We all know our phones have become powerful enough to replace PCs, but far fewer of us have actually tried it. Well, I’ve embraced the pocket computer lifestyle, and I’ve tried out many accessories to make this possible — including many types of keyboards. If you picture yourself plopping your phone down on a table in a coffee shop and getting real work done, here’s the kind of keyboard you want.

Google does a good job of walking you through your phone during the initial setup. From choosing your language and region to copying data from your previous phone and signing in to your Google accounts, the setup process is meticulously detailed and easy to follow. What's not explained explicitly or concisely, however, is the meaning of all those little icons nestled in your Android phone's status bar.

The latest foldables have incredible designs and outstanding performance, but they usually cost an arm and a leg. Smart buyers can save hundreds of dollars and still get flagship features by buying last year's model, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, now 33% off on Amazon. It's significantly cheaper than the latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra while matching many of its features, and you won't need to worry about a cracked screen.

Four years have passed since Bluetooth SIG announced Auracast, and we now have it readily available on the latest Android smartphones. Yet somehow, the average smartphone owner barely uses it. Most folks I know or socialize with haven't even heard of the feature.

I've never been a big fan of physical keyboards on phones, but I decided to give one a try earlier this year. The experiment didn't last long. The phone has been collecting dust on my desk for months — until I turned it into a Game Boy.

The Android status bar has been largely unchanged since the very beginning. Consistency is great, but so is adapting to modern needs. Some of the icons in the status bar have never been useful to me. Let's clean things up.

Of all the Pixel 11's new features, Rambler voice typing is the one that will benefit the most people, even if they never realize that it's there. But does Rambler actually require a new phone? I forced it onto my Pixel 8a to see how well it can work on an older device, and I was impressed by the results.

Getting to my destination using Google Maps is only half the job. I still need to find parking, track fuel expenses, and decide which stops are worth making on a road trip.

Wireless earbuds are meant to make life easier. You pop them in, connect them to your phone, and get on with your day. The last thing you expect is for a tiny pair of earbuds to become uncomfortably hot while you're wearing them. Yet overheating Galaxy Buds have become a pretty big concern, with many users experiencing the problem, and Samsung even offering some official advice on what you should do.

I use Android Auto almost every day, and a few things about it drive me absolutely nuts. My wireless connection drops out, message notifications interrupt my music, Gemini struggles with commands, and some apps I want aren’t even on the launcher.

Google rolled out a healthy helping of updates to Android Auto recently, breathing delightfully fresh air into a stale OS. Gemini Intelligence was the highlight of this update, porting agentic AI capabilities over to compatible cars. Gemini can read your messages, emails, and more, give you context in natural language, and basically let you do almost everything you can on your smartphone with Gemini. While Gemini on the go is certainly the star of the show, you might have missed a slightly older announcement from May 2026 that also included plenty of other interesting features.

I’ve always been a Samsung fangirl, so it’s not like I needed convincing to love its phones. But One UI 9 has given me a few more reasons to appreciate them. I love exploring my Galaxy’s settings, and One UI 9 has a few new features that could save me an extra 10 minutes a day to enjoy my evening walk instead of fiddling with my phone. Here are five One UI 9 features that got me excited about Samsung phones all over again.

Remember when gaming meant blowing into cartridges, mastering tricky platforming levels, and staying up late to finish just one more stage? Some of the greatest games ever made came from the golden age of consoles like the Sega Genesis, original PlayStation, and Xbox.

Developers deserve to be compensated for their work, and "premium" apps usually offer a better experience. But sometimes, those same developers offer a way for loyal users to get their paid apps for free. No trial, no hidden paywall — just sideloading.

Pixel phones built their reputation on photos that looked better than their hardware should allow. Five years after the Pixel 6 Pro, that edge feels thinner, so it’s worth asking whether Pixel cameras are actually slipping or the competition simply sprinted ahead.

My smart home has a lot of complicated automations, many of which have their own quirks. When guests visit, they just want to be able to do simple things like turning on the lights, watching TV, or turning up the heating. I decided to turn an old Android phone into a dedicated guest remote that's simple enough for anyone to use.

Google Keep is where I dump everything I need to remember. Grocery items, article ideas, errands, and random thoughts all end up in different notes. Finding anything later is a whole other problem.

Driving is my stress-relief activity. I’m the kind of nerd who actually enjoys checking stats and reports, so naturally, I wanted to see what my driving looks like on paper.

Ads on content and streaming platforms are increasing daily, and YouTube is no exception. I've paid for YouTube Premium for years, mostly to avoid mid-roll ads and for background playback. But recently, the official YouTube app crossed a line. Between the endless grid of distracting Shorts, community polls, and autoplaying recommended feeds, the interface has become a mess.

I use Google Assistant when I’m driving, planning my day, or trying to remember something before it slips my mind. I can ask it to message someone, find an answer, or remind me about a task without breaking my flow.