What you need to know

• Google is rolling out the June 2025 security patch for Pixel phones running Android 15.
• The fixes, which include 18 security patches and another 16 specific to Pixel phones, are also included in the first stable release of Android 16.
• The Google Pixel Watch’s June 2025 also includes two new features, including the ability to make express transit payments.

Google is rolling out the June 2025 security update for Pixel phones and Pixel Watch wearables, it announced this week. The release coincided with the company’s drop of the stable Android 16 update for Google Pixel phones and the June Pixel Feature Drop. However, this security patch with key bug fixes is for Pixel phones running Android 15 and all Pixel Watch models, except LTE-enabled smartwatches in Japan and Singapore.

Google’s June 2025 Pixel security update carries version number BP2A.250605.031.A2 for Pixel 6 and later phones, excluding the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. That device gets build number BP2A.250605.031.A3.

The update’s fixes are available as a standalone patch for Android 15 devices or are included in the Android 16 update for Pixels. There are a total of 18 security vulnerabilities addressed in the update, per the June notes on the Android Security Bulletin. On top of that, there are 16 issues resolved that are specific to Google Pixel phones included in the update.

As such, you’ll want to apply the patch to your Android 15 device, or update to Android 16, as soon as the over-the-air update becomes available.

The update for Pixel phones also includes major bug fixes affecting biometrics, display and graphics, camera, cellular connection, and more. You can find the complete release notes here.

The Pixel Watch version of the update includes a few new features. You can now set your favorite Google Home controls specific to your Pixel Watch, where they were previously tied to the same selections on your Android phone. Additionally, you can now make quick public transit payments even when the Google Wallet app is closed on your watch.

The build number for this patch is BW1A.250605.004, and that applies to all generations of Pixel Watch. Owners of LTE-equipped Pixel Watch models in Japan and Singapore will get the update “in the coming weeks.”

To check for the update on your Pixel phone, open the Settings app and navigate to System > Software Update > System Update > Check for Update. Then, follow the on-screen prompts to install the patch. On the Pixel Watch, open the Settings app and find System > System Update.

What you need to know

• Fairphone 4 will no longer receive the Android 14 update, which was initially expected to be coming early this year.
• It will be upgraded to Android 15, and the decision was made due to significant delays and limited capacity in delivering a stable Android 14 update.
• Fairphone also promises more transparent communication and is actively working on bringing Android 15 to Fairphone 4 users, though a specific timeline is not yet available.

Android 15 is on the latest Android phones as well as older models. Meanwhile, Fairphone 4 users are still anticipating the Android 14 update; however, the company seems to have other plans as the device would be upgraded to Android 15.

The company has earlier promised that Fairphone 4, released back in 2023 in Europe, should be getting the Android 14 update early this year. While it didn’t happen, the company released a blog post apologizing to its consumers, explaining the current scenario and the reasons for the delay.

“We know this one has been especially frustrating, and we’re sorry for the long wait times many of you have faced. The truth is, we have been dealing with very limited capacity, which had slowed our response times.”

The company, however, isn’t justifying the cause and is again working on expanding the team with the help of outsiders and aims to bring an even more stable support team and is ensuring real improvements. It starts with Fairphone 4, as the firm assures that it hasn’t abandoned it. With the Android 14 update significantly delayed, the company now wants to shift its focus directly onto the next iteration, Android 15.

“After thoroughly evaluating what it would take to deliver a stable Android 14 update, we’ve made the difficult decision to shift our focus directly to Android 15.”

Fairphone notes that it is “actively working on bringing Android 15” to the Fairphone 4 and will be keeping its users posted on a regular basis. While it is a notable step in the right direction, the company isn’t giving users a fixed timeline on when to expect the Android 15 update on the handset as certain things aren’t yet under its control. For now, true Fairphone enthusiasts should keep their hopes intact as they can expect the company is now dedicated to bringing in the next iteration update as early as possible.

Till then, users are further recommended to get on the forum for all the latest developments from the company, as the team promises to be more present, and users can expect prompt responses and updates.

“Even if it’s just a small check-in or an update that says “still working on it,” we’ll share it. We get it now: silence doesn’t help. We can do better. So that’s what we’re committing to.”

Fairphone 5, on the other hand, released with Android 13 back in 2023 and was promised at least five OS updates and a whopping eight years of software and security updates. It means the device is expected to be running smoothly until 2031.

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What you need to know

• Google detailed an immense trove of security/privacy updates coming for Android, like improved scam protection during calls and with texts.
• Android will update its Factory Reset protections, which will restrict a phone's abilities if someone resets it without the owner's authorization.
• Google Play Services is upgrading its Live Threat Detection to better spot apps that have been altered maliciously, so users can delete them.
• Google's I/O 2025 is set for May 20 at 10 am PT (1 pm ET).

Get hyped; it's Google I/O season, and the company's new Android Show: I/O Edition is helping to fuel the excitement. It details everything new with your security.

In a press release, Google stated that there are a few ways it will look to strengthen your Android device's security and privacy for calls, texts, and more soon. The company states the Pixel 9 Pro ranks "highest" in Android security and anti-fraud efficacy. To further this, Google says it's first looking to enhance the ways your Android phone can shield you against phone scams.

To do this, Google states it's working on ways for Android's software to block "specific actions" and offer additional warnings against scam attempts. The post adds that all of this happens on your device for calls with people not in your contacts. What's more, if you're sharing your Android screen during a call and it ends, the OS will prompt you to stop sharing to avoid any unwanted attention.

Speaking of screen sharing, "enhanced in-call protection for banking apps" aims to stop fraud. According to Google, Android will soon warn users who've shared their screen while on a call when their banking app is launched. These warnings will occur with people outside of your contacts. The warning alert will inform users of the dangers, as well as offer a button to quickly end their shared screen session.

Google states this will roll out for supported banking apps on devices with Android 11 and higher. The pilot program is looking to grab U.K. banks first "in the coming weeks" before looking at a wider rollout.

Android looks to fight Fraud

Scam detection in Google Messages is receiving upgrades, as well as the introduction of the Key Verifier.

Regarding the former, the company says its AI-powered Scam Detection software in Messages has been refined to target additional malicious attempts. Such scams include toll road/billing, crypto, financial impersonation, gift card/prizes, technical support scams, and more.

The Key Verifier is a new feature Google is preparing to launch to better enhance on-device fraud protection. In short, the post says the Key Verifier will let users verify the identity of the person on the other side through "public encryption keys." An example where the Key Verifier can work is during a SIM swap attack. Google says this can happen when an attacker removes your friend's or family member's SIM card and places it into an alternate device.

If this happens, Google Messages verification of them will disappear, informing you visually that the person texting you is not who they claim. To verify contact keys, Google says users can do so via the Contacts app with a QR code scan or number comparison. The Key Verifier is expected to launch "this summer" on Android 10 and higher.

Look to Android 16

Identity Check left beta earlier this year, and quickly rolled out onto Pixel devices rocking Android 15 alongside the Galaxy S25 series (and One UI 7 phones).

The feature works by leveraging your biometrics with other safeguards to verify that the phone in question truly belongs to you. Google says it's working to extend this feature's availability to more devices through Android 16. Also, the feature's Factory Reset protections will get a glow-up, restricting all device functions that have been reset against the true owner's authorization. More control over Remote Lock is also expected "later this year" with the Factory Reset upgrade.

Android 16 will also do more to protect your one-time passwords by hiding them on your lock screen until you open your phone.

Next, Google's Advanced Protection program will bring "device-level" security to phones with Android 16. While this program was initially geared toward "high-risk" users like journalists and public figures, this extension of security will ensure more people can get in on Google's more robust security efforts to protect their data.

Step Up with Google Play Protect

Google Play Protection is preparing to introduce live threat detection that will inform users if a developer has maliciously changed or hidden their app icon. The feature will roll out to Pixel 6 and higher devices, as well as a "selection" of other phones, in the coming months."

The company concludes by stating it's updating the rules of its Live Threat Detection to better catch threats via apps. These bolstered changes are available globally for all Android devices with Google Play Services.

The Android Show's security and privacy updates are likely a prelude to even more Android OS announcements from Google later this month. Its I/O 2025 event is set for May 20 at 10 am PT (1 pm ET). There, we're expecting to see what's next with Android 16, Android XR, and much more.

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What you need to know

• The May 2025 update is rolling out for Google Pixel devices with fixes for another zero-day exploit.
• It may take about a week for the update to reach all Pixel phones and tablets, depending on your device and carrier, and you should update immediately.
• The patch also includes three minor bug fixes for Google Pixel 6 and newer phones and tablets.

The May 2025 security update is rolling out for Google Pixel devices as of today, May 6, and it includes a critical patch for a zero-day security vulnerability. The update also includes three bug fixes and 28 total security patches for issues affecting Android and Google services. The company says that the May 2025 update's rollout will continue over the next week, depending on your carrier and device model, so you might not see it immediately.

The Android Security Bulletin outlines the security issues addressed with this month's Pixel update, including the zero-day exploit tracked as CVE-2025-27363. The bulletin notes that "there are indications that CVE-2025-27363 may be under limited, targeted exploitation." Essentially, this means you should update your device as soon as the May 2025 patch is available to avoid falling victim to this security exploit.

The May 2025 security patch will also update your device's bootloader to add anti-rollback measures. After updating, you won't be able to run older versions of Android 15 on your device. This is likely in response to both the April and May patches including fixes for zero-day exploits.

"The May 2025 update for Pixel 6 (6, 6 Pro, 6a) and Pixel 8 (8, 8 Pro, 8a) devices contains a bootloader update that increments the anti-rollback version for the bootloader," Google explains. "This prevents the device from rolling back to previous vulnerable versions of the bootloader. After flashing the May 2025 update on these devices you won't be able to flash and boot older Android 15 builds."

The May 2025 update also addresses three bugs affecting Google Pixel 6 and newer phones and tablets, as Google explains in the release notes below:

• Audio
  • Fix for degraded microphone recording quality in certain apps
• Bluetooth
  • Fix for Bluetooth pairing issues with certain smartwatches under certain conditions
• Framework
  • Fix for secondary language displayed in quick settings under certain conditions

When the update becomes available, all Google Pixel users should install it immediately. You can check for updates by opening the Settings app and navigating to System > Software update > System update and pressing Check for update. Then, follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the OTA update once available.

What you need to know

• Motorola's Android 15 update is now widely available for Razr Plus 2024 owners.
• The update is just over two gigabytes in size and is heading to both locked and unlocked models.
• Android 15 adds new features like improved wireless connections and satellite connectivity.

Motorola is now widely rolling out its Android 15 update for Motorola Razr Plus 2024 owners in the U.S., following limited availability last month. The company updated its official support document for Android 15 availability to confirm that the upgrade began for all unlocked Motorola Razr Plus 2024 models as of today, May 2.

Android Central saw the Android 15 update on its Razr Plus 2024 unit, with the upgrade carrying a version number of V2UX35.47-3 and a size of 2.17GB. There are also multiple reports of other Razr Plus 2024 owners receiving the OTA update today on the Motorola Razr subreddit with the same version number and upgrade size in the U.S.

This indicates that Motorola is making Android 15 widely available for U.S. users of the Razr Plus 2024 for the first time. It previously shipped Android 15 to the older Razr Plus 2023 earlier this year. The official date for the Android 15 rollout on AT&T and T-Mobile carrier models is listed as April 23, 2025.

You can check if your Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is eligible for the Android 15 update by opening the Settings app and scrolling down to Software update. Then, tap Check for update. You may also receive a push notifications when the Android 15 update is available for your device.

The update brings Razr Plus 2024 devices to the March 1, 2025 security patch level. It also marks the first time Moto AI is exiting the beta for this model, adding Ask Moto AI, AI Actions, and other personalized content. Users will see a push notification for Moto AI after completing the installation process.

The full changelog for the Motorola Razr Plus 2024's Android 15 update is below:

• Improved connections and sharing
  • Control more Bluetooth features from quick settings
  • Previously, in quick settings, you could tap Bluetooth to turn it on or off.
  • Now when you tap Bluetooth in quick settings you can do much more:
    • Turn Bluetooth on or off
    • Pair a new device
    • Switch paired devices
    • See remaining battery on paired devices
    • Disconnect or forget a paired device
    • For a paired device, change sound settings and access to contacts and history
• Use satellite messaging when mobile network is unavailable
  • Not all carriers support this feature.
  • Now, even when your mobile network is unavailable, you can send SMS. Your phone will automatically connect to a satellite, letting you send text messages.
  • You’ll see a message on your lockscreen and in the Messages app, notifying you that you’re connected to a satellite.
• Use one-tap hotspot to connect devices with same Google account
  • If your phone and device you want to connect to its hotspot are using the same Google account, you no longer need to enter a password to connect.
• Accessibility improvements
  • Control hearing devices from quick settings
    • Quick settings now has a tile to control hearing devices. Tap the tile to peek at hearing device battery levels, change device settings, and turn other audio features like Live Caption on or off.
    • You can also switch between preset sound profiles that automatically adjust your hearing device based on your listening environment. Get presets for:
      • Restaurants
      • Work
      • TV
      • Outdoors
      • All-round (neutral, balanced)
  • Get more vision support
    • Now it’s easier to read using font scaling that prevents text from being too large.
    • You can now connect modern refreshable Braille displays to your phone’s screen reader over USB or Bluetooth with Braille Display HID support.
• Security enhancements
  • Find powered-off phones and connected accessories can now help you locate:
    • Your phone, even when offline
    • Headphones, tracker tags, and other compatible devices, even when powered off
  • Get secure, simpler to use authentication
    • To slow down phone theft attacks, adaptive authentication now locks the screen after 5 failed authentication attempts (PIN or biometrics).
    • For apps designed for Android 15, access your saved passwords with facial recognition, a fingerprint, or your screen lock to log in. If you accidentally dismiss the passkey prompt, you’ll still find passkey or other suggestions in autofill screens, like keyboard suggestions or dropdown menus, making signing in easy.
• Other improvements
  • See larger thumbnails in photo picker: Now thumbnails of photos and videos are easier to see and select for sharing.
  • New emoji stickers: New Emoji Kitchen stickers are available, like the disco ball and headphones. Whether you’re rocking out to hip hop, country, or jazz music, there are now more ways to express your musical self.
  • Gen-AI emojis: Create customized emoji with a wider range of expressions, styles, or themes with Gen-AI. Remix your favorite emoji and share them from Gboard as stickers.

For all the details on Android 15, check out our complete guide.

What you need to know

• Android 15 now requires 32GB of onboard storage, enforcing this requirement by leveraging GMS licensing.
• Technically, phones with less than 32GB of storage can still run AOSP builds of Android 15.
• Phones with 3GB of memory or fewer are now required to use Android Go Edition.

Android's base-level system requirements are quite low compared to the premium capabilities of the best phones on the market. However, they do increase from time to time, and Android 15 includes new storage and tweaked RAM requirements for devices. As discovered by Android Authority, Google now requires devices to ship with 32GB of storage to run (or upgrade to) Android 15.

The increased requirement has to do with increasing sizes of Android OS updates, as well as individual app sizes. By the time you install Android on a phone with 16GB of RAM and download a few apps, you're out of storage. As such, Android 14 is the last version that can run on low-end devices with only 16GB of storage. While uncommon, Android phones with 16GB of storage do exist, particularly on ultra-budget phones with expandable storage.

As always, the new 32GB requirement must have 75% of its total capacity allocated to the main Android data partition, which includes the OS itself plus apps and files. Technically, budget Android phones can run Android 15 with less than 32GB of storage using the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

With that being said, critical Google services — like GMS — can be withheld from devices that don't comply with these requirements, severely impacting usability. For instance, a Google Mobile Services license is required to offer Google Play Services, and crucially, the Google Play Store for apps.

The 32GB requirement for Android 15 is up from 16GB for Android 14. It's the first time Google has raised Android system requirements since Android 13, which was the first to require 16GB. Before that, Android 12 only needed 8GB to run. All of these versions necessitated that 75% of the capacity be allocated to the main data partition.

Aside from the new storage requirements, Vulkan 1.3 graphics is required for chipsets running Android 15. The same goes for ANGLE libraries, unless the device is using Android Go Edition — a version of Android specifically optimized for lower-end hardware. This comes as Google recently made Vulkan the official graphics API for Android.

The changes also require devices with 3GB of memory or less to use Android Go Edition, up from 2GB. The baseline requirement of 2GB memory for GMS licensing is unchanged.

Starting with Android 16, ANGLE libraries must be enabled by default on devices. It's unclear whether the next version of Android will include any other new hardware requirements.

Samsung makes some of the best Android phones around, but it has been a bit stubborn when it comes to offering certain basic customization options in its One UI software. For the longest time, scrolling through apps in the app drawer could only be done horizontally, and there was no way to change this other than using a third-party launcher or Good Lock. Vertical scrolling feels more natural in my opinion, and is the layout most other manufacturers choose to go with.

Finally, after years of wanting this feature, Samsung has given users a choice in One UI 7. If you've bought one of the latest Galaxy S25 phones or have updated your older phone to One UI 7, here's how you can change to a vertical scrolling app drawer.

How to change to a vertical scrolling app drawer on One UI 7

1. Unlock your phone and open the app drawer.

2. Tap the three vertical dots in the Search box at the bottom, and choose Sort.

3. Tap Alphabetical order.

4. That's it! Your app drawer has been switched to vertical scrolling. When doing it the first time, you'll see an overlay message alerting you to the change in swiping style.

Do more with One UI 7 on your Samsung phone

One UI 7 is the latest smartphone software from Samsung, and it comes pre-installed on the Galaxy 25 series. The interface gets a tweaked design, and there are more Galaxy AI features to play with, some exclusive to the S25 series. The official rollout of One UI 7 for older devices has hit a bit of a snag and didn't make it as promised in the first quarter of 2025. Samsung is still issuing new beta versions of One UI 7 for Galaxy S24 owners as we wait for the final build in early April.

There's not much anyone can do about it, but wait for it. Releasing software updates is hard, especially when you're Samsung and have more than a hundred models, each with its own variants based on where it's sold in the world. Plenty of due diligence is needed to make sure everything works across its entire portfolio, and rushing a half-baked update will only make things worse.

New features in One UI 7 that you can expect to arrive on older flagship Samsung phones include Now Bar and Now Brief. Now Bar sits at the bottom of your lockscreen and shows you updates on ongoing activities like music that's playing, live notifications, timers, and more. Now Brief on the other hand offers more detailed personalized briefings based on relevant information. Other features that will cross over include cross-app action, Audio Eraser, Auto Trim, and AI Drawing Assist.

