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Google Pixel 8a: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Not sold on the Pixel 8? Google's next midrange phone might be for you
With one Google Pixel launch out of the way, it's time to start looking forward to the future. And while we're sure there's plenty on the table for Google's future hardware lineup — new tablets, smartwatches, foldables, you name it — there's one device we know for sure is on its way. The Pixel 8a is set to succeed last year's Pixel 7a, and assuming it gets the same attention and care we recently saw with the Pixel 8, it could be one of the best budget phones of 2024.
Sony Xperia 1 VI: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Not interested in the latest mainstream smartphone? Sony's next flagship might be for you
When you think of the brands behind Android, Google and Samsung probably spring to mind first. If you're particularly tuned in, you might think of Motorola's selection of budget phones, or whatever the OnePlus flagship killer is. If you're an enthusiast, though — or, even more specifically, a camera enthusiast — you've got one company on the brain: Sony.
Google is making huge changes to its Android and Pixel teams in the name of AI
Rick Osterloh is taking on Google's new 'Platforms and Devices' team, while Hiroshi Lockheimer looks to new projects
It's no secret that AI is Google's main focus these days. Practically every recent announcement the company's made has been focused around how generative AI services like Gemini are looking to change the tech industry forever. Today, just under a month out from I/O, Google is announcing a major shake-up to its internal team structure, combining several of its hardware and software initiatives — including Android and Pixel — into a single squad. And, you guessed it, it's a move that's all about AI.
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.
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.
Google Pixel Fold 2: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
This year's Pixel Fold successor might be all new, right down to its very name
It's no secret that the first-gen Pixel Fold has some problems. Perhaps owing to just how long Google's foldable phone existed as a rumor — not to mention the company's decision to hold back an even earlier iteration — the Fold struggled to keep up with its competition right out of the gate. And as phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open have launched with far more refined experiences, the difference between Google and the rest of the field has grown that much more obvious.
Google needs to fix its Pixel fragmentation problem before it's too late
What good is seven years of OS upgrades when you might not get the features that matter?
It's been a long time since fragmentation was a common complaint among Android fans, but for those of us who have been around since the earliest days of the platform, it's a term sure to dredge up some memories. Whether it's complaining about your own daily driver experience or sitting through Apple's on-stage pie charts promoting its own iOS update successes, "fragmentation" was a real issue throughout the 2010s.
Weekend poll: Do you still trust Google services to stick around?
Or has the Google Graveyard become just a bit too full for your liking?
It's no secret that Google loves to launch new products, only to unceremoniously discontinue support years down the road. "Google Graveyard" has become shorthand for a reason, and lately, the company's been on another killing streak. With so many products in the ground, it's no surprise that some in the tech world have been calling it quits on trusting the brand. After all, a lot of good apps have died lately.
How to install the Google Play Store on any Android device
It can be tricky, but these steps might just work for you
There's been a lot of noise surrounding app stores lately. With Apple opening access to third-party app platforms in the EU, the iPhone is — at least in some regions — feeling more like Android. But on this side of the walled garden, we experienced flexibility and freedom from the start, and it doesn't seem like that'll change any time soon.
Dbrand just spent 24 hours doubling down on racist remarks before apologizing
Maybe they should rename the company 'Dbags' instead
Read update
For the last decade-plus, we've had to sit through brands developing personalities, specifically through their social media presence. Thanks to all sorts of viral moments and interactions from your favorite store-bought cookies or breakfast cereal, companies have gotten good at pretending they're just like you. In the tech world, no brand has shown more spunk on social media and beyond than Dbrand, an attitude that landed them in hot water over the past 24 hours after throwing around some particular racist comments.
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How to install the Google Play Store on every Amazon Fire tablet
Get the apps you want on your brand-new device
Finding a good Android tablet is tough, especially if you're on a budget. Companies like Samsung and Lenovo do their best to convince would-be iPad buyers. Still, no one in tech can beat the bargains found in Amazon's Fire lineup. Amazon has updated its entire lineup of Fire tablets with improved performance since 2022, alongside introducing its premium Fire Max 11. But specs are only part of the equation. Without better software, these slates are as good as useless.
