Connexion
When the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup was released earlier this year, they came with Amazon gift cards of up to $200 if you preordered from Amazon. Now, you can get those same gift card amounts directly discounted from the list prices. The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are all at their lowest price since their January release, according to price checking tools.
The Galaxy S24 lineup has a big emphasis on AI. Some features include "Live Translate," which translates both text and voice during phone calls, and "Interpreter," which splits your Galaxy's screen in half and translates a two-way conversation in real-time through text. If you're not sure which one is the best phone in the lineup for you, you can see PCMag's breakdown to help you make up your mind.
The Galaxy S24 is the most basic phone in the lineup, but it still has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Galaxy chip. It's also the smallest and lightest phone of the three, with a 6.2-inch screen and 2,340 by 1,080 pixels of resolution. If you don't need the fast charging speeds, better resolution, and higher RAM of the higher-end models, the S24 is still a great phone for $724.99 (originally $799.99).
The middle of the pack Galaxy S24+, which received an "excellent" review from PCMag, is a good in-between choice with notable upgrades from the basic model. You'll get 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB, a bigger 6.7-inch screen with 3,120 by 1,440 pixels of resolution, and a bigger 4,900mAh battery over the S24's 4,000mAh. It's on sale for $849.99 (originally $999.99).
The most premium phone in the lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, is one of Samsung's best ever, even surprising Lifehacker tech writer Joshua Hawkins during his review. He called it "a strong enough contender that I'd be willing to ditch my iPhone and make the jump to Android." Its screen is 0.1 inches bigger, and the battery is 100mAh larger, than the S24+, but you'll see the biggest difference in the camera. Both the S24+ and Ultra have a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP shooter, and a 10MP telephoto rear camera with a 12MP front camera, but the S24 Ultra has a 200MP main camera and a second 50MP telephoto lens camera. You can get the S24 Ultra for $1,099.99 (originally $1,299.99).
Keep in mind that S24 users have pointed out some issues with their phone's display and cameras shortly after their release, but the experiences don't seem to be consistent for everyone.
Google launched the Gemini app on Android back in February, alongside the AI's general rebrand. (Gemini used to be called Bard, if you recall.) With it, you can access Google's AI to do the general chatbot things you expect from a generative AI model, in addition to the option of setting Gemini as your phone's default assistant.
Until now, however, many Android phones have been locked out of the Gemini app, as Google rolled out the experience with a strict OS minimum: Unless your smartphone was running Android 12 or newer, you couldn't use the Gemini app. You could still access Gemini's website, gemini.google.com, but to use any phone-level features (including, of course, replacing Google Assistant with Gemini), you'd need to upgrade your phone. Probably not worth the cost of admission if your current device is working fine.
Good news, though: This is all changing. As reported by Android Authority, Google quietly reduced the Android OS minimum requirements for the Gemini app from Android 12 and higher to Android 10 and higher. AssembleDebug first discovered this change in the latest version of the app uploaded to APKMirror, and highlighted it to Android Authority. But now, the officially Play Store listing for the Gemini app also says it "requires Android 10 and up." To be clear, Google's official support page for the Gemini app still says it requires Android 12 and newer (in addition to 4GB of RAM, no less) but this will likely change as well.
This problem doesn't affect most Pixel devices, since Google supports Android 12 starting with Pixel 3 and newer. However, if you have a Pixel 2, or an older Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Nokia, or any other smartphone stuck on Android 10 or Android 11, you can at least give Gemini a shot on your device without feeling left behind.
Joining the Android Beta program gives you firsthand look at the latest Android updates, as well as a way to provide feedback about those changes before they reach full release. If you're curious about trying the latest Android betas, then signing up is easy. Here's what you need to know.
The Android Beta program is ongoing, with the latest versions of Android always available to test. To sign up, all you need to do is sign into the primary Google Account associated with your Android device, then navigate to the Android Beta page. Here, you'll be able to see which beta Google is currently working on and learn which of your devices are eligible.
If you have an eligible device, then you'll be able to enroll in the program. From there, beta updates will continue to arrive on your phone through the OTA update service found in your device's settings. You can, of course, opt out of the program at any point if you grow tired of testing out the latest beta updates.
The latest beta, as of this article, is the Android 15 Beta, which offers a first-hand look at upcoming features, including notification cooldown, high-quality webcam mode, partial screen sharing, among many others. There are still a few months of updates before the new operating system drops, but it's a good time to jump in and see what Google has cooking.
If you're tired of beta updates, you can opt out by navigating back to the Android Beta page. From here, ensure you're signed into the primary Google Account tied to your device, and hit Opt Out under "Eligible Devices." This will opt the device out of future beta updates, and you'll be able to move back to the latest release version through the OTA update system.
You used to have to flash the latest Android betas to your devices to check them out, but luckily, Google has made the process a lot easier. Of course, all of this relies heavily on having one of the latest eligible devices, which you can see an updated list of on the Android Beta website. At a glance, here are the phones eligible for the Android 15 beta:
Left unchecked, our smartphones can become constant distractions, buzzing and bleeping all throughout the day—so much so that it can be difficult to do anything else in between reading and replying to messages, and scrolling through feeds. Are you in an unmanageable number of group chats? Yeah, me too.
There is hope: Spending a few minutes going through the notification settings on your Android phone can make a significant difference in terms of which apps can ping you and on what terms. Over the years, notification management on Android has slowly improved, up to the point where you now get a very decent level of granular control.
Android being Android, there are variations between different phones, so you may have to adapt the instructions below slightly. They've been written to apply to Google Pixel phones running Android 14 or later, and Samsung Galaxy phones running Android 14 and OneUI 6.1 or later.
From Settings, head to Notifications, then App notifications, then tap on an app: You'll see a toggle switch that lets you turn all notifications on or off for the app, so you can quickly silence apps you don't want to hear from—you'll need to actually open up the app to see what's new.
If you're on a Pixel phone, you'll see a list of notification channels (or types): For the Clock app, for example, they include alarms, timers, and stopwatch alerts. Tap on any channel to turn the particular notification on or off, or to switch it between the Default (using your phone's current alert setting) or Silent (the notification will show on screen, but won't trigger a noise or vibration, irrespective of your phone's setting).
On Galaxy phones, you need to do a bit of extra work to see these channels. From the main Notifications screen, pick Advanced settings, then enable Manage notification categories for each app. This then gives you access to the individual channels, under Notification categories, when you select a particular app.
Each individual app page lets you control whether its notifications trigger pop-ups on screen, and dots or badges on the app icon (in the app drawer and on the home screens). Sounds and vibrations can be handled separately too, and you'll also see lock screen options: App notifications can appear in full on the lock screen, or appear without a preview (just in case someone else is looking at your phone), or not appear at all.
Head back to the main Notifications screen to find more options, though they vary slightly between Pixel phones and Galaxy phones. You can set certain conversations in your messaging apps as higher priority, so they appear at the top of chat and notification lists, and control whether or not notifications can appear as floating bubbles on top of other apps. You're also able to enable or disable notification snoozing, and see your notification history (handy if you missed an alert).
To set the default sound and vibration setting for notifications, head to Sound and vibration (Pixel) or Sounds and vibration (Galaxy) from Settings. Note that apps can have their own individual notification sound if needed, which you can set by going back to the notification channels we looked at before, but vibration patterns can't be configured on an app-by-app basis.
You don't necessarily want the same notification settings to apply all day and all night, which is where Do Not Disturb comes in. You can get to it from Notifications in Settings, and you'll see you can either turn the mode on and off manually, or have it automatically enabled or disabled based on a schedule. Unless you make any changes, Do Not Disturb hides and mutes all incoming notifications.
Multiple schedules can be set up, so you might, for example, have one that applies overnight, and one that applies in the mornings on weekdays. Each schedule can either have its own individual settings in terms of the notifications you do and don't see, or it can follow the default Do Not Disturb configuration.
To set that configuration, you've got three main options. The first is People (Pixel) or Calls and messages (Galaxy): Here you can specify contacts whose calls and texts will override Do Not Disturb. Then there's Apps (Pixel) or App notifications (Galaxy), where you can choose specific apps that Do Not Disturb doesn't apply to.
The third option is Alarms and other interruptions (Pixel) or Alarms and sounds (Galaxy). Here you're able to control whether or not alarms, games, and media apps (such as your favorite podcast player) can interrupt you when Do Not Disturb is enabled. Once you've set up these three options for Do Not Disturb, and for each of your schedules, your notifications should be quite comprehensively tailored to your needs.
Tap Display options for hidden notifications (Pixel) or Hide notifications (Galaxy) and you can choose how alerts are hidden when Do Not Disturb is active—you can choose to hide them completely so you're none the wiser, for example, or have them show up on screen but not make a sound or trigger a vibration.
The final option to bear in mind here is your phone's silent mode options. On a Pixel, tap the volume up or down button, then the icon above the slider; on a Galaxy, swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the top left icon in Quick Settings. There are three options—sounds and vibrations enabled, vibrations only, or sounds and vibrations both muted—and they'll apply across all of your apps and notifications.
In Europe, Samsung released the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G A Series in March, but it just launched in the U.S. on April 18. The phone continues Samsung's A-series lineup of budget phones, but this Samsung Galaxy A35 has a large, premium display and long battery life, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a new budget-friendly phone. And if you order it through Amazon, it costs $399.99 and includes a $40 Amazon gift card.
The Amazon gift card bundle runs until April 28 and may ship separately from the phone. (Why it's not just a digital gift card, we may never know.) The Galaxy A35 comes unlocked and has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but you can always expand it up to 1TB with Micro SD cards.
What sets the Galaxy A35 apart from other budget phones at its price point is its large 6.6-inch Full High Definition (FHD) AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. For reference, the comparable Google Pixel 7a comes with a 6.1-inch FHD screen (Apple's budget iPhone SE is just 4.7 inches). The Exynos 1380 processor, however, is not as high-powered as what you'd get from a higher-end phone—but it should still be enough for most people's daily use.
With a 5,000mAh, the battery in the Galaxy A35 matches the Galaxy S24 Ultra's battery size. According to Samsung, that should give you two days worth of juice with a single charge.
Be mindful that because this is Samsung's A-series, it will lack some more premium features, like the high-end camera the S-series has, and the Galaxy AI features that launched in January—but there is a possibility that Samsung could bring the AI stuff to the Galaxy A35 later.
If the notifications on your Galaxy smartphone are all messed up, you're not alone. As reported by Android Police, Samsung's latest One UI 6.1 update has inadvertently affected notification categories on some users' Galaxy devices, throwing their carefully curated alert settings out the window. Luckily, there's a fix.
Notification categories, or notification channels as Google calls them, is a feature that allows you to enable or disable specific types of notifications on an app-by-app basis. For example, you may choose to enable DM notifications from an app, but disable all other types of alerts, including promotions, friend requests, breaking news, etc.
If you have a ton of apps on your smartphone that you've manually adjusted notification categories for, you don't want that work to go away overnight. Unfortunately, that's what happened for some users with the One UI 6.1 update: In addition to adding new AI features like Circle to Search and Live Translate, this new version of One UI adds a new Manage notification categories for each app setting, which allows you to toggle the feature on and off on your Galaxy. That's fine in theory—more choice is usually a good thing—but Samsung apparently decided to turn this feature off by default in the latest update.
As such, users found their notification categories settings removed following the update, meaning all of those notification types they didn't want to see began delivering away. (Hello, friend requests. Goodbye, sanity.)
Luckily, there's an easy fix for the problem: toggle the feature on instead. One UI 6.1 reportedly remembers your notification categories settings even when you disable the feature, so you can always return to the way you had these option set if you turn the feature back on. So, even though the option is disabled by default, a simple flip of the switch is all it takes to bring it back online.
To find the option, head to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings. Scroll down, and you'll find Manage notification categories for each app. Toggle it on, and your previous notification category settings should be restored.
Looking for a Galaxy that can run One UI 6.1? Here's the full list of Galaxy smartphones compatible with the latest update:
One of your smartphone's key features is the ability to make and receive calls and text messages. When this basic functionality stops working, it makes sense that people will complain. That’s been the case with the Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and Pixel Fold: Customers report they are missing calls and texts, as phone aren't ringing and texts aren't coming through.
These issues are exceptionally difficult to deal with (Your phone should be, first and foremost, a phone.) But luckily, a fix is now available. That’s thanks to the second April Pixel OTA update, which Google claims should resolve the pesky cellular bug. The OTA update is now available and is slowly rolling out to Pixel owners with a Pixel 7, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, or Pixel Fold.
This issue hasn’t plagued all users running a Pixel device, but there have definitely been enough complaints to get Google’s attention. But even if your Pixel is working fine, there's reason to update as soon as it hits your device: The OTA update is part of the Pixel’s Android 14 QPR2 release, which also comes with new security patches for all Pixel devices from the Pixel 7 onward. While you should make a habit of always downloading security updates as soon as their available, customers facing cellular issues have some extra incentives in this case.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the update is yet available for manual install. When using the Check for Updates option in my Pixel 8’s settings, I haven’t been able to get to it. It won't hurt to check periodically, but this may be an update you have to wait for Google to roll out to you. That’s unfortunate, as I’m sure many would prefer to download the update sooner rather than later, but at least a fix is in sight.
Of course, whether this completely resolves the issues remains to be seen. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro both have a lot going for them: I praised Google’s approach to its latest lineup in my Pixel 8 Pro review. Hopefully, this issue is just a small speed bump in a continued string of successes for the Pixel smartphone lineup.
If you need a new Pixel phone, check out these great options:
Pixel Fold: $1,274 (usually $1,799)
Pixel 8 Pro: $799 (usually $999)
Pixel 8: $549 (usually $699)
Right now, there are two main ways to charge our devices: plug it into power, or charge it wirelessly using a Qi-enabled device. A lesser-known wireless charging standard, WLC, actually enables devices to charge over NFC—the same tech used for mobile transactions like Apple Pay and Google Pay. As it happens, Google appears to be working on bringing NFC charging to smartphones with its upcoming Android 15 update, but it's not clear why.
Android Authority's Mishaal Rahman discovered the feature in Android 15's first beta, which Google released last week. Rahman noticed Google added a new class to the system app that deals with NFC: NfcCharging. If that wasn't clear enough, Rahman found NfcCharging can start and stop charging via NFC, analyzes NFC charging info payloads, among other functions.