Samsung's One UI 7 release is a bonafide shit show; there is really no other way to describe it. Having said that, the real issues don't stem from the software itself or the phones that will eventually receive the update; it's a matter of over-promising and under-delivering. Unfortunately, that's pretty common when the people doing the selling aren't the people doing the building.

There are three different camps here. I know this because I have spent the last three days reading whatever people had to say about it. I do not recommend it if you don't love the aftertaste of Tylenol.

One group of people is sharpening pitchforks while posting on websites like Reddit about how Samsung is terrible, and they're never buying another Samsung phone again. Others are coping and making excuses for the whole mess while posting responses from Samsung Customer Care, blaming Google for the rollout issues.

The third group? They don't care as long as things still work right now and won't break when they're told to update their software. I think everyone is right and everyone is wrong, all at the same time.

What's going on here?

Samsung originally promised to deliver the One UI 7 update to eligible Galaxy S phones in Q1 2025, which isn't going to happen. It will get here eventually — the latest says it's coming in April — but that doesn't address the real problem: writing software is hard, and unless you have done it, you have no idea how hard it can be.

Of course, seeing the Galaxy S25 released with the update makes it especially hard for consumers to swallow.

I'm saying the real problems with the rollout of One UI 7 are all about communication, transparency, and setting expectations. It has nothing to do with features or options or anything technical.

You may think using software another company makes for you, like Android (from Google) or Windows (from Microsoft), is easy, but it's not. It could be if every company used the exact same configuration of hardware specifically designated by the company that wrote it, but then you'd have a more Apple-like situation where you can't choose what product fits you best. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not for everyone.

Android is especially difficult because it's so ... "loose." However, as long as you follow some rules from Google, you can do a lot with it to make it look and act like something completely different — enter One UI 7.

Samsung executives and project managers have a vision of what each version of One UI will be. They decide how it will look, what features will be improved, which new features are needed, and what features will be removed. They base this on the feedback you give while using your Samsung phone via data collection. The next version of One UI will be a mix of things that Samsung knows users like to interact with.

This isn't done in a vacuum. Managers, engineers, marketing, and even carrier representatives are involved in the decisions that go into the update and its release schedule. One side wants everything, and they want it now, while others are more timid and want more time. A compromise is reached, and a timeline is built. Then, the chaos and "crunch time" begin.

The folks tasked with developing the ideas given to them from people up the chain need to find a way to do it all and try to do it by a given date. Samsung has historically been terrible at this, and I can't blame anyone at the company for it. Neither should you. It's a communication breakdown between the people making the promises and the people trying to fulfill them.

When you want to try and do too much, you need too much time. Integrating a new (though now a year old) version of Android with a slew of AI parlor tricks and a reinvented notification idea that will include sports scores and the kitchen sink is too much.

To top it all off, much of it will be discarded once a better way is introduced that's more integrated with Android. Split windows and one-handed mode come to mind. Samsung wants to be first, so it will race forward with an idea instead of waiting because that's a good way to sell more phones. If you are reading this on a Galaxy S phone, it probably worked on you.

None of this is a bad idea or anything you should be upset about. If you're upset, it's because you were told one thing and delivered a different thing. The overworked developers doing it aren't the people who told you what you would get and when you would get it. Welcome to marketing.

What you really need to know about One UI 7

It will be here when it gets here. That's it; there is nothing more we need to know about it.

We want to know a lot more, though. We want to know a date and what to expect. We want to know that it won't have issues or be filled with bugs. We want it all, and we want it now. This goes for software updates from every company, not just Samsung.

I hate to break it to you, but it didn't get here when you wanted it, and once it does, there will be bugs. You may get angry and complain on the internet, and I can't blame you. Please complain about it the right way — Samsung needs to be more transparent and develop better communication with its customers before it tries to do anything else. The company has made great strides in software development over the past 10 years, and it's time to work on other things.

What you need to know

• The One UI 7 update will be available for the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in the U.S. on April 10, the company announced.
• The rollout of One UI 7 is already delayed in general when compared to previous versions.
• On the other hand, Samsung also announced the fifth One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24 Ultra in the U.S.
• The update introduces a new camera feature and fixes issues such as lock screen notification glitches, and Now Bar controller problems, amongst others.

Looks like the wait for One UI 7 for people in the U.S. got longer— by three days.

While we recently learned that One UI 7 is finally arriving on Galaxy phones in the second week of April, users in the U.S., however, have to wait a couple of more days.

In a new One UI 7 announcement post, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Z Flip 6 will be getting the Android 15-based update on April 10. It makes it three days behind the global release, which is slated for April 7.

While the reason behind the delay is unspecified, it isn’t that alarming as it is just a matter of days — and it still makes the rollout of the One UI 7 within the same week.

Other than the devices mentioned above, older devices like the Galaxy S23 series, S24 FE, S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and tablets like Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S9 series will be receiving the Android 15-based update in the following weeks after the April 7 and April 10 rollouts in the corresponding regions.

Yes, the One UI 7 rollout has been significantly delayed when compared to the previous iteration rollout. While many anticipated that it would be happening alongside the Galaxy S25 series launch back in January, it didn’t happen, and the Korean tech giant continued rolling out the One UI 7 beta updates for the Galaxy S24 models.

Speaking of, the company had recently rolled out its fifth One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24 Ultra in the U.S. — making sure the One UI 7 update rollout hits smoothly when it goes official in April. The latest firmware not only introduces a new camera feature but also fixes notable bugs in the operating system.

The primary fixes include glitches with lock screen notifications, Now Bar controller issues, and font overlaps in the interface amongst others. Alongside the fixes, there are a bunch of improvements as well.

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Android 15 is the latest flavor of Google's smartphone operating system, and like most software, it's constantly evolving and changing based on user feedback. The most recent feature drop brought some new features to Pixel phones and watches, one of them being Modes. Google now lets you create custom modes on a Pixel phone and access it through a dedicated menu from the quick settings screen.

The March 2025 feature drop adds a new quick toggle option called "Modes," which groups Do Not Disturb, Bedtime, and Driving toggles under a single menu. If you have a Pixel phone, here's how you can access it and use it. The following steps were tested on a Pixel 6a running Android 15, but it should be the same for any other Pixel too running the latest Android build.

How to access and set up Modes

1. Perform a swipe-down gesture anywhere on the home screen or from the top edge of the screen till you see the quick settings buttons. You should see Modes as the fourth option.

2. Tap it once to access the pop-out menu. Here, you'll have the three default modes of Do Not Disturb, Bedtime, and Driving.

3. Tap any one of these modes to activate it. You can have multiple modes active at the same time.

4. In order to customize any mode, simply long press them, and you'll be taken to the customization menu.

How to create a custom Mode

1. Follow the first step from above to get to the Modes menu via quick settings.

2. Tap Settings in the bottom left corner.

3. Tap the last option which says Create your own mode.

4. Choose Custom to create a mode from scratch. You can also enable Flip to shhh from here, which automatically puts your phone in DnD when you flip it face-down on a table. DnD is disabled the next time you pick it up.

4. If you chose Custom, you can now choose a symbol for your custom mode that best describes the activity. For this example, I've chosen a ticket stub since I've created a profile for when I'm at the cinema.

5. You can give a custom name to your profile, like Movies, in this case. Tap Done when finished.

6. Next, you'll be taken to a customization page similar to the default profiles. You can set it to turn on automatically based on a specific date and time or based on calendar events.

Note: There's no way to revert your choice when choosing to activate a mode automatically based on calendar events or date and time, which is a strange limitation. Your only option is to delete the profile and start over.

7. You can also choose which contacts are allowed to interrupt your mode. Starred contacts are added here by default. Other interruptions from apps, reminders, alarms, etc., can also be controlled.

8. Finally, the Display settings option lets you choose what happens to the display when the mode is active, like dimming the wallpaper, enable grayscale, and so on.

Modes organizes all your routines in one place

Pixels make up some of the best Android phones, and Google is trying to enhance the user experience with Modes. Now that you have the ability to create tens of custom Modes, having quick access through a dedicated menu makes a lot of sense.

However, in doing so, we've lost the ability to directly enable Do Not Disturb or Bedtime with a single tap. It's now an extra step to toggle these modes on or off, which has irked many Pixel users, as this Reddit thread shows.

Of all the modes, I think Do Not Disturb is one that many of us use the most, and if you don't have a dedicated button to enable it, like on OnePlus phones, this additional step can be annoying. I personally never manually toggle Bedtime mode as it automatically engages at night, and it's the same with Driving mode, which kicks in every time Android Auto starts up.

For people who love having custom profiles set up for different activities, the new Modes shortcut menu is a blessing. We just wish Google would give us the option to keep Do Not Disturb as a standalone shortcut button, but perhaps future iterations will improve on this feature.

Smartphone notifications are great, keeping you abreast of what’s going on with e-mails, social media, calendar updates, and more. But there’s no denying that there are times when they can come in too fast and too furious and be pretty distracting. This might be when you’re in a meeting, and a personal group conversation is blowing up, or when you turn your phone back on after having it in Airplane Mode for a long flight, and your phone goes mad, alerting you to everything you missed.

Notification Cooldown is a new feature available with the March 2025 Android 15 update. It’s designed to help you manage an influx of notifications, minimizing sound interruptions and on-screen pop-ups. It’s easy to set up in just a few clicks.

How to enable Notification Cooldown on a Google Pixel

1. Open Settings on your Google Pixel device.

2. Select Notifications.

3. Under General, select Notification cooldown.

4.Select Use Notification cooldown and turn it to the “on” position.

How does Notification Cooldown on a Google Pixel work?

Notifications Cooldown works by counting how many notifications you get within a short period. If that exceeds a certain threshold, the phone’s volume will lower, and the alerts will be minimized for up to two minutes. You can’t change the threshold, but you can leave it in Google’s capable hands to determine what’s too much.

While Notification Cooldown can temporarily shush the notifications you don’t really need right away on the best Android phones, including those from both Google Pixel and other brands, there are some exceptions. It will not silence calls, alarms, priority conversations, and emergency alerts. That’s a good thing, of course, allowing you to quiet things like social media likes and comments and unimportant daily reminders while ensuring you don’t miss crucial happenings or details about your day.

It's a great way to still be notified of what’s important without having to turn your phone on silent to avoid an unexpected barrage of messages or other notifications that don’t require your immediate attention.

Notification Cooldown was made available to Pixel phones as a quarterly release with Android 15 and will continue to be a core part of Android 16 once it is released in Q2 2025. For now, as long as your Pixel device is updated to the latest version of Android 15, you’ll see the option in the menu and be able to enjoy its benefits.

Once set up, friends, family members, and co-workers won’t think you’re a secret spy getting intelligence on the fly when it’s really just ongoing team chatter about snacks for the weekend game or your recent X post getting a ton of attention.

What you need to know

• Samsung has announced the official rollout of One UI 7, which is set to begin on April 7.
• The Galaxy S24 series alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 will be the first set of devices to get the Android 15-based operating system.
• Older devices like the Galaxy S23 series, S24 FE, S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and tablets like Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S9 series will be getting the One UI 7 in the coming weeks.

Can we just say, better late than never?

The much-anticipated One UI 7 update of Galaxy devices finally has a launch date. Samsung has announced that the official rollout will begin on April 7.

According to the announcement post, the first set of devices to experience the latest operating system includes the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

The company further notes that other eligible devices comprising Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, and the older Galaxy foldables like Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 will be receiving the update gradually in the coming weeks. There are also tablets, which will be receiving the update like the Galaxy Tab S9 and the more recent Galaxy Tab S0 series.

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 7 for devices like the Galaxy S24 series in beta last year. The devices have already received a couple of betas over the past few months. The Galaxy S25 series, however, has been the first set of devices to come with stable Android 15-based One UI 7 out of the box as they launched in January.

Meanwhile, the predecessor models were expected to be getting the official builds around the same time; it appears Samsung has taken its sweet time to roll out the official builds a couple of months later. Also, this is a first from Samsung — a delayed OS roll-out compared to the previous One UI versions.

Regardless, it is encouraging to see the launch date of One UI 7 despite the delays as the betas have showcased some of the interesting features the operating system is bringing to the Galaxy phones — and it is considered the most notable update compared to last year’s version. The first set of changes that Galaxy users can expect with the One UI 7 include a simplified Home Screen, redesigned One UI widgets, and a Lock Screen, which additionally provides customizations.

This new OS will bring the Now Bar, which is powered by Galaxy AI sits on the lock screen, and supports real-time updates for apps like Timers, Google Maps, and Spotify, for example. Other notable AI features comprise AI Select, Writing Assist, Drawing Assist, and Audio Eraser. Google’s Gemini integration is also expected to be another notable improvement with the One UI 7 update.

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What you need to know

• Some Moto G64 users in India have started receiving the Android 15 stable release in India.
• The firmware measures around 2.26GB, and the latest Android 15 update should boost the device’s performance.
• On the other hand, Motorola is gearing up to launch its next clamshell phone in April.

With the Android 16 update officially releasing in a couple of months Google IO, OEM makers are trying to make their devices run on the latest stable Android 15 version, and the Moto G64 from India is one of the recent phones to be joining that list.

Some of the Moto G64 users in the country have spotted the latest Android 15 rolling out to their handsets. An X user (via 91mobiles) has shared the screenshot of the changelog, which indicates that the latest firmware is bearing the V1TD35H.83-20-5 version. It appears to be a sizeable update as it is 2.26GB.

Per the changelog, the Android 15 update to the Moto G64 should make the device faster and more secure, which further includes smoother graphics, and faster app performance, amongst others. This update to the Moto G64 also means users can experience the new Hello UI skin on top of Android 15, which is said to be replacing the My UX skin popular through Android 14.

As 91mobiles notes, the Moto G64 joins the Android 15 bandwagon just like the Moto Edge 50 Neo which started receiving the update in January. The update is also said to include the latest security patch and notable bug fixes. As Motorola just started rolling out the update this week, users can expect it on their devices in the coming weeks as it is likely a gradual roll-out.

In other news, Motorola is working on its next foldable, the Motorola Razr Plus 2025, which recently made its way through leaks featuring a new Rio Red colorway. It is the next clamshell phone from the company, which is expected to debut sometime in April. It is likely to be dubbed the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra in certain regions.

In the recent leak, the device was showcased in all angles, which is likely to sport an all-new Quick Button on one pane. On the inside, the device is expected to have a 6.9-inch pOLED display alongside a 4-inch cover screen, and the chipset powering the handset is likely the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which already powers a significant amount of Android flagships released this year.

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What you need to know

• Xiaomi 15 Ultra goes official in China with Snapdragon 8 Elite underneath.
• The device also includes a new 200MP periscopic lens, while the rest of the cameras remain the same as the predecessor.
• The storage options of the Ultra handset include up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of onboard storage.

After introducing the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Pro phones in China last year, the company is back with its premium flagship, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra — released for the Chinese region. Meanwhile, its global launch is set for March 2 at MWC Barcelona.

The predecessor, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, has been quite a successful phone from last year as it featured impressive specs and great cameras. The successor seems to be carrying forward the same with the Snapdragon 8 Elite underneath and the addition of a new 200MP periscope lens. While the design elements on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra remain largely unchanged from the previous iteration, the color options appear diverse.

On the front, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra carries the same 6.73-inch LTPO screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Xiaomi Shield glass 2 protection on the top. The phone comes with interesting colorways, along with the regular white and black, it also has dual-tone options like pine and cypress green and classic black and silver colorways. The storage options on the handset include up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of onboard (UFS 4.1) storage.

Since it is yet another camera-centric flagship, the device includes a quad-camera system coupled with Leica branding. A 50MP Sony LYT-900 acts as the primary sensor with a fixed f/1.63 aperture. Whereas the last year’s model included a variable aperture.

Another 50MP telephoto Sony IMX858 is also present next to a 50MP Samsung JN5 ultra-wide-angle lens. As mentioned, the new 200MP super-telephoto lens should be a value addition to the already proven camera system, and it is the Samsung HP9 lens. These rear cameras also support 8K video shooting at 30fps. On the front, there is a 32MP camera for selfies.

Keeping the lights on on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, is a 6000mAh battery, a notable increase over the predecessor model. However, it carries the same 90W wired charging, 80W wireless charging, and 18W reverse wired charging support.

The other highlights of the Xiaomi flagship phone include support for Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, NFC, and support for satellite communication is also present. The device ships with the Android 15-based Xiaomi HyperOS 2 operating system.

Lastly, for the pricing, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra starts at CNY 6499, roughly $893. The global launch is happening next week, where we might witness what the company wants to offer for different regions.

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Modern smartphones are powerful computers that can do a lot at once, but a small screen ensures that a poorly designed user interface will severely restrict how well someone can multitask. Unfortunately, the stock Android multitasking UI, known as Overview, leaves a lot to be desired, meaning phones that opt for this interface simply don't multitask as well as others.

Much of this frustration started for me when the Android team redesigned the multitasking UI during the Android 9 Pie update. Instead of the vertically-scrolling card interface that showed four or five apps at a time, Google's design team opted to follow the old Palm Pre model of large, horizontally scrolling cards — something that isn't very surprising given the head designer of Android was also on the Palm WebOS team.

This new design made multitasking very inefficient because only one large app card is visible on the screen at a time, while a sliver of one additional app is shown off to the side. There's no way to tell what app is next in the list until it appears, making it hard to switch quickly between more than two apps at a time. Thankfully, companies like OnePlus, Vivo, Samsung, and a few others have figured out that this UI isn't the best.

From grids of apps to floating windows, triple-app split screens, and quick app switching, I've picked out my favorite Android multitasking UIs that'll let you get more done in less time. The most efficient way to multitask on a modern Android phone is to use swipe gestures, not the traditional 3-button navigation layout, so many of the gesture-based features I speak about below are dependent on that setting.

The best: OnePlus

OnePlus has the best default multitasking UI you'll find on any Android phone, but it wasn't always that way. Back when Android 9 Pie came out, OnePlus quickly adopted Google's terrible UI but realized its mistake when its most loyal users were unhappy with the oversimplified UI. Since then, OnePlus' multitasking UI design has managed to bridge the best of every idea, offering a quick way to instantly swap between seven apps at once, run two apps at once, and even quickly hover a third app on the screen.

From the overview UI, it's possible to choose from the last 10 apps with a single swipe and a tap. This is thanks to the quick slider at the bottom that shows the icons of each app along with a large card of the app above it. This is the fastest you can switch between apps on any Android UI and it's also available on OPPO phones thanks to the company's merging of Color OS and Oxygen OS code bases.

