Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
Android update policies used to be an afterthought. That's changed: Google and Samsung now guarantee seven years of both OS upgrades and security patches on their flagships, and several other brands have matched that number in the last year and a half. To find the phones worth highlighting, we set three rules: the update promise […]
Some Android Police readers and Reddit users are running into a Google Messages RCS issue after switching to a new Samsung phone, according to Android Police. RCS messaging is failing to connect for a number of Samsung device owners, though it's unclear exactly how widespread the problem is. Users have been describing the issue on […]
If your Android phone won’t turn on, connect it to a tested wall charger for at least 30 minutes, then hold the Power button for several seconds. If nothing happens, inspect the cable, adapter, outlet, charging port, and physical buttons before attempting a forced restart. A phone that appears completely dead may actually have a […]
The safest way to free up storage on Android is to remove temporary files, delete offline downloads you can retrieve again, archive unused apps, and move backed-up photos or large files off the device. Start by checking what is using the space, then work from the least destructive options to the most destructive. Do not […]
You cannot factory reset an Android phone without erasing the information stored locally on it. What you can do is back up your important data, verify that the backup works, perform the reset, and restore the information afterward. Before proceeding, save your photos, messages, contacts, files, app data, authentication accounts, and other irreplaceable information. Do […]
Moving to a new Android phone is easiest during its initial setup. Turn on the new device, choose to copy data from an Android phone, connect the two devices with a cable or pair them wirelessly, and select what you want to transfer. Android can copy most apps, photos, videos, contacts, messages, call history, and […]
If you need to find a lost Android phone, open Google Find Hub in a browser or use the Find Hub app on another Android device. Sign in with the Google Account connected to the missing phone, select it, and check its current or most recent location. You can then make it ring, mark it […]
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 arrived on August 14 as the latest preview of the December release. 9to5Google described the Friday launch as unexpected and began a running catalog of changes that was still marked as updating. As new changes are discovered, the latest entries will be placed at the top of the page. Readers […]
Android 17 QPR2 App lock is arriving as a native Pixel feature in Beta 3, according to 9to5Google. The addition sits alongside the release’s visual changes, and the finished QPR2 update is scheduled for December. Long-pressing an app opens the Actions menu, where “App lock” appears at the bottom alongside App info, Pause app, Widgets, […]
Samsung has begun rolling out the stable One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series worldwide, according to Memeburn. Samsung is also internally testing the update on 49 additional Galaxy phones and tablets, with the software rolling out through the rest of the year on a staggered […]
Google Pixel Watch 5 has officially launched with larger batteries, twice the storage of its predecessor, an accelerated Snapdragon processor, and a broad set of health, fitness, sleep, and Gemini features. Preorders opened on August 12, 2026, with prices starting at $399 and general availability scheduled for August 20. According to Android Authority, Google revealed […]
Google Pixel HiLight is the official name of the ambient LED system built around the camera flash on Google’s new Pro phones. Previously known through leaks as Pixel Glow, the feature can show favorite-contact calls and Gemini activity while the phone remains face down. It is exclusive to the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro […]
The Pixel 11 Pro camera features are shaping up to be a larger part of Google’s new phone story than its hardware changes. An early preview by Android Police showed five additions in action: Camera Looks, 120x zoom, Magic Capture, Instant Night Sight, and 5x Portrait zoom. They arrive alongside the Tensor G6 chip and […]
Google's new Pixel 11 series looks genuinely promising, but every model also costs $100 more than its predecessor. Fortunately, for anyone already sold on the lineup, there are plenty of strong pre-order deals and trade-in valuations available to bring that price back down, and Amazon currently has the best offers around. Amazon's Gift Card Bundles […]
While the actual Made by Google 2026 event is still eight hours away, Google has already fully detailed the Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 5, and Pixel Tag. Here's a rundown of everything announced at Made by Google 2026, covering the Pixel 11 lineup along with the new watch and tracker hardware. Pixel 11 The Pixel […]
Google is set to unveil its Pixel 11 series on August 12, with the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold expected to headline the company's annual hardware event. Google is also expected to announce the Pixel Watch 5 and could introduce the Pixel Tag, its first Bluetooth […]
WhatsApp is finally addressing one of the biggest gaps in its web client, as WhatsApp Web now supports audio and video calls. This requires no download or installation, since it's built directly into WhatsApp Web, which has also picked up support for screen sharing, reactions, and a dedicated Calls tab showing full call history and […]
Nothing might finally be putting its own name on a smartwatch, and the rumored specs suggest it could be the company's first real entry into Wear OS. Nothing's First Self-Branded Smartwatch Reportedly Coming in September While there's reportedly been some turbulence behind the scenes at Nothing recently, the company appears to be moving ahead with […]
Practically every streaming service not named Netflix has turned to bundling over the past few years, with competitors teaming up to deliver combo packs like Disney+ and HBO Max. No service has been bundled quite as often as Peacock, though, and YouTube Premium subscribers are now joining the long list of ways to gain access […]
Google Messages has been on a tear lately when it comes to new features, which makes sense given that Samsung shut down its own Messages app on July 6. There are clearly some big shoes to fill here, and Google has been polishing things up quickly as a result. Individually, plenty of these tweaks are […]
