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Legacy Sprint customers on T-Mobile are about to lose a major perk
A new special offer is coming soon, but there’s almost no chance it’ll be as good
Believe it or not, it's been almost five years since T-Mobile and Sprint announced their merger. Since then, T-Mobile has been working to incorporate all the remnants of Sprint's old network into its own, and in recent months, we're starting to see the magenta carrier bring an end to some grandfathered customer features. Just last month, the company announced that legacy Sprint SIMs will no longer work on T-Mobile, and now, people who are still on one of the old Sprint Unlimited plans are about to lose one of their best perks.
Google's latest Easter egg invites Baby Yoda to trash your Search results
Grogu check this one out right now
Google's sprawling presence in our mobile tech lives can sometimes make it easy to lose sight of the company's core search business. That would be a mistake, though, and even something as foundational as Google Search is constantly evolving and reinventing itself — look no further than the start of this new AI chapter with the introduction of Bard. One thing that keeps us coming back is when Google implements its latest Easter egg to try out, whether that's having Search "do a barrel roll," or just making a cultural reference. Today we're checking out a new one featuring everyone's favorite Baby Yoda, Grogu.
Google's Phone app brings a new visual aesthetic to the call screen
Embracing material you and moving some buttons around makes a huge difference
No matter how smart and capable our handheld devices get, they still serve one core function: calling. The Phone app from Google is among the best at doing this, thanks to useful features like Call Screen, Hold for Me, and Clear Calling, and it's one of the reasons Pixel devices rank so highly among the best Android phones. But features aren't everything — aesthetics are important, too, and Google is delivering on this front with an update rolling out now that changes the Phone app's in-call UI.
Google Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 5a: Which phone is the better value?
Google's latest mid-range smartphone may be its bet yet
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro may be Google's latest powerful new flagships, but you don't need to splurge on the latest and greatest technology to get the best mobile experience. Google's Pixel 6a is still a strong contender and the best budget smartphone you can buy right now, offering incredible value for its price tag.
Best Google Pixel 6 cases in 2023
Your all-glass phone needs a very good case, and here are your best options
The Google Pixel 6 was the smallest of the company's 2021 flagships, and recent sales have knocked hundreds off its already reasonable $600 price tag. While all eyes have now turned to the Google Pixel 7 — one of the best Android phones in the market — it's not enough of an upgrade for Pixel 6 owners. This means you'll need to keep your slippery slab of a phone safe for another year (or two).
Chrome’s autofill history is getting easier to clear
Autocomplete data wasn’t always the simplest thing to remove
One of the best reasons to use Chrome on desktop is its integration with Android, but you don't always want to sync every bit of data with Google's servers. For instance, Chrome's autofill feature is handy for saving addresses, credit card info, and login info, but it can also pick up on text you enter into search fields on some websites, then it will suggest whatever you typed the next time you click on a similar text field. This autocomplete data has always been tricky to delete, but things are finally getting easier.
The 7 OnePlus 11 settings you should change immediately
Personalize the OxygenOS experience with these simple tweaks
The OnePlus 11 isn't a perfect phone. But its few compromises and reasonable price make it a fantastic value proposition among the top Android flagships. If you're the proud owner of a OnePlus 11, change the OxygenOS settings to make app notifications more reliable, enhance your privacy, and do more with your phone. Here are all the settings you should change right away on your new OnePlus 11.
Best Pokémon clones on Android in 2023
Pokémon isn't the only monster-catching and trading card game on Android
Pokémon games offer a formula that can be seriously addicting, like being the first to fill up an index/compendium, befriending a diverse cast of creatures, and becoming the world's best tamer/trainer. Sadly, the core series is locked behind the Nintendo vault, so you can only play these titles if you are in that ecosystem, and it's not like Nintendo's main entry games will expand to Android and iOS anytime soon, either. Thankfully, Pokémon isn't the only game with addictive monster-catching mechanics. So we've rounded up the best Android games that are often mistaken for Pokémon clones, titles that are easily played on your favorite Android gaming phone. So, you can "catch 'em all," but just in a different IP.
Best Android smartwatches in 2023
From Samsung to Mobvoi and beyond, there's a smartwatch experience for everyone
After years of neglect, Wear OS is finally worth getting excited about again. Samsung is leading the charge in the new wave of Android wearables with its Galaxy Watch series, and Google's Pixel Watch is finally here, too. That's not to mention scores of options from the likes of Fossil and Mobvoi, many of which are eligible for upgrades to Wear OS 3 or should be soon.