Ironically, this UI is very similar to what Apple used to have in iOS 7-9 before the iPhone X came out. I say ironically because the company made multitasking worse by removing the bottom row of icons, but thankfully, OnePlus and OPPO realized their mistake and capitalized on it.

You can also quickly split the screen or make the current app float by dragging your thumb up from the bottom of the screen until the current app card rests in the "floating" or "split" sections that appear on the screen. Some other phones, like Samsung, have a version of this feature but don't allow you to do it in a single swipe.

The introduction of the Canvas feature from the OnePlus Open was rolled into the Oxygen OS 15/Color OS 15 update for any eligible phone and allows you to run split-screen apps in a "nearly full-screen" mode. This makes it more convenient to use split-screen mode because you can have the prominent app take up 90% of the display while the other rests at the bottom 10%, waiting to be maximized.

Runner-up: Vivo

Out of the box, Vivo users can quickly select between the traditional single-large-card UI and a tablet-like grid of cards with the tap of a button. On the Overview UI, just tap the icon at the bottom to switch between the two views, making it easy to select from 4 apps via a single tap and another four with a swipe.

You can find this grid of cards on other phones, but most require you to do something special to enable it. Foldable phones usually only have this UI on the large inner display, and while Samsung phones offer several similar UI options, you have to separately download the Good Lock app from the Galaxy Apps store along with a separate module just to find the option. Vivo makes it available via a single tap on all its phones.

Vivo's UI also features the same swipe-up-and-hold to either split or float the active window that's on OnePlus and OPPO phones. In fact, most phones from China sport this feature, making us wonder why Samsung, Google, Motorola, and others don't implement it.

Power user option: Samsung

Samsung finally got with the program and did something about the terrible stock multitasking UI in Android when it began rolling out the One UI 7 beta at the end of 2024. The new UI looks like a mash-up of Android and iOS designs, sporting the stacked card look of iOS with the four quick icons at the bottom.

The problem with Samsung's design is that the icons at the bottom aren't based on active apps. They're based on an algorithm Google built into Android that tries to figure out which apps you use most often. That means these icons are almost never the same, and while they can sometimes be helpful, the lack of consistency is more a problem than a help.

At the least, Samsung's cards "snap" into place, making it easier to focus on each one as it passes by. But you don't have to deal with this nonsense UI if you really want to multitask. Just download Good Lock and change basically anything you see on the Overview screen.

With Good Lock, you can select from five different "task changer" UI designs. List is the default option that shows one vertical card at a time. Grid is the one I praised Vivo for including by default, and it shows six app cards on screen at a time. Stack is the new default in One UI 7 and shows one prominent card up front with three cards "peaking" behind it. This one makes it easier to see what app is next in the list but doesn't enhance multitasking as much as the Grid option does.

The Vertical List option resembles the original Galaxy Nexus multitasking UI of vertically-scrolling cards, which makes better use of screen space than the default horizontal list. The last option, Slim List, is the "real" power user option as it offers seven apps to choose from immediately.

Samsung also offers hover and split-screen app options, but you need to open up the Overview UI first, then long-press on a card and drag it to the appropriate action. This is an extra step versus what Vivo, OnePlus, OPPO, and other Chinese brands offer.

Honorable mention: Foldables

Technically, book-style foldables like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the OnePlus Open offer the best multitasking experience on any phone, but not everyone likes the size of these devices. Most offer a different multitasking experience on the smaller outer display than what's on the big inner display.

Some foldables, like the Honor Magic V3 below, don't have an option to "pin" the dock at the bottom of the screen. Most other book-style foldables, however, allow you to have this dock present at all times, meaning multitasking is a single tap away at all times.

OnePlus wins the award for best foldable multitasking UI because its small screen UI is identical to its other phones, including that handy row of app icons at the bottom. When you open the phone, you'll find there's no real reason to ever open Overview, thanks to the app dock at the bottom of the screen.

While most foldables have this dock now thanks to Samsung and Android 12L, OnePlus one-ups things with its Canvas software that lets you run three apps at a time on the big screen. You can arrange these in several ways, but it takes multitasking to a new level.

Barely better than stock: Google, Motorola, Nothing, Honor

Many Android manufacturers have chosen to stick mostly to the stock UI but add a few convenience features. Motorola and Google offer quick action buttons at the bottom for taking a screenshot, allowing you to screenshot an app in the Overview UI without having to reopen it. I'm not sure who uses this, but I've never found myself tapping the button other than to see what it does.

Motorola also offers a button below the cards that locks the app in memory, making it a priority to stay in RAM for quick access in case the phone is running low. This is best for phones like the Moto G 2025 that only have 4GB of RAM and might reload apps often. A third button is available from the Overview UI on some Motorola phones when the sidebar gesture option is enabled, allowing apps to be quickly floated with a tap and then moved into a semi-hidden side panel when minimized.

Google Pixel phones have a screenshot button and a second "Select" button that can extract text from an app tile, but it's far slower and clunkier than just swiping between two apps using the gesture bar at the bottom of the screen. Some cards on the Pixel Overview UI also have a quick "copy link" or "copy image" button, which is actually quite handy on some occasions. Overall, though, the Pixel's Overview UI is overengineered and poorly designed.

Honor keeps the default giant card UI but enhances things by adding a small button to the top right of each card to instantly float the window. This doesn't help with switching between more than two apps quickly, but it's at least a little better for juggling three apps when you have one floating. Honor also has a quick hover and split-screen action when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen and drag the card to the appropriate action.

Nothing doesn't add any buttons to the Overview UI but does allow users to quickly float the active app by sliding up from the bottom of the screen until the card gets to the top half of the screen. This will put the app in a floating window for nicer multitasking, complete with clearly marked "minimize" and "close" buttons in the app's floating frame (similar to Motorola), but overall, it's the most basic of all four companies listed here.

While these four companies do something better than AOSP, they're niche features that you probably won't use all the time. They don't fix the main problem, which is the inefficient single giant card on the screen and no real way to quickly switch to another app without needless scrolling. Additionally, none of them offer the kinetic scrolling Samsung offers, making it more difficult to find the app you want as the card goes whizzing by.

AOSP needs a facelift

I find it very hard to understand why Google hasn't fixed this UI in the seven years since Android 9 Pie was released. I got excited when the first Pixel Fold was unveiled in May 2023 and showcased a grid-like multitasking UI, only to later find out that this UI only appeared on the large inner display, not the outer display that I used most of the time.

The bottom line is that Android's default Overview multitasking UI needs a huge facelift. The best alternative right now is OnePlus's default design, which takes the large card format and substantially enhances it with a simple icon grid below, making it easy to switch between the last 10 apps with a single swipe and a tap.

Every other company convolutes this process in some way, with the next-best option falling under the grid format on Vivo and Samsung phones or the vertically-scrolling "slim list" on Samsung's Good Lock app. Any company that opts for stock Android is simply stuck with the worst option possible, making multitasking a chore rather than a joy.

Google needs to address this with Android 16, and it needs to happen ASAP. You have lots of options to choose from, Google. Any of them would be an improvement over what's currently available. Thanks.

What you need to know

• The OnePlus 13 is receiving another firmware update a week after the first arrived shortly after launch.
• This second update improves the camera experience of the OnePlus 13 while also adding new AI translation features.
• The first update integrated Google's Gemini Nano model with Google Messages on the OnePlus 13 for the Magic Compose experiment.

A little over a week later, OnePlus is pushing another update to its latest flagship series to fix several problems.

Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich spotted a new update on his OnePlus 13 earlier today (Jan 23). The update arrives as version CPH2655_15.0.0.405 (EX01) with a download size of 330MB. The patch is small, but its changelog details quite a few fixes for several aspects of the device, beginning with its cameras. OnePlus states it has fixed the colors of photos when users are in Master mode.

This small patch also aids the stability of the OnePlus 13 cameras while also improving the "tone" of pictures when using the rear set in Photo mode. Additionally, users will find a fix for the phone's zoom.

When OnePlus revealed its major OxygenOS 15 (Android 15) software in October, AI was a major part of it. The latest update for the OnePlus 13 includes new additions for its on-device AI, such as a "live translation feature that shows the translation of speech in real-time." Users can also listen to AI-based translations when wearing headphones, too.

Another newly added AI feature is a face-to-face translation feature that shows the translated speech of each speaker in a split view. Joining this is the ability for users to initiate a face-to-face translation session by tapping their headphones. OnePlus warns that this functionality will not work everywhere and is limited to "selected" headphones.

The Chinese OEM adds, "The translation of one language is played on the speaker on the phone, while the translation of the other language is played on the headphones."

The full patch notes are as follows:

OnePlus also brought attention to this update and stated that users in India, the E.U., and other global regions should see this new update. While we've noticed the update here in the U.S., users should begin checking their devices as the week finishes for it, too.

The company's latest flagship models — the OnePlus 13 and 13R — debuted on January 7 and we've already picked up two firmware updates. The first update arrived last week as the Chinese OEM fixed some issues alongside the addition of Gemini Nano. Google's AI model brought its generative AI power to Google Messages on the newest devices. The OnePlus 13 and 13R now benefit from the new Magic Compose button, an experimental feature that provides suggested replies in conversations.

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What you need to know

• Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3 is here, offering a preview of the significant improvements and new features arriving with the upcoming March Feature Drop.
• A key highlight is the resolution of an issue that caused unexpected device restarts during phone calls.
• As always, the update focuses on improving overall system performance and stability through various bug fixes.

Google has rolled out Android 15 QPR2 Beta 3, marking a big step toward the upcoming Pixel Feature Drop set for March. This update takes on a bunch of nagging issues across Pixel devices.

The latest release includes the January 2025 security patches and has build number BP11.241210.004, as per a post on Reddit. It’s meant to smooth things out with bug fixes and performance boosts.

Eligible users can now get a sneak peek at the upgrades heading to their devices with this beta.

The latest beta is ready for a whole bunch of Pixel phones, including the newest Pixel 9 series and everything back to the Pixel 6. So, if you've got a Pixel 6, 7, 8, or 9, and you're feeling adventurous, you can give this beta a whirl.

While this update fixes a bunch of bugs, the big news is it stops those annoying random restarts when you're on a call.

Here's a rundown of some of the major fixes in this update:

• Fixed issues that could cause a device to restart when making a phone call. (Issue #379051274, Issue #390594506)
• Fixed an issue where trying to resume an app from the app overview would return to the home screen instead. (Issue #385017194)
• Fixed issues where the language picker menu (accessed by long-pressing the spacebar) changed the window, which caused the IME to hide in apps that had set their softInputMode to STATE_ALWAYS_HIDDEN. (Issue #388201594, Issue #386972825)
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused a clicking sound in the background while recording video. (Issue #385998260)
• Fixed an issue that caused wireless charging to stop functioning in some cases. (Issue #379301921)
• Fixed an issue that could cause devices to crash after starting an exercise on a connected Wear OS device.
• Fixed an issue with null pointer exceptions that sometimes caused the system UI to crash.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Android Beta Feedback app to crash sometimes when submitting a bug report.
• Fixed various other issues that were impacting system stability, connectivity, and interactivity.

For those already in the beta program, the update should pop up in your settings. Just head to Settings > System > Software updates > System update to check it out.

QPRs are like mini-Android updates that happen every few months. Instead of waiting for a huge Android version like 16, Google uses QPRs to sneak in new features, fix bugs, and generally make your phone smoother.

If you want to leave the Android 15 beta program, you'll have a chance when the March Feature Drop rolls around.

Android 15 hit a wide variety of Android phones last year, but Google Pixel devices got a few exclusive perks with a Pixel Feature Drop in October 2024. Part of the update included a clever Pixel ecosystem feature that makes it easier for people with multiple Pixel phones and tablets to manage notifications. It leverages Google's Cross Device Service, and ensures you won't have to clear out the same notifications on each of your Pixel devices.

The feature, called Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices, is only useful if you enable it on all your Pixel phones and tablets running Android 15 for the same Google account. Setup requires a handful of taps and granting a few permissions. Luckily, you only have to do it once for each phone or Pixel Tablet, and we've got a complete guide walking you through the process below.

How notification sync works on Pixel phones and Pixel Tablet

The idea behind Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices is simple. Chances are, you're signed into the same accounts on all your Pixel phones and tablets, and you'll get duplicate notifications from those accounts. To save you from manually clearing these notifications on every Pixel device you own, Google will intelligently do it for you with this feature enabled.

The notification statuses for devices only sync when they are connected to a Wi-Fi network at the moment. There's reason to believe Google is working on a cellular data option, but it isn't available yet.

To use this feature, follow the steps below on all your Pixel devices. Make sure they're updated to the latest version of Android 15 and are using the same Google account.

How to turn on Pixel notification sync

After updating all your Pixel devices to the latest build of Android 15, you'll need to manually enable the Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices feature on each Pixel phone or tablet you own. Further, you'll need to select the Google account you want to dismiss notifications for. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your Pixel phone or tablet.

2. Tap the Notifications tab in the list.

3. Scroll down to the Sync across devices section and press Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices.

4. Tap the toggle beside Dismiss on this device.

5. A prompt will appear titled Allow notification access for this feature. Tap Go to continue.

6. This will jump you to the Notification read, reply, and control page for the Device Connectivity Service. Tap the toggle beside Allow notification access.

7. Tap Allow on the prompt that appears.

8. Return to the Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices page and tap the Google account you want to use.

9. Repeat these steps on each Pixel device you want to use with notification sync.

From there, notifications you have dismissed on one device will automatically be dismissed on others with this setting enabled. You can turn this feature off, or change the Google account used, at any time in the Settings app.

Why you might want to use Pixel notification sync

This handy notification sync feature will be most useful for people who own a Pixel phone, like the latest Pixel 9, and a Pixel Tablet. It'll also be convenient for those with multiple Pixel phones — you might have a work and personal Pixel, or simply keep an old Pixel phone around for use as a media player or a backup. Whatever your reason for using multiple Pixel devices, this notification syncing feature will make sure you don't get déjà vu clearing out old notifications more than once.

What you need to know

• The January 2025 security patch for Pixels is rolling out to Pixel 6 and newer devices now.
• A support page from Verizon preemptively revealed that the patch would be available today.
• There are bug fixes for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series, but the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series only get security improvements.

The first Google Pixel security update of 2025 is rolling out to Pixel 6 and newer phones and tablets now with bug fixes and security improvements. Earlier today, a support page from Verizon preemptively revealed that the January 2025 security patch was rolling out for Pixels today, Jan. 7. Now, that update is hitting Pixel phones in all regions, with separate builds for Global, Telstra, and EMEA.

The over-the-air update is available for the following Pixel phone models, listed beside their corresponding global Android 15 build numbers:

• Google Pixel 6: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 6 Pro: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 6a: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 7: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 7 Pro: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 7a: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel Tablet: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel Fold: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 8: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 8 Pro: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 8a: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 9: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 9 Pro: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: AP4A.250105.002
• Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: AP4A.250105.002

The January 2025 update already became available on Android Central's Pixel 9 Pro Fold with an update size of 92.74 MB. Since Pixel phones and tablets received a feature drop last month, this suggests the current security patch is a minor update.

For the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series, the January 2025 update includes a few bug fixes. The patch "addressed audio delay and stability issues when using certain apps" and "addressed a camera stability issue when switching to a connected camera under certain conditions."

The update for the Google Pixel 9 series specifically fixed a few display and UX issues, like screens flashing lines in certain conditions and problems with Pixel Launcher theming.

For all other Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Fold, and Tablet, the update simply includes the latest security patches. You can download and install the January 2025 update over-the-air by opening the Settings app, tapping System, and then Software Update.

OnePlus has experienced quite a turnaround over the past few years. Once known as the "flagship killer" company, OnePlus eventually lost its original brand identity and went through some tumultuous times. However, last year's OnePlus 12 signaled a significant transformation that proved the company could produce one of the best Android phones around, with the follow-up OnePlus 13 further solidifying this fact.

Now, the company has made the best Android phone I've ever used in my 14 years of reviewing Android phones. I've never given a phone a perfect score in all that time, despite phones that have innovated or elevated the playing field, making the OnePlus 13 a particularly special phone.

It gets quite literally everything right. From the ground-breaking IP69 build quality to the best display ever reviewed by DisplayMate — including important eye care protections for users like me who are sensitive to PWM dimming — and a camera that OnePlus proudly claims "meets and beats the best out there." There's no better Android phone on the market than the OnePlus 13, and you'll find out why in my full review below.

OnePlus 13: Price and availability

The OnePlus 13 is available globally on January 7, 2025. OnePlus offers several customization options for the phone, including three colorways and two RAM/storage combinations.

Since launch, the U.S. price of the OnePlus 13 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage has dropped to $949 and can now be found at Best Buy, Amazon, and OnePlus.com.

• OnePlus 13 (12GB / 256GB): US$899 / CAD$1249 / ₹69,999 / £899. Black Eclipse colorway only.
• OnePlus 13 (16GB / 512GB): US$999 / CAD$1399 / ₹76.999 / £999. Black Eclipse, Midnight Ocean, Arctic Dawn colorways.
• OnePlus 13 (24GB / 1TB): ₹89,999. Black Eclipse colorway only.

OnePlus 13: Specs

OnePlus 13: Design and Hardware

• Class-leading build quality with the first-ever IP69 rating for phones, including extreme heat and cold resistance.
• Classic features like the alert slider are here and still amazing.
• A new vegan leather option looks and feels incredible, adding additional resistance versus the glass models.

The OnePlus 13 is the perfect blend of classic OnePlus phone design and modern design trends. It keeps the trademark alert slider on the side, making it easy to switch between silent, vibrant, and normal volume modes. It features the best haptics I've experienced on any Android phone, further enhanced by some impressive haptic implementations in OxygenOS 15.

The OnePlus 13 features a far flatter display than previous OnePlus phones, but still isn't fully flat like the Galaxy S25 Ultra or Pixel 9 series. While I prefer the slight curve to all four corners for comfort, this ultimately means that most OnePlus 13 screen protectors will not be tempered glass.

OnePlus gave the side rails a more tapered edge than Samsung or Google have done with their latest phones. I'm not a fan of phones with completely flat edges as I find them more difficult to hold and uncomfortable to use.

Despite having a battery that's 600mAh larger than the OnePlus 12, the OnePlus 13 ends up being a bit thinner — 9.2mm for the OnePlus 12 versus 8.5mm thin for the Arctic and Black colorways, or 8.9mm thin for the blue Midnight Ocean variant.

The textured glass on the Arctic and Black colorways is quite nice looking, but nothing can beat the vegan leather blue model that I've got for review. Every company's "vegan leather" feels a little different, and the one OnePlus uses here feels like suede, which is particularly fitting since it's blue. Additionally, according to OnePlus, the phone is even more durable since it has no glass on the back at all.

