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Geeky Gadgets
3 days ago
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
Samsung Galaxy G Fold: Everything We Know So Far from Latest Leaks
Recent leaks about the Samsung Galaxy G Fold have sparked significant interest, offering a detailed look at what could be a major advancement in foldable smartphone technology. As foldable devices continue to gain popularity, the Galaxy G Fold is poised to stand out with its innovative design, powerful hardware, and user-focused features. Here's an in-depth look at the leaked details and how this device could influence the future of mobile technology. Watch this video on YouTube. Foldable Display Technology: A Step Forward The foldable display remains the defining feature of the Galaxy G Fold, showcasing Samsung's expertise in innovative smartphone design. According to leaks, the device will feature a larger and more durable screen, addressing one of the most common concerns with foldable phones: longevity. By incorporating advanced materials and a refined hinge mechanism, Samsung aims to deliver a display that balances flexibility with long-term reliability. This next-generation screen is expected to offer improved crease management, making sure a smoother and more seamless viewing experience. Additionally, rumors suggest enhancements such as higher refresh rates and increased brightness levels, which could elevate the device's usability in various lighting conditions. These improvements not only enhance the user experience but also position the Galaxy G Fold as a strong competitor to traditional flagship smartphones. Foldable screens have already transformed how users interact with their devices, blending the portability of a smartphone with the functionality of a tablet. The Galaxy G Fold is expected to take this concept further, offering a display that caters to both productivity and entertainment needs. Hardware Specifications: Power Meets Efficiency The Galaxy G Fold is rumored to feature top-tier hardware designed to deliver exceptional performance. Depending on the region, the device is expected to be powered by either the latest Snapdragon or Exynos processor, making sure smooth multitasking and efficient operation. With up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, the Galaxy G Fold could easily handle demanding applications, making it an ideal choice for power users. Battery performance is another area where the Galaxy G Fold is expected to excel. Leaks suggest a dual-battery system with a combined capacity exceeding 4,500mAh, designed to meet the higher energy demands of foldable displays. This system is likely to support both fast charging and wireless charging, making sure the device can keep up with a full day of intensive use. Additionally, the inclusion of 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6E compatibility positions the Galaxy G Fold as a future-ready device, capable of delivering the fastest network speeds available. Design Improvements: Sleeker and Smarter Samsung appears to have made significant strides in refining the Galaxy G Fold's design. Leaks indicate a thinner and lighter form factor, making the device more comfortable to hold and easier to carry. The hinge mechanism, a critical component of any foldable phone, is rumored to be more robust and less prone to wear, addressing a key concern from previous models. The device is also expected to feature reduced bezels, creating a more immersive viewing experience. The outer cover screen is rumored to be larger, enhancing functionality when the device is folded. These design updates not only improve usability but also reflect Samsung's commitment to addressing user feedback and delivering a more polished product. New Features: Productivity and Entertainment Redefined The Galaxy G Fold is expected to introduce several new features aimed at enhancing both productivity and entertainment. One of the most anticipated upgrades is enhanced multitasking capabilities, allowing users to run up to three apps simultaneously on the main screen. This feature could be particularly appealing to professionals and creatives who rely on their devices for work-related tasks. The camera system is another area where the Galaxy G Fold could excel. Leaks suggest a triple-lens rear camera setup with advanced computational photography features, including improved low-light performance and AI-driven enhancements. The under-display front camera, first introduced in earlier foldable models, is expected to be more discreet while delivering better image quality, making it ideal for video calls and selfies. Entertainment features are also likely to see improvements, with the device rumored to support immersive audio and high-resolution video playback. These upgrades could make the Galaxy G Fold a versatile tool for both work and leisure, appealing to a wide range of users. Market Positioning: A Premium Contender The Galaxy G Fold is expected to target the premium segment of the smartphone market, competing with flagship devices like the Apple iPhone Pro series and other high-end foldables. Its combination of innovative technology, innovative design, and productivity-focused features positions it as a device for early adopters and professionals who value versatility. However, the foldable phone market remains relatively niche, and pricing will play a critical role in determining the Galaxy G Fold's success. Samsung's ability to balance premium features with competitive pricing could be key to expanding the appeal of foldable devices beyond tech enthusiasts. If priced strategically, the Galaxy G Fold could attract a broader audience, including those who are curious about foldable technology but hesitant to invest in it. A Glimpse into the Future of Smartphones The Samsung Galaxy G Fold leaks provide a compelling preview of what could be a significant milestone in the evolution of foldable smartphones. With advancements in display technology, powerful hardware, and thoughtful design improvements, the Galaxy G Fold has the potential to set new standards for mobile innovation. As the release date approaches, all eyes will be on Samsung to see how this device performs in an increasingly competitive market. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a professional, or simply someone intrigued by the possibilities of foldable technology, the Galaxy G Fold is shaping up to be a device worth considering. Unlock more potential in Samsung Galaxy G Fold by reading previous articles we have written. Source & Image Credit: Demon's Tech Filed Under: Android News, Mobile Phone News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. 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Phone Arena
21-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Why is Apple sabotaging the iPhone 17 Air with these silly numbers?
