I ditched Google and installed the privacy-focused GrapheneOS on my Pixel

Credit: Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Calvin Wankhede

If you’re privacy-conscious and shopping for a new smartphone, you don’t have many options these days. Some begrudgingly buy an iPhone every single time for Apple’s excellent privacy commitment and track record, while many of us accept Google’s data collection in exchange for the convenience and AI-assisted features that Android has to offer. But what if you could convert an Android phone into a bastion of privacy? That’s exactly what GrapheneOS, an aftermarket custom ROM I recently stumbled upon, aims to achieve.

GrapheneOS offers a simple pitch — it delivers a private and secure Android experience without compromising the usability of your smartphone. You can download apps from the Play Store, get push notifications via Google’s servers, and even sync your data as usual. All of this while preventing Google from gathering data through your smartphone. But how does all of this work and is GrapheneOS even worth using? I took it for a test drive on a Pixel 6 to find out.

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Credit: Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Calvin Wankhede

If you’re privacy-conscious and shopping for a new smartphone, you don’t have many options these days. Some begrudgingly buy an iPhone every single time for Apple’s excellent privacy commitment and track record, while many of us accept Google’s data collection in exchange for the convenience and AI-assisted features that Android has to offer. But what if you could convert an Android phone into a bastion of privacy? That’s exactly what GrapheneOS, an aftermarket custom ROM I recently stumbled upon, aims to achieve.

GrapheneOS offers a simple pitch — it delivers a private and secure Android experience without compromising the usability of your smartphone. You can download apps from the Play Store, get push notifications via Google’s servers, and even sync your data as usual. All of this while preventing Google from gathering data through your smartphone. But how does all of this work and is GrapheneOS even worth using? I took it for a test drive on a Pixel 6 to find out.

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Long hair, don’t care: Squeeze controls are awesome on wireless earbuds

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

Over the last five or six years, my adoption of true wireless earbuds has been hindered by two factors: terrible comfort and fickle controls. More ergonomic buds like the Google Pixel Buds Pro and the Nothing Ear 1 solved my first problem, but the second issue remained. Most earbuds were using swipe and tap gestures, which are annoying on several levels, but especially if you have long(er) hair. However, some earbuds have recently started implementing squeeze as a new control method and let me tell you, this is the superior solution.

Move over, touch gestures; squeezing is the superior control

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Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

Over the last five or six years, my adoption of true wireless earbuds has been hindered by two factors: terrible comfort and fickle controls. More ergonomic buds like the Google Pixel Buds Pro and the Nothing Ear 1 solved my first problem, but the second issue remained. Most earbuds were using swipe and tap gestures, which are annoying on several levels, but especially if you have long(er) hair. However, some earbuds have recently started implementing squeeze as a new control method and let me tell you, this is the superior solution.

Move over, touch gestures; squeezing is the superior control

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This electric scooter broke me

Sometimes we get used to things “as they are” and kind of forget that they could be better. That old breakdown-prone car you’ve had for years. The same boring breakfast you make all the time. For me, it’s rental scooters, which I’ve been riding for years. In that time, I’ve come to accept certain not-so-great things about them as par for the course. That was until I got my hands on the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra. This scooter broke me.

In the couple of weeks I spent riding it, the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra changed what I thought I knew about electric scooters. Until now, I had no real idea what you could actually expect from a half-decent electric scooter for adults. And now that I know, I don’t think I can go back to crappy rentals.

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Sometimes we get used to things “as they are” and kind of forget that they could be better. That old breakdown-prone car you’ve had for years. The same boring breakfast you make all the time. For me, it’s rental scooters, which I’ve been riding for years. In that time, I’ve come to accept certain not-so-great things about them as par for the course. That was until I got my hands on the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra. This scooter broke me.

In the couple of weeks I spent riding it, the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 4 Ultra changed what I thought I knew about electric scooters. Until now, I had no real idea what you could actually expect from a half-decent electric scooter for adults. And now that I know, I don’t think I can go back to crappy rentals.

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The best Apple Watch faces

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

More than likely, your watch face is the most viewed screen on your Apple Watch. Why not make it harder working? Whether you want at-a-glance stats, a favorite photo, or an adorable animation, there are plenty of looks to consider. We round up the best Apple Watch faces available.

How to change your Apple Watch face

Before we get ahead of ourselves, make sure you know how to change your Apple Watch face and add new options to your face gallery. To swap faces, swipe left or right from your current face. To add a new face, long-press on your current face and swipe through the choices previously added to your device until you get to the plus sign. Tap the icon, then use your digital crown to scroll through the available options. If you prefer to work on a larger screen, you can also add and customize watch faces from the watch app on your paired iPhone. Open the app and tap Face Gallery.

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Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

More than likely, your watch face is the most viewed screen on your Apple Watch. Why not make it harder working? Whether you want at-a-glance stats, a favorite photo, or an adorable animation, there are plenty of looks to consider. We round up the best Apple Watch faces available.

