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I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with this $700 Android - and didn't miss it

ZDNET's key takeaways The Redmagic 10 Air Android phone is available now on Amazon for $729. The 10 Air phone is as elegant as it is powerful and can handle some of the more challenging games. This camera system isn't necessarily flagship level, and you'll want to pay attention to network band support. $719 at Amazon I've held lots of Android phones in my hand, some of which felt awkward because of their size or shape, while some fit just right. That Goldilocks effect is real, and one thing I

6 things I always do when setting up a new phone

Megan Ellis / Android Authority I set up a new phone fairly often — whether it’s moving to a new daily driver or secondary phone, or setting up one of the new best Android phones to review. Since I’m a creature of habit, I like to ensure that switching devices isn’t too jarring, so I have created a bit of a routine when it comes to setting up a new device. While I may tweak my approach depending on whether I plan to use the phone as my new daily driver or as a secondary device (such as a camer

Before the Z Fold7 Launch, Amazon Clears Out Galaxy S25 Ultra Stock at a Ridiculous Price

In just a few weeks, Samsung is expected to announce its latest generation of foldable smartphones as it does every year. If past trends continue, we’ll likely see the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 take center stage. And even as anticipation builds for those devices, the top-selling traditional flagship remains the Galaxy S25 Ultra which is also the most high-end Android phone available today. And now, Amazon is offering a new discount on the Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB model available for $1,

Android Auto inches closer to the light with new theme options (APK teardown)

Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Android Auto’s light theme could be coming soon, with new theming options added in the latest beta version. Users will soon be able to choose between Automatic, Light, and Dark themes for Android Auto. The new options will replace the current settings that only allow users to toggle the Google Maps theme between dark and light modes within Android Auto. Android Auto is getting closer to introducing a system-wide light theme — a feature users have been

Google Drive for Android gets a video player upgrade and better upload tools

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google Drive for Android now has a redesigned video player with easier-to-use playback controls. The mobile upload process has also been improved with file renaming, folder selection, and clearer progress tracking. Both features are now rolling out to all Google Workspace and personal Drive users. Google has been steadily modernizing its main storage app. The latest Google Drive for Android updates focus on making videos easier to watch and files eas

How to enable earthquake alerts on your Android phone (including these Samsung models)

bymuratdeniz/Getty Images The next time you get an alert on your Android phone, it might just be life-saving information. Google expanded its earthquake alert system last fall; this week, Samsung introduced its own version that might be even better. Here's how these critical alerts work and how you can turn them on. Android earthquake alerts are available in all 50 US states and six US territories, including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, an

Nothing Phone 1 gets a feature-packed encore before the final curtain falls

Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR The Nothing Phone 1 gets a new update with Android 15’s Privacy space feature. Other additions include a Hotspot Manager, a toggle for face unlock vibration, and the June security patch. This may be one of the device’s final feature updates, with no more OS upgrades coming. The Nothing Phone 1 might be nearing the end of its update life, but it’s not quite done yet. A new software update is rolling out that brings one of Android 15’s key features, with

Check out Pixel’s new AI Mode home screen shortcut (Update: Rolling out widely)

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Pixel devices could soon receive a shortcut to Search’s AI Mode on the home screen. The shortcut will appear within the Pixel Launcher’s search widget and launch the Google app’s AI Mode interface. We’ve enabled it in Android 16 QPR1 beta to give you an early look. Update, June 20, 2025 (1:55 PM ET): After slowly getting started earlier this month, this week it appears that the new Pixel Launcher AI Mode shortcut is rolling out widely. Here’s the new

I found a file-transferring app that works between Android and Linux - and it's free to use

Must. Connect. To. Linux. Jack Wallen/ZDNET Almost daily, I need to send a file from my Pop!_OS Linux desktop to my Android device. Over the years, I've found some solutions, but this latest option, called Packet, makes sending files from Linux to Android a breeze. Packet works with Quick Share, and both desktop and mobile devices only have to be on the same wireless network to function. Once on the same network, sending a file to Android is simple. Also: My 6 favorite open-source Android app

How Android earthquake alerts work (and how to enable them)

bymuratdeniz/Getty Images The next time you get an alert on your Android phone, it might just be life-saving information. Google expanded its earthquake alert system last fall; this week, Samsung introduced its own version that might be even better. Here's how these critical alerts work and how you can turn them on. Android earthquake alerts are available in all 50 US states and six US territories, including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, an

