Chromebooks: B / Tablets: A

When you're as forward-focused as we are, it can be difficult to even remember what happened last month, let alone last year. There is a constant onslaught of new releases, software updates, and industry changes that are shifting and evolving. While the market for Chromebooks and tablets isn't as volatile as smartphones or wearables, 2025 surprised me in a few ways.

I guess that's to say that I'm thankful that I'm able to look back and review what my thoughts were at this time last year. Both Chromebooks and tablets were in a completely different place than they are today, and as 2025 comes to a close, it's time to reflect on how things played out over the past 12 months.

A rollercoaster of a year for Chromebooks and ChromeOS

For much of the year, things were fairly quiet with Chromebooks. Really, the first half of the year was more "ho-hum" than I expected, with new Chromebook releases being quite iterative. It wasn't entirely unexpected, as Samsung and Lenovo ended 2024 with a bang thanks to the former's return to the platform after a hiatus, and the latter bringing us another great hybrid option.

Fundamentally, there weren't many drastic changes made to ChromeOS, as Google shifted its focus to better implementing Gemini into the system. Little did I know that bigger plans were on the horizon for both the hardware and the software.

Flagship ARM chips bring x86 power without sacrificing battery life

The major shift didn't really begin until the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 was revealed in June, offering the "dream" Chromebook with excellent performance and incredible battery life. Lenovo certainly delivered, thanks to the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910, an ARM chip that goes toe-to-toe with some of the best traditional x86 chips found in Chromebooks.

Not only does this make for a very snappy Chromebook, but the Kompanio Ultra allowed Google to implement even more on-device Gemini functionality. Up to this point, a few AI tasks could be handled locally, but many still relied on cloud processing, potentially slowing your workflow. That's now changed, as you're now able to perform tasks like editing images with Gemini on your Chromebook.

It wouldn't be until September that we would see the Kompanio Ultra arrive in another option, as Acer picked up the mantle with its Chromebook Plus Spin 514. It offers the same level of performance as Lenovo's Chromebook, but has the benefit of sporting a convertible design, whereas the Lenovo sticks to a traditional laptop design.

Just as impressive, if not more so, is the battery life for these new Chromebooks. Both the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 and Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 are rated to last for up to 17 hours on a single charge. This is a far cry from the 8-10 hours we're used to seeing on many of the best Chromebooks that rely on x86 processors.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows in the Chromebook world

While it was awesome to see the Kompanio Ultra set a new standard for what Chromebooks should be capable of, only two OEMs are bringing these to the masses. Samsung seems to be just letting the Galaxy Chromebook Plus ride the wave for a while, while ASUS and HP have pushed more iterative releases.

Honestly, that's not really a big deal, as it's still nice to have a bit of competition in the space, regardless of the price range. However, I was frustrated by OEMs' unwillingness to release Chromebooks with higher storage configurations. Some have microSD card slots, which is great (in theory), but not always reliable.

I hoped we'd see at least one Chromebook with 1TB of storage, but we didn't even get one with 512GB. Well, at least not one released for consumers and not limited to businesses.

This could become a problem rather quickly. One concern is that as Chromebooks become more powerful, it opens the door to more on-device Gemini and AI functionality.

However, to perform tasks on-device, the necessary AI models must be accessible locally, so they must be downloaded. So it's not entirely inconceivable that your brand-new 128GB Chromebook really only has around 100GB of usable space, which simply isn't enough for a daily computing device.

The other problem is that a memory shortage is already driving up the prices of RAM and storage. Just as a brief example, take the SanDisk Extreme 1TB microSD card. For much of the past year, it's hovered around the $100 mark, reaching a low of about $76 back in October.

However, over the past two months, the price creep has led the microSD card to be priced at $140. The same can be said for the 2TB SanDisk Extreme microSD card, which had an average price of $180 over the past 6 months, only to now cost an eye-watering $270.

Really, all I can say is that we all need to buckle in while the AI boom drives prices through the roof.

Smaller flagship tablets are trickling in

Pivoting over to tablets, one of my biggest wishes coming into 2025 was that we would end up seeing smaller flagship tablets released. Man oh man, not only did we see that, but I'd almost go so far as to say it's becoming a trend with more and more options becoming available.

Lenovo kicked off the year in a big way by releasing the 8.8-inch Legion Tab Gen 3 here in the U.S., which is essentially just a rebranded Y700 2024 that was only available abroad. Lenovo also released the Y700 (Gen 4), powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but the company has yet to bring that tablet to the U.S. market.

However, the RedMagic Astra arrived in June, bringing with it both a 9.06-inch OLED display and the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Unlike the Y700, the Astra is available here in the States, serving as the most powerful Android tablet that doesn't feel like you're carrying around a laptop.

I hope to see even more tablets under 10 inches released in 2026, but I'm also pretty happy with the current state.

Android tablets are actually good again

For those who don't care quite as much about having smaller, powerful tablets, 2025 was really a banner year for the category across the board. Samsung led the charge with its release of the Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, both of which are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Plus.

OnePlus dethroned Samsung as the best Android tablet with the OnePlus Pad 3, which runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite and features an excellent 13.2-inch, 144Hz display. But it also comes equipped with plenty of great features to improve the experience, and I don't mean just by shoehorning AI into every facet of the software.

Lenovo and Xiaomi also released new flagship tablets, while Honor beat everyone else to the market with the MagicPad 3 Pro, the first tablet powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. I haven't gotten my hands on that one just yet, but I'll hopefully be able to change that in the near future.

Arguably, the best part of all this is that, aside from Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11, all these tablets can be had for under $1,000. For years, Samsung dominated the tablet market, but it seems the tide is finally beginning to shift, as more and more OEMs are entering the ring.

2026 might flip everything on its head

Looking back at the past year, there are reasons to be excited about both Chromebooks and tablets, regardless of your stance on one versus the other. However, it might not be long before the two converge into a single device, as Google and Qualcomm alluded to the potential of an Android-powered laptop at the most recent Qualcomm Summit.

At the moment, we don't really know much about what a supposed Android Laptop powered by Qualcomm would look like, aside from trying out Desktop Mode in Android 16. I can't imagine this being the replacement for ChromeOS, as the platform continues to grow and is heavily relied upon in schools. But I'm also intrigued by how this will be positioned in a market dominated by Windows and macOS.

Then again, this could just be an experiment with Google, wanting to see where it goes before deciding what the future holds. Or it could really spell the beginning of the end for Chromebooks and even laptop-replacement tablets like the Tab S11 Ultra.

I'm excited to see what's to come as we head into 2026, as I hope both Chromebooks and Android tablets continue to grow in popularity. That said, I am also concerned about the dark clouds moving in across the tech space as a whole, and what the space will look like if memory shortages continue to plague the industry.

On paper, the Galaxy Z TriFold sounds like practically the perfect upgrade for someone who has been using foldable phones for years. It's thin, fast, has a solid camera system, and has an even larger screen when unfolded.

When it was announced, my excitement obviously boiled over, as is usually the case when new foldable phones are announced. Since then, my excitement has slowly been diminishing to the point that I don't know if I'll actually try and buy one at launch. (Who am I kidding, of course I am.)

Even if I do fork over one of my kidneys to pay the likely even more exorbitant price tag, I'm kind of unsure how long it'll remain my daily carry. And frankly, I have Harish to blame for this, as he recently got some hands-on time with the Galaxy Z TriFold.

Odd design choice

Leading up to the announcement, something in my head just told me that Samsung would adopt a design similar to the Huawei Mate XT. Instead of just two screen sizes to choose from, the Mate XT lets you keep one screen closed, giving you a total of three screen configurations.

This adds another layer of versatility, as there will likely be times when I don't want to use a 10-inch tablet but would be okay with using an 8-inch one. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the way Samsung decided to go, and I'm really curious as to why.

DeX Mode should've been the default

Something else that left me a bit confused is that if Samsung is only going to give us two configuration options, why isn't DeX Mode the default layout when unfolding the phone? It's the same question I've been asking for years whenever a new Galaxy Tab is released, as Android just isn't well-suited for larger displays without a boatload of tinkering.

And it's not like you can just seamlessly install a different launcher, because of API limitations, resulting in a very broken experience. Technically, it is possible, but installing and using different launchers requires a bit of tinkering with Bixby Routines or something like Tasker. Instead, I'll unfold the TriFold and be greeted by a home screen with more wasted space than you can shake a stick at.

To be clear, I'm not talking about the "old" DeX Mode, which more closely resembled that of a desktop-like interface. I'm talking about the "New DeX," revamped with One UI 8 and built on Android 16 Desktop Mode.

Basically, it's a hybrid launcher that can look like a more traditional desktop, with added benefits like widgets, something that wasn't possible before. Now would've been the perfect time to introduce such a change, especially with the release of a (mostly) new product category.

Last-gen

Originally, this was the part when I was going to complain about a potentially $3,000 phone not having the latest flagship processor. And to a certain extent, I still feel that way, and not just because I'm a sucker for the latest and greatest. But it's for the same reason that I harp on Samsung and Google for not including flagship cameras in their most expensive phones.

Don't get me wrong, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is an extremely performant processor, and will definitely last for as long as those trifold screens do. But I also think it would've been pretty damn awesome to see the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 at the helm.

That being said, doing so would have likely meant an even higher price tag. Not to mention that the current DRAM shortage gives phone makers enough of a reason to charge higher prices, not just to boost profit margins.

Even higher prices are looming

It's also possible that the Galaxy Z TriFold will be among the first phones to suffer from such issues, since we still don't know how much it will cost in North America. Samsung launched pre-orders for the TriFold in its home country of South Korea, with an asking price of KRW 3,590,400. When converted to dollars, that equals about $2,400.

Which is surprising enough in its own right, as it's only $400 more than the base model Galaxy Z Fold 7. Considering that this is going to be a niche within a niche kind of device, that's actually a lot better than I was expecting.

What's crazy is that Samsung reportedly sold out of the TriFold "in minutes," but so did the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. So I'm not really sure if it's a testament to excitement about the phone, if it's just because that's the brand loyalty Samsung has at home, or if the first product run is just a small one.

As I mentioned before, I'll probably still try to get the Z TriFold once it's officially released here in the States. But I'd be lying if I said that Huawei's Mate XT might end up being the better implementation of this new form factor.

FAQ

When it comes to finding the best Black Friday deals, it sure feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. But then there are deals that jump out and make me want to share them with anyone and everyone who will listen, and this Pixel 10 Pro Fold deal that falls in that latter category.

We have no idea when this deal expires, but you can currently get Google's latest foldable for an incredible ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS off. Did I need to scream that? Well, actually, yes. The phone was JUST released in October, and has already earned itself a soft spot with me.

Okay, so what's the catch?

In order to save $1,000 on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, you'll need to either add a new line, upgrade an existing line, or open an account with T-Mobile. Shocking, I know, but it's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. From there, you'll also need to have a phone to trade in, with many recent flagship phones qualifying for the full discount.

However, even if you don't have one of last year's best phones, that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least try to trade in your existing phone. That's because T-Mobile is offering six trade-in promotions at the time of this writing, with savings starting at $500. So you've still got a decent chance of saving a bunch of money on the 10 Pro Fold no matter what.

Reading this, you might be wondering if I'm just being a bit over-the-top about how good this deal is, but that's not entirely the case. Truthfully, I LOVE seeing great deals on my favorite foldable phones, because it immediately squashes one of the most common hurdles that people face: the price.

While Google didn't raise the price of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold over its predecessor, the $1,800 price tag can be a tough pill to swallow, even when the payments are split up and added to your monthly bill. So with this deal, instead of shelling out enough money to cover a month of rent for a one-bedroom apartment somewhere, you're getting a 10 Pro Fold for the price of a Pixel 10!

Going hand in hand with the price hurdle is the concern about durability with foldable phones in general. We can thank Google for this one, as it looks to squash any worries for those considering the 10 Pro Fold, thanks to its IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating.

Frankly, I thought Samsung might've gotten there first with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, especially after removing the S Pen digitizer. Nope! It was Google, although I suspect this will change when Samsung releases the Galaxy Z Fold 8 sometime next year.

To this point, I've been pretty glowing on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but even with the improved durability and premium design, it's far from perfect. My biggest complaint has been how it lacks the flagship camera experience you would find with the Pixel 10 Pro XL or Galaxy S25 Ultra.

I mean, Samsung managed to make its foldable thinner than a #2 pencil, but upgraded the primary camera to feature the same 200MP lens as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You'll find no such luck with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and that's just downright disappointing, regardless of how much you spend on this foldable phone.

I was hoping that since Google wasn't going to introduce a completely new redesign, it would at least implement the same sensors as the 10 Pro, but it just wasn't meant to be.

My other issue is definitely a "first-world" problem, but it's that there is some wonky stuff going on with gaming performance on the Tensor G5. Apparently, it has something to do with the GPU drivers, and Google claims those drivers will be updated at some point in time. The downside is that we just don't know when that will be, meaning that it's a tough recommendation if you were excited about the expected gains that were supposed to be introduced with the Tensor G5.

So while it's not perfect, and it might not even be on your radar, we're talking about saving $1,000 on a phone that's only about a month old. Let me put it this way: I was already considering switching from Verizon to T-Mobile, and this deal is so good that it might actually push me over the edge.

FAQ

It's an exciting time to be a fan of gaming, as we've seen an abundance of devices released in the past year, with more on the horizon. I mean, Valve just announced the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, while dual-screen handhelds like the AYN Thor and AYANEO Pocket DS are modern versions of the 3DS powered by Android.

However, there's a flip side (get it?) to the entire experience that has, unfortunately, reared its ugly head recently. When I pre-ordered the AYANEO Pocket DS back in August, I did so under the expectation that it would ship in October. Not only is it now the middle of November, but I have no idea when it will show up. Plus, those who have received their pre-orders are reporting a laundry list of issues, and AYANEO is failing to provide substantial communication about any of it.

The waiting game

See, I pre-ordered both the Thor and Pocket DS as soon as I could, making August a rather expensive month for me. The thought was that I'd get both handhelds around the same time, could figure out which I liked more, and then would either return or sell the other.

And while that will still be the case, I currently sit here with just one of the two, as my AYN Thor was delivered a couple of weeks ago. Meanwhile, I have no idea when the Pocket DS will be shipped, let alone when it will arrive on my doorstep.

It's been almost three months since I gave AYANEO my money to secure a Pocket DS pre-order, even springing for the Retro Gray model, as I'm a sucker for retro-themed hardware. Not only that, but during one of the livestreams, AYANEO claimed that those who backed the higher-end models would be prioritized, so I figured it was a "win-win" scenario.

Yet, AYANEO went a full two weeks without shipping any new devices to backers, with only 16 Retro Gray models being included in the list. And no, I wasn't included in the most recent batch of shipments from mid-November.

While the Pocket DS campaign was successfully funded, and orders have shifted to its own online storefront, much of the communication with the company is done through the comments section of the Indiegogo campaign. And if you take just one look, it's an absolute bloodbath between people canceling orders and asking questions about quality control issues, only for AYANEO customer service to provide rather vague answers.

A lack of clear communication

At least when it comes to much of the rest of the tech world, the majority of companies tell you when your pre-orders will arrive. And if something unforeseen takes place, then you'll likely see an update about it, whether via an email, press release, or a post in your RSS feed.

But as I was hopping between different Discord servers, I noticed that someone was keeping a running track of the issues found with the Pocket DS. Here's what the list includes so far:

• High-pitched fan noise
• Sticky buttons
• Non-functional buttons
• Non-functional joysticks
• "Acceptable light bleed"
• SD card slot not working
• SD card ejecting on its own
• Firmware updates result in controller not working
• Faulty lid sensor
• Flipped Gyroscope
• Hinge makes cracking noise when closed
• Strong burning electronics smell when charging
• Boot loader looping (out of the box)

Some of those issues aren't really a big deal, and can likely be solved with a software update, provided that said update doesn't cause other things to break. However, there are others that are inexcusable, such as the electronics smelling when charging, the microSD card auto-ejecting itself, or getting a new handheld only to find that none of the buttons work.

It also doesn't help that AYANEO has not done a very good job in communicating whether there's actually a problem in manufacturing or not. Meaning that if you decide to keep your pre-order, you're basically rolling the dice in hopes that you didn't spend a bunch of money and wait for months, only to get a lemon.

I'd argue that the bigger issue is that it sure seems like AYANEO has its plate full. In just 2025, the company has released eight different handhelds, while announcing or teasing another eight devices, such as the AYANEO Phone, Pocket Vert, and others.

Speaking of which, AYANEO's first tablet, the Gaming Pad, was announced all the way back in March and was expected to be released sometime in May. However, besides making appearances during livestreams, AYANEO made no mention of whether the Gaming Pad is still being released.

Too much, too fast

But I digress. It's clear that AYANEO is trying to do too much too fast, resulting in quality control issues, poor build quality, and shipping delays with seemingly no end in sight. For as fast-paced as the industry moves, it might be time for AYANEO to take a step back and reinforce its foundations first before it's too late.

No, this isn't meant to be a "hit piece" about AYANEO, but it's really a plea for the company to do better. When the company is firing on all cylinders, it makes some of the best hardware that I've ever seen and used. Sadly, it's become apparent that a couple of those cylinders have lost power, and a trip to the mechanic is needed before it's too late.

As the great Ron Swanson once said, "Never half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing."

FAQ

When the Steam Deck originally launched, it blew the rest of the competition away. Not because of its power, but because it struck the perfect balance between price and performance. The Steam Deck released with a $399 price tag, which was $300 less than the original AYANEO Windows handheld, and $250 cheaper than the ROG Ally that arrived in 2023. In the nearly four years since then, the gaming handheld landscape has undergone significant changes.

The price of x86 handhelds just continues to climb, with the GPD Win 5 arriving on Kickstarter, starting at ~$1450 and topping out at ~$2120. Those prices make the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X's $999 price tag look like an absolute steal. But what if I told you that your next (or first) gaming handheld should run Android and is about 81% cheaper?

Recently, both AYANEO and AYN announced the first two Android gaming handhelds to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Until now, the most powerful chip available in a handheld device was the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, which is essentially a modified version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from last year.

That's not even the best part, as not only are we getting the 8 Elite in dedicated handhelds, but both the KONKR Pocket FIT and AYN Odin 3 start for less than $300. And if you wanted to get the top spec model with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the Pocket FIT is currently $499, while the Odin 3 comes in at $519. It's still something that I can't quite wrap my head around, even with Qualcomm's next flagship chip set to be unveiled soon.

"But Andrew," you're probably asking, "this is like comparing a Prius to a Ferrari." Not so fast. Sure, you won't be able to play the latest AAA games like Battlefield 6 or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, you might be surprised at the different kinds of games that you are capable of playing, and I'm not talking about digging through the slop in the Play Store.

That's right, I'm talking about Winlator again, and its never-ending list of forks. As a quick debrief, Winlator brings Windows emulation to Android. Over the past year, it has evolved from being an overly complicated emulator for the most dedicated of enthusiasts to offering significantly more.