We don't know what the timeline would be for adding NFC charging to Android, but there's no real reason to rush the tech at this time. Charing a device over NFC would be considerably slower than Qi wireless charging (or wired charging, of course), as the standard only supports charging up to 1W. Qi, on the other hand, has a maximum output of 15W, depending on the device and charger. It would take a long time to charge a modern smartphone via NFC. When you can fully charge a phone like the OnePlus 12 in just over a half hour, NFC charging doesn't seem particularly practical.
However, this standard could be more useful for smaller devices that use tiny batteries—think Bluetooth trackers or styluses. While NFC charging will still be slow, it could allow companies to put rechargeable batteries in products that currently use disposable ones. Imagine your Pixel passively charging an AirTag or a Tile tracker whenever they're next to each other, rather than throwing away the battery when it dies. If Google follows through with this tech and adds it to Android 15, it'll be up to the marketplace to take advantage of the standard in new products.
This isn't the first time we've seen a software update add a new wireless charging standard to smartphones. With iOS 17.2, Apple added Qi2 charging to iPhones, an improved version of Qi that allows for a magnetic connection with wireless chargers. That said, this Android update could enable NFC wireless charging from smartphones themselves, rather than allow smartphones to access a new way to charge.
When it comes to the best Android tablets, Samsung's Galaxy Tab series has some of the best in class for many categories. The S9, S8, and S6 Lite series have great options for budget, midrange, and high-end tablets. But if there is one Android tablet that is best value for your money and considered "budget," it's the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet. Right now, the Galaxy Tab A9+ starts at $159.99 (originally $219.99) after a $60 discount from Amazon, bringing it down to its lowest price yet per price checking tools, and is $10 cheaper than the recent "Big Spring Sale."
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is considered one of the best-value Android tablets by PCMag, who gave it an "excellent" review. They named it their Editor's Choice for the best affordable Android tablet for its low price, large 11-inch screen, expandable storage, good performance, and ability to handle productivity tasks smoothly with Samsung's software aids. This Samsung tablet came out in 2023 and starts with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, and an 11-inch LCD screen with 1920 x 1200 resolution. You can get the 128 GB storage version for $209.99 (originally $269.99). Both versions have a 5MP front-facing camera and an 8MP on the back.
Most people will probably want more than the 64 GB of storage that the base model offers. If you already have storage at home, keep in mind that the tablet has a microSD slot for expandable storage. The battery will last for around seven hours of use, which isn't impressive, but for a budget tablet, it's expected.
I’m a pretty big fan of what Google is doing with its Pixel Watch and Pixel phone lineup. These devices are some of the best ways to experience Android on a smartwatch or a smartphone, and Google is continually making things even better. One particularly useful feature that Pixel Watch owners can take advantage of is the Watch Unlock functionality, which Google introduced in late 2023.
It’s a pretty well-hidden feature in that Google hasn’t really actively advertised, and unlike the Apple Watch, which has watch unlock turned on by default, you have to manually activate the feature on the Pixel Watch.
Watch Unlock is a really handy feature that allows your smartwatch to effectively bypass your other lock screen security functionality. It's great for those times when you need to access your phone but don't want to go through the hassle of dealing with face unlock or putting in your passcode or fingerprint. In other words, you can maintain your phone's security in the event that it's stolen or misplaced, but when it's just you at the office or at home, you don't have to jump through those same hoops as long as your watch is nearby.
When enabled, Watch Unlock lets you bring your watch close to your phone, and then it unlocks it, and based on some of the other settings you have selected (which we'll touch on more in a moment), you'll be given instant access to your last-used screen, or you'll be able to swipe up to access your device without needing to put in an unlock code.
Now that you know a bit more about Watch Unlock, let's talk about how to actually use it. The first thing you’ll need is a Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2 and a Pixel phone running Android 13 or higher, like the Pixel 8 Pro. Unfortunately, Watch Unlock on the Pixel Watch doesn’t seem to work with any other Android devices, so if you’re not sporting the complete pair, you’re out of luck on using this handy little feature.
It should also be noted that Watch Unlock on the Pixel Watch doesn’t offer quite the same functionality as it does on the Apple Watch, which is the place that I have the most experience with this feature. On the Apple Watch, you can use Watch Unlock to unlock both your phone and other Apple devices, but you can also use it to unlock your phone. The Pixel doesn’t offer this same capability, but maybe Google will add it in the future, as it is really nice not always having to put in a code on a tiny screen like those found on smartwatches.
If you have the needed devices—a Pixel Watch and Pixel phone—then you can take advantage of Watch Unlock by activating it through the following steps:
First, navigate to the Google Pixel Watch app on your Pixel phone. Tap Watch preferences > Security > Watch Unlock and toggle it on.
You can also turn it on in Android settings by navigating to Settings > Security & privacy > Device Unlock> Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Watch Unlock. Either method will send you through a set of on-screen instructions that end with Watch Unlock activated.
Now that Watch Unlock is activated, you can use it in a few different ways. Like I mentioned before, how quickly you access your phone after using Watch Unlock will depend on some specific settings. If you have Skip lock screen turned on in your phone’s settings, having your Pixel Watch on your wrist, unlocked, and near your phone will take you directly to your last used screen. If you don’t have Skip lock screen turned on, then it will unlock your phone, but still display the lock screen, requiring you to swipe up to access the rest of your device.
Update (April 12, 2024): OnePlus has issued a correction for their original announcement: The company says their press release mistakenly announced that "Gemini Ultra Large Model" would make its debut on OnePlus 12, when the press release should have said "Gemini Models" instead. As Gemini comes in three models (Nano, Pro, and Ultra), it's not clear which models will make their way to OnePlus 12. So, it's still possible OnePlus plans to integrate Google's most powerful AI model on their smartphones, but we won't know until the company officially confirms what "models" means.
The original article is as follows:
The OnePlus 12 might have launched without support for AI earlier this year, but it seems OnePlus and Oppo (both owned by BBK) have big plans for how they want to support AI going forward: Both OnePlus and Oppo have announced that they will introduce features powered by Gemini 1.0 Ultra to their smartphones.
Gemini Ultra is the most powerful AI that Google has to offer, and so far, it hasn't been included on any smartphones—not even Google's own Pixel 8 Pro, which instead sports Gemini Nano. It was hard not to compare the OnePlus 12 to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra when I reviewed the two phones earlier this year, but the OnePlus could soon offer an even more powerful suite of AI features than Galaxy AI currently does, as Samsung opted for Gemini Pro, not Gemini Ultra.
Neither company announced a specific date for when we can expect to see Gemini Ultra on OnePlus and Oppo phones, or even any explicit information about which smartphones from the two companies will sport the Google-powered AI. However, we do know that they are aiming for "later this year."
After the launch of its latest smartphones, OnePlus has already started to introduce features like AI Eraser, which works very similarly to Google's own Magic Eraser on the Pixel phones and in Google Photos. That feature isn't powered by Google's AI, though, so it's unclear if it will get an upgrade down the line or if it will continue to use the model it already relies on.
Either way, the OnePlus 12 is sure to become an even more appealing flagship device for Android users once Gemini becomes available on it and other OnePlus devices. The companies say they plan to bring a slew of generative AI features to the table, including generative photo editing, chat assistance, and tons of other features that are already found on the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 lineups.
Google is officially moving Android 15 to its next milestone with the release of the first Android 15 Beta. The company behind Android shared the news today in a blog post, releasing some details about the new features, as well as when it expects to hit platform stability in the 15th iteration of the Android operating system.
Android 15, of course, is the next version of Google's phone-based operating system, and it will continue the ongoing trend of offering new AI features for Android users to take advantage of. The Android 15 Beta will only be available on select Pixel devices at the start, with the list of supported devices including:
Pixel 5a
Pixel 6
Pixel 6 Pro
Pixel 6a
Pixel 7
Pixel 7 Pro
Pixel 7a
Pixel Tablet
Pixel Fold
Pixel 8
Pixel 8 Pro
Android 15 has been available in the Android Developer Preview since February, but now Google is opening the virtual floodgates to get early adopters involved, too. Some new features coming to Android 15 include an edge-to-edge display mode for apps by default, which should make it easier for developers to create apps to show content behind the system bars.
Google is also upgrading the NFC experience on Android 15 to provide a more seamless and reliable experience for tap to pay. A big change, too, will allow for better archiving and unarchiving of apps, which should help with cleaning up your Android device, though it will still require some input from developers there. You can get a look at all the Android 15 features we know about so far, but most of them seem to be aligned with making the operating system more efficient for users.
Beta releases are expected to continue throughout the rest of April, May, and June, though Google says it hopes to reach platform stability by the end of June. This would be the lineup for a fall release for Android 15, which is also when we expect to see the latest Pixel devices becoming available, based on past releases.
Of course, Google is still playing the full list of new features close to its chest, and we don't expect to learn more about everything the tech giant has in store until Google I/O later this year. But if you're interested in testing out the latest version of the Android operating system as Google expands it, you can download the Android 15 Beta to applicable devices starting today.
Until the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S8+ tablets released in 2022, Android users struggled to find good tablet options to integrate with their Android devices. The main problem with these tablets back then was their expensive prices. Now, both tablets are much more affordable, with the Galaxy Tab S8 tablet starting at $418.56 (originally $699.99) after a 40% discount and the Galaxy Tab S8+ starting at $549.99 (originally $899.99) after a 39% discount. Both are currently at their lowest prices yet, according to price-checking tools.
The Galaxy S8 tablet starts with 128GB of storage and comes with an 11-inch LCD screen with 2,560 by 1,600 pixel resolution. The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 chipset and it handles wifi 6E. PCMag says they got about 7.5 hours of juice when they were reviewing the tablet.
The Galaxy Tab S8+ is bigger than the regular Tab S8. It has a 12.4-inch AMOLED display with 2,800 by 1,752 pixel resolution. It also has a bigger battery, giving you about an hour or two more of life, depending on use. The Tab S8+ also has the option of 5G connectivity, which the regular Tab S8 lacks. The RAM, storage, ports, operating systems, 13MP rear and 12MP front cameras, and wifi are the same. Both tablets also come with an S Pen stylus.
If these tablets lack the power you're looking for, the sharper Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra offers more in almost every department, and it's $400 off right now.
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) route your internet access through a different server somewhere in the world—they can spoof your location, stop other parties (including your internet provider) from seeing what you're doing online, and encrypt your data, so it's harder to intercept and analyze.
You'll find plenty of articles on Lifehacker on the benefits of VPNs and some of the best VPN deals you can find online, and these tools can be installed on your Android phones and tablets as well as Windows, macOS, and iPhones.
Once you install a VPN on Android, everything you do online gets routed through it, whether that's through apps or your mobile web browser: Your VPN app gets its hooks quite deep into Android, to manage all your online traffic. Calls and texts aren't affected, but messaging apps that connect to the web (including WhatsApp and Signal) are.
We've already touched on some of the benefits of VPNs: Routing your traffic across different, secure servers in this way means it's well-protected from the company that provides your internet, as well as the authorities. It also means you can change the location your Android phone appears to be in, if you need to (although a lot of streaming apps are wise to this now).
What VPNs don't do, however, is make you anonymous. If you're logged into Instagram or Amazon or Google, they're still going to know what you're up to—a VPN doesn't mean that no one can see anything you're doing on the web or inside apps.
It's your call as to whether or not you need a VPN, bearing in mind that these services come with a slight hit to the speed of your internet connection, and may cost you some money. They're most valuable if you spend a lot of time on public wifi networks (like coffee shops and hotels), where it's more likely that other devices are trying to get a peek at what you're up to.
The process of choosing a VPN for Android is the same as it is when you're choosing a VPN for any other platform: Take your time, do as much research as you can, and take advice from the people you trust. (Speaking of trustworthy, we have our own lists of the best VPNs and the best free VPNs you can get right now.)
One key feature to look out for is a zero logs policy, which means no records are kept of your browsing—and ideally, you want a zero logs policy that's independently audited. Remember that while governments, internet providers, and law enforcement agencies won't be able to see your activity online, your VPN company will—so you need to pick one you trust.
It's also worth checking on the number of servers a VPN offers around the world, and the number of devices you can have connected to the VPN service at once (if you need coverage beyond your Android phone or tablet). You might also find you have a VPN included as part of another subscription: Google One or Proton Unlimited, for example.
Generally speaking, paying for a VPN gives you extra peace of mind that your VPN provider of choice isn't making money out of you in another way. That said, there are a handful of reputable free VPN providers out there, which are listed in our best free VPNs for Android guide. You'll have to put up with some restrictions on the free plans, such as limits on speeds or the number of servers you can connect to.
The process of setting up a VPN on Android is simple and straightforward, once you've picked the VPN you'd like to use. While the exact steps vary depending on the VPN you decide to go with, I'll walk you through installing NordVPN on Android—it's one of the better VPNs out there, and our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN guide tells you more about it.
Find the VPN you want in the Play Store (NordVPN for Android in this case), log in, and you can then pick a VPN server to connect to: With NordVPN, you can also tap Quick Connect to use a server near your current location. The first time your VPN app connects to the web, Android will ask you to confirm that you trust it.
To view VPNs available on your device and switch between them, from Settings choose Network and Internet then VPN (Pixel phones) or Connections, More connection settings, and VPN (Galaxy phones). When a VPN is active, you should see a key icon in the status bar, and your VPN app of choice may display a permanent notification too, telling you which server you're connected to.
Tap the gear icon next to your current VPN to configure it (to set it to always be active, for example). You can also tap the + (plus) icon in the top right corner to enter details of a VPN server manually, but these only apply if you've using a Virtual Private Network provided by your employer or another organization—most users won't need this screen.
Samsung has refreshed the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite a couple times since its initial release in 2020: It was revamped in 2022 and again this year. The 2024 Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is currently $329.99 on Amazon, which isn't a particularly good value for your money compared to other mid-range tablets available. However, Amazon is throwing in a $100 gift card, which makes this a more enticing deal.
The 2024 Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is not yet available on Samsung's own website in the U.S. (only see the international product page is visible). The tablet debuted internationally in March but has only recently been available in the U.S. solely through Amazon, available for Amazon Prime and immediate shipping.
At its current price, the Tab S6 competes with the 10th-generation iPad, which you can find discounted for $349.99 (originally $449). Both are mid-tier tablets, but the newer Tab S6 includes the $100 gift card and is two years newer, which can mean a lot in terms of ongoing support via software updates.
