Derrek has had a long-time interest in mobile technology since the age of 12, which came out of his love for Nokia phones, particularly models like the Nokia N90. Since then, he closely followed the evolution of tech and the transition of Nokia from Symbian to Windows Phone, which eventually led him to Android with phones like the Moto X Pure Edition and LG G5. Since 2013, Derrek has dipped in and out of tech journalism as nothing more than a passion project while receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & Digital Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz. That is until 2020, when he became the news editor for Android Central, guiding the team's coverage of Google, Android, Wear OS, and related topics. Now, as managing editor, Derrek guides the site's editorial content and direction, helping the team reach and resonate with readers, old and new, who are just as passionate about tech as we are.
Throughout his time at Android Central, he has reviewed many products, from phones to smartwatches, smart scales, and even smart rings, establishing himself as an expert with these devices. As a fitness enthusiast, Derrek always looks for ways to incorporate tech into his life by closely examining the intersection of fitness and tech. He is also very passionate about tech being financially accessible, which often drives his decision-making in the types of products he tests out and what he recommends.
Latest articles by Derrek Lee

By Derrek Lee Published
A new fold I loved the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but the Xiaomi 18 Fold takes things even further. Here are some of my initial impressions of Xiaomi's iPhone Ultra killer.

By Derrek Lee Published
Editor's Desk There's a lot to see at IFA 2026, but here are the things that stood out to me on the show floor, from a phone with a detachable action camera to adorable dancing robots.

By Derrek Lee Published
And action! The RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro sports a detachable action camera and a massive 9,300mAh battery, making it a potential must-have for outdoor enthusiasts, vloggers, and explorers.

By Derrek Lee Published
No bezels Tecno showed off a prototype of a smartphone with no display bezels at IFA 2026, and now I don't wanna see bezels anywhere.

By Derrek Lee Published
Xiaomi x IFA Xiaomi is showing off its upcoming wide foldable at IFA 2026, but it also wants you to know how serious it is about connecting all your devices through AI.

By Derrek Lee Published
Spice things up Google Messages is finally letting you spice up chats with themes, but the new feature doesn't go far enough.

By Derrek Lee Published
The Pixel Watch 5 is probably the best Android smartwatch you can buy right now, but it's still missing a few features that would make it worth buying over its predecessor.

By Derrek Lee Published
Editor's Desk The Pixel 11 gets social with some interesting new tools.

By Derrek Lee Last updated
Hello Moto! The best Motorola phones range from top-tier budget options to exciting foldables in two form factors. It's an exciting time to be a Moto fan!

By Derrek Lee Published
Battery-life bomb The Galaxy Watch 9 is a comfortable smartwatch that you won't mind wearing, but you'll have to take it off frequently.

By Derrek Lee Published
It's flippin' good The Galaxy Z Flip 8 doesn't get a ton of upgrades, but the few changes it does get make it a better flip phone than I expected. But for $1,200?

By Derrek Lee Published
Editor's Desk How did the Pixel Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 9, and Garmin Cirqa measure up in my 5K run?

By Derrek Lee Published
Pixel Watch 6 The Pixel Watch 5 may have just landed, but we're already looking forward to the Pixel Watch 6 and what Google could have in store, as well as what we would like to see.

By Derrek Lee Published
Should you buy it? The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a popular phone, but should you buy it? Here's what I think after testing it for the past few weeks.

By Derrek Lee, Nicholas Sutrich, Harish Jonnalagadda Last updated
Live Google has launched its Pixel 11 series, with new phones, a new foldable, and a new watch. Read all about the news here in our Live Blog!

By Derrek Lee Last updated
5th-gen changes The Pixel Watch 5 is an "Accelerated" Pixel Watch 4 with an "accelerated" price tag.

By Derrek Lee Last updated
Pixel 11 The Pixel 11 looks set to launch pretty soon, but how will it compare to the Pixel 10, and will it be worth upgrading to or buying over its predecessor?

By Derrek Lee Last updated
Google vs. Samsung Should you buy the Pixel 11, or should you just get the Galaxy S26 and call it a day?

By Derrek Lee Published
I folded This is how flip phones die... with thunderous applause.

By Derrek Lee Published
Camera comparison I spent two weeks testing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra cameras, and I captured just over 1,000 photos between the two. Here's how they did and how they compare to Motorola's latest foldables.

By Derrek Lee Published
Shazam! No Now Playing? No problem. Just download this nearly 20-year-old app!

By Derrek Lee Published
Samsung's latest foldables Three foldables for three different types fo consumers.

By Derrek Lee, Nicholas Sutrich, Harish Jonnalagadda Last updated
Live report Get ready for a new trio of foldable Samsung phones, two new watches, and a ton of smart glasses that Samsung announced at today's Unpacked event.

By Derrek Lee Last updated
Figure 8 Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 8 has a familiar design and upgrades you'll probably care about, but keeps the changes rather modest.

By Derrek Lee Published
AI on your face Samsung finally gave us a hands-on look at its upcoming Android smart glasses while addressing the elephant in the room - public opinion of smart glasses.
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