One such example, and arguably one of the most popular options currently in the community, is GameSir GameHub. I've written about it a few times, but this takes Winlator, puts it in a user-friendly wrapper, and lets you download compatible games right from your Steam library. Recently, I was able to go from installing GameHub to running Hollow Knight: Silksong within 15-20 minutes, without fiddling with any settings besides signing into my Steam account.

Some of that speed can also be attributed to GameHub's ability to identify the device you're using and the game you're trying to play, and automatically apply settings known to work. Whereas, if you were to fire up Winlator, you'll probably be spending quite a bit of time trying to find the right settings, only for the game to not load or work properly.

Plus, we already know that the Snapdragon 8 Elite is more than capable of emulating other consoles, including Switch games. Eden and Citron have both recently released major updates to their respective emulators, introducing better performance and compatibility. It's just about reached the point that these are set to dethrone Yuzu and Ryujinx for the majority of people. We just have to hope that development continues to flourish, uninterrupted.

With all of that in mind, how did I manage to perform the mental gymnastics of comparing these two Android-based handhelds to the Steam Deck, an x86 handheld? It's actually quite simple. Both AYANEO and AYN are releasing handhelds that look to offer the same price-to-performance ratio that the Steam Deck still does to this day.

You could even toss the Retroid Pocket G2 into the mix, with its Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, offering excellent emulation and gaming performance for around $200. Ultimately, the point is that the Steam Deck revolutionized the x86 handheld space by lowering the price barrier, and now AYANEO, AYN, and Retroid are doing the same.

You can always fall back on using the phone or tablet you already own to play games on the go. But doing so introduces additional barriers while removing the convenience of a dedicated gaming device.

FAQ

Back in May, Samsung bucked its trend of only releasing three flagship phones with its announcement of the Galaxy S25 Edge. The phone is just 5.8mm thin, which is downright impressive from a technological standpoint, but it is overshadowed by the iPhone Air with its 5.64mm frame.

To avoid burying the lede, super-thin phones aren't for me, and it's not because I have an almost two-year-old running around the house. There are just too many compromises that are made just for the sake of being as thin as possible, and no matter how much Samsung or Apple might want to, a company can't just alter physics.

As recent reports suggest, it would appear as though I'm not alone in feeling this way about ultra-thin phones. Just over a month after its launch, reports surfaced that "Galaxy S25 Edge sales aren't meeting expectations." And before that, a separate report claimed that "consumer interest in the Galaxy S25 Edge is below what Samsung initially envisioned."

Now, it seems Samsung's plans for the Galaxy S26 Edge may have suffered, with reports stating that the phone may not launch next year as expected. Let's see why that might be.

Compromises aplenty

The most immediately apparent compromise is that the S25 Edge retails for $999 and only features a dual camera setup. Yes, it's using the same 200MP main wide-angle lens as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and now Galaxy Z Fold 7. But it also sports a downgraded 12MP ultrawide lens and drops the telephoto sensor altogether.

But what if you don't really care about not having the telephoto lens? Well, the decision to make a phone as thin as possible has another glaring consequence: a smaller battery. The S25 Edge sports a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz display, which is the same as the Galaxy S25 Plus.

That's a lot of pixels to power, not to mention that the power-hungry Snapdragon 8 Elite is behind the steering wheel. So while the Galaxy S25 Plus is equipped with a 4,900mAh battery, the S25 Edge comes in with a paltry 3,900mAh cell. According to Samsung, you'll be able to get about 30 hours of playback with the Plus, with the Edge only capable of lasting for up to 24 hours.

No thank you. Battery anxiety is not something that I particularly enjoy.

What about the iPhone Air?

Just because I compared the S25 Edge to the S25 Plus doesn't mean I'm giving Apple a pass here with the iPhone Air. Again, it's a feat of modern engineering, arguably even more than the S25 Edge, as Apple managed to squeeze the entire logic board and cameras into the "plateau" on the back, while also being thinner.

That said, the iPhone Air is also full of compromises once you get past the "oohs" and "aahs." Notably, Apple used a modified version of its A19 Pro chip that uses "one fewer GPU core" than the iPhone 17 Pro series. Plus, Apple intentionally introduced performance limits in the form of thermal throttling due to the size of the chassis. As a result, the iPhone Air actually falls short of the S25 Edge in GPU-focused benchmarks.

And as for the camera, the iPhone Air is ostensibly worse than the Edge, only featuring a single 48MP lens. Apple tries to obfuscate this by calling it a "Fusion" lens and banking on the 2x "optical-quality" images, but as Brady Snyder pointed out in his iPhone Air review, "Two things can be true: it's not a gimmick, but it's also not a replacement for a telephoto camera."

However, for all of its technological wonder, reports claim demand for the iPhone Air just isn't there.

In the case of the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung can just chalk it up to a failed experiment for whatever reason it wants to give. With the iPhone Air, I believe Apple released this phone as a test to gauge feedback, durability, and production, as the company prepares to release its first foldable device. Basically, it was a way for Apple to make back some of the R&D money it's already spent, so don't be surprised if this is a "one and done" release for Apple, too.

Waste of time, money, and resources

That's not something Samsung has to really worry about, as the company already released its "testing grounds" device with the Z Fold Special Edition late last year. It was only released in South Korea, but it allowed Samsung to get some feedback before rolling out a very similar (if not identical) design to what we now have with the excellent Galaxy Z Fold 7.

At the end of the day, this is why the Galaxy S25 Edge didn't make much sense to begin with. Samsung already offers a strong balance of devices with the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, and there really wasn't anything that differentiated the Edge. Well, besides offering a fourth phone that didn't last as long and wasn't as versatile, it also cost $100 more than the S25 Plus. It had too many compromises.

Maybe it was just a way for Samsung to try to cut into some of Apple's market share before the iPhone Air was released. Or maybe there were other plans in store that had to be ditched for one reason or another. But as we're starting to see, the masses don't really care about ultra-thin slab phones anymore, especially if they're making too many sacrifices.

For much of the year, the focus on foldable phones has been on how thin manufacturers can make them. But after Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold put the rest of the market on notice, the same can be said about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but for a completely different reason.

We've lamented on numerous occasions about how the original Pixel Fold was an eyesore and behind the 8-ball as soon as it arrived. It was awkward, had thick bezels, and a hinge that may or may not have opened all the way. It made the Galaxy Z Fold 5 look futuristic, despite using a design that was already getting a bit long in the tooth.

Google then surprised us all with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, managing to beat out the rest in the race to become as thin as possible. Fast forward to now, and Google has "recycled" this design for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, skipping the "thin" factor in favor of other specs, such as a larger battery and Qi2 magnetic charging. However, there's another reason why the added thickness doesn't bother me, and it's one we probably don't think about enough.

Where the Pixel 10 Pro Fold stands apart

There's one thing that Google's flagship foldable has over the rest of the competition: an IP68 rating. Frankly, many wondered if such a rating would ever apply to foldables, given the numerous fail points on a phone with a built-in hinge. Not to mention that Google was the first to achieve this, not Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, or any other phone maker.

In doing so, it provides me (and hopefully everyone else) with a bit more confidence when I get caught in a thunderstorm or take a trip with the family to the beach. No, I'm not saying you should drop the 10 Pro Fold into a bucket of water to test it, but you also won't have to worry quite as much compared to others.

Initially, I didn't really think much about the IP rating, mainly because I'm almost never in a situation that would require me to worry about it. However, funnily enough, that all changed recently when I went to a three-day music festival at the beach.

Being who I am — a nerd who likes phones and tech — I went to the festival with three different phones. Two were foldables, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in one front pocket, the Oppo Find N5 in the back pocket, and the non-folding Pixel 10 Pro in the other front pocket.

Day one of the concert festival went off without a hitch, but day two was a completely different story

It was raining off and on all day, and it got worse after my wife and I arrived. We were there to see a few different bands, but the headliner for night two was Good Charlotte, a band that we both love and haven't had the opportunity to see. The problem was that by the time they came on stage, it felt like we were standing in the outer bands of a hurricane with heavy rain and winds.

Naturally, when you're someone like me, carrying three phones and seeing bands you listened to religiously growing up, you want to take pictures. Throw in the fact that Good Charlotte had a surprise guest in Deryck Whibley of Sum 41, and it's even more of a reason to record a video or take some pictures.

Not once did I reach for either the Find N5 or the Z Fold 7 out of fear that the conditions might overwhelm them. Instead, I relied on the Pixel 10 Pro to snap pictures of the band as they played through the hits of my childhood. All the while, jumping around and dancing in a downpour that just so happened to let up as soon as Good Charlotte's time was up.

That hesitation was enough to make me wish that I had the 10 Pro Fold with me, as I would've felt just as comfortable using that over the other two foldables in my pockets. Not only could I have written about that experience, but I also would've been more likely to leave all of the other phones behind and just carry that one.

Compromises for the sake of compromises

The thing with foldable phones is that they represent the epitome of compromise within the smartphone space. Companies try to cram as much tech as they can into phones that aren't just simple slabs of aluminum and glass, usually to the detriment of one feature or another. It's why the Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't have the same camera hardware as the 10 Pro XL, despite the former being about $800 less expensive.

This idea of compromise is also why Samsung ultimately decided to ditch S Pen support with the Fold 7, as the digitizer prevented Samsung from making the phone as thin as it wanted. And while I think there's a prototype out there that looks like the Fold 7 but includes the necessary tech to support the S Pen, I suspect that it'll never see the light of day.

Honestly, I don't even know if I would care at all about the IP68 rating if it weren't for my concert experience. But if anything, it's made me realize that it's time for Samsung, Motorola, and every other foldable phone maker to get on board. Even if that means that the phone is a few millimeters thicker than the current models.

As we barrel towards a new age in mobile software, one that eventually aims to essentially be an "agent" that does everything for us, it's crazy to think about how far we've come in such a short time. More and more people are turning to ChatGPT, for better or worse, while Google is attempting to wedge Gemini into every conceivable space possible. Not to mention that we're getting more and more "AI-powered" features with every new flagship phone release.

That said, I realize that when it comes to actually using AI on my various smartphones, Chromebooks, gaming handhelds, and so on, at the end of the day, everyone's AI experience is the same. I should probably modify that to say, "everyone's AI experience can be the same." No matter how you try to phrase it, the general idea remains the same, as someone with an iPhone 17 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, or Samsung Galaxy A26 can all do the same things with AI.

No, I'm not talking about the features that Apple, Google, and Samsung try to sell you on in the various ads and commercials. That's cool and all, but the commonality between a phone that costs almost $2,000 and one that's less than $200 is that they can all download the same AI apps.

Currently, the most prominent players are Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Perplexity, Grok, and DeepSeek. All of those apps, and many more, are available on either platform, ensuring you'll always have access to your conversations and creations. Yes, there might be times when the iOS version of ChatGPT gets something first, but the same can certainly be true for Gemini on Android.

At the time of this writing, ChatGPT holds the top spot in the Play Store, and the next AI chatbot app doesn't appear until Microsoft Copilot, in tenth place. Surprisingly, the opposite is true on the Apple App Store, where Google Gemini is the current top free app, followed by ChatGPT in second and DeepSeek in fifth. It just goes to show that Google's marketing is paying off, although there's definitely an argument to be made about the iPhone being a better Google phone than Android.

Apple's playing catch up

Of course, there's another side to the coin here, and it's one that re-opens the age-old "iOS vs. Android" debate. Simply put, Siri is awful and can't hold a candle to Gemini, ChatGPT, or even DeepSeek. Apple is so far behind the 8-ball here that it partnered with OpenAI and Google when introducing "Apple Intelligence" last year.

Recently, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple "is planning to launch its own artificial intelligence-powered web search tool next year, stepping up competition with OpenAI and Perplexity AI Inc." Based on the report, this just sounds like it will be an Apple-branded version of Gemini, as Gurman says "The companies reached a formal agreement...to evaluate and test a Google-developed AI model to help power the voice assistant."

However, Apple isn't stopping there, as this AI-powered search will also be implemented in Siri. But instead of trying to figure out the score of the game or find the name of a brand, it's said that Siri will finally be able to "tap into personal data and on-screen content to better fulfill queries." By pulling resources from other departments and refocusing its efforts, Apple could deliver this enormous overhaul as soon as March 2026 with iOS 26.4.

Even so, while we all wait for this big AI overhaul, you can still download apps like Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot, or Perplexity and perform many AI-related tasks we hope to see from Apple and Siri.

Everyone else is widening the gap

Meanwhile, Google has just announced new Gemini models, along with a complete overhaul and revamp of the Google Home app. Additionally, Gemini will be available on our existing smart speakers and Nest Hubs, a feature we've been eagerly awaiting.

At the same time, OpenAI recently announced "Instant Checkout in ChatGPT," allowing users to make purchases using AI. It also introduced "ChatGPT Pulse," which will "deliver personalized updates based on your chats, feedback, and connected apps like your calendar."

Why does any of that matter? Because all of those new features from Google and OpenAI will soon be available on any phone (if they aren't already). So, sure, needing to download an app isn't as seamless as just having it integrated at the OS level. But does it really matter given the abundance of options at our disposal, especially when you can just pick the app that works best for you in any particular instance?

To answer my own question, no, it doesn't really matter. At least for now.

This week, Qualcomm hosted its yearly Snapdragon Summit, where the company has already unveiled the next generation of flagship smartphone chips, along with new Snapdragon Arm processors. I'm just as excited as the next nerd about those, but something was said by Google SVP for Platforms and Devices Rick Osterloh during the CEO Keynote that caught my attention.

Towards the end of the Keynote, Osterloh was asked by Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon "What can you share about this new project we're doing together about personal computing?" Right off the bat, that's enough to get my ears to perk up, as I assumed it would have something to do with Chromebooks and ChromeOS. However, Osterloh's response didn't mention ChromeOS or Chromebooks once.

Google's entering the "PC domain"?

"In the past we've always had very different systems between what we're building on PCs and what we're building on smartphones. And we've embarked on a project to combine that. And so, we're building together a common technical foundation for our products on PCs and desktop computing systems."

That might seem like a bunch of fodder, but it's just the build up before Osterloh reaches the crescendo a moment later. "...bringing all of our application and developer community into the PC domain. So we're really excited about this, and I think this is another way in which Android is going to be able to serve everyone in every computing category."

Pixel Laptop anyone?

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that sure sounded like Google is working on something major, with Osterloh trying to remain as tight-lipped about it as possible. Then, Amon let another cat out of the bag, as he replies with "It's incredible. It delivers on the conversion from mobile to PC. I can't wait to have one." So not only is this a separate platform from say, Windows, but it sure sounded like Google's working on some new hardware.

Immediately, I was reminded of the "Pixel Laptop" rumor that was making its rounds in late 2024, which was initially said to be running ChromeOS. However, a subsequent rumor suggested that wouldn't be the case, and instead would be the result of merging ChromeOS into Android, creating a completely different, yet familiar, experience.

Google's cooking something up

That would've been enough for me to be intrigued, but then, our friends over at Chrome Unboxed called out a discovery made by Chromebook Live about "Android Desktop." And before that, Chrome Unboxed found references to a brand new ARM-powered ChromeOS tablet codenamed "Sapphire" with "code changes that explicitly add support for an LED light bar." Where have I seen the light bar before? Oh right, on the Chromebook Pixel and Pixel C, two devices made by Google.

All of this comes on the back of Google's continued push to merge the ChromeOS and Android kernels, representing a tectonic shift for both platforms. Not to mention all of the progress we've seen with Desktop Mode on Android 16, letting you plug your phone into a monitor and being presented with an interface similar to what Samsung DeX has offered for years.

Based on the conversation between Osterloh and Amon, I don't think they were talking about a device that requires a phone for it to run (i.e. NexDock). It just feels like Google is gearing up for a massive release and something that could change the way we think about Android and ChromeOS forever.

Sorry Tensor, the Snapdragon is here

There's another interesting tidbit to throw into the mix here, and it's not something that I was expecting. In the past, I've suggested that Google should make a splash by releasing a new Pixelbook powered by its own Tensor SoC.

It sure seems as though that won't be the case, and instead could be powered by a Qualcomm chip. And seeing as the hardware is at the point that its being demoed, albeit privately, this suggests Google is closer than we thought to actually releasing a new piece of hardware to pair with its new OS venture.

If I were to guess, this would be powered by one of the Snapdragon X2 Elite processors, as opposed to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This would give Qualcomm a way to respond to MediaTek's inclusion of the Kompanio Ultra found in the likes of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 and more recently, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514.

No matter what happens, it's clear that something big is on the way and that it's just a matter of "when" and not "if." That alone should be enough to get everyone excited about the future of ChromeOS and Android.

Samsung recently unveiled its latest iteration of the Galaxy Tab lineup with the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra. Besides a handful of smaller changes, this is about as iterative a device release as you can get. That idea recently prompted me to posit whether we've reached the pinnacle of tablets as a whole, or whether there is still room to grow.

Now, that same idea has got me wondering about whether you should buy the Galaxy Tab S11 or S11 Ultra. So without further delay, let's dive in and see what conclusion we come to.

Specs

Why you should buy the Galaxy Tab S11 series

We've already written a few different pieces about the various reasons why the Galaxy Tab S11 or the Tab S11 Ultra should be on your radar. And it all starts with the most "basic" of factors, as there are few companies that can release devices that are as premium as these.

You may have a hard time telling this version from its predecessor, but that's not a detriment when we're talking about ultra-thin tablets housed in a sleek aluminum and glass design. What's also impressive is that Samsung managed to make the 14.6-inch Tab S11 Ultra even thinner than the Tab S10 Ultra, now matching up with Apple's 13-inch M4 iPad Pro. Oh, and it managed to do so while also delivering a larger battery.

Besides the design, Samsung also provides the best software experience among other Android tablets. With the Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra, Samsung is finally implementing some useful features, specifically with DeX. Instead of fiddling around with USB-C capture cards and adapters, "Extended Mode" lets you plug your tablet into a monitor and have the screen extended.

One feature I'm excited to get my hands on is the ability to create different "workspaces" when using DeX. Essentially, this lets you create four virtual desktops, each of which housing apps of your choosing. For example, I can have one workspace for my fantasy football apps, while another one might have Obsidian, Gmail, and Chrome.

I've been hoping to see such a feature introduced, as I usually have multiple desktops and spaces set up on my desktop, Chromebooks, and other computers. And with a tablet as large as the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, it truly gives you that laptop-like feeling.

Reasons why you might want to think twice

There's no preamble here; the price is the biggest hurdle to overcome with the Tab S11 lineup, especially if you have the Tab S10 Plus or Ultra. The Tab S11 is a little bit of an easier pill to swallow, coming in at $799 in its base configuration. But the Tab S11 Ultra and its $1,199 price tag definitely make it more of a "luxury" purchase than anything else.