The S6 Lite's 64GB storage model starts at $329. You can double the storage to 128GB for $80 more, but you can't increase the 4GB of RAM. It comes with a 10.4-inch LCD screen with a 2,000 by 1,200-pixel display resolution, a new Exynos processor, a slim metal design, dual AKG speakers with Dolby Atmos, an external memory MicroSD slot of up to 1TB, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front-facing camera, and up to 14 hours of battery life.
The main difference between the 2022 model and this one is the new processor over the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, two more hours of battery life, and the newer Android 14 OS out of the box. The design, S-Pen, screen, and 4GB of RAM are the same. If those things are not important to you, the 2022 version for $159.15 might be a better deal (or even the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+); just keep in mind that newer models will get more years of software updates than older ones.
On Monday, Google officially rolled out its Find My Device network for Android—not to be confused with Apple's Find My network, of course. But the similar names are appropriate in this case, since Google's new service works just about the same as Apple's—and Tile's, for that matter. Google's service helps you find devices you've left behind or misplaced by leveraging the greater network of Android devices.
Find My Device allows you to find the approximate location for any connected, compatible device by relying on a network of over one billion Android devices around the world. (At the onset, however, Find My Device only works in the United States and Canada.)
When you leave behind a connected device, those devices can passively connect to any nearby Android phone through Bluetooth. That connection updates the device's location in the Find My Device network, giving you a good idea of where that device is—at least, where it was the last time an Android user came within Bluetooth distance of it (roughly 30 feet). If you have a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro, this works even when your device is offline. If your phone loses all its battery, you can still locate it using Find My Device.
But it's not just other people's devices that can help you find your missing items: You can also use your personal devices to find others. If you're close enough to the missing device, you'll see a Find nearby option appear, which walks you directly to your device's location using an on-screen radius. Your Nest devices can also act as beacons for your missing devices: If they're close enough to one of your Google smart home devices, that will help you locate those missing items as well.
For now, Find My Device only works with Android phones and tablets, but Google will expand the network to support compatible Bluetooth devices starting in May. That includes Bluetooth trackers from Pebblebee and Chipolo, and Google says companies like Motorola, Jio, and Eufy will be making compatible tags later this year. Google will also let you share items with other people, so you can share a TV remote with your friend who is house sitting, or your keys with someone borrowing your car.
Google says all location data, including aggregated device location reporting, is end-to-end encrypted, so no one should be able to see your items' locations but you, not even Google. That goes for the people whose devices are sharing their location with your items: Their data is end-to-end encrypted, so you can't see that it was their device that shared the location, and they can't see they shared it to your device. The company even asserts that if one of your devices can help find your missing item, it will disregard all aggregated location data in favor of using your device as a tracker.
Google also says it doesn't start saving location info until it senses multiple devices around yours, and limits the number of refreshes to minimize the risk of malicious real-time tracking. In other words, the feature works great for stationary objects, such as keys left behind in a coffee shop, but it won't offer live updates if you left those keys in the back of a taxi. In addition, if you're near your home and have you address tied to your Google account, your device won't contribute to the crowdsourced location data used to locate other devices.
Finally, Find My Device works with the established anti-stalker protocols both Android and iOS are a part of. If your device detects a strange tracker, it will alert you and offer instructions on how to find and disable the tracker.
To get started, you'll need an Android device running at least Android 9, and the Find My Device app from the Play Store. Alternatively, you can log into the Find My Device site on desktop.
If you're looking for your own device, you can hit Continue, but if you're helping a friend, choose Sign in as guest and have your friend plug in their credentials. From here, choose the device you want to find: You may need to confirm your device's PIN or provide your Google password instead. Once confirmed, this action will send a notification to that device.
Now, you should see your device on the map. You can choose to get directions to your device, or, if you're close enough to the device, you can use the Find nearby feature.
You have a few other options as well: You can choose to play a sound from your device, which will make it ring at max volume for five minutes (be careful with this one). You can also lock your device with your PIN or password using Secure device to make sure no one can access it: If you use this feature, you can leave a message for anyone who finds your device to help get in contact with you.
Finally, if you can't find it, you can delete the device from your account.
Look, I know there's a joke that nobody uses a smartphone as a phone anymore, but I don't really think that's true. In between the relentless spam calls, there are still plenty of reasons your smartphone needs to be connected to your carrier's network. As much as data-driven communication platforms have changed the game, traditional phone calls and SMS-based text messages are still part of daily life, even in 2024.
So, when your Pixel decides it no longer wants to reliably connect to your carrier's network, it's going to throw a bit of a wrench in your life. If this sounds like your experience with your Google-made smartphone, you aren't alone—a lot of Pixel owners are experiencing network issues right now, across Pixel devices.
As reported by Android Authority, more and more users are complaining about their Pixel phones not working as, well, phones. Users will miss phone calls entirely, and only notice after they see the call went directly to voicemail, while text messages don't appear as they're received, but rather pop in all at once in batches. It's affecting multiple types of Pixel, as well, including Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.
In a Google Support thread about the issue, users blame the March 2024 update for causing this chaos, and suggest the April 2024 update didn't include a patch for it, either. (It isn't present in the release notes.) One alleges this update somehow messed with the phone's IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), which is responsible for powering different communication standards on the Pixel. One commenter goes so far as to say the SMS issues have nearly driven them to iPhone, saying, "Google - are you getting the message?"
We don't know exactly what is causing this network issue with Pixel, and it's not affecting each and every Pixel user, as this Android Police commenter would like readers to know. But there are enough Pixel devices experiencing network problems around the world that this seems to be an issue Google can address. I've reached out to Google regarding the issue, and will update if I hear back.
In the meantime, it seems like the only temporary workaround is to toggle wifi off and on again, to essential toggle wifi calling off and on again as well. Reports suggest the workaround will allow calls and texts through as normal, but only temporarily, as the issue does seem to come back in time.
Some tablets are powerful enough to do the work of your laptop—the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is one of them. For a limited time, Woot is selling refurbished i5 and i7 Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable tablets starting at $379.99. The deal goes on until April 14, 2024, at 2:59 a.m. ET or until the tablets sell out.
Keep in mind that these tablets are refurbished, so they might come with signs of wear, but they were all inspected and serviced to work properly. They also come with a three-year Dell warranty, according to Woot. Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it’ll be $6 to ship.
The tablets come without their keyboard and pen, but after checking price-tracking tools, you can get them for a record-low price of $112.99 (originally $199.99) on Amazon after a 44% discount. If you were to buy these tablets from Dell with their keyboard and pen, the i5 would run you $1,979, bringing your savings to $1,486. The i7 goes for $2,345.28, so you'd save $1,742 getting it refurbished with the keyboard and pen from Woot and Amazon, respectively.
These Windows tablets came out in 2021 with an "excellent" review from PCMag. They have a kickstand so you can prop them up while you work, a 13-inch 1,920 by 1,280 LED touchscreen display, decent speakers for a tablet, and a battery that will last you over 12 hours.
The i5 comes with 8GB of RAM, and the i7 comes with 16GB of RAM. If you can afford the extra $120, the bump in processing and RAM power is well worth the price (not to mention doubling the storage as well). With that kind of processing and RAM, these tablets can replace most laptops. They also come with Windows 11 Pro and wifi 6A, making it a great option for anyone looking for productivity and portability.
Samsung recently released One UI 6.1 for older Galaxy devices, shipping Samsung's big Galaxy AI features to phones like the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra. However, while features like Circle to Search and translation tools are great to have, they're not worth much if your display is unresponsive.
TechRadar noticed Galaxy users complaining about their displays not functioning following the One UI update on both Reddit and Samsung Community forums. On Reddit, the OP says that after installing version 6.1, their display is totally unresponsive to touch inputs. The only way to get things working is by using the S Pen. Restarting the device doesn't help, either. The OP of the Samsung Community forums thread tried wiping the whole phone, and still the display was unresponsive.
[Update April 5] When this news dropped, the cause of the issue wasn't clear. The leading theory was that One UI 6.1 somehow broke compatibility with third-party displays, as both OPs linked above used non-OEM parts in their affected Galaxy devices. It seemed highly unlikely that Samsung would brick third-party displays on purpose, but since companies have engaged in what's known as parts pairing, it didn't seem unreasonable that Samsung accidentally made these non-Samsung parts unresponsive.
However, Samsung has since commented on the issue, and it's not a third-party display problem. In a post on its Korean Community website, the company claims the issue stems from compatibility problems with "some Google app features." In particular, Samsung highlights Google Discover as the culprit causing touchscreen issues with One UI 6.1.
Whatever is causing the issue, there's also a fix: Samsung says you need to update your Google app to its latest version, delete its data, then restart your Galaxy.
Update your Google app from the Play Store as you typically would. (You can search for the Google app, then hit Update.) Now, to delete its data, go to Settings > Applications > Google > Storage, then hit Delete data. Restart your Galaxy, and the display should be back to normal, at least according to Samsung.
Unfortunately, Samsung doesn't seem to have a solution for those of you with totally unresponsive displays, as getting to these settings requires some level of input. Hopefully, Samsung issues an official update to patch the issue altogether. You could revert back to One UI 6 in the meantime, but you will lose your data, so if you can get your phone working using the S Pen, that might be the better approach for now.
Google might be working on a beta version of its Google Messages app that supports satellite messaging, following in the footsteps of Apple, which already has a similar feature.
Within the beta version of Google Messages, version 20240329_01_RC00, 9to5Google pointed toward the following strings of text that indicate a forthcoming emergency messaging feature:
"To send and receive, stay outside with a clear view of the sky"
"Satellite messaging may take longer and can’t include photos & videos"
"You can message with anyone, including emergency services"
Apple's version of satellite messaging, called Emergency SOS via satellite, lets you text emergency services or roadside assistance when you don't have cellular or wifi coverage or can't dial 911. It seems like Google's implementation may work similarly to Apple's.
The one thing that makes Google's version of satellite messaging distinct, if the above strings do actually pan out, is that it seems like you can message other people in your contacts, not just emergency services. In theory, in an emergency, you could send a message via satellite to emergency services and also to your friends and family, so they know what's going on.
We'll learn more about this potential new feature in the coming months as Android 15 will most likely be released in the fall, sometime around the Google Pixel 9 series launch.
Samsung tablets have dominated the market (and provided the best user experience) at least since the Galaxy Tab S8 series came out in 2022. With the release of the new Galaxy Tab S9 series, the S8 Ultra has gotten cheaper, and Samsung has released more of the "best tablets" for Android users.
If you're looking to pick one up, right now the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, and Galaxy Tab S9 FE are all $100 off on Amazon. Here is which one is right for you.
Samsung makes FE versions, or "Fan Edition," of certain cell phones, earphones, and tablet devices. Think of them as devices that integrate better within the Samsung ecosystem and have features that the company's biggest "fans" have requested. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is one of them, and also the budget version of the latest Tab S9 series.
This sale covers the wifi-only version, so it's not compatible with cellphone carriers. It comes with 128GB or 256GB (both are $100 off their respective list prices), and you can always add more storage with a microSD card. The tablets have 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and both are rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, with 10.9-inch screens, an 8MP front camera and 12MP rear camera, and a battery life of up to 18 hours.
If you want more premium experience, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers it. The S9 FE+ has a bigger 12.4-inch screen with a higher 2560 by 1600 resolution. It has the same Samsung Exynos 1380 processor and Android 13 operating system as the S9. The camera is also the same, save that it also offers an ultra-wide view for both the rear and front camera. The battery will provide up to 20 hours of juice, and the you can choose between 8GB of RAM in the 128GB storage version, or 12GB of RAM in the 256GB model. The S9 FE+ is an "excellent" tablet according to our pals at PCMag, and well worth the upgrade if you are looking for the best midrange Android tablet on the market.
The best tablet for Android power users is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, but you'll have to pony up $1,200 to get it. This S9 Ultra tablet comes with 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, the largest AMOLED 14.6-inch display of the bunch, with 2560 by 1600 pixels of resolution, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip processor, and wifi 6E. It comes with the Samsung S pen, plus a Samsung Book Keyboard cover. There are two 12MP front-facing cameras and two 13MP rear cameras, with an 8MP ultra wide on both the front and rear. PCMag also gave this one an "excellent" review. If you're looking for the best Android tablet you can get right now, it's the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra came out in 2022 and was widely regarded as the best Android tablet available until it was eclipsed by the Tab S9 Ultra last year. Right now, Best Buy is offering the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra for $699.99 (originally $1,099.99). This matches its all-time lowest price, according to my favorite price-tacking tools.
Despite not being the latest and greatest Samsung tablet, it is still one of the best Android tablets you can buy right now, especially if you're looking for a deal. The S8 Ultra comes with a 14.6-inch display, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal memory, and a 2960 x 1848 screen resolution . The tablet is only available in the Graphite color and comes with the S-Pen stylus and a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The tablet has an AMOLED display and has surprisingly good sound for a tablet. While the S8 Ultra doesn't come with a keyboard, you can get the official one from Amazon used for $99. Although the tablet has 5G capabilities, this is the wifi-only version, so you can't take it to your cell phone carrier to add 5G.
If you've used or owned tablets before, you're probably used to screens on the smaller end. This model's 14.6-inch screen is one of the largest tablets Samsung has made—and is larger than many compact laptops—so if you're expecting a small portable tablet, think again. This is a productivity-focused tablet that can double as a laptop with its screen size, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, plus the ability to get a full keyboard.
Shazam, the Apple-owned song recognition service, now works on your Android smartwatch, even if your phone isn't with you—with a couple caveats. Once you update Shazam on Wear OS, you'll be able to use it to identify songs directly on your smartwatch. This was first reported by 9to5Google and is a significant development for people with Wear OS smartwatches.
You can get the latest Shazam update from Play Store and use the app whether your phone is with you or not. Another new feature is the ability to instantly sync recognized songs across devices. Once you open the app, you'll have to tap the Shazam icon for it to start listening to the music playing around you. Note that Shazam on Wear OS still requires internet to function. If your watch is offline, the app will log the songs you try to identify, and name them for you once you're back online. You can then listen to these songs on the music streaming service of your choice.
Google ships a built-in music identifier feature with Wear OS, and that's still faster than using Shazam on your Android smartwatch. Your Google Pixel smartphone ships with a neat Now Playing feature that automatically identifies songs playing around you. It would be nice to have this feature added to Wear OS, but the unfortunate reality is that Google has slowed down the pace of development on the smartwatch platform.
