https://www.androidpolice.com From editorials to product deep-dives to comparisons, here's where you will find all of Android Police's phones features in one place. Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:53:19 GMT en-US hourly 60 Google Pixel phones are special, and even without the kind of access they get to the latest Android software, there's a lot to be impressed about what they're capable of doing. Still, they're not for everyone, and a serious shopper will want to go in eyes-open about some of their bigger limitations.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:53:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-long-term-impressions/ The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are likely to be two of the best Android phones of 2023, but we've yet to hear any official news directly from the company on their existence. Leaks and rumors suggest we'll be seeing both phones appear in the second half of 2023. While we did expect to see a teaser of them at Google I/O 2023 alongside the reveal of the Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet, that didn't happen. The Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro were first teased at I/O 2022, but unfortunately, these phones remain a mystery — unless you follow the rumormill, that is.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:32:40 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-8/ Just like that, Amazon Prime Day is done. We saw a lot of phone deals over the past two days, with lots of price fluctuations and with deals selling out and restocking several times. The good news is there are still some deals to be had if you're looking to save on your next daily driver. Both top-end premium phones and some great budget and midrange options make up a bulk of the latest and greatest in Android hardware, and companies like Google, Motorola, and OnePlus are still offering deep discounts on all sorts of their hardware. There's no telling how long these sales will last, so don't hesitate to jump on them while the savings are still good.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:55:10 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/amazon-prime-day-phone-deals/ Great news for tech enthusiasts like you - Amazon Prime Day is finally here! With incredible savings on some of the best tech products, including Samsung-made devices, you'll be able to grab a deal you won't want to miss. Samsung's devices are usually quite expensive, so this is an excellent opportunity to pick up a new phone, tablet, Chromebook, or even wireless earbuds at a great price. Prime Day is one of the best times to buy new tech, and this year is no different. Check out the best Prime Day deals on Samsung devices now!

]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:47:43 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-samsung-prime-day-deals/ If you're in the market for a new phone, tablet, smart home accessories, headphones, or any other tech-related gadget, rest assured that Google offers some of the finest products in those categories. But new technology can be expensive, which is why Amazon Prime Day is an excellent chance to finally get your hands on that Google device you've had your eye on. Take a look at the best Prime Day deals for Google products, including phones, headphones, smartwatches, and more!

]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:42:58 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-prime-day-google-deals/ After months of hype-building leaks and teasers, Nothing has finally launched its second phone, the Nothing Phone 2. The Phone 2 marks a big step forward for Nothing: while the company’s previous phone, the Phone 1, was only available in the UK, Europe, Japan, and India, the Phone 2 is the company’s first to be officially available in the infamously tough-to-crack US market. I’ve been using the phone about a week and a half, and while I can’t share a full review just yet, I do have some early impressions.

]]> Tue, 11 Jul 2023 15:30:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/nothing-phone-2-hands-on/ The foldable segment has seen an uptick in launches over the last year or so. While Samsung dominates the foldable lineup with its Fold and Flip lineup, its offerings have faced stiff competition from the likes of Huawei, Oppo, and others. OnePlus, known for its flagship killers and some great budget phones, is also foraying into the foldable segment this year. The company's long-rumored OnePlus foldable phone will debut later this year, and if priced right, it could give the Galaxy Z Flip and Fold a run for their money.

]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/oneplus-foldable-phone/ It shouldn't be too surprising that the Galaxy Z Fold series gets the most attention of any foldable. It's available globally, made by one of the most successful brands in smartphones, and was the first device to the scene — to say nothing about that expansive, eye-catching display. But it's not the only folding phone Samsung offers today, and to some, the Galaxy Z Flip series is just as impressive.

]]> Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:05:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-5/ If you're looking for a powerful device in a portable package, it's tough to beat the Galaxy S23 Ultra right now. True to its Note legacy, Samsung's latest phablet carries on the tradition of combining a massive display with a stylus and other tools to boost your productivity while on the move. That said, true road warriors know that getting work done remotely requires an even larger screen, and to achieve that in a pocket-friendly shape, you have to turn to foldables.

]]> Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:05:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-5/ While Amazon Prime Day may be the shopping holiday hogging all the attention this July, Independence Day is the original hot deal summer event. The Fourth of July may be over now, but we're still seeing consistent discounts from the big day continue over into the rest of the week. It may be that we continue seeing some of the best deals below through to Prime Day, which starts on July 11. Take a look below for the very best Fourth of July deals that are still active right now.

]]> Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:30:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-july-fourth-deals/ Is it a coincidence that the Mr. Mobile, Michael Fisher, is joining the Android Police podcast for the second time (the first time under a different run) and both times the discussion at hands was about foldables? Maybe it is, but whatever the case may actually be, this episode is all about the Pixel Fold and our evaluations on how Google's first step into foldable phones has landed.

]]> Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:09:58 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/mr-mobile-is-a-qualified-fan-of-the-pixel-fold-he-tells-the-android-police-podcast/ While the rest of the world has seen no shortage of foldable options, buyers in the US have, for the most part, been limited to just one brand for nearly half a decade. Aside from some half-formed Motorola devices in 2020, Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold series have held a monopoly in North America. But look at what's happening elsewhere, and brands like Oppo and Tecno have either been innovating in design or bringing the price down by hundreds of dollars.

