Latest from Android Central

PS5 stock is selling out fast, so be sure to have your credit card ready.Looking to buy a PS5? Well, so are millions of other people. It doesn't help that stock levels remain tight, even nearly a year after its launch. Every time a retailer puts stock up for sale, it sells out super quickly. The longest we here at Android Central have seen PS5s stay in stock is between 15 to 20 minutes (often just a few minutes, though). That's also at random times, so finding a PS5 is a truly challenging task. Sony warned it would be hard to find stock throughout the year and well into 2022, if not further, but retailers promise more are coming and that Sony has secured additional semiconductor chips to make them.In our PS5 review, we called the system a technical marvel with a groundbreaking controller. And after spending over a year with the PS5, it's nearly impossible to go back to the PS4. Everything about the PS5 is better, from the games to the DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive trigge...

Tello is a unique carrier in that it doesn't have a traditional set of plans, instead, the best Tello plans can be customized for each person. This includes choosing how many minutes and minutes they want, plus data. Tello operates on the T-Mobile network with access to 5G including the faster mid-band connection. While you don't need to commit to it, Tello has created some starting points for plans, and the best value for most people is Tello's Smart Plan with 4GB of data and unlimited talk and text.Best overall: Tello Smart 4GBOn Tello, you can create your own plan by choosing how many minutes you think you'll need and how much data you think you'll need. You can get an idea of how much data you typically use by looking at your current bill or checking the data usage settings on your Android phone. For most smartphone users, Tello's pre-configured Smart Plan is a great starting point with unlimited minutes and 4GB of high-speed data. All Tello plans with minutes come with unl...

And there is no end in sight.The U.S. and China are in a full-on war over the tech that will power what comes next from almost every industry. What started as a trade dispute under the Trump administration has grown under President Joe Biden, and there is no predicting how things will end.Things haven't worked out as expected so far, either. Three years later, Huawei and ZTE (the original targets of Trump's economic bans) are still alive and kicking, producing new equipment every year. In fact, Huawei is still making smartphones after every pundit was sure the company wouldn't even be around.The P50 Pro happened anywayHuawei is back with another P series flagship phone with just one limitation because of the crushing trade bans that prevent the company from accessing components — it's using the 4G-only version of the Snapdragon 888 from Qualcomm.Like the past few phones from Hauwei, it also has no access to Google's proprietary software but can run Android Harmony OS ...

It includes the December 2021 security patch.What you need to knowLenovo announced the second Android 12L Developer Preview for the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro.The new update includes no significant changes from the first beta, except for the 2021-12-01 security patch level.The latest beta only supports the tablet's Wi-Fi version that is sold outside of China.Lenovo on Friday released the second Android 12L beta for the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro, nearly two months after the rollout of the first developer preview.Both the software flashing packages and the Android 12L beta 2 image are now available to download via Lenovo's developer website, coming in at 1.7GB. The latest update also includes the December 2021 security patch level.Lenovo did not provide release notes for the new beta, so it's not clear what issues have been resolved. That said, the company lists the same software limitations from December. 'Copy apps & data' in OOBE is not supported. Fingerprint unlock is n...

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro just might be perfect now.What you need to knowJabra pushes out a significant update for its Elite 7 series earbuds.The update enables multipoint Bluetooth support for connecting to more than one device.The earbuds are also Google Assistant certified.Jabra's excellent Elite 7 Pro and Elite 7 Active earbuds are receiving an update, and you're going to like what it brings.The update was spotted by Digital Trends, started rolling out on Thursday, and enables multipoint Bluetooth support, something that was noticeably missing from the earbuds when they launched in August. This feature allows the earbuds to connect to more than one device, such as a phone and a computer, allowing you to switch between them when needed.This feature is present on Jabra's previous models, so it was odd that it wasn't readily available at launch. However, at CES 2022, Jabra ensured that the feature would be arriving "later this January," and the company managed to keep its ...

Running out of storage on your PS5? After an incredibly helpful update in 2021, you can now use the internal M.2 SSD slot. Sony finally confirmed hardware requirements for the M.2 slot on the PS5, and the latest software update allows you to use an internal SSD to increase your console's storage. These are the best external SSDs for PS5.PS5 M.2 SSD requirementsBefore we get started, we'll need to take a look at the list of hardware requirements for an M.2 SSD to work as an internal drive on the PS5. On Sept. 15, 2021, Sony released a software update that lets everyone use the M.2 SSD slot to extend the storage of their PS5 consoles.Sony's M.2 hardware guidelines are pretty stringent, so you will need to pick up the latest M.2 drives. These are the full requirements for an M.2 drive to work as internal storage on the PS5:PCIe Gen4 interfaceMinimum sequential read speeds of 5,500MB/sDrive storage has to be within 250GB to 4TBM.2 form factor with 22mm widthMandatory heatsin...