For some people, Shazam may work out to be a better alternative to the built-in Wear OS song recognition feature because you can sync that across platforms and have it automatically add identified songs to a Spotify playlist. It's good to know that Apple is investing in Shazam's development on platforms it doesn't own (RIP Dark Sky's Android app).
I was really impressed with the OnePlus 12 when I tested it out earlier this year, and it looks like OnePlus is continuing to improve upon the solid foundation it has built. The latest version of OxygenOS 14, OnePlus’ Android 14 update, has added the option to integrate the OnePlus Photos app with Google Photos.
This allows photos to be more easily backed up to the cloud, though OnePlus hasn’t mentioned whether or not it will offer support for the ProXDR quality option available on higher-end OnePlus devices. OnePlus owners could already download the Google Photos app and complete a backup, but this will do it without requiring any additional apps to be downloaded. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there is any kind of two-way sync for albums, which would be nice.
To enable the new setting on OnePlus devices, you’ll first need to update to OxygenOS 14. That operating system is available on OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 11 devices, as well as on the OnePlus 10T and OnePlus 9. OxygenOS 14 is also available on some mid-range devices, like the OnePlus Nord 2T and Nord 3.
Once upgraded to the latest version, you can find the setting in the OnePlus Photos app. Open the built-in Photos app and select Settings > Backup with Google Photos, and then tap it to activate it. 9to5Google did report some issues with getting the backups working, most notably that they had to force quit the app an then reload it to make things work correctly after enabling the setting.
We’re expecting to finally hear more about Android 15 when Google I/O hits in May—but we already know a good bit about what the new operating system will entail, thanks to Google’s Android Developer Program, which has allowed developers to access Android 15 on select devices for the past couple of months.
Chief among the changes coming to Android 15 is the inclusion of some new improvements to the UI and UX. Each of the options noted below has either been highlighted by Google itself or showcased in a released build for Android 15.
Google will now let you control the amount of notifications that an app can send you. This should help cut down on spammy notifications from games and other social apps while also allowing you to still get your important notifications. Based on the settings seen in screenshots, you have a couple of different options you can use here, including applying the cooldown just to conversations or to all your notifications.
Android 15 will also allow you to select specific windows that you want to record, allowing you more privacy when it comes to recording something to show off. This feature was first enabled on Pixel devices with Android 14 QPR 2, but it’ll become a widespread Android feature with Android 15.
Google continues to lay the groundwork for better satellite connectivity, and Android 15 will allow you more options. Apps will now be able to use APIs that can detect when your device is connected to a satellite, which will help your phone tell which network you’re connected to more easily.
You’ll also now be able to toggle off all keyboard vibrations with a universal option in settings.
Google is changing how the camera controls look in Android 15. The look of the camera app is changing slightly, and new extensions will provide more control over low light enhancements as well as more precise control of the flash intensity.
Android 15 will now provide a higher quality mode for using your phone as a webcam. This feature was first made available in Android 14, but it provided low-quality footage. This new setting should hopefully alleviate those quality concerns.
Many apps still rely on text messages to provide authentication codes. While it isn’t the safest option out there, Google is at least trying to make them a little safer by blocking third-party apps from being able to read your incoming text notifications when they may contain sensitive information like one-time passwords (OTP).
Android 15 will also provide more continuity features for foldable phones, allowing you to reopen apps more easily when you close your device.
Using multiple Bluetooth accessories can be frustrating on Android devices, as you often need to go into the settings to work with them. In Android 15, though, you’ll soon be able to access all your Bluetooth devices from the Quick Settings tile, making it easier to work with multiple accessories.
Auracast is getting an update in Android 15, too. You’ll now be able to share and connect to nearby Auracast-supported devices without having to pair them up completely.
Google is also updating its persistent taskbar on some larger-screen devices. It first introduced the taskbar in Android 12L, but it shrunk it down in Android 13. Now, you’ll be able to choose to make the taskbar permanent in Android 15, if you want it to be available all the time.
Phones running Android 15 will also have better cover screen support, allowing apps to transfer data to the covers of flip phones like the Z Flip more consistently.
Google is also adding support for virtual MIDI 2.0 devices in Android 15. This is a huge improvement to the initial support for connecting MIDI 2.0 devices via USB, which Google introduced in Android 13. This will now allow users to control synthesizer apps as a virtual MIDI 2.0 device just as they would with a standard USB MIDI 2.0 device.
Android 15 will also get some new Health Connect updates, though Google hasn't specified exactly what will change or be improved just yet. All we know is it will support new data types across nutrition, fitness, and more.
With Android 15, Google is officially introducing support for the CTA-2075 loudness standard, which will help developers avoid having inconsistencies with loudness. This should help cut down on the amount of constant switching between volumes when moving between different types of content, both when using speakers and headphones.
Google is revamping how the Android system provides access to the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF), which developers rely on for games and more intensive apps. This provides those apps with more direct access to the thermal and power systems on the device. With updated ADPF features, Android 15 will provide a new power efficiency mode, as well as reports for GPU and CPU work durations, and even the option to adjust the frequencies of the GPU and CPU to meet new workload demands. Google is also introducing new thermal headroom thresholds in Android 15, to help with possible thermal throttling.
A new archive option will be available in Android 15, providing more user control over how you handle archives for different apps. Google currently only lets you run archiving through the Google Play Store. However, this new setting will let you archive or unarchive apps within your phone’s settings directly.
Google is also updating the privacy features in Android 15 by updating it to the latest version of the Privacy Sandbox, as well as adding in a new file integrity feature to help keep files working smoothly. Android 15 will also now detect when your screen is being recorded, to help cut down on malicious apps trying to capture your screens without your permission. You’ll also now have to authenticate your identity with biometrics or your passcode when changing the USB mode on your phone. This will help protect you from malicious computer commands.
Of course, there are likely to be more reveals of features that users haven’t spotted in Android 15 as we move closer to Google I/O and Android 15’s eventual release later this year.
Google is making a big change to the Pixel Launcher, and it’s one of the new features of Android 15 I’m most excited about. In the latest Developer Preview for the new version of Android OS, Google has changed up how you trigger the search functionality in the Pixel Launcher, making it much easier to quickly find apps.
Launchers are one of the most important parts of your smartphone experience because they provide the main playground for where your home screen and apps are displayed. As such, having a good launcher can completely change how easily you use your phone. And the new functionality to Pixel Launcher, which is what many Pixel users have, enables the search function to open when swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
This might seem like a small change, but it’s actually one that will help make moving to Android much easier for iPhone users. Now, when using the Google Search bar at the bottom of the screen, you’ll be able to tap on it and search for an app right from your home screen. You’ll also be able to enable swipe up to start search, a new functionality similar to the swipe down to search feature that Apple includes in iOS.
Having used an iPhone as my daily driver for the past four years, one of the biggest hurdles I had to deal with when switching to Android for my Pixel 8 Pro review was the fact that I couldn’t swipe to search. Instead, I had to go in and find my apps manually, which was really annoying and time consuming. This functionality was available in some third-party launchers, like Nova Launcher, but the Pixel Launcher's base options didn't offer it.
By changing how you search in the Pixel Launcher, Google is making it easier than ever to find the apps that you want. It’s a small quality-of-life change that will drastically change how you interact with your phone, and one that will make the already great Pixel 8 Pro even better.
Aside from updating search, Android 15’s Developer Preview 2 will also add in a new sub-menu for the setting, and some speculate new settings may be added, since the only thing there right now is the swipe to search function.
It has only been a couple of months since Google officially revealed Android 15, and we expect to learn more about it and the upcoming Pixel 8a during Google I/O later this year.
The Pixel 8 Pro remains one of my favorite Android smartphones of the past year, and so far the Pixel 8a looks to follow in its footsteps. Now, new reports from Android Authority have revealed what we can likely expect to see from the upcoming affordable Google device, and it has raised some interesting questions about the entire lineup as a whole.
According to Android Authority’s sources, the Pixel 8a will sport the same Tensor G3 chip found in the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8, both of which were released last year. Google has also improved the display from the Pixel 7a, as the source claims the Pixel 8a will sport a 120Hz OLED panel with 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness. That matches the specs already seen on the base Pixel 8, though the display will be slightly smaller at 6.1-inch compared to the 6.2-inch display found in the base Pixel 8.
This upgrade means that the Pixel 8a will look very similar to the Pixel 8, both in design and visual fidelity. It will also sport the same 2400 x 1080 resolution, though it will have a 128-pixel corner radius at native resolution compared to the Pixel 8’s 102-pixel. Of course, all of this is based off of information provided to Android Authority, and until Google officially announces the Pixel 8a’s specs, we won’t know for sure if what we’re looking at is true or not.
Android Authority’s sources also claim that the Pixel 8a will feature DisplayPort output support, another long-requested feature that first appeared in the main Pixel 8 series. The Pixel 8a will also reportedly feature the same camera setup as the Pixel 7a, though there’s nothing wrong with that camera setup, and Google does most of the heavy lifting for your photographs with its machine learning and built-in AI functionality.
While the Pixel 8a will feature Google’s Tensor G3, it will be slightly different than the one found in the base Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The silicone die inside the chip is the same, sources claim, but the plastic package around the chip will differ, with the 8a using an integrated package on package setup (IPoP) instead of a Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging (FOPLP). This shouldn’t affect the performance or anything, ultimately, but we’ll see for sure once we have the device in hand.
Having spent so much time with the Pixel 8 lineup, I’m extremely interested to see how the Pixel 8a makes itself stand out from the base Pixel 8. Sure, it will be more affordable, but going forward, Google will need to figure out some way to make these two devices feel different, especially if they’re going to look similar and perform so similarly. It does make me wonder if the company is gearing up to drop the base Pixel in its lineup and instead push the A series with the Pro series, but we’ll see how things play out in the long run.
The reports also indicate that the Pixel 8a will be more widely available than previously A Series Pixels, with the electronic warranty label including new regions such as Finland, Hungary, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and more. Again, we'll have to wait for Google to officially reveal the Pixel 8a and its specs to confirm all of this, but it won't be very surprising to see all this information proven true in the coming months, perhaps even at Google I/O.
Capturing nearly 20% of the global market, Samsung has become one of the leading makers of smartphones in the world, with the devices to back it up. The company continues to deliver quality devices and introduce new features, most recently with the well-received Galaxy S24 Ultra.
The new Galaxy is the company's flagship, but it has other models at lower prices that may be enough for your needs. Here are my picks for the best Samsung smartphones on the market in 2024.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is excellent on the hardware front, with a 6.2-inch AMOLED display and a capable 50MP camera. but its software is more interesting, introducing the AI features included with Galaxy AI
There is an argument to be made for the more expensive models in the S24 lineup, but for most people, the Galaxy S24 is more than enough phone to get the job done. It features the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in pricier models, and the 8GB of RAM will be more than enough for most daily tasks.
The Galaxy S24 typically retails for $799.99, though you can sometimes find it on sale, especially on Amazon.
If you’re a fan of foldable phones and want the latest and greatest that Samsung has to offer, last year’s Z Fold 5 is what's on offer. This foldable device features a 7.6-inch screen when open, and a 6.2-inch display when it's folded closed.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is available in both 256GB and 512GB storage variants, with a main 50MP photo camera. Being a foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 isn’t cheap; you’ll need to shell out as much as $1,919.99 if it isn’t on sale.
If you want the functionality of a foldable but a little smaller, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is also worth considering.
If you like the Galaxy S24, but want something a little bigger, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best Samsung phone for you. Equipped with a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, the Galaxy Ultra S24 is the big daddy of Android smartphones. The included S-Pen can be used to take notes, and the Galaxy AI features allow you to translate phone calls in real time, circle to search for items in photos, and more.
The embedded Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can power intensive gaming (the 12GB of RAM helps). It should keep your games running smoothly, even when you’re multitasking.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra typically retails for $1,300, depending on model, but it can often be found with small discounts on sites like Amazon.
Though those flagship phones are nice, Samsung also produces worthy mid-range and budget-friendly devices. If you want much of the appeal of a Samsung for less, then the Galaxy A54 is a good choice. This budget-friendly phone offers a fluid 6.4-inch AMOLED display, a 50MP main camera, and expandable storage with 6GB of RAM. The included 5,000mAh battery last you a day.
The Galaxy A54 typically retails for under $500, but you can often find it on sale for as low as $340, making it one of the most appealing and affordable Galaxy phones on the market—though unfortunately, it doesn’t come with access to any of the Galaxy AI features Samsung recently introduced.
Google has a way of killing off some of its best features and apps. In fact, there’s an entire website dedicated to the apps killed by the tech giant. Now, Google is also taking one of the best features of its phone app to the chopping block—the ability to search for nearby businesses.
Google first announced this upcoming change back in February, stating that “we’ve found a very small number of people use this feature, and the vast majority of users go to Google Search or Maps when seeking business-related phone numbers.” Now, though, it has finally pulled the plug: 9to5Google reports that the feature has officially vanished from the Google phone app.
Now, I’m not going to sit here and say that Nearby Places was my favorite Google feature ever. It was pretty useful, though, when it worked. That’s the real kicker here, which is that the feature was often broken on devices, with it even disabled on a lot of newer devices. Having existed since the Pixel 2 shipped, the Nearby Searches feature was a long-standing reason to use Google’s phone app.
But now that it is gone, you’ll have to turn to Google Maps to find the businesses and other information you need to contact folks. This, of course, makes a lot more sense for Google, which relies heavily on the money that it can make off advertisements pushed across its various products. You can’t put advertisements in the phone app that people use every day, so it's no surprise that the feature hasn’t seen a lot of love in recent years—something that the folks at ArsTechnica were quick to point out in their report.
Whether or not that fact played a part in Google’s decision to kill off the feature doesn’t matter, though. All that matters is that it is dead and gone. And it isn’t the only feature that Google has killed off recently, either. Google Assistant saw a huge swath of features pulled from it earlier this year, including some really handy ones that a lot of people used, like the ability to set and use media, music, and radio alarms. You'll now have to rely on routines for that functionality. Google also removed the option to send an email, video, or audio message using Google Assistant, as well as options for playing and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books.
Samsung has officially confirmed that a slew of Galaxy devices from 2023 should get Galaxy AI, the company’s new suite of AI tools, by the end of the month.
Samsung previously announced eventual plans to release One UI 6.1, which includes all the new AI features, to the Galaxy S23 and other Galaxy devices last month. However, the company followed up with a post on its Korean website that confirms it should be on track to be released by the end of March. Now we finally have even more confirmation, as Samsung enthusiasts have shared screenshots of pop-ups explaining when the new update will be available.