No matter what colorway you choose, every OnePlus 13 is IP68 and IP69 water and dust-resistant. As Harish Jonnalagadda explained in his exclusive interview with OnePlus's head of design, both certifications are necessary because they signify different things. IP68 covers water submersion, while IP69 includes the ability to withstand high-pressure jets of water at up to 80 degrees Celsius.

To test this out, I ran a blue OnePlus 13 through a dishwasher's sanitizing cycle for four hours. I then took the OnePlus 13 to a 68 °C (155 °F) sauna and played Minecraft on it for half an hour, all while keeping it in one of the company's own cases. The phone never got above 50 °C, but I'll cover performance in more detail in a separate section below.

This is the best-built Android phone on the market, full stop. OnePlus is so confident in the build quality that the company showcased a OnePlus 13 being dropped in hot cooking oil, only to retrieve it and use it right after. Funny enough, like every other phone on the market, it's not rated for salt water.

My one disappointment with the hardware is the lack of Qi2 or integrated magnetic charging support. All of the official OnePlus 13 cases include magnets and full Qi2 support — even the full 15W wireless charging speed — but it's frustrating that no major Android company can seem to get magnets in a flagship phone, even in 2025. OnePlus obviously isn't alone here, but the company at least sells all its official OnePlus 13 cases and accessories that can get the job done.

OnePlus 13: Display

• Stunning OLED panel with TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care 4.0 certification.
• Features DC-dimming options, 10-bit color with no dithering, and 2160Hz PWM dimming at low brightness.
• The display is not fully flat, making tempered glass screen protectors difficult to find.

The OnePlus 13 features the best display of any phone on the market — an award that regularly changes hands every few months, but feels more critical on this phone than some others. Notably, OnePlus doesn't use a Samsung display. While many consider Samsung AMOLED panels to be "the best" for image quality, Samsung has been slipping over the past few years. This is a true 10-bit OLED, unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 8-bit panel, ensuring the colors you see are genuine rather than artificially created through dithering.

The OnePlus 13's OLED panel has not only achieved the first-ever DisplayMate A++ certification thanks to its new extra-high brightness RadiantView mode, but it has also achieved the more critical TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care 4.0 certification. Phones like the Pixel 9 Pro may have a brighter standard output, but they don't achieve this in a way that's safe for your eyes, leading to PWM dimming sensitivity in individuals like me.

When you step into the sunlight, the OnePlus 13's RadiantView sunlight display algorithm kicks in to boost brightness beyond what other phones on the market offer. Samsung famously added an anti-glare layer to its screen on the Galaxy S24 Ultra to improve sunlight visibility, but the OnePlus 13 is even easier to see in sunlight, despite not sporting this layer. I tested this on a sunny beach in the Bahamas and came away impressed with its readability.

Under the display is a new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that replaces the optical sensors OnePlus has used since the company's first phone. I typically loathe ultrasonic sensors as they don't work well for me, and I've noted this on every phone I've reviewed with an ultrasonic sensor over the past few years. I can thankfully say that the one on the OnePlus 13 doesn't suffer from the same problems.

OnePlus 13: Battery life, charging, and performance

• Few phones in the U.S. charge this fast, and excellent overall battery life means you'll never have battery anxiety.
• Top-notch performance with higher heat tolerance ratings than most phones without the throttling.
• OnePlus' multitasking UI is the best in the business, making it easy to switch between 10 apps with just two swipes.

One of the foremost reasons people have chosen OnePlus phones in recent years is that they feature the fastest charging speeds available. Battery anxiety completely disappears with a phone like the OnePlus 13 because you don't need more than 15 minutes to top up your battery, thanks to the company's SUPERVOOC 80W charging capability.

OnePlus still includes a charger in the box in most regions, meaning you won't have to spend another $50 on something that'll give you full speed. It's yet another reason OnePlus offers better value than other companies, ensuring you get the best experience out of the box. I always seem to underestimate just how fast this phone charges and am constantly surprised when I plug it in for 10 or 15 minutes and see that it's already in the 80% range.

To enhance battery safety and longevity, OnePlus has not only incorporated 14 temperature sensors into the phone but has also improved its battery by incorporating 10% silicon content. That makes it a 5.5% denser battery than the OnePlus 12, allowing the company to increase the battery capacity by 600mAh while still reducing the physical size and weight of the battery.

As I noted previously, I took the OnePlus 13 into a 68 °C (155°F) sauna for an extreme 30-minute gaming stress test. Even though it was in a case — something that usually hinders thermal management — the phone never exceeded 50 °C, despite the environment around it reaching 68 °C.

I also have never seen the phone falter once in its impeccable performance, whether that's normal day-to-day scrolling or playing games at 120FPS. Multitasking is the best I've seen among any flagship phone, including a multitasking UI that makes it easy to quickly switch between apps faster than any other phone I've used.

A row of app icons at the bottom of the Recents screen allows for instant switching between 10 apps at a time, providing a more efficient experience akin to desktop OS taskbar efficiency, rather than the bumbling UI Google typically employs in stock Android and on Pixel phones. It's the best multitasking UI you'll find on any phone.

OnePlus has also added the fantastic Canvas functionality from the OnePlus Open foldable, making it easy to run an app in nearly full screen with a second app "in waiting" for extremely efficient 2-app multitasking. This is better than traditional split-screen multitasking on a phone because the main app occupies most of the display, rather than being cut in half.

OnePlus 13: Cameras

• For the first time ever, OnePlus crafted a camera experience that matches flagship phones from Google and Samsung.
• Excellent motion capture and dynamic range thanks to a new dual exposure algorithm.
• 4K Dolby Vision recording support on all four cameras, plus added bonuses like 480FPS slow-mo and the much-lauded XPAN mode.

For ages, OnePlus has lagged behind the pack with its smartphone cameras. That all changes with the OnePlus 13. It's not only the first OnePlus phone I think is worthy of the Hasselblad branding — despite this being the 5th year OnePlus phones have donned the "H" — but it's easily one of the best smartphone cameras I've ever used.

It's also the first time I've used a OnePlus phone and not felt the need to bring along a second phone to ensure I get the best photo. In fact, most of the photos in this review were taken using the OnePlus 13's RAW photo option.

This phone's camera rivals the best from Google, Samsung, Apple, Honor, and Vivo in every category, and it's truly impressive to see OnePlus make such a significant leap in quality in a single generation. Some of it is due to the new Sony LYT camera sensors used in the main and telephoto cameras on the back, but a significant portion is attributed to software.

OnePlus is introducing a brand-new dual exposure algorithm that is used with every single capture and shines in both HDR and motion capture. Considering these were the only two real weak points of the OnePlus 12's camera, it's reassuring to see that OnePlus has focused so much on these areas.

Dual exposure powers the upgraded action mode, which can capture moving subjects just as well as a Pixel or Honor phone, both of which hold the crown in capturing moving subjects. This is a massive step forward for the company and solidifies the feeling that you can finally consider a OnePlus phone if a good camera is the main reason you choose your smartphone.

OnePlus recommends holding down the shutter button to capture a burst of photos using the company's new Clear Burst algorithm. However, I've found that the AI-based processing model does an excellent job of automatically selecting the best photo even when you tap the shutter button once.

If you take a picture and tap the preview image fast enough, you'll often be able to see the image processing quickly and choose the best photo for the end result. Holding down the shutter button gives you more manual control and lets you choose from a selection of burst shots if you prefer that.

Take the bowling lane above, which is easily one of the best photos I've ever captured with a smartphone camera. This bowling alley is in a dimly lit bar in downtown Asheville, which is already a tough environment for a smartphone camera. Most phones would overexpose this image, making it appear as if it were taken during midday. Not the OnePlus 13, which absolutely nails the exposure and captures the mood perfectly.

Then, there's the bowling ball in the middle of the image. It was traveling down the lane when I captured the shot, but unlike most other smartphones, the ball is perfectly crisp, and the moment is enshrined in the image to utter perfection.

The OnePlus 13 is one of the only phones that still offers 480FPS slow motion video, while most "flagships" stop at 240FPS. Even Samsung abandoned its 960FPS modes last year and hasn't bothered offering anything better, although the company's instant slow-mo feature (powered by AI) is a ton of fun to use.

If you want to see more camera samples, read my full OnePlus 13 camera review.

OnePlus 13: Software

• Six years of software updates promised for the first time.
• OxygenOS 15 delivers a feature rich experience without feeling bloated.
• New AI features have been delivered six months after launch, and it was one of the first phones with an Android 16 beta.

allows you to save screenshots, notes, and other content in an AI-powered,The OnePlus 13 launched with the Android 15-based OxygenOS 15, which features an identical set of capabilities to OPPO's ColorOS, found on phones like the OPPO Find X8 Ultra. OxygenOS 15 was already available on the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 12R, and several other OnePlus phones, so most of the feature set isn't anything new.

In summary, you'll get one of the best Android UIs available today, including tons of customization options, cleverly designed UI elements and buttons that make it easy to find what you need quickly, and unique elements like the OnePlus Shelf on the home screen that you may or may not use (I don't).

Since its launch, OnePlus has introduced new AI features that are genuinely useful. The new AI Mind feature lets you save screenshots, notes, and other content in an AI-powered searchable "gallery" that feels like a supercharged version of Nothing's similar feature. It's a great addition and something no other phone has right now.

OnePlus 13: What's the downside?

While I'm convinced the OnePlus 13 is the best phone you can buy today, even a "perfect" smartphone has its downsides relative to the rest of the market. On the software side of things, OnePlus doesn't offer as many offline AI features as Google or Samsung, even if it now offers enough compelling, unique features to justify the cloud connectivity.

You also won't get as many software updates as Samsung or Google promise. Those companies will update their latest phones to Android 22, while the OnePlus 13 will only get up to Android 19. You'll still receive security updates beyond that, but new features may not be introduced.

Still, that's six years of viable use out of the phone, which, at least for me, is more than enough, especially when considering a flagship device.

On the hardware side, as much as I love what OnePlus did with the hardware design this year, there's no denying that flat screens make it easier to find a good screen protector. Since the OnePlus 13 features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, a specific type of tempered glass protector is required to work with it, and I've yet to find one that supports both curved glass and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

OnePlus 13: The competition

OnePlus's most direct competitors in the U.S. are the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus. Both phones retail for the same price but offer less RAM and less storage. Additionally, both are slower, significantly more so in the Pixel's case, and both offer worse displays that are harsher on the eyes. Samsung's haptics feel downright pitiful compared to those of Google or OnePlus.

Charging speed is also embarrassingly slow on Samsung and Google phones compared to OnePlus, and the OnePlus 13 offers better battery life than either of these devices. The only real advantage of going with either Samsung or Google is that you'll get three more OS updates before you may need to buy a new phone. I'm not sure how many people actually hold on to phones for more than five years, but it's still an advantage Google and Samsung have for now.

Internationally, brands like Vivo offer a similar UI on some phones and may also offer slightly better cameras, depending on what you like photographing. Overall, the camera improvements OnePlus made with the OnePlus 13 mean that even phones like the Vivo X100 Pro are outclassed in aspects such as motion capture and video recording quality.

OnePlus 13: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

• You want a unique-looking phone that's built better than you thought a phone could be.
• You need an excellent camera experience that can capture kids and pets without blur.
• You're a power user who loves peak performance, multitasking, and battery life/charging.

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You want to use AI tools with offline functionality.
• You want to keep using your phone for more than 6 years with updates.

The OnePlus 13 is the best Android phone ever made. It's the only phone I've ever given a perfect review score because there's no area where the phone falters or needs real improvement. The hardware is as good as it gets, offering the best haptics, superior build quality, top-notch design, and unique features like the alert slider. It also features a display that's both best-in-class and safe for your eyes in the long term, unlike its competitors in North America.

The value for the money still eclipses everything else in its class despite the $100 price increase over last year's OnePlus 12. More RAM and storage than the competition means it'll feel newer for longer than other phones, and the top-tier performance and multitasking will make any power user happy. Plus, there's simply nothing like the OnePlus 13's battery life or charging speeds.

And let's not forget about the camera, which somehow meets and even sometimes beats the best on the market. It's a position I never thought I'd see a OnePlus phone in, yet the OnePlus 13 sports a camera that everyone will love to use all day. The OnePlus 13 is a triumph of a phone that everyone should consider, and it's almost certainly the phone of the year for 2025, despite launching in the first two weeks of January.

What you need to know

• Galaxy S24 series across multiple regions is seeing a new One UI 7 beta update rolling out.
• The firmware brings notable improvements alongside several bug fixes from the previous builds.
• It is a sizable update bearing "ZXLJ" builds irrespective of region.

After a long wait, Samsung finally released One UI 7 in beta for the Galaxy S24 series late last year. Starting with the U.S., the company has already released two betas, and today (Jan 5), Samsung has started releasing the third beta in several regions.

The trio, the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, had started getting new Android 15-based One UI 7 beta 3 updates in several regions beginning with Germany, and as SamMobile notes, it is available for users in India and Poland as well. However, the latter two countries are getting the same update as beta 2, while the other countries have got two betas already (including the U.S.) — this marks the third significant beta update.

Regardless, the firmware updates end with "ZXLJ" build numbers irrespective of the regions, and the changelog for all three Galaxy S24 series is fairly the same.

Per the changelog, the update includes loads of improvements alongside several bug fixes. Game Booster mode has a couple of enhancements, such as the ability to change the screen playback's default setting, changing the FPS setting name and max value, and the ability to set the default scanning rate to 120Hz.

Samsung Messages also gain a "Modify Exception" when saving an MMS image. The One UI 7 has introduced a vertical app drawer, and the scrolling interface will likely see improvements with the new firmware update. Quick panel closing operation will also seem better with the latest build.

The notable fixes are the lock screen, always-on display, and status bar battery icon (revamped with One UI 7). Other notable things to note are the issue with volume key operation error while using Routine+ mode, which is believed to be fixed with the new update. Edge panel tools, which weren't displayed earlier, seem to have been fixed now.

Further, the third beta of One UI 7 is a sizable one bearing at least 1.2GB and comes with a January security patch. Needless to say, the owners of the Galaxy S24 series who are enrolled in the One UI 7 beta program are eligible for the latest update. If you haven't enrolled yet, the best way to experience these features is to wait for the stable release, which is rumored to be coming after the Galaxy S25 series launch, which is expected to happen later this month.

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What you need to know

• Nothing OS 3.0 comes to Phone 2a Plus with a bunch of new features.
• The prominent ones include Shared Widgets and lock screen customizations.
• The update also includes a December 2024 security patch and a couple of AI-powered features, amongst others.

Nothing has recently announced stable Android 15 builds for its phones, including the Phone 2a and the flagship Phone 2. The builds were dubbed Nothing OS 3.0, and the company announced that they are now coming to the Phone 2a Plus handsets.

The latest firmware update is staggered, meaning not all Phone 2a Plus owners will receive the update immediately to ensure a smoother operating system rollout, notes Nothing in the accompanying community post.

Nothing OS 3.0 introduces a host of new features for the Phone 2a Plus. The prominent ones include Shared Widgets, which lets users use widgets to connect with their friends and family. Users can see others' widgets on their home screens and interact with them. The company notes that it is a new way for Nothing phone owners to stay connected.

The feature is still in beta and available for Photo Widgets, which can be shared. On the other hand, there are improvements that can be witnessed on the lock screen with the new customization page, which can be accessed by long-pressing the lock screen.

Users can further choose a new range of clock face styles, and there is a new expanded widget space that allows for the placement of more widgets on the lock screen.

Nothing OS 3.0 uses AI in some instances, like the AI-powered app drawer, which is dubbed Smart Drawer. It automatically categories apps into folders, further promising to make the app drawer more organized. Additionally, users can pin their favorite apps on the top for quicker access on the Phone 2a Plus.

The pop-up view for apps is also getting enhancements, like the ability to drag anywhere on the home screen, easily resize it, and pin it to an edge on the screen. Further, users can send their incoming notifications directly into the pop-up window by swiping down, which eliminates the need to switch to a different app and stay on the current app.

Other nifty design elements in the Android 15-based update include redesigned Quick Settings and a redesign of the widget library. There is also a new dot animation for fingerprint unlocking and charging.

AI is also being used to learn users' usage habits and inform them about their frequently used apps, simultaneously keeping them active for longer periods of time. The latest firmware has added an auto archive function to automatically free up storage on the Phone 2a Plus. Lastly, the update also includes the latest December 2024 security patch.

This firmware rollout makes all the company's latest phones run on Android 15. Meanwhile, Nothing phone enthusiasts are looking forward to the Phone 2 successor, which is long overdue.

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What you need to know

• Currently, you can sync dismissed notification statuses between Pixel devices, but there's a catch.
• Syncing only works between Pixel phones and tablets when you're connected to Wi-Fi.
• In a future update, Google could add a toggle that enables cellular data use for notification syncing.

Google is building a multi-device ecosystem with the Pixel brand, and there were a few Android 15 tweaks that made the experience of using multiple Pixel phones and tablets better. One such feature automatically dismisses notifications from all your Pixel devices if you dismiss on either your Pixel phone or Pixel Tablet, and it's quite handy. However, it only works over Wi-Fi, which isn't very helpful if you're dismissing notifications on your smartphone when you're out and about.

The company is seemingly aware of this limitation and is testing an option to use cellular data to sync notifications, according to code strings spotted by Android Authority. The strings were spotted in version 1.0.687093228_arm64-v8a_release_phone of the Device Connectivity Service app. This is a Pixel-specific app that handles cross device services between Pixel phones behind the scenes. In it, there's evidence that Google might one day let you use cellular data for notification syncing.

The toggle is simply described as letting users "use mobile network to sync when no Wi-Fi is connected." It's not visible publicly, but the functionality could be added in a future software update.

To date, notification syncing for Pixel devices has been limited to Wi-Fi connections only. "Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices syncs when each device is connected to Wi-Fi," the fine print explains. This is likely to preserve battery life and cellular data usage. A toggle giving users the option to enable cellular use would be ideal for people who are willing to sacrifice the battery life hit or have unlimited data plans.

Although the Dismiss notifications across Pixel devices is exclusive to Pixel phones and tablets, Google is also working on more general Cross Device Services that bridge the gap between other Android brands. More recently, Cross Device Services came to Nothing phones.

For now, Pixel users will need to continue waiting for Wi-Fi to sync their dismissed notifications between their Pixel phones and tablets. However, this new development provides some hope that one day there might be a cellular option.