Whether you're using the Chrome Browser on Windows, Mac, Android, or on the best Chromebook, there are a lot of ways to tweak the performance or try out upcoming features even without having to switch to software channels. Chrome Flags allow you to try out experimental features or disable certain features if you're encountering issues, and here's how to turn them on or off as you see fit.How to enable flags in ChromeGo to chrome://flags in your Chrome browser.Type the flag name into the search bar. If you're not entirely sure on the same, type in the process or task, and the search should get close enough.Click the drop-down menu next to the flag you want to enable.Click Enabled.Click Restart to relaunch Chrome and activate the flag.Chrome will close and restart — Chromebook users, be warned that depending on the flag, the entire system might reboot — with the flag enabled. You can activate multiple flags at once and then reboot once you're done, or you can cl...

Run, jump, dodge and shoot your way to these action Android games.There are so many awesome action games in the Google Play Store, it can be hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. But we've done the heavy lifting for you and after hundreds of hours of playing, we've rounded up the best action-packed games for Android that are worth checking out.Many of the games on this list are paid apps, which might give you pause, so you'll need to trust us when we say these games are well worth the initial investment. Plus, it's always good to support those teams developing great games for Android!When you're done here, be sure to check out our best Android games roundup!The gamesAilmentAnimACandies 'n CursesDandaraDead CellsDeath Road to CanandaDownwellGenshin ImpactGrimvalorHuntdownICEYInjustice 2JYDGEPascal's WagerPenariumRedungeonSuzy Cube Tesla vs LovecraftWitcheyeAilmentAilment is a top-down sci-fi shooter with tons of movie references and horror el...

What do we want? More RAM! Do we really need it? Maybe, maybe not.What you need to knowWe asked our readers what they thought of the rumored Galaxy S22 Ultra configurations.More than 50% said they prefer that Samsung keeps the same (or higher) RAM configurations as the S21 Ultra.36% say they don't mind but would like more storage or a lowered price to make up for it.Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event is less than two weeks away, and we're expecting the company to launch its next exciting flagship lineup. We expect some big changes for the Galaxy S22 series, including an S Pen-touting S22 Ultra that will succeed the Galaxy Note series. However, with rumors circulating that the S22 Ultra specs will include lower RAM configurations than last year's Ultra, we asked our readers if they'd mind that Samsung may lower the memory.Out of more than 1100 votes, 54% said they would prefer that Samsung keep the same RAM configurations as last year or increase it. 36% say that the 8GB base...

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the biggest and most powerful Galaxy phones ever. It's also the first to work with the S Pen, which has been traditionally reserved for the Note line. Given its size and heft, you need to protect your investment with a sturdy case that adds both grip and style. Here are our top picks for the best Galaxy S21 Ultra cases, whether you're after a clear case to show off the Ultra's design or a durable tank-like enclosure to keep it safe and secure.Colorful and durableCaseology Nano PopStaff PickAfter two years of the Nano Pop being exclusive to iPhones, it's finally available for Samsung devices with the S21 series. The Blueberry Navy with its yellow accents is striking and classic, while the impact-absorbing pattern embedded in the back gives you slim protection. I wish the Ultra also had the Violet shade the smaller S21s have, but these colors are still fun.From $16 at AmazonReady to work hardArmadilloTek Vanguard Series for S21 UltraTh...

A significant boost in display technology.Sony has been relatively quiet concerning any news on its next virtual reality device, the PS VR2, but what few specs the company has shown off have only made excitement around the new VR headset even higher. Among the few official specs we've seen thus far, the 4K-quality PS VR2 resolution has us most excited, as it's a major step up from the previous generation.What resolution is the PS VR2 display?While we can speculate to high heaven on how the PS5 VR headset will perform, Sony thankfully left little to the imagination regarding the PS VR2's display. Sony has confirmed that the new device will feature an OLED display, with 2000x2040 resolution per eye and support for both 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates, instantly making it one of the best PlayStation accessories on the market when it releases.As far as comparisons to other VR headsets go, this absolutely blows the original PSVR out of the water, as the original device only support...

A big hit for VR owners.What you need to knowZenith: The Last City is an MMORPG that can only be played in virtual reality on PlayStation VR, Quest, and Windows PC.The game released on Thursday and has reached first of Steam's top selling chart after one day, despite server issues on launch. It is also the top selling game on the Quest Store with preorders on that version noted as surpassing expectations "significantly."Zenith: The Last City, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that is only playable through virtual reality headsets, is currently the top selling game on Steam one day after launch. This is despite the game's server issues at launch and the Steam's Lunar New Year sale that began at the same time on Thursday.The VR-only MMORPG is first on the Steam top sellers chart and ranks above games such as preorders for the upcoming Dying Light 2 and Elden Ring alongside the recently released God of War and Monster Hunter Rise. It is also within the top 10 ...

