I was wrong about Pokémon Sleep, and the Fitbit Air is the perfect companion

Pokémon Sleep has been out for a few years, but I only got into it in the past year. And by coincidence, just as I logged a year's worth of sleep into the app, Google released a new Pokémon Sleep edition of the Fitbit Air as part of Pokémon's 30th Anniversary Celebration.

I've been using this special edition of the Fitbit Air to log my sleep in the Pokémon Sleep app, and it might be the best way to play the game. The wearable is lightweight, beautifully crafted, and tracks sleep quite reliably. If you're a Pokémon fan like myself, this might be the

Understanding the basics of Pokémon Sleep

(Image credit: Android Central)

When Pokémon Sleep first launched, I thought it was pretty pointless. I already track my sleep in apps like Google Health (then Fitbit), so why add yet another app? Two years later, something convinced me to finally try it, and boy, was I wrong about Pokémon Sleep.

Turns out, it's a great way to gamify your sleep! The game centers around a Snorlax that does nothing but sleep and eat, while attracting wild Pokémon to sleep around it. The more you sleep, the more points you get, which contribute to the Snorlax's Drowsy Power. The higher your Drowsy Power, the more Pokémon it attracts each day, and your sleep type (based on your sleep cycles) can influence the Pokémon it attracts, including rarer or shiny Pokémon.

You can "catch" these Pokémon by feeding them biscuits and maxing out their friendship points before they get full. It's both enticing and frustrating trying to "catch" certain Pokémon, each with its own attributes to help you throughout the game.

(Image credit: Android Central)

As you watch over this Snorlax, you have to feed it three times a day to build its strength and help it grow. You do this by curating a team of up to five Pokémon, all of which can collect berries and ingredients so you can make various dishes that contribute different amounts of strength. The Pokémon also have special skills that can help in different ways.

You can unlock additional skills and more ingredients, but it often requires careful planning. You have to consider things like a Pokémon's nature, its ingredient list, and other attributes that make it better for what you want. Thus, one Pikachu might be better than another and more worth the candies you collect to level up and evolve it.

Where the Fitbit Air fits

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Pokemon Sleep offers a few ways to track your sleep, including the Google Health app. So you can track your sleep with a more traditional smartwatch like the Pixel Watch 5, but I often find them heavy, cumbersome, and uncomfortable to wear while you sleep. That's where the Fitbit Air comes in.

At roughly 12g with the band, it's incredibly lightweight, and it barely feels like I'm wearing anything. This makes it one of the most comfortable wearables I've used to track my sleep, and I recommend it for this alone.

And while there are some nice colors out there, the Special Edition Pokémon Sleep strap is my absolute favorite. It comes in a deep blue color that looks fantastic (it helps that my favorite color is blue) and even has a little sleeping Pikachu on it, which is a pretty nice touch.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

As for the actual tracking, it's actually quite reliable. I often compare my results each morning to my Oura Ring and Garmin watch, and the duration, cycles, and other metrics are usually pretty on par. And of course, the Fitbit Air can do more than sleep tracking, since it's also a solid health and fitness wearable.

It also helps that battery life is quite good, easily lasting about a full week on a single charge. That means you don't have to worry about charging it before bed every night or when you wake up each morning.

Setting up the Fitbit Air to track your sleep in Pokémon Sleep

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

If you're just setting up Pokémon Sleep, you should be able to follow the setup process to get Google Health as your sleep source. You can only choose one, and your options include Google Health, Samsung Health (for Galaxy Watches), and Garmin Connect (for Garmin Watches).

If you're already using another source to track your sleep, changing it to Google Health is relatively easy.

1. From the main menu, tap Settings and More.

2. Under Smartwatch (Health Connect), tap Data Source.

3. Tap Google Health, then tap Change to confirm.

Note: You can also tap the Sync/Settings button in the field view to change your data source. Make sure you've already synced any past sleep data, since changing the data source will leave it unsynced.

(Image credit: Android Central)

If the Fitbit Air is already set up in the Google Health app, you're good to go and ready to catch 'em all while you catch some z's!

It didn't take me very long to fall in love with the app after finally deciding to check it out. It's a fun, low-effort way to catch and interact with Pokémon, while also motivating you to get more consistent sleep (something I definitely need to get better at).

