Weekend poll: Are you planning to watch Google I/O this week?
Even with some of the surprises already spoiled, it'll be worth tuning in
After months of rumors and speculation surrounding Google's hardware plans for 2023, it's finally time for a grand debut. Google I/O is set for this Wednesday, where we'll get an in-depth look at Android 14, plenty of talk about AI, and of course, all sorts of new hardware to get excited about. It's also a truncated event, taking place over just one day rather than spread throughout a week. That should make it easier to watch, so we want to know if you'll be tuning in.
Google Pixel 7a: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Google's budget lineup is set to expand on May 10
The Google Pixel 6a made its mark as one of the best budget Android phones in 2022, thanks to its powerful hardware, great cameras, and premium construction. Anyone who wants an affordable phone with power that rivals flagships can't go wrong with Google's latest offering — especially considering the steep discounts we've seen at retailers across the web.
HTC is teasing its next phone on social media, no matter how much we beg it to stop
HTC, this is not the One
A couple of weeks ago, I found some time between massive, high-profile phone launches to take a trip down memory lane by revisiting the HTC One M7. The phone, which turned ten this year, is one of my favorite Android phones ever, and really helped cement the concept of what a flagship device could and should be. But, as we all know, the HTC we once loved is long gone, having sold off its phones division to Google years ago. And now, with another zombie HTC phone seemingly on the way, I'm here to beg for the company to please, please, quit while it's ahead behind. Please, leave well enough alone.
Best budget Android phones 2023
You don't have to pay through the nose to get a decent phone these days
It wasn't long ago that buying a budget smartphone meant you were probably in for a bad time: crummy performance, paltry update support, and maybe even Micro-USB charging (the horror!). These days, not so much. Some of the best cheap Android phones start under 200 bucks, and they're not that different from the absolute best Android flagship phone we recommend.
Google Pixel Fold: News, leaks, release window, and what we expect
A new entry in the folding phone wars is coming on May 10th
After years of rumors, Google has finally confirmed the Pixel Fold is in the works. Although we'll have to wait until Google I/O on May 10th for specific details, the company has finally teased its existence on social media. It's a device that's been in the works for a long time, as Google first confirmed to CNET that it was experimenting with the form factor in 2019, while Android 12L's launch in late 2021 cemented its focus on big-screen experiences.
Motorola Razr 2023: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
Everything we know about Moto's big plans for its next-gen Razr series
The foldable game is really heating up this year, but for some companies, it's business as usual. Motorola was one of the first brands to follow Samsung into the world of folding phones, releasing a revived Moto Razr in 2019 before following it up with a 5G iteration in 2020. But after sitting out of the game for 2021 and keeping the third-gen Razr limited to select regions last year, it was unclear whether we'd ever get our hands on another flip phone from the company again.
Motorola's new 2023 lineup has something for everyone — except foldable fans
You'll have to keep waiting for the Razr you really want
It's been just over two years since LG left the smartphone market behind, and as we learned in 2022, Motorola was the company that stepped up and managed to capture a majority of that space in the market. It's looking like 2023 is its busiest year yet, too. In addition to the recently-launched (and surprisingly good) ThinkPhone, the Moto Razr seems due for another turn in the ever-growing foldables war. Motorola isn't forgetting about its more familiar lineups though, and today, we're getting a brand-new Edge-branded flagship alongside two new G-series entries.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
You'll flip for joy when Samsung's next clamshell phone arrives
It shouldn't be too surprising that the Galaxy Z Fold series gets the most attention of any foldable. It's available globally, made by one of the most successful brands in smartphones, and was the first device to the scene — to say nothing about that expansive, eye-catching display. But it's not the only folding phone Samsung offers today, and to some, the Galaxy Z Flip series is just as impressive.
Best Android phones in 2023
In the market for a new phone? Get the best Android experience with these flagship phones.
No two Android phones are alike, just as what you need in your next phone will differ from what someone else needs. Lucky for all of us, Android phones come in all shapes, sizes, and price points, but some are just better than all the rest. Whether you're looking for a foldable phone powered by the latest and greatest in mobile processing, one of the best budget phones that don't hold back on power, or Google's latest Android enhancements, there's something here for you.
Weekend poll: When was the last time you upgraded your smartphone?
How long has it been since you unboxed some new hardware?
These days, smartphones last longer than ever. Thanks to a growing group of manufacturers dedicated to extending support for up to five years, holding onto your aging Galaxy S20 remains a surprisingly easy choice. That's not to say it can't be tempting to upgrade your phone — in fact, these days, it can be awfully difficult to avoid throwing down your credit card for some new hardware.