Whether you were excited by the... idea of it at any point leading up to last week's belated launch event or felt it was unnecessary from the moment the "Galaxy S25 Slim" rumors started around six months ago, I believe the time has come for all mobile tech enthusiasts to admit Samsung's razor-thin new flagship is a pointless phone. My distinguished colleague Victor Hristov said it best in the introduction of his comprehensive Galaxy S25 Edge review the other day: "I've never liked a phone I would never buy so much." Luckily for fans of the ultra-slim high-end handset concept, Apple is widely expected to throw its hat in the ring too relatively soon, and because the iPhone 17 Air was purportedly already in development when Samsung got the "idea" to start working on a direct rival, I always felt hopeful the Cupertino-based tech giant would come out with a more... coherent product in the fall. But my hopes have been crushed by two numbers that make zero sense. These were mentioned by an occasionally reliable leaker in a new report a few days ago and illustrated shortly thereafter using a product mockup, so while they're clearly far from etched in stone, they seem plausible enough to give me the chills (and not in a good way). I don't know about you all, but I'm old enough to remember a handset like the original Motorola Moto Z from all the way back in 2016. Why am I talking about such an ancient, long-discontinued, and largely failed Android smartphone? Because that bad boy packed a 2,600mAh battery into an aluminum body weighing in at 136 grams and measuring 5.2mm in thickness. Somewhat similarly, the iPhone 17 Air is tipped to squeeze a 2,800mAh cell into a presumably titanium-made construction with a 5.5mm profile and 145-gram total weight. Naturally, the screen real estate will jump from a measly 5.5 to as much as 6.6 inches, but that's a different discussion. The iPhone 17 Air (in mockup form) looks incredible next to the iPhone 16 Plus. | Image Credit -- Majin Bu on X What I want to insist on is Apple's inexplicable return to a period in the mobile industry's evolution no one seems to be nostalgic for. The iPhone 12 used to pack sub-3,000mAh cell capacity in 2020, and well, let's just say there's a reason all subsequent (non-Mini) iPhones have come with substantially beefier batteries. Now, I know what you're going to say. Apple could work its software magic or employ some kind of groundbreaking "high-density" battery technology tricks to make the iPhone 17 Air deliver respectable running times between charges out in the real world. But there's only so much software optimizations and even the latest hardware innovations can do to offset the inherent limitations of a miniature battery, so it's probably wise not to expect any miracles on that front. Look, I'm going to be perfectly honest with you here. I've definitely had my share of complaints (both in public and private) regarding the unnecessary bulk of some of the best phones released over the last few years. With its 227-gram weight, 8.3mm profile, and 6.9-inch display, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the stuff some of my worst nightmares are made of. You couldn't pay me to use that brick as my daily driver (not that anyone is offering), and of course, the same goes for the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra. Isn't the Galaxy S25 Edge thin enough? | Image Credit -- PhoneArena But there's a lot of distance between 8.3 and 5.5 millimeters and between 227 and 145 grams, and I would be terribly disappointed if Apple went from one extreme to the other with the iPhone 17 Air . After all, the Galaxy S25 Edge has plenty of problems, but its 5.8mm thickness ain't one. If anything, I had hoped the iPhone 17 Air would go a little higher in that department to avoid its main rival's battery life pitfalls. Just look at the "vanilla" Galaxy S25. At 7.2mm, that thing is not as thin as a credit card, but if Apple or Samsung had reduced that number to, say, 6.5mm or so, they could have achieved the perfect balance between style and power. As things stand (at least based on the latest rumors), the two tech giants seem far more concerned about measuring their egos and mocking one another than the actual needs and desires of actual consumers.
Phone Arena
16-05-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Weekly deals roundup: Save big on the Galaxy S25 Edge, Razr Ultra (2025), Tab S10 Plus, and more!
