Apple just announced that RCS messaging would finally be coming to iMessage, theoretically making for a more modern texting experience between iPhones and Android phones. 

The smartphone industry has mostly switched to OLED screens, with LCD panels generally confined to low-end devices these days. It’s a sharp contrast from six or seven years ago when even some of the best phones offered LCD screens.

That got us thinking about whether you’d ever buy a phone with an LCD screen again. That’s indeed the topic of our featured poll today, so give us your answer below.

We can understand if you’d prefer to stay with OLED screens. This display technology allows for deep blacks, greater contrast, and more vibrant colors. These screens do suffer from burn-in over a long period of time, but this problem isn’t as significant as it was a decade or so ago.

On the other hand, there are a few reasons to pick up a phone with an LCD panel. The biggest benefit is that these screens don’t suffer from burn-in like OLED displays, making the tech ideal if you plan to hold onto a phone for multiple years. LCD panels have a few downsides, though. These screens are thicker than OLED panels, display black hues as gray, are less power-efficient, and feature less vibrant colors.

I remember voraciously downloading and switching between ringtones back in the feature phone days. If it wasn’t a polyphonic version of Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boi, then it was 50 Cent’s 21 Questions or unofficial videogame ringtones downloaded from a sketchy WAP site.

My partner and I were recently reminiscing about downloading ringtones back in the day, and that got me wondering about the last time you even changed your ringtone. Go ahead and vote in our poll below.

It seems like ringtones have almost become standardized in the smartphone era, as people seemingly stick to the default ringtone. I don’t remember the last time I heard someone’s phone ringing with something other than the default Apple/Samsung/HUAWEI/OEM tone. If they haven’t set their phone to vibrate, that is.

Then again, we’re guessing there are still some people out there who like to change their ringtones now and again. And upstart phone brand Nothing has also released a nifty ringtone creator earlier this year. So it seems like there is an appetite of some kind for ringtone customization.

Almost every tech company has expounded the virtues of generative AI in 2023, from OpenAI and Google to Microsoft and more. In fact, we’ve also seen the likes of Qualcomm and HONOR tout expanded support for the tech just this week.

One of the first things you’ll notice about a smartphone is its color. And we’ve seen a few neat color schemes in 2023.

However, a reader on our Instagram page recently suggested that a phone’s color isn’t a feature. That got us wondering whether or not you agree with this sentiment. Let us know in the poll below.

We can see why people might not think a phone’s color counts as a feature. For one, many people put their phones in a case, so they won’t see the device’s color 99% of the time. Many phones have also adopted boring color schemes, such as gray and black, perhaps reflecting some manufacturers’ attitudes towards colors as a feature.

Then again, we get why you’d think color counts as a phone feature. Some companies still put a lot of thought into these color schemes. And we can think of some fantastic phone/color combos over the years, such as the Sage Pixel 5, the yellow Nokia Lumia 1020, and the Emerald Samsung Galaxy S6.

Google has launched the Pixel Watch 2. While it may look very similar to the original Pixel Watch, it brings a host of upgrades. Google has spruced up both the hardware and the software of the smartwatch to give it new capabilities.

The company has ditched Samsung’s dual-core Exynos chip in favor of the relatively new and speedier quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 platform. There’s a bigger battery on the Pixel Watch 2 now, and Google claims it should easily last users for 24 hours with the Always-on Display switched ON.

Google has also expanded the Pixel Watch 2’s capabilities with new sensors for measuring stress and skin temperature. Its new Body Response feature is powered by the new sensors as well as an upgraded heart rate sensor to notify you when your body is stressed out. Additional new fitness and health tracking metrics include Heart Rate Zone Training and Pace Training.

Of course, The Pixel Watch 2 gets Google’s latest Wear OS 4 software straight out of the box. It brings new watch faces, a backup and restore feature, greater access to Google apps like Gmail and Calendar, and much more.

The Pixel Watch 2 also brings new safety features, including Safety Check, which allows users to schedule safety timers.

All of this, with Google’s promise of regular updates, sounds pretty darn good. However, repairability is still a gray area as far as the Pixel Watch 2 is concerned. We don’t know if the smartwatch will be eligible for official repairs or if Google will offer repair parts for it. If the answer to those questions is a No, then we might have a problem on our hands.

So, knowing what you know now, do you think the Pixel Watch 2 is hot? Or does it fail to make a good impression on you? Take our poll above and share your thoughts in the comments section.

Google has finally released the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, coming after months of leaks and rumors. The phones aren’t a huge departure from last year’s devices, but they’re still looking like interesting upgrades.

What do you think of the Pixel 8 phones, though? Do you think they’re hot stuff or forgettable? Let us know by taking the poll below.

We can understand why you’d think these phones were hot. The Tensor G3 is a big step forward, there are some cool camera-related additions, we’ve got brighter screens, and we still have premium extras like an IP68 rating and wireless charging.

Then again, we don’t blame you if you aren’t enthused by these phones, especially given the $100 higher price tag compared to the Pixel 7 series. We don’t see major upgrades as far as the overall design, camera hardware, or battery capacity is concerned. Furthermore, the addition of a thermometer to the Pixel 8 Pro seems like a left-field addition that could well turn out to be a gimmick.

Today, Samsung officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. This is the latest “Fan Edition” smartphone in the company’s roster. Notably, it follows up the much-beloved Galaxy S20 FE and the much-loathed Galaxy S21 FE (there was no Galaxy S22 FE).

Now that we’ve seen everything there is to know about the phone, what do you think? Does Samsung have another hit on its hands? Or will the Galaxy S23 FE join the ranks of duds alongside the Galaxy S21 FE? Sound off in the poll below!

The Galaxy S23 FE obviously carries quite a bit of DNA from the main Galaxy S23. Size-wise, it falls in between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus. It has a plastic back, a slightly weaker display, and, most notably, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor in the United States and a few other areas. Interestingly, Samsung neglected to include the far superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus for some reason. Other parts of the world get the Exynos 2200.

You can grab the 8GB/128GB Galaxy S23 FE for $599 in the US. The phone will be available from October 26.

September 23 marks the 15th anniversary of Android 1.0 launching, and the Android ecosystem has grown to become a juggernaut since then.

Everyone from Google and Samsung to Xiaomi and Sony have churned out fantastic phones over the years. But what’s the most iconic Android phone in the last 15 years? That’s what we want to find out in our poll today. Give us your answer below.

Just remember that we’re not asking about the best Android phone ever made but the most iconic one in your book. Is your pick not on the list? Then go ahead and choose “other” while also leaving a comment with your desired smartphone.

Me? It has to be the Surface Duo. Nah, just kidding, it’s the Amazon Fire Phone. Nah, just kidding again.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Android 1.0, as it was announced back on September 23, 2008. We didn’t even have features like multi-touch or widgets back then, let alone anything like the amount of features we’ve got in Android 14.

What’s the best version of Android, though? That’s what we’re asking you, so give us your answer in the poll below.

We can understand if many people vote for the most recent Android versions, owing to recency bias. But it’s also worth noting that these recent versions delivered some cool features like Material You customization and more privacy features.

Then again, we’ve seen some older Android versions deliver massive aesthetic and functional upgrades. So we can see these versions getting some love too.

Image credits: The balloons in the image above were taken from macrovector on Freepik.

There’s no shortage of great smartphones out there, from the Samsung Galaxy S23 series to the Google Pixel 7 line and beyond.

In saying so, quite a few device families have come and gone over the years. So that got us thinking about the phone lines we miss the most from active brands. Give us your pick via the poll below!

Just to reiterate, we’re specifically looking at phone lines from active manufacturers. So that means the likes of LG and BlackBerry don’t count here, even though I do miss LG’s V series.

We also decided to exclude the Nexus series as Google didn’t make the hardware and the Pixel line effectively continues this series. The Nexus exclusion also admittedly spices things up because let’s face it, it’d likely be a runaway winner. After all, an Android Authority poll from October 2022 found that almost 90% of respondents indeed miss the Nexus line.