May the Force be with you — on your phone!The Star Wars franchise has seen some great games come and go over the years. I'd like to take a moment to pour one out for Star Wars: Force Arena, a MOBA-style game that was shut down a while back. It was easily the best Star Wars mobile game I've played on mobile, and it's a shame that it wasn't viable — or whatever the reason the developers had for shutting down the servers.I'll also note that this list does not include any AR-experiences or lightsaber simulators because, despite how cool they might be, they are novelties and not really games that you can get enjoyment out for any true length of time.I'll also briefly mention Star Wars: Card Trader, which is an app focused on collecting Star Wars cards like some of us used to do as kids. It's less a game than a collectathon with gamified elements. There's a community dedicated to buying, selling, trading, and so on.With all that out of the way, here are the best Star Wars games...

The Game Dashboard with Android 12 offers a few valuable features for those playing games on their phone. With the ability to enable screen recording, display the FPS, and stream gameplay directly to YouTube, it makes some of the best Android phones better. While Android 12 rolls out to more phones, it's available on Google's Pixel line right now, and you may be wondering how to use it. First, we'll run through exactly what the Android 12 Game Dashboard can do and how to enable or disable it if you so choose.Keep in mind that not every game supports the Game Dashboard, and even if one does, it may not support every feature. Unfortunately, there isn't a list of compatible games at the moment, so it's hard to say which do or don't support it. However, if you're playing a game that's compatible with the Game Dashboard, you'll see a small game controller icon pop up on the side of the screen when you're playing.How to use the Android 12 Game DashboardOpen up your Settings. Select...

IDC says global smartphone shipments totaled 1.35 billion units in 2021, marking a 5.7% growth despite the chip shortage.What you need to knowSmartphone companies shipped 1.35 billion units in 2021, a slight increase from the previous year.Samsung led the smartphone market last year with a 20.1% market share, followed by Apple and Xiaomi.However, worldwide smartphone shipments declined by 3.2% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2021.Samsung shipped the most number of smartphones worldwide in 2021 with 272 million units sold that year, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation.The South Korean tech giant grabbed the top spot in the global smartphone market last year with a 20.1% market share, beating out Apple, which had a market share of 17.4% after shipping 235.7 million phones during the year. Xiaomi came in third with 191 million shipments, followed by OPPO with 133.5 million and Vivo with 128.3 million.Overall, global smartphone shipment...

If you want AirPods alternatives, these will do nicely.Denon is a known brand in audiophile circles, but it's never ventured into making true wireless earbuds before. Even for an established company that's already earned its pedigree in audio, new categories don't always guarantee success, and in this case, Denon's approach may have been the right one for the right type of user.That becomes clearer after trying them out, though the more obvious contrast is with the AirPods, not as much with others. The reasons why come down to value and performance.Denon AH-C830NCW review:Price and availabilityWhat's good What's not goodThe competitionShould you buy?At a glanceDenon AH-C830NCW review Bottom line: Denon gives its debut true wireless earbuds a chance to play spoiler against the AirPods, particularly for Androi...

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals.What you need to knowGoogle plans to invest up to $1 billion in Bharti Airtel as part of the "Google for India" digitization fund.The two companies will work together to enable affordable access to smartphones and create India-specific network domain use cases for 5G. Google had invested $4.5 billion in Reliance-owned Jio Platforms in 2020. Google on January 28 announced that it would be making an investment of $1 billion in Bharti Airtel over the next five years. The investment will be part of the search giant's "Google for India" digitization fund.While Google will be spending $700 million to pick up a 1.28% stake in Airtel, it will invest up to $300 million on potential multi-year commercial initiatives. Bharti Airtel is currently India's second-largest carrier, with over 355 million subscribers. It is also among the top players in India's broadband market.As part of the deal, Google and Bharti Airtel will work together to ...

Chrome OS already makes using desktop peripherals dead simple, and we've rounded up the best Chromebook monitors for any situation. Chromebooks are perfect on-the-go computers for many people, but sometimes you just want to sit down, relax, and do your thing with a big external display. Almost every laptop, regardless of the software it's running, has some port to send video out to an external display. Our top recommendation for a monitor to use with a Chromebook is the incredible LG 24UD58, but we've also rounded up other great options with lower resolutions and price points that will match perfectly with one of the best Chromebooks.Best overall: LG 24UD58-B 4K UHDThe LG 24UD58 may not look as pretty as other options, but LG has gone out of its way to give users a great experience. This monitor sports a 4K UHD resolution, which is excellent for those who want to get work done and let off steam with a game. Of course, Chromebooks aren't the best for gaming, but if you're going ...

All the convenience of normal wireless charging. Only faster.The Qi charging standard has come a long way since it was first specified. What started as a very slow and very wasteful technology to recharge low-power devices (like the battery in your phone) has expanded to include things that need more power like a laptop. The Wireless Power Consortium has even demonstrated the tech powering kitchen appliances at 1kW. But for most of us, the biggest advance has been the introduction of wireless fast charging. Any Qi-enabled phone will charge on any Qi pad, even if Fast Charge isn't available.Qi (pronounced Chee and roughly translated to "spiritual energy") is a charging standard. The Wireless Power Consortium — imagine a group of electrical engineers that really love chargers working with the smart people who make things that need to be charged — developed the specification in 2009. The first version supported wireless power transfer up to 4.999 watts, and it worked by usi...