For just about the same price, you can get the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 or the upcoming Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514, and the newly released Pixel 10. Both Lenovo's and Acer's latest Chromebooks are some of the best we've ever seen, thanks to the Kompanio Ultra chip. Plus, who doesn't love getting a new phone, and while the Pixel 10 might not be as feature-rich as the Pixel 10 Pro or Pro XL, it's no slouch either.

Part of the reason why I bring up the Chromebook is that if you opt for the tablet approach, all you're getting from Samsung is the tablet and an S Pen. Meaning that if you want a tablet that doubles as a portable workstation, you'll need to pay even more to grab a keyboard case.

Not to mention that, unlike the Tab S11, Samsung has yet to release a successor to the Book Cover Keyboard that includes the trackpad. Currently, only the Book Cover Keyboard Slim is available, which has limited viewing angles and lacks a trackpad. It might not be a big deal to some, but for others, it's rather disappointing.

One thing you probably noticed about the Tab S11 lineup is that Samsung decided against releasing an updated "Plus" model. While I don't care about the lack of an updated 12.4-inch version, I do care that Samsung doesn't offer either the Tab S11 or Tab S11 Ultra with cellular.

This feels like a rather silly and unnecessary omission, especially when you take into account that the International model has it. A Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra with a proper keyboard and 5G connectivity would give it a leg up on many of the best Chromebooks and Windows laptops.

Define, then decide

I can sit here and nitpick about the nuances over specs or design changes, but the reality is that the Galaxy Tab S11 and Tab S11 Ultra are two of the best tablets that money can buy. That's not me saying that you should run out and buy one, but the nitpicking shouldn't really sway your decision too much one way or the other.

What I recommend is that you identify your wants and needs from a tablet and determine how many of those boxes can be checked off. Which probably means that if you already have a Tab S10 Plus or S10 Ultra, you're probably better off saving the shekels in favor of something else new and shiny that's caught your eye. Then again, have you seen how thin the Tab S11 Ultra is? I mean, I want one just for that simple change alone.

Over the course of a little less than an hour and a half, Apple introduced its latest batch of flagship phones, along with some major updates for other product categories. Arguably, the second-most striking of them all was the introduction of the iPhone Air, seemingly Apple's response to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

I'm not one who really cares, or has ever cared, about really-thin phones, as they're usually accompanied by crappy battery life while missing out on other features. I suspect the same to be true of the iPhone Air, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max being more of my style, especially now that Apple has found a brand new orange ink cartridge.

But as the Apple event rolled on, it dawned on me that the iPhone Air isn't just a way for Apple to compete with Samsung. It's also serving as a sort of testing ground for what we've been expecting for years: a foldable iPhone.

The writing is on the wall

There was one part of the presentation that tipped me off to this, and it was when the design changes were being explained. In order to make a phone this thin and still give Apple the ability to market it as having "all-day battery," components had to be shifted around. So in order to make this work, Apple shoved all of the major components into the camera "plateau."

And I'm not exaggerating. The iPhone Air's entire logic board now rests inside the camera bar, while still accounting for both the selfie and rear cameras. The rest of the chassis? It's pretty much a large, thin battery and a USB-C port.

So why does that matter? Well, if Apple wants to release a foldable iPhone that isn't immediately laughed out of existence, it needs to be thinner than what previous iPhone models were — especially considering how late Apple is with getting into the game.

Many rumors point to Apple's first foldable phone to be a book-style foldable, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, as opposed to a flip phone, like the popular Razr 2025 series. Given Apple's propensity for being a crowd-pleaser, I initially thought the opposite was true — since flip phones tend to be more popular due to their nostalgic design and cheaper price tag — but the iPhone Air pretty much solidifies the book-style rumors.

In order to release a phone that's thin, sleek, and modern, without making too many sacrifices, Apple had to hit the design reset button. This is likely what spurred the decision to overhaul the iPhone Pro lineup, while also introducing an all-new device. It also doesn't hurt that we were overdue for a proper design change, as the previous iterations were already stale, even with the Titanium frame.

With that said, I can't help but feel like the iPhone Air design is a precursor to an eventual foldable. If you tape two iPhone Airs together, side-by-side, that's a pretty good indication of what Apple's first foldable could look like. Of course, that tape will be replaced by some state-of-the-art hinge that "only Apple could make." Or at least that's what we'll be told.

Even if that isn't the case, there's no denying that seeing Apple being able to redesign basically every element of the phone to fit into a phone this thin is simply extraordinary. The iPhone Air (5.64mm) is thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge (5.8mm), but isn't quite nearly as thin as the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold (5.2mm) or the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (4.2mm). But an iPhone foldable easily could be.

The iPhone Air is a great start to something greater

Nevertheless, seeing what Apple was able to do with the iPhone Air and how it committed the resources to creating a phone like this to begin with leaves me feeling much better about Apple's first foldable phone. Recent reports suggest it will be unveiled this time next year, arriving alongside the iPhone 18 lineup. Rumors also point to it being between 4.5mm and 4.8mm thin, meaning that Apple still has a bit of work to do, but the iPhone Air is a good start.

Android Central contributor and resident thin-phone fanboy, Brady Snyder, probably summed up the iPhone Air the best way: "The entire body of the iPhone Air is just the battery, and the camera bump actually houses the entire logic board. That's insane."

Insane, indeed.

If you had told me three years ago that not only would Google release a foldable, but that it's now set to release its third iteration, I would've chuckled. Yet, here we are, with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold set to arrive in October, a couple of months after its non-foldable counterparts.

After the original Pixel Fold, Google surprised many and released the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, introducing an all-new design that was both sleek, modern, and incredibly thin. With the major redesign out of the way, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold focuses more on the minutiae, making a few seemingly iterative tweaks.

With that in mind, you're likely wondering whether to buy the Pixel 10 Pro Fold or opt for something else. We're here to provide a bit more insight into the reasons why or why not you should upgrade to Google's latest foldable.

Why you should buy a Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Let's address the biggest reason why you should upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold out of the way: it's the only foldable phone with an IP68 rating. Although many other foldables have an IP rating, many of them are capped at IP48, while others still don't offer any type of dust protection.

That's not to say that you should immediately take your foldable to the beach or toss it in a bucket of water. But considering that durability is one of the biggest sticking points for those considering foldables, the IP68 rating goes a long way.

Beyond that, the next biggest reason to buy the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is all about performance. Google did an admirable job with the Tensor G4, despite benchmarks putting it far behind the competition. Even still, the 9 Pro Fold barely skipped a beat, even with all of the various Gemini additions that were introduced.

While the Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't quite match up with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Google says it provides more than a 30% boost to CPU performance over the G4. Perhaps more importantly, the G5 improves on-device AI performance by approximately 60%, giving Gemini ample room to grow.

And then there are several minor details that might be enough to help sway you to join the foldable lifestyle. This includes features like Pixelsnap, which finally brings Qi2 and MagSafe accessories without requiring adapters or unique cases. Google also managed to incorporate a larger battery, claiming that the 10 Pro Fold can last up to 30 hours on a single charge.

Additionally, Google implemented these various improvements without increasing the price. The base model is still priced at $1,799 for 256GB of storage, and a 1TB option is now available if you want to turn the 10 Pro Fold into a do-it-all phone.

Why you shouldn't buy a Pixel 10 Pro Fold

It's difficult to find too many flaws with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but there are a few frustrations and omissions. Most notable is the camera hardware, which doesn't use the same sensors as the Pixel 10 Pro, a phone that costs $800 less.

Google seems okay with leaving any improvements to the software, with on-device processing doing more of the heavy lifting compared to the non-foldable Pixel 10s. Of the three rear cameras, Google technically did upgrade the main wide-angle lens.

However, it's only using a newer 48MP sensor, while the telephoto and ultrawide cameras remain unchanged. I have no doubt that it'll still take fantastic pictures, but with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 now sharing the same primary camera sensor as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google's decision is disappointing.

Lastly, $1800 for a foldable phone is still a tough pill to swallow. Especially when viewed from the perspective of the general consumer.

You walk into a store and see the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with its all-new and sleek design, upgraded cameras, and packed with features that you'll never even realize are there. Then, you look the other direction and see the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which has a fresh coat of paint, but looks pretty similar to last year's model.

There's a $200 difference between the two, and in a vacuum, ignoring budget constraints, I'd have to guess that more people will reach for the Fold 7. Perhaps it would be different if Google even dropped the price by $100, narrowing its margins for a year, just to attract more people into the Pixel ecosystem.

Some understand the hidden costs that go into the creation of a smartphone. The rest either don't know or don't care and just see what looks like an iPhone-like release cycle with seemingly minimal upgrades.

Trying to decide? Go with your gut

One thing that's throwing a wrench into the decision to buy the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is that it's not available yet and won't be until October 9. Google says this is due to "supply chain issues," and while it will still arrive ahead of the 2025 holiday frenzy, that doesn't help those who want to upgrade now.

You can already walk into basically any carrier store or Best Buy and walk out with a Fold 7. Apple just announced its next event, presumably where the iPhone 17 series will be introduced, and there's a good chance it'll be released before the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, too.

That's to say, if you had your heart set on picking up the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, I'd say just wait out the FOMO storm. At least on paper, the improvements look to be well worth it, and if you were on the fence, there's nothing wrong with testing the Fold 7 waters to see how you like it. There's always a return window in case you change your mind.

Personally, I'm waiting until the 10 Pro Fold is released before using my personal upgrade.

It's been a couple of days since Google officially revealed its entire flagship lineup in the Pixel 10 series. However, it did so in a way that was less of a spectacle and felt more like a morning talk show. Sure, part of the reason it felt like that was because Jimmy Fallon was the host, but that was really how the overall structure of the "event" felt.

There are two things that Google proved during the event. The first of which is that it's clear Google is doing whatever it can to appeal to a wider audience, beyond just releasing cutesy commercials when new phones are announced. The second, might not be as obvious to some, but host Jimmy Fallon proved that the world is ready (and longing) for a foldable iPhone.

Is this a new Google?

The new format of the Pixel 10 launch event was Google's attempt at getting more consumers excited about the latest phones and features. Traditionally, these kinds of launch events are structured without much wiggle room, and maybe sometimes come with a "skit" designed to inform, excite, and showcase. Instead, we were greeted with a surprise early embargo drop, subsequently followed by Google doing its best impression of "The Tonight Show."

What really drove the point home for me was the actual product showcase portion, where Adrienne Lofton, VP of Global Consumer Marketing at Google, gave us the "CliffNotes" of the new Pixel lineup. It almost felt like one of those morning talk show kitchen segments, with Lofton talking about everything that Google's been cooking up. Google took the idea of a morning talk show and turned it into a device launch, complete with special guests, mini-skits, and a couple of interviews.

Fallon and Lofton played off each other quite well, even when the "A Word" was mentioned regarding Pixelsnap. This is pretty uncommon, and I can't imagine anyone from Samsung or Apple, besides Craig Federighi, even entertaining the idea of participating in something like it. That's to say, kudos to Google for stepping outside of the box, because despite how cringey some of the jokes were, the almost hour and a half long show flew by.

The foldable demand is there, just hiding

With all of that, there was one particular moment that stood out to me, and that's when the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was being shown off. I don't know if it was genuine or not, but Fallon seemed more excited about the Fold than anything else found in the smorgasbord on the table in front of him. For about 30 seconds, it appeared as though he just zoned out while doing nothing but opening and closing the Fold.

Then Lofton went on to talk about how the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first foldable equipped with an IP68 rating, which prompted a bit of forced excitement from Fallon. Without skipping a beat, the very next topic was about Pixelsnap, and how it works "perfectly fine with your Apple MagSafe accessories," to which Fallon responded with "You said the 'A' word." After that, the pair spoke briefly about RCS, which naturally included mentioning the whole Green Bubbles vs. Blue Bubbles trope.

Of the almost 17-minute segment, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold got about two minutes of the spotlight. While the Fold made sporadic appearances throughout the entire event, it was nothing like the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup and Pixel Watch 4.

That, along with Fallon's aforementioned excitement, feigned or otherwise, just drove home the point that foldable phones are still viewed as second-class citizens, albeit more expensive ones. Sadly, I think that will continue to be the case until Apple makes its long-awaited arrival with a foldable iPhone.

A storm might be brewing

Recent headlines might suggest otherwise, with a Canalys report (via CNBC) sharing that Samsung has seen a surge in market share from 23% to 31% between Q2 2024 and Q2 2025. Another report from Counterpoint Research says foldable phone sales "are growing rapidly, especially for book-type foldables" in Europe.

Notably, Samsung shared that both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 demolished pre-order records, "outpacing last year's models by over 25%." The company also revealed that the Fold 7 specifically "is selling nearly 50% faster than the one before it."

Meanwhile, Apple's market share has dropped from 56% to 49% over the time frame. Which, paired with Siri basically being the laughing stock of on-device assistants, doesn't bode well for a company that has been regarded as the "best" for years. Of course, this is just a relatively small sample size, and it's worth noting that Apple's next iPhone isn't expected to launch until next month.

This could result in Apple deciding to move up its internal timeline and release a foldable phone to compete with the likes of Samsung, Google, and Motorola. Last month, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claimed that Apple will introduce "its first foldable iPhone at the end of next year." Gurman goes on to say that instead of offering its take on a flip-style foldable, we should be seeing something more along the lines of the Z Fold 7, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, etc.

Between the foldable market rebounding in a big way at the same time that Apple is seemingly struggling, we could be in store for the perfect storm that takes the form factor into the mainstream. And not just as a footnote.

Over the past six months, I've bounced from the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold to the Z Fold 7, and am now using the Oppo Find N5. It's been a blast being able to use all of these different foldable phones, but I've recently found myself missing the 9 Pro Fold and growing impatient for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

There are a lot of factors at play when it comes to picking what phone my SIM card goes into, but towards the tail end of my time with the Fold 7, I started missing the Pixel. Don't get me wrong, the Fold 7 is everything that I was hoping the Fold 6 would have been, besides the S Pen being put to rest.

The best way I can describe is to say that the Z Fold 7 is the "work" phone, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the "home" phone. However, the Fold 7 or Find N5 are the phones that I gravitate towards when it comes to tinkering with Switch emulation or trying to see what Windows games I can get running in Winlator.

If the leaks and rumors are true, I'm really hoping that will no longer be the case.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't need a flashy design

On the outside, the leaks point to Google playing it "safe" with the design this year, and that's probably not a bad move, especially with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. I'm sure Google will throw some new and flashy colors at us, with the vibrant ones being relegated to the regular Pixel 10 phones and showing signs of running out of ink on the Pro models.

But that's not where the excitement comes in for me, although I do love it when Google makes a green or orange phone. Instead, my excitement lies with the expected introduction of the Tensor G5 with the Pixel 10 series.

Google's taking the leap

Until now, Google's Tensor chip has been manufactured by Samsung, and while it's been a good run, it hasn't been great. The problem has been that the Tensor processor lags at least a generation or two behind what Qualcomm and MediaTek release. And for the most part, it's been fine, as the Tensor G4 was the best iteration yet, but between the Gemini improvements and general Android upgrades, Google needs to turn things up a notch.

Google reportedly did just that for the Tensor G5 by making the switch from Samsung to TSMC. According to some leaked benchmarks, the Tensor G5, which appears to be built on a 3nm process (the Tensor G4 was a 4nm chip), could be more than 30% faster than its predecessor. Those are the kinds of improvements we were hoping to see last year, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Admittedly, this doesn't mean that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be able to go toe-to-toe with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, or even the regular 8 Elite for that matter. But it doesn't need to, at least not yet, because it's also rumored that the G5 is Google's first "fully in-house made processor."

That's an important point because it's also what Apple and Samsung do with their respective processors, and it just so happens that Google is now relying on the same company that Apple does to produce its processors.

What's it all mean?

So why does it matter, and what does it mean? Well, nothing really, at least if you're upgrading from the Pixel 9. But as we saw with the addition of the Linux terminal with the March 2025 Feature Drop, Google has something planned for the future, and it's probably going to be big. So, having complete control over the design and manufacturing should give Google all of the tools it needs to truly blend the hardware and the software.

And that's without even talking about what Google might have in store for the future of Gemini. I wouldn't be surprised if we were also introduced to a new Gemini model, with "nano-banana" and references to "GEM_PIX" making the rounds on X (formerly Twitter). So when you consider what Google was able to do with the Tensor G4 for Gemini, having more control from top to bottom, along with better general performance, should mean that the sky is the limit.

One thing, though...

With all of that being said, there is one thing that I'm worried about with the Tensor G5, and that's gaming performance, specifically with regard to emulation. My concern is that even with the aforementioned improvements, emulating higher-end systems with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's massive screen will result in disappointment.

What I'm hoping for is that even if the Tensor G5 trails behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite on paper, it will close the gap in a massive way. Then Google takes what it's learned from this go 'round, and puts Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Apple on notice with the Tensor G6. But until then, I'll just keep watching the clock tick until next week's announcement.

For more news and information on Google's upcoming Pixel 10 refresh, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Time flies when you're having fun, right? Well, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold made me realize that Google's taking the foldable form-factor seriously, even if it hasn't dipped its toes into the flip-style yet. So with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold around the corner, it's a good time to reflect before I need to decide whether to upgrade or not.

Since its release, I've basically been going back and forth between the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6. On a few rare occasions, I just tossed a spare SIM into one of them, ditched my iPhone, and just carried two foldables for a couple of days. It's not something I really recommend, but as long as your pockets are big enough and you're wearing a belt, it's manageable.

The hardware holds up

Until the original Pixel Fold was finally unveiled, I had been clamoring for Google to join the parade before it was too late. Then the Pixel Fold landed, and while I was elated to see my wishes become reality, I came to the realization that Google might not be cut out for this kind of hardware.

Then came the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and to this day, I'm still flabbergasted by the stark difference between the two phones. In my initial impressions piece, I said that Google "really went for the 'Pixel 5 to Pixel 6' upgrade path, and if it weren't for the 'G' on the back, I'd go so far as to say these were made by completely different companies." That sentiment still rings true today.

Sure, the phone is still slippier than I would like, but that's been remedied with the Thinborne MagSafe case. It adds hardly any extra thickness to the phone, but gives me MagSafe support, something that I'm hoping will actually end up in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Besides that, I really haven't had much to complain about with the design. The cover screen is the same size as the Pixel 9 Pro, giving me a slab phone for one-handed use, but with the obvious benefit of unfolding into a Pixel Tablet Mini.

Where the software falls short

As for the software, I would be lying if I weren't a bit worried about how Google planned to combat the ongoing headaches when using apps on foldable phones. Samsung manages to clear some of the hurdles by including the "Multi-window" option to "force" apps into working via the Labs Settings.

Instead, Google took a different approach, which also played a major role in the overall design. When using two apps in split-screen portrait mode, the aspect ratio is practically identical to that of a traditional smartphone, meaning that it's basically like having an app open on two phones and holding them side-by-side. It's an ingenious solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem, given the sheer number of Android apps out there.