Active noise cancelation (ANC) is available in loads of headphones and true wireless earbuds today, allowing you to listen without interruption from the outside world.

But do you ever wear ANC-enabled headphones or earbuds without actually playing any audio? That’s the topic of our poll today, so make your choice below. You can also leave a comment if you’d like to explain your choice.

There are valid reasons to wear ANC-enabled earbuds or headphones without playing audio. For one, you might just want to block out distracting sounds while you work or relax. Active noise cancelation is also a game-changer for people with PTSD, autism, and other sensory considerations.

Then again, we can see why you might not wear ANC earbuds or headphones simply for the sake of it. If you’re like me, you’re worried about unnecessary battery consumption and also don’t like wearing headphones or earbuds when you aren’t using them. There’s also evidence that prolonged use of noise canceling earphones can lead to tinnitus.

The Android tablet market has seen better days, but we’ve still got some great slates on the market in 2023. Most of the top Android tablets are large devices with ~10-inch screens though, and it seems like small Android slates (seven to eight inches) in general are a rarity today.

So that got us wondering whether readers miss small Android tablets. You can answer this question via our poll below, and feel free to leave a comment if you’ve got more on your mind.

We can totally understand if you miss small Android tablets. These devices still offer bigger screens than smartphones but aren’t as unwieldy as ~10-inch slates. Unfortunately, today’s small Android slates tend to be low-end offerings, with premium offerings like the Pixel Tablet and Galaxy Tab S9 series all packing large screens.

Then again, we’ve seen smartphone screens grow in size over the years to the point where you might feel perfectly content without a small tablet. Book-style foldable phones have also helped make premium-tier small tablets feel less essential than ever, although foldables are still super-expensive.

Chances are good that you’ve got at least one group chat on your messaging app. But you’re not alone if you think some groups can be overwhelming, owing to constant messages.

That got us wondering whether you mute group chats on your preferred messaging app. So go ahead and vote in our poll below, and leave a comment if you’d like to explain your choice. Just to clarify, this poll isn’t restricted to WhatsApp group chats. We’re also talking about Telegram, Signal, iMessage, and other messaging apps.

We can see why you’d mute some or even all of your groups, as some groups can simply get chaotic with an endless stream of messages, memes, videos, and more. Even if your group chats are relatively quiet, these notifications can add up if you’re a part of many groups.

Fitness tracking is one of the most important activities for wearables, giving you loads of details about your workout and helping you to achieve your goals.

However, we wonder how many people actually clean their fitness trackers or smartwatches after using them for a workout. That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so give us your answer below.

We’re totally on board with you cleaning your fitness tracker after a workout. After all, a recent study found that smartwatch bands collected harmful bacteria if they weren’t regularly cleaned. Needless to say, we’re really curious to hear why you might not be cleaning your wearable after a workout.

There are a variety of in-car infotainment systems today, with Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay ruling the roost. But we also see proprietary systems and older entertainment systems in use.

We recently saw the news that GM would drop Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay in its electric vehicles. And that got us wondering what you use in your car. Let us know by answering the poll below.

Android Auto and CarPlay are both popular options nowadays, as the likes of Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, and VW all support both platforms. In saying so, we’ve also seen some brands like Tesla offer their own solutions.

Then again, many cars still offer more basic entertainment systems consisting of Bluetooth, USB, or even an aux cable at best. Me? I still use Bluetooth in my older Ford Figo.

The megapixel wars were reignited back in 2018 when the first smartphones with 48MP cameras were launched. Since then, we’ve seen 50MP, 64MP, 108MP, and even 200MP cameras aboard phones.

Have these super high-resolution cameras lived up to your expectations, though? That’s the subject of our featured poll today, so go ahead and vote below. You can also leave a comment if you want to explain your decision.

Just to clarify, we’re talking about smartphone cameras with a 48MP resolution or higher. We want your thoughts regardless of whether you shoot at full or pixel-binned resolutions.

Either way, smartphone brands have embraced ultra-high-resolution cameras across the board. So everything from the best Android phones to cheap phones have 48MP+ primary cameras.

Samsung launched new foldables and tablets at its Unpacked event, but it also had something for wearable fans as it launched the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

Do you like what you see with these new smartwatches, though? Let us know by taking our poll below.

Both watches bring features like one-click band removal, larger displays, and more fitness/health functionality. The Watch 6 Classic in particular brings back the rotating bezel that was missing from last year’s smartwatches.

Then again, you’re probably still good for now if you bought the Watch 5 or Watch 4 series. Samsung also confirmed that it will keep selling the Watch 5 Pro and will offer software updates for it, so some Watch 6 features will undoubtedly come to the older wearable.

Samsung has launched three new tablets in the Galaxy Tab S9 series, and they are the first Android slates to feature the overclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The choice of processor automatically puts them at the top of the pile with other premium tablets like the iPad Pro series. The Galaxy Tab S9 lineup also competes with Apple when it comes to pricing, with all three tablets getting around $100 more expensive this year. But do they bring the goods required to beat Apple in the global tablet market?

Well, for starters, the Galaxy Tab S9 series is more powerful than ever this year. Samsung has especially focussed on the vanilla Tab S9 model, which better competes with its own siblings now. The LCD display is gone, and Samsung has equipped all three Galaxy Tab S9 series tablets with 2K AMOLED panels. The battery capacity on the standard Tab S9 has also increased considerably, and it now features an in-display fingerprint sensor, just like the Plus and Ultra models.

All three tablets get an IP68 rating this time, which is a big deal and a rarity in the premium tablet segment. Samsung has also upped the RAM and storage on the base Galaxy Tab S9 Plus model, which now has a connected version with an eSIM and a physical SIM slot.

You can go over all the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series below and tell us what you think of the new tablet. Take our poll above and share your thoughts in the comments section.

	Galaxy Tab S9	Galaxy Tab S9 Plus	Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Display	11-inch Dynamic 2,560 x 1,600 AMOLED 2K 120Hz refresh rate	12.4-inch Dynamic 2,800 x 1,752 AMOLED 2K 120Hz refresh rate	14.6-inch Dynamic 2,960 x 1,848 AMOLED 2K 120Hz refresh rate
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
RAM	8GB/12GB	12GB	12GB/16GB
Storage	128GB/256GB microSD up to 1TB	256GB/512GB microSD up to 1TB	256GB/512GB/1TB microSD up to 1TB
Connectivity	5G/LTE Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C	5G/LTE Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C	5G/LTE Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C
Audio	Quad Stereo Speakers with Sound by AKG Dolby Atmos	Quad Stereo Speakers with Sound by AKG Dolby Atmos	Quad Stereo Speakers with Sound by AKG Dolby Atmos
Cameras	Rear: 13MP AF Front: 12MP UW	Rear: 13MP AF + 8MP UW Front: 12MP UW	Rear: 13MP AF + 8MP UW Front: 12MP + 12MP UW
Power	8,400mAh	10,090mAh	11,200mAh
S Pen	Included	Included	Included
Durability	IP68 rating	IP68 rating	IP68 rating
Authentication	In-display Fingerprint Sensor	In-display Fingerprint Sensor	In-display Fingerprint Sensor
Software	Android 13	Android 13	Android 13
Dimensions / weight	165.8 x 254.3 x 5.9mm 498g	185.4 x 285.4 x 5.7mm 581g	208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5mm 732g
Colors	Beige, Graphite	Beige, Graphite	Beige, Graphite
Additional accessories (Sold separately)	S Pen Creator Edition Book Cover Keyboard Book Cover Keyboard Slim Smart Book Cover Outdoor Cover Notepaper Screen Privacy Screen	S Pen Creator Edition S Pen Creator Edition Book Cover Keyboard Book Cover Keyboard Slim Smart Book Cover Outdoor Cover Notepaper Screen Privacy Screen	S Pen Creator Edition Book Cover Keyboard Book Cover Keyboard Slim Smart Book Cover Outdoor Cover Notepaper Screen Privacy Screen

We’ve endured many months of leaks and rumors, but Samsung has finally launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 at its Unpacked event.