Work Life Balance was introduced back in OxygenOS 9.5, but it was limited to the Indian market. But with OxygenOS 12, OnePlus is rolling out the feature to global markets and giving it a version update.Work Life Balance 2.0 lets you set up work and personal profiles, giving you the ability to cut out distractions from social media when you're working and making sure you don't receive work notifications during downtime. Here's how you can set up and get started with Work Life Balance 2.0, and why you'd want to.How to enable Work Life Balance 2.0 in OxygenOS 12Work Life Balance 2.0 can be enabled by heading into your phone's settings. This is what you need to do:Open Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Choose Convenience tools.Select Work Like Balance. Hit Get Started to set up the feature. You can give the feature access to your location to switch modes when you get to work or home automatically. If you want to do so, choose the While using the app setting for ...

Neighbors is a community-driven communication app from Ring that helps its users keep better informed of local safety issues and other goings-on. While this is a Ring-made app, you won't need a Ring product to use it. Setting up an account is completely free, and there are no fees or other costs associated with Neighbors. If you're already a Ring user and have one of the best Ring products, you can also find Neighbors inside the Ring app.Signing up for NeighborsIf you're a new Neighbors user and don't intend to use Ring devices at this time, download the standalone Neighbors app from the Google Play Store or Apple Appstore for the devices you want to use it on. The Neighbors app is a safe way to connect to your wider neighborhood and stay informed.The setup process is pretty straightforward. Sign up for a Ring account to get started and input your address to find your virtual neighborhood.Open the Neighbors app and tap Sign up.Enter your first and last name and tap Continue...

Fashionable fitnessFitbit LuxeFrom $131 at AmazonProsActivity/sleep trackingHeart-rate trackingAutomatic workout recognitionStress, skin temperature, SpO2 monitoringSleek and stylish designConsShorter battery lifeSmaller displayIf you're someone who has refrained from buying a fitness tracker due to the lack of fashionable options, you'll have met your match with the Fitbit Luxe since it's slim, sleek, and stylish. You also get tons of features, including activity/sleep tracking, stress monitoring, heart-rate tracking, and much more.A different approachAmazon Halo View$80 at AmazonProsActivity/sleep trackingHeart-rate trackingStress monitoringMovement HealthBattery lasts around a weekConsLacks GPS supportNot very stylishRelies on Halo subscriptionIf you want to better understand your health with unique metrics, you may love the new, affordable Amazon Halo View. It's a lightweight fitness tracker that digs deeper into other me...

The new team will be based in San Diego.What you need to knowGoogle is apparently building a new team in San Diego to help with the Camera ISP design for custom Tensor chips.A larger team should allow Google to deliver an even more impressive camera experience on future Pixel phones. Google's second-generation Tensor chipset is expected to be announced sometime later this year. Google's Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are two of the best Android phones on the market when it comes to camera performance. The 50MP main sensor can capture excellent photos in almost any lighting condition and even when your subject is in motion. It now looks like Google wants to further improve this competitiveness by creating a new team for camera ISP design in San Diego.Looks like @madebygoogle is building a team in #SanDiego for camera-facing parts of the Tensor SoC. I wonder where they may be trying to hire from... pic.twitter.com/Z1fkeS1tLJ— Anshel Sag (@anshelsag) January 27, 2022As you can see ...

Whether you're buying a high capacity power station or a pocket-friendly portable charger, any power bank you buy is essentially a big battery sitting in a shell that you don't use often. And when they're not used, power banks can slowly waste away, steadily losing charging capacity. We want your awesome power bank to last as long as possible. These three, easy-to-remember rules will keep yours from turning into a time bomb that betrays you and leaves you with a dead phone at the worst possible time.1. Do NOT leave it at 100% or 0%Batteries are under the most strain when they're closest to completely full or completely empty. This is why years ago you were told not to leave your phone on the charger overnight since it would shorten the life of the battery. These days, battery technology has improved, and features like Adapting charging are being used more widely to charge intelligently and prevent the strain when a battery is above 80% or below 20%.While phones and laptops ca...

Verizon's network has been growing fast with new 5G bands enabling faster speeds and plans designed to make the most of the upgraded network. Not only that, Verizon has several deals on Android devices to help make switching to the carrier as big of an upgrade as possible whether you're interested in a new Pixel, Samsung, or even iPhone. If you're ready to switch to Verizon with two lines, you can buy one Google Pixel 6 and get a second one up to $800 off with an unlimited plan.If you're looking to get started with Verizon, your best bet for getting the fastest speeds is picking a phone with C-band support. On Verizon, C-band is part of the Ultra Wideband 5G network. On the spec sheet, C-band support is listed as support for band n77. Phones connected to C-band can see speeds as high as 1Gbps with a strong signal.Many newer Android phones such as the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 FE the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series support this C-band connection. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G also supports Ve...