According to screenshots shared by X user @tarunvats33, One UI 6.1 will begin arriving on March 28 in China. Other screenshots show that Samsung Italy has also confirmed the arrival of One UI 6.1 on March 28, though no confirmation of whether it will be released elsewhere has been revealed just yet.
It is possible we could see a worldwide release. However, with large updates like this, companies have been known to release them as part of a rollout, so it could take several days for the update to hit Samsung phones in other parts of the world.
The news that Samsung is bringing Galaxy AI to some of its older Galaxy devices is obviously very exciting, especially for those who didn’t upgrade to the new Galaxy S24 Ultra or any of the other S24 lineup. Alongside Galaxy AI, One UI 6.1 will also bring other updates to last year’s Galaxy devices, though the AI features are certainly going to be the highlight for many users.
Here’s a look at all the phones that Samsung previously confirmed will get One UI 6.1:
Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra
Galaxy S23 FE
Galaxy Z Fold 5
Galaxy Z Flip 5
Galaxy Tab S9, S9 Plus, and S9 Ultra
Samsung has not mentioned any plans to hold back any AI features from any of these older devices, which sets it apart from some of its competitors. Google has played hardball with its AI features on the Pixel 8 lineup, even revealing that the regular Pixel 8 won’t get Gemini Nano and most of the upcoming AI features due to “hardware limitations.”
What those limitations are is unclear, as both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro run the same chipset. On the other side of things, though, Samsung appears to have no issues making the newer AI features work on older tech, as all of the phones and tablets on the list above are running different hardware than the Galaxy S24, where Galaxy AI debuted.
The features coming with Galaxy AI include things like translation tools, new photo-editing tools, and Google’s Circle to Search feature. It is disappointing that we don’t have a firm release date just yet, but at least owners of older Galaxy devices can expect to see those AI features coming to their devices sooner rather than later.
Today's smartphones are powerful enough that you can really think of them as fully functional computers that fit into a pocket. And just like computers, you phone can also serve as a gaming system. And while most games will support touch controls, some games work better when you have a controller—and it's easy to pair one with your Android phone.
Most Android smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and Google Pixel 8 series, can easily connect to Xbox, PlayStation, and Bluetooth controllers. There are also mobile game controllers that connect to your phone directly over USB-C, like the Backbone One.
TO pair a DualShock 4 controller, first put the controller into pairing mode by holding the Share button (the button to the left of the touchpad) for three seconds. The light bar on the top of the controller should start to blink. Next, go to your Android phone's settings, choose Connected Devices and select Pair New Device. You should then see a list of available devices. Find DualShock 4 Wireless Controller on the list, and tap its name to connect. After it's paired, it'll show as Connected under the Other Devices section in your Bluetooth settings.
If you have a DualSense or DualSense Edge controller, press and hold the Create button (the button on the left of the touchpad, with the lines pointing outwards) for three seconds unit the controller's light bar starts to blink. Next, on your Android phone, go to Settings, then Connected Devices, and select Pair New Device. Wait until the name DualSense Wireless Controller appears and tap the name to pair it.
Connecting an Xbox controller to your Android phone is easy. First, enable the pairing mode on the controller by pressing and hold the pair button near the controller's charging port (the button should have three curved lines) for a few seconds until your controller's Xbox logo blinks. Next, go to your phone's Settings, then Connected Devices, and choose Pair New Device. Your Xbox controller should appear on the list of available devices. Tap the controller name to pair it.
You can also pair a Joy-Con controller to your Android phone. To do so, remove a Joy-Con controller from your Switch and hit the Sync button (the black button near four LED lights located on the connecting edge of the controller). The Joy-Con's lights will move back and forth once it's in pairing mode. Head to your phone's Settings app and choose the Connected Devices option. Next, tap Pair New Device and in a few seconds, your Joy-Con controller should appear on the available devices list. Tap the name of the controller to pair it.
If you want to use Nintendo's Switch Pro Controller, the steps are similar to pairing a Joy-Con. Press and hold the Sync button, which is the round black button near the USB-C port. The LEDs on the controller will move back and forth when it's in pairing mode. On your Android phone, go to Settings and head to Connected Devices. Tap Pair New Device and wait for your Switch Pro controller to appear, then tap the controller name to pair it.
Some mobile gaming controllers can attach directly to your Android phone using a USB-C connector, such as the Backbone One or Razer Kishi V2. You don't have to keep these controllers charged, as they use your phone's battery for power. To set up one of these, extend the controller and connect your Android phone to the left side of the controller, camera-end first. Next, connect the right side of the controller, plugging its USB-C connector into your phone's charging port. The controller should start working right away.
I bought my Google Pixel 6a in late 2022 and I've yet to experience any issues or feel the urge to upgrade. The Pixel 6a has been a very well-regarded budget phone over the years, but it has never been as cheap as it is right now. Woot is currently selling the unlocked 128GB Google Pixel 6a for $269.99 (originally $349) after an $80 discount.
If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping; otherwise, it’ll be $6 to ship. (Heads up, though: Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states in the U.S.) The deal goes on until March 22 at 2:59 a.m. ET or until the phones sell out.
The same Pixel 6a is still $349 at Google and $318.99 at Amazon, with the lowest prices right at the $300 mark. When it came out in the summer of 2022, the phone was $449 and was praised mainly for its great value. It's a phone with a high-end design, an amazing battery of almost 13 hours (which still lasts me all day 2 years later), an OLED screen, and a solid camera (12.2MP and 8MP) for a mid-range price. All these features still hold true at almost half the price. You'd be hard-pressed to find better value for your money for a budget phone than the Pixel 6a. It was also PCMag's Editors' Choice winner of 2022.
If you have a little more room in your budget, the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are also discounted right now, starting at $479.99. The Pixel 6a, 7, and 7 Pro are all covered by Google's ongoing security updates and Pixel feature updates for years to come.
One of Samsung’s most promising new budget-friendly smartphones, the newly revealed Galaxy A55, isn’t coming to the U.S.
Samsung confirmed that the A55—one of the first in Samsung’s A-series lineup to feature Knox Vault, the company’s on-device security system—won’t be making an appearance in the U.S. when talking to CNET this week, stating, “we will not be carrying the Galaxy A55 5G at this time.” It’s a really sad bit of news, especially since this is the first time that I can remember that Samsung hasn’t featured one of its A5x devices in the U.S. The more affordable but less powerful Galaxy A35 is expected to reach the U.S. at release, though.
This move has spurred some interesting speculation in the smartphone market, especially given that the Galaxy A54 did so well for Samsung in the U.S. In fact, I actually recommended the A54 to a couple of close family members who love Samsung phones but needed a more affordable option from the Galaxy S23 last year, and they’ve been extremely happy with the device.
So why isn’t Samsung bringing the A55 to the U.S.? Well, that’s where a lot of the speculation comes in. Some folks believe it might be because Samsung wants to continue pushing the Galaxy S23 and S23+, both of which are now discounted thanks to the release of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Ultra earlier this year. Others believe it could be tied to the A55’s possible competition with the Galaxy S23 FE, which offers closer-to-flagship performance but at a discounted price.
Given the upgrades to the A55 this year, both of these theories likely play a part. Regardless, the result is that Samsung is holding back one of its best budget-friendly phones yet from U.S. consumers. If you were hoping to upgrade to the newer budget device and are looking for alternatives, then the Galaxy S23 FE is a solid option—though it typically costs $599.99 at most retailers.
If you aren’t married to using a Samsung phone, though, the OnePlus 12R is another solid budget-friendly device, which retails for $100 cheaper than the S23 FE. It also sports last year’s flagship specs, making it a great buy for $499.99. Hopefully, we’ll see a U.S. release of the A55 at some point—but even if we don’t, at least there are still plenty of other great budget-friendly phones out there.
Samsung recently announced its two newest A-series phones, the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35. These new devices are the latest in the company’s budget-friendly lineup, and they come with some really enticing features, the most important of which might be the introduction of Samsung’s acclaimed Knox Vault security system.
This is the first time that the company has brought its flagship security functionality to its more affordable phones, and it signals a huge move to improve user safety and privacy, even on its cheaper devices.
Knox Vault is just one part of Samsung Knox, which encompasses all of the features of the company’s multi-layer security platform. Knox Vault, specifically, helps protect users' data by protecting some of the most critical data on the device, including lock screen credentials like pin codes, passwords, and patterns.
The vault also protects device encryption keys and helps keep on-device data safe by encrypting it. This means that only the user with the correct lock screen credentials will be able to access the data, helping secure it even if the device is lost or stolen.
Knox also helps protect data that you’ve uploaded to the Samsung cloud by encrypting it with end-to-end encryption. And it allows the usage of passkeys and other important security functionality directly on the device. Some of these features, like end-to-end encryption in Samsung Cloud, were set to arrive in early 2024, so it should kick in soon.
Because the Knox Vault processor is separated from the standard processor on your device, it's much more resistant to attacks and exploits that might affect the on-device processor that your phone relies on.
Samsung says that bringing Knox Vault to more than just its flagship devices should help strengthen the program even more, especially as its A-series phones have become some of the most popular budget-friendly Android phones on the market.
Samsung continues to improve on Knox, too, and having more devices to build off of will undoubtedly help the massive tech company come up with new ways to protect its users. If either the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Samsung 24 are a bit too pricey for you to justify, but you still want to experience the new features Samsung has to offer, then both the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 can offer a solid and affordable way to take advantage of Samsung’s Android ecosystem, including its top-notch security.
Samsung has yet to reveal official pricing for either of these new budget-friendly devices. However, they're expected to be in line with pricing seen on the company's previous affordable models.
On paper, the Pixel 8 might seem like a sure hit for Google. It sports the same chip as the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro, but is cheaper and has a screen size that's more manageable for some. Unfortunately, in a strange twist that makes absolutely no sense, though, Google says it won't utilize its latest AI models on the cheaper Pixel 8.
The move caught a lot of people off guard and was only made public after Terence Zhang, a member of the Geminin-on-Android team, said that "Nano will not be coming to the Pixel 8" during a Q&A session at Mobile World Congress 2024. The news was spotted by Mishaal Rahman and shared on X (formerly Twitter).
There are, obviously, quite a few red flags here. For starters, Google has been pushing Gemini harder than I've ever seen it push anything else it has produced. While the opinions on the Google-powered AI model vary, there's no arguing that Gemini can be promising at times. One of the most promising factors, though, was that Google was bringing a version of its fancy AI model to its Pixel 8 lineup.
But now, it seems the flames of excitement around all that might have been fanned a bit too much by the tech giant, as it is now citing "hardware limitations" that will keep it from bringing Nano, the mobile-focused version of Gemini, to the Pixel 8. It's an excuse that makes absolutely no sense, especially since the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are running the exact same chipset.
In fact, the only difference between the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8 as far as hardware goes is the display size, which shouldn't affect AI, the cameras, which, again, shouldn't affect AI, and the RAM allotment. The Pixel 8 comes with 8GB, while the Pixel 8 Pro has 12GB. Sure, that might hurt the processing time of the AI a little, but losing 4GB of RAM shouldn't cut the phone off entirely from the AI model. In fact, the base version of the Galaxy S24 lineup also has 8GB of RAM and runs Gemini Nano features just fine.
If there's any other kind of hardware difference, Google has never made it known, and it's odd given how much Google has advertised its Pixel 8 devices as being built for AI.
Sure, there are arguments to be made about how Google might have outlined things during its initial Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro announcements. However, the company never clearly stated anywhere that the two devices would offer different AI capabilities. That's something that probably would have been nice for Pixel 8 buyers to know back in October when the phone hit store shelves.
As it stands, it feels like Google could be creating some kind of false limitations to try to make its more "professional" level phone stand out a bit more, but that's purely speculation on my part. Whatever the reason, it's not a good look for the Pixel 8, especially if Google keeps pushing its AI products and one of its flagship devices isn't able to even take advantage of those features.
My big question now, though, is where this leaves the Pixel 8. Google promised seven years of support for the smartphone, but if it's already pairing down new AI features after less than six months, that seven years of support isn't looking as promising. Hopefully, this will be something the tech giant rectifies going forward. For now, though, Pixel 8 owners can probably expect to get snubbed when it comes to some new AI features.
In a blog post this week, Google revealed all the upcoming features Pixel phone and watch users can expect to see in the March Pixel Feature Drop, which will be available to download on March 11. The biggest news for Pixel 7 owners is the arrival of the company's nifty new "Circle to Search" feature on those 7 devices.
Once they've installed the feature drop, Pixel 7 owners will be able to long-press the Pixel home button or navigation bar and then circle or scribble on an image, text, or video to get more information about whatever is within the circle. It's pretty cool.
Another big addition to all Pixel phones is a better Call Screen feature. This system, intended to cut down on spam calls, is already one of the standout features of the Pixel 8 Pro, and the rest of the lineup is poised to follow suit. All Pixel users will soon be able to use Google Assistant to respond in various ways to a call, including asking for callers to be placed on hold. It will even allow you to receive a chip when a caller is unresponsive.
Google is also now allowing Pixel phones to record and upload 10-bit HDR videos directly to Instagram Reels, and you'll also be able to upload your Ultra HDR photos directly to your Instagram feed. Samsung recently introduced this option on its latest Galaxy devices, so it's nice to see the Pixel phones getting it too.
This month's Pixel Feature Drop will also show some love to owners of the original Pixel Watch. Starting this week, Pixel Watch owners will be able to take advantage of additional workout tracking features first released on the Pixel Watch 2. The Pixel Watch will also get Heart Zone Training and the ability to auto-pause or auto-start and auto-stop a workout. These devices will also have access to the Fitbit Relax app, as well as the ability to search for public transit directions directly in Google Maps on your wrist.
Other features coming in the March Pixel Feature Drop will allow you to choose exactly what you want to share when screen sharing on the PIxel Tablet, Pixel Fold, or Pixel 5a with 5G and newer phones. Google is also introducing markups in Google Docs that will allow you to add handwritten notes made with a stylus or your finger, and the Pixel Tablet will get a new Gboard voice toolbar, freeing up some screen space.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, one of the best smartwatches for Samsung or Android users, is on sale for $251.58 (originally $329.99) at Amazon, which is its best price ever, according to my favorite price-checking tools. (If you're more of an Apple fan, the Apple Watch Series 8 and Series 7 are also discounted.)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 was launched last summer with top-notch specs and features. Since its release, it's been compared to the Pixel Galaxy 2 as a competitor for Android users. But with its current discount, it would be very hard to justify getting the Pixel Watch 2 over the Galaxy Watch 6, with almost a $100 difference in price.
