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The Pixel 8 feels small after the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but I want a truly tiny phone
Google and Samsung have me convinced: smartphones are too big
Like many of our readers, I've spent the last few years listening to cries for smaller smartphones with a single eyebrow raised. Sure, my assortment of smartphones rocking 6.7-inch displays — give or take — feel a little unwieldy at times, but who would sacrifice all that glorious screen real estate just for something that fits a little more comfortably in your pocket? But some recent Android phone whiplash has given me a new perspective on the current state of smartphones. And frankly, I think it's time for some brave OEM to consider giving pocket-friendly phones another shot.
Chrome on Android really needs to learn this simple trick from Safari
With these auto-close options, tab management has never been easier
One of the best parts of my job as Phones Editor at Android Police is how easy it makes comparing Android to its sole remaining rival. While I know some readers prefer to pretend iOS doesn't exist, the truth is that, at least in North America, the iPhone is eating Android's lunch right now. Learning more about the pros — and cons — of that walled garden can add a lot of context to the modern state of smartphones, whether you're talking about modern messaging platforms or, well, something much smaller.
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Amazon's Fire tablets are slow, but you can give them a little pep with a few simple tweaks
Speed up your Fire tablet with these tips and tricks
While slate devices can be expensive, Amazon Fire tablets offer incredible value for as low as $60. These versatile devices are budget-friendly and family-friendly. Speed is their greatest drawback. If your Fire Tablet runs at snail's speed, there are easy ways to enhance the speed and functionality of Fire OS. Your sub-$100 tablet won't magically perform like high-end options such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+, but the tips below give it a boost.
Weekend poll: Do you trust Google's direction for Pixel devices?
From a price hike for the Pixel 8a to a new folding phone design, it's a weird year for Google hardware
When it comes to Google, early leaks aren't out of the ordinary. Google is particularly bad at hiding future hardware products — hell, how long did we spend hearing about Pixel Fold leaks? 2024 has been no different, as we've already heard plenty about the Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold 2, and, of course, the Pixel 9 series. For the first time since 2021, though, we're looking at some big hardware shakeups coming to most of these devices, which makes it the perfect chance to check in on how Android users feel about Google's efforts to create the best Android phones around.
Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 is here, but you should be careful sideloading
It's filled with some much-needed fixes — and the risk of bricking your device
We just can't get enough Pixel Feature Drop action. On top of Monday's announcement of Google's latest drop — one that will bring a whole slate of newer features to older devices across the company's portfolio when it arrives in the US next week — we're back with an all new QPR beta. Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 is live for the Pixel 5a and newer right now, complete with a bunch of bug fixes for last month's release, though you might want to hold off upgrading for the time being.
Switching from iPhone to Android will get much easier next year
At least in the EU, thanks to the DMA
The EU-based dominos for Apple continue to fall. On the heels of this week's release of iOS 17.4 — which, among other things, preps the iPhone for third-party app marketplaces to arrive in Europe — we're learning more about what the Digital Markets Act (or DMA) means for Apple's mobile future. In addition to those external App Store rivals, the company plans to add even more functionality to the platform, including an option that might make migrating to Android a whole lot easier.
The Pixel 8a might cost nearly as much as Google's 2022 flagship
Get ready to pay even more for the next A-series entry
Although we've already seen new smartphone entries from Samsung and OnePlus this year, we're still waiting on one more Android hardware giant to make its debut in 2024: Google. Thankfully, with I/O likely just a couple of months away — in fact, invites should be out any day now — that's about to change. We're expecting the Pixel 8a to make an appearance following months of rumors and renders in May, but if you were hoping Google's upcoming A-series entry would avoid the Pixel lineup's newfound inflation, you might be out of luck.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 leaks prove Samsung is stuck in a foldable rut
The folding phone industry is moving forward, but Samsung is simply unwilling to innovate
It's hard to believe Samsung is the company that, just five years ago, kickstarted the foldable revolution. Bumpy launch aside, it was absolutely impressive to finally see a large OEM take its chances on turning what was once just a collection of concept devices into something lining every carrier shelf in the US — truly, you don't see that every day. It was a big swing, one that spawned countless imitators following in the path Samsung had paved on its own.