What you need to know

• LineageOS 22.1 is here for over 100 devices, based on Android 15 QPR1, with two new system apps.
• Twelve is a new default music player that replaces Eleven, one of LineageOS' oldest apps.
• LineageOS 22.1 supports devices as old as the Pixel 2 series and as new as the Pixel 9 series.

LineageOS, an Android custom ROM project that aims to support both new and old smartphones, is already adding support for Android 15. The team announced today, Dec. 31, that LineageOS 22.1 is rolling out based on the latest Android 15 QPR1. It was able to bring Android 15 to LineageOS quicker than expected due to the breakthroughs made adapting Android 12 through Android 14, according to the blog post.

"This is far-and-away the easiest bringup cycle from a device perspective we have seen in years," wrote Nolen Johnson, the developer relations manager for LineageOS, in the blog post. "This means that many more devices are ready on day one that we’d typically expect to have up this early in the cycle."

Aside from the system improvements brought by Android 15, LineageOS 22.1 includes a few new features and additions. For starters, security patches as recent as November 2024 have been merged to LineageOS 19.1 through 22.1. There are also two new apps: Twelve and Camelot.

Twelve is a brand-new music player that replaces the prior music player, Eleven. As one of the oldest LineageOS apps, the team explained that it was time for a replacement. Eleven was becoming noncompliant with new Android guidelines due to its older codebase, and Twelve is an improved replacement.

Some of the new app's highlights include Material You design language and support for tablets and landscape mode. It'll integrate with major music server protocols, like Subsonic, OpenSubsonic, and Jellyfin. On top of that, there's better search, improved Android Auto support, and new support for streaming protocols — such as HLS, DASH, and SmoothStreaming.

Camelot is a basic PDF viewer that aims to fill the gap left by LineageOS' Jelly and WebViews, which can't open PDF files. It's described as a simple app based on Google Chrome and Files by Google releases.

LineageOS will use a decimal integer system moving forward to match Android's quarterly platform releases (QPRs). LineageOS 22.1 is based on Android 15 QPR1, and a future Android 15 QPR2 update would eventually lead to LineageOS 22.2.

Of course, LineageOS is best known for supporting older devices, and support is excellent out of the gate. You can find more information on the LineageOS Wiki, but over 100 devices are eligible for the latest upgrade on day one. That includes older devices like the Google Pixel 2, and newer ones like the Google Pixel 9 series.

Google Wallet is an essential tool for many users of the best Android phones — it can hold your payment, transit, loyalty, and ID cards. For people in select states, adding your driver's license or state ID to Google Wallet can be yet another way to slim down or eliminate your physical wallet. After adding an ID card to Wallet, you can speed up your TSA security checks at certain airports in the U.S.

However, if you're new to the idea of digital IDs, the process of adding a state ID or driver's license to Google Wallet might seem daunting. In this guide, we'll review everything you need to know about digital IDs, and tell you how to get started.

Which states support digital IDs in Google Wallet?

A few years after the first state announced Google Wallet support for IDs, there are still only six states that support it:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Maryland
• New Mexico

Currently, driver's licenses and state IDs have limited uses. Most states require ID holders to carry their physical card on them in addition to their Google Wallet digital ID. While some states and businesses support Google Wallet digital IDs for age and identity verification, the most common use for the passes is for getting through TSA checkpoints in airports.

Not every airport supports Google Wallet, and for a list of those that do, check out Google's support page.

TSA guidance changes regularly, and you can check the most up-to-date information here. The agency also recommends Google Wallet users follow airport signage at checkpoints to confirm digital IDs will be accepted.

How to add a driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app

If you have an ID from one of the supported states, you can add it to Google Wallet using the steps below. Be sure to have your physical card handy.

1. Open the Google Wallet app.

2. Tap Add to Wallet.

3. Select ID from the list.

4. Choose Driver's license or state ID.

5. Press the button corresponding to the state that issued your ID.

6. Tap Get Started.

7. Follow the on-screen prompts to continue setup. The exact process will depend on your state, but you'll need to scan your physical license for verification.

After you've finished, you'll be able to use your digital ID in Google Wallet as your state and federal laws allow. That includes at select TSA checkpoints, and for certain age and identity verification situations in select states.

Everything else you need to know about state IDs in Google Wallet

Before leaving the house, know that most jurisdictions require you to carry your physical card in addition to your Google Wallet digital ID. Additionally, you must be using a phone running Android 9 or higher with Bluetooth and nearby devices enabled. You can only save the same digital ID to one device, so choose wisely if you have multiple Android devices. Finally, digital IDs are considered private passes in Google Wallet and are encrypted, but your information is shared with the issuing agency the first time you set it up.

With all that in mind, you'll be all set to start using your driver's license and digital IDs in Google Wallet.

Meanwhile, did you know that Google Wallet lets you create an ID pass using your passport? For more information, follow our guide on how to add your passport to Google Wallet.

What you need to know

• After a beta launch in November, the Nothing OS 3.0 update is rolling out to the Phone 2 and 2a.
• Nothing OS 3.0 offers a fresh spin on Android 15 with new features and smarter, shareable interactions.
• The new Gallery app adds advanced search, editing tools, and AI suggestions for a better photo experience.
• AI helps organize the app drawer and prioritize your most-used apps for faster access and smoother performance.

Nothing has finally dropped the stable Nothing OS 3.0, its spin on Android 15, with fresh features and smarter, shareable interactions.

After kicking off its beta in November, Nothing officially launched Nothing OS 3.0. The timing is pretty clever, as Samsung’s holding off on its Android 15 updates, giving Nothing a chance to shine. The rollout for Nothing OS 3.0 on the Phone 2 and 2a will continue through the end of the year.

Alongside the OS launch, Nothing rolled out a revamped Gallery app with advanced search, handy editing tools like filters and markup, and suggestions.

Nothing OS 3.0 uses AI to boost your experience. It smartly organizes the app drawer for easier app discovery and prioritizes your go-to apps for faster access and smoother performance.

Additionally, the beta for Shared Widgets brings a fresh way to stay connected, letting you interact with friends and family right from your customizable lock screen. That said, Shared Widgets only work on Nothing devices, and you can only share square Photo Widgets.

Nothing OS 3.0 also brings in some handy productivity widgets, like the Countdown Widget, to help with time management. Plus, the AI-powered Smart Drawer sorts your apps automatically, making everything easier to find and access.

You also get tons of lock screen customization options. It also spruces up Quick Settings, Pop-up view, visuals, and typography for a more polished experience.

To grab the update, just head to Settings > System Update on your Phone 2 or Phone 2a. If it’s not there yet, it should show up in a few days. The stable version of Nothing OS 3.0 will eventually be rolling out to everyone by the end of 2024.

The stable Nothing OS 3.0 update will gradually roll out to more budget phones from Nothing. If you’ve got a Nothing Phone 1, Phone 2a Plus, or CMF Phone 1, expect it to land in early 2025.

The Samsung One UI 7 beta program is fully underway, having just released its second beta that's filled with bug fixes for all eligible Samsung Galaxy phones. I've been using it on my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and am already convinced this is the best version of One UI Samsung has made in a very long time.

The latest beta is all about fixing bugs, but there are so many new features in One UI 7 that it's hard not to sift through them all to find my new favorites. Samsung is doing a lot to cater to long-time fans and folks who dislike One UI by doing what it does best: offering options for every imaginable preference.

So, what's it like to use One UI 7? Exceptional in most ways, thankfully.

A new UI

Right off the bat, seasoned Samsung users — and there are a lot of you out there — will immediately notice that Samsung has split the notification shade by default. This means that pulling down on the right side of the status bar brings up a full screen of quick toggle buttons and sliders while swiping down on the left side of the status bar brings up notifications. It's exactly like an iPhone.

I can see a lot of people getting really frustrated with this new default behavior, and I'm not sure it's my favorite decision ever. On the bright side, you can quickly move between the two panels with a horizontal swipe, so it doesn't take much effort if muscle memory kicks in and you need to get to the other panel.

Thankfully, you can change it back to the original single-panel behavior, but you'll need to hit the pencil button in the quick toggles pane and swap back over. It's a little bit hidden, and I think Samsung needs to surface it a bit more. I tried the new split pane for a while, but I really don't like it, so I made the switch back to the Android-style behavior.

The next thing you'll likely notice is the vertical app drawer. Ironically, while Samsung is copying Apple with the default split notification pane, it's going with a more Android-like experience with the default app drawer layout. If you don't like this, you can switch back by choosing the "custom" sort order. It's a weird wording choice and I think Samsung needs to just change it to "vertical" or "horizontal" to avoid confusion.

The new vertical drawer is wonderful, though, and even has a scroll bar on the right for quickly moving between apps, all sorted alphabetically by default. The vertical app drawer is a massive improvement that makes One UI instantly feel like it was developed in the 2020s rather than the 2000s.

The third huge thing you'll notice is the new multitasking UI, which finally lets you see more than one app tile at a time. Instead of spacing tiles out horizontally and making the middle one take up most space, Samsung now arranges tiles in a 3D carousel so you can peek behind and easily see apps ahead as you scroll through the list.

The active app immediately moves to the right of the screen so you can quickly juggle between multiple apps. Of course, this design is nearly identical to the iOS style of multitasking that has existed on iPhones for over a decade, and it's about time, too.

Google launched the old horrendous layout with Android 9, and I never understood why the company kept it for as long as it did. It's not a multitasking UI if you can only see one app at a time. This at least does a lot to fix that, even if it's a blatant iOS ripoff.

If you want any of the other multitasking styles, you'll have to wait until Good Lock's Home Up module gets updated for One UI 7 compatibility, likely after the final OS launch, which is expected in January.

Other refreshes around the OS include new icons, updated fonts, a new battery indicator that looks super swanky, and plenty of new widgets you'll definitely want to play around with. I particularly love the countdown widget, which lets you pick a specific date on the calendar and drop it on your home screen to build anticipation.

Not quite nailing the feeling

While the new UI changes are mostly positive with a few controversial decisions, the "feeling" you get is something of a non-measurable category. If I compare One UI to something like OxygenOS 15, for instance, Samsung's user experience still doesn't feel like the best of the best.

Haptics, for instance, still feel weak and are often missing in important places and it makes the experience feel so vacant compared to my OnePlus 12. Moving the brightness slider or clearing notifications on a OnePlus phone delivers satisfying haptics that make them feel like physical buttons or sliders, while Samsung's UI doesn't vibrate or feel responsive at all.

Animations in One UI 7 aren't anywhere near the caliber of OxygenOS 15 on the OnePlus 12. For instance, when you set a timer and swipe home on OnePlus's OxygenOS 15, the app will "minimize" to the status bar in a super slick way. When you click the timer, it then warps and enlarges into the app when you click it. This is better shown in motion, which you can see below.

However, in One UI 7, the app just slides down and away without any pomp. Clicking the live notification timer in the status bar just opens the app in the standard way. No pizazz. Nothing fun is happening at all.

What I will say is that Samsung's new Live Notifications are a great riff off of the iPhone's Dynamic Island that I've been craving. But instead of just copying Apple, Samsung improved on the concept by making the notification "pill" appear at the bottom of the display where it's most clickable.

You'll see this new pill on the always-on display or the lock screen, making it easy to quickly pause that timer or take actionable information for a supported app. Otherwise, the little pill lives in the status bar on top, so you can see it at all times without it taking up any more room than the status bar ever does. Bravo, Samsung.

Ten thousand features

As you might expect from Samsung, the new features list for One UI 7 is a mile long. While some beloved features were removed, the new OS version is packed full of things you might only use a handful of times but, ultimately, will find useful when you get the chance to use them.

One example is moving all calendar entries to a new calendar instead of having to do it one by one. If you're sharing a file over Quick Share and it fails, you'll now be offered the option to transfer it using an internet connection instead of having to redo the transfer.

Notifications will also stack when an app gives you a bunch at a time. This is handy for when you have multiple Gmail accounts, for instance, as you'll get one instance of Gmail in the notification shade but can easily swipe down on it to see everything.

Even the camera got some love, although I'm not super crazy about everything. The camera has a 2x zoom button right on the viewfinder, adding to the list of .6, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10x zoom options to instantly get where you want without having to scroll. Samsung even added fun new effects for live photos so you can quickly turn them into a Boomerang or slow-motion preview of your photo.

Still a work in progress

One UI 7 isn't perfect, but I think it's a huge step in the right direction for Samsung. One UI has felt a bit dated for a while now and needed some updating to feel modern again. I'm glad to see Samsung not only taking feedback but also being willing to make much-needed changes for UI elements that have been around for way too long, like that terrible horizontal app drawer.

This is only the second beta release for One UI 7, and the next release of the beta is expected to fix more bugs that'll likely crop up; plus, it could make a few tweaks based on user feedback in the beta program. Most likely, we'll see the next beta update pop up before the year ends.

What you need to know

• Google today released Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 for testers enrolled in the Android Beta Program.
• The update includes bug fixes and improvements, as well as an early look at a few work-in-progress features.
• Notably, the Linux Terminal app can be opened after upgrading to Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2.

The Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 update is rolling out to testers on eligible Pixel devices starting today, Dec. 16, Google announced in a Reddit post on the official Android Beta Program subreddit. The update includes a variety of bug fixes and other improvements; however, the exciting part of Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 is what wasn't officially announced.

A few work-in-progress features spotted in earlier versions of Android 15 beta releases now appear to be functional. For starters, the Linux Terminal app for Android is now working in Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2. The new app was first spotted in Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1, but didn't work — it would crash after trying to load a new virtual machine. Now, in Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2, the app can download, configure, and run instances of Linux using the Android Virtualization Framework.

Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 testers confirmed the Linux Terminal app worked after upgrading, and so did Android expert Mishaal Rahman in a post on X (formerly Twitter). It isn't the only previously-covered feature to appear as part of the update. Notification cooldowns, which were originally thought to be an Android 16 feature, are also working in Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2.

Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 now available! from r/android_beta

The update is available now for the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Pixel 8 series, and Pixel 9 series, and the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. You can enroll in the Android Beta Program to receive beta Android 15 QPR2 updates over the air, or install the update manually. You can join the program via this link.

Google notes that it can take up to 24 hours for the update to appear, and you can manually check for an update by navigating to Settings > System > System updates.

The build number for Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2 is BP11.241121.010, and it carries an update size raining from megabytes to a few gigabytes, depending on your device model. It fixes the following bugs, per Google's release notes:

• Fixed an issue that prevented the "ANGLE preferences" option from being accessed in developer options. (Issue #379196574)
• Fixed an issue that prevented some glucose sensor devices from connecting. (Issue #378816128)
• Fixed issues that caused a long delay while selecting options to place a call. (Issue #379266329, Issue #378854091)
• Fixed an issue that prevented the "Limit to 80%" option in charging optimization settings from being enabled. (Issue #378800194)
• Fixed null pointer issues that could cause devices to unexpectedly crash or restart. (Issue #378856187, Issue #381894854)
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused Pixel Fold devices to stop responding while unfolded. (Issue #379387626)
• Fixed a bug of inconsistent behavior during switch from ASHA to LE Audio and back, ensuring the audio always pauses when switching.
• Fixed a bug that causes L2CAP connection failure with error reason code 3 after a phone reboot due to incorrect security level saving during pairing, leading to a security check failure on Bluetooth reset.
• Fixed a bug that allowed LE links to remain unencrypted on reconnection with bonded devices, potentially exposing sensitive data to attackers.
• Fixing a bug of Bluetooth HAL crashes or gets stuck when Bluetooth LE audio hardware offload is disabled.

To provide feedback, you can submit comments using the Android Beta Feedback app or post comments on the official Android Beta Program subreddit.

What you need to know

• Pixel 9a full specifications surface way ahead of the launch, giving us every last detail.
• The device will apparently ship with Tensor G4, a bigger 5100mAh battery, and dual rear cameras.
• It will ship with Android 15 out of the box and is expected to offer seven years of OS upgrades.

Google's next mid-range phone, the Pixel 9a, might still be many months from launch, but leaks are revealing everything the company is likely bringing to the table. The latest one includes every spec of the upcoming handset.

The leak comes from Android Headlines, which cites a wireless carrier source and is further corroborated by an unknown source — both detailing the forthcoming Pixel 9a specs in detail.

According to the leaked spec sheet, the Pixel 9a would be incorporating the latest Google Tensor G4 chipset — the same SoC that powered the Pixel 9 series. It will be paired with the Titan M2 security processor, and the configurations of the mid-range handset may include 8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of storage

The device is believed to ship with Android 15 out of the box as opposed to Android 16, and, like the flagship series, Google may offer seven years of OS upgrades and security updates.

The expected dimensions from the leaked spec sheet show that the Pixel 9a will measure 154.7mm x 73.3mm x 8.9mm, making it slightly taller and wider than the previous iteration, the Pixel 8a. The device might also be slightly lighter, around 185.9 grams.

The display, with a 120Hz refresh rate, would measure around 6.3 inches and is an AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a peak brightness of up to 2700 nits. It is believed to feature Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top. The dual cameras at the back will have a 48MP primary lens accompanying a 13MP ultra-wide lens. For selfies, the handset is likely to rely on a 13MP shooter.

A slightly bigger battery capacity will keep the lights on the Pixel 9a. It will host a 5100mAh battery with support for 23W charging alongside 7.5W wireless charging support. Lastly, the device may also feature an IP68 rating similar to the Pixel 9 series.

The handset is expected to cost $499 (the MSRP in the leaked sheet) and may be available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony, the latter two being the newest color additions. The spec sheet also confirms the model numbers and device availability in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and India markets.

In addition to the leaked specifications, we have also seen what the Pixel 9a would look like — thanks to recent real-life images, which are believed to be prototypes. This isn't the first time we have seen it, as a similar real-life image was spotted indicating that the iconic Pixel camera visor design at the back has been removed, and the Pixel 9a will stick to a flat, flushed camera design.

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What you need to know

• OnePlus is beginning to roll out its Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 update to the original OnePlus Pad.
• The update is now becoming available in India in batches, and will reach North America and Europe next week.
• The move comes following the latest OnePlus Pad 2 getting the boost to OxygenOS 15 last month.

OnePlus' last-generation tablet is starting to get the upgrade to Android 15. The OnePlus Pad is currently receiving the OxygenOS 15 update — based on Android 15 — in batches, starting in India. The company announced in a post on the OnePlus community forum that the update would become available for OnePlus Pad users in North America and Europe next week. This gradual release timeline lines up with that of the OnePlus devices that have already gotten the boost to OxygenOS 15.