Now that you’ve seen the new device, we want to know what you think of it. So vote in the poll below and leave a comment if you’ve got more on your mind.

On the upside, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 brings a slightly thinner design, a zero-gap hinge, and a slight reduction to the display crease. We also get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, bringing more horsepower to the table.

Then again, the new foldable shares a ton of DNA with the Galaxy Z Fold 4. That includes the same screens, battery size, charging speeds, and cameras. So it’s clear this isn’t a huge upgrade from the older device.

Samsung has finally launched the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the company has followed the wider industry trend of offering a large cover screen. This comes after the likes of OPPO, vivo, and Motorola all launched clamshell foldables with big cover displays.

What do you think of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in general, though? You can let us know by voting in the poll below and leaving a comment if you’ve got more on your mind.

We can see why you’d call it a hot device, as that giant cover screen is the biggest design-related change we’ve seen for the Flip series in quite some time. This could significantly change the way we use clamshell foldables. Toss in the super-powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip and a slightly thinner design, and there are a few notable upgrades.

Then again, there aren’t any other new features to see here. We’ve got the same folding screen, the same cameras, the same battery size, and the same charging specs. So you’re effectively paying for a big cover display and a new processor.

We’re expecting Samsung to announce the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 tomorrow. And as usual, they represent the two dominant form factors for foldable phones.

This got us wondering which foldable form factor you prefer. So let us know via the poll below!

There are plenty of reasons why you’d choose the Flip-style, clamshell form factor. This approach delivers a pocket-friendly design and a more accessible price tag. And you’re still getting a big smartphone screen. In fact, Samsung previously noted that its Galaxy Z Flip phones outsold the Galaxy Z Fold series.

Then again, the Fold form factor has plenty of advantages too. The biggest benefit is that you’re getting a tablet-sized screen in your pocket. But Fold devices are also more likely to come with other perks like better camera systems, bigger batteries, and improved speakers.

Google recently revealed an Android Upgrade Invite feature, motivating users to install a pending Android update by giving them a sneak peek at the update’s features.

This news got us wondering whether you need motivation to install an update or if you install them straight away. That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so give us your answer below.

We get why you’d want to install your system updates immediately, especially major OS upgrades. These updates often bring handy new features and tweaks to the table, along with security improvements. Some updates also bring performance boosts, which can be particularly handy with older or less powerful phones.

Then again, we wouldn’t blame you if you decide to hold off on a system update. It’s not uncommon for system updates to introduce new problems, so it makes sense to wait a few days in case users report significant issues after updating.

The Nothing Phone 2 is finally here, after months and months of teases and leaks. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the same device when looking at the design, but there are several major improvements here.

So what do you make of the Phone 2? Do you think it’s hot stuff or something to forget? Let us know via the poll below and leave a comment if you’d like to elaborate.

We can understand why you’d think it’s a hot purchase, especially in light of where the Nothing Phone 1 went wrong. The Phone 2 brings a far more powerful chipset, more refined and useful Glyph lighting, faster wired charging, and improved image quality. This is all for $599.

Then again, we don’t blame you if you think the Phone 2 isn’t worth this asking price. You’re notably missing out on full-fledged water resistance and a telephoto camera. The device also doesn’t look that much different from the Phone 1.

It used to be the case that 4GB of RAM was a lot for the best Android phones, but things have changed over the years. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find 8GB of RAM in even your mid-range phone.

In fact, the first phone with 24GB of RAM just launched today, namely the REDMAGIC 8S Pro. So that got us wondering how much RAM our readers have in their phones. You can answer this question via the poll below.

To clarify things, we’re specifically talking about RAM and not virtual or extended RAM. The latter is merely storage space that’s used as a swap file for multitasking. And storage space is much slower than having proper RAM.

Not sure how much RAM you’ve got in your phone? Then you can try visiting settings > about phone or settings > RAM and storage space. You can also try searching for “RAM” in the settings search bar or using an app like CPU-Z to get your total amount of RAM.

Sponsored product segments are a staple in many YouTube videos, allowing these content creators to earn some extra cash. And there’s no shortage of companies offering sponsorships, such as the Ridge Wallet, HelloFresh, Raycons, Surf Shark VPN, and more.

So with all that in mind, we’re curious to find out whether you’ve ever bought a product or service featured in a sponsored segment on YouTube. Just to clarify, we’re not talking about a product featured in one of YouTube’s own pre-roll or mid-video ads. Rather, we’re talking about products specifically included in a YouTube video as part of a sponsored segment.

We can understand if you’ve bought some of these products or services. Maybe you were genuinely interested in them, or maybe you just wanted to support your favorite YouTuber.

Then again, I don’t blame you if you skip these products and services. These products can be a little hit-and-miss. For example, our sister website SoundGuys reviewed the Raycon E25 earbuds featured in countless sponsored segments, finding them to be “overpriced and outdated.” So content creators aren’t always saying “yes” to the best sponsored products.

Foldable phones are arguably the most exciting segment in the smartphone space right now, as more and more brands offer these devices in global markets.

After using a couple of foldable phones for a while, that got me wondering whether foldable owners leave their devices unfolded when not in use. Let me know via the poll below and leave a comment if you’d like to expand on your choice.

It’s easy to see why you wouldn’t leave your phone unfolded when not in use. These screens are still fragile compared to conventional glass displays, so keeping your device folded protects the inner screen from accidental damage. And it costs a pretty penny to replace these screens.

Then again, leaving a foldable unfurled allows for easier access, as you don’t have to use two hands to unfold the device when you decide to use it.

I’m sure loads of us have been there before, talking about a specific topic and then seeing ads for said topic a few hours later on a website or social media app.

This is the subject of our featured poll today. Do you think your phone is listening to you for ad-related reasons? Vote below and leave a comment if you’d like to share your thoughts.

We’re specifically talking about your phone listening to you for ad-related purposes. So we’re excluding reasons like your phone listening for a wake word for Google Assistant and other purposes.

We can see why you’d vote “yes” in this survey. I know I’ve talked about something and then seen ads for it, even though I haven’t searched for the topic online. I’m sure they’re coincidences for the most part, especially now that recent Android versions offer microphone indicators, but it’s still unnerving.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

I’ve taken over 4000 photos with my Pixel 7 Pro since I got it in early October 2023 — I travel a lot and attend many expos and events — and although I’m pretty satisfied with the versatility of its camera experience for my needs, I have come across an issue that’s irked me a bit: lens flare.

I noticed the flare the first weekend I was out with the Pixel 7 Pro. It was sunny with a few clouds, I was near a small river, and some of the pics I shot kept coming back with a terrible flare in the lower corners. I’m used to seeing flares when I point directly at bright lights, but not when those aren’t anywhere in the pic.

Over the months, this kept occurring in similar circumstances when there was an out-of-frame source of light (sun, mostly, but also street lights at night or indoor lighting) and a reflective material (water, glass, car windshields, or some metals). Check the samples below and spot the radial green-blue flare in the bottom corners.

A bit of Googling told me I’m not alone, though some people had already noticed it with the Pixel 6 Pro and other Pixels before that. I hadn’t. An online theory mentioned that a phone case could act as a mini lens hood, protecting the camera from the reflections that cause this flare. I tried a few cases, including ones that individually wrap around each lens of the Pixel 7 Pro, and could still reproduce the flare.

A quick discussion with my Android Authority colleagues revealed that they’ve noticed this too on different Android phones, though Samsung’s latest flagships like the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra seem to be exempt. The “SuperClear” lens Samsung is using seems to have significantly reduced flares, even the ones that occur with the light source in the pic. vivo and ZEISS have been using a special lens coating to reduce reflections too, all while offering a cinematic flare mode in the camera app to add a fake flare (wait, what?!) as we noted in our Vivo X90 Pro review.

What about you? Have you also noticed this flare even in photos where the light source isn’t in the frame? And if so, was it on a Pixel phone or another brand of phones? Let us know in the poll and comments!