The Fitbit Air with the Special Edition Pokémon Sleep band is available now on the Google Store for $129.

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Google’s Gemini went rogue and breached three companies

What you need to know

• Google has apparently admitted that Gemini had escaped its testing environment and independently accessed systems belonging to three real companies.
• A misconfigured internet connection was the initial opening, while a matching company name added to the confusion.
• Gemini eventually stopped itself after recognizing that it was targeting real companies.
• Google initially kept the incident quiet, arguing that Gemini self-corrected and caused no damage.

Google's Gemini adds to the long list of AI models that have gone rogue.

We have already seen similar digital jailbreaks handled by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta in third-party safety testing. Now, it’s been revealed that Google’s Gemini model escaped its containment area in May, hacking its way into systems at three real companies, all on its own.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the incident took place during a “capture the flag” exercise conducted by AI security firm Irregular. Gemini was intended to test a fictional company in a closed testing environment, but an unplanned internet connection gave it an escape. The fictional company also had a real business with the same name, creating another opening for confusion.

Once online, Gemini found its way into three real companies. In one case it just kept guessing passwords until it got through. In two others, it found working credentials stored in public repositories and used them to access protected systems.

It turns out that throughout the entire process, Gemini didn’t require any exotic movie-style exploits. It just combined elementary security vulnerabilities with the ability to search, decide, and persistently try, without a human directing each and every move.

Google said Gemini stopped when it realized the targets were real companies and did not cause damage. In fact, while Anthropic’s Claude 4.7 kept going during a similar incident, Gemini backed off on its own volition. The impacted organizations were informed, although Irregular says the known testing issues were corrected weeks later.

The search giant felt the incident didn't warrant a public announcement at the time because the AI self-corrected. But third-party researchers were not told until late July, and details are only now emerging after media inquiries pushed the issue.

As AI agents gain broader access to the internet and computers, companies will need to establish tighter boundaries around what those systems can reach and clearer rules for what happens when those boundaries fail.

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I went hands-on with the iPhone Duo, and I'm genuinely excited

I've used pretty much all foldables released in the last four years, so I know what this category has to offer. Whether it's the tri-folding Huawei Mate XT, creaseless Find N6, or the camera powerhouse that is the Vivo X Fold 5, Android foldables have come a long way.

But it took just an hour of using the iPhone Duo to understand just what Android brands need to do differently. With the iPhone Duo, Apple proved yet again that it doesn't need to chase industry trends, instead launching a product when it feels that the timing is ready. That's my biggest takeaway of the iPhone Duo — it doesn't feel like a tech demo at all, and is instead just as polished as the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

There are three things that particularly stood out about the iPhone Duo during my hands-on: design, inner panel, and software. I used the foldable at an Apple briefing in Mumbai, India, and my initial impression with the design is that it's better to hold than the product photos make you believe.

I went into the briefing with some apprehension, as I knew the iPhone Duo weighted 254g, which is 15g heavier than the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. As someone who's used Google's foldables extensively, I wasn't keen on another device that was bulky and cumbersome to hold and use. But you know what? That absolutely wasn't an issue with the iPhone Duo; Apple did a fabulous job with the weight distribution, and at no point did I feel like I was using a phone that weighs as much.

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

The design itself looks good, and I prefer the Night Sky model. The rounded edges make it very comfortable to hold the iPhone Duo, and I like the wider and shorter size — I can see why Android brands are now trying to emulate this design. Because of the positioning of the camera modules, there is some wobble when using the iPhone Duo folded on a table, but it isn't anywhere as extreme as the Z Fold 8. The sides have a glossy finish, which is mildly annoying, as they tend to pick up smudges without any effort.

Then there's the hinge; it has a smooth articulation and doesn't need much force to open. It closes with a satisfying click, and it stays unlocked in various positions, which is a definite plus point. What I like about it is the use of StandBy even when the iPhone Duo isn't charging, and it effortlessly doubles as the world's most expensive desk clock. That said, folding the device at a 90-degree angle makes it easy to put on a table and view content, with one half of the inner panel showing the video and the other half dedicated for controls.