If you need help quickly finding the best deals on the just-released Galaxy S25 Edge and Razr Ultra (2025), you can count on our latest week-ending collection of the top mobile tech bargains out there to include exactly what you're looking for, as well as many other special offers on many other new and old phones, tablets, smartwatches, and true wireless earbuds. Without further ado, I give you... $200 off (13%) 5G, Unlocked, 1TB Storage, 7-Inch Foldable LTPO AMOLED Display with 2912 x 1224 Pixel Resolution and 165Hz Refresh Rate Technology, 4-Inch Secondary LTPO AMOLED Panel with 1272 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 165Hz Refresh Rate Capabilities, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Processor, 16GB RAM, Android 15, 50 + 50MP Dual Rear-Facing Camera System, 50MP Single Front-Facing Camera, Dual Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos Technology, 4,700mAh Battery, 68W Wired Charging, 30W Wireless Charging, Four Color Options Buy at Motorola 5G, Unlocked, 512GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Processor, 6.7-Inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X Display with 3120 x 1440 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 Protection, Android 15, 200 + 12MP Dual Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Front-Facing Camera, 3,900mAh Battery with 25W Charging Support, Galaxy AI, Titanium Construction, Three Color Options, $50 Amazon Gift Card Included Buy at Amazon Wi-Fi Only, 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ Processor, 12.4-Inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with 2800 x 1752 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Android 14, Galaxy AI, 13 + 8MP Dual Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Single Front-Facing Camera, Quad Speaker System with AKG Sound, 10,090mAh Battery, 45W Charging Support, Moonstone Gray Color, S Pen Included Buy at Amazon By no means cheap, the super-slim S25 Edge is remarkably available right off the bat at a cool $120 discount in a 512GB storage variant with an extra $50 Amazon gift card also included. That brings your total savings up to a hefty 170 bucks, making the fourth member of Samsung's ultra-high-end Galaxy S25 family... a little friendlier to the masses. The same goes for the hot new Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) in a top-of-the-line 1TB storage configuration, which is still not what you'd call conventionally affordable at $1,300, nonetheless eclipsing the likes of Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 6 in terms of value for money with two huge screens, an elite processor, a massive battery, and an impressive 16GB RAM count. Tablet buyers, meanwhile, should first and foremost consider the jumbo-sized 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S10+ powerhouse, especially if they view things like a razor-thin profile and built-in S Pen as key factors in their decision-making. $400 off (50%) 5G, Unlocked, 512GB Storage, 8GB RAM, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor, 6.67-Inch OLED Display with 2400 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 165Hz Refresh Rate Technology, 50 + 12 + 50MP Triple Rear-Facing Camera System, 60MP Selfie Shooter, 5,100mAh Battery with 68W Wired and 15W Wireless Charging Capabilities, Interstellar Black Color Buy at Motorola 5G, Unlocked, 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, 6.78-Inch AMOLED Display with 2780 x 1264 Pixel Resolution, 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, and Up to 4500 Nits of Peak Brightness, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor, 50 + 50 + 8MP Triple Rear-Facing Camera System, 16MP Front-Facing Camera, 6,000mAh Battery, 80W Charging Support, Astral Trail Color Buy at Amazon 5G, Unlocked, 128GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Processor, 6.2-Inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X Display with 2340 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 Protection, 50 + 10 + 12MP Triple Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Front-Facing Camera, 4,000mAh Battery with 25W Wired and 15W Wireless Charging Support, Galaxy AI, Silver Shadow Color, US Version Buy at Amazon $200 off (20%) 5G, Unlocked, 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Processor, 6.9-Inch Main Foldable LTPO AMOLED Display with 2640 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 165Hz Refresh Rate Technology, 4-Inch Secondary LTPO AMOLED Screen with 1272 x 1080 Pixel Resolution and 165Hz Refresh Rate Support, 50 + 50MP Dual Rear-Facing Camera System, 32MP Front-Facing Camera, 4,000mAh Battery with 45W Charging Capabilities, Multiple Color Options Buy at Motorola 5G, Unlocked, 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Processor, 6.7-Inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X Display with 3120 x 1440 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 Protection, 50 + 10 + 12MP Triple Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Front-Facing Camera, 4,900mAh Battery with 45W Wired and 15W Wireless Charging Support, Galaxy AI, Silver Shadow Color, US Version Buy at Amazon $403 off (31%) 5G, Unlocked, 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor, 6.8-Inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with 3120 x 1440 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Titanium Frame, 200 + 50 + 10 + 12MP Quad Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Front-Facing Camera, 5,000mAh Battery with 45W Charging