SIM cards are essential for the vast majority of smartphones, giving you a phone number and access to calls, SMS, and mobile data services.

How many SIM cards do you have, though? That’s our featured poll for today, so go ahead and choose an option below.

Just to clarify, we’re talking about active, physical SIM cards here. We’re not talking about your dead SIM card from your trip to Vietnam in 2016 or your old SIM cards that are no longer active.

Made the switch to eSIM and no longer have any active SIM cards? Then you can go ahead and choose the relevant option above.

Either way, SIM card penetration in some countries stands at over 100%. One cited reason is that many people in these markets buy a second SIM card from a different network to take advantage of data promotions. So we wouldn’t be surprised to see some people voting for multiple SIMs.

Google announced the availability of the latest Feature Drop for Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch this week, bringing a number of nifty features to the table.

In saying so, some social media users and a couple of Team AA members found that they’d received the relevant update but didn’t see the new features. So did you get the new features on your Pixel phone or watch? Let us know via the poll below.

The June Feature Drop for Pixel phones brings macro video (for the Pixel 7 Pro), emoji wallpapers, new car crash detection features, hands-free photos via a palm gesture, and more. Meanwhile, the Feature Drop for the Pixel Watch brings nighttime SpO2 tracking, irregular heartbeat detection, and auto-pause functionality for exercise.

Me? I’ve received the Feature Drop update on my phone, complete with a subsequent splash screen listing the new features. But I had to update the Pixel camera app to receive macro video support and palm gesture functionality, while I also had to download the Emoji Workshop Wallpaper app. So maybe try this approach first if you’re not seeing any new features after the system update.

I abhor the Netflix button on my Shield TV remote, as I often find myself accidentally pressing it due to the sheer size of the button.

But I don’t think I’m alone in accidentally pressing an app shortcut button on my TV or streaming box remote. We want to know whether you’ve done the same thing. So take our featured poll below!

We’re not just referring to accidental presses of the Netflix button, as many remotes have shortcut buttons for other streaming services too (e.g. Prime Video, Hulu, and more). So go ahead and vote if you’ve accidentally pressed these buttons too.

Either way, these buttons are big business for the industry. Roku reportedly makes $1 per shortcut button on each TV remote. So we’re not expecting this trend to disappear anytime soon.

The best Android phones have topped out at 8K video recording for a few years now, equivalent to a ~33MP image for every frame of video.

Nevertheless, we’re not sure how many readers record in 8K in the first place. So we thought it would be a good idea to ask you what resolution you use when recording video. Go ahead and vote in the poll below, and leave a comment if you’d like to elaborate.

Just to clarify, we’re only talking about the video resolution you use when recording a clip. We’re not talking about your desired frame rate (e.g. 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps).

We can see why some people would use 8K these days, as it delivers a ton of detail which can be handy for camera stills. Then again, we can understand if people eschew 8K for 4K, as many people still don’t have 8K TVs to make the most of recorded 8K clips. Higher-resolution video also tends to result in increased device temperatures, and some brands don’t cope well in this regard.

Finally, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are still people recording in 1080p or 720p due to storage concerns or other reasons.

Foldable phones have been around since 2019, but it feels like the segment is finally hitting its stride in 2023. We’ve seen HONOR, TECNO, and OPPO all joining Samsung, Motorola, and HUAWEI in offering foldables outside China.

Foldable phones still account for a tiny minority of overall smartphones shipped though, but what would make you buy one? That’s what we want to find out in today’s poll, so give us your answer below.

Foldable phones are pretty refined propositions right now, as designs are getting thinner, free-stop hinges are increasingly popular among non-Samsung foldables, and display creases are also getting smaller. We’ve also seen several foldable phones offering water resistance, which is pretty impressive for the form factor.

Then again, there’s definitely some room for improvement. Foldables still make some compromises compared to the best Android phones, often losing out when it comes to the camera setup, battery size, and dust resistance. This is in addition to some complaints like the display crease, the plastic nature of folding screens, and the relatively heavy weight of larger foldables.

Google Assistant hasn’t seen much in the way of new features lately, as the company focuses on Bard and other AI efforts instead. But it’s still pre-installed on millions of devices around the world.

Nevertheless, we want to know whether you’re still using Google Assistant or any other voice assistant. Let us know via the poll below.

We can understand why you’d still be using voice assistants. For one, these assistants hook into smart home ecosystems, making it easy to activate and control your smart home gadgets. Furthermore, voice assistants are also incredibly useful for people with physical impairments that might make it difficult to operate a touchscreen.

Then again, I’ve never really been a fan of voice assistants. Maybe it’s because I’m just used to typing and don’t have a smart home ecosystem. Maybe it’s because I feel silly talking to my gadgets.

Nevertheless, we want to hear from you. So go ahead and vote above and leave a comment below if you have more on your mind.

It seems like transparent gadgets are making a comeback as Nothing earbuds, the Nothing Phone 1, and Beats Studio Buds Plus have all been released in the last few years.

Are you a fan of this trend or do you hate it? That’s what we want to find out in our featured poll today. So give us your answer below.

Nothing isn’t the first company to popularize transparent consumer tech. This was a massive trend in the 1990s, as Nintendo offered transparent Game Boys and transparent N64 models. Apple also offered transparent Mac computers during this time.

Me? I love departures from the usual black, grey, and white designs. So I’m all about vibrant colors and/or transparent tech. But I can see why people would prefer more understated designs for their tech.

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

Earlier this week, a new Pixel 8 Pro leak gave us a small glimpse into one of the phone’s mysterious features: The additional sensor on the camera bump could be an infrared thermometer. You bring it close to your forehead and temple and it tells you your body temperature. Yes, like any Braun or Omron forehead thermometer.

As you can imagine, this news has left many of us scratching our (fore)heads because, well, why? A thermometer is not something we associate with phones, mobility, or always-with-us-slash-just-in-case usage. Sure, a thermometer is useful and essential, but a regular person may only need it once or twice a year, and even then, they’d probably be at home shivering when they do — home, where most people already own a cheap thermometer. Parents will use a thermometer more, of course, but again, they’ll either be at home with their children or they’ll have one packed in their to-go bag.

And given that the ugliest and scariest parts of COVID seem to be behind us, the need for a thermometer and on-the-go fever monitoring feels a little passé. You don’t see people walking down the street randomly measuring their temperature.

While I was discussing this with my Android Authority teammates, opinions about this rumor varied. Some are foreseeing a Pixel 4 Soli-like situation where we get a weird pet-project for a year then it gets immediately abandoned the year after. Other colleagues are (tongue-in-cheekily) wondering if it can measure the phone’s own temperature to warn of an overheating Tensor chip. Personally, I’m cautious to pass judgment for the time being.

Rumors don’t always paint the full picture and I think Google has gotten its Pixel act together enough over the last two generations to deserve the benefit of the doubt. Even if the Pixel 6 series and Pixel 7 series aren’t perfect, they’re the most consistent and solid phones the company has built to date, with no gimmicks. There’s a clearer vision and path in Google’s hardware division, so maybe this infrared sensor is more than just a thermometer? Or maybe the AI and ML engineers have figured out a way to use it for something else too?

The initial rumor suggested that the sensor could also be used to measure the temperature of objects, so maybe there’s a basic FLIR-like thermal imaging functionality there. We won’t know until the Pixel 8 Pro launches, though. In the meantime, let us know, where do you fall on the skepticism spectrum?

A new report by The Information asserts that almost half of all YouTube viewing in the US occurs via TV sets. That’s clearly a significant chunk of people watching via their TVs.

Are you part of this trend, though? We want to know what’s your primary device for YouTube viewing. Let us know via the poll below.

Just to clarify, we’re talking about actually watching YouTube content rather than listening via background playback. So if you’re like me and spend plenty of time listening to videos on your phone but actually watch most YouTube videos on your TV, go ahead and vote for TV.

