13+ min ago (321+ words) Can't keep up with the soaring popularity. Google has stealthily slashed access limits for its popular Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro tools, adjusting free-tier users' daily prompts amid soaring demand, leaving many to navigate new restrictions without prior warning in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Since its debut, Gemini 3 Pro used to let you make five prompts a day, but now Google only promises "basic access," meaning the limits can change based on demand. Nano Banana Pro also cut the number of free image creations from three to two per day. Google didn't make a big announcement about these changes; they just showed up on the updated support page, first noticed by 9to5Google. More people are using Gemini 3 Pro than Google probably expected. The model offers better reasoning, more features, and clearer visuals thanks to Nano Banana Pro's improved rendering…...

15+ min ago (445+ words) Brady is a tech journalist for Android Central, with a focus on news, phones, tablets, audio, wearables, and software. He has spent the last three years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. His work has been published in XDA, Android Police, Tech Advisor, iMore, Screen Rant, and Android Headlines. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching Big East basketball. What you need to know - T-Mobile is extending the length of its installment plans to 36 months for select devices. - Smartwatches and tablets can only be purchased upfront in full or through three-year installment plans. - For now, smartphones are still sold via 24-month installment plans. A key perk of buying a phone, watch, or tablet…...

15+ min ago (445+ words) Brady is a tech journalist for Android Central, with a focus on news, phones, tablets, audio, wearables, and software. He has spent the last three years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. His work has been published in XDA, Android Police, Tech Advisor, iMore, Screen Rant, and Android Headlines. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching Big East basketball. What you need to know - T-Mobile is extending the length of its installment plans to 36 months for select devices. - Smartwatches and tablets can only be purchased upfront in full or through three-year installment plans. - For now, smartphones are still sold via 24-month installment plans. A key perk of buying a phone, watch, or tablet…...

24+ min ago (236+ words) New look, who this? As Samsung prepares for the anticipated release of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, whispers of a striking blackout design emerge from industry insiders, hinting at an innovative take on aesthetics that could redefine flagship smartphone styling for 2026. The tipster states, "This time, the Galaxy S26 Ultra black version features a black frame." However, it seems consumers might be in for a slight visual anomaly if this happens. The post on X states, "overall visual bezel is inevitably wider," because of the black edges around the display. The bezels are the black border around a display, a distinct marker that separates the display from its edges. If that and the frame is black, it might give the illusion that the S26 Ultr has massive bezels, when that (might not) be the case. This time, the Galaxy S26 Ultra black version features a…...

24+ min ago (236+ words) New look, who this? As Samsung prepares for the anticipated release of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, whispers of a striking blackout design emerge from industry insiders, hinting at an innovative take on aesthetics that could redefine flagship smartphone styling for 2026. The tipster states, "This time, the Galaxy S26 Ultra black version features a black frame." However, it seems consumers might be in for a slight visual anomaly if this happens. The post on X states, "overall visual bezel is inevitably wider," because of the black edges around the display. The bezels are the black border around a display, a distinct marker that separates the display from its edges. If that and the frame is black, it might give the illusion that the S26 Ultr has massive bezels, when that (might not) be the case. This time, the Galaxy S26 Ultra black version features a…...

1+ hour, 32+ min ago (566+ words) Things designed for each other. One of the web's longest-running tech columns, Android & Chill is your Saturday discussion of Android, Google, and all things tech. We're in the midst of the biggest deals of the year, and that means it's the right time to buy your tech gadgets and save a bunch of cash. Smart shopping saves you money, but it's also a way to build your own kit of gear that "just works." You don't have to use the same brand for everything, but you might want to. We all know that you can use any phone, any laptop, any tablet, and so on, and things can work together to make life a little bit easier. But there's often a benefit to buying products from the same company. Some, like Apple's products, have features that only work with other…...

2+ hour, 15+ min ago (578+ words) Brady is a tech journalist for Android Central, with a focus on news, phones, tablets, audio, wearables, and software. He has spent the last three years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. His work has been published in XDA, Android Police, Tech Advisor, iMore, Screen Rant, and Android Headlines. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching Big East basketball. What you need to know - A new leak suggests the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold could cost around $2,500 in the U.S. - The latest pricing outlook for the Galaxy Z TriFold is more optimistic, as earlier estimates put the upcoming foldable at $3,000 or beyond. - The leak is related to an "internal sales channel announcement," but precise details…...

2+ hour, 21+ min ago (404+ words) After almost a decade of working in the e-commerce space, Patrick Farmer (he/him) began his career at Android Central as a Deals and Commerce Writer before moving into a new role as AC's eCommerce Editor in 2023. When he's not hunting down the best deals and offering shopping advice for our readers, you'll often find him listening to music, camping out at a brewery, or treating his cat like a human child." We have seen a ton of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Chromebook deals over the past few days, but many folks may be wondering what they can do to maximize their laptop experience before the sales wrap up. Well, you're in luck: a ton of the most essential Chromebook accessories on the market are still seeing outstanding discounts as we approach the end of the sales, and I've…...

2+ hour, 56+ min ago (449+ words) I'm genuinely shocked this hasn't already sold out. When it comes to finding different deals to share, you'll rarely see me recommend a Chromebook for under $150. This is because those sub-$150 Chromebook deals just aren't worth it. But, I'm breaking my personal rule after seeing that Lenovo's Slim 3 Chromebook is just $119, a savings of $200. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say that this is the only time you should really buy the Slim 3 Chromebook. It usually fluctuates in pricing whenever it's not Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Prime Day, but I've never seen this Chromebook for this cheap. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: $319 $119 at Best Buy As long as you temper your expectations, and understand what this Chromebook is capable of, this might just be the best Cyber Monday deal of them all. It's not often that you…...

3+ hour, 37+ min ago (329+ words) Google is hiding long links and prioritizing content with new Messages previews. Google is updating the Messages app with new link previews for websites and YouTube videos, as spotted by 9to5Google. The new-look link previews emphasize website titles and thumbnails, while obscuring the specific URL. Google Messages' updated link previews also hide the site description, making the entire preview card appear larger and cleaner. Previously, link previews included color-themed shading for the site URL, which appeared as a text bubble above the thumbnail. Below the thumbnail, you could find the title, description, and general site URL (for example, androidcentral.com). Essentially, the previews displayed a stretched version of the article or video thumbnail sandwiched by the link URL and text preview. Google Messages now cuts out most of the previously-displayed information, instead choosing to show a larger thumbnail and title, hiding…...