]]> Sat, 01 Jul 2023 12:06:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/foldable-form-factor-competition/ Although the Samsung Galaxy S23 series remains some of the best Android phones you can buy right now — particularly the massive Galaxy S23 Ultra — it's easy to look ahead at what's next. If you're uninterested in foldables, the Galaxy S24 series is the company's next set of incoming flagship phones, set for release early next year. Curious about Samsung's future lineup? Here's everything you need to know about the Galaxy S24 series.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:30:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s24/ It's a study of contrasts with reviews going out for Motorola's Razr+ and Google's Pixel Tablet. This week, the Android Police podcast is graced by the presence of Digital Trends mobile editor Joe Maring to chat about garbage fires and unexpected triumphs as well as marketing of charming and questionable natures.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 13:02:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/the-razr-brings-sexy-back-to-smartphones-and-the-android-police-podcast/ While the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra may be shiny, curvy, and camera-packed, most of us don't need (or want) to spend $1,200 on a smartphone. Heck, most of us don't even need to spend half that money on our phone, even if it is our digital — and sometimes literal — lifeline these days. After all, when phones as awesome as the Samsung Galaxy A54 offer up excellent screens, stellar battery life, and long support lives, why would you waste your money buying something half a rent check more expensive?

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-samsung-galaxy-a54-deals/ In case you missed it, I'm a huge fan of the new Motorola Razr+, the company's first foldable to launch in North America in nearly three years. Its interior 6.9" display delivers the standard Android experience you'd expect, but it's on the outside where it shines. With a 3.6" outer screen capable of running nearly any application on your phone, having to flip open your foldable to get things done is a thing of the past.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/motorola-razr-plus-best-cover-screen-games/ The Nothing Phone 1 was among the most impressive phones to launch in 2022. While the device failed to find a spot in our list of the best budget phones, it stood out with its unique and premium design. Considering the Phone 1 was Nothing's first smartphone, the company managed to nail a lot of things, including the bloatware-free experience and performance. This does not mean the phone is perfect, though: its sub-par camera performance, limited availability, and other minor issues negatively affect the overall user experience.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 18:20:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/nothing-phone-2/ If you're like us, you're always drooling over whatever gadget is on the horizon. Sure, you could look at older hardware or consider holding onto your current device for another few months. Still, when every review praises whatever phone Samsung or Google just launched, keeping your wallet in your pocket can be tough. But smartphones are more expensive than ever before, and with inflation on every consumer's mind, it's only natural to wonder whether a new flagship is worth the cash, leaving you with a couple of options to consider

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:47:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/new-budget-phone-vs-old-flagship/ Google started creating its own processors with the Google Pixel 6 series, called Tensor. The company has successfully launched a follow-up to its first generation product, the Tensor G2, which you can find in many of the company's greatest products, including the full Google Pixel 7 lineup, the Pixel Tablet, and the Pixel Fold.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:31:45 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-tensor-g3/ After years of rumors, Google finally unveiled the Pixel Fold at Google I/O 2023, its first folding phone that goes head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Like Samsung's flagship foldable, the Pixel Fold is a book-style folding phone that has a regular smartphone-like screen on the front and a tablet-like display on the inside. We'll still have to wait a few more weeks until we can get our hands on it, but here is everything Google has announced so far.

]]> Fri, 09 Jun 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-foldable/ Motorola is having a good year and the streak continues, it seems, with the rollout of its new Razr+ and Razr(-) for 2023. Our Will Sattelberg shares his experiences at the hands-on event. Also on the Android Police podcast, we debate Apple's merits as it's rumored to be preparing a $3,000 consumer-focused AR/VR headset that's sure to please James Cameron. That and a lot more on this week's show!

]]> Sun, 04 Jun 2023 14:08:31 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/the-android-police-podcast-cant-wait-for-the-moto-razr-and-razr/ The foldable game is really heating up this year, but for some companies, it's business as usual. Motorola was one of the first brands to follow Samsung into the world of folding phones, releasing a revived Moto Razr in 2019 before following it up with a 5G iteration in 2020. But after sitting out of the game for 2021 and keeping the third-gen Razr limited to select regions last year, it was unclear whether we'd ever get our hands on another flip phone from the company again.

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/motorola-razr-2023/ Four years after Samsung invented the market with the launch of its first foldable, it feels like competition in the US is finally starting to really catch up. We've watched and waited as companies like Oppo and Honor pushed the envelope with devices limited to China and Europe, while cheaper alternatives like Tecno's Phantom V Fold made a folding future available to more buyers. All the while, Motorola remained the only competition that dared face off with Samsung in the US, but after the third-gen Razr skipped out on our shores last year, it seemed like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 might go unmatched for the third year in a row.

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/moto-razr-2023-hands-on-b/ We take a look at Google's enhanced online search engine with generative AI results and... whew, we've got a long way to go. Surprisingly, we bounce around Sony a bit in the middle before discussing the next Moto Razr, the demise of YouTube Stories (you forgot those were a thing, right?), and yes, air out laundry in our impromptu Letterboxd segment. It's just another week on the Android Police podcast.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 00:11:12 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/the-android-police-podcast-is-the-best/ On the menu for the Android Police podcast this week, we'll be probing a Pixel 8 rumor much like how one temps a steak with a thermometer. We've got a few thoughts to dish out on the Montana TikTok ban, too. And, if that's not enough, for dessert, we'll be having BlackBerry pie... in the form of an impromptu movie review. Order up!

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 13:58:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/its-pixel-8-fever-on-the-android-police-podcast/ Google released Android 14 Beta 2 earlier this month, following its annual I/O developer conference. And with it, Google also finally opened up the beta and developer preview program to more phones beyond its own Pixel lineup. Let’s be real — even on Google's own phones, Beta 1 was maybe the buggiest such release in years, with things only really getting better with Android 14 Beta 2. But now that new hardware is being supported, what do things look like on phones from other manufacturers?