Apple may not end up beating Android at the emulation game after all
Developers are reading between the lines on this new App Store policy, and it doesn't look good
Like it or not, it's no secret iOS and Android are closer to each other than ever — even more so if you live in the EU. Last week, it appeared as though another Android-specific benefit had fallen, as Apple updated its App Store guidelines to allow for retro game emulators worldwide. That's a big change, but as with so many elements of iOS, nothing's as simple as it seems. And if one emulator developer is to be believed, some of the wording might be just specific enough to keep Android the sole destination for retro gaming fans on mobile.
Beeper has a new owner, and its app is leaving beta
The company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, and Pocket Casts is barging into the messaging game
Just shy of a month ago, Beeper took a big step towards its future, leaving iMessage support (mostly) behind and aiming to become the best all-in-one chat application around. Frankly, as long as you aren't dependent on Apple's messaging platform — and most people reading Android Police probably aren't — last month's beta more or less lived up to that promise. Now, Beeper's ready to share its latest experience with more people, all while helping to guarantee the future of the company.
Motorola went through somewhat of a rough patch for a few years, set back partly by some questionable marketing decisions and its ill-fated Moto Mods project. At long last, though, 2023 saw the longtime electronics giant's resurgence with a handful of powerful, reasonably priced smartphones.
Best budget Android phones in 2024
These days, you don't have to pay through the nose to get a decent phone
It's an exciting time for smartphones. Thanks to increasingly powerful new chips, we're long past the days when you had to choose between spending a bundle on a premium phone or settling for sluggish performance on a budget model.
The Pixel 8 Pro was all I needed to create my solar eclipse memories
A once-in-a-lifetime chance drives home just what actually matters when it comes to snapping a photo
The love I feel for my hometown is no secret. Ask anyone who's met me at a Google launch event or MWC — I'm particularly proud of Buffalo, no matter how many bad seasons of football I've had to sit through. This year, we weren't just graced with (relatively) bearable winter weather, but we also earned a spot in the path of totality during this year's eclipse. And despite my lack of faith in smartphone cameras to capture such a momentous occasion, I grabbed my trusty Pixel 8 Pro and gave it my best shot.
Weekend poll: Do you prefer fingerprint scanners or face unlock?
What's your most trusted method for unlocking your phone?
These days, your smartphone probably contains an almost absurd amount of personal data. Bank accounts, credit cards, maybe even your driver's license — it's practically an internet-connected wallet. That makes keeping your phone as secure as possible an essential step, in case it's ever misplaced or, worse, outright stolen. But with so many methods for unlocking your phone, it should come as no surprise that every enthusiast has strong feelings about mobile security.
There's a lot to like about the latest crop of OnePlus phones. Not only does the OnePlus 12 series manage to compete with Samsung and Google, but it does so with a complete lack of AI-powered gimmicks. Or at least, it did. Following the addition of AI tools to China's ColorOS, it looks like OnePlus is taking these tools global. The company's AI-powered Magic Editor clone is coming to phones later this month, but whether it's actually any good remains to be seen.
Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1 delivers another massive round of bug fixes
This ain't no April Fool's Day joke
It's been nearly a month since Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 rolled out, and one look at that changelog told you everything you needed to know about the rocky start facing June's upcoming Feature Drop. Google had some serious bugs to squash with that update, and it seems like it's not done cleaning up just yet. Despite April likely set to deliver QPR3 Beta 3 within the next couple of weeks, we're kicking the month off with Beta 2.1, complete with another surprisingly hefty set of bug fixes.
Weekend poll: Do you still use wired headphones with your Android phone?
Or have you switched over to all wireless, all the time?
It's hard to believe, but we're rapidly approaching a decade since Apple — and Samsung, and Google, and so on — decided to all but kill the headphone jack, putting it out to pasture in lieu of true wireless earbuds and other Bluetooth accessories. It hasn't always been a smooth ride, and even today's best wireless headphones can run into bugs or glitches that make it impossible to have an easy listening experience (to say absolutely nothing of battery life woes). None of this means wired headphones have gone away, of course, and in fact, I'm not sure they ever fully will.