced its first Android XR glasses at $1,279 for the 12GB/256GB model and $1,499 for the 16GB/512GB version. The Aura uses see-through displays with a 70-degree field of view, supports a trackpad and hand tracking, and connects to a puck powered by Snapdragon Reality Elite.

Ordering is currently limited to customers who placed a reservation deposit, with general orders expected in the coming weeks. Android Authority reports shipping should start in mid-November in the US, Canada, Japan and South Korea. It is one of the first consumer Android XR wearables with a firm price, and it lands just under XREAL’s earlier sub-$1,500 target.

Source:
Android Authority

Samsung Confirms SmartTag 3 Works Only With Galaxy Phones on Android

Samsung has walked back earlier statements that the new Galaxy SmartTag 3 would work with other Android phones. Android Authority found a Pixel 11 Pro could not pair the tag, and Samsung then said there are “currently no plans to support other Android devices.”

iPhone support remains, which leaves Pixel, OnePlus and other non-Galaxy Android owners as the only major group locked out. Anyone outside Samsung’s ecosystem should look at trackers that work with Google’s Find Hub network instead.

Source:
Android Authority

Android Auto Fix Stops Music From Auto-Playing When You Start the Car

Google has confirmed a fix is rolling out for a long-running Android Auto annoyance where music briefly started playing at startup even with autoplay turned off. With the update, Android Auto will no longer send play commands during startup when autoplay is disabled.

Google is also changing how autoplay picks apps: services you haven’t used recently will no longer be chosen, and if you often pause playback right after it starts, Android Auto will offer a one-tap prompt to switch autoplay off. Google has not shared a version number or rollout timeline.

Source:
9to5Google

Pixel 9 Starts Getting Google’s Upgraded Screen Savers

Google’s redesigned screen savers, which debuted alongside Pixelsnap on the Pixel 10 series, are now reaching the Pixel 9 in a slow, staged rollout. The update adds swipeable Clock, Charge, Weather, Photos and Home Controls styles, plus a pop-up demo of the options.

The Charge style was previously limited to the Pixel 11 and is also reportedly appearing on Pixel 10 phones. It’s a small but welcome sign that Google is still bringing newer features to older Pixels, though full availability may take a few weeks.

Source:
9to5Google

Leak: Google Play Is Testing an AI “Gamer DNA” Game Finder

Note: This item is based on an APK teardown of unreleased code. Google has not announced the feature, and it may change or never launch.

Code found in Google Play Store version 53.4.34-34 points to an AI-powered Game Finder built around a “Gamer DNA” profile. The profile would draw on your gameplay, ratings and interests, similar in spirit to Spotify’s taste profiles, and users could edit it to tune recommendations.

Strings also mention a daily refresh limit and a warning that the AI can make mistakes. If it ships, it could make game discovery on Play far more personal than today’s charts and editorial lists.

Source:
Android Authority

Bottom Line

The Galaxy Tab S12 launch and the Pixel 11’s missing QPR1 update are the stories with the most immediate impact for Android buyers and owners today. XREAL’s Aura pricing gives the clearest look yet at what Android XR glasses will cost, while the SmartTag 3 and Android Auto news are practical reminders to check compatibility and settings before you buy or drive.