logo
Google Fi's latest upgrade doesn't involve signal bars, but it might save your phone

Google Fi's latest upgrade doesn't involve signal bars, but it might save your phone

Phone Arena14-07-2025
Google Fi is Google's own mobile service that runs on T-Mobile's network and it comes with some pretty cool perks. For one, Google Fi doesn't throttle your data during busy times, so your speeds stay steady. Plus, it switches between multiple networks to keep you connected whether you are traveling around the US or abroad. Now, Google is leveling up device protection, too.
Following what we saw earlier this year with Pixel Preferred Care, Fi's own protection plan just switched providers – from Assurant to Asurion. Yep, if your device is shipped on or after July 14, 2025, Asurion is your device protection provider. That is the same Asurion that already works with Verizon, AT&T and Samsung, so Google is clearly going with an experienced partner. The plan itself is getting a small but very welcome improvement, too. You now get up to two claims for loss, theft or physical damage in a rolling 12-month period (except in New York). Previously, that was just one. And of course, the plan still covers up to two cases of accidental damage – like screen cracks or spills – plus unlimited coverage for mechanical breakdowns. That applies to phones and smartwatches bought through the Google Fi store.As for pricing, it varies depending on your device. For example, the latest Pixel Watch 3 or the brand new Galaxy Watch 8 will run you $4 per month, while phones are pricier – think $12/month for the Pixel 9 Pro and $14/month for the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
There's also a deductible. For example, cracking the screen on your Galaxy Ultra and getting it repaired in-store would cost you about $29.
Samsung's Ultra model is typically among the priciest to insure. | Image credit – PhoneArena
Other carriers offer similar protection plans, too. T-Mobile , for instance, works with Assurant – Google's former partner – and has its own plan called Protection 360. It covers loss and theft up to five claims a year (which is a lot), unlimited accidental damage, and even includes $0 screen repairs. But it'll cost you more: anywhere from $7 to $25 per month, depending on your device. If you've got something like the Galaxy S25 Ultra , you are looking at the top tier – around $18 to $25 a month.So yeah, Google Fi's updated protection plan actually stacks up pretty well. You are getting solid coverage, a trusted provider in Asurion and pricing that feels fair.
Sure, you get fewer loss or theft claims compared to T-Mobile , but two per year is still reasonable – unless you are constantly misplacing your phone, in which case… maybe a strap's not a bad idea. Jokes aside, if you are someone who tends to drop, crack or lose your phone often, having extra coverage – no matter the provider – is just smart. Secure your connection now at a bargain price!
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Google Maps just took a weird step backward on Android
Google Maps just took a weird step backward on Android

Phone Arena

time4 minutes ago

  • Phone Arena

Google Maps just took a weird step backward on Android

Google Maps is easily one of the most widely used navigation apps out there, but just like with any app, updates come and go – and not all of them are for the better. Earlier this year, users already felt the sting when Google pulled the plug on Assistant Driving Mode, which also meant losing its built-in support for music apps. In its place, Google added a floating action button (FAB) for playback, which you could toggle on through "Show media playback controls" in the settings. But now, it seems like even that feature might be on its way out. According to a recent report, Google has removed the playback bar in Maps version 25.28 for Android. That playback bar used to appear at the bottom of the screen while you were navigating, letting you play, pause, or skip music and podcasts without leaving the app. Now, both the controls and the toggle to enable them seem to be gone. Show media playback controls seem to be gone – before (left) and now (right). | Image credit – 9to5Google Interestingly, the playback feature is still available on iOS – at least for now. I can still see it on my iPhone 13 mini, which makes the Android removal all the more confusing. It's unclear if this is a bug or a deliberate move by Google, but if it is the latter, it is kind of a head-scratcher. The whole point of having playback controls in your nav app is to make things safer and more convenient. Without them, users have to leave Maps entirely, switch over to their media app, make a change, and then jump back. Even in the best-case scenario, that's a solid 10 to 20 seconds where your attention isn't fully on the if Google really did remove this on purpose, it's not just inconvenient – it's potentially dangerous. And it could push some users toward alternatives like Waze, which happens to be owned by Google, too and still includes built-in media said, Google Maps hasn't been standing still. It's rolled out a few new features recently that might help it stay on top. iPhone users, for example, recently got a handy screenshot recognition tool that can identify locations from saved images.