Best answer: Not quite. While mobile hotspots like Netgear's Nighthawk M5 have plenty of power, data plans for mobile hotspots still aren't competitive with wired home internet or even 5G home internet services. If you travel a lot or live in a rural area, they can still serve as a great backup plan.The hardware is here, but the plans are notMobile hotspots have gotten very powerful, with many supporting Wi-Fi 6 and 5G. Some have even enabled access to gigabit 5G speeds with support for C-band on multiple carriers. The main problem with switching to a mobile hotspot like the Netgear Nighthawk M5 or any of the other best 5G hotspots is the amount of data you can get in a plan and how many people can use it.While Cricket offers up to 100GB of data for hotspots, simultaneous devices are limited to just nine. T-Mobile is a bit more easygoing about the number of connections but only offers 50GB of data. While these amounts are easily enough for most cell phones, they don't hold up w...

Grading how each Android OEM is handling its Android 12 release schedule.It's been nearly four months since Google rolled out the stable Android 12 build to the Android Open Source Project. Most Android OEMs have used this time to bring Monet color theming, better privacy features, and other new tools to their 2021 flagship phones. But it's been a difficult update season for almost everyone — including Google. Unless you own one of those flagships — or a Pixel or recent Galaxy phone — you're likely still waiting for your update.One of my jobs at AC is to let people know when their phones will get Android 12, but that job's been made difficult by the fact that many brands aren't releasing proper roadmaps like they have in years past. And several times, an OEM has proudly released an A12 update only to roll it back once users encounter tons of UI-breaking bugs.So with most devs on track to slow-drip Android 12 updates throughout 2022 — and to give users no advance notice ...

Smart speakers are capable of many things, and one of the biggest reasons people buy them is for helping to automate some tasks. Amazon makes some of the best smart speakers, not just because of the wide variety of styles these excellent Alexa speakers come in, but because of the helpful features that come with them. One such feature is the routines. These allow you to use your smart speaker to have things like your lights come on at a particular time, send you notifications when someone arrives home, and many more. But when you enable sound detection with your Amazon Echo, you get even more automation options.How to enable sound detection with your Amazon Echo and AlexaThe goal of routines is to take multiple commands that you'd have to manually give your Alexa device to accomplish a task and reduce it down to a single command — or none at all. By adding sound detection to the mix of your routines, you can have a series of tasks begin processing simply by your Amazon Echo hear...

The streaming service will arrive in the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and more regions this summer.What you need to knowDisney Plus plans to expand into more than 50 new markets this year.The streaming service aims to reach more than 160 countries by fiscal 2023.It is expected to begin expanding in various regions this summer, including South Africa, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.Disney Plus surpassed more than 50 million subscribers in April 2020, just five months after its launch in the United States across various platforms, including laptops and Android phones. Less than a year and a half later, the streaming service topped 100 million subscribers, though it still trailed Netflix's subscriber base.The company is now going after its toughest rival with a planned expansion in 53 new markets this summer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney Plus will launch in 42 countries and 11 territories. These include the following:Åland IslandsAlbaniaAlge...

The FCC is pushing nutrition labels for internet providers.What you need to knowThe FCC has voted to move forward with new rules for ISPs to display nutrition labels.The proposed rulemaking would mandate ISPs to display relevant speed and pricing information to consumers.This should make it easier for consumers to make an informed decision on their broadband.The FCC voted unanimously on a plan that would allow consumers to make better decisions about their broadband internet.The proposal will require internet service providers (ISPs) - including many of the best wireless carriers in the U.S. — to display "nutrition labels" that display relevant service information for consumers at point-of-sale. This includes internet speeds, allowances, and clear information on rates."If you walk into any grocery store and pull boxes of cereal from the shelves, you can easilycompare calories and carbohydrates," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement on Thursday. "That's b...

The removal will take effect some time this month.What you need to knowVerizon will no longer be supported in the Google Play Store's carrier billing program starting in January.The carrier confirmed its removal from the list, citing a "business decision" rather than a security concern.Google advises users of its carrier billing feature in the United States to update their payment method for subscriptions.If you're currently paying for apps and subscriptions in the United States through your carrier billing, you might want to update your payment method right now as Google plans to remove Verizon Wireless from the list.Google Play's support page for accepted payment options in the U.S. confirms this news, first reported by Android Police. "As of January 2022, Verizon Wireless will no longer be an accepted payment method for subscriptions in the US," reads a warning on the page.A number of Google Play users initially received an email from Google informing them that Veriz...

The Google Pixel 5a packs a big battery into a very familiar design, and while it might look a little boring on its own, that's what cases are for: protecting your phone and making it look even better! The limited release of the Google Pixel 5a had me concerned we wouldn't see many big-name, high-quality cases, but those fears were unfounded. We've got the best Pixel 5a cases right here to help you protect your new phone, whatever your tastes prefer.Sage colors, serene patternsCaseology Parallax Compatible with Google Pixel 5a Case (2021)Staff PickSince the Pixel 5a lacks color options, Caseology has given us the best of the Pixel 5's colors along with its tried and true favorites. The Parallax features a fun cubist pattern that adds grip and style across the back. The bumper has a new ultra-textured section, but some might find it abrasive.$16 at Amazon $16 at WalmartGrippy and understatedSpigen Liquid Air ArmorIf you want grip without a case that glows like a ra...

