Jerry Hildenbrand

Jerry Hildenbrand

Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry has been a smartphone user since the BlackBerry days, having moved through the tech’s progression from Palm to Nokia to Apple and Android. He even waited in line at a Washington, DC T-Mobile store to buy the first Android phone. Combined with an Electrical Engineering degree and years of experience working with machine vision and learning equipment all over the world he has a passion for knowing how tech products work and what matters to the people buying them. He’s been in this industry longer than most of the companies we cover. With 15 years of experience writing about tech he has seen how smart devices have morphed from a luxury to a necessity and offers a unique perspective on both the good and bad consequences of it all. Currently covering the broader ecosystems of hardware and software products, his industry contacts and experience help break down the decisions tech giants make and the products they offer into the most important thing: how this affects us, the consumers and end-users of the products and services. With no affinity to one company Jerry can help you find the tech that’s right for you and help you understand what it can do for you. When things go south, he can also help you fix it or point you in the right direction for help. In his personal life Jerry loves to tinker in his workshop and work on his antique truck. 

Latest articles by Jerry Hildenbrand

Android statues
Ask Jerry: What can I do about dishonest app developers?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Ask Jerry Have a question about the tech in your life? If so, maybe we can get them answered!

Ask Jerry
Android figures
For me, the right time to buy a Galaxy S25 is next year

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill With new hardware and software, I'd wait to buy an S25. You'll save a lot of money, too!

Android & Chill
Google Gemini Pro's new token count
Of course Gemini is being used for crimes

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

No surprises here Criminals are early adopters of anything that makes it easier. Like AI.

No surprises here
In-hand view of DeepSeek AI Assistant running on Nubia Z70 Ultra
What you need to know about DeepSeek

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Good. Bad. Ugly. You need to read this before you let the hype around DeepSeek AI lure you in.

Good. Bad. Ugly.
Comparing the sizes and shapes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S25
Ask Jerry: What is the deal with Qi2 and the Galaxy S25?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

The Galaxy S25 supports Qi2 — just not the part you want it to support.

Phones
Comparing the sizes and shapes of the displays on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S25
Is the partnership between Samsung and Google ruining the Android ecosystem?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill Are Samsung and Google working together making Android worse?

Android & Chill
Samsung Exynos chip mockup
The Galaxy S25 shows me that it's time for Samsung to build its own Snapdragon clone

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

DIY Samsung has the foundry, and Qualcomm can provide the licenses.

DIY
A rendering of the Galaxy S25 Slim leaning against itself, showcasing its thin display bezels and triple camera array.
The Galaxy S25 Slim: If it's real, who asked for this?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill Making a phone even slimmer comes with a lot of compromises.

Android & Chill
TikTok app logo on Android
With a US ban almost here, what can save TikTok?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

To the wire TikTok still has a few options to stop Sunday's ban.

To the wire
Galaxy AI current and projected customer base
Samsung's AI subscription is no different than what Apple and Google are already doing

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill US Consumers don't view Samsung as a software company.

Android & Chill
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US adds Tencent to its Chinese Military entity list, but what does that mean?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Now what? Tencent is on the US's watch list but WeChat isn't going anywhere. Yet.

Now what?
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra charging via a USB-C cable.
Best tips for extending the life of your phone's battery

By Jerry Hildenbrand Last updated

Battery care How do I make sure my phone's battery lasts as long as possible?

Battery care
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold in leaves
From more AI and foldables to better 5G — here's what we can expect from the mobile tech market in 2025

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

What's next AI will still be the star of the show in 2025 but expect growth elsewhere, too.

What's next
Social apps
Declutter your online presence to start off fresh for the new year

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

New Years Resolution You can be out there without being too far out there.

New Years Resolution
Google Messages on an Android phone atop an iPhone.
Apple did the bare minimum because it doesn't care about you either

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill Because Apple and Google won't work together, the FBI says users should switch to a better messenger.

Android & Chill
Android 13 lock screen clock on a Google Pixel 6
Without saying it, Google basically confirmed Android 16 and 17 won't offer any fantastic new features

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill Adding support for two more versions of Android to the Pixel 6 means most new features will be locked behind the Pixel paywall.

Android & Chill
Gigahertz versus cores — what makes a good phone chip?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

What am I looking at here? Speed is how fast you can do it. Cores determine how many things you can do.

What am I looking at here?
Forget buying a high-priced NAS system. Build your own on Black Friday/Cyber Monday and save hundreds

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Get it all on sale A Raspberry Pi can power your home NAS and save you a ton of cash.

Get it all on sale
The Motorola Razr 2024 in a tented folded angle
This Google Fi deal on the Motorola Razr 2024 hit me right where it hurts — in my wallet

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill I hate spending money. I love saving money. This is supposed to be easy.

Android & Chill
Xiaomi making its own chip is the right move. Here's why.

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Big goals Xiaomi can customize a chip relatively free from the Qualcomm tax.

Big goals
Ask Jerry: Why are there old photos in my Google Drive?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Ask Jerry Have a question about the tech in your life? If so, maybe we can get them answered!

Ask Jerry
Instagram logo on a phone screen
Australia's proposed social media ban for kids is a 1950s solution to a 2024 problem

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Android & Chill Nobody ever said being a parent was supposed to be easy.

Android & Chill
What happens if Google has to sell Chrome?

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Under new ownership A win for Microsoft and Apple, selling Chrome isn't going to make the web better.

Under new ownership
Google improving the tools app developers use is just as important as any Android update

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

How it's made If you want Android to improve, you must give developers the right tools.

How it's made
You have no reason to install the Android 16 preview

By Jerry Hildenbrand Published

Nothing to see here Developer previews are meant for developers. Let someone else break their phone.

Nothing to see here
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