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Talking about the 7.6-inch OLED inner panel, this is where the iPhone Duo truly stands out. Apple is using a unique system where it layered panels of ultra-thin glass, and that has led to a creaseless inner screen. What is notable is that I didn't even feel the crease with the foldable fully flat, and this implementation is better than any Android foldable — including the Find N6, which comes closest to what Apple is doing. Also, while this isn't new on Android, I like that the inner panel has an under display camera, essentially making it invisible in day-to-day use.

What I like even better is the nano-texture coating. This is a matte coating over the inner panel that reduces glare, and it makes a huge difference in usability. You still get good brightness levels, and the matte coating makes the iPhone Duo a great choice to read books or view content on the go. Honestly, if Android brands take two things away from this foldable, it has to be the creaseless design and the matte coating.

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central

On that note, the 5.4-inch OLED outer panel isn't as limiting as I initially imagined. You still get plenty of real estate, and it uses the same ratio as the inner screen, so there are no issues with content scaling. Both the inner and outer panels use LTPO tech, so if you're using things like StandBy, it won't consume much in the way of battery.

Another area where Apple nailed the brief is the software. The iPhone Duo has smooth animations when you open and navigate the interface, and UI elements are arranged intuitively. The taskbar is oriented to the right, you get split-screen multitasking similar to Android foldables. While there isn't a mode like ColorOS' floating windows — which lets you have up to four floating windows anywhere — you can easily maximize the real estate on the Duo.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

There's plenty to like with the hardware as well. The iPhone Duo uses the same 2nm A20 Pro silicon as the iPhone 18 Pro, and it has similar thermal management. While I wasn't able to test this effectively (I'll do so once I get my review unit), a five-minute gaming session showed that the foldable has power to spare.

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The introduction of the iPhone Duo serves as a much-needed catalyst to the entire foldable industry. Coming in at $1,999 and going on sale starting October 23, the foldable costs the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it is a genuine threat to Samsung and Google. While you'll end up paying closer to $2,700 to get the iPhone Duo outside of the U.S., I can see the foldable having plenty of takers — it is the most exciting iPhone I used in close to a decade.

Apple

iPhone Duo

The iPhone Duo ushers a bold new era for iPhones, and the design of the foldable combined with the unique software make it stand out in all the right ways.

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The ASUS Googlebook looks like the anti-dongle laptop we asked for

What you need to know

• Leaked images of the ASUS Googlebook show a distinctive dark gray chassis, slim display bezels, a giant trackpad.
• We're also seeing a dedicated Google "G" key and a signature glowing, multicolored light bar on the lid.
• The physical hardware looks practical, packing two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and a fingerprint sensor.

Google’s first Googlebooks will be available for preorder on September 21, and a new set of ASUS images is giving us a much better look at what one of these new laptops will actually look like.

The ASUS model has a familiar laptop shape, but it’s clear Google is trying to give the new category a visual identity of its own. Leaked images from The Mac Observer reveal that the new Chromebook features a dark gray body, a large touchpad, thin display bezels, a dedicated Google "G" key, and a multicolor light bar on the lid.

There’s an ASUS logo at the bottom of that glowing strip and “Googlebook” branding on the palm rest.

The hardware looks refreshingly practical too. Side views show at least two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack, giving users plenty of options for peripherals without immediately having to reach for a dongle. There’s also a fingerprint sensor and a keyboard that appears to have a reasonable amount of key travel.

From the leaked renders, it looks like ASUS is using active cooling on the inside with a fan and heat pipe visible. That implies this particular Googlebook could be aimed at heavier workloads than today’s average Chromebook, although the processor and other specs are unknown.

The Mac Observer

The Mac Observer

The Mac Observer

The Mac Observer

Googlebook is Google’s new premium laptop class that blends Android tech with the familiar desktop feel and Gemini features like Magic Pointer, Create My Widget, Cast My Apps, and Quick Access. ASUS is one of five launch partners, alongside Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

The big missing pieces are price, exact specs, shipping dates, and whether this ASUS model will be available on September 21. Those answers should be coming soon, as Googlebook moves from leaked hardware to something you can actually order.