Compared to the brand's competitors, notably Samsung, OnePlus has brought Android 15 to its devices at a quick and consistent pace. The OnePlus 12 was first to receive OxygenOS 15, followed by the OnePlus Open and OnePlus Pad 2, among other devices.

Notably, the company has been relatively quiet about its timeline for bringing Android 15 to the OnePlus Pad Go, its budget tablet. Based on its software support promise, the Pad Go is expected to receive OxygenOS 15, and the first-generation OnePlus Pad gaining support could be a step in the right direction.

In India, the build number for OxygenOS 15 on the OnePlus Pad is OPD2203_15.0.0.301(EX01). OnePlus also shared rollback steps for reverting the OnePlus Pad to Android 14 with a Local OTA update in case users have trouble with Android 15. You can find the complete rollback instructions, plus updates on the North American and European rollout, on the community post.

The OxygenOS 15 update for the OnePlus Pad includes all the features and changes that the OnePlus Pad 2 received last month, plus a few extras. Notably, the update adds support for the operating system's new multitasking gestures. Using these gestures, you can create a floating window by pulling down a notification banner, and similarly open an app in full-screen view by pulling down on a floating window. When you're finished, you can close a floating window by swiping up or hide it by swiping to the side.

Additionally, the update brings new AI features to the OnePlus Pad, including AI Notes and AI Retouch. OnePlus also touts the new animations and rendering effects bundled with this OxygenOS update, which is designed to create a "consistent scrolling experience" with "luminous rendering effects" also in tow.

Users in India can expect to see OxygenOS 15 become available on their OnePlus Pad starting now, with a wider global availability set to arrive next week.

Oh the woes of living on the edge. Earlier this week, Samsung started rolling out the first One UI 7 beta. Naturally, it's first being made available to those that own one of the Galaxy S24 flagship models (sorry, S24 FE.)

However, when the rumor mill picked up steam leading up to the official announcement, I was hoping to spend my weekend messing around with One UI 7 on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The announcement came and went, and there was no mention of the Fold 6 being included in the beta program.

In fact, there wasn't any mention of Samsung's flagship foldable phones at all. Instead, they've just been roped in with the rest of the company's lineup, with Samsung stating "In line with Samsung’s commitment to extend its OS upgrade policy, the update will gradually roll out to other Galaxy devices."

I didn't actually expect the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to be included in the One UI 7 beta program. Especially considering how many times rumors have surfaced about Samsung needing to delay the rollout. It's apparent that this isn't just your run-of-the-mill update, as more Galaxy AI features are on the way, along with the new "Now Bar" and improved camera controls.

Obviously, Samsung is going to prioritize its slab phones over foldables, but there's just something that leaves me feeling a bit disappointed.

We're heading into year 6 of the foldable phone experiment, with Samsung arguably providing the most useful and reliable software experience of them all. So why is it that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Flip 6 aren't even mentioned in a footnote for being included or next in line?

Yet again, it feels as if foldable phone enjoyers are being treated like second-class citizens who have a first-class budget. Samsung has made it abundantly clear that it is more than willing to ship out the same phone for three years in a row, raking in profits and then apologizing for "failing to innovate." Only to release a phone with the changes we've been wanting, but limit it to just one specific region.

Foldable phones are a niche product category, I get it. And I know that within that niche, there's an even smaller group that would entertain the idea of installing beta software. But here's my counterargument — if I already know that I'm part of an experiment, what makes you think that I wouldn't want to be included in another one?

It's been more than two years since I wrote about my experiences living in the "beta lifestyle," but nothing's changed. Well, I take that back. The devices and some of the apps have changed, but everything else I expressed in that article still rings true.

Some of it definitely has to do with FOMO, as there are some intriguing additions coming to One UI 7. However, there's also a sneaking suspicion that this might be a sign of things to come. Not that Samsung is going to ditch its foldable phones, but that we might be heading for a rough patch with One UI software updates.

We've had the stable version of Android 15 since mid-October, yet here we are almost two months later, and there's no clear timeline for when it will come to the Fold. And if Samsung is having this much of an issue already, what does that say for older models like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or even the Galaxy S23 Ultra?

I was going to just bypass the money argument until I realized that the $850 Galaxy S24 gets a taste before the $1,800 Z Fold 6. Yes, I know that I answered the reason as to why this is the case already, but my point still stands.

It's not like we're talking about a company with limited budgets and resources that might issue one or two updates, six months after the release. This is Samsung. You know, the company that generated almost $60 BILLION in revenue in Q3 2024. In my mind, there's really no excuse for any of its flagship phones to be left behind, even if they aren't as popular or selling as well.

Hell, Google not only included the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in its first Android 16 Developer Preview release, but it's also available for the original Pixel Fold. Sure, some features are bound to be missing, but that's to be expected given that Google fumbled the release anyway.

The point is that if Google can do it, why can't Samsung? If it wanted to, Samsung could, and for reasons that are below my pay grade to know, chose not to.

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What you need to know

• Google is adding a few new features to Android starting today, including Expressive Captions and spoken image descriptions, which will improve accessibility.
• Sharing is also getting a boost, with new sticker combos and keyboard, plus QR code sharing.
• Finally, document scans will now be in higher quality with auto enhancements in Google Drive, and new Gemini Extensions are here.

Google is adding a slew of new features to Android starting today, it announced in a blog post. The changes range from accessibility features designed to make Android better for people with hearing impairments to quality-of-life improvements to Gemini and sharing. These new features will be available on various Android devices, meanwhile, the improvements coincide with the December 2024 Pixel Feature Drop, which also released today.

Artificial intelligence is a core part of many of Google's announcements for Android, including Expressive Captions. With Expressive Captions, the company hopes to make the experience of reading audio captions more immersive. The feature uses things like uppercase and lowercase text, as well as phonetic transcriptions, to convey key aspects of sound. The idea is to help people enjoy the emotion and intensity of audio content through captions.

Expressive Captions are coming to Android system-wide, meaning that you can use them in any app of your choice.

In a similar move, Google is improving Gemini's image description capabilities. Image Q&A in Lookout lets users get written description of images, and it now uses the Gemini 1.5 Pro model for more helpful descriptions, according to Google. More importantly, these descriptions can be spoken aloud with the help of Gemini, and supports follow-up questions.

Google also wants to make it easier to communicate with others using emoji on Android, specifically in situations when the default emoji options just don't cut it. Emoji Kitchen will let you make a new emoji from a combination of two default ones, like the pizza and heart emojis in the sample screen shot above. This is available in Gboard, where there's also a new Clearflow glide typing keyboard option.

While we're on the topic of sharing, Quick Share is making it simpler to share photos, files, and more with people who aren't in your context. After the latest update, you can now create a QR code to Quick Share content with others. If that content happens to be a document scanned in Drive, you're in luck, because Google is now auto-enhancing the quality of these scans.

Finally, the company is officially announcing new Gemini Extensions for Spotify and Home. Some of these capabilities already began to roll out last month, but will presumably be available more widely now. These features are all rolling out starting today, so you can start trying them immediately.

What you need to know

• OnePlus is pushing a second Android 15 update to its 12 series phone, which brings in the company's promised AI features.
• The OnePlus 12 is picking up several features under the "AI Retouch" and "AI Writing Suite" monikers for photo reworks and writing assistance, respectively.
• The first Android 15 update was pushed early in November; however, OnePlus highlighted that its AI features were still in testing.

Another update is starting to roll out for a past-gen OnePlus device that makes good on the company's promise.

The Chinese OEM posted its changelog for its second Android 15 update for the OnePlus 12 (via Android Headlines). OnePlus notes that the update that's rolling out (vCPH2573_15.0.0.305) is getting its start in India before arriving in North America, Europe, and other Global areas next week. Additionally, the update concerns OxygenOS 15 users, leaving those with OxygenOS 14 to wait as the company is "working to provide the update for you soon!"

More importantly, this update is bringing a couple of AI-based features to the OnePlus 12.

Thanks to Android 15, users will soon have access to AI Retouch. OnePlus states this will let users enhance the clarity of a "cropped, distant, or low-quality" picture. AI Retouch also includes "Unblur," which is said to assist in restoring colors, lighting in blurry photos, and other important details.

Lastly, "Remove Reflections" uses AI to remove unsightly mirroring effects found on glass for a "clearer more authentic" photo.

Additionally, the second Android 15 update brings AI Notes to the OnePlus 12. Kicking that off is the "AI Writing Suite" with tools to help you polish your drafts and "optimize" the AI's writing style to get the heavy work done for you. "Format" is said to bring your scattered notes into a more cohesive form while "Clean Up" removes "filler words" to facilitate more structured sentences.

OnePlus threw in support to instantly share live photos with iOS devices and the dependability of Bluetooth. The remainder of the changelog is as follows:

• Contacts can now be switched to a floating window.
• Photos can now recognize boarding passes and add them to Google Wallet.
• Apps in large folders can now be displayed in 3 × 3 grids.
• Fixes an issue that might cause some apps to crash.
• Fixes a display issue where some app icons might overlap with other elements when pulling down the Quick Settings in the Photos app after restarting the phone.
• Integrates the November 2024 Android security patch to enhance system security.

OnePlus initially pushed its major Android 15 upgrade for its 2023 flagship early in November. The update started rolling out to many of the same regions as this second "incremental" patch. However, the original rollout only offered the new features that OnePlus worked on for OxygenOS 15. Specifically, the software' icons were improved with a softer, rounded visual appeal on the Home screen and within its Systems area.

The animations of OxygenOS 15 have been revamped to be more fluid in every aspect of the device. Several new gesture controls aid users who're multitasking with more intuitive controls.

What's more, OnePlus highlighted its lack of AI features for the device during that first update. The company stated that those tools were still in "testing" and would begin rolling out in November. We're nearly at the end, meaning those in the U.S. and other places will begin seeing them early in December.

What you need to know

• Samsung trips up and accidentally posts its One UI 7 details early on a Spanish website.
• The software is preparing to bring additional features to "Sketch to Image" and "Portrait Studio" like watercolor, 3D cartoon, and more.
• Once again, the page reportedly highlighted previously rumored parental controls and previewed the updated icons and notification panel changes.
• Samsung has reportedly delayed its Beta Program for One UI 7 to December.

There's a lot of hype (and anticipation) surrounding One UI 7, but Samsung might've slipped up with this one.

Spotted by X tipster Chunvn, Samsung's Spanish website variant might've accidentally published its complete One UI 7 details early (via Android Authority). The publication quickly jumped on things and managed to capture a series of videos before Samsung took it down.

The One UI 7-centric page highlighted several features like Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio. Neither of these features is new; however, the next OS upgrade is set to take them further. According to the page, One UI 7 will improve Sketch to Image by giving it "3D Cartoon, Sketch, and Watercolor" options. The brief video captured showcases the ability of a user to draw a simple, flat image before tapping "generate."

The example given seemingly shows the watercolor option selected. After a brief wait time, One UI 7's AI will produce your desired drawing. The website reportedly offered extra details, stating that a watermark would be added to anything "generated with AI." Moreover, edited images will become a resized product of "up to 12MP."

Portrait Studio seems primed to pick up options similar to Sketch to Image. The post states Samsung will provide "3D Cartoon, Cartoon, and Sketch" options alongside a "Live Effects" feature. The page reportedly stated Live Effects will add "depth" and "perspective."

The early One UI 7 highlights page also showcased the software's revamped icons, notifications and Quick Settings panel split, and ongoing activity alert. We've seen most of this repeatedly; however, the ongoing alert is a large, pill-shaped icon nestled at the bottom of your device's lock screen.

It will seemingly give users a clear view of their lock screen — but notifications will likely take up the space under the date.

We've seen additional (supposed) One UI 7 features leaked previously, like parental and AI-focused features. However, with the latest accidentally posted One UI 7 page by Samsung, it seems these features are inbound. It was reported in October that the software would give parents better agency over their child's online safety. They would have tools to block websites alongside tools to cut off access to certain apps.

Samsung's accidental post seemingly confirms these features, as well as the additional AI features for Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio.

It seems like we've been waiting for One UI 7 forever — and the wait has only been extended as Samsung pushed its beta back even more. Reports claim that the Korean OEM encountered additional problems within its software, which have forced it to delay the Beta Program until "the first week of December."

So, you’ve bought yourself a new smartphone. Whether this is your first Android phone or just the latest one, there’s probably a new trick or two to learn about your new device. Since the best Android phones are incredibly customizable, you can change almost everything to match your preferences, including removing unwanted apps and making your device better for productivity.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options available in Android 15 and Android 16, and that's why we've created this guide, highlighting 10 things to do first as you get started.

While every Android manufacturer offers slightly different options and settings, the items included here should apply to most (if not all) devices. Let's dive in.

1. Uninstall unwanted apps

An unfortunate part of owning an Android phone is dealing with bloatware, which is simply a term used to refer to all the unwanted or unneeded apps that are pre-installed on your smartphone. Your phone manufacturer may include bloatware apps; Samsung phones often ship with duplicate apps (like Samsung Messages and Google Messages) and mobile games pre-installed. Additionally, your cellular carrier may pre-install apps on your phone, usually all in their own folder — AT&T is notorious for doing this.

Unnecessary apps can slow down your phone and take up valuable storage space. Some of them are glorified advertisements, plain and simple. To remove them all, open the Settings app on your Android phone and tap the Apps tab. This will bring up your entire apps list, and you can select each one to Delete or Disable them individually. Note that some apps can't be deleted, and can only be disabled.

2. Customize your Quick Settings

If you want to excel at using your new Android phone, you'll need to know how to use Quick Settings. That's the name for the collection of quick toggles and shortcuts that become available when you swipe down from the top of your screen. These toggles are arranged in a default order and span two pages, but it's a good idea to reorder them to match your specific needs. To do so, open the Quick Settings page and tap the pencil icon. Here, you can edit your Quick Settings to make it more useful to you.

3. Choose between gesture or button navigation

The new Android debate: three-button navigation or gesture navigation? Though many longtime Android fans still have an affinity with three-button navigation, which adds a persistent back button, home button, and app switcher button, most people have moved to gesture navigation. This makes it a popular choice, as you can swipe to control your phone without sacrificing screen real estate. Whichever you prefer, you can select it by navigating to Settings > Display > Navigation mode.

4. Choose a custom launcher (or stick with the default)

Now that stock Android skins are mature, third-party launchers aren't as popular as they once were. However, one of the perks of using an Android phone is the ability to replace or tweak your launcher. To do so, download a launcher from the Google Play store and make it your default launcher app in settings. Or, you can modify your default launcher, like by tweaking the At a Glance widget in Pixel Launcher.

5. Get started with Digital Wellbeing

Looking to curb your screen time? Give Digital Wellbeing a try. It's a suite of Android features that will help you stay in the moment and improve your mindfulness. You can set up a Focus mode to tune out unwanted notifications, set screen time limits, or get "nudges" when you're using an app for too long, or use Heads Up to be reminded about safety when using your phone while walking. However you use Digital Wellbeing, it's a good idea to explore its features before letting your Android phone's screen time get out of hand.

6. Customize your always-on display settings

Many of the best Android phones include an always-on display mode, which shows key information — like time, date, and notification badges — on the lock screen when it's turned off. The exact options available will depend on your phone's OEM, but there are usually ways to tweak your always-on display. For starters, all Android phone makers with an AOD option will let you turn it off, which will help save battery. Otherwise, you can set AOD schedules and determine what appears on your lock screen in your display settings menu.

7. Set up auto-deletion for OTPs

If your Android phone has Google Messages set as its default SMS app, there's a useful feature you should enable. (If Google Messages isn't the default, you can install it manually from the Google Play Store and set it as the default SMS app in Settings). It will automatically delete one-time passcodes after 24 hours, and it'll help keep your chats organized.

One-time passcodes are, as the name suggests, only good for one-time use. They're useless after a few minutes, and that's why Google Messages can delete them for you automatically. Flipping this toggle in Google Messages settings is a must-do trick for any new Android user.

8. Start using Emergency SOS and add your medical info

Android is full of crucial health and safety features, like Emergency SOS and Medical information. These will help you get help in the case of an emergency and provide first responders with important information about you and your health. These will all be located in the Safety & emergency tab of stock Android.

From there, you will see a handful of options that are worth exploring, including Medical info. These are tools you hope never need to be used, but could be invaluable if you ever need them.

9. Update your phone and download apps

After you've completed the initial setup process, it's time to update your software. Most new Android phones won't arrive with Android 15 out of the box, so they'll need an update. Navigate to Settings > Software update to check if there's a newer software version available, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update. Depending on your smartphone, you may have already updated to Android 15 during the initial setup process.

Once that's done, you can log into the Google Play Store with your Google account and download all your previously installed apps to your new device. This is also where you'll go to update your Android apps.

10. Link your phone to a PC with Microsoft Phone Link

We talk a lot about the integration between iPhones and Macs in the Apple ecosystem, but we don't talk enough about the integration between Android phones and Windows PCs. That's right — you can link your new Android phone to your computer to send and receive texts from your PC, make calls, share photos and files, mirror and remotely control your phone, and much more.

It's all done via the Microsoft Phone Link app on Windows 11 and the Link to Windows app on Android. It's certainly worth taking a few minutes to set up, and we have a full guide explaining how here.

Now, you should have a good starting point to begin using your new Android phone. What's next? If you're still itching to try more things, we recommend diving into your phone's settings menu. We bet there will be a bunch of options there that you probably didn't even know existed. After that, scour the Google Play Store for the best Android apps.

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What you need to know

• Nubia launched its Z70 Ultra model today (Nov 27), which is the first device in the U.S. with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite.
• The phone delivers a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a UDC (under-display camera) for immersion.
• Nubia's latest phone is also the first in the U.S. to feature Android 15 out of the box.
• The Z70 Ultra is available for pre-orders, starting at $729.

Nubia's next major flagship is here, bringing with it the fanciest goodies Android smartphones have to offer in 2024.

The Nubia Z70 Ultra launched early today (Nov 27) and the touts this device as the first Snapdragon 8 Elite phone to arrive in the U.S. alongside China. The company states Qualcomm's latest flagship chip empowers the Z70 Ultra with "unmatched speed and efficiency." The new chip shies away from the efficiency cores of old for six 3.53GHz Oryon cores, instead.

This is paired with an Adreno GPU that provides a 40% increase in graphical performance over last year's Gen 3. The launch highlights the chip's 45% increase in CPU capabilities, which flows into other aspects of the device seamlessly.

Nubia states the Z70 Ultra features an immersive 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Interestingly, the Ultra model contains a UDC (under display camera), meaning the entire display is clean as there's no punch-hole cutout for the lens. The OEM says this should provide an "uninterrupted, immersive view" for consumers.

