Earlier this month, Google released Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2. It brought many features, and among them were two new accessibility options meant for use with a physical keyboard, sticky keys, and bounce keys. It was reported that these two features will soon be joined by another option, slow keys. Well, that third option is finally here.
According to a new report from Android Authority, the newly-released Android 15 Developer Preview 2 offers three accessibility options that you can use with a physical keyboard: Sticky keys, Slow keys, and Bounce Keys. While sticky keys and bounce keys were already present in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, the slow keys option is new.
The slow keys option allows you to specify the duration a key should be pressed for the system to register the keystroke. This feature helps people with physical disabilities. With the three new options, Android 15 will make it more convenient for people to use a keyboard with their tablets or with their phones operating in desktop mode.
Now, here’s something that will make you feel good if you own a smartphone or tablet from Samsung. The Korean tech giant already offers these three options with One UI. This is one of the reasons why people prefer One UI over stock Android. One UI offers many useful features that stock Android still misses out on.
Not everyone realises that you can connect AirPods to Android phones, but the process is just as simple as connecting any of the other best wireless earbuds to your phone.
If you’re struggling to figure out where to begin though, we’re here to show you how to connect your AirPods to Android in almost no time at all. If you’ve only just bought one of the best Android phones having previously owned an iPhone, this is your chance to still use your beloved AirPods from before.
There are some caveats in terms of functionality, but we’ll get into that later. For now, here’s what you need to do to get your AirPods connected to an Android phone. The steps involved apply across all AirPods, up to the latest AirPods Pro 2, so the instructions remain the same.
Steps for how to connect AirPods to Android
Open Settings > Bluetooth
Wait for AirPods to appear under available devices and tap it
If AirPods don’t appear, put them in pairing mode using the button on the rear
On your Android phone, open the Settings app to get started. This is usually depicted as a cog icon on the screen. Once in Settings, tap on Bluetooth which should be near the top of the list.
Wait for the AirPods to appear under Available Devices in the Bluetooth menu. If it isn’t showing, you may need to place your AirPods in pairing mode. Do this by holding down the button on the back of the case. Once it appears, tap the name then tap Pair to connect the AirPods to your phone.
How to connect AirPods to Android FAQs
Can you use Siri on Android?
No, there’s no support for Siri with your AirPods when they’re connected to an Android phone – and there’s also no access to Google Assistant using your AirPods as a replacement.
Is there ear detection on Android?
While AirPods will detect when you’ve removed them from your ear and pause the music when connected to an Apple device, they won’t when using Android devices. You’ll need to manually play and pause your music instead.
What other features will I miss on Android?
AirPods will still play music and you’ll be able to use active noise cancellation, but basically all of the other smart features they offer will be off the table, partly because there’s no way to control their settings on Android. So, you won’t be able to use Spatial Audio, you won’t be able to personalize the sound or check the quality of the ear tip fit, you can’t visually check the remaining battery, you won’t be able to use the Find My network features, you won’t be able to share audio with other AirPods, and there won’t be any auto-switching between devices.
How to connect AirPods to Android: Final thoughts
AirPods are some of the best earbuds around when connected to an Apple device like an iPhone. However, they do lack key functionality when you’re using an Android phone – in general, we strongly recommend people pick-up a different set of the best earbuds to use with Android devices if you’re buying something new.
However, if you need to connect your AirPods to your Android phone, the above steps will get you on track. Even limited earbuds are better than having to listen to the din of your daily commute.
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Apple‘s legal battles continued with new monopoly accusations being levied at it by the US Department of Justice and several states, Amazon‘s Big Spring Sale offered us some solid discounts, and the first Star Wars: The Acolyte trailer dropped.
We know keeping on top of everything can be a challenge so to lend a hand we’ve collected eight of the most important stories here in a roundup so you can get back in the loop within just a few minutes.
8. Apple was accused of being a monopoly in the US
Merrick Garland, US Attorney general (Image credit: US Department of Justice)
The US Department of Justice and more than a few States Attorney Generals unveiled a sweeping suit against Apple, accusing it of operating a monopoly iPhone business, one that crushes the competition by squeezing them out in innumerable ways.
Apple plans to fight and calls the charges unfounded.
It’ll be months before there’s any resolution but in the meantime, you can ponder if you chose the iPhone because you love it or because you thought you had no other choice. Guess it all depends on whom you believe.
7. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale boasted major deals
(Image credit: Future)
The Amazon Spring Sale has been live in the US and UK this week with thousands of deals across TVs, laptops, appliances, phones, tablets, smart home tech and so much more. It hasn’t been as expansive and the discounts haven’t been as strong as those we see during Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, but there are still several bargains to be had this week.
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We’ve searched through the sale and picked out all the best ones that we recommend so check out our full coverage for all our top picks before the sale ends on March 25.
6. OLED burn-in became a thing of the past (maybe)
Thanks to research by the University of Cambridge we could see the beginning of the end for OLED burn-in, as well as having OLED TVs that last longer and are more efficient.
The crux of this lies in blue OLED diodes that emit light along the narrowband spectrum. Without going down a rabbit hole of science, this can suppress the undesirable energy transfer that affects current OLED panels. And better energy transfer could make for OLED TVs that are more power efficient and have a longer lifespan.
It may be a few years before we see this research yield a new generation of OLED TVs and displays. Yet it’s a promising step in the effort to fully remove concerns over OLED burn-in.
5. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 ran into some folding issues
(Image credit: Future)
This wasn’t a great week for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 owners, with a growing number of reports pointing to a potential issue with the screen’s hinge design.
While it isn’t yet clear how widespread the problem is, a chorus of complaints across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit suggest it’s more than a few isolated cases. Unfortunately, the problem has left some Z Fold 4 owners unable to fully open the phone’s screen, which is a fairly big issue for a foldable.
We’re still waiting for some official comment from Samsung about the reports, but it may also be affecting the Z Fold 3 and Z Fold 5. Owning a foldable can still come with some early adopter headaches, it seems.
(Image credit: Meta)
If you haven’t already downloaded the latest Meta Quest 3 update – Meta Quest 3 update v62 – then don’t. That’s the advice of some users who have been plagued by an annoying popup for weeks after downloading the update – with it constantly warning them there’s a problem with their USB-C port even though it’s fine.
Meta is aware of the issue, and has been able to replicate it, but hasn’t yet said when a fix will be available – much to the chagrin of the unlucky Quest 3 owners affected by the bug.
Our best advice (beyond dodging update v62) is to only use the official Meta Quest 3 cables, and to not play any VR experiences while your headset is plugged in as some users have reported this seemed to cause their issues.
3. A new Android 15 developer preview landed, and teased major updates
(Image credit: Google)
We’re one step closer to Android 15 being released, with Google launching the second developer preview of its mobile OS for app creators to test out. While it’s still early days there are already some notable features catching our eye.
The continued improvements for satellite communications support in the Android 15 update suggest the Google Pixel 9 coming later this year could boast the feature seen on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. Plus there’s new loudness controls so you should notice programs are more consistent with their volume as you swap between them, and there are new tools that should make it easier for apps to take advantage of the small cover screens seen on folding phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
If you want you can check out the update yourself but we wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re a developer or have a spare android device lying around as these in-progress builds can suffer from stability issues.
2. The Acolyte’s first trailer showed us a new kind of Star Wars story
(Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)
It’s almost time to forget everything you thought you knew about the Jedi and the Sith. Star Wars: The Acolyte, the next big Star Wars show coming to Disney Plus, will boldly go where no other Lucasfilm movie or TV series has gone before. Indeed, it’s set to explore The High Republic era in a live-action capacity for the first time – and it’ll subvert your expectations of the iconic galaxy far, far away when it does so.
We don’t have much longer to wait to see what Russian Doll showrunner and self-confessed Star Wars nerd Leslye Headland has got in store for us, either. This week, The Acolyte’s Disney Plus release date was finally revealed, with the highly anticipated series out in early June. We also received a first trailer, too, which teases an ominous disturbance in the Force ahead of its Disney Plus debut. Color us extremely excited.
1. IKEA made us some bargain fast chargers
(Image credit: IKEA)
Need a spare USB-C charger for your phone, tablet or laptop? This week IKEA took a break from Billy bookcases and gave us two new impulse buys with its impressively cheap Sjöss chargers.
The single-port Sjöss 30W USB-C charger ($7.99 / £5) is designed for phones and tablets, while the more powerful Sjöss 45W two-port version ($14.99 / £10) can charge laptops or two smaller devices simultaneously with 22W of power.
Both support the latest PD 3.0 fast-charging standard and also undercut the prices of rival chargers from the likes of Apple, Google and even Anker. You can buy the chargers right now in the US, but they won’t go on sale in the UK until July.
YouTube TV, which promised to revolutionize the way we watch TV, has some advantages, like the ability to watch multiple channels simultaneously. This feature is called Multiview and went live on smart TVs last year. It will come to mobile devices this year.
