Let's face it; even if you have one of the best Android phones with a huge battery, sometimes you'll need extra help to get you through an exceptionally busy day. Whether that's on a road trip where you're snapping a ton of photos or just one of those days when you've found yourself immersed in an addictive Android game, having the right battery pack can ensure that you're not left helplessly wandering with a dead phone.
With the popularization of AMOLED displays even on the best budget Android phones, system-wide dark mode support could save you some battery life, or at least make the display easier to read in low-light conditions. While most Android apps support dark mode, their web versions still do not, and that’s true for Google Drive as well. However, the company just changed that by announcing dark mode support for the web UI.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro vs. ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: So much power
Gaming devices that excel at just about everything
Asus is no stranger to gaming, as many are familiar with their Republic of Gamers brand. They brought that gaming expertise to the smartphone industry, helping create some of the best gaming phones on the market.
Visible's new annual plans cost less than a smartwatch for a full year of service
Options start at $275 for an entire year
A handful of mobile service providers have ruled the landscape for years in the US, but as of late, a number of budget-friendly options have emerged. T-Mobile arguably began the trend with its “un-carrier” service, and several MVNOs have sprouted up, giving phone owners new alternatives. Visible, the Verizon-owned deprioritized network, has started enticing potential customers with affordable plan options. Now, the mobile carrier is launching a new option for those seeking up-front savings.
It's no secret that inflation is real, and it's reflected in the steep prices of modern smartphones. With some of the best Android phones costing upwards of $1,500, it's more important than ever to protect your investment. Investing in a good phone case is a start, but it's also wise to choose a phone that's capable of withstanding falls and other accidents, especially when you're spending a significant amount of money.
This certification listing with a 650mAh battery could be Google's next earbuds
The supposed Pixel Buds Pro 2 case popped up on Korean certification sites
The Google Pixel Buds Pro are still one of our favorite wireless earbuds, despite being two years old already. They're an awesome pair of earbuds with great sound and decent noise cancelation. But since 2022, Google's silence about a new version has left buyers debating whether to go for the current model or wait for the next-generation model. It looks like the wait for the next-gen Pixel Buds Pro might be over soon, with Google reportedly cooking up a successor, as hinted by a couple of regulatory listings.
Blackmagic Design is bringing its free camera app to Android
You're almost out of excuses to not start your YouTube channel
If you record video on an Android phone, you’re probably used to disappointment. For years, software support for cameras in the Android ecosystem has been a tangled mess of contradictions and incompatibilities. And the third-party apps you can use have been more of an afterthought than a properly developed application. If you need to record video on your phone, you’re almost certainly better off with an iPhone. But all that may be about to change thanks to a new app from Blackmagic previewed at NAB Las Vegas this week.
YouTube has a new algorithmic view for your feed, but it won't be forced down your throat
YouTube, now with more of everything you hate from Facebook
If you’ve spent any time at all on YouTube, you’ll know that the video-hosting site is always in a state of flux. Whether it’s the new desktop redesign from last week or the improved picture-in-picture functionality popping up in Europe last month, YouTube is always trying out something different. If you’re one of the lucky few, you might have seen YouTube’s latest quality-of-life update show up in the subscription feed on your phone. Instead of showing you a sequential feed of videos from channels you subscribe to, you can opt to see videos that YouTube deems “Most Relevant.”
WhatsApp's upcoming status update mentions have spam and privacy in mind
The app is looking to make big changes to status updates
WhatsApp is still one of the best encrypted messaging apps that you can use in 2024. In addition to its impressive set of features that includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, you also get frequent updates that improve the overall user experience. Now these updates can be small quality of life updates like chat filters, or more major ones like adding privacy features that really allow the app to stand above others in the same category.
5 Google Play Music features YouTube Music still doesn't have
We're missing a few of the functions and tools we used to have on Google Play Music, and we want them back
Google Play Music gracefully bowed out of existence back in 2020 to make way for YouTube Music. Many of us, myself included, made the migration and hoped for the best. After all, Google promised us this would be an even better music experience. And while YouTube Music boasts some great features, we're still left missing a few of the beloved tools and functions from Play Music. Features such as metadata editing, play counts, and light mode are still nowhere to be found.