How to change your Apple Watch face

Before we get ahead of ourselves, make sure you know how to change your Apple Watch face and add new options to your face gallery. To swap faces, swipe left or right from your current face. To add a new face, long-press on your current face and swipe through the choices previously added to your device until you get to the plus sign. Tap the icon, then use your digital crown to scroll through the available options. If you prefer to work on a larger screen, you can also add and customize watch faces from the watch app on your paired iPhone. Open the app and tap Face Gallery.

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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week – Android Apps Weekly

Welcome to the 477th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from the last week:

• Google Messages has a new feature in the beta version. It lets AI come up with responses to messages you receive. It was found in an APK teardown, and the feature isn’t active yet. However, with the massive surge in AI news this year, we expect it to be an extension of Smart Reply, but with AI.
• Google Calendar is apparently adding better support for birthdays and anniversaries soon. The app lets you add those things now, but with basic reminders that don’t do much. This new feature lets you add additional, customizable reminders. It’s a small thing, but considering that Facebook hasn’t notified me of a birthday in years, this will be nice to have.
• Microsoft’s AI now creates images using only words. Microsoft calls it the Bing Image Creator, and it’s accessible through bing.com/create. You simply tell it what you want to see, and the AI creates it. There are some limitations. For example, we tried asking it to make an image of a Rihanna concert, and it refused, citing Microsoft’s terms of service. Still, it’s a neat tool.
• Google, meanwhile, is giving people access to its Bard AI project. It wants people to start using Bard so that Google can better tune the AI’s knowledge and responses. Some of its early tests were comical, to say the least, but testing with a large number of people is an excellent way to gather more data. Our own C. Scott Brown tried it out and seems cautiously optimistic about its capabilities. You can also join the waitlist if you want to try it out yourself.
• Microsoft is apparently working on a rival game app store for Android and iOS. Its focus is gaming, and Microsoft wants it to have integration with Xbox’s ecosystem, including things like achievements. This, of course, isn’t tenable at the moment. It could do a game store for Android that users can sideload, but it’s not possible on iOS at this time.

---

BT21 Pop Star

Price: Free to play

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Welcome to the 477th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from the last week:

• Google Messages has a new feature in the beta version. It lets AI come up with responses to messages you receive. It was found in an APK teardown, and the feature isn’t active yet. However, with the massive surge in AI news this year, we expect it to be an extension of Smart Reply, but with AI.
• Google Calendar is apparently adding better support for birthdays and anniversaries soon. The app lets you add those things now, but with basic reminders that don’t do much. This new feature lets you add additional, customizable reminders. It’s a small thing, but considering that Facebook hasn’t notified me of a birthday in years, this will be nice to have.
• Microsoft’s AI now creates images using only words. Microsoft calls it the Bing Image Creator, and it’s accessible through bing.com/create. You simply tell it what you want to see, and the AI creates it. There are some limitations. For example, we tried asking it to make an image of a Rihanna concert, and it refused, citing Microsoft’s terms of service. Still, it’s a neat tool.
• Google, meanwhile, is giving people access to its Bard AI project. It wants people to start using Bard so that Google can better tune the AI’s knowledge and responses. Some of its early tests were comical, to say the least, but testing with a large number of people is an excellent way to gather more data. Our own C. Scott Brown tried it out and seems cautiously optimistic about its capabilities. You can also join the waitlist if you want to try it out yourself.
• Microsoft is apparently working on a rival game app store for Android and iOS. Its focus is gaming, and Microsoft wants it to have integration with Xbox’s ecosystem, including things like achievements. This, of course, isn’t tenable at the moment. It could do a game store for Android that users can sideload, but it’s not possible on iOS at this time.

---

BT21 Pop Star

Price: Free to play

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Help, Google: Why do blocked numbers on my Android phones come back to haunt me?

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

I don’t switch phones often, but when I do, I dread every single part of the process. Although Google has smoothed out some of the steps thanks to a more robust Android backup system and a new Fast Pair phone setup, a lot of tedious bits and pieces remain. It’s painful to re-pair wearables and Bluetooth accessories, adjust smart home gadgets to follow the new phone for geolocation automations, and sign into and re-customize apps to my liking. It can take a day and do all of that manually; what I can’t do, though, is transfer or sync my blocked numbers on my Android phone to a new phone.

And this little issue has been annoying me for a couple of years now. It baffles me that it hasn’t been fixed yet.

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Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

I don’t switch phones often, but when I do, I dread every single part of the process. Although Google has smoothed out some of the steps thanks to a more robust Android backup system and a new Fast Pair phone setup, a lot of tedious bits and pieces remain. It’s painful to re-pair wearables and Bluetooth accessories, adjust smart home gadgets to follow the new phone for geolocation automations, and sign into and re-customize apps to my liking. It can take a day and do all of that manually; what I can’t do, though, is transfer or sync my blocked numbers on my Android phone to a new phone.

And this little issue has been annoying me for a couple of years now. It baffles me that it hasn’t been fixed yet.

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The Weekly Authority: 💬 Bard’s surprise public beta

Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 237th edition here with Bard’s surprise public beta, not one but two new phones from HUAWEI, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor leaks, the latest on the TikTok ban, and a weird and wonderful Jack Daniel’s story.