Capabilities, Android 15, Galaxy AI, S Pen Included, Two Color Options, US Version Buy at Walmart If you're on a tight budget, I'm afraid I haven't been able to find many good deals for you this week. Of course, the Motorola Edge+ (2023) is pretty affordable at a huge 50 percent discount, and the OnePlus 13R is not very expensive either, especially considering its outstanding spec sheet and gorgeous design. Although a bunch of our previous weekly deals roundups have included significantly larger collections of discounted smartphones, this smaller-than-usual group clearly puts quality over quantity, which should satisfy plenty of our bargain-hunting readers today as well. $93 off (24%) Wi-Fi Only, 128GB Storage, 8GB RAM, 12.7-Inch LCD Screen with 2944 x 1840 Pixel Resolution and 144Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Android 14, MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Processor, 10,200mAh Battery, 45W Charging Support, Quad JBL Speakers with Dolby Atmos, 13MP Rear-Facing Camera, 8MP Front-Facing Camera, Luna Grey Color, Lenovo Tab Pen Plus Included, TABLETSAVE E-Coupon Required Buy at Lenovo $100 off (18%) 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, 12.1-Inch IPS LCD Screen with 144Hz Refresh Rate Technology and 3000 x 2120 Pixel Resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor, AI Toolbox, Android 14, 9,510mAh Battery with 67W Charging Support, 13MP Rear-Facing Camera, 8MP Front-Facing Camera, Nimbus Gray Color, HELLOMAY Promo Code Required, Free OnePlus Stylo 2 Included Buy at OnePlus $80 off (15%) 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor, 8.8-Inch LTPS Display with 2560 x 1600 Pixel Resolution and 165Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Android 14, 6,550mAh Battery, 65W Charging, Two Superlinear Speakers with Stereo Audio and Dual X-Axis Haptics, 13 + 2MP Dual Rear-Facing Camera System, 8MP Front-Facing Camera, ColdFront Vapor Chamber Tech, Eclipse Black Color Buy at Lenovo 128GB Storage, Wi-Fi Only, Apple M3 Processor, Liquid Retina IPS LCD Screen with 2732 x 2048 Pixel Resolution, 12MP Rear-Facing Camera, 12MP Front-Facing Camera, Top-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner, All-Day Battery Life, Landscape Stereo Speakers, Two Microphones, USB Type-C Port, Purple Color Buy at Amazon Wi-Fi Only, 256GB Storage, Apple M4 Processor, 13-Inch Ultra Retina Tandem XDR Display with 2752 x 2064 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, 12MP Rear Camera, 12MP Front Camera, Face ID, Four Speakers, Space Black Color Buy at Amazon Who doesn't, right? I know I want one to take with me to the pool this summer, but I'll be honest with you, I'm having a hard time deciding between the smaller Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 and the costlier Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. Naturally, it's better to have more than one great option than none at all, and the OnePlus Pad 2 at $100 off its list price (with an extra stylus thrown in) is yet another super-attractive tablet to consider today. 40mm, GPS, Bluetooth, Wear OS, 1.2-Inch Super AMOLED Display with 396 x 396 Pixel Resolution, Sapphire Crystal Glass, 5 ATM Water Resistance, ECG, Heart Rate Monitor, Fall Detection, Sleep Coaching, Body Composition, Three Color Options, US Version, 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty Included Buy at Amazon GPS, Bluetooth, Aluminum Case, 1.3-Inch AMOLED Display with 432 x 432 Pixel Resolution, Sapphire Crystal, AI Smartwatch with Energy Score, Heart Rate Monitor, Sleep Tracking, Wear OS, 300mAh Battery, 2GB RAM, 16GB Storage, Green and Cream Colors, US Version, 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty Buy at Amazon GPS, Bluetooth, LTPO3 OLED Always-On Retina Display with Up to 2000 Nits Brightness, ECG, High and Low Heart Rate Notifications, Sleep Tracking, Sleep Apnea Notifications, Temperature Sensing, Cycle Tracking, Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Water Resistant Up to 50 Meters, Swimproof, Depth Gauge, S10 Processor, Double Tap Gesture, Up to 18 Hours of Battery Life, Faster Charging, Aluminum Case, Multiple Colors and Band Options Buy at Amazon GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, Circular LTPO AMOLED Display with 320 ppi Density and Up to 2,000 Nits Brightness, Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 Processor, 32GB Storage, 2GB RAM, Heart Rate Monitor, Sleep Tracking, Blood Oxygen Sensor, ECG, Skin Temperature Sensor, Built-in Speaker and Microphone, IP68 Water and Dust Resistance, Up to 36 Hours of Battery Life, Polished Silver Aluminum Case, Rose Quartz Band Buy at Amazon The Galaxy Watch Fan Edition is quite possibly the textbook definition of an "ultra-affordable" product (especially at a $50 discount), but if you don't want to make any compromises, the Galaxy Watch 7 is pretty great for Samsung fans and Android smartphone users in general at a heftier $70 under its regular starting price. $70 is coincidentally also what you can save on the hugely popular Apple Watch Series 10 and (select) Pixel Watch 3 models, which makes this choice pretty much as difficult as the ones above (in a similarly good way). If you ask me, the Galaxy Watch FE is simply irresistible, but that's only because I don't insist on always owning the greatest smartwatch money can buy and like to focus on the quality/price ratio as well. True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Sound, New Wingtip Design, Auto Switch, IPX2 Water Resistance, US Version, 