Google Pixel 8 & 8 Pro: News, leaks, rumored price, and release window
After the Pixel 7 impressed us, what's next for our favorite Android phones?
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are likely to be two of the best Android phones of 2023, but we've yet to hear any official news directly from the company on their existence. Leaks and rumors suggest we'll be seeing a Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in the second half of 2023, and we may even hear of their existence during Google I/O 2023 in May. The Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro were first teased at I/O 2022, so we may see similar during that event alongside reveals for the Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, and full details on the Pixel Tablet
OnePlus Pad review: A new challenger enters the ring
A welcome addition to the Android tablet market, despite a few questionable choices
After a decade of lukewarm releases and outright bombs, I'm not sure anyone could've seen the coming Android tablet renaissance (tablet-aissance?). For years, consumers have had the choice between a dozen different Samsung variants, cheap-for-good-reason Amazon Fire Tablets, or… an iPad. Occasionally, you could find yourself a ChromeOS-powered slate, though even then, you were usually looking at hybrids or 2-in-1s, not full-blown tablets.
Android 14 Beta 1.1 is here to help save your phone from Google's most frustrating bugs
So, so many bugs
The first Android 14 open beta arrived right on schedule this month, making it easier than ever for anyone with a supported Pixel phone to test out the next version of Google's mobile OS. Unfortunately, as we — and thousands of other testers — found, Android 14 Beta 1 was pretty damn buggy. From unresponsive fingerprint sensors to system crashes, an incremental release was bound to drop ahead of next month's I/O conference, and lo and behold, Beta 1.1 is now available for download.
Check out how you'll customize the Moto Razr's massive cover screen
Alongside a sweet-looking cherry red variant
Motorola might've skipped a North American launch for last year's third-gen Razr, but based on the rumors we've seen lately, that hasn't stopped the company from working on a successor — or, potentially, two. Today, we're getting our best look yet at its next flagship flip phone, just a couple of days after teasing its massive front cover display on social media.
For a brand as ubiquitous in the business world as ThinkPad, it's truly astounding that Lenovo (and, I suppose, IBM before it) never attempted to move into the mobile world. It's all too easy to assume that there must've been a failed ThinkPhone in the early 2010s — it got stuck on Gingerbread, right? — or, even before that, a BlackBerry clone that a couple of Fortune 500 companies adopted and forgot about just as soon after.
OnePlus 11: Price, specs, news, and features
The newest flagship OnePlus phone left us pretty impressed
These days, if you aren't looking to buy a great new smartphone from Google or Samsung — and you aren't interested in Apple's walled garden — OnePlus is likely your best bet. The one-time startup has continued growing over the last decade, becoming a popular choice for Android enthusiasts and eventually finding its way into carrier stores like T-Mobile.
Weekend poll: Do you leave auto-rotate enabled on your phone?
And on an unrelated note, remember Go90?
Usually, I try to cater Android Police's weekend poll towards something newsy — sometimes, it even turns into a quasi-editorial. But as we continue to skyrocketing towards a barrage of new Google hardware, including its first folding phone and the first Pixel-branded tablet in nearly half a decade, I figured it's as good a time as any to take a breather with a simple question: do you leave auto-rotate enabled on your phone?
Google Pixel A-Series pricing looks headed for an 'F'
The Pixel 7a might not be the obvious Android budget pick this year
If recent rumors are to be believed — and when it comes to Google hardware, they usually are — we're less than three weeks away from the unveiling of (among other products) the Pixel 7a. The successor to one of our favorite budget phones of the past year is expected to launch live on stage at Google I/O, and might even be available for purchase later that same day. Unfortunately, as exciting as a day-and-date launch might sound, a corresponding rumor has us bummed out about the Pixel 7a before we've even seen its official spec sheet.
Massive Pixel Fold leak details everything you want to know about Google's first foldable
Come on, it's Google. What did you expect, no more leaks before I/O?
We've seen all sorts of Google leaks this week, as is par for the course before any big hardware launch. With I/O rapidly approaching, we're entering the usual period for a deluge of rumors, early hands-ons, and so much more. When it comes to the Pixel Fold, some of our earliest leaks came from Jon Prosser, who returned today with a new video digging deep into the company's first foldable.
HTC One M7 turns 10: A decade ago, one phone set the bar for Android
One of my favorite Android phones ever turns ten
These days, most of our Android attention goes towards companies like Samsung and Google — you know, the lumbering giants in the mobile industry not named "Apple." It's easy to forget a time when US consumers had more choice, with companies like LG and HTC offering unique devices built to tempt shoppers browsing carrier shelves.