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Samsung's Android 14-based One UI 6 could finally fix lock screen widgets
The lock screen could become more useful than before
Android has an inconsistent history with lock screen widgets. Google added the feature all the way back in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, only to remove it a few years later with 5.0 Lollipop. Despite that, Samsung has kept these widgets around in some form, but they aren't very useful in their current state. Thankfully, it seems One UI 6 could put that right.
This $850 Galaxy S23 Ultra is among the best Prime Day deals we've seen
30% off of the best Android smartphone is not a deal to be ignored
The Galaxy S23 series has been a breath of fresh air for Samsung fans, especially for those outside North America who finally benefit from a Snapdragon chip over an Exynos. The smallest S23 manages to last long enough on a charge to finally be a viable small phone, the S23+ nails the same basics in a larger package, and the S23 Ultra finally lives up to its name with insane battery life and performance. That means the prices are as high as you'd expect, but Prime Day has brought some decent pricing to all three models, so if you've been eyeing these phones up since launch, now could be the time to pull the trigger.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra made me ditch my Fold 4 and Prime Day has brought a sweet $350 discount to it
Supreme battery life is just one of the things that got me hooked
Last year I stopped using my S22 Ultra and swapped it for a Galaxy Z Fold 4. Having a phone when you need it, as well as a tablet you can unfold from your pocket, is a great experience. I was hooked, and I didn't think I'd ever go back to a normal phone again. But that changed when the S23 Ultra arrived, and that's been my daily driver since it launched. With Prime Day taking $350 off of one of the best Android phones around, now is the perfect time for me to explain why I love using it.
At $1,100, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is one of the best Android phone deals on Prime Day
Save $700 on the best folding phone available
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 didn't look that impressive when it was announced. The specs were basically the same as the Z Fold 3, save for minor changes in display ratio, a new rear camera, and the usual bump up to the latest Snapdragon processor. In reality, though, the difference was night and day. The Z Fold 4 turned out to be the best foldable Samsung ever made, and Prime Day is making it more accessible than ever.
How I survive as a YouTube Music subscriber in a Spotify world
What switching means giving up, and what you get out of it
Spotify has been the de facto music streaming service against which we compare all others for years now. Sure, there are plenty of competing services, of course, but none of them are anywhere close to being as successful as Spotify: In 2022, Spotify had a 30% market share for music streaming, with Apple Music in second place with 15%, and YouTube Music in fifth at 9%. Despite that well-earned popularity, back in February I decided to switch to YouTube Music. Why would I put myself through that?
Samsung's May 2023 update reaches the original Galaxy Fold internationally
The patch is also available for several tablets and A series phones
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Samsung has really become a dominant force in software updates, showing the rest of the its competitors how things should be done. If we're not getting the latest big Android update or monthly security patch right on time, we're probably getting it early. In this case, it's the latter, as the May 2023 update has started becoming available in international markets, before April is even over.
Samsung's June 2023 security patch is available internationally for Galaxy S22 and more
It's also hitting several A series devices
Continuing to build its reputation for fast software updates, Samsung is already releasing the June security patch for international devices even though we're barely a week into June. The update isn't super early, as previous updates have often been, but it isn't exactly late, either. There don't seem to be any new features in the update — this is just your usual round of bug and security fixes.
Samsung's June 2023 patch is out in the US for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and more
The update is reaching unlocked and carrier devices
As is the custom at this point, a new month means a new round of software updates for Samsung devices. The June 2023 security patch contains the usual bug fixes and security enhancements but no new features of note. The update has already started to reach international devices, and now it's doing the same in the US.
Samsung's May 2023 update is available for US Galaxy Note 20 users
It's also available for several A, S, and Z series devices
As has been the case for years at this point, Samsung releases its monthly security patches in excellent time every month, often beating Google to the punch. These updates are usually limited to bug fixes, security improvements, and performance optimizations. In this case, there are some extras included for the Galaxy S23 series.
Why cases for foldables are still as big a WIP as the phones themselves
Adding origami to your products complicates things
It's hard to believe it's been four years since Samsung unveiled the first Galaxy Fold. Things have come a long way in that time, with more durable displays, smaller and smoother hinges, water resistance, and improved software from Samsung and Google in the case of Android 12L. As the technology improves, pricing has slowly come down, too. But cost isn't the only deciding factor for consumers considering a foldable phone.