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty Included, White and Graphite Color Options Buy at Amazon True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Spatial Audio, IPX4 Water Resistance, Class 1 Bluetooth, Up to 9 Hours of Uninterrupted Music Listening, 36 Hours of Combined Battery Life, Pocket-Sized Charging Case with USB-C Connector, Four Color Options Buy at Amazon True Wireless Earbuds with Secure Fit Earhooks, Active Noise Cancellation, Personalized Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking, Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, Apple H2 Chip, Heart Rate Monitoring for Workouts, IPX4 Water Resistance, Up to 10 Hours of Uninterrupted Listening Time, Up to 45 Hours of Total Battery Life with Wireless Charging Case, Android and iOS Compatibility, Four Color Options Buy at Amazon And no, I don't just mean we've seen these products before. Instead, we've actually seen all three of them sell at these exact same prices... just last week. Does that make these deals undesirable? Certainly not, especially as far as the recently released Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are concerned. The older and... totally different Beats Studio Buds+ have never been cheaper than right now, mind you, while the Galaxy Buds FE go great with the Galaxy Watch FE as unsung budget-friendly heroes of their respective markets.
Digital Trends
11-05-2025
- Digital Trends
From Android 1.0 to Android 16: How Google's mobile OS has evolved since 2008
Table of Contents Table of Contents Android 10 Cupcake (Android 1.5) Donut (Android 1.6) Eclair (Android 2.0) Froyo (Android 2.2) Gingerbread (Android 2.3) Honeycomb (Android 3.0) Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) KitKat (Android 4.4) Lollipop (Android 5.0) Marshmallow (Android 6.0) Nougat (Android 7.0) Oreo (Android 8.0) Pie (Android 9) Android 11 Android 12 Android 13 Android 14 Android 15 Android 16 What's next for Android? Google I/O 2025 will be livestreaming next week, and software developers from Google are expected to unveil Android 16, which is slated to come out before the summer. The upcoming Android software update is expected to bring a host of new features as well as some returning mechanics from a decade ago. To hold our excitement for the upcoming conference over, we're going to take a stroll down memory lane with a complete history of Android, from its humble beginnings as a T-Mobile-exclusive mobile tech to an AI-advanced software to grace contemporary smartphones like Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25. Android has come a long way since 2008, and it has a long way to go to be the best mobile software for everyone. That being said, here's a full timeline of Android's evolution. Recommended Videos Android 1.0 Android made its debut on September 23, 2008 inside the T-Mobile G1, also known as the HTC Dream (outside of the U.S., at least) and, to this day, the very first Android smartphone. T-Mobile subscribers who bought the G1 were the first to experience Android 1.0 with a whole suite of Google apps baked into the software, including basic services like Gmail, Maps, Calendar, and YouTube. It also allowed users to group apps into a single folder on the home screen, instantly message people through Google Talk, and sync their data with Google Sync. Cupcake (Android 1.5) Android 1.5 Cupcake was the first time a version of the OS would be named after a sweet treat, releasing in early 2009 and giving Android a playful identity that resonated with people. Here, Android played into its playful demeanor by introducing third-party app widgets that can be added to the home screen, like a music player and a calendar, added stereo support for Bluetooth, and allowed people to upload videos to YouTube. It even phased out the physical keyboard model on their phones, like the T-Mobile myTouch 3G, and built them with the on-screen keyboard to keep up with the iPhone. Donut (Android 1.6) Google solidified the dessert-themed codenaming for Android with the release of Android 1.6, Donut, rolling it out to Android users on September 15, 2009, and filling in holes that Cupcake couldn't. It added Android's first universal search box to make it easier to search contacts and other topics, gave developers the ability to include their apps and other content in the search results of Android Market (which will later be called Google Play Store), and allowed Android to run on different screen sizes and resolutions. Donut also kickstarted Android's expansion by adding CMDA support for other carriers, starting with Verizon. Eclair (Android 2.0) Six weeks later, Google released Android 2.0, Eclair, which lasted through Android 2.1. The first phone to run Eclair was the Motorola Droid, which was heavily promoted as an alternative to the iPhone by Verizon (whom Lucasfilm gave license to use the Droid name, by the way). The commercials were basically about Verizon bashing the iPhone for not having the features that the Droid had courtesy of Eclair, including voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic information, speech-to-text, and live wallpapers. Google took the pinch-to-zoom feature from the iPhone and applied it to the software. Froyo (Android 2.2) In May 2010, Android 2.2, Froyo came out to provide as many performance enhancements as it did a few more features on the surface. This patch improved the phones' speed and memory, added USB tethering and hotspot functionality, and added the dock to the bottom of the screen, which has since