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Weekend poll: Have you tried out Google Gemini on Android?
We're still in the earliest days of Google's latest AI toolset
Google caught the tech community off-guard a couple of weeks ago with the launch of Gemini. No, I don't mean the LLM of the same name announced in December — I mean Google's official relaunch of Bard, complete with an all-new Android app that replaces Assistant on whatever device you install it on. That represents a pretty big swing on Google's part, a claim to the future of AI on all Android devices, regardless of manufacturer, even as it's obvious there's plenty of work left to be done.
It's easy to take always-on displays for granted. Long gone are the days of flashing notification lights, customized down to individual apps. Instead, the AMOLED displays that are nearly universal across the best Android phones fill that role for us, showcasing incoming messages, weather alerts, calendar reminders, and — of course — the current time. It's a much more advanced system of keeping you notified while simultaneously keeping you from having to touch the display at all.
Weekend poll: How important is update support in your next smartphone?
Is seven years of OS upgrades a priority, or something that's a little unnecessary?
Tech companies tend to follow each other — it's how we get trends in the first place. Apple, for example, dragged its heels on adding an always-on display to the iPhone; fast-forward a year and half later, and Samsung has a similar experience available by default on One UI 6.1. That's why it didn't come as much of a surprise when, just a few months after Google announced the Pixel 8's policy for seven OS upgrades, the Galaxy S24 series launched with the same promise. But not everyone seems to be on the same page.
Weekend poll: Do Samsung Galaxy S24 rumors have you excited for this week's launch?
Phone upgrades are more incremental than ever — is titanium enough to get you hyped?
What a start to this year. While I'm busy recovering from my first-ever CES — I'm not sure I was prepared for just how exhausting that show could be, even with last year's MWC under my belt — the rumor mill has continued churning. We're just a few days away from the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S24 series, which seems certain to keep me occupied through the end of the month. That's not even including the near-simultaneous global launch of the OnePlus 12. With four smartphones arriving over the next couple of weeks, it's enough to keep any AP reader excited.
Weekend poll: What's your weather app of choice?
Keeping an eye on the forecast is more vital than ever
For as necessary as weather apps are, finding a good one these days can be a real struggle. Perhaps that's why demand for Google's new weather app feels so high. Having launched on the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet last year, the company finally started bringing it to non-Pixel phones last month, and with any luck, it'll continue to roll out to more smartphones throughout this year. But even if you do have access to Google's latest weather tool, it's not a guarantee that's your go-to service.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is your 2023 Readers' Choice Phone of the Year
Android Police fans can't get enough of Google's smartphone experience
Well folks, you know what they say: great minds think alike. You've spent the last two weeks voting on your favorite Android phone of the year, and just like 2022 before it, our Readers' Choice pick is going to the same phone that earned our own internal award. The Pixel 8 Pro is your pick for the best smartphone of the year — sorry, Samsung fans. Better luck in 2024.
It's your last chance to vote for the Android Police 2023 Readers' Choice Smartphone of the Year
One last shot to make your voice heard!
Although the current lineup of Android phones available at your local Best Buy might feel a little boring, the truth is it was a fantastic year for new hardware. Whether you wanted a reliable slab phone — Samsung, Google, and even Motorola have you covered — or wanted to finally dip your toes into the world of foldables, there was something this year that likely tempted you to finally upgrade. Whether you really slapped your credit card down, or you've been holding out for a future device, it's time to pick what your favorite smartphone of the year was.
Weekend poll: Is your smartphone running Android 14?
Or are you still waiting (im)patiently for an update?
Although we originally expected it in August — and then September — Android 14 finally arrived in October, timed perfectly to the changing of the leaves and the launch of some new Google hardware. Fast-forward nearly two months, and it's easy to see that this year's OS upgrade was successful, if relatively understated. No major bugs, sure, but in comparison to larger overhauls like Android 12 (or some of Google's own Pixel-exclusive features) it's easy to see how some users may have felt a little underwhelmed.
Weekend poll: Will RCS on the iPhone benefit your life as an Android user?
Sure, you aren't on iOS, but I bet a lot of your friends are
If there was one connective thread weaving together this week's biggest stories in mobile, it was messaging. After Nothing announced a new service designed to bring iMessage support to its latest smartphone — a platform that crashed and burned within 24 hours — Apple made even bigger waves by confirming its plans to add RCS support to the iPhone in 2024. While plenty of questions remain about how Apple's support will shake up the smartphone landscape, the explanation as to why it's tackling RCS, at least, remains pretty clear.
When shopping for a smartphone, the first thing most people turn to is the specs sheet. With designs so similar — give or take a foldable — knowing what makes a specific Android phone tick is the best way to pick what's right for you. Some features, like ultra-wide lenses or high-refresh rate displays, are basically a given, while others, like top-tier chipsets and UWB, are usually only found on high-end flagships.
Weekend poll: Would you be willing to pay for modern console games on Android?