Now you don't have to miss out on features when entering protected chats.What you need to knowMessenger is rolling out end-to-end encrypted group chats and calls to everyone.Protected chats will now include features found in regular chat conversations, like gifs, reactions, and more.Users will be notified when someone takes a screenshot of disappearing messages.End-to-end encrypted chats have been available for some time on Messenger, but Meta is announcing quite a few enhancements for the feature that will make it more feature-rich on iOS and the best Android phones.Messenger's secure chats were relatively limited before, but that is now changing with the swath of new features arriving. Many of these are features you'd find when chatting normally (and not protected) in Messenger. That includes typing indicators, message replies and forwarding, reactions, and the ability to send GIFs and stickers.You can also save media and edit videos before you send them. Essentially ...

The perfect cure for a rainy day or your morning transit commute.Not everyone wants to commit hours of their day to playing games on their phones. That's why casual games exist! These games have proven wildly successful, championed by iconic mobile games such as Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga. They're designed to be played on the go and at your own pace — as laid back or competitive as you want.Most casual games are free, offering in-app purchases and some ads. Some may cost you a dollar or two, but they're worth it. We've collected some of our favorites from the past, along with some newer games that are great to keep on your phone for a little gaming break during your day. It should come as no surprise that you'll find quite a few of these on our list of best Android games.The gamesAI Factory LimitedAlto's Odyssey Among UsAngry Birds 2The Battle for PolytopiaCandy Crush SagaCats are CuteChessplodeData WingThe FishercatFishing LifeFruit Ninja FreeMini Metr...

If you're going to have an "oopsie" name leak, at least it was a cute one.What you need to knowGoogle's latest Superfans care package offered a small Pixel 6a fakeout.The package includes a Nest Audio speaker and a Made By Google-themed coloring book.Listed in the table of contents on pages 6-7 is "Nest Thermostat • Pixel 6a," but those pages actually show the Nest Hub and the Nest Audio.On the digital coloring book version, there is a page of Pixel 6 phones that you can color in, but it's unclear if these are the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6a since the Pixel 6a is supposed to look very similar.While the Google Pixel 6a is still a ways off, that's not stopping Google from accidentally stoking the smoldering embers of hype for its next phone in a swag box sent out to Pixel Superfans this week. The care package includes a Nest Audio, still the best Google Assistant speaker after over a year on the market, a set of colored pencils, and a coloring book of all your favorite Google-ma...

The country already has IndusOS, which is based on Google's Android.What you need to knowIndia wants to create its own operating system.Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT believes Google and Apple are too dominant.The country wants more competition.The government of India is planning to create a policy that would help the mobile ecosystem in the country, the Economic Times reports. It would mean creating a native operating system that would be an alternative to Google's Android and Apple's iOS, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday.Chandrasekhar says that right now, Google's and Apple's operating systems are the two most dominant systems that are driving the hardware ecosystem in the country."There is no third one. Therefore, in a lot of ways there is tremendous interest in MeitY and in the Government of India to even create a new handset operating system. We are talking to people. We are looking at a policy for t...

An easy way to find all the deals on the Play Store.What you need to knowGoogle rolls out a new "Offers" tab in the Play Store.The tab will allow users to quickly find deals on apps, entertainment, and more.The new tab is rolling out in the United States, India, and Indonesia first, with more countries coming later.The Play Store bottom bar is getting a bit crowded thanks to the brand new "Offers" tab that's rolling out now on the best Android phones.The new tab was spotted a couple of months ago in what appeared to be a limited test, but now it's officially available on Android devices as per Google's announcement on Thursday.The new tab is designed "to help you discover deals in games and apps across travel, shopping, media & entertainment, fitness, and more." Scrolling through the "Offers" tab, you'll notice different sections for apps, movies, ebooks, and rentals. There's also a section dubbed "offers for apps you might like," which will highlight deals that are...

From gaming screens to the silver screen.Sony Interactive Entertainment is responsible for the PlayStation division of Sony, manufacturing consoles like the PS5 while PlayStation Studios is hard at work on a slate of upcoming first-party games. Meanwhile. PlayStation Productions is helping turn some of those same games into movies and TV shows, spreading PlayStation characters and worlds across different forms of entertainment. Here's every project that PlayStation Productions is confirmed to be working on so far.Jump to:What is it?Uncharted movieGhost of Tsushima movieThe Last of Us TV showTwisted Metal TV showWhat is PlayStation Productions?PlayStation Productions is a part of Sony Interactive Entertainment, specifically designed to adapt games from PlayStation Studios. Founded in 2019, PlayStation Productions aims to help produce movies and TV shows from Sony-owned PlayStation IP, meaning some of the best PS5 games have a chance of turning into a show or bloc...