However, that solution immediately falls apart as soon as you want to add a third app into the mix. With the Galaxy Z Fold, you can have three apps in split-screen, along with a few more in Pop-up View. OnePlus and Oppo have the Open Canvas, allowing you to have apps open, move them off-screen a bit, and then tap the edge of the app to bring it into focus.

With the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, once you pick the two apps you want to use, that's all you've got. A common example for me was having two apps open and then needing to grab something from my password manager. Instead of being able to just have the app open in a floating window so I can grab what I need without leaving the app pair, the third app just takes over as the primary.

It's more of an annoyance than anything else, but I can't help but wonder why Google hasn't added some type of implementation. I understand the desire to stand out and offer a different experience, but when every other foldable phone lets you open a floating window, it just feels like poor execution.

My favorite feature of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

What isn't poor execution is how invaluable the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's camera has been. No, it's not quite on the same level as the Pixel 9 Pro XL or Galaxy S25 Ultra in terms of hardware, but that's not my point.

Google's "Made You Look" feature has become so important that my wife gets annoyed whenever she asks if I'm using the "Google Fold" and I regretfully inform her if I'm not. Our son is now almost 18 months old and is still distracted by everything and anything around him, unless he can hear Ms. Rachel.

However, once I take out the phone and turn on Made You Look, that's where his attention immediately goes. And if I turn on the sound so he can hear the various noises from the different animals, good luck getting him to pay attention to anything else for a few minutes. But more often than not, that's plenty of time to snap some shots when he'd otherwise be trying to run away to plot his revenge.

I've been able to take some absolutely incredible and adorable pictures of him, and it wouldn't have been possible without the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Looking Ahead

Obviously, I've rather enjoyed having the Pixel 9 Pro Fold by my side, and honestly, ever since sending it off to a colleague for additional testing, I miss having it. In addition to what I've already covered, I want to experiment with Google's new Canary Release Channel and see how far I can go in creating a Linux desktop environment on the phone.

If the Pixel 10 event wasn't right around the corner, I'd probably be very tempted to try and get another Pixel 9 Pro Fold, if not just for the Made You Look feature. But before we know it, Google will have unveiled the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and I don't want to waste an upgrade on my account beforehand.

That said, even if it weren't for the tsunami of leaks in recent days, leaving little to the imagination with Google's next foldable, I might have considered using the upgrade anyway.

I've already written about whether you should wait for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and even with the leaks, my feelings remain the same. But while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might have more features and a better camera, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will probably be my next daily carry, just as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold usurped the Z Fold 6.

For more news and information on Google's upcoming Pixel 10 refresh, check out our Ultimate Guide.

With just a few days left until Samsung officially unpacks the Galaxy Z Fold 7, now is as good a time as any to reflect on how the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has stood up over the past year. For a good chunk of the past year, the Z Fold 6 has either been my primary or secondary phone, only being swapped out with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Despite being a huge fan of foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 just didn't spark the same level of excitement that I've felt elsewhere. I've already written about how Samsung played it safe with an iterative design, only to release a more modern iteration with the Z Fold Special Edition, which was limited to a handful of regions.

What's the problem?

The problem is that, for the most part, the Fold 6 has been the phone that I keep coming back to, time and time again. I revisited the OnePlus Open in anticipation of an Open 2 that never arrived, but still ended up back on the Samsung train. The only phone that has managed to pull me away has been the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, especially now that Desktop Mode has arrived with Android 16.

Why is that a problem? When you see phones like the Find N5, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and even the Huawei Mate XT being released, the Z Fold 6 simply looks outdated. It's kind of like how the original Pixel Fold looked like it was supposed to originally launch in 2020, but for whatever reason, was held back until 2023.

On top of that, the Z Fold Special Edition was basically proof that Samsung could release a modern foldable with better cameras, a bigger screen, and all of the things I've been hoping for. So when we see reports and rumors about sales figures being down, it doesn't come as a shock, considering that it's really just Samsung, Google, and Motorola in the space, at least until we get a proper OnePlus Open successor.

Why do I keep coming back?

So if the hardware and specs are such a letdown, why do I keep coming back to the Z Fold 6 at all? Everything else.

The thing about this phone is that if I really had to, I could use this for literally everything. Its narrow cover screen is great for doom-scrolling or replying to messages, and if I need more space to spread out, I can just unfold it. If I need to sketch something out or jot down a note, I can just grab an S Pen and be on my way.

Do I need even more space? Then I can plug in my handy-dandy NexDock and turn the Fold 6 into a laptop via DeX. And if I'm really in a pinch, then I can pair my Samsung ultrawide monitor with the Fold 6 and use DeX that way. But that's more a last-ditch effort kind of thing since DeX doesn't really play nice with ultrawide monitors.

And when it comes to multi-tasking without DeX, Samsung has my current favorite implementation. Basically, there aren't any major limitations. I'm able to have more than two or three apps appear on the screen, and can easily swap them out or just pull up a floating window. Admittedly, the only time I do that is to access my password manager or if I'm watching football while checking fantasy scores.

Surprising discovery

There is one thing I've noticed regarding the design, and it's that I'm much more likely to use the inner screen on the Fold 6 than the other foldable phones I have. It's not like I can't do anything from the cover screen, but it's simply too narrow.

That's not the case with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which features the same 6.3-inch display as the Pixel 9 Pro. I'd be lying if I said that there haven't been days when I don't use the inner screen on the 9 Pro Fold. But unless my memory is failing me, I can't remember a day when I didn't unfold the Z Fold 6 at least once.

Naturally, I'll be paying closer attention to this once I get my hands on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, provided that the rumors and leaks are true about the larger screens.

Battery life is awful

Gripes about the hardware aside, that's not the only area that Samsung needs to improve on. Battery life on the Fold 6 has been absolutely atrocious. More often than not, it won't last until the early evening without needing to be charged to make it through the rest of the day.

Obviously, a foldable is a bit different when compared to a slab phone, but surely Samsung knows that this isn't good enough. I'm not even talking about charging speeds, but having the 4,400mAh battery is the smallest of the other recent foldable phones. Vivo recently unveiled the X Fold 5 and managed to squeeze a 6,000mAh battery, while the Find N5 offers a 5,600mAh cell.

I understand there are ways to try and remedy this, but I didn't take any of those approaches. For one, it's extremely annoying and time-consuming to reset and restore a phone, especially one that you've been using for the better part of a year. More importantly, I would have to assume that the majority of people don't wipe and restore their phones once a year, so I decided against doing so.

Everything was fine in the beginning, easily making it through a day. But less than a year later, the Fold 6 barely lasts eight hours, and that's just unacceptable.

Conclusion

It's kind of a weird thing, as I've been trying to gather my thoughts and feelings, but just coming back to the same conclusion: I'm beyond ready for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung was once at the top of the mountain when it came to foldable phones, but stood pat while the competition ran circles around them.

All of the leaks and rumors suggest that Samsung will be implementing quite a few new changes. I'm of the mindset that it'll basically be the Z Fold Special Edition, with newer internals while hopefully retaining S Pen compatibility. And even with all of these supposed changes, there's a chance that the Fold 7 might not even be the star of the show.

Nevertheless, I don't dislike the Galaxy Z Fold 6, as the "kitchen sink" features mostly make up for the shortcomings of the hardware. Plus, Prime Day is right around the corner, and we're already seeing some solid discounts on the current iteration. I just hope that Samsung is able to offer an almost-no-compromise foldable phone and give me a true flagship experience.

For more news and information on Samsung’s upcoming foldables, check out our Ultimate Guide.

For the week or so, Samsung started ramping up its advertising ahead of its next Unpacked event. This is where we'll likely see the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Galaxy Watch 8, and Project Moohan (likely) or a Galaxy Ring 2 (less likely). Needless to say, Unpacked is going to be packed to the gills.

I can't help but notice that Samsung's messaging to this point has largely been focused on the larger Galaxy foldable. It started with a teaser, showcasing a silhouette of a book-style foldable, accompanied by a caption reading "Meet the next chapter of Ultra." Then, another blog post was published that focuses on how the unknown device is "Thin, Light, and Built to Last."

The most recent teaser focuses on the camera system and how AI is expected to improve, arguably the most frustrating aspect of the previous model. Given the constant flow of features from Google, courtesy of tools like Gemini Live, I would expect this to be the case.

The lack of confidence is evident

However, a recent report from The Elec suggests Samsung has lowered its projected sales figures for both the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The report notes that in May alone, Samsung was expected to produce approximately 1.6 million units, with the Fold 7 accounting for 800,000 units. Now, that figure has reportedly been lowered to around 1.34 million devices, with the Fold 7 dropping to around 630,000 units.

Assuming the report is correct, which should always be taken with a grain of salt, I'm left wondering what's going on. For one, I don't recall the last time Samsung started building this much hype for its foldable phones ahead of an official announcement, at least not with this kind of cadence.

So, why is Samsung trying to hype a product that it reportedly expects to fall short of its targets? The obvious answer is that Samsung could just be hoping to exceed expectations for the first time in years. But to me, something about the whole situation just doesn't sit right.

Could Samsung actually introduce a Galaxy Z Fold Ultra? I doubt it. There are numerous factors that work against this idea, particularly in the context of the ongoing trade and tariff dispute in the United States. Furthermore, the economic climate in this region is far too volatile, and an "Ultra" foldable would likely surpass the $2,000 mark, making it out of reach for many.

Falling behind

No matter what comes of the 2025 Galaxy Z Fold family, if it doesn't meet Samsung's expectations, they really only have themselves to blame. Although the software experience is as great as it gets compared to the competition, Samsung has fallen far behind in the design department.

Other foldable phones, such as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Oppo Find N5, and even the Honor Magic V3, make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 look a few years older than it actually is. Not to mention that both of those devices offer better camera hardware, bigger batteries, and less noticeable creases.

Samsung is quick to point and laugh at Apple, but it's also one of the first to follow in Apple's footsteps. This is exactly what happened with the Fold lineup, as Samsung only made minor tweaks to the hardware, resulting in a phone that didn't look much different from the one before it.

Instead of being the industry leader it should be, Samsung sat back and coasted for too long, and the people responded with their wallets. Proof of that came via Counterpoint Research, which reported that Samsung "saw a 24% drop in sales in Q1 this year."

What about a Galaxy Fold FE?

Of course, there's the potential for Samsung to launch a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold FE to boost sales. However, I don't think that's an avenue Samsung should pursue, with the sole exception of being a cash grab.

Why? Well, that's easy. Samsung hasn't proven that it can make a foldable that keeps pace with the Oppo Find N5 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Software-wise, yes, the Fold 6 is the clear winner. Hardware is another story.

There are rumors that Samsung may release an FE version of the Galaxy Z Flip. However, I don't consider the Flip and Fold to be in the same category of devices, even though they were released alongside each other and feature foldable screens.

And yes, a Galaxy Fold FE would mean a more affordable foldable with a large screen, which would likely be beneficial for the bottom line. It's just not something that I think should exist, yet. Not until Samsung can reclaim its title as the best foldable phone maker.

Focus on making the best, and then worry about the rest.

Regardless, it might be time for a Galaxy Z Fold Ultra

Late last year, Samsung proved that it knew how to make the foldable that many would want, as the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition was released. Unfortunately, this was only available in Samsung's home country of South Korea, arriving just a few months after the Z Fold 6 was released.

The Special Edition introduced upgraded cameras, a slimmer design, larger screens, and basically everything we've been wanting. Besides the limited availability, the only thing that's missing is S Pen support, a change that we can only hope won't come to the Fold 7.

At the end of the day, I'm still holding out hope for the "no-compromise" foldable from Samsung. The one packed with all the bells and whistles, and essentially the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a foldable screen. Will that ever happen? Probably not. But a guy can hope, right?

For more news and information on Samsung’s upcoming foldables, check out our Ultimate Guide.

When it comes to extensive photo editing and image creation, there are few that can match up to what Adobe can offer. It's one of the most recognizable brands out there, and is worth more than Qualcomm, Sony, Spotify, and even Nintendo. Yet in 2025, it still can't figure out how to build an application that's actually good.

Earlier this week, the Photoshop app for Android was finally released, after it was initially released for iOS back in February. In reality, the company has been trying to figure out mobile devices since 2009, before pivoting to apps that only offered specific editing features.

Using Photoshop and Lightroom has become an essential part of my workflow, so needless to say, I was ecstatic to see it arrive on the Play Store. But then I downloaded it on the OnePlus Pad 3, and immediately wanted to bang my head against the desk.

When I launched the app, it only appeared in portrait view, which I assumed was only because I needed to sign in first. After signing into my Adobe account, the app remained in portrait mode. Okay, I said to myself, maybe I need to open an image, and then it'll switch over into landscape mode.

Nope.

No matter what I do, the app is locked to portrait mode, and I just don't get it. Maybe it was something to do with the OnePlus Pad 3, but that's not the case either. After installing the app on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, it's more of the same.

This isn't as much of an issue on foldable phones, thanks to the square-ish aspect ratio compared to many Android tablets. I knew the app was already available on the iPhone and iPad, but hadn't actually used it on either of those devices.

So after installing it on my iPad Pro, wouldn't ya know — it fired up in landscape orientation. Downloading a picture took forever, but I'll chalk that up to my internet connection, which seems to fluctuate and cut out randomly.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I wanted to confirm that the portrait mode lock is not exclusive to the OnePlus Pad 3. I grabbed the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, opened the Play Store, searched for the app, and couldn't even find it. Then I went to Adobe's Play Store listing page, and of course, the Photoshop app was right there.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the Photoshop listing to download it, only to be met with a "This app is not compatible" message. How is it that one of the largest and most popular digital media companies releases one of the most highly anticipated apps, only for it to not be "compatible" with arguably the most popular Android tablet maker?

The reason why all of this is so frustrating is that I obviously prefer editing pictures in landscape mode. I don't have the metrics, but I would assume that this is the case for many, if not the majority. And no, I don't care that the app is still listed as "Beta," because the same app has been on the iPad for almost four months, and it works as I'd expect.

It all just harkens back to a piece I wrote in April about Android users being treated as second-class citizens. Throw in the fact that Photoshop isn't even available on Samsung's latest tablet, and it feels even worse.

In some instances, I can forgive an app not scaling or working properly on tablets, especially if said app is made by a small team or an indie developer. But this is Adobe we're talking about, and frankly, there's no excuse.

It's reached the point that I'm actually leaning towards cancelling my Creative Cloud subscription, something I've had for at least five years. The problem is that I'm familiar with what Adobe's suite of apps is capable of, and I'm not really quite sure if anything out there can really match that.

But, it sure seems like it's time for me to find out.

The last time I checked, there were at least 35 different smart home devices strewn around my house. Most of them are smart lights or streaming devices, but I also have a variety of smart speakers, displays, and other devices. Not to mention a few smart cameras that we use to keep an eye on the house and its surroundings if we're gone for more than a few hours.

The problem is that everything that I've mentioned is controlled by a different app or service. I've tried my best to keep things as tidy as possible, such as relying on Philips Hue for smart light bulbs and a couple of Nest Cams to monitor the outside of my home.

However, while I'm okay with having a bunch of different apps installed on my phone, my wife isn't. Every new platform means getting her set up and logged in, then keeping my fingers crossed that everything works the way it's supposed to.

Recently, I finally said that enough was enough and decided that it was time to dive into Home Assistant. See, I've actually had a Home Assistant instance set up on an old Raspberry Pi 4 for some time, but I've just been too lazy busy to take the time and finish getting everything set up.

Nest, HomeKit, Alexa, Matter, and more

The promise of Home Assistant is that it can act as the central hub for practically any smart device in your abode. And when I say "smart device," I mean almost anything that connects to the internet in some capacity. In addition to that, Home Assistant works with various "protocols" such as Matter, Thread, Zigbee, HomeKit, Nest, etc.

While improvements have been made to improve multi-protocol integration, none of them have managed to make good on the promise of a seamless smart home. Plus, the only company that seems to even care about releasing new products on a semi-regular cadence has been Amazon. Google's too wrapped up with phasing out Assistant in favor of Gemini, while Apple is content with living inside the Vision Pro.

Installing Home Assistant is as easy

As for getting started, you have a few different options. The easiest of which is to just pick up the "Home Assistant Green," offering a plug-and-play solution, as you just need to plug in the power and Ethernet to get started. However, if you're willing to do a bit of tinkering, you can install Home Assistant yourself on a single-board computer (SBC), like the Raspberry Pi.

Or, you can spin up a Virtual Machine on your computer and install it that way. Seriously, there are even more methods, which go to show just how versatile this service really is. No matter what you install Home Assistant on, just make sure it has a constant network connection, otherwise, it'll only work when your computer is turned on.

As I said before, I have Home Assistant running on a Raspberry Pi that is connected directly to my router. More specifically, I'm actually running the Home Assistant Operating System, as it gives me the flexibility to install and use more integrations than the standard installation would. However, if you're just dipping your toes in the water, I'd recommend either HA Container or Core.

There's so much that you can do

Once Home Assistant is running, you're presented with a pretty basic-looking home page, but that's kind of the point. It's not just a way of tying all of your smart home devices together. But it can consolidate all of the switches, toggles, and controls into a single location, removing the headache of flipping through pages of apps.

But wait! There's more!

Say you prefer the way that the Google Home app works, but obviously, you couldn't integrate a certain platform. This can solve that problem too! With a bit of time and patience, Home Assistant Cloud and the built-in Voice Assistant feature allow you to "expose entities" so that those incompatible devices will now appear within the Home app. And after the add-on is set up, you're able to control even Apple HomeKit devices using Assistant or Alexa.

The beauty is that this can be something quick that remedies a few pain points, or it can be a weekend project that doesn't really ever end. There are some pretty awesome integrations, such as tracking your Amazon deliveries, setting up a presence-based automation, and even turning your computer on.

Even after getting everything connected, you can enhance the experience even further by creating a custom dashboard. Some have even gone so far as to turn an old Kindle into a basic smart screen that shows the weather and upcoming calendar events, mounted on the wall.

So if you prefer a more traditional platform like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you've just supercharged it. But Home Assistant is right there for those who want a truly customizable experience with more built-in functionality than you'll find anywhere else. It provides exactly what we were hoping to see from Matter, but goes further than we could have even thought.

Filling the gaps

With the recent news about Google dropping support for the first two Nest Thermostats, paired with very few new product releases, you might be looking outside of the Nest ecosystem. Well, thanks to Home Assistant, it doesn't mean that you'll be left to figure out how to use a completely different app.

On top of that, the release of Android 14 introduced the ability to customize your lock screen shortcuts, meaning that you can replace the Google Home app on your phone with, oh, I don't know, maybe the Home Assistant app. Which is exactly what I've done on both my docked Pixel Tablet and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and I couldn't be happier. There's even a Home Assistant app for Wear OS, which is really just icing on the cake at this point.