The screen is one of the first things that stands out about the Galaxy Watch 6. It has a 1.3-inch, 2,000-nit bright AMOLED display with a digital bezel for quick scrolling through menus. This model's battery lasts for up to 22 hours, which is notably less than the up to 50 hours offered by the previous generation.
With an Android smartwatch, you'll be getting all the latest Wear OS features. Some features specific to the Galaxy Watch 6 are an accelerometer to measure your speed, GPS tracking, a heart rate monitor, a blood oxygen monitor, a temperature sensor, and others. The Galaxy Watch 6 also allows you to make or receive phone calls from your Android phone as long as you're within Bluetooth distance (or anywhere if you decide to get the LTE version).
PCMag thinks the Galaxy Watch 6 is "excellent," and called it the best Android-compatible smartwatch at the time of its release.
There are several great Android smartwatches on the market, and I've spent a lot of time with many of them, putting them through their paces and trying them out in everyday life. Two of the best options, the Google Pixel Watch 2 and the soon-to-be-released OnePlus Watch 2, both offer similar specs in similar packages, which can make it tricky to decide between them. After regularly using both devices, I'm confident in saying that neither device wholly shines brighter than the other, but depending on what you're looking for—like a longer battery life or a more polished user experience—one is likely to emerge as the better choice.
Let's get this out of the way right away. The specs on the OnePlus Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 2 both look great on paper. They both offer 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM, and both come equipped with Wear OS 4. From there, though, the similarities start to show. Let's take a closer look at each one below.
OnePlus Watch 2 specs:
Size: 47mm x 46.6mm x 12.1mm
Weight: 49g without strap
Display: 1.43-inch AMOLED panel at 60Hz, 1,000 nit brightness, 466 x 466 resolution
Case: Stainless steel
Chipset: Dual Engine Architecture SnapdragonTM W5 + BES2700
Storage: 32GB
RAM: 2GB
Sensors: Acceleration, Gyroscope, Optical Heart Rate, Optical Pulse Oximeter, Geomagnetic, Light, Barometer, Dual-frequency L1 + L5, Beidou, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS
LTE: No
Battery size: 500mAh
Protection: 5ATM, IP68, MIL-STD-810H, 2.5D sapphire crystal glass
OS: Wear OS 4 + RTOS
Compatible Phones: Android 8.0 and up, GMS 23.45.23 or later
Pixel Watch 2 specs:
Size: 41 x 41 x 12.3mm
Weight: 31g without strap
Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED panel at 60Hz, 1,000 nit brightness, 384x384 resolution
Case: Aluminum
Chipset: Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 + Cortex M33 MCU
Storage: 32GB
Ram: 2GB
Sensors: Accelerometer, altimeter, ambient light, cEDA, compass, ECG, gyroscope, magnetometer, optical heart rate, skin temperature, SpO2
LTE: Yes
Battery Size: 306mAh
Protection: Gorilla Glass 5; 5ATM; IP68
OS: Wear OS 4
Compatible Phones: Android 8.0 or up
Both have solid specs, great displays, and plenty of sensors to go around. Of course, the Pixel Watch 2 does come with more health-based features, as Google started leaning into its Fitbit components here. It also provides slightly more accurate sensor data than the OnePlus Watch 2, so if you care about the most accurate sensors, that is something to keep in mind.
The OnePlus Watch 2 takes on a more traditional sports watch appearance, with a flat display, while the Pixel Watch 2 has the unique and beautiful bubbly pebble-like display that helps make it stand out from other smartwatches on the market.
The OnePlus Watch 2 is also bigger and heavier than the Pixel Watch 2, which means smaller wrists will likely find the Pixel Watch 2 more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The Pixel Watch 2 is made of an aluminum case, which is more lightweight, but has been known to be less durable than the stainless steel found on the original Pixel Watch. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Watch 2 features a full stainless steel design that has even been rated for MIL-STD-810H standards, making it statistically more durable than the Pixel Watch 2.
Ultimately, deciding on the design is all about figuring out which will be the most comfortable. Personally, I prefer the larger watch design of the OnePlus Watch 2, and the bigger display means it is easier to get around the watch and look through my various notifications. For smaller wrists, though, the Pixel Watch 2 will still be one of the best Android smartwatch options, especially if you want to keep that pure Google experience going on.
Now let's talk about the elephant in the room: battery life. It's no secret that the Pixel Watch 2 has some of the worst battery life that you'll find in a smartwatch. Yes, it is better than the battery life found in the original Pixel Watch, but it is still a far cry from the longstanding battery life of the Galaxy Watch 6 or several other options on the market right now. When using Always-on-Display, the Pixel Watch 2 typically reaches around 24 hours of battery life.
That isn't great, especially for a smartwatch that you might want to use for tracking your sleep and other health parameters. The OnePlus Watch 2, on the other hand, is rated to last up to 100 hours on a single charge. That's a massive difference, and even in my testing, I was able to use the OnePlus Watch 2 in Smart Mode (which OnePlus recommends) with Always-on-Display for almost four days without having to worry about charging it.
This provided me with more usage options, as I didn't need to worry about keeping my charger nearby or throwing my watch on the charger in between errands. So, if battery life is what matters most, the OnePlus Watch 2 is going to be your best option here.
Charging speeds on the OnePlus Watch 2 are also extremely impressive, especially when using one of the company's OnePlus power bricks—I was able to charge my watch up from 9 percent to 100 percent in less than 30 minutes. The Pixel Watch 2 charges relatively fast, too, and both watches use pin-connected proprietary chargers.
So the OnePlus Watch 2 is going to offer the best battery life, but things get a little cloudier when looking at performance. Sure, Wear OS 4 is a bit smoother on the Pixel Watch 2. But both the smartwatches utilize similar chipset designs, with the OnePlus Watch 2 sporting a Snapdragon W5 for most of its heavy lifting and a BES 2700 MCU for the rest of its power-saving features.
The Pixel Watch 2, on the other hand, comes with a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 for most of its heavy lifting and the Cortex M33 MCU to help with other processing features. The result is a really smooth Wear OS experience, exactly something you'd expect from the company behind Android and Wear OS.
However, daily usage with these two devices results in similar performance most of the time. I did notice some lag in different apps when using the OnePlus Watch 2, but it was never anything that got in the way of what I was doing. Otherwise, both smartwatches deliver snappy feedback to your touches, and they're both really easy to navigate and work with.
One key difference between the two is that the OnePlus Watch 2 relies on RTOS for many of its basic applications and notifications. This can be frustrating, as it does make things a bit needlessly complicated. But once you get the hang of things, it isn't that bad. The Pixel Watch 2 is pure Wear OS 4, though, so it doesn't have to switch between operating systems, which can make it feel a bit smoother, especially since it has more polish overall.
Those looking for a cheaper but larger and still premium experience will find the $299 price tag of the OnePlus Watch 2 extremely appealing. It's a great smartwatch that showcases the dedication OnePlus has made to bettering its devices, and it stands strong as a contender for one of the best smartwatches on the market right now.
On the other hand, the Pixel Watch 2 is only $50 more expensive (most times, it can be found on sale for the same price) and offers more polish and a more unique design for $349.99. If you want a smaller, more polished Android smartwatch, then the Pixel Watch 2 is the way to go.
The battery also plays an important part in this decision, and since both devices will perform similarly, those looking for a longer-lasting battery should seriously consider the OnePlus Watch 2 and its 100+ hours of battery life.
Your Android devices will soon get a handful of new features in the coming weeks, Google has announced. These features include the ability to quick-reply via Android Auto, easier access to the Gemini AI, handwritten feedback in Google Docs, and more. Read on for the full list of features coming soon.
Google Maps transit directions are coming to Wear OS smartwatches, which means that you won't need to take your phone out to navigate, and can instead glance down at your wrist to make sure you're heading the right direction.
The Google Docs interface is easier to use on computers than it is on phones, but Google is introducing a change that'll make things a little more mobile-friendly. When you're editing a Google Doc on your Android phone, you'll be able to add handwritten annotations and feedback with your finger or a stylus.
Improvements to Android Auto will enable it to summarize text conversations and suggest replies so you can respond more quickly on the road while minimizing distractions. Google says it'll use AI to show you better reply suggestions, such as a button to share your ETA from Google Maps when someone asks how far away you are.
Google's Gemini AI will be integrated within Google Messages. You'll be able to use the AI to generate ideas for events, draft your messages, or have a conversation with Gemini right in the Google Messages app.
The Fitbit app on Android has been redesigned and it can now show your health data from other fitness apps and wearables. Google says data from AllTrails and MyFitnessPal apps, and the Oura Ring wearable, can be viewed in the Fitbit app.
Spotify Connect allows you to stream audio from Spotify to other devices in your house. The latest Android update will add Spotify Connect devices to the output switcher, making it easy to cast audio using Spotify.
Google is adding two great accessibility features to Android—an improved screen reader in Google Lens and image captions in Lookout. Android's screen reader will be able to read out Google Maps ratings, opening and closing hours, and directions to any place that your camera points at in Google Lens. Android will also read out AI-generated captions for images on your phone and on the internet.
In case you missed it, these other features have recently come to Android devices:
Highlight videos in Google Photos: Google Photos allows you to key in a few prompts, such as a location and a year or a month, and it'll automatically create a highlight video using all the photos and videos that match your filters.
Shared lists in Google Maps: You can use Google Maps to make plans with friends. You can create a shared list with multiple people and add places to visit, along with notes to explain your choices.
Quick-reply to emails: Gmail recently began allowing you to reply to emails from your Wear OS smartwatch.
Back up protected photos: Google Photos' Locked Folder can now be backed up to the cloud, allowing you to access your password-protected photos from any device.
If you followed Samsung's last major event, Unpacked 2024, you may have seen an interesting and unexpected teaser. Following the company's news about the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung briefly unveiled the Galaxy Ring, a new wearable designed to be worn, well, as a ring.
And just as my interest was piqued, the company ended the entire show. It clearly had no plans to actually say anything about the Galaxy Ring—only to alert the world to its existence. Now, however, less than two months after Unpacked, the company is offering a more detailed look at its upcoming wearable.
Samsung chose Mobile World Congress 2024 as its next venue to discuss the Galaxy Ring. The main benefit of the ring, as with other smart rings, is a lack of distraction: There's no display to check in on or fiddle with, nor any device-specific notifications. It's merely a data collector, operating quietly on your finger throughout your day and night.
As you might expect from a smart wearable, the sensors in the Galaxy Ring can track your heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep, including movements during sleep and how long it takes to fall asleep. This data is compiled into what Samsung is calling "My Vitality Score," based on a University of Georgia model, which will inform you about how "productive you can be." (Think twice before your company offers you a Galaxy Ring "for free.")
The ring can also inform new "Booster Cards" within the health app, which aim to give you insights about your health and how you can improve in certain areas. In addition, it comes with period and fertility tracking, powered by Samsung's existing partnership with Natural Cycles. This data, your vitality score, as well as the rest of the ring's accrued measurements, will be located in the Samsung Health app.
According to The Verge's hands-on experience, the Galaxy Ring comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from "5 to 13," labeled S through XL on the inside. At this time, the prototypes come in three colors: platinum silver, ceramic black, and gold, which The Verge's Allison Johnson said was comparable to her wedding ring.
Samsung doesn't want you to think the Galaxy Ring is a replacement for the smartwatch, however. As Wired reports, the company claims sleep tracking is improved when users wear both a Galaxy Ring and a Galaxy Watch to bed. Sure, it's pretty convenient for the company to sell two devices instead of one, but it will be interesting to see how well Galaxy Ring pairs with other Samsung and Android devices. (As you might expect from a Samsung device, the Galaxy Ring is Android-only.)
That's all we really know for now. Samsung won't share specific specs, including what sensors the Galaxy Ring has or how long the battery lasts. It's shaping up to be an interesting device, but until the final version hits the market later this year, we won't know how it stacks up to competitors like Oura.
We all spend a lot of time looking at our phones, which means a lot of time looking at the wallpaper backdrop on the lock screen and the home screens—so it makes sense to have something eye-catching that you like looking at as your background of choice. Photos of pets, loved ones, and favorite places are of course popular wallpaper choices, and there's no shortage of wallpaper galleries on the web for you to browse through. But if you want to mix things up even more on your Google Pixel, you can create your own.
As long as you've got a Google Pixel phone running Android 14, you have access to a couple of useful wallpaper features: AI wallpaper and emoji wallpaper. Either of them can create a new backdrop for you in minutes.
It looks likely that these tools will eventually come to Samsung phones and other Android handsets. Nothing has been confirmed at this time, but it's something to look out for if you don't have a Google Pixel.
Long press on a blank area of the home screen, then pick Wallpaper and style from the pop-up menu (or go to Wallpaper and style from Settings). You'll see a preview of the backgrounds you currently have set up for your home screens and lock screen, and you can tap More wallpapers to see options for changing them.
If you're ready to start handing over the job of wallpaper creation to Google's artificial intelligence engines, tap AI wallpaper. You'll be asked to choose a theme to get started: Your options here include Night, Terrain, Painting, Imaginary, and Texture, so choose the one that most closely matches what you want to create.
You can't just type out any prompt you'd like to generate a wallpaper image. Instead, you need to adapt the prompt that's already there on screen: Tap any of the underlined words to pick a different word from a list. If you're not sure exactly what you want, tap Inspire me to generate a wallpaper based on a randomized prompt.
For example, the default imaginary wallpaper prompt is: "A surreal castle made of silk in shades of coral and tan." You can change "castle," "silk," and "coral and tan" in that sentence—the word "castle" can be switched to alternatives such as "bridge" or "lighthouse," but you're not able to type in any word you like. When you're ready, tap Create wallpaper to see what appears.
You can swipe left and right to see the different variations that have been generated, and up at the top you'll see thumbs up and thumbs down icons that give feedback to Google's AI image generator. You can repeat the process until you find something suitable, and switch themes using the drop-down menu at the top.
When you've got something you like, tap on the tick icon in the top right corner. As with any new wallpaper, when you tap Set wallpaper on the next screen, you get the option of applying it to your lock screen, to your home screens, or both.