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 12:35:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/android-14-beta-on-non-pixels/ A flagship phone with 108 megapixels is nice to have for capturing moments with family and friends. But unless you plan to sell your photos as stock images or start a career in mobile photography, it's not worth splurging on a phone that's only used for occasional selfies. Sometimes, simplicity is key. While your phone's megapixel count matters, you won't see its full potential if you don't know how to take pictures.

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 10:18:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/take-good-photos-budget-phones/ Smartphone cameras have evolved significantly in the last few years. It has come to a point where smartphones compete with point-and-shoot cameras and even entry-level DSLRs. Every bit of camera technology we use on our phones stands on the shoulders of prior insights and discoveries. Allow us to take you back to the game-changing moments in smartphone photography.

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 10:13:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/smartphones-major-moments-mobile-photography/ To find out what the issue is with camera apps on Android phones, we don't need to look any further than camera brand Moment. In 2020, Moment abandoned its Android camera app. At the time, co-founder Marc Barros wrote in an email to users that the company lacked the "engineering bandwidth" to keep up with an ever-growing selection of Android devices, each with different camera nuances and software requirements. Moment decided to shutter development for the Android version and focus exclusively on iOS to save resources.

]]> Sat, 20 May 2023 09:36:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/why-third-party-android-camera-apps-awful/ Samsung deals have been fewer and further between over the last six months, but this week, the deals are flowing free. Discover Samsung Week is back again, and with it comes discounts of every size, shape, and duration.

]]> Fri, 19 May 2023 21:35:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/discover-samsung-event/ As usual, Samsung kicked off 2023 with the latest entries in its mainline flagship series. The Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra aren't the most exciting phones we've ever seen, but if you've been holding off on upgrading that aging Galaxy Note 9, these devices are as good a trio as the company has ever released. Last year's Galaxy S22 series blew us away, after all, and this year, Samsung has brought the best of its design to all three models.

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 20:19:29 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s23/ Megapixel counts on Samsung's best phones have ballooned into the hundreds, with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra sporting a 200-megapixel primary camera. By default, though, that phone takes 12.5-megapixel photos, much the same way the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra defaults to 12-megapixel shots. But why is that? What's the point of all those megapixels if the cameras still kick out average-size pictures?

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 10:34:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-108mp-binning/ Google surprised us all last week by dropping the Pixel 7a, its latest attempt at a more budget-friendly alternative to flagship Pixel models. This year's A-series phone pulls from its namesake more than ever, with the differences — and the price point — between the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 hard to notice at first glance. It's left Google's lineup looking a little confusing, especially if you aren't following the smartphone market like our readers do. But that sense of uncertainty could help pave a new path for future A-series devices, one that maintains the core of these phones while rethinking why consumers might choose them over mainline Pixels.

]]> Wed, 17 May 2023 14:40:38 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-a-series-identity-problem/ Although we're all about the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro these days, both phones build on the legacy laid out by their predecessors. Just like on Google's 2022 flagships, the periscope telephoto lens was one of the main differentiators between the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, forcing photo bugs to spend an additional $300 for the additional sensor.

]]> Wed, 17 May 2023 08:25:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-6-pro-telephoto-quirks-sensor-size-macro-mode/ Smartphone camera hardware is getting interesting. From the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 200-megapixel primary camera to the Xioami 13 Ultra, which sports a variable aperture over a one-inch sensor, it's an exciting time to be a mobile photography geek. But even in the best Android phones, computing power and software prowess play as big a role in getting great photos from our pocket-size cameras as hardware does. Smartphones employ what's called computational photography to compensate for their comparatively meager hardware. What most phone cameras lack in brawn compared to dedicated camera hardware, they make up for with clever computing.

]]> Tue, 16 May 2023 10:32:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/computational-photography-guide/ It really felt like everything that you could tie back to the core product of Android took a back seat to some weird, rushed gimmickry through the power of artificial intelligence at this year's I/O conference. Already bad at keeping a lot of its secrets, Google has made none whatsoever about pushing applications for its various forms of AI modeling out to consumers. So, the Android Police podcast is taking the goliath to task on just how much neglect it is paying to the Pixel brand it has proudly cultivated and the shaky path ahead for its fleet of magic features to come.

]]> Mon, 15 May 2023 12:51:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/the-android-police-podcast-basically-roasts-google-io-2023-for-77-minutes/ If you're a shutterbug in the market for a new phone, you can't do better than the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro. The company's 2022 flagships combine premium sensors with industry-leading computational photography to create incredible images. All you need to do is point and shoot. The Pixel 7 series doesn't offer an identical experience across the board. Thanks to the upgraded ultrawide lens on the Pixel 7 Pro and its exclusive 5x telephoto lens, Google's premium smartphone offers the flexibility you won't find on the smaller, cheaper model.

]]> Mon, 15 May 2023 09:30:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-7-vs-pixel-7-pro-camera-comparison/ Material You has been around for a few years now, and with Android 14 right around the corner, it's easy to take this fantastic feature for granted. However, despite the improvements made in Android 13, I am still resigned to sending apps to my screen of shame two years after the feature debuted. It's a problem I expect to persist on everything from Pixel phones to budget Android tablets.

]]> Sun, 14 May 2023 10:10:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/meet-my-screen-of-shame/ Following an hour of announcements on how generative AI will fundamentally change your Google experience at the 2023 I/O developer conference, the company finally turned its attention to hardware. While AI is decidedly the theme of I/O this time around, hardware has become increasingly important to the event over the time, and this right now is Google's biggest push to date, culminating in three hardware launches this year.

]]> Fri, 12 May 2023 18:38:26 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-io-2023-hardware-strategy/ After years of the A-series packing the best value in Android — not to mention being some of the best Android phones you can buy, period — the Google Pixel 7a has arrived to bring us the last flagship features we've been waiting for. The screen is finally 90Hz capable — though you might want to leave it off for your battery — and it supports wireless charging! (Okay, it's only 5W wireless charging, but this is a big deal for a $500 phone.) While we may have to wait over a month for the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, the Pixel 7a is available for purchase right now.