If you're ready to venture down this rabbit hole, keep things simple, read the documentation, connect the basics, and explore the interface. Once you have a better grasp on what's possible, then let your inner tinkerer run wild and have some fun with it. Just keep in mind that Rome wasn't built in a day, and chances are, neither will your new smart home experience.

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For as long as I can remember, I've almost never left the house without having (at least) two phones on me. Part of that is just the nature of the beast when you write about smartphones for a living. However, I was dual-carrying phones long before I began writing full-time.

Occasionally, I would stick to just one phone, leaving the other behind, whether it was for a special occasion or just a quick trip to the store. However, after Apple had the "courage" to drop the SIM card tray, the days of popping out the SIM from one phone and using it in another have long been gone. And given the headaches that accompany trying to get my carrier to transfer an eSIM from one phone to another, I wasn't sure if I would ever return to being "normal."

All that changed after my 15-month-old son decided that he was going to take an opportunity to try out for the Orioles. One moment, I'm walking down the hallway with him in one arm and my iPhone in the other, to turn off the lights in his room. The next thing I know, my phone was a good ten feet away from me, face down, with my son nuzzling his head into my shoulder.

Just like that, I was making an appointment at Best Buy to put my AppleCare Plus subscription to use. The first hiccup was that I needed to leave my phone there overnight, which also meant that I couldn't approve any of the 2FA requests needed to access my Verizon account from another device. It didn't seem like that big of a deal, as the Verizon store was in the next shopping center.

Almost two hours later, I was finally able to leave Verizon with my phone number activated on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. In that time, the sales rep tried everything they could to get my eSIM transferred from the iPhone to the Fold 6. At one point, they even got their manager involved, only to come away empty-handed. It turns out that the only thing that worked was activating and inserting a physical SIM card.

Since then, I've been daily carrying just the Fold 6, and it's actually been a bit liberating. For one, my pockets are lighter, as I'm no longer carrying around an extra pound (literally 1.027 pounds). But there's also just something nice about not needing to worry about where I might have put one of my phones, or trying to decide which phone I should use to accomplish a certain task.

And while I do occasionally miss using my iPhone, it's been almost a month since "the incident," and I haven't felt the urge to actually go through another potential ordeal. I quite enjoy the idea of being able to just pop my SIM card out of the Fold 6 and into the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. There's no need to log into my Verizon account, get on the phone with customer service, or head into a local store. Whenever I'm ready to, it'll take maybe 5 minutes, and I'll be on my merry way.

I wish I could sit here and tell you what kind of problems prevented the eSIM from being activated on the Fold 6, but neither the Verizon rep nor their manager could figure it out. For all I know, it could have just been a random glitch that happened to occur at the right moment. Maybe it's the universe's way of telling me that I don't need an iPhone *he said, tongue in cheek.*

What's weird is that I haven't run into these kinds of problems when moving eSIMs from carriers like Mint Mobile or Visible to other devices. Instead, I only ever deal with issues when it comes to the Verizon eSIM housing my personal mobile number. This leads me to believe it's something on Verizon's end, which also wouldn't come as a shock given how difficult carriers have made it to switch devices.

No matter what the reason is, it doesn't really matter at the end of the day. This isn't a "redemption story" for eSIM, but instead just further proves that it's not as perfect a solution as we'd be led to believe. It's not like I was trying to activate an eSIM on the first phone to include support for the technology; it's a phone that not only costs an arm and a leg, but is also not even a year old yet.

While we regularly see many of the best Android phones follow in Apple's footsteps, this is one area that I'm thankful they haven't. And frankly, I hope the day of an eSIM-only Android phone never comes.

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I was recently asked to give some reasons why someone might want to move from iOS to Android, under the pretense that this hypothetical person hadn't used Android in over 10 years. After sitting and thinking about it for a little while, I provided my responses, but I also came away with a burning question — Is AI really the last frontier?

It's a question that's been rattling around in my head for the better part of the past year, as I've watched Google, Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, and others, try to find the right balance. OpenAI's ChatGPT is really to blame after it exploded onto the scene back in late 2022. It became so popular so quickly that it forced Google's hand to the point that Gemini was originally called Bard. Like, for months, before making the correct decision to rebrand it.

At the same time, Apple threw in the towel and just integrated ChatGPT into the iPhone, and it still doesn't do anything to make Siri any better. Samsung's partnership with Google is paying off, as it is leaning heavily on Gemini for its Galaxy AI integrations. Even OnePlus got in the game, also relying on a combination of its own in-house developed AI models, along with Gemini Nano on the likes of the OnePlus 13.

All of this sounds great, truly. But what can possibly be next?

There's not much else that can be done in the way of design innovation. We already have flippable clamshells, book-style foldables, and even bi-folds that everyone is calling tri-folds. And while rollable phones haven't really hit the market yet, they might not be far off, as Lenovo announced a rollable laptop that's actually being released later this year.

Android is no longer playing catchup to iOS, at least in most regards, and one could even argue that Android is the better platform for everyone. Do you want to tinker? Use Android. Want to keep things simple? Get a Pixel. Looking to replicate the Apple ecosystem? Look no further than Samsung.

While I could definitely sit here and nitpick about things on both iOS and Android, that's kind of the point. They're only nitpicks. The landscape is nothing like it used to be, as there's quite a bit of feature parity between the two platforms. No, it's not synchronous, but the days of not being able to perform even the most basic of tasks on one and not the other have disappeared from the rearview mirror.

So what can possibly be next? I honestly don't think the answer actually lies within smartphones. If I were to make a non-educated guess, the "Next Big Thing" wouldn't actually have anything to do with a smartphone. I think we're heading in a completely different direction, and the most likely end result is going to be a wearable like Meta's Ray Ban Smart Glasses.

Maybe it won't be those specifically, but it has to be something in that ballpark. At the same time, I don't think it will be virtual reality, at least not in our day-to-day lives. Maybe VR overtakes console gaming or something, but seeing how popular handhelds are becoming, I doubt even that happens.

As pointed out by Michael Hicks, Android Central's senior editor of Wearables & AR/VR, there are plenty of potential problems that will need to be remedied with various Android XR headsets when they finally hit the market. These are similar issues to the ones that continue to affect smartwatches, such as "battery life, comfortable and stylish designs, accessible controls," amongst others.

Although Google and Samsung are getting a late jump compared to Meta, that's not necessarily a bad thing. With other companies already releasing options, this gives others the opportunity to learn what mistakes to avoid, in addition to having an idea of "what works" versus what doesn't.

However, unlike smartphones and other wearables, Android XR has the distinct and unique "advantage" of being the first new platform to arrive in the age of AI. We fully expect Gemini to be everywhere and anywhere that Google can put it, but I also wouldn't be surprised if its functionality is limited for the first year or two.

This is simply because smart glasses have a limited physical space, and will have a multitude of various sensors and other necessary components just to work. Plus, new platforms and new devices usually mean higher prices as companies try to recoup the R&D costs in addition to attempting to turn a profit.

No, I don't believe that AI is the final frontier, but I do believe that we're at the "end of the line" in terms of avenues that can be explored in terms of hardware.

Nothing will be able to replicate or even replace the smartphone for many reasons, but mainly because your phone is the most personal device you have. This is partially why I think we're seeing companies shift focus to implementing AI into the software, as it should make our most personal devices even more personal.

So, while it may seem like AI is the next frontier, I do believe that there's still room for something new in terms of hardware. Now, it's just up to companies to figure out what that looks like and find ways to implement it in our daily lives.

When I wrote a similar piece to this one last year, there was a bit more excitement in the air. Google had just introduced its Chromebook Plus moniker, which has seemingly proven to be a success. But as I reflect on the months past, that sense of excitement has turned into a bit of unease.

I have a similar feeling when it comes to Android tablets but to a lesser extent. With a few exceptions, not really much has changed when looking at the overall landscape. Samsung is still at the top but has seemingly shifted its focus to more budget-friendly solutions. Meanwhile, other tablets were released that are trying to make a dent in an increasingly stagnant market.

None of this is to say that there's nothing to be excited about, but seeing how everything played out, my expectations have definitely shifted. Even still, there are a few things that I would love to see out of both Chromebooks and tablets as we get ready to kick off the new year.

More storage please

The logical part of my brain understands that not very many people actually care about having different storage options in Chromebooks. Most of the time, you'll be using this while connected to the internet anyway, so you can just rely on Google Drive or another cloud storage solution to store files.

But when I look at a device like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus and see that it only has 128GB of non-upgradeable storage, I'm a bit disappointed. Samsung tries to offset storage concerns by including a microSD card slot, but this isn't the case with every Chromebook.

Frankly, it's just disappointing to see, and it's something that I hope is rectified in some capacity. At this rate, I'd just be happy to see a new Framework Laptop Chromebook, which gives me all of the flexibility I could want in a Chromebook.

Flagship ARM chips

As soon as I heard about Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series of chips, I immediately thought about how great it would be for Chromebooks. For one, there are a few different processors within the series designed to hit various budgets and price points. At the same time, offering a balance of performance and battery life that we still long for with Chromebooks.

Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed not to see a single Snapdragon X-powered Chromebook announced before the end of the year. I was hoping that we would have at least seen one, even if it was just a teaser ahead of CES 2025. Unfortunately, that hasn't come to fruition, and I've all but given up on the idea of a Chromebook powered by Google's Tensor chip.

Smaller flagship tablets

Even if I didn't write about tablets as part of my job, I'd still use them all of the time. It's part of why foldable phones are so important to me since they're basically mini tablets that can be folded in half and stuck in a pocket. Gone are the days of needing JNCO jeans whenever you're heading out and want to bring a tablet with you.

So when I say that I hope to see more "smaller" flagship tablets, I'm not even talking about the OnePlus Pad 2 or RedMagic Nova. I mean even smaller, something around the size of the Nexus 7, if not a little bit larger. OnePlus and RedMagic are filling the void left by Samsung's decision to forgo the 11-inch Galaxy Tab S10. Outside of that, if you want a compact flagship tablet, your best bet is to import something like the Lenovo Legion Y700.

Imagine having a tablet that you can comfortably hold in one hand and use for everything and anything. Yes, Amazon's Fire Tablets still exist, but those are cheap and lack the performance that I'm looking for. What I'd really love to see is Google release a modern version of the Nexus 7, but we all know that won't happen.

Google should change its mind

I guess it's only right for me to finish this piece by pleading with Google again. I feel like it's turning into a bit of a habit, as I've pleaded and begged for Google to reverse rumored decisions, only for them to fall on deaf ears. But I digress.

The first thing that I want Google to change its mind about is exiting the tablet market. Of course, these are just rumors, and nothing has been confirmed, but all of the signs point to the Pixel Tablet being a "one-and-done" device. And frankly, that's just downright disappointing.

Even in its current state, the Pixel Tablet is pretty great as long as you understand the limitations up front. For me, the Tablet and Charging Dock have been a staple on my desk, giving me the best smart home controller that I've ever used. No, I'm not here to make that argument again.

All I'm saying is that I want to see Google stick with the tablet, at least for another iteration or two. How can a company expect sales to be great when it takes an odd approach to the release? Everything was (mostly) fine when you could only get the Pixel Tablet with the Charging Speaker Dock. But then, Google changed course and made it so you could buy the Pixel Tablet by itself. Oh, and that happened a year after the original release.

It also doesn't help that the Pixel Tablet uses an LCD panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and a processor that can't take full advantage of the new Gemini features that Google is so focused on. If anything, there's an opportunity to give the Pixel Tablet a "glow-up" in the same way that we saw going from the Pixel Fold to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

What about the supposed Pixel Laptop?

There's one looming question surrounding both Chromebooks and tablets, and that's whether Google is actually planning to release a laptop powered by Android. I'm not smart enough to know how this would affect the market, but it would definitely come as quite a shock.

While some may believe that Google is looking to replace ChromeOS with Android, I'm of the mindset that such a move would be a bad idea. There's too much money involved with Chromebooks and the education segment that I don't think Google would want to jeopardize that.

That being said, I am curious about how a potential Pixel Laptop would be presented if it actually sees a release. If I'm putting on my tinfoil hat, this could be the reason why Google is rumored to have canned future Pixel Tablets. However, I don't believe that a traditional laptop powered by Android would be logical.

Although I feel as though the initial rumors were just seeded so Google could flush out some bad apples, my brain keeps telling me that it's possible. Again, not the whole Android replacing ChromeOS, but the idea of a potential Android laptop.

I'm still not even convinced that this is a "where there's smoke, there's fire" situation. But Google is working towards something different, as evidenced by continued improvements being made to the native Desktop Mode, along with the surprising addition of a Linux terminal app with Android 15 QPR2 Beta 2.

Are we in store for a major shake up in 2025?

Oh, how great it would be to look into a crystal ball and see what things will look like this time next year. Actually, that would kind of suck, at least depending on how things shake out.

Besides that, I'm really not expecting many drastic or earth-shattering changes to come to either Chromebooks or Android tablets. Even if the rumors the Pixel Laptop are true, I suspect that it won't see the light of day until sometime in 2026. This gives Google plenty of time to improve Android's native Desktop Mode, and implement any other features it might want to include.

Instead, we'll probably see the same companies release incremental "upgrades" while Google continues to find new ways to entice everyone to use Gemini. We expect to see the "Quick Insert" key make its way onto more Chromebooks, making it so you don't have to manually remap a key, or try to remember the keyboard combination.

At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if we started to see Google introduce a dedicated Gemini key for both Chromebooks and tablets. Many of the latest Windows laptops are equipped with a Copilot key, and I suspect Google will follow suit.

Gemini is continuing to improve, as evidenced by the swath of updates Google rolled out at the end of 2024. But if Google wants to keep up with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, it needs more ways to get people using Gemini. The addition of a dedicated key would go a long way in trying to do just that, even if it might end up as a controversial decision.

Who knows — I've been wrong before, and I hope I'm wrong again.

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.

• Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

It's the time of the year when everywhere you turn, there are so many Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that you just "can't miss." Even if it's for something that you never even considered but were enticed by the idea of saving money, we've all been there and fallen victim to it before, and while we tell ourselves it won't happen again, it always does.

Two categories of devices that we ALWAYS see this with are Chromebooks and tablets. You might see a Chromebook for under $100 or a tablet for $25 and immediately add them to your cart or hit the "Buy Now" button. Amazon is notorious for this, as you used to be able to get the Fire 7 for dirt cheap. But the truth is that practically nobody should actually buy the Fire 7.

If someone tries to give one to you, tell them thanks but no thanks. Or politely accept it and then take it to somewhere nearby that responsibly recycles electronics.

Obviously, a sub-$50 tablet is very enticing, especially if you're out shopping and they're conveniently placed right by the register. It might even work pretty well for a week or two, but it won't be long before you start noticing that it takes a year just to open an app. And you can forget about quickly switching back and forth between multiple apps.

Although it's definitely more difficult to find a good tablet for under $100, there are deals to be found. My favorite cheap tablet deal is for the Lenovo Tab M9, which is on sale for almost 50% over at Best Buy, coming in at $80. It's not anything spectacular, but you get a near-stock Android experience, a much better display, and even a microSD card slot.

Arguably, Chromebook deals can be even worse, as there are still countless listings for sub-$100 laptops that are barely worth the components within them. Many online retailers peddle these devices like they're the ice cream truck driving around the neighborhood. You get excited, spend a couple of bucks, and eat the ice cream, only to realize that it's freezer-burned and probably 10 years past its expiration date.

Look, I love ice cream as much as the next person, but just because I can get an ice cream bar for 90% off doesn't mean I'm going to fork over my money. This is the same kind of mindset that you should have when shopping, whether it be for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or because it's the fifth Sunday in April.

Trust your instincts

The first rule of thumb is to avoid any impulse purchases. I have a tendency to buy things when I'm feeling down, and that's usually when my dumbest purchases are made. Then, Amazon drops them off and I feel like an even bigger idiot because now I have to waste the gas to return whatever it is I bought.

In years past, I had a really bad tendency of buying something just because it was on sale. Even if it was something that I was already considering. But I didn't take the time to do some "window shopping," and just hit the big "BUY ME NOW" button.

Don't be like me. Do some research and check out more than just one retailer before making a final decision.

Android Central's Jerry Hildenbrand broke down how you shouldn't spend money just because there's a deal but because it's something you actually want to spend money on, and I wholeheartedly agree.

While shopping, you might have seen a deal or two on Amazon for the Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus, priced at $219 after a $100 discount. It uses the Intel Celeron N4000, has a 15.6-inch screen, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and all that jazz. Sounds good, right?

Well, how does this one sound? It has a 15.6-inch display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It is powered by the Intel Core i3-1215U and includes 12 months of Google AI. Oh, and you can save $120 by getting it for just $279.

I just described the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which is just over a year old. That's a mighty stark difference compared to the Samsung Chromebook 4, which landed on the scene all the way back in 2019.

Yes, I know and understand that not everyone can spare the extra $60 for the Acer. But that's just one example. There are a plethora of other deals that are actually worth anything and are not just a way for a retailer to get you to spend your money.

Still need guidance? We've got you covered

I don't mean for this to come off as condescending, but the truth is that there are plenty of people that get taken advantage of. It's happened to members of my own family, and in some instances, I've been able to get them to return whatever it was and help them find something that's worth the money. But there are other times when it's just too late, resulting in money being just flushed down the drain.

That being said, you shouldn't just avoid Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and sales altogether. It's just important to do a bit of research first, making sure you really are getting the best bang for your buck. And if you need a bit of guidance or don't know which device to get, we've got your back.

Our team works tirelessly to find the best deals, and that doesn't just mean finding the cheapest thing and writing about it. We research and source deals that make sense, even if the "deal" only saves you a few bucks compared to if it weren't on sale. And if you're still stuck, just hit us up on social media, and we're sure someone will be able to help.

After Apple recently announced its latest M4-powered series of MacBook Pro's, the company made another change that was unexpected. Every current MacBook in Apple's lineup now ships with 16GB of RAM as a base, an upgrade from the previous minimum of 8GB.

Originally, I was going to compare the MacBook Air to the current crop of Chromebooks until I realized that you can't get a new MacBook for less than $1,100. Meanwhile, the most expensive Chromebook is the new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, which is $400 cheaper. Yes, I know there are still a few HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebooks floating around, but those aren't as widely available and are clearly being phased out.

After some prodding in a meeting, I turned my attention to a comparison that does make sense: Chromebook vs. iPad.

Chromebook vs. iPad: Price

Currently, there are six different iPad models to choose from, starting with the iPad (10th generation) for $349 and going all the way up to the M4 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $1,299. Meanwhile, the cheapest Chromebook that's been released in 2024 is the HP Chromebook 14-inch, which retails for $249.

From there, we have a variety of options at different price points, and while the majority of them are laptops, there are a couple of tablets thrown into the mix. These include the likes of the ASUS Chromebook CM30, and more recently, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11.

While both of these are tablets, ASUS and Lenovo include a keyboard case in the box. In doing so, it removes any potential stress and additional cost for those who want a true 2-in-1 device. On the other hand, no matter what iPad you're considering, the only other thing that comes in the box is a charging cable.