become an industry standard. Froyo even added Adobe Flash support for Android's web browser, which became less common over time due to Apple's opposition to it. It even allowed users to wirelessly connect their phones to their cars with Bluetooth-enabled car support. Gingerbread (Android 2.3) Google released Android 2.3, Gingerbread, on the Nexus S just in time for the holidays on December 6, 2010. At the time, the Android mascot, who is usually as green as Kermit the Frog, was dressed as the gingerbread man to promote the update, while Google painted Android's UI with a black and green color scheme, giving the OS a distinct design and users an easier time navigating the Android system. Gingerbread even gave the gift of Near Field Communication (NFC) support. Honeycomb (Android 3.0) The February 2011 release of Android 3.0, Honeycomb, was unconventional because Matías Duarte, then the director of Android User Experience, designed it to be a tablet-exclusive update. Released on the Motorola Xoom, Honeycomb lived up to its name with a reimagined UI that involved a honeycomb-like holographic theme and a black and blue color palette instead of black and green as it appeared on most Android phones. Despite it being a tablet-exclusive software, Honeycomb was unofficially ported over to the Nexus One, which enjoyed the same new features the Xoom received, including a Recent Apps view for multitasking and customizable home screens. Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, came as fast as the Honeycomb went. This release appeared on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on December 16, 2011, making use of a revamped modern, minimalist design implemented throughout the OS and Android's app ecosystem, nicknamed 'Holo,' and introduced the Roboto typeface. ICS also made it easy to swipe away notifications and recent apps, and added the ability to send content to another Android user via NFC, updated the contacts manager with social media integration, and the ability to access the camera and control music from the lock screen. Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) The Jelly Bean update – spanning from Android 4.1, which dropped July 9, 2012, through Android 4.3, which released July 24, 2013 – made Android run smoother and more responsive than previous updates. Android users got to experience expandable and actionable notifications, the latter of which presented action buttons such as 'Call back' or 'Message' in case of a missed call. Jelly Bean introduced the ability for users to add widgets on the lock screen, like the world clock, Gmail, and the messaging app. Users also had the ability to open the camera by swiping from the right side of the screen. KitKat (Android 4.4) Named after the popular chocolate bar, Android 4.4 gave users a break, as it were, from the darker backgrounds that were supplied by previous updates in exchange for light-colored wallpapers October 31, 2013. To complement the candy-colored backgrounds that came with the KitKat update, the Google search bar became translucent and gained 'Ok, Google' support, allowing people to search for what they need with just the sound of their voice. Google Now, which was introduced in Jelly Bean, got its dedicated panel of the home screen that could be accessed with just a swipe. Lollipop (Android 5.0) Android 5.0, Lollipop, which was released on November 4, 2014, marked a significant shift in design and performance with the introduction of Material Design and Android Runtime (ART). Material Design, now an industry standard UI design for Android, brought about the ripple effect for buttons and made notifications appear on the lock screen for quick access and the Recent App list show up as cards, giving users the ability to sift through them like papers in a file cabinet. Sadly, it removed the customization of widgets from the lock screen. Marshmallow (Android 6.0) On the performance front, Android 6.0, Marshmallow – released in 2015 – was as soft of an update as the pillow-y sweet treat for which it was named save for the introduction of opt-in permissions and Now On Tap. Basically, Now On Tap was a new feature within Google Now that provided context-sensitive search results to information currently on display in any app when you hold down the Home button. Hardware-wise, it added native support for fingerprint recognition and USB-C charging cables, the latter of which has since become a universal standard in the smartphone industry. Nougat (Android 7.0) One of the most significant upgrades Nougat brought to Android in 2016 was split-screen mode, allowing two apps to take up two halves of the entire phone screen, like Google Chrome and a notes app for users who tend to do their research on the go. Split-screen mode was a feature that would normally be found in Windows computers to make work more efficient for business folks and students , so it was a surprise to see it on an Android phone. Other important upgrades included the addition of the 'Clear All' button to the overview screen, picture-in-picture support for Android TV, and Google Assistant. Oreo (Android 8.0) As the name of this update suggests, Google sandwiched a lot of new features into Android devices in 2017, including native picture-in-picture support for video, downloadable fonts, printing support, notification channels that let you organize how apps can alert you (or not), and the ability to snooze notifications so they wouldn't distract you work or anything else. Oreo also featured Project Treble, a