Samsung and Google are some of the best Android phone brands, and the duo makes some of the most popular devices you can buy. If you go online and search for the best Android phones at any time, you will definitely come across many articles recommending at least one device from one or another company. While phones from these two manufacturers may be at the forefront of the best phones across different price points, these brands aren’t the only good choices available. Some underrated Android phone brands offer solid devices and are worth considering. Some of these brands even give…
Author: Alexander Price
Framesira/Shutterstock The next major version of Android will arrive this summer, with several Pixel handsets set to receive Android 17 when it launches, including Pixel 6 models released in 2021. Google offers Android update guarantees ranging from five to seven years, which is why many older Android models will run the latest version of Android. But Google is not the only one willing to offer such guarantees. Samsung offers between three and seven years of Android support, depending on the type of Android device. The newer and more expensive the…
Android makers are considering adopting Apple’s split launch strategy, releasing premium and standard models in separate windows rather than simultaneously, according to the leaker known as “Digital Chat Station.” The leaker made the claim in a new Weibo post this week, saying “the Android camp could repeat this style of play” with the Pro series and standard models launching separately in a bid to “comprehensively compete” with Apple. The leaker described it as a move to “fully evaluate” Apple, suggesting the motivation is competitive rather than logistical. The same article reiterated earlier predictions regarding Apple’s plans. Starting this year, Apple…
Android users who updated their devices to the Android 16 QPR 3 build, which Google began testing in December 2025 for supported Pixel devices, may have noticed a new indicator in the phone’s status bar: a blue dot that wasn’t there before. The indicator is similar to the green dot that appears in the status bar whenever an app accesses the microphone or camera. Like the green dot, the blue dot is a privacy feature that alerts the user when one of the phone’s apps is accessing potentially sensitive information. Specifically, the blue dot signals that an app is accessing…
Google Pixel is arguably one of the best Android phone brands in the world. Due to a generous extended support program and top-notch specs comparable to modern phones, many users still use older Pixel models without issue. Built to last, Google itself promises 7 years of support for certain models, such as the Pixel 8 and later. Given this smartphone’s 2023 release, Pixel 8 users can expect new features, security updates, and operating system updates until 2030. While that’s all well and good, the bane of the Google Pixel is often its battery, according to many users. From Pixel 6a…
Skrypnykov Dmytro/Shutterstock As one of the most important devices in our lives, our phone not charging at inopportune times can be nothing short of a nightmare. So how do you know if the USB charging port is broken? Is it something simple like lint accumulating in the opening, or will you have to shell out for professional repairs? A brief visual inspection should be performed first. If you see bent or broken connections, the charging port is fried and will need to be replaced. Likewise, a wobbly connection can also indicate that a repair is necessary. Still, if none of…
For years, Nova Launcher was considered one of the best third-party Android launchers thanks to the amount of customization it offered users. However, last year, many users began migrating after the beloved launcher was deemed “dead” by the community. This followed the announcement by the then-sole developer and original creator that it was withdrawing from Branch, the company that had purchased Nova Launcher in 2022. The launcher was then purchased by another company, Instabridge, which released an update promising to maintain the beloved launcher and find a path forward for it. A few months have passed since this acquisition, and…
There was a time when the only option when buying a new phone was to get one that required a physical SIM card. However, in recent years, the number of Android devices ditching the SIM card tray has increased, and more smartphones now rely on eSIMs to connect to wireless networks. There are several reasons for this change, but if you’re unsure which one to choose, understanding the key differences between the two can make the decision much simpler. First, the biggest difference between eSIM and traditional SIM cards is that traditional cards require a pre-programmed physical component to be…
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 next month ahead of a September release. The update is expected to include a dedicated Siri app, expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities in apps like Wallet, Safari, and Shortcuts, an upgraded keyboard with improved auto-correction, the ability to use Apple Maps over a satellite connection, and much more. In his To light up newsletter today, BloombergMark Gurman of revealed four additional changes in iOS 27 related to AirPods, Genmoji, AirPlay and Siri. Here are its latest iOS 27 expectations: A revamped and better organized AirPods settings menu Improved quality for Genmoji and Image Playground…
OnePlus has been a smartphone competitor to Apple, Google, Samsung, and Motorola for over 12 years, since the release of the OnePlus One in 2014, which required an invitation to purchase. However, the late-2025 delay in the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15R arriving in US markets suggests the brand’s global presence is diminishing. Additionally, OnePlus and Realme reportedly merged in May 2026. If the merger goes through, BBK Electronics (the Chinese conglomerate that owns OnePlus, Realme, Oppo, and Vivo) will likely re-evaluate the brand. OnePlus may end up being downsized or ceasing operations in international markets, including the United States…