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OnePlus' flagship phone is a solid alternative to the Galaxy S25 Ultra - here's why

ZDNET's key takeaways The OnePlus 13 is a snappy, nearly no-compromise phone that typically lists at $999. A Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with a 6,000mAh battery and 80W fast charging, is a recipe for endurance success. IP69 is almost excessive, but you'll appreciate it when least expected. View now at OnePlus View now at Best Buy View now at Amazon more buying choices Right now, you can buy the OnePlus 13 from Amazon at a $50 discount, whether you choose the 256GB or 512GB variant. It's not o

Forget passwords often? Android may soon let you disable Failed Authentication Lock (APK teardown)

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Android 15 and newer devices include a Failed Authentication Lock feature that locks the device screen after detecting multiple failed login attempts in apps or settings. Unlike other theft protection features, this feature is enabled by default on all devices, and there’s currently no way for users to turn it off. Google may soon add a new option to the theft protection settings that will allow users to turn off Failed Authentication Lock. In additio

Google One is getting easier on the eyes with these Expressive changes (APK teardown)

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google is currently in the middle of bringing its Material 3 Expressive design language to its Android apps. Earlier this year we got a preview of how this would impact Google One, looking at the app’s settings screen. We’re now able to see many more Expressive elements throughout the app, but these still aren’t publicly accessible. Halfway through July may not be official the midpoint of summer, but it sure feels like it. While some of us have been enjoy

Our biggest questions about ChromeOS and Android merging

is a reviewer covering laptops and the occasional gadget. He spent over 15 years in the photography industry before joining The Verge as a deals writer in 2021. What is the point of merging ChromeOS and Android? Android has an enormous app ecosystem, but many of those apps still struggle on larger screens, like tablets. And Android doesn’t have great multitasking or window management, which are both important on large displays. ChromeOS, on the other hand, does browser stuff and window managem

This new power bank is a Qi 2.2 first. Here’s what it means for your next phone

TL;DR The UGREEN MagFlow is the first power bank with official Qi 2.2 certification. Qi 2.2 enables faster 25W magnetic wireless charging with improved heat control. Most Android phones can’t take full advantage yet, but support is expected to grow. Magnetic wireless charging has been a talking point in 2025, with Android phones like the Galaxy S25 offering partial support through accessories, but no true adoption of the full Qi 2 standard. However, UGREEN’s latest announcement of a new miles

Android’s Desktop Mode gets a handy shortcut to pin your favorite apps to the taskbar

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is improving Android’s still-in-development Desktop Mode by adding the ability to pin apps to the taskbar for quick access. A new “pin to taskbar” shortcut appears in an app’s context menu, letting you add it to the dock for easy launching even after it’s closed. This is a small but necessary step in Google’s effort to make Android a more viable desktop competitor, especially against platforms like the iPad. Android finally has a proper Desktop

This $220 Android tablet feels just like my Surface Pro - and the battery is just as good

ZDNET's key takeaways Tabwee's 10-inch tablet with Android 15 is available on Amazon for $220. It features a large 5,000mAh battery for decent runtime, and comes with a folio case, keyboard, stylus, and a mouse. The hardware has its limitations for more demanding tasks. $219.99 at Amazon It amazes me just how much bang for your buck you can get if you choose an Android tablet over an iPad these days. While the cheapest new iPad will set you back at least $300, you can get some absolutely amaz

Android’s screen magnifier can’t zoom the keyboard, but a fix is finally on the way

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Android is updating its screen magnifier to finally allow users to zoom in on the on-screen keyboard, addressing a major accessibility limitation. A new “magnify keyboard” toggle enables the full-screen magnifier to enlarge the keyboard and navigation bar, which were previously fixed in size. Contributed by an Amazon engineer, the feature is now live in the Android Canary channel and is expected to arrive in a future update for Pixel phones. The Andro

I hope Google doesn’t screw up these things when it merges Chrome OS into Android

Ryan Haines / Android Authority A Google executive confirmed in an interview that the company is combining Chrome OS and Android. This comes a while after we exclusively reported that Chrome OS will effectively be absorbed into Android. It also comes after Google said it would develop Chrome OS on “large portions of the Android stack.” This all sounds very interesting on paper, but I have some reservations about such a merger. Here are the things Google can’t afford to screw up when it combine

Five 'new' iOS 26 features that feel familiar (I've been using them on Android for years)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Apple's WWDC annual developer conference signaled the first major redesign of iOS since 2013, with flashy demos of iOS 26's Liquid Glass design and AI-driven features. Apple sometimes takes its time bringing features to its many surfaces, but when it does, it's often a highly polished and well-considered take on a familiar theme. Let's unpack a few ways where Apple is catching up, and how they stack up against their Android counterpart. 1. Call Screening and Hold Assist Kerry

