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We enabled Android's new App Pairs to show you split-screen shortcuts in action
Android will soon let you save an App Pair to quickly launch a duo of apps into split-screen mode
One of the biggest advantages of using an Android device with a larger screen is the ability to multitask more effectively. Android has long offered a split-screen mode that enables placing two apps side-by-side or one above the other on the screen. However, Android doesn’t natively offer the option to save your split-screen configuration. That means if you want to open a particular pair of apps in split-screen mode, you have to manually do it every time. Fortunately, Android could finally let you save an App Pair so you can quickly relaunch a pair of apps into split-screen mode.
How to get the old Wi-Fi toggle back on your Android 12 phone
Just a couple of minutes and two ADB commands
Android 13 is the latest version of Google's operating system, and it's rolling out to many of the best Android phones and tablets. It refines many features that came with Android 12, such as Material You, dynamic themes, and privacy and security enhancements. While most of these Android 12 features were highly welcomed by users, some changes were not well received. One such tweak was the replacement of the Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles with the Internet panel.
If you're still not running Android 13, you're far from alone
Developers just got their most recent look at adoption metrics
Android keeps getting better with each major release. Android 12 brought us Material You theming, and later Android 13 improved on that with an API for themed home screen icons. Sadly, manufacturers can’t always keep up with Google’s release timetables, and Android's notorious fragmentation leads to many budget phones being stuck on older versions while flagships like the Pixel series and Galaxy S lineup push ahead with timely updates. In line with this, Google has published new Android distribution numbers that show the latest OS version with a paltry early market share.
After years of giving little attention, Google put the focus back on widgets with the release of Android 12 in 2021. The new Material You design language meant the company had to revamp the widgets across all its apps. Google Contacts was among the first apps to receive the Material You treatment, but its widgets never got the same love. This is despite Google refreshing the widgets of almost all its other apps with added functionality and Material You design elements. While late to the party, it looks like the Contacts app will finally gain a Material You-inspired 3x2 widget to spice up your home screen.
Say goodbye to Google Assistant’s light mode on Android 13
A change to deliver a consistent look and feel across various Google products
Android 13 packs several new features and changes, including an enhanced Material You implementation with more vibrant and muted color tone options. As we noted in our Android 13 review, the OS packs a lot of iterative improvements and refines all the new features and changes that Google introduced in Android 12. But no major OS release is without issues, and Android 13 is no different. Since the OS launched in August, Pixel users have complained about Google Assistant only appearing in dark mode on their devices and not adhering to the system theme. So, even if you use the light theme, Assistant will show up on your phone with a dark theme. Turns out, this is not a bug and an intended behavior change.
Game Dashboard is arriving in Google settings on more Pixel phones
It remains Pixel-exclusive, though
If you're a gamer and you've got a Pixel 6 series phone, chances are you're already acquainted with Android's Game Dashboard interface, packed with handy utilities for taking screenshots, checking your FPS, starting a screen recording, toggling DND, and even streaming to YouTube directly. This dashboard became a part of Google Play Services earlier this year, suggesting it may not remain a Pixel-exclusive feature for very long. Android 13 brought the feature to the Pixel 6a when it was in beta, and now that the OS update is available widely, Game Dashboard is making its way to more Pixel phones.
Google Keep for Wear OS gets a Material You revamp ahead of Pixel Watch debut
Keep is also improving on large-screen Samsung phones and tablets
Google isn't hiding the Pixel Watch anymore and is preparing for its grand unveiling alongside the Pixel 7 next month. Some of those preparations are visible on the Play Store, like the steady stream of apps getting the Material You design treatment. The Google Keep app for Wear OS smartwatches is the latest to hop on the bandwagon — its latest update brings a much-needed Material You design refresh. The app's interface is also changing on Samsung tablets and foldable phones.
Samsung announces the rugged Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro
Designed for the outdoors (or just a very rough time indoors)
Samsung's hottest new smartphones right now are the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4, and while these may be its best-built foldables to date, we also can't deny that they're more fragile than your average phones. What you might not be aware of is that Samsung also makes a range of ruggedized smartphones and tablets on the opposite end of the spectrum — mostly for enterprise customers. While these don’t fold (at least not yet), they can endure rough handling in ways your typical glass-sandwich phone simply cannot. Samsung’s newest addition is the Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro, a rugged tablet designed to survive the great outdoors.
Google releases Android 12 Developer Support builds so devs can test old software without bricking their phones
It's an outdated OS with a newer, safer bootlader
Android 13 has been out for a couple of weeks now, but for any developers looking to continue working with Android 12, it came with a bit of a surprise. Thanks to a vulnerability found in an older bootloader version, Android users can't downgrade their devices once they've upgraded, keeping them on the latest OS for good. Thankfully, for developers stuck without access to last year's version, Google has an all-new update that allows testing out apps and games without running on an unsafe bootloader.
After retiring Android 10-based LineageOS 17.1 builds in February this year, the LineageOS team released the Android 12 version of their ROM in April, packing several enhancements and features. The initial build was only available for a limited number of devices. Since then, though, the team has constantly been adding support for new phones. With its latest round of updates, LineageOS 19 is gaining support for five more devices, including the entire OnePlus 8 series and Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A52 4G and Galaxy A72.
