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Asus Zenfone 10 review: The last of the (good) small phones
Good things still come in small packages
There was a time when cell phones seemingly only ever got smaller, and likewise, some of us look fondly on those days when phones easily fit in our pockets and purses. Nowadays, we are mostly stuck with glass front and backed behemoths if we are seeking out a flagship, where devices like Asus's ROG Phone 7 surely aren't shy about their size and weight.
Android offers millions of apps, and while the Play Store makes it easy to find them if you know their name, yet discovery is still a pain point. This can result in plenty of the best Android apps never getting noticed simply because the market is flooded. Since we here at AP are immersed in everything Android every single day, we gathered some of the lesser-known apps to highlight standouts you may have otherwise missed on your favorite Android phone. So if you are sick of using the same old apps and are itching for something fresh or out of left field, then today's roundup of the best indie apps you've never heard of should cover your needs and then some.
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Sometimes you need more than steadfast weather apps to fish with the best, something to keep track of the mitigating factors that irritate pros and scare newbies away. Fishing apps can assist with the many tasks that anglers deal with, from competitions to record keeping, all from nifty portable Android phones. But, when there are so many to choose from on the Play Store, it can be challenging to know which apps are worthy of your time. So if you're looking to take to the water with confidence as we inch toward summer, AP has collected these great fishing apps in today's roundup to help everyone get started.
Top 15 icon packs for your Android launcher in 2024
Why stick with stock when there are so many beautiful choices out there?
Android is an open operating system, which means you can change things to your liking, such as switching to your favorite launcher or changing which icons show on the device. This is why we rounded up our favorite icon packs for our favorite Android devices. So whether you're looking for something low-key like Minimal O or prefer something 3D and flashy like Tigad Pro, you're covered in today's best icon packs on Android roundup, as these choices make up some of the best apps on Android.
It's that time of year again; Asus has a new gaming phone to sell, known as the ROG Phone 7 and the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. This review will deal specifically with the Ultimate model, taking the highest end for a lengthy spin to see just how well it stacks up to last year's offering and the competition, especially when that competition is heating up.
19 best weather widgets available on Android in 2024
Find the best weather widget for your home screen
There are countless weather apps available in the Google Play Store, many of which include homescreen widgets. However, it's often difficult to determine which app offers the best widgets for your needs. The description pages for these apps may list features and functionality, but they often leave out one crucial element: screenshots of the widgets themselves. Without seeing the widgets in action, it's hard to know how they'll look on your favorite Android tablet's home screen and if they'll provide the information you're looking for.
HP Chromebook x360 13b review: Trusty companion
Reliable performance in a body that's easy to carry and can hold up to abuse
HP may like to use incredibly disjointed naming schemes, but the HP Chromebook x360 13b shouldn't be ignored just because the name is so bad that you can't tell what it offers over the rest of HP's x360 line. This particular device runs on a MediaTek Kompanio 1380 — perhaps not an SoC you'd expect from MediaTek — yet, I can assure you the chip delivers, making the HP Chromebook x360 13b one of my favorite Chromebooks in my growing stable.
Wyze jumps on the gaming headset bandwagon with promises of ultra-low latency
The Wyze Wireless Gaming Headset is available today for $60, offering 50mm drivers and a 20-hour battery life
Wyze is pretty well known at this point for it smart home tech, especially its cameras, but did you know the company also sells audio headsets? Not only does it already sell over ear and in-ear devices, but today marks the launch of the new Wyze Wireless Gaming Headset, which just so happens to promise ultra-low latency over bluetooth 5.2 or an included 2.4 GHz dongle, packing 50mm drivers for high-fidelity sound. Best of all, this headset retails for $60, making them one of Wyze's most affordable audio devices, ensuring gamers won't break the bank by picking up a pair.
Razer Edge review: Thanks, but I already have a phone
For a purpose-built gaming device, it's lacking
Razer is no stranger to gaming peripherals; it's up there with the greats like Logitech. It even dips its toes into full-fledged console-quality hardware from time to time with devices like the Razer Phone and its second-gen follow-up. While these devices didn't find much success, the company's gaming laptop, the Razer Blade, sure has. This is why I was intrigued to explore the Razer Edge, a new Android tablet created specifically for playing and streaming games.
Pokémon wants to gamify sleep tracking with a little help from Snorlax
After a four year wait, The Pokémon Company finally reveals when Pokémon Sleep will launch
Four years ago, at the Pokémon Press Conference, The Pokémon Company announced an odd little game called Pokémon Sleep. While one would suspect this game was completely abandoned, seeing it's been missing since its announcement in 2019, today's Pokémon Presents event revealed that Pokémon Sleep is not only alive and kicking, but it's coming sometime this summer, putting everyone's worries to rest.
Adorable badger survival sim Shelter comes to Android for its 10th anniversary
Damn nature, you scary
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were a badger raising her young in the wild? Wonder no more, as the excellent survival simulation game Shelter has made its way to Android in celebration of the game's 10th anniversary. It will be your job to protect your young cete from birds of prey and other predators, all while traversing dangerous terrain. More or less, you have a badger-filled sandbox to play in that offers a unique experience each playthrough, accompanied by adorable low-poly graphics that add plenty of charm to what is ultimately a stylish and enjoyable survival sim.