The messaging service is working on a revamped media picker on Android.What you need to knowWhatsApp has been spotted developing a new design for its media picker on Android.The new design will display two tabs for "Recents" and gallery when choosing a file to send.The upcoming change will make it easier for users to send older photos and videos.WhatsApp was recently spotted preparing a new capability that would let you migrate your chat history from Android to iOS. This is just one of the many features that keep the messaging service busy in order to improve the platform's chat experience.The Meta-owned service now seems to be preparing a simpler way to share both recent and older media files with a redesigned media picker that it plans to introduce to its beta version on Android phones.According to WABetaInfo, the latest WhatsApp beta update includes hints of an upcoming makeover to its existing feature for sending media files. The redesigned file picker will display ...

Forget the ads and microtransactions and just play!There's something refreshing and low-stress about playing mobile games not entirely designed to get you to spend on in-app purchases. Honestly, I can say a lot for spending a couple of dollars upfront to get an entire game that you can enjoy from beginning to end without sitting through ads, being hounded to buy coins or gems, having to open crates, card packs, or whatever.I'll spare you the soapbox rant. Instead, we've gone through the Play Store and picked out a few games that cost a bit upfront but are worth every penny. So here are the best Android games without those pesky IAPs!The gamesThe Banner SagaCastlevania: Symphony of the NightDead CellsDownwellEvoland 1 and 2Final Fantasy VIIIGrimvalorGrand Theft AutoHoledown HuntdownJYDGEMini MetroMonument Valley 1 & 2Muse DashOxenfreeReigns: Her MajestyThe Room seriesStardew ValleyStar Wars: Knights of the Old RepublicThumper: Pocket EditionUnmazeVa...

If you're like me and have kids, chances are that somewhere near the beginning of the pandemic, you might have reluctantly given in and signed your kids up to Facebook Messenger Kids. It was, after all, one of the only ways they could converse with their school friends during virtual instruction. By now, you might realize it's not all that bad and a great way for them to stay in touch with friends and family, including those from afar. They can video or text chat, send photos, play games together, and more.What is Facebook Messenger Kids?Facebook Messenger Kids is a special kids version of the popular messaging app that is connected to a parent account, and can be downloaded to select Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire mobile devices. Kids can have their own set of contacts, all approved by the parent managing the account. You can choose to allow kids to add their own contacts or have a request go through you first for approval. They add contacts through the parents connecting with ot...

The Goldilocks sizeOculus Quest 2 128GB$299 at Best BuyProsCheaperSupports all the same features and gamesRuns all original Oculus Quest gamesConsNo microSD slot for expandable storageThe 128GB Oculus Quest 2 supports all the same features and games as the larger storage version. Since Oculus upgraded the base model from 64GB to 128GB, it's easy to recommend the more affordable Quest 2 as the ideal model.More space to exploreOculus Quest 2 256GB$399 at AmazonProsEven more room for gamesExtra space for media storageRuns all original Oculus Quest gamesCons30% more expensive No microSD slot for expandable storageThe Oculus Quest 2 with 256GB of storage gives you enough room for 20 to 50 Oculus Quest games before running out of space. There's enough space where you can download a movie for offline viewing, but don't go crazy with that since there's no microSD card slot. Beyond that, this version has no exclusive features.Oculus Q...

Samsung starts the Samsung Galaxy S20 off with 128GB of memory. Still, if you like to download movies for trips like me or are just an absolute shutterbug that needs to capture literally every moment of your or your kid's life, you'll probably want to invest in a microSD card. It's the perfect thing to expand and offload your media so that the internal memory can be used for apps and those super-duper slow-mos. Here are some of the best Galaxy S20 SD cards you can buy right now.Best for appsLexar Professional 1066x 256GB microSDXCStaff PickLexar's Professional 1066x 256GB microSD card supports speedy 160MB/s read speeds and 120MB/s write speeds and it's upgraded from previous models for storing and running apps directly on the card.$38 at Amazon $38 at B&H $60 at Newegg4K-readyPNY 128GB Elite-X Class 10 U3 V30 microSDPNY's card is rated V30, which is a fancy way of saying it supports up to 30MB/s write speeds for recording video. It also has an A1 certificatio...

The chip promises best-in-class performance and power efficiency.What you need to knowMediaTek has announced a new Kompanio chipset designed for premium Chromebooks.The chipset is built on a 6nm process and uses a five-core ARM-Mali G57 GPU.Acer's Chromebook Spin 513 is the first device to feature the new chip.MediaTek has quietly announced a new Kompanio series chipset for premium Chromebooks. The Kompanio 1380 isn't vastly different from the Kompanio 1300T that the company introduced last year, but lacks 5G connectivity.The "flagship-grade" chipset is built on TSMC's 6nm process and comes with an octa-core CPU. It uses four high-performance Cortex-A78 cores and four efficiency-focused Cortex-A55 cores to handle background tasks.Like MediaTek's Kompanio 1200, the new 1380 chipset features a five-core Mali-G57 GPU for "vivid visuals and great experiences." On the connectivity front, the Kompanio 1380 supports Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi 6 standards.The Kompanio 1380 also in...