Many people save the majority of their documents and photos online. Services such as OneDrive and Dropbox are popular for this purpose because they allow you to store your items in the cloud. There's a broad spectrum of these storage services, each offering a unique set of features. Some give you a clean place to store files, while others package many features together.
Best smartwatches for running in 2023
Runners have a specific set of needs which means not all smartwatches are created equal. Here are the best buys.
The smartwatch has to be one of the best inventions ever made for runners. The best smartwatches provide a lightweight way of tracking your pace and performance without sticking your phone in an uncomfortable armband. Just press a few buttons on your watch, wait for GPS to lock on, and then race to the finish line.
The internet is a great place for people to connect and learn about anything. As much as there are safeguards built-in to the web and the devices you use to access it, it's probably a good idea to use a VPN to keep yourself extra safe. There are a number of great VPNs that work on all devices, including the best Chromebooks available. If you want an open source option that works differently from the main-stream VPNs, Google's Jigsaw group created Outline VPN just for you. Here we look at what Outline is and how to set up a Server and the Client on your devices.
VPNs are essential to keep consumers safe while browsing the internet. Several services are available, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or SurfShark VPN, and all work on the best Android phones. Google's Jigsaw group, which makes solutions for a safer internet, has its own open source VPN called Outline that's a bit different from traditional VPNs. This article discusses what Outline is, how it compares to other VPNs, and how you can use it to browse safely.
Xiaomi’s first Wear OS 3 smartwatch could launch this year
Xiaomi’s current crop of wearables cannot access the Play Store
Thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Watch 5, and the Google Pixel Watch, Wear OS smartwatches are once again worth your money. Unlike a few years ago, you can't go wrong with any of the best Android smartwatches on the market now. The new crop of Wear OS 3-running watches deliver a much better user experience, performance, and battery life. Compelled by the success of Wear OS 3, Xiaomi, which has been making fitness trackers and smartwatches running its proprietary OS for years now, could finally foray into the market as well.
What is GrapheneOS and how does it improve privacy and security?
An overview of this private and secure mobile operating system
Smartphones have become the most widely adopted gadget we use today, bringing significant security and privacy concerns in recent years. Because we live in an always-connected and online society, social media giants, third-party entities, and various big-name companies can snoop on your personal data. To the average smartphone user, shielding themselves from the constant data harvesting in the background by their apps and accounts may be challenging. And unlike some of the best Android phones from popular device manufacturers, GrapheneOS is built to reduce user data tracking.
Wear OS watches now support Google Wallet in 60 countries
Payments from your wrist, now in more places
In 2022, Google renamed its payments app to Google Wallet, adding support for digital car keys, virtual ID cards, tickets, and vaccination certificates alongside the usual payment features like bank cards. The app runs on smartphones, tablets, and even smartwatches compatible with Wear OS. However, geographic availability was rather limited at launch, particularly for the wearables. That has been improving gradually, and now, Google Wallet works right from your wrist in a handful of new markets.
Best games like Super Smash Bros. on Android in 2023
The top picks for the finest platform fighters around
Unless you plan to install an emulator, amazing Nintendo games like Super Smash Bros. will never be playable on Android. But on the bright side, we can still replicate a similar experience with fantastic alternatives that natively work on the platform. So it may not be Mario and Kirby leading the pack for the games on our list. However, other forthcoming icons are still here to make an impressionable debut — time to dig through the best Android games that deserve full use out of your favorite Android gaming phone.
What's the difference between AMOLED, OLED, and POLED?
Confused about all the different premium smartphone screens? Here's a quick explainer on the different display technologies.
OLED displays are commonplace on modern phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, and televisions. They're not limited to high-end devices. Most budget Android smartphones have OLED screens. However, there isn't one type of display. Depending on your device, you may have an OLED, AMOLED, or POLED screen.
Motorola Razr 2023 confirmed by Lenovo's CEO, apparently coming soon
Speaking at MWC 2023, Lenovo’s CEO confirmed it’ll launch “very soon”
Motorola was one of the first companies to include a foldable phone in its portfolio, and we’ve seen a few iterations of its Razr-branded foldable devices over the last few years. Now, the company has confirmed a new version is in the works, and we’ll be seeing it “very soon”. The Moto Razr 2023 has leaked previously, but this is the first time the company has confirmed it’s in development.
Google Pixel 7a: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Google's budget lineup looks to receive some serious upgrades
The Google Pixel 6a made its mark as one of the best budget Android phones in 2022, thanks to its powerful hardware, great cameras, and premium construction. Anyone who wants an affordable phone with power that rivals flagships can't go wrong with Google's latest offering — especially considering the steep discounts we've seen at retailers across the web.