After a full year of teases, Google has finally launched the Pixel Tablet. This is the first Android-based tablet from the company in over eight years. After this long of a wait, are you excited about it? Or does it leave you wanting a bit more? Either way, we’ve got a Google Pixel Tablet poll for you to answer!

In the poll below, let us know if you think Google’s new slate is hot or not:

By far, the major differentiator between this tablet and others is the dock. By magnetically snapping the tablet onto the dock, you turn it into a smart display. This should solve one of the biggest problems we have with tablets: when you’re not using them, they just sit there doing nothing. This dock — which is included with the tablet purchase — fixes that issue.

Of course, at a $499 price, this is no impulse buy. Your choice of how to answer this Google Pixel Tablet poll could hinge on that very detail. Yeah, the tablet seems really cool, but why spend that much money when you can get a perfectly acceptable Android tablet and a smart display for less than that? You’ll need to let us know how you feel by tapping your choice above and then hitting the comments to explain your decision.

The Pixel Fold is here, and with it, Google has made its intentions known for the foldable space. The company isn’t shying away from an ultra-premium $1,799 price that immediately pushes the phone up there with the likes of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Google is also leaving no stone unturned when it comes to packing the Pixel Fold with capable hardware and all of its AI and software trickery.

Moreover, Google insists the Pixel Fold will have the most usable outer display compared to other foldable phones in the market. The company wants you to think of it as having a regular, wide Pixel phone on the outside.

So what do you get in the whole package? Key specs include two 120Hz displays — a 5.8-inch one up front and a 7.6-inch folding screen on the inside, Google’s Tensor G2 processor, a triple rear camera setup with a 48MP hero shooter, a 10.8MP telephoto lens, and a 10.8MP ultrawide snapper, a 4,821mAh battery that theoretically keeps the phone awake for over 24 hours with mixed usage, and IPX8 water resistance rating.

There are loads of Pixel camera features like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur, Photo Unblur, Night Sight, Astrophotography, and more. The phone also packs handy multitasking abilities like split screen app view, Live Translate Interpreter Mode, and more.

So with all this and Google’s three-year Android update promise, what are your thoughts about the Pixel Fold? Does it live up to the hype? Is it a phone you would consider buying? Take our polls in the article and drop us a line in the comments.

Google has finally launched the Pixel 7a after months of rumors and leaks. The phone steps things up in a variety of areas compared to the Pixel 6a, albeit with a corresponding price hike too.

So now that the phone is finally official, do you think the Pixel 7a is hot or not? Check out our Pixel 7a review for our take, but be sure to let us know your thoughts by taking our poll below.

We can see why the Pixel 7a is hot stuff in your book. Between the Tensor G2 chipset, 64MP main camera, wireless charging support, and 90Hz OLED screen, there’s a lot to like here. In fact, the phone is more in line with the Pixel 7 in many ways.

Then again, the Pixel 7a brings a more expensive $500 price tag compared to last year’s phone. This price tag also pits it against the Pixel 7, which frequently drops below its $600 launch price. You’re also still stuck with slow wired charging speeds. So we can see why you might not be excited about the new mid-ranger compared to some phones from rival brands.

Samsung‘s Galaxy Z Flip series has been the most popular clamshell foldable phone for several years now, even though Motorola technically beat the Korean brand to the punch with its Razr line.

Nevertheless, we’re expecting both brands to offer new clamshell foldables in the global market in 2023. Samsung is set to announce the Galaxy Z Flip 5 later this year, while the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra recently leaked.

So with all that in mind, we want to know which foldable phone you’re more excited to see. Are you eagerly awaiting the Galaxy Z Flip 5 or does the Razr 40 Ultra float your boat? Let us know via the poll below.

We can see why you’d care more about the Z Flip 5, as Samsung’s Flip series brings great build quality, a lengthy commitment to software updates, and some nifty software features. The Z Flip 5 is also said to pack a much larger cover display than before, addressing a major complaint with the series.

Then again, the upcoming Razr looks like a good device too. Leaks point to a huge cover screen, a potential 144Hz folding display, and a Samsung-like Flex Mode. There’s no word on pricing, though.

Credit: Lily Katz / Android Authority

Spatial audio is the newest feature hitting earbuds, bringing 360-degree sound for greater immersion. Google, Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft all have their own takes on the tech, so you don’t need to look too hard to find it.

Then again, is this something you actually consider when buying a new pair of earbuds? That’s what we’d like to find out in our featured poll today. You can go ahead and vote below and leave a comment if you’d like to explain your choice.

The biggest reason to consider the tech is the immersion factor, as it can make for a more enjoyable experience when watching suitable video content. Some music streaming services support the tech too.

Then again, spatial audio might not be for everyone. For one, it’s better suited for videos, but you might prefer to watch this content in front of the TV and without earbuds, to begin with. You might also struggle to tell the difference between spatial audio and traditional audio in many situations.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

It’s tough to find a smartphone these days that doesn’t have at least one high-resolution camera aboard. You can find 48MP, 50MP, 64MP, and 108MP cameras on even cheap phones today. In fact, we’re also seeing 200MP phones on flagship phones and upper mid-rangers.

So that got us wondering whether you actually shoot images at your phone camera’s full resolution (i.e. 32MP or higher). Go ahead and vote in our poll below and leave a comment if you’d like to elaborate on your choice.

Almost all phones today default to a so-called pixel-binned shooting mode for photos. Pixel binning sees data from adjacent camera pixels combined into one, resulting in reduced resolution but cleaner, brighter snaps. These shots typically weigh in at 8MP to 16MP and feature much smaller file sizes than a full-resolution snap. So we can understand if you stick to this default shooting mode and don’t opt for the full-resolution shooting option.

Still, many phones indeed have a full-resolution mode (with the exception of devices like the Pixel 7 series), and this can be quite handy in ideal conditions. Using the full-resolution mode can deliver plenty more detail than the default capture mode in daytime scenarios, although elevated noise levels aren’t uncommon. This mode can sometimes deliver a more natural-looking image too compared to the standard shooting mode.

Desktop modes have been available on smartphones for years now, with the likes of HUAWEI, Motorola, Samsung, and others all offering the feature on their best Android phones.

We’re focusing on Samsung Dex, though, and want to find out whether you use this mode on your Galaxy phone. Let us know by answering the poll below and leaving a comment if you have more on your mind.

For the uninitiated, Samsung Dex allows you to connect your smartphone to an external display (either with a cable or wirelessly), complete with a PC-like user interface. This effectively allows you to use your smartphone as a PC of sorts.

We can see why people might want to use this mode as a result, as it can reduce the need for a PC in some situations. Then again, it’s still not quite a full PC replacement, particularly when Chrome for Android isn’t a desktop-class experience after all this time.

Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

It’s almost impossible to buy a high-end smartphone in 2023 without a high refresh rate screen. However, Apple remains the sole holdout in this regard with its standard iPhone models, and it looks like this trend could continue until 2025.

Things get a little murkier when you look at mid-range segments and below, but you can still find a variety of cheap Android phones with high refresh rates.

So with all that in mind, we wanted to know whether you’d buy a smartphone without a high refresh rate screen (90Hz or higher). You can give us your answer via the poll below and leave a comment if you want to elaborate on your choice.

We completely understand why you wouldn’t buy a phone without a high refresh rate screen. The tech allows for smoother animations and gaming, making for a more fluid experience. This increased refresh rate does come at the expense of increased power consumption, though. Then again, all phones with a high refresh rate display give you the option of dialing down to a standard 60Hz refresh rate to save power.

There are a few reasons why people might not want a phone with a 120Hz or 90Hz screen, though. Some users simply can’t tell the difference so don’t care if their screen has a high refresh rate. Other people might value features such as the screen type (e.g. OLED), cameras, or horsepower over the refresh rate.

Companies have shrunk the bezels (or borders) around their smartphone displays over the years. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find only a sliver of a bezel at the top and bottom.

In saying so, some brands might take an uneven approach to bezel sizes, with one border noticeably bigger than the other. For example, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G (seen above) features a big chin and a smaller forehead.