The Z70 Ultra features a rather unique rear camera array. Instead of being clustered together, the device's primary lens is large (and circular), but alone in the top left corner. Nubia states this enters as a 50MP camera under the Sony IMX 9 series at a 35mm focal length with an adjustable physical aperture.

Beneath this is a visor that houses the 64MP telephoto lens and a 50MP ultra-wide camera.

Nubia teased some AI software within the Z70 Ultra, courtesy of its Nebula AIOS. Consumers can utilize Voice Assistant via the "OK Google" command, AI Gallery Search, AI Translate, a Bokeh effect for photos, and more. Of course, under the hood, users can expect Google's Android 15 software out of the box, making the first phone in the U.S. to do so.

Keeping you going is a 6,150mAh silicone carbon battery. Nubia states the phone pairs this with 80W fast charging, so you can get back to what you were doing without much delay.

The device supports NFC for digital payments. Moreover, consumers will find the device available in the following RAM/storage configurations: 12/256GB, 16/512GB, and 24/1TB.

The Nubia Z70 Ultra is available today (Nov 27) for pre-orders. Consumers can purchase the device in black, yellow, or Starry, inspired by the renowned Dutch painter, Van Gogh. The device starts at $729 in the U.S. Additionally, Nubia states the phone will begin shipping on December 5 (in one week).

What you need to know

• Currently, lock screen notifications are intrusive in Android 15, taking up a lot of space and obscuring your wallpaper.
• Activated code strings in Android 15 QPR2 introduce a new "Lock screen minimalism" option.
• When enabled, this setting will show fewer notifications on the lock screen and show small icons instead of full-size banners.

Android 15 includes a few different ways to view your notifications. There are app icons in the status bar, banners in the notifications shade, and the same banners on the lock screen. If you happen to get a lot of notifications throughout the day, that might cause your lock screen to get cluttered pretty quickly. To solve this problem, Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 includes a new "Lock screen notification minimalism" setting, as uncovered by Android Authority.

The code strings for the option explain that it will "show fewer notifications on the lock screen. Mishaal Rahman, writing for Android Authority, managed to activate the feature early, and noted that it didn't seem to actually reduce the total number of notifications on the lock screen — though that may be coming later.

Lock screen notification minimalismShow fewer notifications on lock screen

Instead, the feature currently appears to minimize lock screen notifications, only showing their icons in a tiny pill-shaped area underneath the clock. You can tap it to reveal the notification title and body for each one in the list, much like the current lock screen implementation. It adds an extra tap to the process, but might be worthwhile in exchange for the more minimalist lock screen view, which really shows off your wallpaper.

The Lock screen notification minimalism feature is available as a toggle in the settings app in Android 15 QPR 2 Beta 1. It can be enabled or disabled, depending on your preferences. However, it appears the feature is still in development and we don't know when it might release, or exactly what it might do when it does.

While the Lock screen notification minimalism feature was first discovered in Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1, it's not guaranteed to debut in the public release of Android 15 QPR 2 — it could be reserved for a Pixel Feature Drop or Android 16.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out a minor update to Android 15 Beta testers, Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1, ahead of the update's expected public release next month.
• Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 includes bug fixes and other improvements, and is available for Google Pixel 6 and newer devices, including Pixel Tablet.
• The update comes as most beta testers have already moved to Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1.

Google is sending a minor update to Android 15 beta testers as it gears up to release Android 15 QPR1 publicly next month. The update, Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1, was announced today in a Reddit post. It includes bug fixes and improves overall stability, and is available for Google Pixel 6 and newer phones, plus the Pixel Tablet.

For users enrolled in the Android Beta Program, the update will be sent automatically over-the-air. The build number for Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 is AP41.240925.012. However, Google notes that users will only get this update if they're enrolled in the beta program and are still running Android 15 QPR1. Those that have updated to Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1, or manually flashed Android 16 Developer Preview 1, won't need Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1.

Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1 now available! from r/android_beta

There are no known new features or major changes in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1, and that's not surprising, as beta testers are already looking ahead to Android 15 QPR2. However, there are a few bug fixes that will be appreciated by anyone still on Android 15 QPR1. That includes a fix for NFC payment failures, a problem that has plagued various pre-release versions of Android 15 for months.

Here are the full release notes for Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3.1, provided by Google:

• Fixed an issue where tapping media controls closed the notification shade but didn't open the app. (Issue #375447625)
• Fixed an issue where long pressing the device entry icon didn't work when there were many notifications and the notification shelf was overlapping the lock icon. (Issue #369316295)
• Fixed an issue that prevented proper volume control for some Bluetooth devices. (Issue #376650439,Issue #373681731)
• Fixed an issue that caused the Material You, wallpaper-derived color options to be very similar. (Issue #378507373)
• Fixed an issue that caused the scrollbar in the system settings to be sized and styled inconsistently. (Issue #366278155)
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused NFC payments to fail. (Issue #363914347)
• Fixed an issue where translations in Indonesian and Hebrew didn't display correctly for apps that are targeting Android 14 (API level 34) or lower. (Issue #378200084)
• Fixed various other issues that were impacting system stability, camera, connectivity, localization, accessibility, and interactivity.

This appears to be simply a quick tune-up for Android 15 QPR1 as Google prepares to release it publicly. It's largely the same as Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3, plus the bug fixes, which was the last QPR1 beta release that hit testers nearly a month ago.

What you need to know

• New rumors claim Samsung has been forced to push its One UI 7 beta back even further, thanks to a few issues.
• Supposedly, the software encountered bugs, delaying the first beta until the first (or second) week in December.
• Tipsters claim the beta will run for two months, leaving it with a potential February date for its stable launch.
• One UI 7 (Android 15) is expected to arrive sporting a revamped UI, fresher animations, and more.

It feels like this dance won't end. Samsung is rumored to have delayed its major OS upgrade beta once again.

The latest flurry of rumors from X by FamilyTaes claims Samsung has pushed its One UI 7 beta (Android 15) back several more weeks (via 9to5Google). The tipster states the company's first beta for the Galaxy S24 series is now set to begin in the "first week" of December. The beta is suspected to run for ~2 months with a full rollout potentially occurring in February.

Additionally, the tipster states the Galaxy S23 series could enter the beta anywhere from two to three weeks from now.

There's uncertainty around when the Galaxy S22 series could see it and the tipster completely dashed any beta hopes for the S21.

According to the tipster, the reason for this (grueling) delay is problems within the code. They cite Ice Universe from Weibo, who stated Samsung encountered bugs that needed to be handled.

What's more, Max Jambor posted on X and, in a way, doubled down on what's been going around. They state that while the beta was anticipated to arrive this week (the week of November 22), recent updates suggest otherwise. Jambor reiterates that Samsung could drop the One UI 7 beta "early" in December.

The post adds that users in the U.S. and Korea should be the first ones into the Beta Program. Users in Germany "and others" may grab it shortly after.

Calling Samsung's first One UI 7 beta rocky would be an understatement. The Beta Program was initially expected to start in mid-to-late November. Tipsters claimed the beta would've dropped for eager testers during the week of November 17; however, that hasn't happened. What has remained consistent are the devices we may expect.

Similar to now, the Galaxy S24 and the S23 are rumored to be among the first two series to receive the One UI 7 (Android 15) beta. There's a lot we're expecting from this beta after Samsung showcased a quick demo of it during SDC 2024. The company plans to completely overhaul its UI, which could see smoother animations and more.

Elsewhere, One UI 7 might use Apple's Intelligence as inspiration for an alleged "AI-driven notification summary feature."

What you need to know

• Google is introducing an Android feature called Restore Credentials, which transfers your apps' sign-in credentials to a new phone.
• The feature copies existing functionality on iOS, and will make the experience of switching from one Android phone to another more convenient, regardless of device brand.
• The process is built into the Android device backup and restore mechanism, so no manual user action is required.

Google is adding a new Android feature that will keep your apps signed in after restoring from a backup or switching to a new device, it announced in a post on the Android Developers Blog . It's called Restore Credentials, and it's built right into the existing Credential Manager API. Best of all, it requires no manual action from the user, as it is handled on the app and Android side automatically.

Here's how it works. When a user signs into their app account on an Android phone, app developers can create a restore key for the user. It's saved locally, and can be uploaded to the cloud if the user has agreed to back up the app's data. Then, when a user starts restoring from a backup on a new device, the app's data and its restore key are transferred. The app can be signed into the app, without the Android user even needing to open it. In other words, your phone should be just how you left it.

Similarly to the iOS feature, it's likely that not all apps will automatically retain their sign-in status after restoring from a backup. Developers will need to add the new functionality in the Credential Manager API to their app, which may take some time. Google explains how to do this in its post, and recommends developers delete restore keys after a user manually signs out of an app.

Restore Credentials are based on Google's existing implementation of passkeys, and incorporate standards from the FIDO Alliance.

All this happens during the backup and restore process, with the idea being that you should be automatically signed into your apps after the restore process is completed. Google says that the introduction of Restore Credentials should make it easier to switch between Android phones, regardless of manufacturer. It claims that 40% of U.S. users reset or replace their phones each year, so eliminating friction in the restore process is crucial.

Being that Restore Credentials mimics a fan-favorite iOS feature, it's likely that Android users will appreciate this new functionality the next time they reset their device, or switch to a new one.

What you need to know

• OPPO detailed a major AI update for its ColorOS 15 (Android 15) software thanks to Google's software.
• ColorOS 15 will provide Circle to Search, Gemini Live, and more of OPPO's own AI help thanks to Gemini 1.5 Pro and 1.5 Flash models.
• OPPO is preparing to debut its Find X8 series on November 21.

OPPO is preparing to rollout some AI additions for its Android 15 software that should aid users in multiple ways.

The company detailed the upcoming AI features that leverage Google's systems in a press release. OPPO's general manager, Nicole Zhang, stated a goal with its OS was to "create an easy-to-use, harmonious, powerful experience through intelligence and collaboration." With that, the Chinese OEM announced the upcoming arrival of Circle to Search.

The post reiterates that users can produce the feature by long-pressing the "home button or navigation bar." Users can quickly circle or highlight anything on their display to run a search through Google.

Elsewhere, the company states it's bringing in more AI features as ColorOS 15 will feature the dedicated Gemini app. OPPO mentions features like "help me write," AI planning assistance, and more. Additionally, OPPO's partnership with Google brings Gemini Live to its "smart devices."

OPPO is working on a few AI-backed features of its own, but they will reportedly leverage Google's software. According to the post, the upcoming OS upgrade will pick up OPPO Notes, Documents, and AI Recording Summary. These features are said to leverage "Gemini models" like 1.5 Pro and 1.5 Flash. It's likely these models will lend a hand for other on-device AI features, too.

OPPO states its ColorOS 15 software and Google's AI assistance will debut first on the Find X8 series.

We're on the cusp of OPPO's next flagship series as the Find X8 is set to debut on November 21. The company confirmed as much earlier this month, stating an event in Bali will hold all the details. Alongside its launch with ColorOS 15 (Android 15), the Find X8 series will feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 SoC. The devices will seemingly sport a new, flatter design and larger batteries.

Additionally, the company confirmed that the Find X8 will arrive in a few global regions like the U.K. and India.

Google first dropped Gemini Live as an update for Pixels in August. The AI lets users engage in a more "conversational" way when asking for ideas, tips, and assistance with tasks. Google states Gemini Live can understand "complex questions," meaning users won't have to break up their sentences. The feature was then rolled out to all Android users in October with increased language support.

What you need to know

• Seven new models have been added to Motorola's Android 15 lineup, including the Motorola Razr 50s, Edge 40, and ThinkPhone 25.
• Despite the expanded list, Motorola’s slow update history and lack of a clear timeline may leave users waiting longer.
• The initial October list had 23 devices, including the Razr+ (2024) and Edge 30 Ultra.

Motorola has been gearing up to bring Android 15 to its smartphone lineup, and a new report indicates the company is adding more devices to the update list, making the rollout even bigger.

The company hasn’t officially shared its Android 15 roadmap yet, but updated support pages are quietly revealing which of your beloved Motorola phones will get the upgrade. Seven more devices just made the cut, as spotted by Gizmochina.

The additional handsets getting the Android 15 update include:

• Motorola Razr 50s
• Motorola Razr 40s
• Motorola Edge (2023)
• Motorola Edge 40
• Motorola Edge 40 Neo
• Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
• Motorola ThinkPhone 25

Motorola’s support pages have offered a glimpse of its Android 15 plans. Since October’s initial list, more models have been added, showing Motorola’s commitment to keeping its devices current.

The previous list featured 23 phones set for the update, including flagship models like the Moto Razr+ (2024), the standard Razr (2024), and the latest Edge devices. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion was also set to get the update.

Motorola’s broader Android 15 rollout is a win, but without a solid timeline and the company's history of slow updates, users might be in for a wait before enjoying the new OS.

Currently, Android 15 is still in the early stages, with supported Pixel devices, some Vivo phones, and the new OnePlus Pad 2 and OnePlus 12 series getting the update first. Samsung’s beta release for One UI 7 is expected soon, so it’s likely Motorola will speed up its Android 15 rollout.

What you need to know

• OnePlus announced that OxygenOS 15, based on Android 15, is rolling out to the OnePlus Pad 2 now.
• The update is rolling out in batches, starting with India, Europe, and global markets. It'll arrive in North America later this week.
• The changes that first came to the OnePlus 12 now come to the OnePlus Pad 2, including smoother animations and better multitasking.

OnePlus is beating the rest of the Android tablet market to the punch, releasing OxygenOS 15 for the OnePlus Pad 2 this week. It's the first Android tablet not made by Google to receive Android 15. The company announced the stable rollout on its community forum, which is starting in India, Europe, and global markets now. Later this week, the update will make its way to North America, including U.S. users.

OnePlus seems to be taking advantage of Samsung's One UI delay, releasing Android 15 for its phone and tablets quickly. Its flagship phone, the OnePlus 12, got the boost to OxygenOS 15 earlier this month. Now, many of the update's highlights will also come to the OnePlus Pad 2, including smoother animations and better multitasking features.

The stable build for OxygenOS 15 for the OnePlus Pad 2 in India, Europe, and global markets is OPD2403_15.0.0.201(EX01). It's rolling out in batches, so you may not see it on your tablet immediately. The company also shared rollback options in case you want to revert to OxygenOS 14.

OnePlus lists a few top OxygenOS 15 features for the OnePlus Pad 2 in the update's first changelog. It starts with "ultra animation effects," which include a system-level swiping curve for third-party apps. Additionally, many Home Screen and system icons have been redesigned. There's now a split mode for the notification drawer and Quick Settings, which makes the UI feel more like iOS.

There are some new multitasking tools that will be especially appreciated by tablet users. You can pull down on a notification banner to open up an app in a floating window. These floating windows can be moved with new gestures, like pulling down on a floating window to turn it into a full-screen app. You can swipe up to close the floating window completely.

Although Samsung just launched new tablets, they're still stuck on Android 14 — and will be for some time. OnePlus' quick release of Android 15 gives it an edge with the OnePlus Pad 2. You can read the update's full release notes here.

If there's one thing we know for sure, 2024 has been pretty odd when it comes to software updates. Google released its new flagship lineup of phones before Android 15 was out, Apple announced a bunch of features that won't arrive until at least March of next year, and we're midway through November with no sign of stable Android 15 for Samsung phones. However, with what little we know about One UI 7, I can't help but wonder if Samsung is following Apple's example in more ways than one, and for better or for worse.

For years, I abstained from even considering using a Samsung phone. I didn't care how cool or "reliable" Samsung phones were because the software was just so incredibly awful that it ruined everything else for me. However, that all changed once Samsung finally moved away from TouchWiz in favor of One UI.

Not only was TouchWiz packed to the gills with features, but there were more issues than you could count. I'm actually grateful for how bad it was because otherwise, I might not have enjoyed the different offerings from LG, Motorola, HTC, and Google. Heck, if it weren't for Samsung, I might not even be sitting here writing these words.

Nevertheless, here we are and Samsung is gearing up to release its first beta for One UI 7. Although it has been a little over six years since One UI was originally unveiled, it shares one commonality with TouchWiz as Samsung still takes an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach to features.

I'm not expecting Samsung to really add any "game-changing" features to the mix, but it does seem as though a UI overhaul is in store. With the exception of a few differences here and there, One UI has largely remained the same since One UI 4 in 2021. This was based on Android 12, which introduced the Material You design language.

Samsung's implementation with One UI 4 was half-baked, to say the least, but the company rectified those issues with One UI 5. That puts us at about two years of using the same general software experience, meaning that we're definitely due for something new.

Most of the time, I don't really care about how the software looks on any phone, not just Samsung. However, given that it's taken Samsung this long to actually release the beta of One UI 7, I've grown a bit worried that we might be in store for a bit of a storm.

It really wasn't all that long ago that Samsung was considered among the worst companies when it comes to software updates. That's changed in recent years, with the best Samsung phones receiving updates faster than any other phone besides Google's Pixel.

I can't help but feel like there's a little bit of writing on the wall with the One UI 7 update, considering the beta has already been delayed several times. And if it weren't for a few leaky faucets, we wouldn't have any idea what to expect.

That being said, we're likely to see Samsung overhaul everything and anything, ranging from icons and widgets to "smoother animations" and even a new Quick Settings panel. I've seen some suggestions that Samsung is trying to make One UI a bit more like iOS, especially when it comes to animations.

While I agree that animations could be better, I could really care less about whether the software looks like the Android equivalent of an iPhone. Why? Because I'm just going to download Good Lock, a few icon packs, and make my phone look the way I want it to anyway.

No, the bigger problem here is that Samsung is also rumored to be taking another page out of Apple's book, but it's not a good one. Instead of announcing features when they're ready, Samsung might announce its latest batch of features, only to delay some of them until One UI 7.1.

When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 series, the company also leaned heavily into the "Apple Intelligence" aspect. Of course, this was just a part of the company's initial marketing push, but there was one problem — many of those features weren't available yet.

In fact, there are some that we're still waiting for, as Image Playground and ChatGPT integration with Siri is currently only available if you're using the iOS 18.2 beta. Meanwhile, the really cool features, such as Personalized Responses and On-Screen Awareness, aren't expected to arrive until March 2025.

So without even knowing everything that Samsung has up its sleeve for new features, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't travel down this same path. If we are indeed getting an overhauled UI, that's plenty for Samsung to hang its hat on and promote. Then, the company can properly announce its AI features after they are fully baked and ready for primetime.

Some of the rumored AI features include things such as "AI Notification," which summarizes your notifications. It has also been said that Samsung will introduce new options for its existing AI features, such as Sketch to Image.