modular architecture that made it easier for hardware developers to deliver software updates in a timely manner, and introduced Android Go for budget phones running 2 GB of RAM or less. Pie (Android 9) Android 9, Pie, was served up in 2018 with a fine assortment of upgrades. One of them is the new gesture-driven navigation system that overhauled the Home, Back, and Overview keys and replaced them with a multifunctional, pill-shaped Home button and a small Back button that appears as needed while getting around your phone. Pie even introduced a new dashboard called Digital Wellbeing, which gave you an idea of how you're using your phone, how long you use different apps each day, and tools you can use to limit your screen time – similar to Screen Time on iPhone. Android 10 When Android 10 came out in 2019, Google finally put its dessert-themed names for its software updates to rest in favor of numerical names to make the Android experience more globally accessible. Android 10 revamped the UI by replacing the gesture-driven navigation system with a heavily swipe-driven one so users could seamlessly switch between apps and multitask, and added new privacy permissions to give users more control over location data. It introduced a system-wide dark theme to make it easier to use the phone in a low-light environment and enhance visibility for users with low vision – or people who just don't like bright lights. Android 11 Android 11 came onto the scene in 2020 to tighten up user privacy and security. Basically, it improved upon permissions controls introduced in Android 10 by giving users the option to grant apps permission to access their location, camera, and microphone on a limited-basis when requested. In other words, users would have to give those apps permission to access that data whether they're using an app, only once, or not at all. Android 10 also added a built-in screen recorder for users to record whatever they're watching without the need for a third-party screen-recording app. Android 12 Remember Material Design from Android 5.0? In 2021, Android 12 updated that UI design system to Material You, allowing Android users to customize their phone's appearance based on the colors of their current wallpaper. For example, if they set a picture with pink and purple as their wallpaper, they have the option of applying that color palette all across the system. Some of the apps will use those colors as well, even the calculator. Android 12 also brought the Privacy Dashboard, providing an overview of which apps are using data, how much information they've accessed, and gave users more control over that to reduce their risk of exposure. Android 13 Android 13, which launched in 2022, was very subtle with its system upgrades, which were added at some points throughout its 365-day lifetime. It brought a new native QR code scanning function to Android Quick Settings, enhanced the system clipboard interface, redesigned the music player to have the album cover of each song appear in the background, and made the number of active apps appear at the bottom of the notifications panel. Other than that, it required apps to request permission from users before they could send notifications, which made for a less distracting experience. Android 14 The 2023 release of Android 14 was just as subtle as the last update, but that doesn't mean its UI update was less ambitious. The font size could be increased up to 200% – up from 130% in previous updates – to make apps and articles more accessible for users with visual disabilities. It also expanded Material You to add new customization options for the lock screen, a new system for dragging and dropping text in between apps, and a context-requiring system for why apps want access to a user's location when they request it, adding another layer of privacy and security to Android. Android 15 Android 15, which launched in the fall of 2023 after four extensive beta tests, saw the introduction of Private Space, which helps enhance privacy and security by keep sensitive apps away from the prying eyes of other people in a secure drawer, like their files, photos, even banking apps (which need to be under strict protection, anyway). Once those apps are in the Private Space, they can only be accessed with authentication. It also added the Theft Protection Lock, which employs AI to automatically lock your phone if someone steals it, and introduced app pairing to tablets and foldable phones. Android 16 Android 16 is currently in beta, with the official stable version expected to come out before the end of Q2 2025. The upcoming update is expected to overhaul Material You with Material 3 Expressive, which Google described in a leaked blog post to have greater responsiveness and 'action elements' that pop. It is also expected to bring back lock screen widgets, which were phased out after Android 5.2, and have Auracast support to allow users to switch between Bluetooth devices. What's next for Android? Over the past year, Android has introduced AI programs into its proprietary and third-party smartphones, like Google Gemini, to answer users' questions, help them brainstorm their next essay topic, enhance the quality of their photos, and overall improve their productivity and creativity. We hope Android 16 will continue to improve its AI capabilities with Gemini. As for the rest of Android's future? While we don't know for sure where it will go from here, we hope it continues being a mobile software full of creativity and compassion for its users.