]]> Wed, 10 May 2023 20:52:06 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-google-pixel-7a-deals/ Google's anticipated Pixel 7a has officially arrived as a new challenger to shake up the list of this year's best budget Android phones. Google's latest midrange entry delivers the same powerful Tensor G2 chip introduced in its flagship Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro last fall, providing all the performance and computational photography power of those premium phones at a much more wallet-friendly price.

]]> Wed, 10 May 2023 20:30:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/which-pixel-7a-color-should-you-buy/ After months of rumors, the Pixel 7a is finally here. As the successor to the Google Pixel 6a, it's got some big shoes to fill. That phone made its mark as one of the best budget Android phones in 2022, thanks to its powerful hardware, great cameras, and premium construction, and the 7a looks to take it up to a whole new level.

]]> Wed, 10 May 2023 19:45:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-7a/ After a tumultuous few years for Huawei, the company has put an even bigger focus on the camera with its latest flagship smartphone, which is almighty impressive. I’ve had the opportunity to try out the Huawei P60 Pro before its European launch, and I think this will be one of the best camera phones on the market. It may not be the most useful phone for everyone, but there are some remarkable camera features here worth highlighting.

]]> Tue, 09 May 2023 14:01:26 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/huawei-p60-pros-camera-see-in-the-dark/ You can read the original version of the show notes on our RSS feed — long story short, we've got Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a chatter ahead of I/O 2023 this week — but as a lifelong guy from around Boston whose taste in music was truly shaped during his time at Emerson College's WERS-FM (where they still give the Pixies plenty of airplay), seeing the Pixies persist and thrive as they approach four decades of giving a surf-punk slant to rock is amazing and I'm happy about what happened this week on Twitter. Okay, on with the show.

]]> Mon, 08 May 2023 13:14:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/were-pulling-out-all-the-stops-google-io-2023-on-this-android-police-podcast/ Perfection may be the enemy of good, but we're sure glad that the companies involved in making early foldable phones seem to be embracing the "never settle" motto of OnePlus, at least as far as hardware design goes. Most major manufacturers are at some stage of developing or improving their foldable offerings, but so far, Google and Apple have represented the two of the most visible holdouts yet to join in for this evolutionary step. With the Pixel Fold finally expected to make an appearance at Google I/O next week, we're looking at why Google waited as long as it did, and why Apple has seemingly yet to get started with foldables at all.

]]> Wed, 03 May 2023 19:23:45 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-foldable-late-apple/ There's no denying that camera-equipped phones have changed the way we approach casual photography. The top-notch imaging hardware on the best Android smartphones has helped catalyze the demise of point-and-shoot cameras with their dual-purpose appeal and portability. Modern flagships including the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, developed in collaboration with camera brands like Leica and Hasselblad, continue blurring any remaining distinction between product segments. Today, we're checking out four modern camera-first phones — the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Oppo Find X6 Pro — looking at what they're capable of, and thinking about how well they can replace a stand-alone camera.

]]> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 18:00:30 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/cameras-xiaomi-13-ultra-vs-competition/ These days, if you aren't looking to buy a great new smartphone from Google or Samsung — and you aren't interested in Apple's walled garden — OnePlus is likely your best bet. The one-time startup has continued growing over the last decade, becoming a popular choice for Android enthusiasts and eventually finding its way into carrier stores like T-Mobile.

]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2023 02:45:31 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/oneplus-11/ If recent rumors are to be believed — and when it comes to Google hardware, they usually are — we're less than three weeks away from the unveiling of (among other products) the Pixel 7a. The successor to one of our favorite budget phones of the past year is expected to launch live on stage at Google I/O, and might even be available for purchase later that same day. Unfortunately, as exciting as a day-and-date launch might sound, a corresponding rumor has us bummed out about the Pixel 7a before we've even seen its official spec sheet.

]]> Sat, 22 Apr 2023 16:58:39 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/pixel-7a-500-bad-deal/ Alright, Prosser. We're talking about your leak. Lots of Pixel pricing and availability to deal with on this episode of the Android Police podcast. But we'll balance it out with another amazing Chinese phone that none of us will practically be able to use and a remembrance of a brand that truly defined the cutting edge of Android hardware a decade ago. This episode runs like a tight ship, so prepare for smooth sailing.

]]> Sat, 22 Apr 2023 13:47:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/what-does-a-500-pixel-7a-mean-the-android-police-podcast-discusses/ These days, most of our Android attention goes towards companies like Samsung and Google — you know, the lumbering giants in the mobile industry not named "Apple." It's easy to forget a time when US consumers had more choice, with companies like LG and HTC offering unique devices built to tempt shoppers browsing carrier shelves.

]]> Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:09:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/htc-one-m7-retrospective/ You can't complain about pre-release software, but we're going to try and do that anyway this week on the Android Police podcast as the first beta for Android 14 comes online — we're left asking where the ambition is? Also, why 12% isn't a bad stat for Android 13 distribution, loosening our grasp on the dying genre of small phones, high praise for a shiny new gaming phone, and much, much more. You could say this pod's packed to the Max.

]]> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:45:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/the-galaxy-s23-fe-android-police-podcast/ All sorts of companies have dipped their toes into the gaming smartphone ring — remember the Razer Phone 2? — but Asus has long dominated the field. The ROG Phone series is entering its sixth generation, and by all accounts, it's set to reclaim its throne as the best gaming phone money can buy.