Given the constant need for companies to figure out ways to get AI into headlines, I suspect that Samsung won't take the reserved approach. Instead, it will likely make the same mistakes as Apple, which could be pretty comical if One UI ends up looking like iOS.

I don't have a crystal ball and can't see what the future holds, so it's possible that I'm completely off base. Maybe Samsung delayed the release of One UI 7 so that it could release everything at once. Or maybe the plan all along was to release the final version alongside the Galaxy S25, but the lack of transparency and communication has let our imaginations go wild.

At the same time, I'm a bit worried that Samsung is about to revert back to its old ways when it comes to software updates. Samsung may try to do too much, which would result in delayed updates and half-baked promises.

Let's just hope it doesn't come to that and that this is just a blip on the radar.

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What you need to know

• Google published a new support page to inform users of an ongoing problem between Android 15's Private Space and Wear OS watches.
• Users have reportedly received notifications from apps they've stored within Private Space, which isn't how the feature should function.
• Google recently resumed its Wear OS Pixel Watch updates this week after Wear OS 5 caused devices to seize up.

Google's major 2024 Android OS release features enhanced privacy, but the company is aware of a glaring problem.

The company published a support page with information regarding the recently surfaced Private Spaces issues with Wear OS (via 9to5Google). Google reiterates that Private Spaces are meant to hide apps that you don't want others to see. However, it notes that some users with a Wear OS device paired with a Private Space-enabled Android phone are receiving notifications.

The post states users with a Wear OS watch set up to receive "bridged notifications" face this problem.

Naturally, such devices are not supposed to receive notifications from apps placed within a Private Space. Google states users might receive an alert from an app if their "private space is unlocked on your phone." Moreover, these notifications could appear with a "work profile" icon even if you don't have a profile on your smartphone.

Google's highlight post lacks information regarding a potential fix for Wear OS devices and Android 15's Private Spaces. The publication assumes a fix could arrive with a future Wear OS or Android 15 patch. At this time, Google hasn't detailed a fix, meaning another may appear later.

During Android 15's launch, one of the major features highlighted was Google's Private Space. The feature functions like a "digital vault," storing away your sensitive apps that you'd prefer no one else see. Private Space is useful for keeping apps like banking and health separate from the rest of your device. Users can secure the space with a PIN or fingerprint, similar to how you'd lock your phone.

Unfortunately, Wear OS devices are experiencing a disconnect that defeats the purpose behind hiding these apps in a "private space."

It's unclear if we are waiting for an update to fix this issue. Google resumed its Wear OS updates for the Pixel Watch this week after taking a break to correct a severe software problem. The latest Wear OS 5 upgrade caused several watches to seize up and stop all (proper) functionality.

More importantly, that update post featured an advisory: the next major OS update won't arrive until March 2025. While that'll be a lengthy wait, hopefully, we won't have to wait that long for a fix for Android 15's Private Space.

What you need to know

• Google highlighted the start of Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 to Pixel testers on Reddit.
• The update contains the November security patch and a list of known issues users may encounter.
• The QPR2 update is expected to arrive as the March 2025 feature drop while we brace for a much earlier Android 16 launch.

The next major Android 15 update enters its first beta as Google drops the details to enrolled testers.

Google posted its announcement via the Android Beta subreddit, informing users that they can begin downloading Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1. Enrolled testers will find QPR2 Beta 1 as version BP11.241025.006 when downloading. The update is available for the latest Pixel 9 series, the original Pixel Fold, the Pixel Tablet, and the Pixel 8 down to the Pixel 6.

This patch includes the latest November 2024 security patch for Pixels. Additionally, Google delivered an advisory for this looking to exit the Beta Program following Android 15 QPR1.

• If you prefer to leave the Beta program and receive the public stable release of Android 15 QPR1 in December, you can do so without wiping your device by opting out and not installing today’s QPR2 Beta 1 update*. If you opt-out of the program* after installing Beta 1 or any future updates, all user data on the device will get wiped per usual program guidelines. Opting out will trigger a ‘Downgrade’ OTA. Ignore this update and wait for the Android 15 QPR1 public release instead.

Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 now available! from r/android_beta

If you do not wish to leave, Google states that those in the previous QPR beta will automatically grab QPR2 Beta 1 and those that follow. The update should appear within 24 hours, but you should continue to check throughout the week.

The company's official changelog detailed a few "general advisories" testers should be aware of. Among them, Google states your Pixel could experience battery, stability, and performance problems. If so, it's recommended that you submit bug reports and feedback via the appropriate channels. The log also states that some of your apps "may not function properly" in the beta.

While Google didn't explicitly state what's new, Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority) discovered that QPR2 adds a "Linux Terminal" app. The new tool is reportedly tucked within "Developer Options" in the Settings menu. After getting it to surface, Google's on-device description states the Terminal app lets developers "run Linux terminal on Android." Rahman states developers can "configure, run, and interface" apps using an instance of Debian.

Moreover, Google's patch notes reiterate the "16KB boot mode" in the Developer Options page. This option already existed in QPR1, but it only concerned the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. With QPR2, this has extended to the Pixel 8a.

Google prepared us for Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 earlier this month, stating it was on the way. The company's announcement states the patch will "build on top of" the Android 15 QPR1 update, which is expected to the December feature drop. The QPR2 beta is expected to debut as the March 2025 feature drop.

Speaking of 2025, Google highlighted a much earlier arrival of Android 16 in October. The post confirmed that the next major OS will arrive in Q2 2025, giving us April to June as a potential launch timeframe.

OnePlus's transformation is complete after the release of OxygenOS 15 this week. The Android 15-based update for the OnePlus 12 is a shining example of what a company can achieve when it realizes its past mistakes and resolves to fix them.

Now, OnePlus is one of the elite few companies that have pushed an Android 15 update out to its phones in less than a month after Google released the OS. Meanwhile, companies like Samsung are saying not to expect its Android 15 beta release for another month, followed by the full release of One UI 7 sometime early in 2025. I would have lost money if I had to wager a bet against which of these two companies would have had its Android 15 update out first.

As a OnePlus 12 user, I'm glad OnePlus got its act together and has been able to deliver such a monumental update in such a short amount of time. OnePlus 12 users can expect to see the update appear on their phones this week, while other OnePlus phones should get the update in the coming weeks and months.

I've reviewed well over a dozen phones this year, but the one I keep coming back to is the OnePlus 12. Here's why I think you'll love it, too.

A refreshing look and feel

OxygenOS 15 sports a fresh coat of paint and refined iconography, including a more powerful theme engine that feels closer to OxygenOS's golden days of yore. Not only that, but the company has added in several new features and options that are sure to get some users excited.

You can now choose to split the notification shade if you want, adding room for more quick toggles in a separate shade from notifications. You can always swipe left or right to move between these panes, so enabling the iOS-style feature is actually more handy than it is on iOS itself.

Speaking of iOS, OnePlus joins the swath of OEMs that have added a Dynamic Island-style pop-up notification to the punch-hole camera in the display, but it's disabled by default. Right now, it doesn't seem to support many apps so it's probably not worth using outside of a few first-party OnePlus apps.

The new animations and optional frosted glass UI look are all quite beautiful and should please anyone who appreciates little details throughout the UI.

All of this ties in so perfectly with the haptics which have always been one of the real stars of the show when using the OnePlus 12. Move your finger along the brightness or volume sliders and each little notch is felt like you're moving a dial. Keyboard taps are punchy and deep. Unlocking with the one's excellent fingerprint sensor feels like pressing a button. It's all incredible, and it makes me love using this phone over others.

AI to the rescue

OnePlus phones rarely have the best cameras in the industry, but the OnePlus 12 has surprised me more than once with its unique Hasselblad color tuning engine and the excellent telephoto sensor on the back.

With that said, I wholeheartedly welcome the new AI features that work to make the camera even better. We already tested OnePlus' AI eraser and found that it was better than Google's Magic Eraser, and now OnePlus is back with three other new tools I'll be using all the time.

AI Detail Boost can help fill in the gaps to make low-resolution images look crisper and cleaner, or just add some more fine detail to an image that's been zoomed into. This one's nice, but I like AI Unblur even better since it can help clean up some of my favorite blurry photos. Check out this comparison of my son and his friends during Halloween, for example.

There's also a reflection eraser tool that does exactly what it says on the tin, similar to the tool that shipped with Samsung phones in 2023.

Lastly, a new global search app uses Google Gemini to locally catalog anything you give it permission to, including photos, messages, contacts, and more. It's not quite as robust as the Pixel Screenshots app on a Google Pixel, but it can be helpful for quickly finding photos, videos, or messages on your phone without switching between a bunch of apps.

OnePlus also upgraded the multitasking to make it more like the brilliant OnePlus Canvas software that debuted on the OnePlus Open. Floating windows now support gestures, the smart sidebar can be used like a desktop dock to launch apps, and switching between apps is faster and smoother than on any other phone, thanks to OnePlus's brilliant UI design.

There are a lot of other little things we've been loving about this update and all of them culminate into an experience that's better than any other phone on the market. I keep coming back to this phone time and time again despite having access to every other Android phone on the market.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, we find out just how popular the Pixel 9 is, the OnePlus 12 gets OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, Samsung is rumored to have a Galaxy S25 Slim in the works, Google rolls out the November 2024 update to Pixels, and Amazon is having some issues with its Colorsoft Kindle.

Google has a hit on its hands

Read more here.

The Pixel series may not be as popular as Samsung's Galaxy lineup, but Google has seen more success with its smartphones in recent years, and the latest numbers show how popular the phones have become. According to a report from Counterpoint Research, Google's smartphone shipments grew 20% in Q3 2024, which can be attributed to the much earlier launch of the Pixel 9 series.

A second report from Statcounter shows just how drastic Pixel growth has been, with a graph revealing a jump from about 5% to a whopping 14% share between September and October. The Pixel 9 series went on sale at the end of August, when there was a noticeable uptick in share, giving Google a good amount of time to see the Pixel 9 affected Q3 sales figures. It's worth noting that the Pixel 8 did not go on sale until Q4 2023.

While Google still has some catching up to do to reach the numbers of Samsung Galaxy phones, it's clear that the company's strategy is working. The Pixel 9 series has have been impressive thanks to great cameras, standout designs, a better chipset, and fun on-device AI features.

Breathe new life into the OnePlus 12 with OxygenOS 15

Read more here.

It hasn't been that long since Google rolled out Android 15 to its Pixel phones. Now, OnePlus is getting in on the action by rolling out OxygenOS 15 to the OnePlus 12, the company's current global flagship (the OnePlus 13 is still China-only for now). Some Android Central staff have already received the update, which is steadily arriving on global variants of the phone.

The update brings a host of visual improvements to the home screen, themes, and animations and should make things more fluid and uniform throughout the UI. The pulldown menu can now be separated by notifications and quick settings, similar to iPhones and some other Android phones. There's also a new Live Alerts feature that mimics Apple's Dynamic Island by showing real-time updates for apps and activities in an expandable pill at the top of the display.

There are a ton of new updates, but Android Central senior editor Harish Jonnalagadda has highlighted some of his favorite OxygenOS 15 features.

Galaxy on a diet, with an "Ultra" appetite

Read more here.

Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S25 series sometime in 2025, but rumors are circulating that the company is preparing a "Galaxy S25 Slim." The device, as hinted by the name, would be a thinner model, but that apparently might not mean that it'll be a watered-down version. A recent leak suggests that despite its thinner profile, the phone may feature an "Ultra" camera.

While the leak doesn't specify what that means, it's not hard to guess that it could adopt a 200MP camera similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and previous Ultra models. If true, it'll be interesting to see how this will fit in the phone; will it feature a massively protruding camera sensor? We don't know how "slim" this phone will be, but it may likely be thinner than the current batch of Galaxy S24 models, which come in at 7.6, 7.7, and 8.6mm for the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, respectively.

It's also being said that if the Galaxy S25 Slim does launch, it won't arrive with the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, which is expected in January. That said, it's not clear when Samsung is planning to launch the device if it does end up coming to market.

Pixels grab post-Android 15 update

Read more here.

October was a big month for Pixel phones with the rollout of Android 15. November isn't as big, but there's still plenty to look forward to with the November 2024 update, which has begun rolling out to Google's smartphones from the Pixel 6 and newer.

Most of the bug fixes address issues with the Pixel 9 series, such as Adaptive brightness not kicking in or problems pertaining to Bluetooth range. There's also a fix for the cameras when zooming in between sensors, which would cause tilting under certain conditions.

Meanwhile, all eligible Pixel smartphones received performance improvements for UI animations, while the Pixel 8a received a specific display fix for an issue that would cause flickering.

The November 2024 update is rolling out with version numbers AP3A.241105.007 and .008, depending on the device, and your phone must be running Android 15 to receive the update.

Amazon's first color Kindle runs into problems

Read more here.

Amazon made headlines when it launched its first full-color Kindle. However, as exciting as it seems, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has already encountered some problems, with owners complaining about a yellow tint at the bottom of the display that bleeds into about an inch of the screen. Not only that, but apparently, the dark mode is not working on the device.

The problem has led to plenty of low reviews on Amazon, with the device sitting at an average of 2.6 stars. With Amazon well aware of the issue, the company is working on a fix and noting that owners can contact customer service and request a replacement or refund. That said, replacements may take some time to arrive as Amazon works on fixing the screen tint issues, although there's no word on the dark mode issue.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Telegram's new update is a visual treat for big channels
• WhatsApp's new customization feature makes managing your chats much easier
• Google's huge ChromeOS 130 update packs AI features, Focus, and more for laptops
• Samsung's Galaxy S25 series might finally adopt Android's seamless updates
• Android emoji reactions now appear as they should on iPhones
• Pixel Screenshots app grabs a few QoL updates and a capture shortcut
• You're not crazy, other Galaxy Watch 7 users report ghost vibrations
• One UI 7 beta could be just around the corner with an Apple Intelligence-like twist
• Latest Motorola Rizr rollable phone patent highlights new security tricks
• Qualcomm reports $10.2B in FY Q4 revenue thanks to strong headset sales, automotive push

What you need to know

• Google is beginning to roll out the November 2024 update for Pixel phones running Android 15, which will continue over the next week in a phased rollout.
• Pixel 6 and newer phones running Android 15 are eligible; however, rollout timeline can vary based on your carrier and device model.
• Additionally, the November 2024 update includes three patches for security vulnerabilities with a severity level of "High," according to Google.

Starting today, Nov. 6, Google is beginning to issue the first Android 15 update for Pixel phones. The November 2024 update is available for Google Pixel 6 and newer devices and will continue to rollout over the next week. The exact timeline an vary based on your carrier and device model, but you can check if your Pixel phone has received the November 2024 patch now. Since the update includes critical security fixes, it's important to update your phone to the November 2024 version of Android 15 as soon as possible.

The update will only be available for users who have already updated their devices to Android 15. If you aren't seeing it, make sure your device isn't still running a version of Android 14. Google lists the full breakdown of versions for each supported device model on a support page:

• Pixel 6:                  AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 6 Pro:           AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 6a:                AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 7:                  AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 7 Pro:           AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 7a:                AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel Tablet:         AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel Fold:            AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 8:                 AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 8 Pro:          AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 8a:               AP3A.241105.007
• Pixel 9:                 AP3A.241105.008
• Pixel 9 Pro:          AP3A.241105.008
• Pixel 9 Pro XL:    AP3A.241105.008
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: AP3A.241105.008

The update doesn't include any new features, and is rather intended to fix the initial set of Android 15 bugs. Specifically, the update will fix a few issues plaguing the new Pixel 9 series. One problem that caused a strange tilting effect while recording video and zooming between cameras has been resolved with this patch.

Additionally, a bug limiting Bluetooth range in certain situations was fixed. A few issues with the display and Adaptive Brightness are now corrected. Finally, a bug that caused pressing the dismiss keyboard button to not work as expected is resolved.

Those are just the bug fixes for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. There are a few more that cover all Pixel devices eligible for the November 2024 update, which Google vaguely describes as "general improvements for performance and stability in certain UI transitions and animations."

Pixel 8a users will be happy to know that a problem causing the display brightness to flicker under certain conditions is resolved, too. This issue only affected the Google Pixel 8a, the company says.

More importantly, the Pixel Security Bulletin for November reveals that this patch includes three fixes for security vulnerabilities with a "High" severity level. These are tracked as CVE-2024-47038, CVE-2024-47040, and CVE-2024-47039. Due to the security contents of this update, we recommend applying it as soon as it becomes available for your Pixel 6 or newer device.

To check if your device has received the Pixel November 2024 update, open the Settings app and tap System. Then, press Software update and tap System update. You can press Check for update in the bottom right corner of the screen to force your device to refresh. Once the update appears, follow the on-screen prompts to install and apply it.

What you need to know

• OnePlus fast-tracked the stable Android 15 release for the OnePlus 12, skipping the beta phase in some areas like North America.
• OxygenOS 15 brings AI-powered features, smoother animations, and the Open Canvas feature, which was previously exclusive to the OnePlus Open.
• New AI features are still being tested and will be released gradually throughout November.

OnePlus has officially launched the stable OxygenOS 15 update, and it's now being rolled out globally to OnePlus 12 devices.

The OEM has surprisingly fast-tracked the OxygenOS 15 rollout for OnePlus 12 devices across multiple regions, including North America, India, and Europe. This quick release follows the recent launch of the Open Beta program in several markets, with some areas like North America skipping the beta phase altogether.

OnePlus has admitted that the early launch of the Android 15 update may have been influenced by competition, with other Android phones getting the same treatment more quickly than before. The company confirmed that the update will be rolled out to users in phases over the course of the week.

Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 brings a host of AI-powered features and smoother animations. One standout addition is the Open Canvas feature, which was previously only available on the OnePlus Open.

Although OxygenOS 15 brings plenty of improvements, OnePlus has noted that new AI features are still being worked on. These are in testing now and will be gradually rolled out to users throughout November.

While the AI features aren’t in this first release, OxygenOS 15 still packs plenty of cool new features and upgrades. For example, updated icons and rounded corners bring sharper, cleaner visuals to the Home screen and system.

Furthermore, there are new, customizable themes with fluid animations across your Home screen, Lock screen, and Always-On Display. Plus, new gestures make multitasking easier with resizable windows and intuitive controls.

Charging limit also keeps your battery at 80% to help it last longer, with reminders for protection. Holo Audio improves sound quality for online calls and meetings.

The centralized safety hub and organized Private Safe provides easier access to personal data and apps. Overall, OxygenOS 15 is all about smooth visuals, better multitasking, and personalizing your device. You can view the full changelog on OnePlus' website.