YouTube TV to get multi-view feature on Android in the coming months
Google has announced that it has started rolling out the Multiview feature to iPhones and iPads. The feature will be rolled out to Android smartphones and tablets in the coming months. Well, this is a bit disappointing, as Google seems to prioritize Apple’s platforms over its own platforms, while Apple does the opposite. A Redditor showcased (via 9To5Google) how the feature looks on an iPhone.
This feature works from the home tab but only works with select sports channels. Hopefully, Google will add Multiview support for more channels so that people can watch their favorite sports matches alongside a movie or a TV show. Once the feature goes live on Android, you can use it on your Galaxy smartphone or tablet. The feature is already available on Samsung’s smart TVs.
YouTube TV recently introduced a revamped design for the video player UI, which shows sports scores alongside the video. It also introduced the last channel shortcut, similar to TVs, letting you switch between two channels. However, these new features are only available on TVs, not mobile devices.
Last month, WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp is testing a new feature in the WhatsApp app for iOS that can transcribe voice messages. Well, the company has now started testing the same feature in the WhatsApp app for Android.
According to WABetaInfo, the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android (version 2.24.7.8) can convert the content in voice messages into text, allowing you to read the content in a voice note rather than listening to the voice message. The ability to do so comes in handy in situations where you can’t listen to audio but can read text.
As you can see in the screenshot shared by WABetaInfo, once the feature becomes available, WhatsApp will notify you about it with a pop-up that says “Read before you listen with transcripts.” According to it, “To enable transcripts, 150MB of new app data will be downloaded” and “WhatsApp uses your device’s speech recognition to provide end-to-end encrypted transcripts.” Once you click on the Enable button on the pop-up, the app will download the required resources and enable the feature.
At the moment, there’s no information about when WhatsApp will roll out the feature to the stable version of the app. Expect that to happen when the company thoroughly tests the feature, which should take at least a few weeks.
During its recent Checkup 2024 event, Google offered an important update on Fitbit Labs giving us an idea when the highly-anticipated Fitbit AI-powered assistant will launch.
The tech giant was coy about the official launch of its Fitbit chatbot, merely stating it’ll come out later this. Additionally, it’ll see a limited release available only to the small group of Android users currently enrolled in the program on the Fitbit app.
Why are we so excited about this? The chatbot is a fitness assistant that’ll answer all of your burning questions about your personal Fitbit data in a casual way. It’s supposed to replicate what it’s like to talk to a personal trainer. Google’s tech is said to deliver “personalized insights” on how your fitness journey is going and coach you on things you can do to improve.
The Fitbit AI will also create charts and “help [people] understand [their] own data better.” As an example, chatbot responses are going to display Fitbit’s Active Zone Minutes alongside an average sleep score.
(Image credit: Google/Fitbit)
All of this information was hinted at during the AI’s initial reveal back in early October, but as we get closer to the launch, Google is filling in some of the gaps. There are still a lot of murky details. We reached out to the company asking if there are plans to include other types of charts to the chatbot and if it could give us an idea on when the AI will officially roll out. We’ll update this story if we get any new info.
If you’re interested in taking the chatbot out for a spin, you can join Fitbit Labs at any time; however, you will need a subscription to Fitbit Premium first.
Google’s Search upgrade
Besides the chatbot, Google also talked about upgrading its search engine to include detailed health information about certain conditions. “Images and diagrams from high quality [online] sources” will be present in search results allowing people to better understand the symptoms they may be feeling. The new visual resources will be rolling out globally to Google Search on mobile within the coming months. No word if a similar feature will arrive on desktop.
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Cybersecurity researchers have found a new version of a well-known Android banking trojan malware which sports quite a creative method of hiding in plain sight.
PixPirate targets mostly Brazilian consumers with accounts on the Pix instant payment platform, which allegedly counts more than 140 million customers, and services transactions north of $250 billion.
The campaign’s goal was to divert the cash to attacker-owned accounts. Usually, banking trojans on Android would try to hide by changing their app icons and names. Often, the trojans would assume the “settings” icon, or something similar, tricking the victims into looking elsewhere, or simply into being too afraid to remove the app from their device. PixPirate, on the other hand, gets rid of all of that by not having an icon in the first place.
Running the malware
The big caveat here is that without the icon, the victims cannot launch the trojan, so that crucial part of the equation is left to the attackers.
