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Another week in the Android world is behind us, and this one was just as eventful as any other. A couple of Android phones did not score well in iFixIt’s repairability test, Google Messages had a nasty bug, and One UI 8 started rolling out to last year’s Galaxy phones.
Sony Insists It’s Still Committed To Xperia Phones
You’d be excused for not knowing Sony still makes phones. For what it’s worth, they’re actually pretty good, but they’re not as popular as they used to be. Despite what has certainly looked like a clear scaleback, Sony is still not giving up on Xperia, at least publicly.Continue reading…
Google Messages Keeps Crashing From Beta Glitch (Update: Comment From Google)
Countless Google Messages users have started reporting that the app is completely broken and crashes within seconds of being opened. For some, the alert suggests updating Google Play services. This problem mainly affects those on the Messages beta.Continue reading…
This Phone Has an Insane 8,000 mAh Battery
Recently, we covered a phone that packed a bonkers 7,000 mAh battery—about 40% bigger than the 5,000 mAh battery most big phones come with these days. Now, we have an 8,000 mAh one. It keeps getting crazier and crazier.Continue reading…
Samsung Delivers a Surprise Update for 3 Popular Old Phones
Like all phones, Samsung Galaxy devices are only guaranteed updates for a certain number of years before the manufacturer stops offering support to focus on newer models. And while Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra are five years old, they’re getting a surprise update this week.Continue reading…
Google Pixel Phones Might Steal This Galaxy Feature
Three-button navigation is still a thing, but it’s really only used widely by Samsung these days, which still ships it as the default option over gestures. If you’re more of a three-button nav person and you want to move to a Pixel, your muscle memory could soon kick right in after your next upgrade.Continue reading…
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 Is Barely Repairable, Says iFixit
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been given a disappointing repairability score of 3 out of 10 by the folks over at iFixit. The Z Fold 7 may be the thinnest foldable phone ever made at 8.9mm, but that really hurts its repairability and durability.Continue reading…
Samsung Expands One UI 8 Beta to Galaxy S24 and More
Samsung is ready to expand its Galaxy One UI 8 beta (based on Android 16) to more phones after initially kicking things off with the Galaxy S25 back in May. After a rather slow rollout of One UI 7 last year, things are moving quickly to Android 16, and more phones like the Galaxy S24 series will get it next.Continue reading…
Nothing Phone 3 Flunks iFixit’s Repairability Test
The Nothing Phone (3) was recently launched as Nothing’s closest attempt to an actual flagship to date. And while it gets close, it still misses the mark on some key issues. One of the aspects where it misses the mark by a lot is repairability, so make sure your screen never breaks.Continue reading…
Mobile Linux Distro postmarketOS Gets iPhone X Port, More Improvements
The Linux distribution aimed at phones and tablets, postmarketOS, is working on several under-the-hood changes and an experimental ‘immutable’ version. The operating system is also now available on more devices, like the Fairphone 6 and iPhone X.Continue reading…
Android Editorials, Lists, and More
5 Reasons to Consider a Flip-Style Foldable Over a Book-Style Foldable
Foldable phones used to feel like something only hardcore tech folks would buy. You know, early adopters with deep pockets. But things have changed. There are more models now, better software, and prices that aren’t completely out of reach.Continue reading…
4 Reasons Why Spark Mail Works Better For Me Than Gmail
Have you been looking for an alternative to the Gmail app on Android? Well, Spark scratches that itch for me. I’ve used it for years, and there are a handful of reasons why it just works better for me than the native Gmail app. Here’s why Spark is my go-to email client on all platforms.Continue reading…
Ignore the Flagships, 2025 Has Been the Best Year Ever for Mid-Range Android Phones
Flagship phones get all the attention, yet increasingly, they don’t really deserve it. In 2025, the real innovation, excitement, and value are seen in the mid-range. That’s where you’ll find the best Android phones right now.Continue reading…
How the Heck Do QR Codes Work, Anyway?
QR codes are pixelated black and white squares that perform magic when we point the cameras on our phones at them—but what’s going on that makes this little spell possible?Continue reading…
The Unexpected Android Widget I Can’t Live Without
While some people constantly tweak their widgets, I’m more of a set-it-and-forget-it type. One thing that’s stayed front and center on all my Android phones since my first one in 2013 is a widget you probably don’t even use.Continue reading…
3 Underrated Google Apps to Enhance Your Phone Experience
There are millions of apps on the Google Play Store, both paid and free, and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. You know who makes some pretty great apps? Google. I’m not talking about Gmail or Chrome, but apps made by Google that’ll earn you money or transform how you manage files on your phone.Continue reading…
I Love This Minimalist Phone Launcher, and It Just Got Even Better
I carried around a Light Phone 2 for years, and I love Niagara Launcher for being an alternative Android launcher that takes a similar minimal approach to design. Following the latest update to Niagara Launcher, my Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels a lot like the Light Phone 3 I almost purchased.Continue reading…
Why I Refuse to Buy a “Normal” Phone
The world is inundated with smartphones, and most of them look the same—rectangular slabs of metal or plastic with large panes of glass. I find this dull, and I’m no longer interested in this type of phone. I want more.Continue reading…
A smartphone is only as good as its apps, and I don’t have time for bad ones. Fortunately, there are red flags that make it easy for me to know which apps I won’t even get the time of day.Continue reading…
This Is the Only Podcast App I Use on Android
There are dedicated podcast apps and subscription services like Pocket Casts. Podcasts are even baked into Spotify and YouTube Music. But after all these years, there’s only one app I go to for podcasts on my Android phone.Continue reading…
A USB-C Hub Is One of the Best, Cheap Upgrades for Your Phone
Our phones were once limited by their power, but they now pack all the power of a larger PC. What they lack, more than ever, are ports. But that’s a problem a USB-C hub can solve, and it’s one of the simplest ways to upgrade your phone.Continue reading…
Every Android Developer Option Explained
Modern Android phones hide a menu called Developer Options. Most people never touch it. But if you’ve ever wanted to understand what your phone is doing under the hood, this is where you look.Continue reading…
5 Ways the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Is Worse Than Last Year’s Model
I’ve held a Galaxy Z Fold 7, and unlike last year’s model, Samsung’s latest book-style foldable doesn’t feel like a refined version of its previous one—it feels like a different phone entirely, one that has made enough compromises to make me really appreciate my Z Fold 6.Continue reading…
4 Reasons Why Flip Phones Are Better Than Book-Style Foldables
2025 has seen some of the biggest leaps forward for folding smartphones. With its newly refined look, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the most well-received foldable to date. And yet, while these book-style devices are getting all the attention, it’ll be the smaller flip phones that ultimately win out.Continue reading…
Now That Phones Are Thin, Bring Back the Physical Keyboard
This year has seen two major developments in smartphone hardware. The emergence of ultra-slim devices and highly polished foldables has finally solved two of the problems that killed off one of my favorite ever types of gadgets: the smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard. So, isn’t it time for a comeback?Continue reading…
We navigate most modern phones entirely by swiping our fingers across their displays—but in Android’s early days, all phones came with buttons under the screen. One of these once prominent keys has utterly disappeared, its role no longer a core part of how we navigate our phones.Continue reading…