So with that in mind, we want to know whether you care about uniform bezels around your smartphone display. Take our poll below to give us your answer.

Me? I don’t care too much about bezels in general, as long as they’re not comically massive. But some symmetry would be nice to have.

My colleague Calvin recently decided to ditch Google and switch to GrapheneOS on his Pixel 6. He found the latter is an excellent option for users who want a privacy-focused phone without subjecting themselves to Google’s inescapable data collection practices.

Not only does GrapheneOS allow you to continue using Google’s apps and services, but it also makes them behave better on your phone. In simple terms, GrapheneOS delivers a secure Android experience without compromising your phone’s usability. It also packs some valuable features that stock Android should ideally adopt.

So we thought of asking you if you would be open to using GrapheneOS and de-Google your smartphone. You can still download apps from the Play Store, get push notifications via Google’s servers, and even sync your data as usual — all of this with the upside of privacy and Google not being able to gather your data.

Take our poll above and tell us what you think in the comments section.

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

Many high-end phones today have a moon mode, allowing you to take clear, zoomed-in snaps of the moon. However, Samsung is in the spotlight after a Reddit user’s experiment showed that the company’s moon mode could be easily duped.

The Redditor’s experiment showed that Samsung’s moon mode will recognize blurry pictures of the moon and add extra details, craters, and textures out of thin air. It’s also worth noting that Samsung wasn’t the only smartphone brand coming under the microscope for this. Huawei was previously under scrutiny for its moon mode too.

So with all that in mind, we have to ask whether you care if your moon mode shot is generated by AI. Give us your answer by voting in the poll below.

We can understand why you might feel that any details created by AI wouldn’t be okay for you. After all, there’s a difference between a camera capturing more vivid colors than reality and a camera app creating details out of thin air.

Then again, we can also see why some people might not care about this at all as long as they can point their phone camera at the moon and get a clear shot.

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Spotify has just announced a major change to its home screen that will see the platform ape the likes of TikTok. That means an emphasis on endless vertical scrolling and album covers.

That got the team wondering about how readers primarily use Spotify. Do you simply play specific songs and playlists or do you use the search/discovery features to find something? Let us know via the poll below.

We can understand if you’ve got go-to songs and playlists, as you might have specific musical tastes. Or you simply trust yourself over Spotify’s recommendations.

Then again, you might fire up Spotify’s search and discovery tools when you feel the need to listen to some music on the platform. This makes sense too, as these discovery tools have recommendations for every mood, genre, and more.

Some of you might also find music on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Soundcloud, TikTok, and more, coming back to Spotify to listen to your newly found tracks.

After years and years of creating brand recognition with the color blue, Nokia is ditching is for a new logo that follows no specific color scheme. This is Nokia’s first logo change in 60 years. At MWC 2023, Nokia’s President and CEO, Pekka Lundmark, said that Nokia is no longer just a smartphone company. It’s a “business technology company.”

Nokia says it’s refreshing its brand identity to signal that it’s a business-to-business innovation leader. “The company’s new logo is emblematic of an energized, dynamic, and modern Nokia, demonstrating its values and purpose. It has been designed as a symbol of collaboration, which Nokia believes to be critical for realizing the exponential potential of networks: unlocking gains in sustainability, productivity, and accessibility,” Nokia noted in a press release.

Meanwhile, reactions to Nokia’s new logo have been varied on social media. Some absolutely love the logo, while others think it’s an abomination. What are your thoughts? Do you like the new Nokia logo? Take our poll and drop us a line in the comments section.

The other day Twitter made SMS-based two-factor authentication paid on its platform. But that’s not the only way to secure your Twitter or any other accounts using two-factor authentication. There are multiple authenticator apps that do the job just fine. They are also more secure than the SMS-based solution, which can be compromised by SIM cloning or swapping attacks.

You have apps like Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, and more that generate one-time passwords (OTPs) for accessing your accounts on various services. So we wanted to know if you use any of these 2FA apps to secure your accounts or do you mostly rely on SMS-based authentication. Take our poll below and tell us how you play it.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

The wait is over as the Galaxy S23 series is finally on sale today (February 17) in a variety of countries around the world. So you can either go in-store to immediately get one or buy a device online.

Then again, there are loads of people who pre-ordered their phones ahead of the sale date. So we want to know whether your Galaxy S23 series phone arrived before the official release date today. Let us know by taking the poll below.

It’s a pretty nice feeling when your shiny new phone arrives a little early, if only for brief bragging rights. On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to hear of people who are only receiving their pre-ordered goodies a few days after the release date. That kind of defeats the purpose of pre-ordering, doesn’t it?

Either way, you can give us your answer via the poll above. You can also sound off on the comments if you’d like to elaborate on your answer (e.g. where you bought the phone, your locale, etc).

There’s hardly a flagship phone right now that doesn’t offer wireless charging. Be it the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, the Pixel 7 duo, the iPhone 14 line, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Oppo’s Find X5, and many more — wireless charging is a staple for premium devices. It can even be found on more affordable phones. However, one notable flagship gave it a pass this year — the OnePlus 11.

According to OnePlus, the 80W wired charging speed of the OnePlus 11 is fast enough that users won’t miss wireless charging. We’re seeing wired charging speeds increase almost every year. Realme even has a phone with 240W fast wired charging, maxing out the current capacity of USB-C. However, these super impressive charging numbers are not all they are made out to be, and no matter how fast a phone charges while hooked to a wire, wireless charging offers greater flexibility to users.

So we wanted to know your thoughts on the matter — Are you okay sacrificing wireless charging on a flagship phone if it supports super-fast wired charging speeds? Take our poll, and if you have more to say, hit the comments section below.

Competition is stiff in the smartphone space, so it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to try and entice prospective customers with generous trade-in deals and pre-order bonuses.

Has a pre-order bonus or trade-in deal changed your mind about buying a smartphone, though? That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so give us your answer by voting below.

We can understand if more than a few of you ended up buying a phone after seeing a generous trade-in deal or nifty pre-order bonus. After all, a healthy trade-in offer or extra goodies could be the difference maker between two similarly great smartphones.

Then again, some of you might not care at all about these perks because you simply don’t care for the phone in question to begin with. On the other end of the spectrum, you might not care about the perks because you always planned to get the handset anyway (regardless of bonuses).

Smartphones aren’t built equally, as handsets can vary greatly when it comes to things like the display, horsepower, cameras, and battery capacity. Audio is another area of differentiation, and we’re particularly interested in smartphone speakers for today’s poll.

We want to know whether you’re happy with the speakers on your smartphone. So let us know by answering the question below and leaving a comment if you’d like to elaborate on your choice.

Just to clarify, we’re not talking about audio quality from the earpiece when you’re on a call. We’re talking about audio quality while listening through the phone’s speakers. Whether that’s listening to music and podcasts, watching videos, or taking a call on speaker phone.

Me? I think my Pixel 7 Pro speakers are fine but that they definitely could be better. They don’t seem to get as loud and clear as other phones I’ve used in the last year.

Smartphone sales are at an all-time low. Even the past holiday season couldn’t compel people to buy new phones, and it seems things will remain down for a while as far as handset sales are concerned.

Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 series but predicts that phone sales will not pick up till the second half of the year. Qualcomm also held its Q1 2023 earnings call yesterday and expects “broadening demand weakness among handsets.” The chipmaker said it doesn’t see phone makers shipping as many phones through 2023 because they don’t expect people to buy new phones.

Dwindling phone sales can be attributed to the poor state of the world economy right now. Inflation is soaring, jobs are being cut, and people don’t have discretionary income to put toward tech purchases.

So we wanted to ask you if you plan to hang on to your current smartphone or if you’re picking up a new one this year. Are you waiting for the holiday season to get some good deals, or have you decided to hold off this year? Take our poll above and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Today, Samsung officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, and we even spent some hands-on time with the Galaxy S23. As expected, most of the leaks we reported over the past months were true. The phones carry many spec and design elements from previous years while adding in some new flourishes. Galaxy S23 pricing also remains the same, at least in the United States.