Making matters worse for the iPad is that if you want to go with first-party accessories, Apple's Magic Keyboard Folio is priced at $249. Plus, if you want a stylus, tack on another $79, bringing the grand total to about $680.

That immediately puts the "cheapest" iPad in the same price bracket as the Galaxy Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Plus Spin 714. It is also almost $300 more expensive than the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11.

And we haven't even talked about the hardware or specs.

Chromebook vs. iPad: Hardware & Specs

So, what are you getting with the base model iPad for $349? It's powered by the A14 Bionic SoC, which debuted with the iPhone 12 and iPad Air in 2020. This is paired with 4GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage, and if you want to use it anywhere, there are Cellular options available.

I'm not going to sugarcoat anything here, but there's a good reason why Apple is able to "get away" with using a four-year-old processor without facing much backlash. Since Apple controls the entire "stack," it's able to better optimize the software and hardware, when it relies on older processors. This is also why Apple was able to maintain its position as a leader in the industry when it comes to providing software updates for longer than the competition.

As for Chromebooks, the aforementioned ASUS Chromebook CM30 is powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520. It also sports 4GB of RAM and 64GB of non-upgradeable storage. But as I mentioned before, ASUS includes the detachable keyboard folio case in the box, which is already a huge benefit, even if you don't plan to use it all that much.

Performance is where things take a sharp turn. On Geekbench, the Kompanio 520 offers a single-core score of 510 and a multi-core score of 1532. Despite being four years old, the A12 Bionic achieved scores of 1590 and 4247, respectively. Let me put it this way: the cheapest iPad is closer to the Intel-powered Galaxy Chromebook Plus in terms of performance.

It's not even close; the iPad wins by a landslide here.

Chromebook vs. iPad: Software

Software is the key to everything, and this is where a sub-$300 Chromebook outshines even a $1300 iPad. With a Chromebook, you not only have access to the ever-growing world of web apps and extensions, but the Play Store is also just a click away. Not to mention that there's an even bigger repository of apps at your disposal if you feel comfortable enough to enable Linux support.

On an iPad, everything is powered by either the App Store or Safari, and there is just a little bit of wiggle room for anything else. While you can use Chrome or Firefox on an iPad, you won't find any extension support, and for whatever reason, web apps don't always feel as fluid as they do on a Chromebook.

While important, I'd argue that usability is even more important, especially when it comes to things like using more than one app at a time. The iPad is superb if you're trying to stay focused on one app, but it immediately begins to fall short when you want to toss another app into the mix.

"But what about Stage Manager?" You might be asking, and I'm glad you did. When enabled, it lets you use up to four different apps at the same time. Allowing you to resize and move them around with relative ease. There's even a slide-out "dock" of sorts, letting you basically work within different spaces that are comprised of different apps.

Technically another app can be used, provided that you can remember that the Slide Over is at your disposal or even how to use it. But it's cumbersome at best, and downright useless more often than not.

None of that is a problem with a Chromebook, as it works just like any other desktop operating system. The only difference comes when using either a ChromeOS tablet or a Chromebook with a convertible form factor. When doing so, it's more similar to using any Android tablet or iPad, with your app windows locked to a few different layouts.

However, I'd still argue that Google's implementation is still a bit better. Instead of trying to guess where to put app windows, you can just swipe down from the top of the screen and pick from a few different layouts. These include being able to put an app off to the side and slide it back into view.

Chromebooks are better and more versatile than ever

This might just sound like a puff piece for Chromebooks, and to a certain extent, it kind of is. But it's just because I feel as though we're finally moving away from the days of seeing a million different cheap Chromebooks that are underpowered or just bad. In years past, I would have likely recommended an iPad to just about anyone who asked, regardless of how they planned to use it.

However, the landscape has shifted quite dramatically for Chromebooks. For one, with Chromebook Plus, you know exactly what the minimum specs are, so there's no need to worry about compromising. Regardless of whether you want a tablet or a laptop, you have options to choose from, both of which are going to be either in-line or less expensive than what you would spend on an iPad.

On August 2, 2021, Google's efforts in the consumer market were changed forever. This is when the Pixel 6 was officially confirmed, as Google seemingly grew tired of seeing its own phone being leaked over and over again. After a little over two months passed, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were announced, with a subsequent release a week and a half later.

Fast forward to today, and Google's most recent Pixel lineup consists of four slab phones, a foldable phone, a tablet, and a watch. All of which combine to provide the cohesive experience we used to long for. More recently, the Google TV Streamer was thrown into the mix, coming as a replacement for the long-standing Chromecast series.

I don't think Google's quite done yet either, as the current Nest Hub will be four years old in March 2025, while the Nest Hub Max will celebrate its sixth birthday in May 2025. I'm still of the mindset that the Pixel Tablet is quietly operating as Google's replacement for the Nest Hub Max, but I'm still hopeful for a Gemini-powered Nest revamp.

So why is it that the Google TV Streamer is more important than just being a replacement for a Chromecast? Because it's proof, to me at least, that Google is committed to providing a premium experience across its entire product lineup. It's no different than what Apple has been doing for years, but just at a little bit of a slower pace.

Not only does the TV Streamer serve up a new way to watch your favorite movies and shows, but it also operates as the central hub for everything in your home. This is thanks to the built-in Thread border router, in addition to supporting the Matter smart home standard. Speaking of which, this also means that you can connect the Streamer to Apple HomeKit, but it's not something I recommend.

That's not all, though, as the TV Streamer also introduced a new Smart Home Panel. Essentially, it's the same interface that you get when opening the Home app on your phone, lending more credence to the whole cohesive ecosystem idea from before. Of course, it's not some revolutionary idea or anything of the sort, but it is a new (and welcome) addition to the Google playbook.

No, the TV Streamer isn't as powerful as the latest Apple TV, and yes, it's probably using a processor that's about as old as the Nest Hub Max. But as long as Google doesn't fully embrace the Amazon route, implementing ads at every turn, then we should be fine for the next few years. Playing into Google's favor is that the TV Streamer offers twice as much RAM and storage compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

We've reached the point where I feel more comfortable than ever recommending Google's ecosystem to those who are trying to figure out where to start. Amazon would probably be a close second, not because of the Fire TV or Fire Tablets, but because of the number of smart home companies that operate under its umbrella.

But with the TV Streamer providing Matter and Thread support, you should (eventually) be able to tie those products into Google Home anyway. Better yet, you don't have to wait for smart accessory makers to implement Matter or Thread support, as you can just use Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi. That's a story for another day.

The whole idea of providing a premium experience extends beyond even the TV Streamer and Nest Thermostat. I surmise it's also part of the reason why the Chromebook Plus moniker was born. This alone provides separation between cheap Chromebooks and those that are more performant thanks to Google's minimum spec requirements. 

Leading the pack in this regard is a familiar face, as the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus will soon provide a premium experience at the high end of the space. Google and Samsung worked closely together during the development process. While that's something we've heard before (HP), Samsung and Google's relationship is just a bit different from the rest. 

What I'm really hoping for is the Galaxy Chromebook Plus to lead the way for a new Pixelbook. Sorry, but that's a drum that I'll never stop beating until it finally happens. In the meantime, I'll just sit back and finish watching the rest of this football game on the TV Streamer. 

Much to the chagrin of some of those in the Android space, Apple has largely been considered the "measuring stick" for both hardware and software. Arguments have been made that the likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, and Samsung, among others surpassed Apple in the hardware department long ago. 

The same can't be said about the software, despite Apple locking down iOS and iPadOS in the most frustrating ways. However, after seeing what's happened in 2024, I can't help but wonder if Apple lost its touch.

Over the past year, Apple has entered a new product category with the Vision Pro headset while releasing refreshes of practically every other device in its lineup. Plus, we're expecting at least one more announcement as rumors suggest Apple has an event planned this month to unveil new Macs and hopefully a refreshed iPad Mini.

Apple has proven that companies don't need to reinvent the hardware wheel when releasing a refreshed device. For instance, the only major differences between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are a new "Camera Control" button and bezels that are ever-so-slightly slimmer than before. 

The majority of the focus from Apple's iPhone 16 event was showcasing the various AI-powered features slated to come to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. There's just one problem though — none of the exciting features are actually available yet. So basically, Apple just took the same approach that we used to lambast other companies in that it announced features that won't actually be available at launch. 

Hardly any of these features were available with the final release of iOS 18, which arrived alongside the iPhone 16 series. Instead, it seems that Apple will be rolling out features in waves, starting with iOS 18.1. MacRumors laid out the rumors of when to expect features to arrive pretty well, and here's how things are looking:

If Apple sticks to this rumored timeline, it means that the company's latest device won't have all of the new features until it's already been on the market for six months. There's also the potential of even more frustration as you can't watch TV for more than an hour without seeing an iPhone commercial touting Apple Intelligence. 

Just a little bit of good old-fashioned deception because we know Apple doesn't want to miss out on the holiday shopping season. 

While delaying features isn't great, it's not as bad as what iPad Pro owners have had to endure. Apple introduced and released the M4-powered iPad Pro back in May 2024. This remains the only device in Apple's lineup to be powered by the M4 chip, which is likely to be rectified later in October. 

The problem is that iPadOS 18 was released in mid-September, and the update was removed for those with the M4 iPad Pro the next day. Some found that after installing the update, the iPad Pro would essentially be turned into a very expensive metal and glass brick. It wasn't until today (October 4) that Apple released iPadOS 18.0.1, which should include the fix for whatever the original issue was. 

That's more than two weeks without being able to use Apple's latest software with its more powerful (and expensive) iPad model. As someone who has an M4 iPad Pro, this has been one of the few times that I'm thankful to be on the "beta train," as I haven't come across any of those problems. 

Originally, I thought this was rather unprecedented for Apple, and then I remembered the iPhone 14 launch. This is when Apple made the move to eSIM only in the U.S., but the company had to rush out a day-one software update as many were unable to actually register an eSIM. So, I guess things have been out of whack for longer than I thought.

I'm not ignorant of what's happened in the Android space, but I would argue that at least Samsung and even Google have leapfrogged Apple when it comes to updates. Both companies announced a plethora of new AI features for its respective devices, and the majority of those features were available as soon as you could download the update. The most obvious exception to this is Zoom Enhance, a feature Google announced for the Pixel 8 Pro, but it didn't actually arrive until the Pixel 9 Pro. 

But as far as hardware goes, I think Apple's basically run out of ideas. First, the Action Button was added, and now we have a Camera Control button. Besides that, how much more does Apple think it can slim down the bezels and use that as a selling point? Oh, and I forgot that the non-Pro iPhones now have a rearranged camera module. Woo-hoo. 

While Apple is sticking to the slab design, almost every other Android phone maker is either working on or has released a foldable phone. Some, like Motorola, have stuck to the flip phone form factor, while the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, and even Tecno have multiple foldable phone options. 

I have no doubt that Apple already has a foldable iPhone prototype, regardless of whether it flips or folds. The problem is that rumors indicate Apple continues to push back the release of a foldable device. Back in 2022, we pondered whether Apple was already waiting too long, and currently, the rumor mill points to 2027 as the year that we'll finally see Apple get into the game. 

We can only surmise that this is because Apple wants to do everything it can to avoid the backlash that other phone makers have seen with folding screens that break unexpectedly. Even in 2024, it's still a problem that occasionally crops up with new devices and is more common with older models. But at some point, when is Apple just going to take the leap?

Taking a leap is exactly what Apple did with the Vision Pro, its first foray into the world of VR headsets. Supposedly, this is meant to be Apple CEO Tim Cook's "legacy," and while that may be true, the current iteration is simply out of reach for many, especially at a time when you can walk into practically any big box store and walk out with a Meta Quest headset and don't need to sell a kidney to do so. 

The Vision Pro was always going to be quite expensive, not just because of the R&D that went into it but also because of the hardware and technology it packs. For reference, the Vision Pro features a per-eye resolution of 3660 x 3200, while the Meta Quest 3 is equipped with a per-eye resolution of 2064 x 2208. Plus, Apple relies on micro-OLED displays, whereas Meta's headset utilizes LCD displays. 

I know it's not really fair to compare a $500 headset with one that starts at $3,500. But that's part of the point that I'm trying to make, as Apple is already so far behind in its appeal to the general consumer that I don't know if future iterations will be able to capture the masses. 

The longer Apple waits to release a foldable phone, the more likely it will end up being far too expensive compared to the competition. I don't have a crystal ball, and we have no idea what the foldable phone market will look like three years from now. But it's 2024, and we already have tri-foldable phones with the Huawei Mate XT. Plus, companies have been working on phones with rollable displays, although I think those will be even less popular than the current crop of foldables. 

Part of me thinks that Apple is just coasting as much as it can. The company probably didn't expect to see the explosion in the popularity of AI, so the "brain trust" came up with ideas and announced them, even though they were nowhere near being ready for primetime. 

Another aspect is that Tim Cook has been CEO of Apple for more than 13 years, and there are rumblings that he may be eyeing retirement. With much of the focus being put on trying to leave a lasting impression in the form of a hardware release, I can't help but wonder if we won't see anything revolutionary again until after someone else takes up the mantle. 

As someone who spent time as an iPhone fanboy before pivoting to Android (and now dual-wielding), I'm just kind of disappointed. There are still some things I think an iPhone and iPad offer over their Android equivalents, but that list has never been smaller. 

Over the past couple of years, there's been quite an uptick in the number of devices dedicated to on-the-go gaming. Perhaps the Steam Deck is partially to blame for this, but instead of being powered by Windows or SteamOS, there are a bunch of Android gaming handhelds.

Ayaneo is one of these companies leading the way, taking its experience from Windows handhelds and attempting to make waves in the Android handheld space. The Pocket Air is Ayaneo's first foray into Android gaming handhelds, offering a unique take in more ways than one.

Ayaneo Pocket Air: Price and availability

The Ayaneo Pocket Air was originally announced in August 2023 before it was officially released in September 2023. Initially, it was available through an Indiegogo campaign, coming in a few different configurations. Now, the Pocket Air can be purchased directly from the Ayaneo website.

When announced, three different configurations were available, starting with the 6GB/128GB model for $299 and maxing out with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Currently, the 8GB/256GB variant has been sold out for some time, but the 12GB/512GB version can be had for $399.

Ayaneo Pocket Air: What I like

It's not like the Pocket Air was the first gaming handheld to hit the scene, but something that has helped it stand out is the 5.5-inch OLED display. This, paired with the retro-inspired colorway, makes for an intriguing handheld gaming solution.

Keeping with the design, there are slight bump-outs on the left and right sides, offering some decent ergonomics. It pales in comparison to the likes of the Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go, but at least it's not another Pimax Portal or Nintendo Switch situation.

Besides that, the Pocket Air has all of the buttons you'd expect from a gaming handheld, with a few extras. First, the two buttons in the bottom right corner operate as shortcuts. The larger of the two activates a panel that slides in from the right, where you can quickly view and change performance or fan profiles on the fly. Meanwhile, the smaller button simply takes you back to AyaSpace, the company's proprietary launcher.

Last, but certainly not least, there are a couple of extra tricks that the Pocket Air has up its sleeve. For one, the power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which is great for jumping back into a game quickly without entering a PIN or drawing a pattern.

My favorite "trick" of the Pocket Air comes via the pull-out tray on the bottom. Not only is there a microSD card slot, which is important if you have a massive library of games, but if you flip the pull-out microSD card tray over, you'll see a cutout for a tiny card. That's right; you can pop a SIM card into the Pocket Air and play games literally anywhere without being tethered to Wi-Fi.

As for performance, MediaTek's Dimensity 1200 can handle pretty much anything that you throw at it. This includes the likes of PS2, GameCube, and even some Switch games, especially if you opt for one of the higher-end models that are equipped with more RAM.

Don't expect to emulate Tears of the Kingdom here, but for lighter-weight titles, the Dimensity 1200 barely breaks a sweat. It's also worth pointing out that thanks to the massive fan cutout and active cooling system, I never once felt the Pocket Air get too hot to hold.

Ayaneo Pocket Air: What I don't like

I previously mentioned that it's possible to emulate Switch games on the Pocket Air. While that is technically true, the Dimensity 1200 just isn't powerful enough for higher-end Switch titles. Compounding the limitations of MediaTek's chip is the lack of third-party driver support.

While MediaTek chips are more affordable compared to Qualcomm, the latter is still preferred due to better community support. MediaTek processors are fairly "locked down" in this regard, making it more difficult for custom drivers to be created that support the various chips.

Frankly, it's a bit disappointing to see, especially when you consider that some MediaTek processors outperform Qualcomm equivalents in "raw" power. However, if the power can't be optimized properly, then those performance differences aren't available and shouldn't be included in your decision-making.

All of that being said, there's a pretty good chance that you aren't going to try to push the Pocket Air to the absolute limits. However, it's still something to keep in mind so you better understand what's possible.

While it probably won't be a dealbreaker for those who plan to play retro games, it is disappointing to see the refresh rate capped at 60Hz. At the very least, I think the Pocket Air should have featured a 90Hz refresh rate, even if the company didn't (or couldn't) match the likes of the Razer Edge.

One of the problems with the Pocket Air at launch was that you couldn't remap on-screen controls to the built-in controller. Thankfully, this has been remedied via subsequent software updates. However, I'm still not the biggest fan of the AyaSpace launcher and interface. Thankfully, there are a few alternatives that work quite well, including ES-DE, Beacon, and Daijisho.

Lastly, I've come to find that the D-Pad on the Pocket Air is just a bit too mushy for my taste. It's almost like the Pocket Air and Pimax Portal are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

The problem is that with a mushy D-Pad, there have been times when I'm playing Apotris or older Tetris games, and the pieces are one or two slots off from where I was trying to place them. This isn't an issue during the early levels, but it's definitely frustrating when the pieces are flying down and one wrong move ends a run prematurely.

Ayaneo Pocket Air: The competition

It seems that Ayaneo is attempting to take over the Android gaming handheld space, and it all started with the Pocket Air. Since then, the company has announced the Pocket S, along with the Pocket DMG and Pocket Micro. However, at this price point, Ayaneo's stiffest competition comes in the form of the AYN Odin 2 and Odin 2 Mini.

The Odin 2 and Odin 2 Mini are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, making it more powerful than the Dimensity 1200. As mentioned previously, this also means that there is better driver support for emulators. Then again, neither the Odin 2 nor Odin 2 Mini are equipped with an OLED display, giving the Pocket Air a pretty clear advantage.

There's also the Pocket S, which was announced last year and is one of a handful of devices to be powered by the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2. However, it won't take long for you to see that the Pocket S offers a more premium design. With that comes a higher price tag, starting at $589 for the base model.

Ayaneo Pocket Air: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You're looking for a good and powerful starter Android gaming handheld. 
• You want a handheld with an OLED screen. 
• You don't want to spring for a Steam Deck or ROG Ally X.
• You want a handheld with LTE connectivity and expandable storage. 