]]> Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/asus-rog-phone-7/ It's no secret that flagship smartphones are expensive. Walk into any carrier store, and unless you're willing to trade in a recent device, you'll be on the hook for a pretty penny, either upfront or spread out over three years of monthly payments. Of course, you get plenty of benefits for the price: premium camera systems with multiple lens options; gorgeous, expansive AMOLED displays; top-of-the-line processors capable of console-grade gaming; optional add-ons like styluses or folding displays; and of course, the longest-lasting update support around.

]]> Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:05:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/you-probably-dont-need-a-flagship-phone/ One of the biggest highlights of Google’s March Pixel Feature Drop wasn’t the debut of a brand-new feature, but rather, extending the availability of a Pixel 7-exclusive feature to the Pixel 6 series: Google’s best phones from 2021 received the Pixel 7's new Night Sight algorithm and controls. The company started rolling out this camera update in March already, but it took quite some time until it reached all Pixel 6 units out there.

]]> Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:45:59 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-6-pixel-7-new-night-sight-comparison/ Samsung's flagship Galaxy S-series and its lineup of foldables might steal the spotlight, but its mid-range Galaxy A-series is equally important. The Galaxy A53 was among the best mid-range smartphones you could buy last year, and for 2023, the company has launched its successor: the Galaxy A54. The company officially revealed the Galaxy A54 on March 15, and it's now up for pre-order before going on sale on April 6. Below is everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy A54.

]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:55:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-a54/ The Apple iPhone has been the singular iOS phone for the longest time, and many of us have wished for a worthy Android equivalent for years. Quite a few incredible Android phones have been offered and continue to offer solid competition to the iPhone on multiple fronts. But I'm talking about a different kind of iPhone competitor here. One from Google, a pure Android experience that is coherent, smooth, and has at least some of that ecosystem charm.

]]> Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:12:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/why-google-pixel-7-pro-finally-ditch-iphone/ Every once in a while, a major security vulnerability is discovered in devices you use in your daily life that could put your privacy at risk. Recently, Google's Project Zero team revealed multiple remote code execution vulnerabilities in Exynos modems that could allow hackers to compromise some of the best Android phones like the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 without any user interaction. Worse, they only needed to know the victim's phone number to achieve this. So, how can you keep yourself safe if you own an Android phone, watch, or even a car that uses an affected Exynos modem?

]]> Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:57:50 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-keep-your-phone-safe-from-exynos-modem-vulnerability/ We finally have an idea what the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will look like, thanks to the creation of renders based on hardware measurements, and we've also been able to check out quite a few leaks showing us what the Pixel 7a and the Pixel Fold might offer, too. It sure looks like this year, Google might have a smartphone for almost everyone in the market — and I’m all here for it.

]]> Sun, 19 Mar 2023 19:44:12 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-perfect-phone-lineup-2023-b/ It's been a week for the Pixel speculators out there as a flood of Pixel 7a and Pixel 8 intelligence has spilled and thrilled all of us. We'll be picking through the details on the Android Police podcast plus a Samsung non-controversy, a real Samsung controversy, a new Samsung phone, and... just a lot. It's everything, everywhere, all at... okay, maybe not so much that. No multiverse here. But we do fit in a blissful mention of the upcoming BlackBerry movie on this episode of the show.

]]> Sun, 19 Mar 2023 13:46:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/what-will-make-the-pixel-8-great-as-told-by-the-android-police-podcast/ The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the very best Android phones your money can buy right now. If you have one, the very first thing you probably did with it, right after unboxing and getting set up, was trying out that fancy new 200MP camera. But maybe the phone's coolest trick involves its telephoto camera. The ability of these phones to combine that lens with additional digital zoom to grab some surprisingly decent pictures of the Moon (famously going up to 100X) went viral last year with the arrival of the Galaxy S22 Ultra — and Samsung's latest phone is just as capable of this. However, a minor scandal has broken out around claims that these Moon shots are artificially enhanced with an excessive dose of AI. If you ask me, though, this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion. In fact, it's not a bad thing at all.

]]> Tue, 14 Mar 2023 22:53:42 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-moon-pictures/ It's been a little over a month now since the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup was finally unpacked, and a few weeks since the first customers got their hands on early Galaxy S23 orders. Samsung's flashy event was videographed on Galaxy S23 hardware and saw Alien creator Ridley Scott endorsing the Galaxy S23 Ultra's new 200MP camera. While the whole thing was sure entertaining to watch, what struck me the most, and a feeling I haven't been able to shake off in the weeks since, is the sense that we've seen it all before (apart from that 200MP camera, anyway). The S23 lineup represents a purely iterative upgrade over its predecessors, with minor design changes and the usual hardware improvements being the only real highlights for what could still be some of the best phones of 2023.

]]> Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:30:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-7-more-exciting-than-samsung-galaxy-s23/ 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.

]]> Tue, 14 Mar 2023 09:05:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/ways-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-4-productive/ Gone are the days when Samsung was infamous for the TouchWiz Android skin. The company's One UI software skin has received positive responses from users and reviewers. With a long list of features, smooth performance, and timely updates, One UI has become the prime reason to get a top Samsung Galaxy phone over its rivals. Here are the best One UI features you should use on your Samsung Galaxy device.

]]> Mon, 13 Mar 2023 10:04:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/favorite-samsung-one-ui-features-galaxy-phone/ There are a lot of fantastic Android phones out there, but in today's era of sleek, camera-heavy smartphones, their similarities stand out more than differences. Devices like the eye-catching Nothing Phone are interesting, but mainstream phones don't generate the excitement they used to. At MWC 2023, we saw a range of exciting concepts, but we'll have to wait a while before they hit shelves.