Design-wise, the biggest changes are on the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus. These two phones now have individual camera cutouts on the back, which makes them look more similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Likewise, the color options are the same across all three phones, which is something we (surprisingly) haven’t seen too often from Samsung. Inside, the phones have the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which has been fine-tuned specifically for these phones.

Overall, these are now the flagship 2023 Android phones to beat. But what do you think about them?

On the one hand, Samsung didn’t make too many big changes this year. The camera systems are pretty much the same, with only the Ultra’s upgrade to a 200MP main sensor being somewhat notable. RAM counts are the same, display specs are mostly the same, and there weren’t too many thrilling software features announced.

On the other hand, the few upgrades Samsung did include are significant. There are bigger batteries for the Samsung Galaxy 23 and S23 Plus, and the Plus and Ultra models now start with twice as much internal storage. The displays have the same basic specs as last year but now have a ludicrous peak brightness of 1,750 nits. When you combine all this with the lack of a change in US pricing, you have a pretty formidable lineup.

Let us know how you feel about these phones in the poll above. Be sure to leave some comments explaining your choice, too.

We take our smartphones everywhere with us, whether we’re going to the store, getting into bed, or going out for a night on the town. Plenty of people even take their phones to the toilet.

But do you go so far as to use your smartphone while you’re in the bath or shower? That’s the topic of our poll today. So go ahead and vote below and leave a comment if you’d like to expand on your choice.

We can see why you’d avoid using a phone in the bath or shower. Some phones might not be water-resistant, meaning it’s a big risk to use them in the bathroom. Some people might also simply value the quiet time away from their handset.

Then again, we can understand if you use your phone in the bathroom, especially if you’re relaxing in the bath. Me? Well, colleague Ryan McNeal pitched this poll idea in our work Slack channel earlier this month, and I read it while I was in the bath. I swear I don’t usually check work messages while in the bathroom, but I definitely use my phone in there now and again for podcasts and YouTube videos.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that smartphones look the same these days. After all, so many devices use a combo of glass or plastic backs, feature punch-hole cutouts, and offer triple or quad rear camera setups.

Nevertheless, one thing smartphone brands can’t seem to agree on is the placement of volume and power buttons. So let us know which button placement you prefer via the poll below.

There are three major button layouts right now, starting with the power button being below the volume keys. This placement is adopted by a host of players, including Samsung, Xiaomi, vivo, and Motorola. Meanwhile, Google is one of the few companies to place the power button above the volume rocker.

Finally, the third layout preferred by some brands is to place the power button on one side of the phone and the volume keys on the other side. Manufacturers adopting this placement include Apple, OnePlus, and OPPO.

We’re expecting good things from 2023’s smartphones, with some impressive silicon to be had in both the high-end and budget segments. Toss in sizeable batteries, fast charging, and great screens, and we’ve got all the ingredients for high-quality phones this year.

Do you want more horsepower, though? Or is longer battery life on your priority list instead? That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so go ahead and make a choice via the options below.

We can see why you’d want more horsepower, particularly if you’ve got a mid-range phone. More horsepower means improved performance in games, faster image processing, and a smoother experience in general.

Then again, we can understand if you want longer battery life instead. The last few generations of flagship phones have all delivered plenty of horsepower, but this (along with 5G and a high refresh rate) tends to come with reduced endurance.

We’ve seen a change taking place over the years in the charger space, as phone chargers switch from having full-sized USB-A ports to USB-C ports instead. This change isn’t happening at a rapid pace though, but it’s still notable nonetheless.

Today’s smartphones are pretty big devices, so we wouldn’t be surprised if your pockets are too small for your current handset. In saying so, my phones still tend to fit just fine in my huge pants pockets.

That leads us to our featured poll today. How do you actually store your phone inside your pocket? Let us know by choosing an answer below, and leave a comment if you’ve got more to share on the matter.

Me? I prefer to store the phone upside-down (charging port pointing upwards) with the screen facing outwards. This way, I can quickly access the phone screen without performing any hand gymnastics. Plus, an outward-facing display means the screen won’t be stuck to my leg on a hot day (gross).

Then again, we’re sure there are at least a couple of people out there who store their phones right-side-up (charging port pointing down) and with the screen facing their leg.

Today’s Android smartphones have much bigger batteries than devices from five or six years ago, with 5,000mAh batteries being commonplace in the low-end and flagship segments alike.

Bigger batteries don’t necessarily mean that power banks and portable chargers aren’t important anymore. So we’re curious as to how many people actually have one. That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so let us know below.

We can see why you’d own a power bank, as they’re still very handy for traveling or if you live in a country with frequent power cuts. They’re also good to have if you’re going out but didn’t have enough time to adequately charge your phone (hello, Pixel and iPhone users).

Then again, today’s phones all have battery saving modes of some kind to help eke out more juice. So this can reduce the need for having a power bank in some cases.

We saw a bunch of cool tech at CES 2023, and as always, smart kitchen appliances were right at the forefront of it all. From smart cutting boards to AI ovens, a color-changing party fridge, smart mixers, and more, we saw it all, and it got us thinking — just how many of our readers have a teched-up kitchen?

Do you own any smart kitchen appliances? Maybe you have a connected coffee maker or one of those refrigerators that makes a shopping list for you. Perhaps you have an Alexa or Nest smart speaker/display for help with recipes. Take our poll below and let us know if your kitchen is a tech-free zone or not.

If you do have some interesting appliances in your kitchen or just intelligent hook-ups like a smart switch, we’d love to know what they are. Drop us a line in the comments section and let us know what kitchen tech you have or something you might want to purchase next.

Almost all of us have extensive digital photo libraries, be it via a cloud storage service like Google Photos or on your smartphone’s local storage. But are these photos something you forget about or do you make an effort to display them around the house?

That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so go ahead and vote below or leave a comment if you have more to share. Just to be clear, we’re talking about digital photos that you’ve either printed for display or photos shown on smart displays or digital frames.

In fact, Google Photos users in some markets can order prints from the service. These prints can either take the form of loose copies, canvas prints, premium prints, or they can be compiled into a photo album. So you’ve definitely got options if you prefer physical photos to a digital display.

The festive season is a great time to capture photos and videos of loved ones, cute pets, great food, and much more. So we inevitably see a smartphone or two come out at some point to take snaps and record videos.

This occurrence has us wondering whether you’re the designated photographer at social gatherings. Go ahead and vote in the poll below to give us your answer.

We can see why some Android Authority readers would be designated photographers, as our readers tend to be a tech-savvy bunch. They might have the latest and greatest smartphones or simply know enough to take the best snaps.

Me? I’m the designated photographer at most social gatherings, but that’s not really due to skill on my part. Instead, I usually tend to have the best camera phone and combine that with sheer quantity of shots. I guess I really should brush up on our smartphone camera tips guide.

The camera experience is one of the biggest considerations when buying a smartphone, at least according to the results of an Android Authority poll back in 2021. In fact, roughly three-quarters of respondents said it was one of several key considerations at the very least.

But what specific improvements do you actually want to see from smartphone cameras in 2023, though? That’s the topic of our featured poll today. So go ahead and make your decision via the poll below.

There’s still some room for improvement when it comes to daytime snaps, low-light capture, and selfie shots, whether that’s via noise reduction, improved HDR, reduced motion blur, or increased levels of detail. We can also understand why you’d want better video, as iPhones still have a reputation for offering superior video quality to Android devices.

Me? I’d love to see improved zoom in 2023, as several brands like OnePlus, OPPO, and Apple have neglected long-range zoom despite the likes of Google and Samsung streaking ahead. Nevertheless, you can give us your answer via the poll above.

2022 had something for everyone in the smartphone landscape, ranging from innovative flagships (Sony Xperia 1 IV, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) and conservative upgrades (S22 Ultra, iPhone 14) to budget superstars (Redmi Note 11, Pixel 6a).

