Author: Alexander Price

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…

There are many ways to rank different smartphones against each other. While some buyers appreciate high-end performance and how a phone handles heavy loads like graphics-intensive games, others might prefer a simpler phone with a bigger battery and a better camera. A distinguishing factor largely visible only at the highest price points is slimness, a particularly relevant trend these days. It’s a technological marvel how thin some phones can get while still offering competitive specs. Take the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, a 5.8mm phone that weighs just 163 grams but has the same chipset as the much thicker S25…

There are several cool features that set the Google Pixel line apart from other Android phones: Pixel Call Assist, Super Res Zoom, and Magic Editor, to name a few. However, one of the most exciting reasons to own a Google Pixel is the Take a Message feature, introduced with the release of the Pixel 10 phones in 2025. It’s now also available on all Pixel phones, starting with the Pixel 4, and you can use it as a powerful voicemail replacement. Take a Message is designed to handle your missed or declined calls by transcribing the caller’s message. You can…

The United States Federal Communications Commission has just released documents relating to an apparently unreleased Apple product with model number A3577, described as a “Bluetooth over-ear headset.” These earbuds don’t appear to be the AirPods Max 2, which have the model number A3454. There’s little other information available, so it’s unclear exactly what these earbuds are. Most documents that would reveal details about this A3577 product are temporarily withheld from publication under a confidentiality request, which is standard for Apple product filings with the FCC. A figure showing the location of the FCC identification label on the product appears to…