]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:38:09 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/most-ineresting-phones-north-korea/ The Galaxy S20 signified Samsung's renewed focus on innovating and the ensuing months have given us plenty to believe that the company is committed to this vision. The Galaxy S22 is the company's latest and greatest, and if you sat out the S21, it's probably already enticing you to ditch your S20. Should you though?

]]> Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:00:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s22-upgrade-s20/ Wi-Fi networks are great at keeping all your devices connected to high-speed internet, but they have their downsides. The more great smart home devices you add and the more neighbors you have with similar setups, the more congested radio frequencies inevitably get. Despite encryption, Wi-Fi also isn't entirely private, allowing prying eyes to see which devices are connected and active. So, how do we get around all of these issues? Perhaps by seeing the light.

]]> Sat, 04 Mar 2023 18:45:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/purelifi-demo-li-fi-mwc-2023/ Will, Manuel, and, for the first time, our editor-in-chief James gather for a debrief round robin after a week of MWC 2023 coverage. From spotting Carl Pei at the Unihertz booth to destroying Motorola's rollable phone concept with facts and logic(?), the team's got a lot to talk about. Too bad our expensive audio recorder doesn't like our expensive SD cards. Or that we didn't have a Mini-USB cable. Despite all of that, we hope you enjoy this episode of the Android Police podcast!

]]> Sat, 04 Mar 2023 14:44:54 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/android-police-podcast-mwc-2023/ The world's biggest mobile phone show is drawing to a close, and while Mobile World Congress 2023 hasn't been as chock-full of announcements as pre-pandemic iterations of the show, we've seen some reveals of exciting smartphones, interesting concept devices, and other oddities.

]]> Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:44:35 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/mwc-2023-awards/ The first cellphone with a camera landed on American shores in 2002. Since then, OEMs have been racing to produce better mobile cameras. The dawn of the smartphone era in 2008 and the rise of social media made having a good phone camera a must for everyone who wants to keep up with the Joneses. But before mobile cameras began taking most of the world's photos, pictures were taken with devices that were larger than nearly all the mobile devices that replaced them. How is this possible? What's going on inside our phone that lets it take 200MP photos?

]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2023 09:44:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-do-smartphone-cameras-work/ Our Zachary Kew-Denniss joins the Android Police podcast this week to express all the things that have finally gone right for him in the world. By that, we mean getting a Galaxy flagship phone that doesn't have an Exynos chip in it. Fancy that! Plus, more chat about YouTube Premium, Android Auto, and the uncanny valley of Spotify's AI DJs — all in this episode!

]]> Sun, 26 Feb 2023 14:15:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-zachary-kew-denniss-android-police-podcast/ 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.

]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:12:51 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/galaxy-s23-system-partition/ Huawei sold Honor to a Chinese government-backed consortium in November 2020 to ensure its survival. That move has paid well, as Honor has launched some impressive devices since then, including its first folding phone, the Magic V. The company followed this up with its second foldable, the Magic Vs, which we found to be a worthy competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 in our hands-on. Three months after its China debut, the foldable is set to launch internationally alongside Honor's flagship Magic 5 series. The devices will be unveiled at MWC 2023, and if they have caught your fancy, here's how you can watch them being revealed live.

]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2023 11:22:26 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-watch-honor-magic-vs-magic-5-launch/ Xiaomi was among the first companies to announce a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered phone: the Xiaomi 13 series. While the phone launched in December 2022, its availability has been limited to China. Two months after its debut, the company is finally ready to bring the Xiaomi 13 to international markets, making it a strong contender for our list of the best Android phones. Xiaomi is holding the phone's global launch event in Barcelona on February 26. You can always watch the live stream to learn more about the Xiaomi 13 and its Leica-branded camera.

]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:07:10 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-watch-xiaomi-13-launch-event-live/ Mobile World Congress is the biggest mobile phone show on the planet, where many of the big Android smartphone makers come together to unveil and show off new technologies. MWC has had a few odd years thanks to a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 2022 edition of the show was a much smaller affair than previous years. With MWC 2023 just around the corner, we now have a clearer idea of what to expect at the big show.

]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:50:08 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/mwc-2023-what-to-expect/ The Nothing Phone 1 launched to much fanfare last year, with a polarizing design but a palatable software skin, making it stand out from the pack of the best Android smartphones around. It arrived running Android 12 out of the box, dressed in trademark Nothing flavor. Last fall we started seeing progress on the phone's first major platform update, as Android 13 testing got underway. Fast-forward to today, and the stable Nothing OS 1.5 is now out for all Nothing Phone 1 users.

]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2023 23:52:52 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/nothing-phone-1-android-13-review/ Samsung's One UI skin packs plenty of useful features, and the company's software support and update speed are second to none in the market. With every new release, Samsung improves One UI to deliver an even better experience. This starts with the One UI homescreen experience, which has several options you won't find on other Android devices. Below are some tips and tricks to improve the homescreen experience on some of the best Samsung phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, and take it to the next level.

]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:00:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/tips-to-improve-your-samsung-phones-home-screen/ Is this a hot take? We don't really think so. For all the changes, the abacus flicks, the eraser shavings that have been spent on moving from Galaxy S22 to S23, Samsung has failed to change some of the fundamental flaws it has carried for years on end. We discuss that issue plus we find the joys and discomforts of the Oppo Find N2 Flip, find our feelings for the milquetoast OnePlus 11, and — first and foremost — laugh at the simulated pain and suffering that artificial intelligence has wrought on itself thanks to Google and Microsoft on this edition of the Android Police podcast.