With Resident Evil Village on iOS, it's hard not to feel that pang of jealousy
October was chock full of big game releases, from Alan Wake II to Spider-Man 2 to Super Mario Wonder, but there was one launch that, if you're an Android user, likely slipped through the cracks. Resident Evil Village isn't a new game — it's two and a half years old, if you can believe it — but it is new to iOS, where it arrived timed perfectly with Halloween. It's far from the only modern console game iPhone 15 Pro owners are getting over the next few months. Assassin's Creed Mirage, Death Stranding, and Resident Evil 4 are all set to launch soon, with two of those games having launched on consoles this year.
Weekend poll: Have you canceled a streaming service subscription this year?
Prices keep going up — have you started pulling the plug?
These days, it feels like we can't go a month without a streaming service getting more expensive. Those same platforms originally sold to us as the future of home entertainment are struggling to keep the lights on at their current monthly prices, all while trying to push more users to subsidized ad-supported plans. It feels a lot like the rebirth of cable, only with your monthly bill split over five or six companies at any given time.
Weekend poll: How often do you use Google Assistant on your phone?
Smart speakers are one thing, but what about the device that's always in your pocket?
Can you feel that? It's the mobile industry slowly preparing to leave Techtober behind for another year. Sure, the next two months are jam-packed in their own way — Best Buy is starting its Black Friday deals before you'll hand out a single piece of Halloween candy — but this year's crop of smartphones are announced and, for the most part, stocked in stores. As the Phones Editor here at Android Police, let me tell you: it's a relief.
Weekend discussion: How do you feel about Google's Pixel 8 AI camera features?
Is Best Take creepy? Is Magic Editor the next big thing? Are you just happy to see pro controls?
After months of rumors, Google finally released the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro this week. Reviews are, unsurprisingly, strong across the board — both myself and Google Editor Manuel Vonau gave each device a nine out of ten in our respective reviews — but that hasn't stopped plenty of controversy from swirling over the last few weeks. The company's taking a big swing with some of its new camera features, and not everyone seems to be a fan.
Weekend poll: Did you preorder a Google Pixel 8 or Pixel Watch 2?
Google has some shiny new hardware — what did you buy?
And just like that, yet another Google hype cycle has been put out to pasture. With the company's latest Made By Google event having wrapped up on Wednesday, we now know practically everything there is to know about this year's lineup of phones and smartwatches. And while you await our reviews with bated breath (the AP team is working on them, we swear), you don't need to wait to preorder the gadgets you think you might want. And considering this year's preorder bonuses, skipping the wait might actually work in your favor.
Weekend poll: Will you watch the Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2 launch event this week?
Google's latest round of hardware is just days away from an official unveiling
With October now at our doorstep, the entire mobile tech industry is about to shift into overdrive — if it hasn't already. Next up on our slate is Google with an event that, as usual, you probably already know everything about. But just because the brand behind Android is bad at keeping secrets doesn't mean it's worth skipping Made By Google this week. If anything, it might be worth checking out even more now.
Weekend poll: How long have you been an Android user?
Have you been on board since the beginning or are you a fairly recent adopter?
Time flies when you're having fun, and you can't say the last fifteen years haven't been fun. This weekend — literally today, actually, if you're reading this when it's scheduled to go live — the T-Mobile G1 turns 15 years old, marking another big milestone in the history of Android. We've got a big, fun retrospective live on the site right now (also written by yours truly), but timed with this anniversary, I thought it'd be fun to ask just how long our readers have been using Google's mobile OS.
Weekend poll: Which upcoming fall tech event are you most excited for?
Microsoft? Meta? Let's be honest — it's probably Google
Apple's iPhone 15 event might be in the rearview mirror, but for us Android fans, the real fun has yet to begin. While we ruminate on what the latest iOS hardware might mean for the future of smartphones as a whole — including my demands for an Action button on every phone — we have plenty of events to look forward to. From Amazon to Microsoft to, of course, Google's main event, this fall is looking pretty hefty on our calendars.
Weekend poll: Do you use Google's At a Glance widget?
Either the built-in Pixel tool, or the more limited Assistant version on all Android phones
While plenty of Android users — and Pixel owners in particular — expected Android 14 to arrive this week after a prolonged series of beta releases, that didn't happen. Fans hoping to finally try out Google's latest OS upgrade, or to move off the beta channel for something a little more stable, had to make due with the latest Android Quarterly Feature Drop, combining several app updates into one neat, tidy package. Out of everything included in the group, I think it's pretty clear what garnered the most attention: the redesigned Assistant At a Glance widget.
Weekend poll: Are you interested in a user-repairable smartphone?
The Fairphone 5 wants to live in your pocket for the next decade. Would you let it?
As IFA 2023 wraps up this week, we've seen all sorts of fascinating gadgets. From concept rollables to eye-catching smart speakers — not to mention a bunch of new pairs of headphones— IFA has become a fascinating land for anyone interested in gadgets. That said, you'll still catch some new smartphones timed to launch around the event every year, and that includes the Fairphone 5 this year. The company's fifth-gen repairable smartphone looks to be its best yet, and it could be the first time this type of device doesn't come at the cost of a powerful, user-friendly experience.