Pluto TV is one of the easiest ways to watch live TV right now. Operated by ViacomCBS Streaming, the free live-stream television service offers more than 250 ad-supported, curated live channels. Pluto TV also makes it easy to find your favorite programs by grouping together similar content into categories such as Movies, Entertainment, News + Opinions, Reality, and Crime. And the best part? You don't have to create an account! Here's what you need to do to watch Pluto TV from anywhere.How to watch Pluto TVIf you're planning to access Pluto TV on a smart TV or via a streaming device, all you need to do is download the Pluto TV app. Here's how to download the Pluto TV app if you're using an Amazon Fire TV Stick:From your home page, scroll to the right and select Find. Under that label, select Search, and type in Pluto TV. Select Pluto TV from the list of options.Click the Get or Download option. It's worth pointing out that downloading the Pluto TV app on Roku device...

Of all the phones that came out in 2021, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was my favorite. It took the Z Fold 2's design and added water-resistance, S Pen support, better built-in screen protectors, and a better outer display with a higher refresh rate. But foldables are still a pretty new concept and, as such, there are plenty of things to improve.Surprisingly, most of the things I want to see improved from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 are not hardware-related changes — although there are still a few improvements I'd love to see. Mostly, though, it's the software that I want to see improved and refined. Android 12L was made with foldables in mind and I expect those improvements to carry on to foldables that debut in 2022, like the Galaxy Z Fold 4.Flattening the creaseThere's little doubt that most Galaxy Fold users — no matter if that's Galaxy Fold 1, 2, or 3 — would agree that they could go without the giant crease in the middle of their smartphone's screen. I said the same thing o...

Less than a month until Aloy's massive new adventure.What you need to knowHorizon Forbidden West has gone gold for PS5 and PS4.This means development of the game for launch has officially finished and physical copies can start to be printed.Horizon Forbidden West is slated to launch on Feb. 18, 2022.Horizon Forbidden West has gone gold, Guerrilla Games shared via PlayStation Blog on Thursday. Going gold is a game development phrase meaning that the development phase is finished. Physical copies can now be printed and the content in digital copies is finalized, though of course there could still be a day one patch for something if the team deems it necessary.Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, noted on Twitter that it had been an "extremely challenging" development cycle but that he was proud of the team at Guerrilla Games, adding that "...the depth, scope and sheer quality of what they have achieved has blown me away."Horizon Forbidden West is slated to launch on...

Uplift any space with an incandescent glow for an irresistible price.Smart lights come in dramatically different shapes and sizes today. ECOLOR aims to bring smart lighting to the budget segment while keeping compromises on the down-low. You get cute little portable lamps in the shape of eggs and crescent-shaped ambient lights from the brand. When it comes to the form factor, the sky's the limit as long as you keep your mind open. If you're looking to add an ethereal glow to your living room fittings or car interior though, smart light strips are your best bet.Apart from strangely shaped ambient lights, ECOLOR also offers assorted smart LED light strips. This review will take a look at the ECOLOR Rainbow LED Strip Lights, ECOLOR Smart LED Strip Lights, and ECOLOR Interior Car Lights. While they share the same heart and soul, these three products have a few key differences here and there. Happily, they do have one enticing feature in common: inexpensiveness.ECOLOR Smart Light ...

They're an easy sell if you're active and want to keep your ears free.It's not unfair to suggest bone conduction headphones are an acquired taste. By and large, most want to cover their ears to hear the tunes they want, but for those times where you may want to free them, bone conduction headphones are one way to do it.Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) usually steps up as one of the best options, and that's what the OpenRun Pro clearly turn out to be. They're presented as more active in focus, but that's not really necessary to enjoy them for what they can do.Shokz OpenRun Pro review:Price and availabilityWhat's good What's not goodThe competitionShould you buy?At a glanceShokz OpenRun Pro review Bottom line: The OpenRun Pro continue to show why Shokz is the premier brand for bone conduction headphones by doing th...

Unlike the Apple Watch, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 allows you to use third-party watch faces and even third-party watch face stores such as Facer and WatchMaker. You can change your watch face two ways: directly on the watch, or through the companion app on your phone. I highly recommend customizing through your phone whenever possible as it takes fewer swipes, scrolling, and taps to get things how you want them. Some watch face packs from Google Play you'll have to edit from the watch, but most you can edit from your phone. Either way, it means you can get almost any watch face design you want on your wrist.How to set a new watch face with Complications from your phoneOpen the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.Tap Watch faces.Tap Show all.Tap the watch face you want to set.Tap the pencil icon in the watch face's icon.For third-party watch face apps like Facer and WatchFace, this is when you'll need to head to that app on your phone. For Samsung's watch faces, you'll ha...