Repainter’s biggest update yet makes sharing your custom Material You themes easier
The app is also switching to a freemium model
Love it or hate it, you can't ignore Android 12's Material You dynamic color theming engine—at least on Pixel and Samsung phones. While Material You is certainly pretty to look at, the limited color palette support of Google's new design language is a major downside. Thankfully, this can be resolved using Repainter, which lets you create custom Material You-based themes using any color of your choice. The app has now received its "biggest release yet," packing some major new improvements.
Ditching your iPhone just got way easier with Google’s latest Switch to Android app
Prospective Galaxy S22 Ultra buyers, rejoice
Even as Apple does everything in its power to keep users locked into iMessage and the rest of its ecosystem, Google keeps making it easy to switch over to Android. In April, the company launched Switch to Android, an app designed to streamline the process of moving off the iPhone. Unfortunately, it came with a pretty big caveat: only Pixel devices supported the app's initial release. In a world where most consumers choose Samsung's Galaxy series over Google's own phones, that's a serious limitation. Thankfully, that's changing today.
The Asus ROG Phone 3's Android 12 update is here at last with some major UI changes
That's the second time the phone's been late to the party
Let's be real — Asus is hardly the brand you'd want to go for if software updates are a priority. Remember when the ROG Phone 3 had to wait for almost a year for Android 11 after the version's release? You'd expect something of its price to be rushed through the fast lane when it comes to updates, but nope, that's far from reality. Still, at least the company is firm with its promises — a guarantee of two years of Android updates was given, and since the device was launched with Android 10 back in July 2020, it's now time for possibly the final major update for it.
OnePlus 9RT users can finally get a taste of OyxgenOS 12 and all of the new goodies it offers
This high-performance phone launched with Android 11... in 2022
If you are a long-time OnePlus user, then there's a good chance that you may already be aware of the company's triple-stage software release policy for major updates. A new Android version typically starts its life as a closed beta, after which it reaches the Open Beta stage where anyone with an applicable device is allowed to sign up. When that happens, you know that the final stage — a stable release — is imminent. The same is now going down for the OnePlus 9RT and for its owners looking to try out the next big update, their time is finally here.
You can now install LineageOS 19 on your OnePlus 9 and ditch OxygenOS for good
LineageOS 19 builds also arrive for Poco X3 Pro and Xiaomi Mi A1
Following the release of Android 12-based LineageOS 19 in late April, the team behind the ROM has constantly been working on adding support for more devices. The initial build was only available for a handful of devices, including the Google Pixel lineup, Asus ZenFone 5z/8, Moto G7 series, and select other devices from Samsung, OnePlus, and Lenovo. Since then, the ROM has added support for a bunch of devices to its build roster, like the Galaxy S10 series, Essential PH-1, and the Xiaomi Mi 10T series. Less than a month later, the team is further expanding the official LineageOS 19 device compatibility list with four more popular devices.
Android 12 QPR beta program ends, Pixels in it will be unenrolled automatically
Or you can opt out manually after installing the June update without a wipe
Google's two-pronged Android Beta Program has been a little confusing for a while, but things are getting a lot simpler now that the Android 12 Quarterly Platform Release Beta 3 is ending. If you're among those that jumped into the program (say, for early Pixel 6 fixes), you'll be opted out of that program in the coming weeks as your device is pushed to the stable June update, and the only beta in town will be the one for Android 13.
OxygenOS 12 update is pretty much ready for the OnePlus Nord 2
The stable release appears to carry the same build number as the second beta
OnePlus was once known for being relatively quick in updating its entire portfolio of devices to the latest version of Android. That hasn't been true for years, though, and the aborted mission to create a unified OS between OnePlus and Oppo devices didn't help at all. It has been taking its own sweet time in bringing Android 12-based OxygenOS 12 to its phones. If you own the OnePlus Nord 2, your patience is finally being rewarded as the latest version of OxygenOS is now available for your device.
Android 12-based LineageOS 19 builds arrive for Galaxy S10 series, Essential PH-1, Xiaomi Mi 10T, and more
LineageOS 18.1 builds have also been reinstated for the Nvidia Shield TV and Jetson
The LineageOS team released the Android 12-based builds of its ROM late last month with support for a limited set of devices. Since then, the developers have been working hard on adding support for new devices, with builds for the Poco X3, Motorola Edge S, original Razer Phone, and the Nubia Mini 5G dropping soon after. Continuing its work on this front, LineageOS has added support for many more devices, including the Galaxy S10 series, the Essential PH-1, and the Xiaomi Mi 10T series.
Asus Zenfone 7 Pro finally gets Android 12, and it's right on schedule
The Zenfone 7 series was set to get updated by the end of the first half of 2022
Last year saw many owners of eligible Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones enjoy all the best aspects of Android 12 alongside a constant stream of security updates. Unfortunately, many other brands in the Android landscape had not even updated a single phone at the time, leaving users out of the loop. Asus eventually started rolling out Android 12 to the ZenFone 8 and ZenFone 8 Flip just before the year ended. Now, the company’s flagship devices from 2020 — the ZenFone 7 and ZenFone 7 Pro — are getting the new software.
Google Pixel 6 exclusives: Every unique feature on Google's flagships
Here's what you get when you go with a Pixel 6
The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are a step up from all previous Pixel phones. Apart from packing flagship-level specs and an impressive price tag, Google has also relied on tight hardware and software integration on these devices to offer many exclusive features. These features also set the Pixel 6 apart from other Android devices in the market, as you won't be able to experience them on any other device.