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Metro by T-Mobile wants to give you unlimited wireless AND a 2026 Samsung phone for just $40 per month — here's the deal

These days, buying a cheap Android phone doesn't have to feel like a downgrade, particularly when you pair the device with a great deal on wireless. For a limited time, Metro by T-Mobile will give you a FREE Samsung Galaxy A17 when you pair the purchase of the budget device with any 5G Unlimited plan starting at just $40 per month. No trade-in is required, and all taxes and fees are included in the price.

Sure, there are plenty of carrier deals that will land you a free Samsung phone, but few offers are this affordable or straightforward. The only catch is that, since it's a prepaid carrier, Metro by T-Mobile's service could be deprioritized if you use over 35GB per month. That means that heavy data users may have to deal with slower speeds if the network is congested. Otherwise, if you simply want unlimited wireless and a solid Samsung phone for as little hassle as possible, this Metro by T-Mobile deal deserves your immediate attention.

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G 128GB: $229.99 free with new line at Metro by T-Mobile

Join Metro by T-Mobile with a new line on any phone plan ($40/month or higher) and the prepaid carrier will give you enough promo credits to make the new Samsung Galaxy A17 5G completely free. No trade-in required and no hidden fees: just good old-fashioned savings. View Deal

All of the wireless plans included in Metro by T-Mobile's promotion provide unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile's vast 5G network, plus you get a five-year price guarantee and access to exclusive weekly discounts via T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Upgrade to one of Metro's higher-level unlimited plans and you'll get all of the perks mentioned above along with benefits like mobile hotspot data, Google One memberships, and more. Even if you go with Metro's top-tier Unlimited Premium 5G Data plan, you'll never pay more than $60 per month, all taxes and fees included.

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, for its part, is a $200 phone that punches well above its weight class, introducing an upgraded camera system, 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and a large 5,000mAh battery. You even get six years of guaranteed software updates, which is a rarity for a device in this price range.

Samsung's A series has spent years proving that you don't need to spend and arm and a leg to enjoy the complete Galaxy experience. Sure, it may not be the most powerful phone on the market (and Metro's data plan may not be the most comprehensive), but if you simply want cheap, reliable wireless and a phone that you can count on for years to come, this carrier deal shouldn't be overlooked.

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Snap SPECS can work and play—AI intelligence platform 'anticipates' your needs

What you need to know

• Snap revealed its upcoming SPECS smart glasses in full this midweek, stating they are available for pre-order for $2,196 in the U.S. ahead of a late fall launch.
• SPECS browser lets users stream content from HBO Max and YouTube, as well as music from Spotify and educational content.
• The glasses offer in-display real-time translation with subtitles and directions while walking in big cities, with Tripadvisor for finding food and landmarks.
• The Snap SPECS are preparing to launch in the U.S., U.K., and France.

Snap's new smart glasses, SPECS, are finally here. For the time being, pre-orders are open, but Snap is getting candid about everything in its human-centric computing glasses.

Snap announced an "all-new experience" coming to the growing world of smart glasses with SPECS. These glasses are reportedly "built around how you interact with the world, and the AI-native operating system is designed to help you get things done through natural interactions using your hands and voice." To get us going, Snap says SPECS are designed for work and play—and we're starting with play.

The SPECS browser lets users stream content from YouTube, HBO Max, and more on a virtual 115-inch display, placed roughly 10 ft away. Thanks to an HBO Max partnership, Snap says it's bringing the world of Harry Potter to SPECS in time for the HBO Original Series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, premiering on Christmas. Elsewhere, work with the NBA and WNBA will bring "interactive basketball experiences" to SPECS users.

Watching sports or shows and movies isn't all the SPECS is good for. Snap says you can also listen to your favorite tunes with Spotify. Additionally, learning is made easier with an "interactive recreation" of the Apollo 11 moon mission.

For your day-to-day, Snap says SPECS offers several AR experiences. With "Translation," you'll find real-time, in-display subtitles (supports 60 languages). "Navigation" provides similar assistance, and Tripadvisor helps users find places to eat, landmarks, and more. The Shopify Catalog is another feature that brings 3D products right into your vision, placeable in the space around you.

"Connected Lens" is a feature that lets two SPECS users "share digital experiences in the same physical space." What's more, since Snap is the parent company of Snapchat, you'll find an experience that fits the smart glasses space. Privacy is another aspect that Snap states it takes seriously. It says its glasses do not record the world around you, nor do they constantly capture and save audio.