One of the best RPGs of all time is coming to Android on August 5

Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR Disco Elysium will launch on Android on August 5. It will feature full voice acting and revamped, mobile-first gameplay. The first two chapters are free, with the full game costing $9.99. Disco Elysium is one of the most celebrated titles of the past decade, with numerous awards and accolades under its belt. A mobile port was announced earlier this year, and now it finally has an official release date. The stylish 2019 RPG will launch on August 5, and

Chimpanzees yawn when observing an android yawn

Participants Participants were 14 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes spp.) aged 10 to 33 years (\(\bar{X}\) = 22.57, SD = 8.06), including 10 males and 4 females (see Table 1). The chimpanzees had lived at the Fundació Mona (Spain) for between 1 and 12 years (\(\bar{X}\) = 7.36, SD = 4.34), after being confiscated or rescued from the pet and entertainment industry to be permanently housed at the centre. All chimpanzees were socially housed in two stable groups within a naturalistic enclosure de

Google just made it way easier to use Chrome extensions on Android — here’s how

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is developing a new version of Chrome for Android that supports extensions, and recent builds show significant progress. It’s now possible to install Chrome extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store, and they will persist even after restarting the browser. The feature is still experimental and intended for future Android-powered PCs, but anyone can sideload the APK to try it now. While Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser on And

How to clear your Android phone cache (and why you should do it before installing Android 16)

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Google recently released Android 16 to Pixel devices and select OEMs, bringing performance improvements, new Material You changes, and more upgrades. If you want to try this update but are hesitant because you've noticed your Android phone or tablet already feels too sluggish, clearing app and browser caches can give it a fresh boost and free up some storage space. Over time, cached data can accumulate, become corrupted, or simply get outdated, which may slow down

I changed 12 settings on my Android phone to significantly improve the battery life

Kerry Wan/ZDNET I've spent large portions of my life looking for ways to extend the battery life on my Android phones. Admittedly, that sounds rather dramatic, but growing up with only budget models meant I was constantly tweaking device settings to squeeze every bit of juice out of their batteries. Thanks to this micromanaging, I successfully pushed the batteries on all my past smartphones to their absolute limit. I don't want to hoard this knowledge to myself, so I've decided to share it wit

Google Messages will help you shame your friends into finally turning on RCS (APK teardown)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR To take full advantage of RCS messaging features, everyone in the chat needs to have RCS enabled. Google Messages is working on a feature that would prompt you to send friends without RCS a message asking them to turn it on. Messaging on Android is better than it’s ever been, and a big part of that is due to the arrival of Rich Communication Services (RCS) support. While that’s absolutely helped start pulling down some of the walls between Android and

Your Android phone is getting a big security upgrade for free - these Pixel models included

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Mobile devices are always a tempting target for cybercriminals. That's true not just for consumers but for companies. According to Google, more than half of organizations have pointed to smartphones as their most exposed endpoint, and data breaches often occur from improper use of these devices. In a blog post released earlier this month, Google describes the latest protections available with its Android Enterprise platform, which rolls out to most Android 16-compatible handset

Chimpanzees yawn when observing an Android yawn

Participants Participants were 14 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes spp.) aged 10 to 33 years (\(\bar{X}\) = 22.57, SD = 8.06), including 10 males and 4 females (see Table 1). The chimpanzees had lived at the Fundació Mona (Spain) for between 1 and 12 years (\(\bar{X}\) = 7.36, SD = 4.34), after being confiscated or rescued from the pet and entertainment industry to be permanently housed at the centre. All chimpanzees were socially housed in two stable groups within a naturalistic enclosure de

Will Android ‘App Cast’ let you stream apps from device to device? (APK teardown)

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Play Services shows evidence of an in-development “App Cast” tool. While its full functionality is unclear, it appears able to gather info about remote Android devices and access their installed apps. One possibility could be the ability to remotely stream apps from one Android device to another. Google’s always working on something new for Android, and we spend a fair amount of time digging through app and system updates in the hope of getting

Files by Google is getting a little more of that Material 3 Expressive flair (APK teardown)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google’s currently updating its Android library with Material 3 Expressive design language. Following an initial look last month, we’ve spotted further signs of Files by Google’s M3E redesign. The app is experimenting with new, more intuitive icons and some revised screen layouts. Who doesn’t love reinventing themselves with a new look for summer? When it comes to Google and its Android apps, right now that means gussying them up with a fresh dose of