Android Authority
10-05-2025
- Android Authority
What phones are Android Authority readers using? (2025 Edition)
Robert Triggs / Android Authority We recently published our Team AA daily drivers article, which looks at the phones we use every day. Are you curious about the phones your fellow readers are using, though? Well, this article is for you. We dug into Google Analytics to reveal the most popular phones you, our readers, use. Specifically, the models that visited the site during a 30-day period between March 7 and April 7, 2025. So without further ado, let's get on with it. Top 10 reader phones by model First up, a little housekeeping. The iPhone threw a spanner in the works as Google Analytics reports all iPhones under a single device name, accounting for 11.99% of the total. Furthermore, a massive ~26% of active users' devices were listed as 'not set,' meaning Google Analytics couldn't ascertain the device model or brand. Needless to say, I didn't include these two figures in the graph above. With that out of the way, the most popular individual model used by readers is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Meanwhile, Google's Pixel 8 Pro was the second most popular model, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra rounded out the podium. It's worth noting that these phones were the most premium models in their respective families. This suggests that many Android Authority readers prioritize cutting-edge features over budget pricing. High-end phones also tend to age better than mid-range or base flagship models. Android Authority readers really like their top-end Pixel and Galaxy phones. Interestingly, eight out of the top 10 most popular individual models were Pixel phones. That's a bit of a surprise at first glance, as Google doesn't enjoy a ton of market share globally or in the US. We tend to focus on Android enthusiasts, though, and Pixels are arguably the most popular brand for this demographic due to their slick software, brisk updates, and long update policy. So I can understand why so many Pixels cracked the top 10. I should also point out that the Google Pixel 6a (ninth) is the only model on the top 10 list that isn't a flagship Android phone. Google's 2022 model launched at $449 and later received a $100 price cut, making it a cost-effective way to jump on the Pixel bandwagon. Are you hoping for more varied phone manufacturers on the list? Me too. The first Android phone on the list that's not from Google or Samsung is the Nothing Phone 2a, albeit in 43rd place. Top phones by brand I also looked at the top 100 smartphones used by Android Authority readers to compare the most popular smartphone brands. Check out our graphic below. The graphic reveals that Google is the most popular phone brand, accounting for 34.1% of the top 100 devices on the site. Samsung phones were a close second, with a third of phones being Galaxy devices. In third place is Apple, as 27.8% of the top 100 devices on the site are Apple devices. It would be oddly hilarious if some of these owners were behind the derisive cries of 'Apple Authority' on the website. There's a sharp drop-off after the top three manufacturers, though. Motorola was a very distant fourth (1.72%), followed by OnePlus (1.13%), Nothing (1.07%), and Xiaomi (0.87%). It's worth reiterating that these results are for the top 100 models used by readers. So some changes are to be expected compared to looking at all devices visiting our website. But this breakdown still gives a good idea of the most popular brands. What's the top Android version? What about the software used by Android Authority visitors, though? I also dug into the most popular Android versions seen on reader devices. Android 15 might be the latest stable release, but it's not quite the most popular version. That honor goes to Android 14, which accounted for almost 40% of all active Android devices during the time period. Android 15 was the second most popular version of Google's software, running on 33% of Android devices visiting the site. In third place is Android 13, with 10.64% of Android devices running this version. The latest version of Android isn't the most popular, with the likes of Samsung lagging behind Google and other OEMs. These results suggest that Android makers still have plenty of work to do to release the latest version of Android in a timely fashion. In fact, I'm guessing that the protracted Samsung One UI 7 development cycle is partially to blame for Android 15 lagging behind, given we have so many Samsung users. Strangely enough, Android 10 (6.99%) seems to be more popular than Android 12 and Android 11. I'm not sure if this is an error or if Google's 2019 software really is still used by plenty of Android Authority visitors. It's also interesting to see that 1.02% of Android devices visiting the website are running the yet-to-be-released Android 16. The software has received several beta releases, though, so it's clear some readers really want to stay on the bleeding edge. Are you surprised to see that Google and Samsung's best phones are the most popular models used by readers? What do you make of my findings in general? Let us know in the comments!
