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The top 4 things I want from a clamshell Pixel Fold
The Pixel Fold is relatively compact for a foldable, but a clamshell version could be better
On the off chance that you've been living a simple life under a rock, you have probably noticed that foldables have grown into one of the hottest trends in the smartphone world. Initially, it seemed like the form factor was going to be an expensive fad, especially after Samsung unveiled the first-gen Galaxy Fold, which ran into some technical issues prior to launch. However, with the success of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Z Flip, all the major smartphone OEMs took notice. Well, except for one fruit-inspired brand.
Best Google Pixel 7a deals: Get up to $320 off one of our favorite mid-range phones
Get a minimum $50 off, no strings attached
For years, the A-series has been a staple on our best budget Android phone lists, delivering an impressive experience at affordable prices. The Pixel 7a is Google's most advanced A-series device to date, as it brings sought-after features like a 90Hz display and wireless charging to the phone. It also happens to be the most expensive, tied with the Pixel 4a 5G. With that in mind we've put together a roundup of all the best places to buy the 7a right now, so you can get the best deal possible on the handset.
OnePlus foldable phone: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
OnePlus' first foldable could turn out to be a winner
The foldable segment has seen an uptick in launches over the last year. 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 destroyers 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 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 a run for the money.
I thought the Motorola Razr+ would convert me to flip phones, but it hasn't
I really like the Razr+, but this category of foldables brings its own issues
After decades of sci-fi presenting far-out visions of futuristic communication devices, foldable phones feel like the next step towards making those stories a reality. The idea of taking something big and making it more compact by folding it in half seems innocuous until you introduce a touch-sensitive screen, and then it becomes a fascinating phenomenon — at least for me. I hopped onto the folding phones train with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 in 2020, and have been enthralled with these devices ever since.
The iPhone 15 isn't playing games with playing games, the Android Police podcast discusses
No, Will, why would I title our post that?
The Android Police podcast, in our duty to you as a full-service technology publication despite the narrow avenue our name would imply, is here for a go-around with Apple's new iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 lineups. We also touch upon some more Pixel 8 hopes and a heartwarming turnaround for old robopets. Finally, we dig into our mailbag for the first time because you listeners are extremely eager to spill your guts about Android launchers. This show's 63 minutes long and I can promise you it's worth every second of your time.
Best Samsung Galaxy A54 deals: discounts, trade-in offers, and more
Get Samsung's already affordable Galaxy A54 at an even better price with these deals
The best Galaxy A54 deals more often than not tend to be with carriers offering trade-in discounts, but every now and then you'll get lucky and find a price cut on Samsung's budget-friendly handheld. While the Galaxy A54 was released in April, there's been enough time since then that retailers are starting to provide discounts on it. Whether it be through flash sales or bigger savings events, like the upcoming Prime Day Part 2 or the highly anticipated Black Friday sales, it's becoming more common to see one of Samsung's best phones for tighter budgets on sale at reduced prices.
I want every Android phone to steal the iPhone 15 Pro's Action button
Gimme those physical shortcuts, please
It's iPhone week, and even for those of us deeply entrenched in the world of Android, it's difficult not to pay the company a little attention to what's happening on the other side of the fence. And while the regular iPhone 15 (and its supersized counterpart) have done little to impress me, I'm admittedly a bit more swayed by the Pro series this year. The titanium chassis, superb (on paper) camera lineup, and the long-awaited switch to USB-C are all positive directions for the company, but as an Android fan, what really has me green with envy is the new Action button.
5 things Android fans need to know from the iPhone 15 launch
Believe it or not, Apple's iPhone 15 launch could mean plenty for the world of Android
On the heels of another iPhone announcement, it's inevitable that Apple will announce a slew of revolutionary, magical upgrades to its smartphone lineup — at least, in its own words. While many of the features won't fit either of those buzzy marketing words, there are some big changes to the phones this year. In fact, not only do some of these updates improve the experiences of iPhone owners everywhere, but they could reverberate into the world of Android in ways both big and small. So, while the blue bubble folks might be getting maxed out on excitement, us Android users should take a moment to see how we might benefit from Apple's iPhone 15 announcement.
iPhone 15 and USB-C: Why Apple is now making the change
Apple has hung onto Lightning cables for over a decade but times are changing
With the iPhone 15 series expected to be unveiled on Tuesday, much of the talk has centered around Apple’s rumored inclusion of a USB-C port. According to leaks, the company is doing away with the Lightning connector it has stubbornly clung to for the last 11 years. So, why the sudden change of heart? I can assure you Tim Cook didn’t look out over a sea of frayed Lightning cables and declare, “Enough is enough.” And, while I’d love to tell you the switch is due to the enhanced performance and charging benefits of USB-C, this is Apple we’re talking about. Instead, the departure results from EU regulation as the company aims to make the iPhone compliant for sale in Europe.
Get Taylor Swift to sell the Pixel 8 says the Android Police podcast
Wow, this camera's zoom is quite... swift
A new era in Android has begun. Not Android 14 - Google looks to be off its scheduled launch window and that's got everybody in the industry scrambling. We do get a better picture, however, of when we'll be able to play with new Pixels and we preview Apple's new pickings coming up on this episode of the Android Police podcast.