You follow the same route to get to the emoji wallpaper generator as you do for the AI wallpaper generator: Either choose Wallpaper and style from the main Settings screen, or long press on a blank part of one of the home screens and choose Wallpaper and style. The previews of the current lock screen and home screen wallpapers are shown, and you can tap on More wallpapers to make changes.
Select Emoji workshop to start playing around with the feature: The next screen will show emoji wallpapers you've previously created, if there are any, so you can always get back to them again if needed. To start a new one, tap on the large + (plus) icon underneath the Create emoji wallpaper heading.
Your first task is to choose some emojis to base the wallpaper on: You'll see some suggestions already in place for you under the Emoji heading, but you can tap Edit emoji to change them, or Inspire me to get a new, randomized selection. You're allowed up to 14 emojis, but wallpapers can also be created from just a single one.
Tap on Patterns, and you're able to adjust the layout of your wallpaper. There are a variety of different layout options to pick from—including Stacks, Sprinkle, and Mosaic—and you can see how each one looks by tapping on it. Use the slider underneath to adjust the size of the emojis you've picked.
Lastly, the Colors tab lets you (as you might have guessed) set the color scheme for your wallpaper masterpiece. You are limited in terms of the color combinations you can pick from, but there are quite a few different options, which you can see by swiping left and right on the dialog box.
When you're happy, tap on the tick icon in the top right corner of the screen to see a preview. Select Set wallpaper, and as usual you'll be able to apply the backdrop to the lock screen, to the home screens, or both (for a consistent feel). The new wallpaper is also added to the Emoji workshop page we saw earlier.
Last year's Nothing Phone 2 was an overall positive improvement on the Nothing Phone, the company's first flagship mobile device. The rear LEDs are a little brighter; the hole punch camera is centered; the display is slightly more vibrant; and, perhaps most importantly, the battery life is better.
And when compared to other flagships, the Phone 2 feels like a value. It starts at $599 for a model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (as of this writing, you can even get one for $50 off). Boost the RAM and storage to 12BG and 512GB, respectively, and the price tops out at $799, or the cost of the base iPhone 15—provided you pay full price (with those specs, the Nothing Phone 2 will cost you $679 on sale right now). Of course, the devices cuts some corners to reach that price: The display is 1080p, lower than that offered with other phones; the cameras aren't super impressive (as Marques Brownlee highlights in this YouTube review), and it's not as water and dust resistant as other phones in its class.
However, that's not stopping Nothing from working on a midrange smartphone to complement the Phone 2. The company plans to call it Nothing Phone 2a, evoking Google's midrange line of Pixel devices. Now, to be fair, the company hasn't explicitly labeled the Phone 2a a midrange device, but in the announcement video, Nothing implies the 2a will be cheaper than the Nothing Phone 2, and will take advantage of efficiencies in manufacturing to pass savings to the end user.
Unfortunately, at this time, we don't know anything else about the phone itself. Nothing is keeping the 2a's specs pretty close to the vest. What is known is when the company will launch the device: on March 5, during an event that will take place at 6:30 a.m. ET. The company also has a separate event scheduled during Mobile World Congress later this month. Initial reports assumed the event would be about Nothing Phone 3, but now it seems more likely they'll highlight the Phone 2a.
We also know that people in the U.S. won't be able to simply buy the phone, like they would the Phone 2. Instead, Nothing is making the phone available for developers through the Glyph Developer Kit. The intention is for devs to buy a Phone 2a through this program in order to test their apps using Nothing's glyph system, and optimize those apps for the LEDs on the back of the phone.
Nothing hasn't released any additional information about the program, so it's not clear whether you need to be a registered developer in order to order the Phone 2a, or when (of if) the phone will be some direct-to-consumers. However, as The Verge notes, Nothing's first phone had a similar "Beta Membership" program, charging customers $299 to try out Phone 1.
Check out the Nothing Phone 2:
Phone 2 (8GB RAM and 128GB of storage): $599 (on sale for $549)
Phone 2 (12GB and 256GB of storage): $699 (on sale for $599)
Phone 2 (12GB and 512GB of storage): $799 (on sale for $679)
If you've broken up with your partner, you may find yourself wishing that your phone wouldn't keep reminding you they exist. Photo galleries in most modern phones automatically create all kinds of interesting collages and slideshows, which is great when the memories in question are happy, but can be triggering after a painful breakup. I've written before about getting rid of your ex's photos from your iPhone, and this guide will help people who use Android phones do the same.
It should be noted that various Android phone manufacturers use their own versions of the photo gallery app. The steps to hide or remove your ex's photos from those apps may vary, so I'm focusing on an app included on most Android phones sold in the U.S.—Google Photos. It's the preferred photo backup service for most people who use Android. Unfortunately it doesn't allow you to automatically delete all photos of any one person, but it has some neat workarounds that let you hide your ex's photos quickly.
To hide all photos of someone from your camera reel, open Google Photos and tap the profile icon in the top right corner. Go to Photos settings > Preferences > Memories > Hide people and pets. This will reveal a grid of all the different people and pets identified in your photos. Select all the people (or pets) you want to hide, and you will no longer see their images in memories or other highlights created by Google Photos.
Google Photos also creates memories based on specific dates in a calendar year. This can lead to suggestions you watch slideshows of your anniversary with an ex-partner, birthday parties, or other moments that were significant in your life. You can stop Google Photos from creating these memories too. Go to Profile icon > Photos settings > Preferences > Memories > Hide dates. Add the dates you want to exclude and Google Photos will leave out any photos from those days when it creates memories.
If you're sure you don't want to view any pictures of your ex, but don't want to delete those photos outright, use Google Photos' Archive feature. This will move those photos to a separate folder and prevent them from being added into any new memories the service creates. To do this, open Google Photos and press and hold any image of your ex. Keep scrolling and selecting all the photos you don't want to see, until you've found them all. When you're done, swipe right on the bottom toolbar and select Archive.
This is the nuclear option, but in Google Photos, it requires a lot more manual work than in Photos on iPhone. You'll need to select all pictures of your ex manually and choose the Delete option from the bottom toolbar to get rid of these photos for good. They'll still be in the Bin folder, which you can access by going to the Library tab in Google Photos and selecting Bin. Removed photos are permanently deleted after 60 days.
As children's online safety and lack of internet supervision continue to be a hot-button issue, Google recently announced it has updated its parental controls app Family Link, which allows parents to manage and monitor their children's activity running the Chrome or Android operating systems. In addition to announcing a donation of $20 million to organizations focused on the well-being and safety of children, including Highlights for Kids and Sesame Workshop, Google shared these new updates to help caregivers guide children toward appropriate content for their age and monitor how their children spend their time online.
Here are the updates:
Family Link is now easier to find. When logged into your Google Account, just search for "parental controls." An information box listing the accounts you supervise and a link to each of their settings will appear.
You can now share passwords securely with your family members. Suppose you are a caregiver sharing access to a website with a single account or helping your son or daughter with homework. You now have the option to easily share the username and password for a specific website or service with Google Password Manager.
Easily control SafeSearch settings. The search-filtering feature is on by default for users under 18 but is now directly available on the Search results page.
YouTube now has default features aimed at teens' wellbeing. Google announced last November that recommendations of problematic content, such as videos that compare physical features or idealize body types, would decrease on YouTube, the popular video-sharing platform owned by the company. Additionally, the "Take a Break" and "Bedtime" reminders will be more prominent and appear more frequently.
You can learn more about these new Safe Search features and other initiatives here.
Google Assistant is a useful part of the Android ecosystem, in theory. It helps you set reminders, make calls, and even identify a song for you. But at the same time, it’s one more thing vying for your attention. If you end up accidentally triggering Google Assistant now and then, or you just don’t feel the use for it anymore, there’s a way to disable it on your Android smartphone, and on Google’s smart speakers (though you can’t fully disable the assistant on the latter, as it’s the primary way of interacting with the speaker).
It starts in the Google app on your Android smartphone. Tap your Profile Picture from the top-right corner and choose the Settings option. Alternatively, you can use Google Assistant itself to get here (ironic!) by saying, “OK Google, open Google Assistant settings.”
A Popular Settings section will show up at the top; scroll a bit lower, to find the All Settings section, which lists all settings options alphabetically. In this section, choose the General option. Finally, tap the toggle next to Google Assistant to disable this feature.
Maybe you think that Google Assistant is quite useful after all, you just don’t like that it randomly triggers itself when you haven’t intentionally uttered the “Hey Google” or “OK Google” commands.
In that case, you can disable only the voice commands functionality, and continue using Google Assistant from the app. To do this, again go to the Google app, tap your Profile icon from the top-right corner, and choose Settings. Then, go to Google Assistant > Hey Google & Voice Match and disable the Hey Google feature.
You can’t altogether turn off Google Assistant on Google Home or Nest smart speakers, but you can disable the microphone, so that the speaker is not listening to you, or for the "Hey Google" trigger phrase. You will find a Microphone button at the back of the Google Home or Google Next speakers. On the Google Home Mini and Google Nest Mini, this button is found near the power cord.
Push the button and the device will be muted instantly, and the Google Assistant will stop functioning. When you want Google Assistant back, simply press the Microphone button again.
The Galaxy S24 lineup received a lot of praise following its initial launch, but the honeymoon period appears to be at an end. It seems the S24 phones have a series of issues that users continue to highlight, despite not popping up in most reviews. If your Galaxy has problems with its cameras, displays, or connecting to Android Auto, you're not alone.
Galaxy phones are usually known for their high quality, vivid displays. It's part of what fans like about using these devices. However, with the S24, some users have noticed their displays aren't up to the usual Samsung standards. For more context, check out this Reddit post, which describes how the S24 changes the way the display looks in different situations. When scrolling through an app, things look great, but when returning to the home screen or pulling down the notification shader, everything gets washed out and dull.
Other comments echoed similar issues with their S24 displays, including some with screenshots showing off the problem. You can see here the difference between one user's Galaxy S21 and their S24, both running YouTube. In the photos, the S21 looks as you'd expect, with dark blacks and vivid colors; by comparison, the S24's blacks look gray, and the colors are more dull overall. One comment put it well, saying the S24 looks like an LCD, rather than the OLED Galaxy phones have been famous for for years.
According to a screenshot from one internet commenter, Samsung is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. However, Samsung Spain later said the display's washed-out appearance is intentional. To me, it seems like Samsung support doesn't know what's going on either, and we'll have to see whether there's actually a fix in the works to make Vivid mode more consistent. Until then, you could try switching your display to Natural mode, but that would just make the entire experience dull.
The issues with the S24 aren't isolated to the display. On some Galaxy S24 devices, zooming between the 1x zoom lens and the 5x zoom lens is noticeably choppy. It's supposed to be a seamless transition, so that you don't even notice the phone switching between lenses, but on affected devices, the focus change is blatant.
You can see that clearly from this post on X: The user zooms in on a box of desserts, but once they hit 5x, the focus shifts abruptly. It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's not supposed to happen. As it turns out, it's a hardware defect that affects the first S24 devices Samsung produced. Subsequent S24s don't have this flaw, and can switch between lenses without trouble. To add to the problems, portrait shots as well as 5x and 10x photos may have a grainy appearance.
Tweet may have been deleted
In addition to the aforementioned issues, the S24 seems to struggle with Android Auto interfaces. According to a UK support page, the Galaxy S24 is having trouble connecting to Android Auto in certain Volkswagen, Skoda, and SEAT cars. Samsung says this is likely an issue on the car side of things, not with the S24 itself, but the company does walk users through troubleshooting steps to getting things working. These steps are pretty basic, including trying a new USB cable, updating the S24, updating Android Auto, or looking through Android Auto settings for anything that might interfere with the connection.
Luckily, this one sounds like something car manufacturers can fix with a software patch. If your car is affected, keep an eye out for incoming updates. As for the other problems, I'll be keeping an eye on whether Samsung comes out with anything more definitive.
At $500, roughly $300 cheaper than the flagship OnePlus 12, the OnePlus 12R looks like another great option for those looking to get a faster, better-performing Android device at a cheaper price point.
Having been billed as a flagship killer, I put the OnePlus 12R to the test to see just how well it stood up against other flagships, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Pixel 8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the very flagships that it claims to kill.
Right off the bat, the design and display of the OnePlus 12R are both wonderful. The phone comes in two styles: a frosted glass back that's a dark gray; or the smoother, cool blue glass back that I got to test out. The iron gray design looks more like the same design we saw on the back of the 12 that I tested, which I really liked because it did a good job of fending off fingerprints.
On the Cool Blue, though, the lack of frosted glass means that the back is extremely shiny. While pretty, fingerprints and smudges stick to it like glue. Sure, they can easily be wiped off, but if you end up picking up the Cool Blue, you'll definitely want to add a case or something to it just to help fend off those fingerprints and grime.
The display is equally as pretty as the back, though, and it comes with OnePlus' 120Hz ProXDR display, which offers a silky smooth touchscreen experience and vivid colors in all environments. It also sports Aqua Touch, a feature that the OnePlus 12 also came with. This means your phone is still usable even when it's wet, and I put that to the test out in the rain one day, and was still able to open apps, make a phone call, and even swipe around on TikTok.
With a peak brightness of 4500 nits, too, the HDR10+ and HDR Vivid enabled 6.78-inch display is a marvel to look at and use. Games look fantastic on it, and I tested it with Genshim Impact and Asphalt 8 with no issues. We'll talk a bit more about how those games performed further down, but they looked absolutely stunning on the OnePlus 12R's large display.
Of course, the overall design of the 12R is very reminiscent of the OnePlus 12, which means the display curves around the sides of the phone with a slight edge. It's still not my favorite design ever, but it never feels bad in the hands, either. Side-by-side, it's almost impossible to tell these two devices apart.
While the OnePlus 12R takes a lot of cues from the newest OnePlus flagship, it also cuts some of the internal pieces to make room for that price cut. The processor here is an older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, so it's running a bit older hardware than the newer flagship models. The Gen 2 is still really good, though, and you shouldn't have much issue running anything on it. Here's how the 12R stacks up overall:
SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM: 8GB / 16GB
Storage: 128GB / 256 GB
OS: OxygenOS/Android 14
Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR panel, 2780 x 1264, 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate
Battery: 5,500 mAh
Charging: 80W SUPERVOOC wired charging
Audio: Dolby Atmos
Rear Camera: 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide camera, 2MP macro lens
Front Camera: 16MP
None of this is particularly exciting, but it should be more than enough to get you through the day and provide hours of gaming and entertainment power. That said, the lower-quality camera is disappointing, to say the least, and the lack of wireless charging definitely feels like a missed opportunity to keep up with other budget-friendly devices.