Now that we’re winding things down, we thought it would be a good idea to ask you about the smartphone brand that surprised you the most in 2022. Go ahead and make a selection below, and leave a comment if you’d like to explain your choice.

We’re specifically talking about smartphone brands that surprised you in a good way, rather than companies that surprised you for all the wrong reasons. So don’t go choosing HTCfor its embarrassing “metaverse phone” shenanigans.

The festive season inevitably sees some gift-giving between loved ones, and tech gadgets remain a popular category in this regard. Between wireless earbuds, tablets, gaming consoles, and a host of other products, the possibilities are endless.

Google Photos is a pretty convenient photo backup service, also bringing some smart editing features to the table if you’ve got a Google One subscription or Pixel phone.

Another cool Google Photos feature you might not know about is that you can actually get your photos printed via the service. Is this something you’ve done before? Give us your answer via the poll below.

We can see why you’d choose to print via Google Photos, as it’s pretty seamless. You simply choose the option you want and then either have it delivered or pick it up from CVS, Walmart, or Walgreens. And there are a few options on offer, such as loose photos, photo albums, canvas prints, and premium prints.

Then again, this feature is limited to a few markets only. All of these photo printing options bar photo albums are only available in the US. Meanwhile, photo albums are also available in Canada and Europe. You might also balk at the price compared to alternative services.

Fingerprint scanners and face unlock are the two main biometric unlocking methods available on smartphones today, allowing us to seamlessly unlock our handsets, pay for purchases, and more.

Do you have a preference for one solution over the other, though? That’s what we want to find out in today’s featured poll. So give us your answer below and leave a comment if you’d like to elaborate.

We’re specifically referring to 3D face unlock when we talk about face unlock, as it’s the fastest, most secure, and most versatile facial recognition option. We’re not referring to a specific fingerprint scanner type here though (e.g. rear, side, in-display).

In saying so, you should choose “fingerprint scanners” if you prefer at least one type of fingerprint scanner over face unlock. So if you prefer rear fingerprint scanners over face unlock but prefer face unlock over in-display sensors, then choose “fingerprint scanners” anyway.

Apple is reportedly working on the ability to more easily sideload apps on iPhones, and this would be a major change for iOS if confirmed. But this feature isn’t new for Android, as sideloading has been available since the early days of the platform.

Nevertheless, we’re curious to know when was the last time you sideloaded an app on your Android smartphone. So go ahead and vote in our poll, and leave a comment at the bottom of the article!

When we talk about sideloading apps, we mean installing apps from sources other than the Google Play Store. Examples of third-party app sources and websites include APKMirror, F-Droid,  APK Pure, the Amazon AppStore, and Aptoide. These repositories can often contain a host of apps you won’t find on the Play Store.

In saying so, we’re going to go ahead and say that manufacturer app stores don’t count for this poll. After all, the HUAWEI AppGallery is the default store for modern HUAWEI phones and the Galaxy Store is required to download some Samsung apps anyway.

All of you should have a PIN code or some other form of authentication on your smartphone, preventing unauthorized people from accessing your device and serving as a security measure for theft.

But are you the only one who knows your phone’s PIN code or does your loved one know it as well? That’s what we want to know in today’s featured poll, so check it out below.

We can understand why you and your partner would share PIN codes. This could be handy in case one of you needs access to the other’s phone in a jiffy (e.g. for deliveries, accessing contacts, when one person is driving and can’t use their phone, etc). It’s also not unheard of for couples to share their phones’ PIN code access as part of an open phone policy in general, although that’s a topic for another time.

Then again, I can see why you wouldn’t share your phone’s PIN code with a loved one or vice-versa. Your phone is one of the most personal things you own, after all.

Smartphone charging speeds have tumbled in the last few years, and you can now find phones that offer a full charge in well under 30 minutes. But there are still quite a few new devices that take ages to top up.

How long does it take for your phone to fully charge, though? That’s what we want to know in today’s featured poll, so go ahead and make your choice below! You can also leave a comment if you’d like to expand on the subject.

Xiaomi and BBK brands (OnePlus, OPPO, realme) tend to offer the fastest charging times. For example, the OnePlus 10T‘s 150W charging solution takes the phone to a full charge in roughly 20 minutes. Even 65W charging on the realme GT 2 Pro takes the phone to a full charge in around 35 minutes. You can also find brisk speeds on sub-$400 handsets, such as the POCO X4 Pro and OnePlus Nord CE 2.

There are still a few lagging brands though, such as Apple and Google. For example, the Pixel 7 Pro takes over 90 minutes to get a full charge. But you can definitely find ultra-fast charging handsets in your market if you look hard enough.

There are quite a few ways to share files between your PC and phone these days, giving you more options than the old reliable wired connection.

How do you share files between your PC and phone, though? Do you still stick to wired transfers? Do you prefer cloud-based transfers? Whatever the case may be, you can let us know via the poll below and leave a comment if you’d like to elaborate.

Wired connections are the most reliable method, and they’re often the fastest too. But it isn’t 100% seamless given the need to plug things in. Meanwhile, email-based sharing is pretty painless for documents and a few photos but can be extremely slow for large files.

There are other wireless-based sharing methods though, such as Nearby Share, Microsoft’s Link to Windows feature, Pushbullet, FTP functionality, and more. But some of these methods require either a Chromebook (Nearby Share) or a specific phone brand (Link to Windows).

Samsung skipped the Galaxy Note series last year, opting to bring S Pen support to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3 instead. The same situation took place in 2022, as the Korean brand skipped the Galaxy Note line again in favor of bringing the tech to its existing high-end devices.

Android and iOS are effectively the only two major smartphone platforms on the market today, accounting for 99.4% of the global market according to StatCounter.

Does the world need a third smartphone platform though? That’s the topic of our featured poll today, so make your choice below and leave a comment if you’d like to elaborate.

We can understand why you’d feel two major platforms are enough. Android and iOS represent different approaches to the smartphone OS, giving users two stark choices to cover their needs and wants. You could also argue that dead/abandoned platforms like BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone serve as proof that we don’t need a third platform. Plus, we still have extremely niche alternative platforms today like Sailfish, Ubuntu Touch, and PureOS.

Then again, we can see why you might want a third major smartphone platform. The current landscape is effectively a duopoly right now for both consumers and app developers, so some proper competition from a big company could therefore be a good thing. You could also argue that the industry experienced peaks in terms of innovation when BlackBerry 10, WebOS, and Windows Phone were around at various points. Features like gesture navigation, card-based multitasking, desktop modes, and wireless charging debuted on these platforms first.

Cyber Monday is here, but we’re sure loads of you have already placed orders online. After all, there are plenty of products on special right now, ranging from smartphones and PCs to audio goods and more.

We’re curious about what happens after placing your order though. What are your habits when it comes to tracking your delivery? Do you obsessively check the tracker or do you perhaps even forget about your order? Let us know via today’s featured poll below.

We can understand if you’re constantly checking the tracker and signing up for all the alerts. This is especially important if you’re not necessarily going to be at home all day or if the delivery is of a time-sensitive nature (e.g. for a birthday in the coming days). Or if you’re simply the impatient type.

We can also see why you might even forget about your order. I’ve been there before, and it’s always a pleasant surprise when the courier arrives and you remember that you placed an order.

Today’s smartphones come with some smart imaging tech, allowing you to shoot night mode snaps and even some long exposures without the use of a tripod.

There are still times when you might need a mobile tripod for your smartphone, though. So with that being said, we wanted to know whether you indeed owned a tripod for your phone. You can give us your answer by voting in the poll below.

There are a few reasons to mount your phone to a tripod. For one, astrophotography modes and astro timelapses require this option. You might also want to use a tripod to reduce blur when shooting at night, or when using dedicated long-exposure/light painting modes. A tripod is also handy for group shots or to simply keep your phone as still as possible for recording video clips.

Then again, most phones deliver high-quality night shots just fine when in handheld mode. We’ve also seen devices like the Pixel series offering long-exposure/motion mode effects without the need of a tripod. So a mobile tripod doesn’t seem like a necessity for most situations.