bugs bugs bugs
From the Editor's Desk: Is Android 12 still too buggy?
11
Android 12 isn't perfect yet, including the recently-launched One UI 4 beta, but should we really expect it to be?
Alex Dobie
Alex is global Executive Editor for Android Central, and is usually found in the UK. He has been blogging since before it was called that, and currently most of his time is spent leading video for AC, which involves pointing a camera at phones and speaking words at a microphone. He would just love to hear your thoughts at alex@androidcentral.com, or on the social things at @alexdobie.
All Posts by Alex Dobie
UDC FTW
Under-display cameras explained: A look beneath the Fold 3's unique screen
4
Under-display cameras could make the dream of an all-screen smartphone a reality. But it's still early days, and there's a delicate balance between display performance and photo quality.
Boom
Recalling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, five years later
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It's been five years since Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets started exploding. Let's take a look back at the most catastrophic smartphone launch in history.
HOLOYOLO
Android UI through the ages: From Droid Sans to Material You
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As we enter the fourth design era of Android, following the early days, Holo and Material Design, it's time to revisit the past 13 years in Android UI and remember how we got here.
because reasons
Why does the Pixel 5a exist?
14
The Google Pixel 5a is finally here, with a bigger battery and important features like water resistance. But a more important question than what the Pixel 5a is is why it even exists.
smarter snaps
What is computational photography?
Your smartphone's camera is much more than just a camera. Computational photography has enabled rapid improvements in phone photo quality over the past decade. Here's why the quality of your photos is defined by more than just the MP of your sensors.
From the Editor's Desk
Google Pixel 6: The best Samsung phone of 2021?
34
Ten years on from the legendary Galaxy Nexus, do we have more Samsung-made Google phones coming in the form of the Pixel 6? Well, yes and no.
Look into the Crystal Ball
Here are 6 Google Pixel 6 predictions that will definitely, maybe come true
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Google has already revealed a lot about the Pixel 6 series, but plenty of unknowns remain. So this gives us the chance to grab our crystal ball and make some Pixel predictions.
a device to never settle for?
Could the OnePlus 9T actually be a OnePlus 9 'Ultra'?
4
A successor to the OnePlus 8T could be unlikely, but that doesn't mean OnePlus won't launch another high-end phone before the year's out.
Sixth time's the charm
With the Google Pixel 6 Pro, the first true premium Pixel is here
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After a blip in 2020, Google looks set to deliver fans the high-end Pixel they crave this fall. Here's why, unlike the Pixel 5, the Google Pixel 6 Pro will compete with the very best Android flagships of 2021.
old dog, new tricks
I installed Android 11 on a Samsung Galaxy S2 because I could
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A good idea? Debatable. A productive use of my time? Definitely not. But shoehorning a new version of Android onto an ancient phone was pretty fun.
Camera hype
The one big reason Google chose a 50MP sensor for the Pixel 6
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A much-needed sensor upgrade will give the next Google smartphone shooter more data to feed on, which could be vital for the most advanced Pixel camera ever.
Flagship killers
The OnePlus Nord 2 just proved that we don't need flagships anymore
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When you can get everything you really need in a phone for a third of the price of a Galaxy S21 Ultra, have traditional flagships jumped the shark?
Oops
UK vaccine passport app produces broken QR codes on popular Android phones
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As the UK relaxes its remaining Coronavirus restrictions, travelers vaccinated in the country will be relying on the NHS app to provide their Covid-19 status. But an app bug could make cause headaches when Android owners traveling abroad.
Hype time
From the Editor's Desk: We're Imagining Android 17 on the Pixel 6
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Google's next phones might still be up-to-date and fully supported in October 2026, finally making them competitive with the iPhone's direct support lifespan. That's pretty wild.
OxygenOS 'merging' with ColorOS isn't as simple as you might think
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What will the next generation of OnePlus software look like? Maybe a little different, but OnePlus doesn't think you'll notice.
tag, you're it
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ review: The best Android AirTag competitor
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You'll need to be living in Samsung's world to take full advantage of it, and own an expensive flagship Galaxy phone. But if that's you, the SmartTag+ is probably the best Android AirTag alternative.
Super charging!
160W and beyond: Your next phone might charge in 10 minutes
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I've spent the past week with a smartphone that can charge, from dead, in just over ten minutes. Here's what that means for the phone you might be buying in one or two years time...
Perfect Harmony?
Review: The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 does everything except Google
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Huawei's latest tablet provides slick hardware, fast performance, and plenty of features, but once again there's something missing... No Google apps or services make this a hard pill to swallow for many.
Googley Magic
Google Play Services: What are they, and how do they keep you secure?
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Google's software and services layer is one of the most important apps on your phone. Find out how it came about, what it does, and how it helps keep Android secure and under Google's control.