]]> Sun, 19 Feb 2023 21:03:53 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-didnt-upgrade-the-galaxy-s23-the-right-way-the-android-police-podcast-says/ Updates on Google's Pixel phones are too slow. Before you get your pitchforks, let us explain what we mean. One of the benefits of buying a phone like the the Google Pixel 7 is that you'll get updates quicker than other flagships. Still, installing them takes too long. Seamless updates are heralded as the best thing to happen to software upgrades, and phones that lack the feature are often mocked for the omission. But we're glad Samsung has refused to implement the feature on the newly released Samsung Galaxy S23 trio.

]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:49:54 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-updates-too-slow/ The OnePlus 11 got 2023 going as the first major smartphone launch of the year. It was announced in China, packing a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, and a 5,000mAh battery. A month later, OnePlus is now ready to bring its flagship smartphone to the rest of the world. The company has scheduled its Cloud 11 event for later today (February 7) and it's happening in India, where it will announce the OnePlus 11. Here's how you can watch the global unveiling live.

]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:20:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-watch-oneplus-11-launch/ Iterative may be boring. But will the small details matter enough to get people talking and buying a new Galaxy S phone this year? Especially an Ultra? With Unpacked out of the way, we're talking with XDA TV's Alex Dobie (who's had a lot of chat time with Daniel and Ara) about whether Samsung has made its case for an upgrade to the people it needs to convince. Get ready for a full 44 minutes of Galaxy S23 discussion!

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2023 14:45:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/the-galaxy-s23-ultra-goes-fishing-for-upgraders-the-android-police-podcast-discusses/ Following months of leaks and rumors, the Galaxy S23 series made its grand debut earlier this week. While my colleagues at Android Police managed to get some early hands-on time with all three of Samsung's latest phones, I flew to San Francisco to watch the event unfold live and in-person. After, I headed over to explore the company's Galaxy Experience pop-up, where I was handed my very own Galaxy S23 Ultra. Though you'll have to wait a little longer for our full review, here's everything I've noticed during my first 48 hours.

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:58:43 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-ultra-first-48-hours/ The Samsung Galaxy S23 series launch is nearly upon us, following months packed with leaks and rumors. It's been three years now since we've had an in-person Unpacked event for Samsung to introduce its flagship smartphone lineup, and we are very much looking forward to its return. While we'll be there to check it out in person, you can always follow along from the comfort of your screen of choice. Here's how you can live-stream Samsung's Unpacked event to see the Galaxy S23 and its partners make their formal debut.

]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:18:39 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-watch-samsung-unpacked-galaxy-s23-launch-event/ For millions of Android users the world around, the new year means a new Samsung phone. The company's Galaxy handsets aren't just some of the most popular around, but their early-year arrival sets the standard everyone is going to be looking to measure up to for months to come. We just got to meet the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+, and while both of those look like some very nice phones, the highlight of Samsung's 2023 lineup has got to be the new Ultra model. Our full review of this heavyweight is coming soon, but for now I'll whet your appetite with an early hands-on look of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, after spending a couple hours trying out this brand-new phone.

]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:01:06 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-ultra-hands-on/ If you've been listening to the Android Police podcast for the last month — or reading our Galaxy S23 coverage — you've seen our normal annual excitement for Samsung's next flagship turn out a bit muffled by what's shaping up to be the most iterative of iterative upgrades. And if you're only looking at the S23 series in relation to last year's Galaxy S22, it's hard not to feel like this is just reheated smartphone leftovers with some pale colors slathered on top.

]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2023 23:08:35 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/galaxy-s23-ultra-reserve/ My Google Pixel 7 Pro has more RAM than my desktop computer. That computer is hardly a pro-level rig — my job is mostly typing — but the point stands: many of the best Android phones have a lot of memory these days. It's not unusual to see 12GB on current Android phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and the highest trim Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, and some phones have 16GB of RAM or more. Each phone in the iPhone 14 series, on the other hand, has 6GB of RAM, but they still perform as well as or better than Android phones with twice as much. How could that be?

]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2023 11:08:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/why-android-needs-more-ram-than-ios/ We are the trash compactor of tech podcasts this week at the Android Police podcast as we whistle past Stadia's headstone, wobble between Samsung and Qualcomm's big partnership with the Galaxy S23, graciously evaluate Apple's mini-show of the season, and then throw it all away in a compost bin, replete with expensive subscription service. Derision. Rage. It's all in AP's blood and it's right here. This will be the most enjoyable dumpster fire of an hour you'll spend this week. So enjoy!

]]> Sun, 22 Jan 2023 14:48:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/some-galaxy-s23-rumors-are-pure-trash-the-android-police-podcast-finds-out/ As generational improvements in traditional smartphones have slowed, folding phones have seemed to me like a more and more interesting avenue. Outside a Galaxy Z Fold 3 I had access to for about a week, though, I'd never spent much time with one. That is, until last year, when a confluence of deals meant I could get a Galaxy Z Flip 4 at a very appealing price point. But having used the Flip full-time for four straight months now, I'm surprised to find just how eager I am to get back to the world of boring, non-folding phones again.

]]> Sat, 21 Jan 2023 14:00:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-4-remorse/ With the Galaxy S23 series just around the corner, millions of current smartphone owners are likely considering their upgrade options right now. For some, the path is inevitable, swapping out one of our favorite Android phones for a new generation. But for a more dedicated audience — one that Samsung is actively courting — the S23 Ultra represents more missed opportunities. And if the company wants to pry older devices away from its previous devotees, it'll need to find the space to compromise on its future releases.

]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:08:45 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-needs-to-make-some-concessions-if-it-wants-to-win-over-note-holdouts/ As Commerce Editor for Android Police, balancing the myriad array of price histories and deals for anything and everything tech-related you can buy isn't just part of the job, it's a skill I've spent a decade honing. And more important than being able to spot a good deal is being able to recognize an inadequate or disingenuous "deal" — promotions that masquerade as deals (while just being what a 2019 product should be sold at in 2023), jacking up the "list price" in order to make the normal cost look discounted, or trying to sell you something you should not be buying at all in 2023 (like basically anything that charges over micro USB). These are what I hunt because they not only waste my time, they waste your money if I can't stop you.