Snap

Snap

Snap

There's even more to unpack about the Snap SPECS. For now, you can pre-order the glasses for $2,195 with a $200 refundable deposit at SPECS.com. Shipping is expected to begin later this fall in the U.S., the U.K., and France.

However, if you're feeling hesitant, you can look forward to a trip to Los Angeles on October 1 and visit SPECS First Look at Westfield Century City. Hands-on demos and a meet-and-greet with the SPECS team will await you there. Snap adds that the SPECS glasses have been equipped with a new Charging Case with Cellular. Sold separately, this provides "four additional charges and offers cellular connectivity through participating wireless carriers."

To get this done in the U.S., Snap partnered with Verizon for a Connected Case bundle at $2,395. It adds, "Verizon will offer eligible customers financing options, including a 36 month payment plan. Connected Wearable data plans are available from $10/month for Verizon customers and from $20/month for non-Verizon customers."

AI that anticipates

(Image credit: Snap)

AI is a feature that ties the Snap SPECS together. According to the post, SPECS Intelligence is an "anticipatory" AI platform that "builds an understanding of your goals, priorities, relationships, and routines from the apps and tools you choose." The point of SPECS Intelligence is not only to help you reach your goals, but to know and be proactive about your assistance.

Snap states that this AI platform was built to "anticipate when help would be useful and surface relevant information and actions at the right moment." This would replace the need for users to constantly have to prompt the AI to do something or fetch something. This platform is useful with your connected data and the physical world. Snap states SPECS Intelligence can bring "relevant information" directly into view while outside.

SPECS Intelligence will work with iPhone, Mac, and, of course, the glasses. Beginning today (Sept. 16), users can download the iOS SPECS app and try SPECS Intelligence. There is also a waitlist that you can join for the AI platform within the app "for invitation-only early access to the fuller SPECS Intelligence experience on Mac."

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Last year's excellent Google Pixel 10 Pro is currently cheaper than the Pixel 11 — but is it worth going last-gen for a good phone deal?

Amazon has confirmed that its next Prime Big Deal Days sale event will occur on October 6th and 7th, but you don't need to wait to score an incredible Google Pixel phone deal. For a limited time, the retailer is slashing $200 off the unlocked Google Pixel 10 Pro, knocking the price of the last-gen flagship down to just $799. That makes it $100 cheaper than the base model Google Pixel 11 and $300 cheaper than the new Pixel 11 Pro!

Some folks may be hesitant to purchase a last-gen smartphone, even at a discount, but I can confidently say that the Google Pixel 10 Pro still holds its own against the best Android phones on the market. That said, there are a few drawbacks that you should consider before taking the leap. Is this Pixel 10 Pro deal right for you? Let's break it down.

• Prime Big Deal Days returns Oct 6-7: see the 20+ best early deals available now

Google Pixel 10 Pro 128GB: $999 $799 at Amazon

Despite its last-gen status, the Pixel 10 Pro still impresses with its sophisticated design, AI-boosted software features, and years of remaining OS and security upgrades.

Grab the phone unlocked from Amazon today and you'll score a straight $200 off your purchase! The retailer says that the deal is going fast, so don't wait too long if you're interested. View Deal

The Pixel 10 Pro boasts a gorgeous 6.3-inch pOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while under the hood you get 16GB of RAM, an efficient Tensor G5 chipset, and all of the versatile AI-boosted camera tech that Google is known for. The phone also got a boost to its battery life compared to its predecessor, plus you'll enjoy faster charging speeds with Qi2 magnetic charging support.

So what's the catch? Well, with Big Deal Days and Black Friday just around the corner, there's a good chance that the price of the Pixel 10 Pro will dip even further in the coming weeks. That said, there's an equally good chance that the Pixel 10 Pro will completely sell out before that time.

If you've been interested in this particular phone for a while, I'd take your chances and place the order today. The Pixel 10 Pro is a great device, after all, and the six remaining software updates ensure that the phone won't feel obsolete any time soon. If, on the other hand, you're simply looking for a great Pixel phone and you're in no hurry to make a purchase, it might be worth waiting a bit to see what the fall sale season has in store for the Pixel 11 lineup.

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