Rovio kills the best Angry Birds game because its free-to-play titles aren't earning enough
Less than a year after its release, this premium game is marked for removal because it made F2P games look bad
Angry Birds was one of the first smartphone games to really resonate with the general populace. It was so popular several offshoot games have been created in its wake, along with an actual movie in 2016 and a sequel in 2019. To say the Angry Birds brand is popular is an understatement. And yet it would seem Rovio has struggled to capture the magic of the original game that made it famous, which is precisely why this game was recreated as Rovio Classics: Angry Birds. Seeing that the re-created classic isn't even a year old, it's shocking to see Rovio front and center on social media announcing that the Android version will be removed from the Play Store tomorrow, all because this classic premium-priced game is apparently eating into Rovio's profits in its free-to-play titles (shocker). Apparently, nobody wants to play any of the F2P versions of Angry Birds when there's a premium version around.
Dead by Daylight was so bad when it first hit mobile, this full relaunch could save the day
Preregistration is now open for the new mobile version
No, you haven't traveled back in time to 2020; dead by Daylight Mobile has just entered preregistration on the Google Play Store. Despite the fact Dead by Daylight has been available on Android for the last three years, there's a new version coming to mobile to replace the old with a bunch of graphical improvements in tow. While it was no secret that the old version of Dead by Daylight Mobile had its issues, especially in the control department, fans can rest assured that a fresh mobile entry is coming next month, complete with a season pass.
Google has prioritized tablets again, which means there's a new push for tablet-specific apps. But since it's difficult to find these apps in the Play Store, we did the hard work for you and created a hand-picked roundup of the best Android apps that look great on bigger screens. So strap in, grab your favorite Android tablet, and install some of these wonderful apps.
12 best music players on Android in 2024
Streaming or local, the choice is yours, with plenty of audiophile options in the mix
There's an endless supply of music apps on the Play Store, so it can be challenging to find the best one that suits your personal needs. This is why we gathered our favorites and broken them down by audiophile quality, streaming, local, free, and theming, as these are some of the best Android apps around that go hand-in-hand with the best smartphones out there. So no matter your needs, today's best music player roundup is for you. Enjoy!
The Kindle Paperwhite is the mid-range e-book reader from Amazon, a rather popular device thanks to its flush 6.8-inch screen, even frontlighting, and comfortable size. Our review says as much; it's an impressive little e-reader. But to date, there's only been one color available for the fifth-generation Paperwhite. Starting today, both Denim and Agave Green colors will be available for the 16GB Paperwhite as well as the 32GB Signature Edition. But that's not all; Amazon is also launching a matching Agave Green leather case (with no need to launch a Denim cover, as it already exists).
I'm sad to see Stadia go, but it wasn't fun while it lasted
Despite all of its flaws, now that Stadia is unplugged for good many could miss the unique game streaming platform
It's clear as day many will miss Stadia now that the game streaming service is officially entering the Google Graveyard. Whether you're a die-hard Dadia from Reddit or simply love the versatility of Google's game streaming service, there's no doubt those that were using the platform have some large shoes to fill today as the doors shutter. While I can't say Stadia ever worked all that great for me, thankfully, there are plenty of Stadia alternatives to choose from that may work better. Still, it's sad to see the passing of any gaming service, which is why I'd like to explore Stadia's major strokes from the last four-year run. So let's get all retrospective up in here and reminisce about Stadia to see it out the door properly.
The Razer Kishi V2 offers a new Virtual Controller mode, and it's pretty slick
Easily add controller support to touchscreen games
Razer's Kishi line have been the go-to controllers on Android thanks to quality ergonomics and ease of use, with the Kishi V2 offering a design similar to the Backbone controller. Having reviewed the Razer Kishi V2 last June, we were impressed, though it was clear the supporting app needed some work. A new update for the Razer Nexus app brings it to 2.0, adding some much-need functionality and support for a new Virtual Controller mode. With this brand-new new feature in the Razer Nexus app, anyone can map the Kishi V2's physical controls to the touchscreen to finally tackle touchscreen-only games with something a lot more tactile. This is why I've gone hands-on with the new 2.0 update for Razer Nexus, to see just how well the fresh Virtual Controller mode works. Let's dig in.
Amazon ran Comixology straight into the ground, and now it's laying off staff
After ruining the reading experience across the app and web, Amazon is laying off the very people that could fix things
Comixology was once heralded as the place to purchase digital comic books, thanks to its worthwhile discovery, awesome sales, and easy navigability for perusing decades of books from a large assortment of publishers. While Amazon bought the company back in 2013, it wasn't until 2022 that Amazon started tossing its weight around, completely replacing the user experience on the web and app with something much closer to the Kindle interface, and it was nowhere near ready. This rushed and poorly thought-out move left the Comixology team scrambling to fix all the things Amazon broke with the switch, and now Amazon is laying many of them off.
How to upgrade your Stadia Controller to the new Bluetooth mode
Google has devised a way to open Bluetooth support on the Stadia controller, and it's pretty dang easy
One of the biggest questions about Stadia's impending closure was whether or not Google would actually update the Stadia controller to open up Bluetooth support. Up until today, the only way to use a Stadia controller on a third-party platform was over USB, leaving it off the list of Android's best controllers. This all changes with Google's new Stadia controller unlock tool, which conveniently works through the Chrome browser. So if you've been keen to unlock Bluetooth support on the Stadia controller, perhaps to play some of Android's best games, we've whipped up this easy-to-follow guide so that everyone can get up to speed to play wirelessly over Bluetooth with their Stadia controller on their platform of choice.