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You're on a budget.
• You want the most powerful Android gaming handheld.

Ayaneo got a lot of things right with the Pocket Air, as it's one of a few handhelds that sport an OLED display. Plus, it's currently one of two handhelds that allow you to use it with a SIM card, with the other being the Razer Edge. However, it seems that the Edge is getting phased out as it's becoming more difficult to purchase, and a successor has not been announced.

With that in mind, the Pocket Air is a great entryway into the Android handheld scene, especially for beginners or those who have no interest in higher-end emulation. It's comfortable to hold and offers great battery life. Even if you aren't a fan of AyaSpace, you can download a different launcher.

Samsung's latest foldable phones have finally arrived, bringing one of the best experiences that you can find. As is the case with pretty much every new Samsung phone, there are so many features that it's enough to make your head spin. Whether this is your first foldable or if you're an experienced veteran, here are the first things you should do with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. 

Set up biometrics

One of the best things about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is that Samsung has yet to bring the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner from the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Instead, the scanner is actually embedded in the Side button, making it easy to quickly unlock your phone. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 also includes Face unlock, which could come in handy in a pinch, despite it not being as secure as using a fingerprint. 

1. Open the Settings app. 

2. Scroll down and tap Security and privacy. 

3. Tap Biometrics. 

4. Tap Face recognition. 

5. Enter your phone's passcode. 

6. Follow the on-screen steps to set up Face recognition. 

7. Tap Fingerprints. 

8. Enter your phone's passcode. 

9. Follow the on-screen steps to set up fingerprint biometrics. 

10. Repeat if you want to add multiple fingerprints. 

Switch to gestures

For whatever reason, Samsung still ships its phones with the navigation bar enabled. This is fine for some, but gesture navigation is arguably a much better experience. On the bright side, it's easy to switch over to gestures, and it doesn't interfere with using the Fold 6s taskbar.

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Display. 

3. Scroll down again and tap Navigation bar. 

4. Select Swipe gestures. 

Get more out of the Taskbar

Speaking of the taskbar on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung offers a few customization options for you to take advantage of. These include adjusting the number of recent apps that appear, along with enabling the ability to long-press to hide or show the taskbar. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Display.

3. Tap Taskbar. 

4. In the top right corner, tap the toggle to enable the Taskbar. 

5. Enable both Show recent apps and Show and hide with touch and hold. 

By default, the Taskbar will show up to three of your most recently used apps. However, you hvae the option to bump this down to just two apps, or bump it up to 4 apps from this section of the Settings app.

Keep it protected

Although one of the bigger upgrades with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is its IP54 rating, that won't save your phone if you accidentally drop it. Just like the rest of your technology, we recommend keeping it as protected as possible. Despite sporting a slightly tweaked design, there are still a plethora of great Galaxy Z Fold 6 cases to choose from. 

Currently, our favorite is the Thinborne Aramid Fiber case, as it's extremely thin and feels great in the hand. Plus, it makes it so that your Galaxy Z Fold 6 is compatible with MagSafe accessories. That last part is especially important as we're still waiting for Samsung (and others) to adopt the Qi2 standard. 

Get an S Pen

If there's one thing that I recommend to any Galaxy Z Fold owner, it's to make sure that you get an S Pen. It can be a bit awkward trying to draw a diagram using just your finger, not to mention the precision offered by using a stylus over your built-in digits. 

There are a couple of options to choose from, as Samsung is continuing to sell the S Pen Fold Edition. This is a stylus that's designed for the Galaxy Z Fold series and was updated last year. However, there's also the S Pen Pro, which supports the Galaxy Z Fold 6, along with any other Samsung device that sports S Pen compatibility. 

Play around with Galaxy AI

Many of the exciting changes to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 come in the form of software additions. This obviously includes Galaxy AI, which can be found in many of Samsung's own apps. However, these features are not enabled out of the box, but you can easily turn them on. 

1. Open the Settings app. 

2. Tap Galaxy AI. 

3. Select the feature that you want to enable. 

4. If applicable, tap the toggle at the top to turn the feature on. 

5. Repeat for any other Galaxy AI features you want to enjoy. 

Circle to Search

Google debuted its new Circle to Search feature early in 2024, bringing it to the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 first before it was rolled out to more devices. Now that there's more widespread availability, this means you can use Circle to Search on your Galaxy Z Fold 6 from anywhere. Once enabled, you can simply long-press the home button or navigation bar, then select an item on the screen and learn more about it. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Display. 

3. Scroll down again and tap Navigation Bar.

4. Tap the toggle next to Circle to Search. 

Bring back the Power button

There are some decisions that just don't make much sense, such as Samsung setting Bixby as the default "press-and-hold" action for the Side button. But what happens if you need to turn off or restart your Fold 6 and you can't access the Notification Shade? Well, before you run into any problems, follow the steps below to bring back the Power Menu. 

1. Open the Settings app. 

2. Scroll down and tap Advanced features. 

3. Tap Side button. 

4. Under Press and hold, tap Power off menu. 

Synchronize your screens

If you want to get really technical, you could consider the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as being two different phones in one. While this is great, it also means that your home screen layouts won't be uniform between the Cover and Main screens. Thanks to Cover Screen Mirroring, that's no longer an issue, as everything will be the same between both screens. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Home screen. 

3. At the top of the page, tap Cover screen mirroring. 

4. Tap On then the Apply button.

For the sake of continuity, Samsung also makes it so that you can keep using an app, even if you fold the phone. By default, if you're using an app on the main screen and then close the Fold 6, the app is also closed. This means that you have to go and open the app again, which could be quite a bit frustrating. 

That's no longer an issue, provided that you first enable this feature. Improving things even more is that Samsung lets you pick and choose which apps you want to have this feature available for. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Display. 

3. Tap Continue apps on cover screen. 

4. Scroll through the list of options and enable this feature for the apps you want.

Make your Fold 6 even better

While Samsung throws everything but the kitchen sink into the Settings app by default, there's actually quite a bit more that you can do. Good Lock has been a staple on practically every compatible Samsung phone that has come across our desks for years. 

Although it's not installed by default, you can download the Good Lock app from the Galaxy Store on your Fold 6. Then, jump through the different options and install the modules that you think would be helpful. It truly does take your Samsung phone to the next level. 

Make your apps full-screen

Despite foldable phones being around for the better part of five years and the likes of Samsung and Google making big strides on the software side, not every app supports the form factor. This means that you might end up using an app that doesn't take advantage of the entire screen, resulting in pillar boxes being placed on either side. 

To combat this problem, Samsung has implemented an option that lets you pick the aspect ratio for your apps. In many cases, this forces the app to use the entire screen. However, you can also choose either 16:9 or 4:3 if you prefer the way an app looks in those aspect ratios. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Display. 

3. Tap Full screen apps. 

4. Locate and tap the app that you want to force to be full-screen.

5. Select Full screen, 16:9, or 4:3. 

Overcharged Multitasking

To some, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 might seem like a novelty, but falls short when it comes to productivity or multi-tasking. That couldn't be further from the truth, as you have the ability to open and use multiple apps at once. However, in the event that your favorite app doesn't support multi-window, just follow the steps below to fix that. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap Advanced features. 

3. Tap Labs. 

4. Tap the toggle next to Multi window for all apps. 

Make your phone feel faster

Some people are sticklers for "pretty" or "fluid" animations when using their phone. Others couldn't care one way or another, but want to make their phone feel faster. Well, you can do just that, as Android's Developer Options is home to a few settings to speed up the animations. 

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap About phone. 

3. Tap Software information. 

4. Tap Build number seven times.

5. When prompted, enter your phone's passcode.

6. Go back to the previous screen. 

7. Tap Developer options at the bottom of the page.

8. Locate the Drawing section.

9. Tap Window animation scale. 

10. Select Animation scale .5x. 

11. Repeat the steps for both Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale.

We know that there's a lot more that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can offer, as there are features we didn't touch on such as Samsung DeX or Camera Assistant. However, these are some of the first things you should do with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Then, dive in and explore everything else that the Fold 6 has to offer! 

Following our Galaxy Z Fold 6 initial review, a suggestion was made that I see how the phone stands up to taking pictures in the rain. Part of the reason is that this is the first Samsung foldable to sport an IP rating, as the Fold 6 is equipped with an IP48 rating. 

I have a tendency to try to wait for the "perfect" conditions to take pictures. This applies to both product photos and camera samples, as I just enjoy the way pictures look with the sun shining. But the new IP rating on the phone gave me a different opportunity. 

Seeing as I've been moaning and complaining about Samsung's inability to do anything with the cameras, it was the perfect storm to try and compare the Z Fold 6 to the OnePlus Open. There's some irony in that previous sentence, and you'll soon learn why. 

Using the Main cameras

As I mentioned previously, the original idea was to try and see how the Z Fold 6 stood up in the rain, but Mother Nature decided to hold out for a bit. Thankfully, the skies didn't clear up, providing cloudy backdrops for the majority of the pictures I took. 

Kicking things off, it's important to note that I didn't make any adjustments to the pictures, using only the default settings within each device's camera app. From here, it seemed as though the Z Fold 6 gave a bit of a blue-ish tint to its pictures, whereas the OnePlus Open offered a bit more "life." 

This continues throughout a lot of the pictures between these two foldable phones. But I don't necessarily think that's a detractor for the Fold 6 and instead comes down to more of a personal preference. However, I do think that there's a bit more detail in the images taken by the Open. 

There are a couple of key differences, such as in the first image in the gallery above. To my eye, the Z Fold 6 takes more "moody" pictures, but for whatever reason, the roles are reversed in the photo of the birds flying away. I actually prefer the Z Fold 6 here, as it looks more natural, whereas the Open slightly oversaturates the rocks on the shore. 

Telephoto cameras

If there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's having a good telephoto lens. For reference, my preferred "big camera" lens is 100mm, so I can get close-up product photos without needing to actually move closer. Both of these devices offer telephoto lenses with a 3x optical zoom, but the Open has an extra trick up its sleeve with the 6x "in-sensor" zoom.

Unfortunately, in the picture of the bird above, it's pretty obvious that the Z Fold 6 takes the better photo. I'm not exactly sure what happened here, as not only is the picture darker, but it lacks details when looking at the bird. However, I will give the Open props, because it actually managed to capture a heron flying in the background. 

With the image above, comparing the 10x preset of the Fold 6 to the 6x preset of the Open, it doesn't take long to notice a big difference. No, I'm not talking about the darker hue of the Open's picture. It's that Samsung's processing starts to rear its ugly head and in a big way.

There's very little accuracy in the way that the water looks, as a lot of it just looks smoothed over. Needless to say, I'd rather have the picture from the Open, and would just make some adjustments in Lightroom to make it a bit brighter. 

Ultrawide and Macro

Admittedly, I didn't put much of a focus on the ultrawide cameras between these two devices. Part of this was just because of the location as there wasn't much of a point, but really, it's just not something that I personally use all that often. 

That being said, we have another role reversal, as the Fold 6 provides the moodier shot of the two, while the Open is brighter. It's almost like there's some type of haze over the picture from the Fold 6, while the Open is punchy and vibrant. 

Another benefit of the ultrawide cameras for both of these devices is that they can double as macro lenses. You just have to stick your phone as close to the subject as possible, but it's still a pretty cool option to have. 

In the image above, I think it's a bit of a coin flip. The colors are slightly punchier with the Fold 6, but the Open slaps back by offering more details. If you look really closely, you can see a cameo being made by an ant in the middle of the Open's picture. 

Super Zoom at 30x

As it turns out, this little trip down to Point Lookout State Park offered an unexpected opportunity. There was a massive cargo ship off the coast, providing an excuse to check out the ultra-zoom capabilities of these phones. Seriously, the ship was so massive that you can see in the standard 1x zoom, something that isn't always the case. 

The first thing that I'd like to point out is that it's incredibly annoying to try and use the 30x zoom without a tripod. I was just standing on the beach using two hands for stability and holding my breath just to try and get the ship in focus. That being said, neither of these pictures is good, and it's more of a parlor trick than anything else. 

Stuck in the rain

The original point of this comparison was to see how the Galaxy Z Fold 6 would stand up in the elements. Mother Nature had other plans in mind as the weather started to clear up and I jumped in the car to head back home. 

However, as I got closer to home, I saw a storm system was coming my way, so I decided to make one more last-ditch effort to get pictures in the rain. Unfortunately, as I got out of my car to head down to the shore, I quickly realized that I had locked my keys in my car. 

This resulted in me spending an hour and a half in a downpour trying to use a coat hanger to unlock the car. After getting some help from a family that was sitting in the parking lot waiting out the storm, I successfully got back into my car. Unfortunately, by that point, the park was closing meaning that I wasn't able to actually take any of the pictures that I had in mind. 

What I did learn is that despite being drenched from head to toe, the Fold 6 and Open were completely unphased. I honestly was a bit worried about what would happen, but was pleasantly surprised. 

So the moral of the story is, don't listen to Jerry Hildenbrand and quadruple-check that your keys are in your pocket. Otherwise, you might get stuck in a thunderstorm at a park and have no shelter from the elements. 

Sometimes, it's nice to sit back and reminisce about the old days. You know, the days when smartphones included things like headphone jacks, microSD card slots, and even removable batteries. Back when smartphones were fun, in the days of Moto Maker, LG G3, the HTC One, and so many more. 

It was definitely the Wild Wild West, but it was so enjoyable because there were so many options to choose from. I mean, we even had the Google Play Edition lineup, comprised of phones from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and even Sony!

Back in those days, we'd see some wild and crazy designs as companies weren't afraid of taking chances. The Galaxy Note Edge was pretty unique, but was Samsung's foray into the curved screens that we saw on the best Android phones until the Galaxy S24 Ultra, for better or worse. 

The Moto Z was so thin that I thought Motorola was going to have an iPhone 6S moment on its hands. Funnily enough, the Moto Z also seemingly laid the groundwork for MagSafe, but naturally, didn't take off in the same way.

We didn't have to worry about running out of storage because the microSD card slot was there. Bluetooth headphones were around, but why splurge on those when you could just plug in your wired headphones sans dongle? 

Sure, today, we have phones that fold and flip and don't need to carry a point-and-shoot camera. We just use the camera in our pockets or bags. That's all fine and dandy, but it hasn't been enough to make me completely forget about the past.

And don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade a foldable phone for the HTC One M8, even if the underlying hardware was modernized. I'm extremely grateful for how far smartphones have come, more than 15 years after I got my very first smartphone. 

Perhaps my biggest disappointment is that phones just aren't as fun anymore. Some of this has to do with the inability to get phones from Europe, Korea, or China in North America. Here, the flagship realm is just the Samsung and Apple show, with a sprinkling of Google and OnePlus.

Meanwhile, Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Vivo, and others are churning out new phones that put what we have here in the States to shame. Xiaomi is even gearing up to release its first Galaxy Z Flip rival. But the only way I'll be able to get my hands on it is to spend an exorbitant (to me) amount of money to have it imported. The same goes for the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, with its 100W charging and true flagship camera system. 

At the same time, I can't help but wonder about what the future holds for smartphones. Slabs are pretty much all the same and I couldn't really care less, with the exception being for phone companies to fix the displays so my colleague Nick can enjoy them again.

I would venture to argue that we've reached the pinnacle of what smartphones can do in terms of raw horsepower. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 seems to just about check all of the boxes, as it's powerful and efficient with little sacrifice.

It's also likely why phone companies are now putting more effort into AI capabilities. That's the next "great frontier," as only a little bit of those cool and new features are handled by the on-device NPU. The rest is done in the cloud, which is incredible in its own right, but not the point. 

However, the tradeoff to gaining more powerful and efficient phones is that we lose all the features we once cared about, and we continue to pay the price as the cost of these devices increases. It costs money to manufacture processors, and chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 aren't cheap as chipmakers include newer, more capable NPUs that could result in steeper costs to OEMs. 

On the one hand, we can now reap the benefits of on-device processing as a wave of new generative AI features emerges. Meanwhile, OEMs will continue to make the most of what little space they have in these phones to bring that power while chipping away at the things that used to make phones truly fun, then charge us more for it.

Before we know it, the Galaxy S27 Ultra Pro Max will be here with a price tag of $2,000. It'll have all of the bells and whistles, while Bixby will be able to read your mind and do things for you. But you know what it won't have? A headphone jack, microSD card, or removable battery.

Do you remember the old "Does it Blend" YouTube videos? Well, I've kind of adopted a similar mindset, but instead of destroying things, I try to install emulators on almost anything. This includes the obvious things like phones, tablets, and, of course, gaming handhelds.

However, I've become infatuated with expanding my emulation experiments into various streaming devices. The latest of which came courtesy of the Onn. Google TV 4K Pro, my new favorite Android-based streaming device. That said, I've also done similar setups with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max and, more recently, the latest Apple TV 4K.

I think part of the reason why I've ventured down this path is because I'm a tinkerer at heart. It's one thing to be able to install an app, transfer some games, and start playing. But the process isn't quite as simple when it comes to trying to use emulators on streaming devices.

For one, it's absolutely wild that we're able to play Switch games on the best Android phones, which is another can of worms that I'll open another day. But it's also awesome being able to lay back on the couch and fire up some Super Mario 64 or play Link's Awakening on the big screen. All while doing so from either a box or a stick that's a fraction of the size of the original console.

Anyways, as I mentioned before, the process for getting things up and running isn't as simple on streaming devices. Even with the Play Store at our disposal on Google TV, the most recent Play Store release isn't always the best way to play.

For instance, the Play Store version of RetroArch hasn't been updated since November 2021. At first glance, you might look at that and think "Well, the app is dead, where do I go now?" In reality, RetroArch is very much alive and well, with the most recent stable version being released in early June 2024 and nightly builds easily accessible.

Because of that, you'll actually want to download and sideload the app directly from the RetroArch website. Provided that you install a file manager and something like the Send files to TV app, you can have the latest version installed on your streaming device in relatively no time. Then comes the process of actually making games accessible, which isn't an easy task for the Fire TV Stick or Chromecast with Google TV.

This is because neither of those devices includes any additional ports besides the one used for charging. All hope isn't lost; it's just that you'll need to use either a USB-C hub or a micro USB OTG splitter. In doing so, you'll now be able to plug a USB drive in, after transferring your ROM files, of course.

The fun doesn't stop there; we're just getting started. There's a good chance that the majority of the retro games that you want to play will run just fine without any tinkering. However, because RetroArch takes a "one-size-fits-most" approach, there's more to it than just picking a game and being on your way.

If you try to play one of your favorite retro games, but you notice that performance is shoddy, you can choose a different RetroArch "Core." For the unaware, Cores are essentially barebones emulators that rely on RetroArch to act as the front end.

An example of this is with the N64, as there are two different Cores built into the app. If you fire up Super Mario 64 and aren't happy with the performance, you can go back to the main RetroArch interface and switch to a different one. The same rings true for many other emulators, with only a few exceptions. It's very much a "trial and error" scenario, which is perfect for the tinkerers out there.