Transition to using 16 KB page sizes for Android apps and games

Get ready to upgrade your app's performance as Android embraces 16 KB memory page sizes Android’s transition to 16 KB Page size Posted by Mayank Jain – Product Manager and Jomo Fisher – Software Engineer Traditionally, Android has operated with the 4 KB memory page size. However many ARM CPUs (the most common processors for Android phones) support the larger 16 KB page size, offering improved performance gains. With Android 15, the Android operating system is page-size-agnostic, allowing devi

Topics: 16 android kb page size

Android’s hidden phone info menu is finally getting organized

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Android Canary is showing a change to the hidden phone information menu. There’s a new entry called “Phone Information V2.” The new entry separates information that was on one page into four categories: Device Details, Data & Network, Satellite, and IMS. Did you know that Android has secret short codes you can use to gain quick access to certain features or information? You just have to enter one of the codes into the dialer to trigger an action or be

My wife and I share a car: this adapter fixed our issues connecting to Android Auto

ZDNET's key takeaways The AAWireless Two typically costs $65 and gives you wireless Android Auto support when plugged in. A new built-in button lets you quickly swap between paired devices. The companion app is almost too robust, but that's a good problem to have. $51.99 at Amazon The AAWireless Two is on sale at Amazon for $50, the lowest price we've seen for this product. Since I bought my first car three years ago, I've had the worst luck with wireless Android Auto adapters. I initially s

Two new Android 16 security features protect you better - how to switch them on now

JEFF PACHOUD/Getty Images Although Google's earlier-than-expected release of Android 16 was missing a few important features, the updated OS does deliver improved security that every Android user would be well-advised to enable. I'll explain these two key security features and how to find and enable them. Also: Google quietly confirms ChromeOS-Android merger - here's what it means for you 1. Identity Check This feature was added in 2024, but it didn't receive much attention until the releas

Google Will Merge Android and ChromeOS, Exec Says. That's Taking a Page Out of the Apple Playbook

In a move that could make life easier for folks using devices based on its operating systems, Google will eventually unify Android and ChromeOS, according to a high-ranking Google executive. Merging the systems could have positive outcomes for customers using, say, a Chromebook and an Android cellphone, much like Apple users have seamless functioning among MacBooks, iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. "We're going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interes

Google quietly confirms ChromeOS-Android merger - here's what it means for you

NurPhoto/Getty Images The long-standing rumor of ChromeOS and Android's merger was finally confirmed in the most understated way. TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff recounted his conversation with Sameer Samat, Google's president of the Android ecosystem. Samat noticed that the reporter was wearing an Apple Watch and using a MacBook. He asked Ulanoff why he was using a Mac. Samat confessed that he asked because "we're going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very inte

Google Will Merge Android and ChromeOS, Exec Says. That's Taking a Page out of the Apple Playbook

In a move that could make life easier for folks using devices based on its operating systems, Google will eventually unify Android and ChromeOS, according to a high-ranking Google executive. Merging the systems could have positive outcomes for customers using, say, a Chromebook and an Android cellphone, much like Apple users have seamless functioning among MacBooks, iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. "We're going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interes

Chrome OS is “combining” with Android, but what does that mean?

Android and Chrome OS have been developed in parallel for years, but Google is planning to streamline its operating systems. In a recent interview, Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat stated bluntly that Android and Chrome OS are merging. This shift, a long time in the making, could give Google more room to maneuver as it plans for new mobile computing experiences. In the interview, TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff had other things on his mind, but Samat peppered him with questions about how he u

Android’s lock screen widgets are getting a slick new background blur effect

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR A future Android update will give the lock screen widget page a blurred wallpaper background, aligning it with the Material 3 Expressive design language. This visual change, which replaces the current opaque colored background, was spotted in the new Android Canary build, making the UI more consistent. Although lock screen widgets are currently exclusive to tablets, Google has confirmed they will be coming to phones in the Android 16 QPR1 release. Mat

Google exec says the company will unify Android and ChromeOS

Google is taking another step toward unifying its ecosystem by merging Android and ChromeOS. Sameer Samat, the president of Google’s Android ecosystem, confirmed this shift in an interview with TechRadar . Samat was curious how the publication's Lance Ulanoff manages things across several Apple devices, namely a MacBook, iPhone and Apple Watch. "I asked because we’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interested in how people are using their laptops