This Linux app makes sharing files to Android a breeze - here's how

Must. Connect. To. Linux. Jack Wallen/ZDNET Almost daily, I need to send a file from my Pop!_OS Linux desktop to my Android device. Over the years, I've found some solutions, but this latest option, called Packet, makes sending files from Linux to Android a breeze. Packet works with Quick Share, and both desktop and mobile devices only have to be on the same wireless network to function. Once on the same network, sending a file to Android is simple. Also: My 6 favorite open-source Android app

This simple app lets you run your Steam games on Android, no streaming required

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR GameNative makes it easy to play your Steam library on Android via Winlator. The Pluvia fork adds support for titles with DRM and more optimizations. It’s open-source, but take care when logging in with your Steam credentials. Windows emulation on Android has made some progress lately, but it’s nowhere near as user-friendly as most retro game emulators. A new app called GameNative attempts to change that by making your Steam library playable with minim

Google is working on a ton of changes to Gboard (APK teardown)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR An Android Authority teardown has revealed that Gboard could get a variety of tweaks and additions. The keyboard app could soon let you add Emoji Kitchen combos to a favorites list. We also discovered a SmartEdit feature and evidence of tighter integration with the Pixel 10’s Magic Cue feature. Gboard recently gained the ability to create stickers without using Pixel Studio, but it looks like Google isn’t stopping there. In fact, the company is worki

Android 16 for Pixels brings too many bugs for a ‘stable’ update, but at least one is getting fixed

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 is causing a very annoying bug where Pixel phones take too long to wake up. Google is aware of the issue and is working on a fix, and temporary workarounds are also available. This is one of several bugs reported by users after the Android 16 update, but there are many more, including freezing lock screens and unresponsive gestures. Android 16 is the flavor of the season, and Pixel owners are already enjoying the latest Baklava update. Granted,

I tried to replace my aging Pixelbook with an iPad on iPadOS 26; here’s how it went

Oliver Cragg / Android Authority It’s been nine years since Apple released an ad for the 2016 iPad Pro, which asked, “What is a computer?” That ad has been mocked ever since, as the iPad has always been seen as too compromised compared to a MacBook, Chromebook, or Windows laptop to serve as a full computer replacement for most people. However, iPadOS 26 brings some significant changes to the iPad, and I think it might be enough for the iPad to replace my aged Google Pixelbook. So, I installed

7 Ways to Limit Your Endless Doomscrolling

If you actually measure the amount of time you spend scrolling through algorithm-led social media feeds each day, it will probably add up to more hours and minutes than you’d guess. Time can quickly slip away while you're checking up on friends, celebrities, the news, and the viral memes of the day. The term doomscrolling has sprung up to describe this behavior, which, let's face it, isn't usually the most edifying or the best for our mood. It's no surprise that the word began to gain traction

Samsung’s Android XR headset may be ready for launch sooner than you’d think

Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority TL;DR A new report claims Samsung will hold a launch event for its XR headset on September 29, 2025. The headset will be released in South Korea on October 13, with global availability coming later. Project Moohan will be compatible with most Android smartphone and tablet apps to pad out the amount of available content. Samsung has been fairly quiet about Project Moohan since its unveiling back in January. The Android XR headset has been shown off a couple of

Android may soon recommend you use an ‘optimized’ voice assistant — here’s what that really means

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR OEMs can now highlight specific digital assistants as “optimized” for their Android devices in the default app settings. Google says it created the feature at an OEM’s request so OEMs can recommend assistants verified to work with their first-party applications. While Google says it won’t do this on its own Pixel phones, the feature comes as the company is facing growing regulatory pressure. For many years, Google Assistant was widely seen as the best

Grab these free retro Sega games for iPhone before it’s too late

If you’re a fan of retro Sega games – or just think you might be – you’ll want to download nine of them to your iPhone before they are discontinued … CNET’s Zachary McAuliffe spotted the warning message when downloading a couple of them. I downloaded Crazy Taxi and Streets of Rage, and after I started these games, I saw a screen that said support for the games will be discontinued soon. The screen also says you can play these games offline even after support ends. All nine are currently free

If this OnePlus 15 camera leak is true, OnePlus might be making a critical mistake

Ryan Haines / Android Authority The OnePlus 13 is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Android phones available today — and for a multitude of reasons. Its design is great, performance is outstanding, and battery life is amazing. Unlike a lot of past OnePlus phones, the OnePlus 13’s cameras are just as good (if not better) than the rest of its flagship competitors. And that’s why the latest OnePlus 15 leak has me worried. Earlier this week, a well-known leaker teased a few details about the u