There's no removable storage option or headphone jack, so those hoping that OnePlus would add it on will be disappointed.
As far as budget-friendly phones go, the specs on the OnePlus 12R aren't anything to scoff at, especially for just $500. But how does that all translate to performance? As I noted above, I tested the OnePlus 12R using two pretty intensive games, Genshin Impact and Asphalt 8. Both games ran as smoothly as I expected on the device, which isn't surprising since this same chipset was found in flagship devices just last year. There were a few more hitches here and there than I noticed on the OnePlus itself, but for a $500 phone, the performance was really solid.
Movement through apps felt good, too, and I never noticed any big hiccups in performance while using the OnePlus 12R. Like I said, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still a really good chipset. Benchmarks in GeekBench 6 showed a score of 1559 for single-core and 5059 for multi-core when running in regular mode, and in high-performance, the OnePlus 12R scored 2043 in single-core and 5557 in multi-core. It actually performed better in benchmarks than I saw from the OnePlus 12, which was somewhat surprising.
For those not familiar with benchmarks, these tests essentially run the phone through a multitude of different actions meant to mimic the things you do in your day-to-day life. The higher the score, the better the phone's systems performed. They aren't a true indication of how the phone will handle day-to-day usage, but they can give you a good starting place for comparisons.
The OnePlus 12R also features the newly updated dual cryo-velocity cooling system that the regular 12 does, which was a nice surprise, as it helped keep the phone cool throughout most of my testing. The only time that it did get even slightly warm was during a four-hour session of Genshin, but as I noted above, that game is extremely intensive, so I'm not surprised I felt some heat in the back of the phone. Overall, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to heat distribution here.
But what about the battery life? Because the OnePlus 12R actually has a bigger battery than the OnePlus 12, you might expect it to get better battery life. The reality is that the older processor in the 12R doesn't have as many tweaks and optimizations the newer processors do, which means that extra battery capacity is basically a wash. However, battery life was still really good, especially for a more budget-conscious phone. I was able to use it extensively throughout the day and still had around 25 to 30 percent when I got home at night. On the days when I didn't use it as much, I was able to go a day and a half without having to charge it.
The camera is usually a big sticking point for more budget-friendly phones, and that's the same here on the OnePlus 12R. There's no Hasselblad partnership on the OnePlus 12R, and the 64MP telephoto lens has been replaced with a 2MP macro lens. I've personally never seen much usage out of low-resolution macro lenses, and the same can be said about the lens in the OnePlus 12R.
Overall, camera performance is exactly what you would expect from a pared-down version of the OnePlus 12's camera array. The 50MP sensor still delivers solid photos—though, as I mentioned before, OnePlus delivers far less saturation in its photos than the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Low-light images weren't great; they often turned out overly bright from the camera's compensation systems and were often grainy. The Pixel 8 Pro still continues to deliver some of the better low-light photos that we've seen in a smartphone this release season, and that's just always going to be hard to beat because of Google's heavy-handed AI systems.
For a $500 budget-friendly phone, though, the photos are more than adequate, so long as you aren't expecting it to always keep up with the higher-performing sensors found in more expensive smartphones.
Despite how much the OnePlus 12R does right, I have to say I'm not really willing to call it a flagship killer. This smartphone is really solid for the price tag, but OnePlus has made some big concessions to get us there.
One of the biggest, and the most egregious, in my opinion, is the shorter support time that the OnePlus 12R gets compared to the more expensive OnePlus 12: OnePlus only guarantees three years of software updates and four years of security updates on the 12R, compared to the four that come on the standard OnePlus 12. Other budget-friendly phones like the Galaxy S23 FE still offer four years, so it is weird to see OnePlus cut back on that as part of its "price-cutting" technique.
Overall, though, the OnePlus 12R is still a really solid device. If you've been looking for something a bit off the beaten path, but still want to save some money, the OnePlus 12R is a great choice that delivers on OnePlus's promise to "Never Settle," at least in most of the ways that matter.
The OnePlus 12R is available for preorder now. You can purchase it starting at $499.99 for the 8GB/128GB variant or $599.99 for the 16GB/256GB option. You can also get $100 off by trading in any phone, with up to $450 in credits available depending on the device.
Browser extensions are great: While the companies that make browsers, like Google and Microsoft, pack as many features as they see fit into their apps, they can't add every feature users want or need. Third-party developers, on the other hand, can pour all their resources into one feature or function, and by installing their extension, you effectively add a useful new tool to your web-browsing experience.
This works great on desktop, but on Android, it's another story. Traditionally, Android browsers have skirted support for extensions, as Chromium (the platform powering many popular browsers) only natively supports extensions on desktop. The developers behind the web browser Vivaldi, for example, told Android Police that adding extension support to their Android browser would cost the company a lot. Presumably, that applies to other developers as well, which is why for the most part, Android users need to hop on desktop to access extensions.
But Microsoft seems to think the expense will be worth it in the end. As spotted by Twitter user Leopeva64, Edge is currently testing extension support in the Canary version of its Android app. This is the version of Edge that Microsoft uses to test new features before they roll them out to the public. You can see from the screenshots that, one the Extensions flag is enabled, you find a new "Extensions" option in the Edge menu, where you can add support extensions.
Tweet may have been deleted
While this feature isn't available on the public version of Edge for Android, anyone can try it out for themselves from the Edge Canary app. To get started, download Microsoft Edge Canary from the Play Store. Once opened, type edge://flags in the address bar, then hit enter. Here, you'll be able to browse all the feature flags (experimental features) in Edge Canary, including Extensions, which you'll find under #edge-extensions-android.
Switch this flag to Enabled. Once you do, you can access the new Extensions option by tapping Edge Canary's three-dot menu. According to Leopeva64's post, the three extensions available now are Dark Reader, uBlock Origin, and Global Speed. While hopefully more are added as this feature continues to be tested, at least you're off to a great start. If nothing else, browsing the web with uBlock Origin on Android is a huge plus.
Samsung officially released the Galaxy S24 lineup today, including the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which our sister site PCMag called the best Android phone you can buy right now. If you're eager to get your hands on one of them but missed out on the generous preorder offers, you can still get a nice bonus from Amazon in the form of a gift worth up to $200.
The current deals aren't quite as good as the preorder deals. If you managed to order one of the three Galaxy S24 phones from Amazon before today, you got a free upgrade to 512GB of storage from the standard 256GB.
However, you can still take advantage of the same gift card deals from Amazon, which were the best gift card offers from any third-party seller. Here is what you will get:
Galaxy S24 Ultra $1299.99: $200 Amazon eGift Card. Use code "5VLIOOUV9RRI"
Galaxy S24+ $999.99: $150 Amazon eGift Card. Use code "8TZNQTU3BVOV"
Galaxy S24 $799.99: $50 Amazon eGift Card. Use code "ZY75VXDFCFWM"
To get the gift card with your purchase, make sure to click the white "redeem" button below the price, or enter one of the coupon codes listed above at checkout. Otherwise, you won't get the gift card, which would be unfortunate.
These codes will work for any variation of the S24, no matter the color or storage size. These are the best deals you can get for any of the Galaxy phones at the moment, and will only be available through Feb. 11. Once you make the order, you'll receive an email from Amazon with the gift card code.
If you're not sure which of the three S24 Galaxy phones is the best one for you, check out this side-by-side comparison from PCMag.
From the Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the end of last year, to the OnePlus 12 this January, it's been a great time to be in the market for a new smartphone. And despite stiff competition, one phone has managed to stand out above the rest, at least as far as how it blends performance, style, and features: the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It's a strong enough contender that I'd be willing to ditch my iPhone and make the jump to Android.
One of the first things you used to notice about a Samsung were its curved "infinity edges." These edges are gone now. I didn't mind them on the OnePlus 12, but I've never been the biggest fan of the design, so I applaud the S24 Ultra's return to a flat panel—for no other reason that it makes the phone look absolutely gorgeous.
Samsung has also taken the titanium plunge this year, bringing the lighter metal to the body of the S24 Ultra. It leaves the phone feeling light despite its large size, and the overall look of the device is sleek. The back does tend to attract fingerprints, but that's something many smartphones struggle with these days.
Beyond the display's form, its function is pretty darn impressive too. Samsung has delivered a beautiful AMOLED 6.8-inch display, with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120Hz. Samsung has also upped the display brightness to a peak of 2,600 nits, making it brighter than last year's S23 Ultra, though not quite as bright as the OnePlus 12's 4,500-nit peak. Still, that's more than bright enough to view the display in bright sunlight, and I never experienced any issues seeing what I was doing on the screen, or even watching videos while outside or under bright lights.
Overall, the design and display blend together to create something that feels good in the hand and delivers consistent visuals, no matter what you're doing or the viewing conditions.
How do the specs of the Galaxy S24 Ultra stack up against the other flagship devices released over the past six months? Here's a look at the complete specs:
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (No expandable storage)
OS: Android 14 with OneUI
Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED at 3,120 x 1,440 pixels, with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Battery: 5,000 mAh
Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless
Rear Camera: 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)
Front Camera: 12-megapixel
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is running on a version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This one has been optimized for Samsung devices, and it feels snappy whether I'm playing games, browsing the internet, or just moving between apps like Discord, Messages, and my email. The onboard AI (more on that in a bit) is responsive, including instant translations, one of the flashy AI features Samsung has brought to the Galaxy S24 series.
As benchmarks go, my own tests in Geekbench 6 revealed the S24 Ultra performs on par with other flagship devices, scoring 2139 in single-core and 7092 in multi-core. For those not familiar with benchmarks, these systems essentially simulate a series of real-world activities to see how fast the phone can process them. The higher the score, the faster it processed those tasks.
For some additional context, the S24 Ultra performed faster than the OnePlus 12 did when using its high-performance mode, despite the two running similar Qualcomm chips. The iPhone 15 Pro Max still scored slightly higher, especially in multi-core, than the S24 Ultra, but I personally experienced smoother gameplay on the S24 Ultra when playing intensive apps like Genshin Impact.
The S24 Ultra has ray tracing capabilities, which generates more realistic lighting in games. While shadows do pop a bit more in some games, this isn't something that's going to sell more phones in the long run. Like ray tracing on computers and gaming consoles, it's a nifty feature, but not quite a game changer just yet.
All that performance typically comes at a cost to battery, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 5,000mAh battery is more than up to the task. Throughout my time testing, I was often able to use the phone for over a day without charging it. However, if I spent an unusual amount of time watching videos, listening to music, or playing games while out and about, I found it helpful to carry an extra charger around to top things off so I didn't run out of charge before I got back home. For most typical usage, you shouldn't have any issue getting two days out of the device; if you watch a lot of TikTok or YouTube, or play a ton of games—or dig into the AI features a lot—you'll probably max out at a day to a day-and-a-half.
Samsung has always delivered solid camera systems, though they tend to be a bit more saturated in color than some of the other options out there (like the Pixel 8 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max). Provided you like that more saturated look, the S24 Ultra delivers a pleasing camera experience.
One thing that people are likely to be interested in is Samsung's move from a 10-megapixel sensor with 10x zoom to a 50-megapixel sensor with 5x zoom. The change is a good one, and ultimately you aren't going to see a huge difference between the photos taken with the S23 Ultra's 10-megapixel sensor and the 50-megapixel sensor at 5x zoom. There are definitely some improvements to the overall detail captured in the photos, but it isn't something everyday users are going to notice. The S24 Ultra still delivers smoother and more detailed zoom photos than any other smartphone on the market right now, and that 50-megapixel sensor is putting in a good bit of work to make that happen.
Low-light photos provide plenty of detail, though I did notice they aren't as bright as those taken by the Pixel 8 Pro or the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This isn't a big issue for me personally, as I feel those two devices often brighten the photos a bit too much; for me, the S24 Ultra is certainly winning in that regard.
The new AI features that let you magically erase and edit photos work well, though I will say I noticed a few more hiccups with Samsung's AI eraser feature than I have with Google's comparable Magic Eraser on the Pixel.
It's becoming more and more common for smartphone to push AI features, and Samsung's latest is no different. The S24 Ultra ships with a ton of new AI features of varying impact, including the new Circle to Search, which lets you circle items on the screen to trigger an intelligent Google search.
Another new AI feature is Live Translate, which takes advantage of real-time translations during voice calls. It's a great feature you'll get a lot of use out of, provided you talk with people who speak other languages. The feature is processed natively on the device, which is great for convenience and security. You won't need an internet connection to use it, and your data isn't going through some Samsung or Google server.
If you're talking in person, you can make use of the new Interpreter option, which builds off Live Translate to transcribe conversations in-person in real-time. Again, it works well and operates on-device as well. The translation function also expands to the keyboard, so you can type messages then translate them in real-time.
AI also powers summarizations in the Samsung Notes app, and helps you create custom emojis from photos. Samsung has also added Magic Compose—a feature already on Google phones—to help you create and edit your messages. Then there are the aforementioned AI photo editing features, which include one-tap prompts to edit photos, remove unwanted items, and more. The prompts are cool in theory, as they allow you to completely change how a photo looks by adjusting entire elements of it at once (for example, removing all shadows), but in practice, this is pretty hit or miss in my experience. Like anything AI, it doesn't always play out the way you want it to, and requires some finagling to get it to the right spot.
There are also new video editing effects, including Instant Slow-mo, which creates a slow-motion video without jarring stutters or frame drops. Samsung has also included a transcription assist feature in its recorder app, so you can start transcribing your recorded conversations right on your phone.
While all of these features are cool, and certainly add some nice qualities to the phone, many of them are also available on Google-made phones like the Pixel 8.
Put all of that together, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra is easily Samsung's strongest phone to date, blending great features with some of the best performance I've seen on a smartphone. It doesn't have many exclusive AI features, but what's there is generally impressive. If you can stomach the high price, it's a great Android phone that will serve you for years to come. It might even be enough to get me to make the switch from Apple.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently available to preorder and costs $1,299.99 for 256GB, $1,419.99 for 512GB, and 1,659.99 for 1TB. For thee best deal, you can preorder it on Amazon using the code "FEA7SP3UFDJN" and get a $200 Amazon gift card.
Lateo.net - Flux RSS en pagaille (pour en ajouter : @ moi) 