The campaign consists of two apps – the dropper, and the “droppee”. The dropper is being distributed on third-party stores, shady websites, and via social media channels, and is designed to deliver the final payload – droppee – and to run it (after asking for Accessibility and other permissions).
Droppee, which is PixPirate’s filename, exports a service to which other apps can connect to. The dropper connects to that service, allowing it to run the trojan. Even after removing the dropper, the malware can still run on its own, on certain triggers (for example, on boot, on network change, or on other system events).
The entire process, from harvesting user credentials, to initiating money transfer, is automated, and done in the background without the victim’s knowledge or consent. The only thing standing in the way, the researchers claim, are Accessibility Service permissions.
It is also worth mentioning that this method only works on older versions of Android, up to Pie (9).
Medisafe offers short videos for most medications where a doctor describes the medication and explains possible side effects and other useful information. The app will even flag possible interactions if you are taking multiple medications. The free version is excellent, but you can get rid of ads and unlock some extra customization options with a subscription ($5/month or $40/year).
How to Set Reminders on an Android Phone
There are various ways you might set a medication reminder on an Android phone.
Use Google Assistant
Google via Simon Hill
The quickest and easiest way to set a reminder on your Android phone is to use Google Assistant. For example, you can say, “Hey Google, remind me to take my pill every day at 9 am.”
If you have a family group set up, you can also set reminders for other folks in your family by saying something like, “Hey Google, remind Jenny to take her pill every day at 8 pm.”
To review and tweak any reminders you have set, say, “Hey Google, show my reminders.”
Use Google Calendar
You could also set up medication reminders in Google Calendar. Open the Calendar app, select a day, tap the Plus icon, and choose Reminder. You can specify a time and tap where it says Does not repeat, then change to Every day or set another interval. When you are happy with the details, tap Save.
Use a Medication App
As we said above, of the many medication apps available for Android, our top pick is Medisafe’s Pill Reminder and Med Tracker. This slick app is the Android version of the iPhone app we recommend above, and it’s easy to set up and offers the same wealth of features. You can set reminders for multiple medications, track your consumption, set up refill alerts, track symptoms, and get warnings about possible interactions.
How to Set Reminders on a Samsung Phone
As well as the methods listed above for Android phones, Samsung offers excellent medication reminders in its Health app on Samsung phones. Here’s how to set them up:
Open the Health app, scroll down to the Medications section and tap on it.
Tap Add medication and start typing the name of your medication. You should see a list of suggestions pop up. If you can’t find yours, tap Add custom medication at the bottom.
Once you have selected your medication, you can select the type and strength. You can also identify the pill shape on the next screen.
Now it’s time to set your schedule. You can select the time and dosage required and the period to complete the course (if applicable).
The last screen allows you to review the schedule you have created and set a medication nickname and notes, if you want to. Hit Save if it all looks good.
The final screen warns you about potential interactions with other drugs or substances, such as alcohol. You can tap on possible interactions for further information on the risks.
Once added, you will see medications listed in the Health app via the Medications section with a timeline along the top and a log of what you must take each day. You can mark it off for that day by tapping Take.
Tap on any medication in the Your medications section to edit that record. You can also add your number of remaining pills and toggle on a Refill reminder.
When you’re done with a medication, tap on it under Your medications and tap the three vertical dots at the top right to Archive or Delete. You should use Archive if you want to retain a record of that medication and when you took it.
You can also share medication data by opening the Health app, tapping the Medications section, tapping the three vertical dots at the top right, and selecting Share medication list.
In January this year, X (formerly Twitter) added support for passkeys to the X app for iOS. Now, the company is working on bringing support for passkeys to the X app for Android.
According to AssembleDebug on TheSpAndroid, the latest beta version of the X app for Android (version 10.32.0) contains strings of codes mentioning passkeys. What’s even more interesting is that the author was able to activate the feature. Once they activated it, an option to enable passkeys appeared in the app with the description “Enable passkeys for added protection that may be tied to your biometrics.” The option is located in Settings and privacy » Security and account access » Security.
Unfortunately, the support for passkeys is not functional in the app at the moment, which suggests that the project is still under development. Once the feature is ready, the company might activate it by default in the beta version of the app, test it thoroughly, and then make it available in the stable version of the app. Once that happens, you will be able to log into the X app for Android by authenticating your identity using your phone’s or tablet’s fingerprint scanner or facial recognition system.
One of the best things about the Android ecosystem is the availability of truly affordable phones for as little as $150. By comparison, the cheapest iPhone is based on a dated design and starts at $429. However, picking the right one can be a bit tricky, as reducing the price of a phone can sometimes result in too many trade-offs. So to give you a hand, we tested a bunch of the most popular options and put together a list of our favorite cheap Android phones.