Samsung Galaxy A54 vs. OnePlus Nord N20: Beauty and the beast
Proving that the best value isn't always the cheapest
The Samsung Galaxy A53 was a letdown compared to the A52 5G that it replaced, offering worse performance and value across the board. Thankfully, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has done a lot to reclaim what was lost and looks like a phone that provides compelling value for your money.
These six great iPad apps show the high bar Google's facing with the Pixel Tablet
Making hardware isn't enough, if the app ecosystem is lacking
Android tablets: there was a time about ten years ago when their future looked bright. The 2013 Nexus 7 was a vast improvement over the original, Samsung released an 8-inch version of the Note tablet that used the newer Galaxy S4 design, and everything seemed to be moving in the right direction.
Samsung Theme Park now lets you manually adjust Material You color theming
If you're tired of pastels, this is a long-awaited feature
Material You has been with us for two versions of Android, and since its introduction in Android 12, many of us have criticized how dull the colors are. Pastels are lovely, but sometimes bright and vibrant colors look better. Thankfully, Samsung has just updated Theme Park, an app that lets you create your own themes and icon packs, and the new version goes a long way to solve this issue.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Should you upgrade?
Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra a notable improvement over the S21 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was a fantastic flagship when it launched in 2021, with top-shelf performance, capable cameras, and a slick design. In addition, the phone had an MSRP that started at $200 less than the Galaxy S20 Ultra. That means 2022's S Pen-equipped Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a tall order to fill.
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Google Play Books finally lets you use your foldable like an actual book
This new dual-column portrait mode is what we've wanted for years
It's hard to believe that it's been almost four years since Samsung released the original Galaxy Fold. In that time, this device category has matured rapidly, giving us more refined and reliable hardware in the form of the Z Fold 4, to say nothing of greatly improved software thanks to Google and Samsung's efforts. However, one pain point from the early days of foldables has still persisted: eBook apps. With a large display that can fold in the middle, it seems obvious that we should be able to read books in a dual-column view, mirroring what we get with a real paper-and-ink book. While that sadly hasn't been the experience so far, we're finally seeing it change with the latest update to Play Books.
Noise suppression on wireless earbuds is finally good enough to be a game-changer for autism
This Autism Awareness Month we look at how far ANC on tiny buds has come
We talk about noise-cancelling earbuds a lot here at Android Police, and that's not surprising, given how many options there are out there. For most people, good ANC (active noise cancellation) is important so that they can hear their music in loud environments. But for others, it's a vital coping mechanism necessary to navigate a world they experience differently. April is Autism Awareness Month, and in the spirit of raising awareness and understanding, let's talk about why these products are so important to those who are Neurodivergent, and how far the technology has come in recent years.
The top 9 ways the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 can make you more productive
The smartphone that makes multitasking easy
Foldables are the future of smartphones. They have their own set of reliability issues, but most of these concerns should be resolved with time. Samsung currently leads the foldable market with its Galaxy Z Flip and Fold lineups, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 ranks high in our list of the top Android phones on the market.
How to install mods for Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2 on Android
Breathe new life into the galaxy far, far away
There are plenty of fantastic games on Android, but Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) and its sequel are two of the best. Port of the original games, the Android releases have everything the desktop versions offered, including their modding capabilities. They also come with controller support, so grab an Android-compatible controller to fully enjoy these great RPGs.
Samsung just fixed the Galaxy S23 Ultra's most annoying S Pen bug
The S Pen should connect seamlessly once again
When a new phone comes out, it's almost expected that initially you'll encounter a few software bugs that snuck past quality testing. Thankfully, the recently announced Galaxy S23 Ultra has, in my case, been the smoothest new-phone experience I've ever had. Still, it hasn't been a 100% perfect time for everyone, though, with some users facing connectivity issues with the built-in S Pen that leaves many of its features unusable. Thankfully, a fix is now available, and it only requires an app update.
Here's the real reason why Samsung's Galaxy S23 has a 'huge' system partition
Maybe your S23 doesn't need to go on a diet, after all
The Galaxy S23 series has been the talk of the town since it was announced, and the sentiment around it has been mostly positive. Those feelings wavered a bit recently when it was reported that the 512GB S23 Ultra was using a whopping 60GB of storage space for its system partition — far larger than the 14GB you'd find on something like a Pixel 6a. Naturally, this story went viral, with people accusing Samsung of filling the S23 Ultra with unnecessary bloat. As it turns out, though, there's slightly more nuance to the story, and the truth is that the system partition on the S23 isn't quite so large.