]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2023 23:53:42 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-preorder-bonus-weaksauce/ Sorry, Marques. We love ya, but we gotta call you out on this one tweet (and use an old frame from when you were on our last podcast). Also on the Android Police podcast this week: wireless carrier control over your eSIM, the boredom of Samsung, Carl Pei's dreaded half-step into America, and a bit of emo punk rock the Gerard way.

]]> Sun, 15 Jan 2023 14:45:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/mkbhd-cold-take-android-police-podcast/ As we anticipate Samsung's official announcement of the Galaxy S23 series on February 1st, there's loads of speculation regarding how these phones will differ to the Galaxy S22 series we have now. While some details will remain secret until Unpacked, there are many things we can be sure of already: leaked renders, photos of prototypes, and third-party cases already available on Amazon tell us a lot about the device's physical characteristics. So while we'll reserve full judgment for when the phone arrives, let's talk about some of the annoyances I've got (you might have them, too) from Galaxies S past we're sure the S23 series will fix and a couple we know it won't.

]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2023 20:10:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-ultra-flaws-and-fixes/ Google has long fought for its reputation as a clean and green company that puts a lot of effort into sustainability. Whether it’s the company’s claim to use mostly recycled aluminum for its excellent phones or its efforts to run its data centers on clean energy, the company shows that it's making a lot of progress. In 2021, Google finally promised to provide five years of security patches to its Pixel phones, including the Google Pixel 7 Pro, but for some reason, the company still outright refuses to offer more than three Android updates — and that‘s been an issue for years.

]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2023 15:06:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-sustainability-android-update-years/ Foldable phones are finally mainstream, and Samsung's flagship Galaxy Z Fold 4 is at or near the top of the best high-end Android phones. At long last, the Korean tech giant has outfitted it with truly premium camera hardware, in addition to a UI update that greatly improves the experience on the inner display.

]]> Sun, 08 Jan 2023 19:01:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-4-colors/ Our Stephen Schenck and Taylor Kerns have been trapezing across Las Vegas as CES 2023 went along and they were kind enough to drop by the Android Police podcast for a few minutes to give some thoughts on what they've seen so far from the likes of Razer, Withings, Lenovo, and others. Plus, Ara and Will cover Pixel 7 shatterings and Android Auto matters. It's all on this first episode of the year!

]]> Sun, 08 Jan 2023 14:45:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/pixel-7-shatters-ces-2023-android-police-podcast/ Budget phones have gotten awfully good over the past few years, but with few exceptions, they historically haven't been much to look at — most cheap phones wear their price on their sleeve. At CES 2023, though, Samsung announced its newest A-series phone, the Galaxy A14 5G. If you're a budget-conscious shopper eyeing an upgrade but you still want something with a little style, this is going to be one to watch — especially if you live somewhere other than the US.

]]> Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:28:43 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-a14-ces-2023/ I got to play with a lot of cool tech last year. From the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to the Google Pixel 6a, from the Fold 4 to the Flip 4, and from a Steam Deck to an RTX-3080-powered gaming PC, trying to choose my favorite items was no mean feat, but in the end it came down to the devices that have meaningfully changed my routine. The three I've chosen cross three product categories — smartphones, wearables, and gaming. Of those, the easiest determination to make was in the smartphone arena. Although I used more smartphones last year than any year before, there was only one that could take my top spot.

]]> Mon, 02 Jan 2023 11:05:36 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/zkds-favorite-products-of-2022/ The Google Pixel 6a is officially our top budget phone of 2022. It’s the third iteration of Google’s budget series, with the first one being the Google Pixel 3a. The company has once again struck the right balance between features, price, and hardware design. At its starting price of $450, it may be one of the more expensive budget phones, but when you pick it, you’re sure to be good for up to five years without needing an upgrade.

]]> Mon, 26 Dec 2022 12:00:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-6a-top-budget-phone-2022/ It's easy to take the Pixel 7 Pro for granted. Pick one up in a carrier store and you're likely to sigh. Same old, same old, you'll mumble to yourself. And while Google's latest flagship phone certainly packs few surprises, truthfully, you're missing the bigger picture. Yes, the Pixel 7 Pro is a simple evolution on its predecessor, but by picking up where the Pixel 6 Pro left off, Google was able to develop a smartphone that is better in nearly every single way.

]]> Sun, 25 Dec 2022 12:00:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-7-pro-2022-smartphone-of-the-year/ ASUS did not have an easy go with its launch for the ROG Phone 6 this year, at least in the US, thanks to a late arrival compared to the UK launch. Still, despite some difficulties shipping the phones around the world, now that the ROG 6 has been available for a few months in the good ol' US of A, it's clear that no other gaming phone stacks up in 2022, which is why the ASUS ROG Phone 6 ranks at the top of AP's awards for gaming phone of the year.

]]> Sat, 24 Dec 2022 13:00:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/asus-rog-phone-6-best-gaming-phone-2022/ When Samsung released the Galaxy S8 back in 2017, the phone made waves with its revolutionary design. The S8 started the war against bezels, and will be remembered as one of Samsung's best smartphones. What many of us try to forget about the S8 launch, though, is the arrival of Bixby — the latest in a long line of Samsung voice assistants that started with S Voice on the Galaxy S3. Nearly six years later, Bixby is still here — but I don't think it will be for much longer.

]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2022 18:27:14 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/one-ui-5-death-of-bixby/