Interview with Google's Android leader Sameer Samat

My conversation with Sameer Samat, Android’s daddy…er…the President of Android Ecosystem at Google, started with him quizzing me. Perhaps he noticed my MacBook Pro or the Apple Watch on my wrist. I did make sure to at least record the interview with the lovely new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 I’m testing, but Samat wanted to understand how and, maybe why, I’m using a Mac. I stammered, unprepared for the interrogation, but Samat wasn’t asking me why I don’t use Android. Instead, he’s curious about t

Here’s the truth behind Samsung Auto DeX, and why it’s not an Android Auto alternative (Updated)

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung Auto already exists as an Android Auto alternative in China but requires specific regional software and hardware to function. “Samsung Auto DeX” refers to an unofficial workaround enabling Samsung Auto functionality on non-support head units via desktop mode casting. Despite ongoing speculation, we could not locate confirmed evidence that suggests Samsung is officially developing “Auto DeX” as a distinct feature. Update, July 14, 2025 (06:50 A

6 easy ways to identify a song using your Android phone

filo/Getty Images You've probably been there before: there's a song stuck in your head and you can't remember the words, or you hear a song that you want to remember but don't know the name. Fortunately, it's never been easier to identify music around you if you have an Android phone. All but one of these features is tied to Google, but each one works differently, and one even works without you having to unlock your phone and works offline. Also: How to clear your Android phone cache (and why

Google exec: ‘We’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android’

Google’s head of Android has said that the company plans to combine its mobile operating system with ChromeOS, the software that currently runs across Google’s Chromebook laptops. Sameer Samat, president of Google’s Android ecosystem, told TechRadar that “we’re going to be combining Chrome OS and Android into a single platform.” Samat, who’s responsible for Android’s implementation across mobile, wearables, XR, TV, and auto, added that he’s “interested in how people are using their laptops thes

Google confirms it’s ‘combining’ Chrome OS and Android into a single platform

We exclusively reported back in November that Google was working to merge Chrome OS into Android . Now, a Google executive has effectively confirmed the company’s intentions to combine the two platforms. Sameer Samat, president of Android ecosystem at Google, asked a TechRadar journalist why they were using an Apple Watch, iPhone, and MacBook: I asked because we’re going to be combining Chrome OS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interested in how people are using their laptops

Android’s new design is bouncy and I’m all for it

Joe Maring / Android Authority From blobs to bounce to bright colors, your phone is about to look and feel a lot different, with Google bringing more of an opinionated approach to its design than we’ve ever seen before. In the world of software design, many are used to looking to Apple for inspiration, but Google’s Material Design bucks that trend with its boldest and most daring design strategy yet. Is Google’s more playful approach going to be a hit and entice an entirely new type of consumer

Cops say criminals use a Google Pixel with GrapheneOS — I say that’s freedom

Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority Police in Spain have reportedly started profiling people based on their phones; specifically, and surprisingly, those carrying Google Pixel devices. Law enforcement officials in Catalonia say they associate Pixels with crime because drug traffickers are increasingly turning to these phones. But it’s not Google’s secure Titan M2 chip that has criminals favoring the Pixel — instead, it’s GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused alternative to the default Pixel OS. As som

I use these 15 hidden Android shortcuts, and you should too

Joe Maring / Android Authority The number of hidden Android shortcuts is mind-boggling. Once you include core apps, there are hundreds, and not all are created equal. Some are niche and depend on how you use your phone. Personally, I’m never going to be much of a one-handed mode or split-screen user, but those features have their fans. My favorite hidden Android shortcuts have much broader appeal. Once you hear about them, you’ll be amazed that you were getting by without them. They’re listed

My top 6 open-source Android apps from the Google Play Store - and why that's important

Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images Android and open source are closely intertwined. In fact, most open-source fans I know also use Android. Coincidence? I think not. One nice thing about Android is that the Google Play Store has lots of open-source software. That's not to say every single open-source title is worth your time and effort, but there are plenty of FOSS apps that are not only worth your time but also some of the best in class. Also: I upgraded to Android 16 - here's what I love a

Google is working to bring album art to Now Playing on your Pixel’s lock screen (APK teardown)

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Now Playing detects songs your phone hears in its vicinity and can identify them on your lock screen. Tapping on the detected song name currently takes you to your Now Playing history. Google is working on a new interface where that tap would instead display album art on the lock screen. Sometimes, when it rains, it pours. As we analyze Android app updates for evidence of in-development changes, it can really feel like it’s dealer’s (or should we say, de