How low should you go?
We tend to define a budget phone as costing between $150 and $350. Any lower and the device runs the risk of suffering from too many compromises, and above that, you cross over to pricier midrange handsets (if you’re open to spending more, we shouted out a couple of our favorites at the very end of this guide).
But for those with a little wiggle room, there are some things to consider. For example, a child may be better off with a cheaper device, especially if it’s intended mainly for emergencies or texting parents (and not social media). On the higher end of this price spectrum, sub-$350 phones have come a long way thanks to improved performance, better cameras and nicer displays. This makes them a viable alternative to premium flagships, even if you have the freedom to spend more.
What to look for in a budget Android phone
When it comes to affordable devices, you get what you pay for. Most phones in this price range are made out of plastic, though the fit and finish of a specific model can vary a lot based on price. A bright screen is also important. Typically you’ll get LCD panels with a 60Hz or 90Hz refresh rate, but some phones may have OLED screens with increased color saturation. Long battery life is critical as well, so we tend to favor devices with larger power cells of around 5,000 mAh. In this price range, performance can vary a lot, so look for devices with at least 8GB of RAM and processors that can deliver stutter-free visuals. It’s also important to consider support length, as periodic operating system and security updates can extend the longevity of your device, which will save you money in the long run.
OnePlus
Screen size: 6.72 inches | Storage capacity: 128GB + microSD | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 16MP | Rear camera resolution: 108MP main, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.8 oz
When it first came out, the Nord N30 had basically everything you could want in a phone that cost $300. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chip delivers strong performance along with speedy wireless connectivity that’s compatible with all the big US carriers, not to mention good specs including 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has a big 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare on a budget phone as most rivals feature slower 60Hz or 90Hz panels. And thanks to its 50-watt wired charging, you can top it up quickly, too. But most importantly, the Nord 30 recently got a price drop from $300 to $250, making it an unquestionably good deal.
Screen size: 6.5 inches | Storage capacity: 128GB/256GB + microSD | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 13MP | Rear camera resolution: 50MP main, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro | Weight: 7.05 oz
For just $200, the Galaxy A15 5G is a pretty remarkable device. It has a 6.5-inch display with a slightly slower 90Hz refresh rate the Nord N30. However, because it features an OLED panel instead of an LCD display, it boasts better brightness and richer colors than basically all of its rivals. It can also be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and its 5,000 mAh battery delivers a ton of longevity. And while its design isn’t too exciting, the polycarbonate Samsung uses on the back has a nice matte finish that feels more like glass than cheap plastic. Finally, the A15 comes with four years of security updates and three years of OS upgrades, which is longer than most handsets in this price range.
Screen size: 6.5 inches | Storage capacity: 64GB + microSD | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 8MP | Rear camera resolution: 50MP | Weight: 6.53 oz
For those on a really tight budget, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all the bases well. It has a speedy Snapdragon 680 processor along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And while that last number might seem small, the phone has a microSD card slot so you can add more space if and when you need it. Its 6.5-inch LCD screen is also surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance. That isn’t much, but it’s good enough to protect against an errant splash or two. Sure, the G Play is basic, but it’s basic in a good way.
Screen size: 6.1 inches | Storage capacity: 128GB | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 13MP | Rear camera resolution: 64MP main, 13MP ultrawide | Weight: 6.84 oz
For people willing to look at phones on the higher end of the budget bracket, there are some other candidates worth checking out. The Pixel 7a is our favorite midrange phone and while it cost $500 at launch, recently we’ve seen deals that brought it down to as low as $375. That’s just $25 above our typical range, so if you’re looking for an affordable handset with good performance, handy bonuses like wireless charging and the best cameras on any device in this price range, you’d be foolish not to consider Google’s most affordable handset.
Screen size: 6.7 inches | Storage capacity: 256GB | SIM card type: Nano-SIM | Front camera resolution: 32MP | Rear camera resolution: 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide | Weight: 6.7 oz
Another contender we really like is the Nothing Phone 2a, which provides great specs, a unique design and a ton of personality for just $349. The main reason it didn’t make our list is because in the US, it’s only available as part of Nothing’s developer program, which requires you to sign up (for free) before being able to buy one. Furthermore, the Phone 2a only supports 5G on T-Mobile (via the N41 band), which means it’s not a great choice for anyone on AT&T or Verizon.