I miss when the world's biggest phone show wasn't all about prototypes
MWC used to focus on devices you could buy. Now it's about showcasing a potential vision for your mobile future
You don't have to spend too much time on the show floor at Mobile World Congress to get a feel for what's trending in the industry right now. AI is everywhere, just as it was at CES. Nearly every OEM you can think of has a foldable on display, even from brands you've never heard of or forgot existed years ago. And the phones that are being launched on the show floor are all from Chinese brands, likely destined for a global launch that, as usual, excludes North America from upgraded one-inch camera sensors and supersized fast-charging batteries.
You don't just come to Mobile World Congress for smartphone announcements and Galaxy Ring teases. Half the fun of trade shows comes from concept devices, gadgets that could influence the products of tomorrow, shown off in a phase well before development truly kicks off. We've seen this sort of jump before — after all, it wasn't all that long ago that foldables weren't much more than Samsung's display concepts held behind glass cases, unable to be tried and tested by general audiences.
TCL's NXTPAPER smartphones are easy on your eyes and your wallet
Look for devices with these paper-like displays to finally hit the US later this year
MWC 2024 is in full swing, but TCL is still playing catch-up with its CES announcements. After announcing five (yes, five) smartphones in Vegas last month, the company is back in action at Barcelona, this time with full specs sheets and availability info. And while it might sound like a lot of phones to keep track of, it's really the NXTPAPER devices you should be interested in. While neither is looking to rise above the usual budget Android phone experience TCL is so adept at delivering, the displays might be more unique than anything you'll find on flagships worth six times as much.
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.
MWC 2024: What to expect from the world's biggest phone show
Mobile World Congress is back — here's what you need to know
Mobile World Congress might not attract the same sort of attention it used to, especially as larger smartphone brands have minimized their appearances at the show. That doesn't mean it's not one of the most exciting times of the year for smartphone fans, though, especially if you prefer brands like OnePlus or Motorola over Android behemoths like Google and Samsung. As Android Police preps to send four — yes, four — of our intrepid reporters out to the show floor (including yours truly), here's what to expect from MWC 2024.
Seven different iPhone models outsold every Android phone last year
It's Apple's world, and we're all just living in it
It's no secret the iPhone is popular — like, really popular. While Android has held onto its global dominance for well over a decade, its audience in countries like the United States has dwindled, leading the entire iPhone lineup to trounce any of our favorite Android devices, regardless of OEM. Now, we're getting a look at how the market shook out in 2023, and to no one's surprise, Apple's keeping an iron grip on the entire market.
5 Android 14 settings you'll want to change immediately
From your lock screen to new gestures, you need to change these five things after upgrading your smartphone
If you're looking for cool new features to try on your phone, update to Android 14. The latest OS version comes with many improvements and additions. We picked the best ones to make your Android 14 experience more enjoyable and productive, especially compared to Android 13.
Samsung's fancy Galaxy AI features are coming to older phones next month
One UI 6.1 is set to launch for the Galaxy S23, Z Fold 5, and more in March
Although Samsung's Galaxy S24 series looked pretty familiar to their respective predecessors, there was one key difference setting each model apart from previous entries: AI. The company's Galaxy AI platform made a big splash, gaining some big promotion during events like the Super Bowl. Still, we've known for a while features like Instant Slow-Mo and Transcript Assist wouldn't stay exclusive to the Galaxy S24 for long, and if you're a proud owner of any device in Samsung's 2023 flagship lineup, you've got some good news coming your way next month.
First Pixel Fold 2 renders confirm Google is shaking up its design
That leaked EVT unit sure seems a lot more official now
Earlier this month, we got our first look at the design for Google's upcoming Pixel Fold 2, and to say it was a shock feels like something of an understatement. A leaked early test model looked completely alien compared to last year's foldable, with a new camera bump and a revised aspect ratio that made the whole thing look more in line with the OnePlus Open than anything branded Pixel. Now, we're getting some follow-up renders that double down on this new look, alongside some details surrounding its refreshed size and shape.
When using a Windows-based laptop or desktop PC, you can manage most of your workflow through web apps from your favorite services. Web apps may not always be as feature-filled as the ones from your smartphone, but you don't have to use the Microsoft Store to download Windows apps. Regarding Windows 11, you can download and install Android smartphone apps onto your device. You'll have the same app experience from your phone but on your Windows-based PC, easily accessible from your Start menu or taskbar.
The 10 best apps for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Deck out your brand-new foldable with these essential apps
Upgrading to a new handset is an exciting feeling. Especially when it's something with a lot of screen real estate. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 is among the best foldable phones. It has an upgraded Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and the slimmer design fits in a pocket while still giving you a 7.6-inch wide main screen.
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.