Google Pixel 9: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
The Pixel 9 series is Google's biggest mobile shakeup since Tensor — here's what we're expecting
With the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro having established themselves as some of the best Android phones you can buy today, it's time to look forward to what's on the horizon. You could pick up last year's Google flagships, but imagining what's around the corner is more fun. The Pixel 9 series will be here before you know it — Google's already made reference to it in its app — and unsurprisingly, we already know a lot about this year's lineup. This year, that's extra exciting, as we're looking at three different phones coming to a carrier near you this fall. Here's everything we know about the Pixel 9 series.
Google Maps navigation just got a big 3D upgrade
Beta users now have the option to see 3D buildings during navigation
There are a lot of different apps for navigation, but for most, Google Maps has become a staple thanks to its impressive data set, beautiful maps with immersive views, excellent navigational tools, and so much more. What makes Google Maps an easy and go-to choice for most is its ease of use, and for others, it's the constant evolution of the app that keeps it way ahead of others.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Camera comparison
Can the US's best camera phones keep up with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra?
Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra flagship has a credible case for being the best camera phone around this year — but US buyers can’t pick it up.
As someone who spends a lot of time wearing earbuds, I find the Shokz OpenFit Earbuds an attractive alternative to the intrusive in-ear headphones I use daily. Although the idea of an open-ear earbud is unusual, it offers distinct potential benefits in terms of comfort, health, and situational awareness.
Please Google, don't name your next foldable the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
This has bad branding written all over it
Google I/O is less than a month away, and while we're likely to hear all about the Pixel 8a, this fall's Pixel 9 trio is unlikely to make an appearance. Or, based on this week's reports about the next-gen Pixel Fold successor, maybe I should say quartet? The latest leaks on the Pixel Fold 2 have it pegged to be officially joining Google's mainline series as the "Pixel 9 Pro Fold," and frankly, I can't think of a worse way to brand your smartphones.
I reviewed phones for 5 years — here’s my pick right now
For all its flaws, the Google Pixel 8 is the phone I’d buy today
When I started at Android Police as a part-time news writer in 2019 while I was still studying, I would have never dreamed of becoming the publication’s Google Editor. Yet here we are, and I’m at the forefront of what Android Police is all about: Google products, Pixel phones, Android releases, and Chrome versions. I’ve also had the chance to look at the phone industry from many different angles and could test some unique phones from brands like Fairphone, Honor, Xiaomi, and Unihertz.
Best Galaxy S23 FE deals: Free from select carriers
Or save $100 instantly, with no strings attached
After a 1-year hiatus, Samsung's Galaxy FE line made its triumphant return late last year in hopes of reclaiming its spot as one of the top mid-range Android handsets on the market. The S23 FE makes a pretty good case, too, as it features a bright 6.4-inch display, solid processing power, a triple lens rear camera system, and all-day battery life.
Catching up on a sea of unreads in WhatsApp can feel like a chore, but the distinction between pinned chats and other conversations helps a little. However, things can be much better because billions of people use WhatsApp every day and it is one of the largest encrypted messaging apps on Android. Meta started working on an email-style filter to separate the unreads and the group messages in the chats tab recently, and that feature is finally rolling out to all users.
Your Samsung phone just gained some useful home screen customization options
Provided you use Good Lock and the Home Up module
Besides their powerful internals and long software support, another advantage of owning a flagship or premium Samsung phone is Good Lock access. Coupled with its modules, you can use Good Lock to unlock additional features and customize key aspects of your Galaxy phone and One UI. Home Up, a module that enables extra One UI launcher-related personalization options, is now getting a major update with significant new features.
Google just equipped YouTube and Gmail advertisers with generative AI
Get ready to see a lot more ads featuring things that don't actually exist
Despite Google's attempts to diversify its business portfolio, especially by entering the hardware market with Pixel devices, advertising has remained the tech giant's main source of revenue. It's estimated that over 77 percent of Google's revenue in 2023 is generated from ads. With that in mind, the firm needs to please advertisers to keep them spending more dollars on ads. As annoying as it might sound, advertisers on YouTube and Gmail can now rely on generative AI to create more compelling visual storytelling.