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Android Auto May Remember Preferred Numbers as Google Apps Face Feature Gaps

Android Auto may soon remember preferred contact numbers; Google Wallet and Pixel VIPs updates still lack customization.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-26 19:13

The strings also included the message “Default set to %1$s. Click on contact to change,” according to the report. Android Auto currently shows a list of available numbers when a user selects a contact, even one saved as a favorite, and Gemini asks which number to call. The report said it had not confirmed how the option would work in practice, and Google has not announced a release.

The same teardown pointed to a possible Material 3 Expressive redesign of the Phone app’s dial pad, with larger, rounded buttons and distinct backgrounds, Android Authority said. It also found additional animation files for Google’s Cielo redesign covering sliding, fading and scaling transitions for the dashboard and launcher. Those Android Auto changes remain unfinished, with no confirmed timeline. The report followed earlier discoveries of dual-SIM status indicators, potential Work Profile integration and the rollout of Gemini’s Personal Intelligence.

Separately, Android Authority reviewed Google Wallet’s recent stacked-card redesign and listed features it said would improve the app. The report said the new vertical card stack makes it harder to tell cards apart, especially when two cards come from the same bank or creditor, and suggested glanceable aliases or partially blurred card numbers. It also called for manual nicknames for payment and loyalty cards, custom organization, an archive option instead of deletion, location-based card pairings and universal smart home key support. The report noted rumors of receipt scanning and possible agentic features.

On Pixel phones, Android Authority said Google’s Pixel VIPs widget improved with Android 17, gaining a more interactive interface and a full-screen layout that shows more information about favorite contacts. The report said the feature supports messages and calls from WhatsApp but not other major services such as Telegram, Signal, Slack or Microsoft Teams. It also said notes cannot be searched, contact photos cannot be chosen separately for the widget and shortcut buttons cannot be customized. The report argued for a dedicated Pixel VIPs app or integration into Google Contacts.

Android’s sideloading process is also in focus after Google announced a more restrictive policy earlier this year that requires users to restart their phone and wait 24 hours to enable sideloading. Android Authority reported that Android still lacks native support for APK Bundles, also known as split APKs or .APKM files, a format that has existed since 2018. Users must rely on third-party installers such as APKMirror Installer or the abandoned SAI: Split APK Installer; APKMirror Installer is ad-supported and offers a subscription to remove ads. The report said native support is overdue.

In a reader poll with more than 1,400 votes, Android Authority asked what matters most when choosing an Android tablet. Google Play Store access led with 28.1%, followed by a tie at 24.4% for good hardware and display quality and price and value for money. Software updates and long-term support drew 23.2%. The poll followed Amazon’s launch of Alexa tablets that include Google Play Store access.

Android Authority also published app guidance alongside the news. It recommended Bubble Level for checking whether a surface is level on Android, citing no ads, automatic mode selection and a save option, while noting the free plan saves only three measurements. For Gboard, it listed settings to enable a number row and symbols on letter keys, disable auto-capitalization, set up a personal dictionary and customize the toolbar.

Editor's Summary

Android Auto’s teardown points to a preferred-number memory feature, while Android Authority’s other reports show Google Wallet and Pixel VIPs still lack customization and integration options. Google’s stricter sideloading process also remains without native APK bundle support, and readers ranked Play Store access as the top factor in choosing an Android tablet.