Verizon's rollercoaster Q2: fewer subscribers, but bigger bucks
Verizon's rollercoaster Q2: fewer subscribers, but bigger bucks

Phone Arena

time4 minutes ago

  • Phone Arena

Verizon's rollercoaster Q2: fewer subscribers, but bigger bucks

At the end of the day, it seems like there isn't much of a difference if you're on Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T… right? At least that's the sentiment across online forums like Reddit and it's not like people are singing Kumbaya with smiles on their faces. Quite the opposite – it seems that people are sick of the big three telcos' prices and plans in 2025:It's not that just a particular telco is on the receiving end of the countless complaints; no – all three are under the righteous fire of subscribers. That includes Verizon , which got on customers' nerves by pulling promised discounts, as we told you earlier. That being said, the Big Red raised the lower end of its annual profit outlook after posting stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings, fueled by solid demand for its premium plans. As a result, the company's stock climbed 4% in premarket trading. Wireless service revenue grew 2.2% as more customers signed up for add-ons such as bundled access to streaming platforms like Netflix. Verizon has been leaning on price-lock deals and broadband-wireless bundles to keep customers from switching to rivals, with AT&T and T-Mobile ramping up competition alongside aggressive promotions from Comcast and Charter. Despite these efforts, Verizon reported an unexpected loss of 9,000 monthly bill-paying wireless subscribers during the April-to-June quarter (that's Q2 of 2025), falling short of analyst expectations for a gain of 13,000. The decline was largely attributed to churn following price increases earlier this year, and everybody could see it coming. Image by PhoneArena To maintain growth in a saturated US telecom market, Verizon and other major carriers have been investing heavily in fiber-optic infrastructure to meet the surging demand for data. In May, Verizon secured approval from federal regulators for its $20 billion acquisition of fiber-optic provider Frontier, following an agreement to discontinue its diversity programs. The company's growing focus on internet services paid off, with 293,000 net broadband additions during the quarter. Overall revenue reached $34.5 billion, surpassing the $33.74 billion estimate. Looking ahead, Verizon now projects 2025 adjusted profit to rise between 1% and 3%, tightening its previous forecast of 0% to 3%. It also boosted its full-year free cash flow target to a range of $19.5 billion to $20.5 billion, up from the earlier guidance of $17.5 billion to $18.5 billion. Sometimes, the difference between 0% and 1% can mean the world.

A major US player has quit the race to buy TikTok
A major US player has quit the race to buy TikTok

Phone Arena

timean hour ago

  • Phone Arena

A major US player has quit the race to buy TikTok

I bet that the vast majority of US TikTok users have kind of forgotten that the app is facing a ban in the land of the free and the home of the the contrary, TikTok influencers and creators – and all those who make money on the platform – have surely not forgotten about it all. It's simple: ByteDance, the China-based owner of TikTok, has to divest from the app and sell it to a US-based party. Since the inauguration, President Trump has spoken up about TikTok on several occasions, though nothing substantial followed his remarks. In a way, TikTok is in a limbo… for the moment. This period of uncertainty can be expanded, now that another key player has apparently dropped out of the race to acquire TikTok. Reuters has some insider information: Blackstone has pulled out of a consortium that was seeking to invest in TikTok's US operations. The decision comes amid repeated delays surrounding a potential deal that has become entangled in the ongoing US-China trade negotiations. Despite the naming, Blackstone and BlackRock are separate companies that were once connected through BlackRock's early history. BlackRock was originally part of Blackstone before being spun off in 1994. Blackstone had initially planned to acquire a minority stake in TikTok's US business. The consortium, led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic (both current investors in TikTok's parent company ByteDance) had emerged as the leading contender to take control of the platform's US operations. Under the proposed terms, US investors would own 80 percent of the business, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake. The deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok's US arm has been repeatedly pushed back, leaving investors uncertain about the platform's future. Trump recently signed a third executive order extending the deadline to September extensions have drawn criticism from some lawmakers, who argue that the administration is ignoring national security risks posed by TikTok's Chinese ownership. In response to mounting pressure, ByteDance is evaluating multiple strategies, including selling or restructuring its US operations. The company, which reported $43 billion in revenue during the first quarter of this year, recently overtook Meta in quarterly earnings, according to a sale eventually goes through, the US version of TikTok would likely be owned by a joint venture between ByteDance and a group of American investors. Sources indicate TikTok is already working on a US-specific app to prepare for that possibility. Are you?

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store