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GOOGLE I/O 2024 Google releases a new major version of Android every year, and that’ll be no different in 2024. Android 15 got its official launch at Google I/O 2024, and two public betas are now live. So, what should you expect in terms of features and compatibility with existing phones? And when will the new software arrive on your device? Here’s everything you need to know about Android 15 at this stage. RELEASE DATE Google hasn’t confirmed when Android 15 will be released, but based on the timeline below, it’ll be sometime towards the end of the year. As you can see from the past few generations, it usually begins rolling out in the second half of each year. Android 14: October 2023 Android 13: August 2022 Android 12: October 2021 Android…

REVIEWS After getting back into its midrange smartphone groove with the Galaxy A54 5G, Samsung returns with another classy sub-£500 offering in the Galaxy A55 5G. With prices starting from just £439, the Galaxy A55 5G represents the kind of price cut we don’t see much of these days. Despite being cheaper, it manages to add a larger display and a faster processor, all housed in a more premium design than before. You can perhaps understand why Samsung would feel compelled to offer more for less, given the upward pressure exerted by excellent-value phones like the Nothing Phone (2a) as well as direct competition from the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. So has Samsung done enough to compete? DESIGN The Galaxy A55 doesn’t look all that different to the Galaxy A54.…

REVIEWS Price: £599 from fave.co/44EOgJn For the longest time, Motorola was best known for its cheap and cheerful Moto G phones, but the Lenovo-owned brand has been quietly making a name for itself a little further up the pricing scale of late. The Edge 50 Pro is another example of a classy mid-ranger with a couple of flagship-level features. Even so, it might not be quite what you’re expecting. Motorola has had a bit of a rethink about the positioning of its three smartphone offerings in 2024. The Motorola Edge 50 Pro isn’t actually a direct follow-on from the flagship Motorola Edge 40 Pro from 2023, but rather is far closer in price and spec to the mid-range Motorola Edge 40. For £599 you’re getting a goodlooking phone with a…

ANDROID TIPS & TRICKS No matter what type of Android phone you carry or how you usually use it, one thing is a near-universal constant: you’re going to spend a ton of time with messages. Google’s Android Messages app has become surprisingly good over the years. If you only rely on what you see on the surface, though, you’re missing out on some of Messages’ most powerful and underappreciated efficiency-enhancing options. Here, we’ll explore the Android Messages app’s most effective out-of-sight superpowers. They may not be able to cut down on the number of messages you send and receive on your phone), but they will help you spend less time fussing with them. And they might just help you have a more pleasant experience, too. Let’s dive in, shall we?…

GOOGLE I/O 2024 To the surprise of absolutely no-one, a new major version of Android is coming later this year. We’ve known that Android 15 was on the way for a while now, but Google used its I/O developer conference keynote to reveal lots more about the new software. That includes all its top new features, and there are three in particular that I’m really excited to try. Let’s dive in. PRIVATE SPACE I use my smartphone more than any other piece of technology, meaning it has a lot of sensitive information stored on it. But right now, when I give it to a friend or family member, they’re just one tap away from accessing this information. Enter Private Space. It’s a space that’s totally separate from the rest of…

REVIEWS Price: £1,299 from fave.co/4bhkJYJ Every now and then something special comes along. In the crowded phone market, it’s a rare thing. Enter the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Xiaomi has finally launched its Ultra flagship smartphone outside of its home market. If you’re in the market for the absolute best phone experience, you might have found it here. You will need to be all in on the photography though, and if you are, this is an enthusiast’s dream. Especially when you add in the optional Photography Kit which, no lie, means this phone can rival compact mirrorless DSLRs. Costing a whopping £1,299, it’s not a phone you’ll be buying on a whim. But if you can afford it, this phone has just about every bell and whistle you can imagine, from…

BUYING GUIDE Plenty of people have strong opinions on which is superior, but it’s worth noting that Android is an operating system rather than a device. Dozens of smartphones running Google’s software are released every single year, though each manufacturer makes its own tweaks to the user experience. The software on a Samsung Galaxy phone will look very different to that of a OnePlus or Xiaomi handset, for example. It’s also important to consider the length of software support, which ranges from two to seven years. However, you shouldn’t base your decision on which to buy solely on the software. There’s plenty of variation when it comes to hardware, especially when you’re comparing budget and mid-range phones to flagship devices. Apple only tends to release four or five iPhone models…

ANDROID TIPS & TRICKS Has there ever been something as simultaneously invaluable and irritating as our modern-day device notifications? All the beeps our various gadgets send our way serve an important purpose, of course – at least in theory. They keep us attuned to our professional and personal networks and everything around them to make sure we never miss anything important. But they also demand our attention, interrupt what we’re doing, and annoy us endlessly, often with stuff that really doesn’t require any immediate acknowledgment or reaction. And while Android’s notification systems offer plenty of nuanced control over how different alerts do and don’t reach you, it still seems virtually impossible to avoid swimming in a sprawling sea of stuff in your phone’s notification panel at the end of each…

GOOGLE I/O 2024 As expected, Google has used its annual I/O developer conference to speak about Wear OS 5, its upcoming smartwatch operating system update and here are the four most important pieces of news. There’s a buzz around Wear OS this year, and that’s come out of many interesting smartwatches hitting the market over the last year or two -including Google’s own Pixel Watch 2. Google says its user base grew 40 percent in 2023, so you’ll want to know what’s coming to the wearable platform in the next full version upgrade. RELEASE DATE Although Google was only talking about the developer preview during its I/O keynote, it did confirm that Wear OS 5, which is based on Android 14, is “arriving later this year”. And there might not…

REVIEWS Price: £1,099 from fave.co/4dEn1ma For a company that used to be known for cheap smartphones, Honor puts a lot of emphasis on high-end devices these days. The foldable Magic V2 might be its most groundbreaking device, but the Magic6 Pro isn’t far behind in terms of ambition. At £1,099, it’s Honor’s most expensive smartphone in Europe, though that might change if the Magic6 Ultimate ever makes it out of China. Unfortunately for Honor, the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google all make compelling devices around this price. And as good as the cameras are on the Magic6 Pro, most people will be better off with a different device. DESIGN The design of the Magic6 Pro makes it very clear what Honor wants you to focus on. Its huge rear…

ANDROID TIPS & TRICKS Every now and then, I come across an Android customization concept so clever, so cool, so splendidly useful that I just can’t wait to share it with you. Today is one of those days. The concept in question is a hefty and exceptionally practical upgrade for your Android audio experience. It brings a boost to the way you interact with sound on whatever Android device you’re using, no matter who made it or how old it may be. And it’ll take you less than a minute to get going. MEET YOUR ANDROID AUDIO ENHANCEMENT The upgrade of which we speak may seem simple on the surface, but don’t be fooled: this nifty little trick will affect all aspects of your Android-using experience and make your life…