Of course, RetroArch isn't the only emulator that can be used on streaming devices; it's just the one that I'd recommend starting with. RetroArch works with all kinds of retro consoles, ranging from the Atari 2600 all the way up to the PlayStation 2. Still, I'd recommend staying away from PS2 emulators on streaming devices for now, at least until they get a bit more power.

So the next time that you have friends or family over and are trying to figure out something to do, grab a couple of controllers and fire up an emulator. You'll never forget the look of surprise when the original Super Smash Bros. appears on your TV, and you can enjoy those classics all over again. It's also how I plan to show my son some of the best retro games before he tries getting into Roblox and Fortnite and whatever else the kids play these days.

Every year, we're immediately inundated (and overwhelmed) with a slew of announcements that come courtesy of CES. Of the hundreds of announcements and device showcases, only a small number of them ever make it to the market. Usually, I try not to get my hopes up about the different products that are shown off, as I don't want to be let down when it's later revealed to be just a prototype.

However, Lenovo has been bucking that trend in recent years, and while there are a few things I'm looking forward to, there is one device that sticks out from the crowd. Lenovo introduced the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, basically giving you a tablet with a detachable laptop keyboard. But, there's more to the story, as not only is this device running Android, but it's ALSO running Windows.

I mean, talk about the ultimate 2-in-1, giving you flexibility that you truly won't find anywhere else. This is achieved by integrating the Android hardware into the display, with all of the Windows hardware built into the keyboard deck. You can read more about it in our hands-on, but being able to switch between Android and Windows with the push of a button is just insane.

Of course, this got me thinking about how cool something like this would be to have for Android and ChromeOS. Yes, you can install Android apps on Chromebooks, but going the other way, many Android phones and tablets don't have a desktop-like experience. The obvious exception to this is the various Samsung phones and tablets that let you switch over to DeX mode when connected to an external display. Google is working on a similar experience, and who knows when, or even if, it'll ever actually show up. However, a feature like DeX makes an even more compelling argument for a device like this running Android.

Using an Android tablet isn't all that much of an issue if you have one with a smaller screen, similar to like what the Galaxy Tab A7 offers. But, it's a completely different story once you start using a tablet with a larger display, such as the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. The Android interface just doesn't adapt very well when it comes to larger devices, leaving a bunch of empty and unused space. 

However, DeX mode offers a desktop interface and frankly looks pretty darn similar to what you'll find on a Chromebook or Windows laptop. Not to mention that tablet mode on a convertible Chromebook ditches the desktop interface altogether, only presenting you with an app drawer view.

The tablet experience on ChromeOS isn't great, even if you get something like the Lenovo Duet 3 or Duet 5. It's even more cumbersome if you have one of the best Chromebooks with a convertible design, as the keyboard gets in the way. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid solves the latter issue, as you'll just detach the screen from the keyboard and get a traditional tablet.

What keeps blowing my mind is that there are two different sets of internal hardware with this hybrid device from Lenovo. The tablet is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and there's even a dedicated battery. When you want to switch over to Windows, you'll enjoy Intel's Core Ultra 7 SoC with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a discrete GPU.

One of the downsides to this approach is that the specs aren't shared between Windows and Android, which really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It's two different systems built into a singular hybrid device, but it would've been incredible if somehow you could access files from one system when using the other, without having to switch. Baby steps.

The other downside is the more obvious one — price. Coming as little surprise, you're going to have to pony up some dough, as the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid will be priced at $1,999 when it hits the market. In the realm of laptops, that's a pretty steep price to pay, but, if you consider that this is both a rock-solid Android tablet AND an impressive Windows laptop, it's not that bad.

Admittedly, if there was going to be any company that would try and create a similar device, with ChromeOS instead of Windows, it would be Lenovo. I also won't be surprised if this is an avenue that has been explored, but it's probably just too expensive to turn into reality.

If such a device were to land amongst the best Chromebooks, it would probably have to be closer to the $999 mark. Unfortunately, we're probably at least a few years away from that being a viable option, not to mention that this might be just a "one-off" release for Lenovo with no other laptop makers following suit.

What a wacky and wild ride it's been for the past few years. In case you missed the news, Apple has announced that it will be adopting RCS (Rich Communication Services) "later next year." This is just the latest shift that Apple has made, whether forcefully or otherwise, in order to appease the masses.

Just this year alone, Apple introduced USB-C to the iPhone 15 lineup, due in large part to the E.U. signing its new "Common Charger" order. While it was definitely a long time coming, we still didn't expect to see USB-C arrive until the iPhone 16.

More recently, the latest iOS 17.2 beta updates suggest that Apple could be opening the floodgates to allow proper sideloading of apps. But again, this was done as more pressure came from the E.U. courtesy of the Digital Markets Act.

The DMA was passed by the E.U. in July 2022, aiming to "hold tech giants accountable for the spread of illegal content online and for potentially unfair practices." Apple, along with other companies, has since been labeled as a "gatekeeper." This means that while it "will keep all opportunities to innovate and offer new services," Apple cannot "use unfair practices" in an effort to "gain an undue advantage." 

At a glance, Apple's announcement regarding RCS support coming to the iPhone might seem like the company just listening to what the people want. But in all likelihood, this is just Apple getting in front of a potential legal battle if the E.U. were to attempt to enforce any sanctions related to the DMA.

iMessage has always been a point of contention, even after the DMA was passed. But it wasn't until recently that reports surfaced claiming that Google, along with others, was setting out to get the E.U. involved. These companies argue that "iMessage should qualify as a 'core platform service' within the EU's Digital Markets Act."

No, Nothing didn't force Apple to adopt RCS

Nothing recently announced that it has sold at least 2 million products since the company's inception back in 2020. Those are great numbers, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for Nothing and Carl Pei. But there is a bit of a concern that the recent "Nothing Chat" announcement might make it seem like Nothing "influenced" Apple to make the change.

Originally, this piece was going to be about Nothing's recent announcement that it was going to bring iMessage to the Nothing Phone (2) with Nothing Chat. This was going to be done in partnership with Sunbird, an application and service that isn't all that different from Beeper and others.

Even with all of the marketing dollars that Google threw into its #GetTheMessage campaign, it wasn't enough to push Apple over the edge. So, while I'm sure that Carl Pei and the Nothing team would like to take credit for Apple's latest announcement, it can't. And frankly, it shouldn't want to.

As an aside, Google has to be thrilled over this announcement, considering how long it's been pushing for Apple to adopt RCS. Ahead of publishing this article, we reached out for comment and received the following:

"Everyone deserves to communicate with each other in ways that are modern and secure, no matter what phone they have. That’s why we have worked closely with the mobile industry to accelerate the adoption of RCS, and we’re happy to see Apple take their first step today by coming on board to embrace RCS. We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with GSMA to evolve RCS and make messaging more equitable and secure, and look forward to working with them to implement this on iOS in a way that works well for everyone."

Security problems were inevitable

On one hand, I'd like to tip my cap to Carl Pei and the Nothing team for being the first to throw money at the problem through its partnership with Sunbird. But on the other, that just opens another black hole of problems, some of which you shouldn't even consider.

The biggest problem with these apps like Sunbird and Beeper, is one of the same reasons why Apple stood behind what iMessage offers; security. I'm not talking about just giving up an email address or having to update your password. I'm talking about tying your Apple ID (at least) and phone number (at most) to a device that you don't have access to.

Shortly after Nothing's announcement went public, a company spokesperson offered the following statement in regard to privacy and security: "Once you log in to the Chats app for the first time using either your existing Apple ID or creating a new one, your credentials are tokenized in an encrypted database and become associated with one of Sunbird’s North America or Europe-based Mac Minis (depending on where you’re located), creating an encrypted relay for iMessages sent through the app."

The company goes on to state that "Sunbird has its ISO27001 certification and is currently working on ISO27701." ISO 27001 is a set of guidelines created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISMS,) for how companies show "manage risk associated with information security threats." ISO 27701 is essentially just an extension of ISO 27001, but has more of a focus on "personally identifiable information."

So that's all great, fine, and dandy. It's everything that Sunbird should be doing in this scenario, if not more. But at the end of the day, if you sign up for Sunbird, Beeper, or Nothing Chat, your information will be on a computer that you have no physical access to.

To give you just a little example of why this whole charade may not play out the way that Nothing hopes, something weird recently started happening with my own Beeper account. I've had my information attached to Beeper for some time now, as it just makes my life easier considering that I'm always carrying both an iPhone and whatever foldable phone has my attention.

Over the past month or so, I've started getting messages from numbers that aren't in my contact list. Some of them are texting me thinking that I'm someone else, while others notice my number in their contact list and have no idea how it got there. I too, have noticed phone numbers in my list of contacts from places and areas that I've never been to.

Do you want to know when it stopped happening? When I went into my Apple ID settings and removed the Mac that Beeper was using from being able to access my account.

Putting on my tin-foil hat for a second, it's already bothersome that my phone number shows up for contacts that I don't know. It's extremely troublesome to know that someone could gain access to accounts that still have 2FA over SMS set up. If someone ends up gaining access to my information, that could be it, and things could snowball rather quickly.

Why RCS on iPhone matters

Apple adopting RCS as a messaging standard isn't as cut and dry as you might first think. This probably doesn't mean that the "blue bubble vs. green bubble" debate will finally be buried. In the statement provided to 9to5Mac, Apple says, "This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users."

But I'm not sitting here and saying that this is a huge win for Google or a huge win for Apple. It's a huge win for everyone, as long as we can finally get some feature-parity when messaging between either iOS or Android.

While doing research for my original piece, I came across a few rather upsetting examples of how the blue vs. green bubble affects those outside of the tech-sphere. The one that stuck out the most comes from Dan Seifert of The Verge:

But the reality is that this isn't anything new. Back in October, rapper Drake released a new album featuring a song that makes a glancing mention about how "she got a Android, her messages is lime green." For some, it's just a joke, but for others, being left out of group chats all because of the phone that you use is a reality.

The article that Dan is referencing comes from Will Sattelberg of Android Police, highlighting a recent survey where "87 percent of teenagers surveyed own an iPhone, while 88 percent expect to buy an iPhone as their next device." As Will so eloquently puts it, "these are death spiral numbers for Android."

It's not because of the apps that are available, or whether you can sideload, or anything of the sort. It has everything to do with iMessage. This is absolutely bonkers when you consider the world outside of the U.S., where iMessage falls completely flat on its face when compared to the likes of WhatsApp and other messaging apps on Android.

Rarely do we think about the world outside of our periphery, because it doesn't affect us. What does affect us — even if it isn't directly affecting you — is the classism that comes when arguing between using an iPhone and an Android phone. This, alone, is the reason why I'm happy that Apple is finally lowering its walled garden a bit more, even if it's trying to avoid another battle with the E.U.

Despite not jumping in on the original Galaxy Fold, I've been a strong advocate of foldable phones for years. These are true productivity machines, offering both a phone and tablet experience, all in a device that fits in my pocket. Ever since Samsung brought stylus support to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, it's one of those things that you don't realize you miss until it's not there. Unfortunately, that's sort of the case for the OnePlus Open, but OPPO has a pretty good solution for those willing to wait.

In the past year alone, I've been able to use all kinds of foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Pixel Fold, and now the OnePlus Open. If there's one thing that I've taken away from every non-Samsung foldable, it's that stylus support has become essential.

After hearing the rumblings about a potential foldable phone from OnePlus, I immediately got excited, not because of the potential camera benefits or even the almost non-existent crease on the inner screen. Instead, I thought that OnePlus would release a no-compromise alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed to hear that the OnePlus Open wouldn't include any stylus support. It really kind of felt like a kick to the gut, because if there were any company to really take the fight to Samsung, it would've been OnePlus. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks with the Open before it was officially announced, and that feeling of "there's something missing" just kept cropping back up.

Then, someone over on Reddit debunked everything that we had been told about using a stylus with the Open. This individual found that you could pair the OPPO Pen with the OnePlus Open and use it, giving me a glimmer of hope. Those hopes were somewhat dashed after learning that the only way to get the OPPO Pen was to import it through a retailer like GizTop.

This was a fine solution, but along with a price markup, it wouldn't have actually shown up until the end of November, or early December. Thankfully, I didn't have to go that route, as someone in a Discord group mentioned they had an OPPO Pen, lived in the States, and were willing to part with it.

I also reached out to OnePlus directly in order to get some type of confirmation about whether the OPPO Pen would work or not. The company replied stating "The OnePlus Open does not support OnePlus Stylo. OnePlus will consider having more accessories in the future. However, OnePlus Open can connect with OPPO Pen." Armed with that information, I was able to go ahead and proceed with getting the Pen for myself.

Fast forward a week and a half (thanks, USPS), and my dream scenario for the Open was realized. Unlike the S Pen Fold Edition that Samsung offers, OPPO's stylus actually does include a built-in battery. The pairing process was almost as seamless, with the exception that it relies on a Bluetooth connection.

But here's the real kicker about all of this. Not only does the OPPO Pen work on the inner display, but it also works on the outer screen. Even with being as narrow as it is, this is something that I've been wanting Samsung to implement with its recent Galaxy Z Fold devices. Maybe Samsung's just holding out until it releases a redesigned Fold with a wider cover screen, but it feels like a missed opportunity.

So, what is it like actually using the OPPO Pen with the OnePlus Open? Well, it's pretty much like using any stylus with the device that it's meant to be paired with. But unlike the S Pen Fold Edition, the OPPO Pen does offer a bit more functionality thanks to Bluetooth connectivity.

This means that I'm able to frame a picture with the Open, and not have to worry about setting a timer or anything. I can just click the button on the side of the stylus and have it take the picture when everyone's ready. There are a few other features too, such as drawing a line down from the top right corner to pull up the built-in Quick Notes app. It's also nice being able to press the button and switch between tools when I write something down that looks worse than chicken scratch.

When it comes to writing, I'm still kind of on the fence about how I feel, but there's no denying that it's better than taking notes on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Since the crease has improved so much, I barely feel it when I'm jotting something down.

You even have the ability to adjust the "handwriting feedback," which is just the stylus vibrating a bit whenever you're writing or interacting with the screen. This has been very hit-and-miss for me, even when turning it all the way up. Very rarely do I get the feeling of using an actual pen, but it's still just slightly better than the feeling of drawing on glass.

There are two things that I've been frustrated about when it comes to this whole experience. The first of which is that you'll need to get creative if you want to have the OPPO Pen with you, wherever you go. This can be remedied with something like the Ringke Pen Holder that I've sworn by for the past few years. But even if you are okay with slapping adhesive on the back of your case, good luck dealing with the enormous camera module.

The larger frustration is that I can't help but feel as though OnePlus just slightly missed the mark, and I can't figure out why. I'm sure people smarter than me have great and well-rehearsed explanations as to why OPPO and OnePlus ship the exact same phone, just with different branding, yet the Open misses out on an "official" stylus.

I can't help but think about how different things might have been if OnePlus announced the Open with a $1,499 price tag, a partnership with at least one carrier, and a first-party stylus solution. That's not even mentioning the built-in IR blaster that OnePlus curiously decided not to tell anyone about.

Instead, you'll have to trade in a phone to get the lower price, hope that GizTop or eBay has the OPPO Pen in stock, and then wait for it to actually show up weeks later. All the while, not being able to go to your local carrier store and pick one up. Granted, the Open is available at Best Buy and Amazon, which is great, but some people would prefer to add the cost of the phone to their bill, as opposed to paying for it all upfront.

I already thought that the OnePlus Open was the best foldable phone of the year, but this feeling is only affirmed with the addition of the OPPO Pen.

Something that many of us in the tech space have been harping on is a more cohesive experience between devices. By and large, Apple has set the standard with features such as Continuity, offering better interoperability between your Apple devices. One of the biggest examples of this is AirDrop, which allows you to seamlessly transfer files from your iPhone to your Mac or vice versa.

There are ways to do this with Android and other computers, but in many cases, it's limited by what the manufacturer can offer. For example, if you own the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 5, you can rely on Multi Control. This lets you basically turn your phone into another monitor, with the added benefit of being able to use your laptop's keyboard and mouse on the phone.

But what about if you love using the best Android phones but prefer the experience and power offered by a Mac? Until fairly recently, the easiest way to transfer files was to just upload them to Google Photos or Drive from the phone, then hop over to the Mac to see them (or vice-versa.) Yes, there's the Android File Transfer for Mac, although it barely works on a good day and is definitely not reliable. Fortunately, thanks to the work of developers, there are more reliable options.

Bridging the gap between Android and Mac

The first app that I want to mention actually brings Google's Nearby Share functionality to your Mac. Aptly named NearDrop, this is "an unofficial Google Nearby Share app for macOS." All you need to do is download and install the app on your Mac from the Github repository.

From there, grab your phone, find some files you want to move over, and then open up the native Nearby Share functionality. Your Mac will appear in the list of available devices, so just tap the name of your Mac and then look out for the confirmation in the notifications on your Mac.

While I haven't run into any problems using NearDrop, there's another app that actually simulates the AirDrop experience. This means that your Mac will think that it's receiving files from an iOS or iPadOS device, and just automatically download them without worrying about accepting the transfer.

You might have seen a video or two circulating that talks about an app called WarpShare. Through some kind of magic, this open-source app simulates the AirDrop experience almost perfectly. It's not the most elegantly designed app out there, but that doesn't matter for those of us who care more about functionality than anything else.

There are downsides to these apps, as it's really only a "one-way" street, meaning that you can only go from Android to macOS, not the other way around. Chances are that this isn't too much of a problem, but you can always rely on good ole' Google Drive or Photos if you have a file on your Mac that you need on your Android phone.

Since Apple seems to hate the idea of putting an LTE or 5G chip into any of its MacBooks, we're instead left to jump through a bunch of hoops to connect to our phone's hotspot.

The third app I want to talk about doesn't have a fancy name and is simply called "Cellular." Once you download the app on your Mac and the Companion app on your Android phone, it'll automatically connect to your phone's hotspot when needed. So, if you're using your MacBook and you're out of range of a "trusted network," your Android phone will pick things right back up for you.

You can go through and set up which Trusted Networks you rely on so that the app knows when to switch over to your Android phone. Cellular also includes toggles to disconnect from your hotspot when your Mac is put to sleep and even when your phone's battery is below a certain percentage.

Thank developers

None of this would be possible if it weren't for those who have the same frustrations as those who prefer using Android and macOS. The world of Android apps goes far beyond what you'll find on the Play Store, as you can quickly get lost in a lot of cool and awesome apps on F-Droid or even Github.

Making matters even more exciting is that two of the three apps are open source, making it possible for other developers to pick up the project or maybe even add new features down the road. And even with Cellular, it's a fairly basic app that gives you control over determining what options you want enabled or don't.

All of this goes to show us or even remind us of what's possible and how everything can be improved with just a couple of apps and the help of developers willing to make them.