Google Pixel 8 colors: Every shade we expect to see
Which colors are returning, and which will be shown the door?
Since the next Made by Google event was announced for October 4, Pixel 8 rumors have been pouring out from every corner of the internet. As usual, once enough leaks of the company's next Pixel lineup made it to the web — including from its own storefront — Google went ahead and made things official, publishing marketing images of the Pixel 8 and showcasing one of the new colors features on this year's lineup. Even with all of the leaks, rumors, and teases from Google, one big question remains — which color will you buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Here's everything you need to know about Samsung's upcoming Fan Edition phone
Samsung's Galaxy S20 FE was a surprise hit when it launched in 2020 and immediately made it to our favorite mid-range Android phones list. It packed the best parts of its more expensive siblings while making a few compromises to reach a lower price point. A year later, the company followed it up with the Galaxy S21 FE, but it was not as big of a success as it arrived too late and offered too little. And then, thanks to the semiconductor crunch, the Korean giant canceled the Galaxy S22 FE's launch.
A Bixby Text Call made me realize I was wrong about Pixel smart features
Pixels smart features are more useful than I imagined
If you ask a Pixel user what features stop them from switching to a different device, one of the most common answers will be Call Screening. Being able to send nuisance callers to Assistant rather than dealing with them yourself can save a lot of time and hassle. But if I'm honest, I always thought the feature was over-hyped. I've never had much trouble with unwanted callers, so I couldn't see how a feature like this could be a big deal. Recently, though, that changed.
5 things Google needs to fix with the Pixel 8 series
Overheating, poor network reception, and random battery drain
Google Pixel phones don't sell in the same numbers as the best Samsung phones. But over the last couple of years, Google's smartphone lineup has seen a resurgence, with the company prioritizing its hardware efforts in 2023. With the upcoming Pixel 8 series rumored to pack some significant changes, the company's 2023 flagship Pixels could be a big hit among consumers. As a long-time Pixel fan and a frustrated Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 user though, it is important that Google addresses some longstanding issues with the upcoming Pixels.
The Fairphone 5 gets a fair shot on the Android Police podcast
We also talk about Pixels in an elevator shaft
It's the IFA show on the Android Police podcast this week as we pour it on Huawei not even pretending that Honor is still functionally its Western-facing apparatus and pushing a foldable phone-purse hybrid. JBL's got some loud speakers that will look good in your home (or not) and work with everything. Also, we've got more Pixel intel about how it'll truly become the iPhone of Google's eye.
Samsung Galaxy S24: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Samsung's next flagship lineup will be here before you know it
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. Samsung recently announced two new folding phones, including the massive Galaxy Z Fold 5. But if you're uninterested in foldables, the Galaxy S24 series is the company's next set of incoming flagships, set for release early next year.
I tested the Honor Magic V2 and it blew my mind
The Honor Magic V2 is the first foldable to feel as thin and light as a regular smartphone when folded
These days, smartphones rarely surprise me anymore. We’ve long entered an era of iterative improvements, with many handsets just slowly getting thinner, faster, and generally better over the years. The Honor Magic V2 may also be one of these iterations — the latest in Honor’s foldable V series — but it’s the biggest upgrade I’ve seen in a while. Holding it in my hand for the first time, I couldn’t get over just how thin it is, all while barely weighing more than most of the best smartphones out there.
The Fairphone 5 has me looking forward to our repairable future
With right to repair initiatives on the horizon, the Fairphone 5 shows how it's done in our hands-on
The Fairphone 5 is finally official. The Dutch company presented its new phone in an online launch event, and I’ve had the chance to go hands-on with it for a few days. As someone who reviewed the last two generations of Fairphones, including the Fairphone 4, it’s incredible to see how far the company has come and how modern the Fairphone 5 feels, all while being easy to take apart and repair. The fact that Fairphone was able to build a beautiful device like this makes me very hopeful for the future of consumer electronics, with a number of right-to-repair regulations on the horizon that could bring the essence of Fairphone to all the latest and greatest smartphones out there.
Google Pixel Fold: Price, specs, news, and features
Looks like Samsung finally has some competition in the US
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 5. Like Samsung's flagship foldable, this device is a book-style folding phone that has a regular smartphone-like screen on the front and a tablet-like display on the inside. But unlike that model, it uses a completely different aspect ratio to make the device wide and short. You can check out our full Pixel Fold review to learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about using this phone, but if you're just curious what the Pixel Fold even is, here's everything you need to know.
Moto X 2013 at 10: The first Google Pixel in all but name
The 10-year-old Moto X 2013 was a glimpse into the future of Google’s phone strategy
Long before Google started building its own phones, recently going as far as using custom-made processors, back in 2012 the company acquired one of the most iconic phone brands in the US — Motorola Mobility. This marriage was soon explained as a way for Google to acquire key smartphone patents, but there was something else and far more wonderful to come out of the acquisition for a nerd like me: The Moto X.