I finally cashed in some credit I had at a local game store and got myself a copy of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, after playing the amazing demo on Switch earlier in the week. It hasn’t arrived yet, but I can’t wait!

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Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 237th edition here with Bard’s surprise public beta, not one but two new phones from HUAWEI, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor leaks, the latest on the TikTok ban, and a weird and wonderful Jack Daniel’s story.

I finally cashed in some credit I had at a local game store and got myself a copy of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, after playing the amazing demo on Switch earlier in the week. It hasn’t arrived yet, but I can’t wait!

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I used MyFitnessPal for three weeks. Here’s my review.

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

One way or another, we’ve all been there: taking stock of our eating habits to determine what needs to change. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, cut sugar, or just track what exactly is going into your body, MyFitnessPal is a calorie-tracking app that hopes to lighten the load. After three weeks of using the app, I can honestly say it does. Find out more in this MyFitnessPal review.

What is MyFitnessPal?

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Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

One way or another, we’ve all been there: taking stock of our eating habits to determine what needs to change. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, cut sugar, or just track what exactly is going into your body, MyFitnessPal is a calorie-tracking app that hopes to lighten the load. After three weeks of using the app, I can honestly say it does. Find out more in this MyFitnessPal review.

What is MyFitnessPal?

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How to change app icons on any Android phone

App icons are a little bit difficult in stock Android. You can’t change them natively, so you’ll need a third-party tool along with an icon pack in order to do it. We have a list of the best icon packs, or you can find more in the Play Store. Once you have everything ready, it’s not terribly difficult to switch up your icons. Here’s how to change icons on your phone on Android.

QUICK ANSWER

To change app icons on an Android phone, you’ll need a shortcut maker app or a third-party app launcher along with an icon pack. From there, use the launcher or shortcut maker settings to change the icon.

---

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

• How to change app icons individually
• How to change all of the app icons with an icon pack
• How to theme icons with Material You
• How to change icons on a Samsung phone

---

How to change app icons individually

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Changing icons individually isn’t a difficult task However, only most Android phones don’t have this capability natively. For most folks, you’ll need a third-party launcher like Apex, ADW, Action Launcher, Nova Launcher, or something similar. We have a list of the best launchers if you need it.

The below tutorial uses Nova Launcher.

• Install the icon pack of your choosing along with Nova Launcher.
• Set up your Nova Launcher home screen as needed.
• Once ready, find the app icon on your home screen you want to change.
• Long press the app and tap the pencil icon.
• Tap the icon image on the left side of the window.
• Select your icon pack.
• Finally, select the icon you want.
• Once finished, press the Done button.

We use a third-party launcher in the tutorial above, but you can also use a shortcut maker app from the Google Play Store to theme individual icons. However, the ones we tested add an extra shortcut graphic to the icon, so it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

---

How to change all of the app icons with an icon pack

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

It is much faster and much easier to simply apply a whole icon pack. Unlike the previous method, you’ll want a third-party launcher for this because it would take hours to do it with a shortcut maker. Once again, we’ll use Nova Launcher for this example, but any launcher with icon pack support should be able to do this.

• Install Nova Launcher, set it up, and install the icon pack of your choice.
• On your home screen, long-press a blank spot and tap Settings.
• Navigate to Look & feel.
• Tap Icon style.
• Next, tap Icon theme and select your icon pack.
• When you return to the home screen, your icons will be themed with the whole icon pack.

Most icon packs also have the ability to apply themselves, provided that you have a phone or a launcher installed that can take it. Typically, you can open the icon pack once downloaded, find the apply button, and apply it directly from the icon pack app.

---

How to theme icons with Material You

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Starting with Android 12, Material You has been the design language of Android. One of the benefits of that is the ability to theme icons. The icons change color based on your wallpaper, and it’s all handled in the Wallpapers and style section of your phone.

• Long press a blank space on your home screen and select Wallpaper and style.
• Find the Themed icons option and tick it on.
• That’s it. When you return to your home screen.
• On some devices, like Samsung, you may need to manually navigate to the color palette section before you find the themed icons option.

This isn’t a hardcore theme, but it does match the icons to your wallpaper, color palette, and whether or not you have dark mode enabled. It’s a quick and dirty way to match your icons immediately.

---

How to change icons on a Samsung phone

Samsung users have an extra way to get icon packs without third-party apps. You can browse and purchase icon packs in the Samsung Theme Store. These work with Samsung’s One UI launcher, so there is no need for a different launcher. You can even use icon packs from the Google Play Store using Good Lock’s Theme Park module. We’ll show you how to do both.

Samsung Theme Store

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

• Long press a blank space on your home screen and select the Themes option.
• Once the Theme Store opens, select the Icons option at the bottom.
• Find and download whatever icon pack you want.
• Once done, tap Menu at the bottom right, then My Stuff at the top left. Select Icons from the row along the top.
• Select the icon pack you want to install.
• Tap the Apply button.
• Once done, your icons will be themed.
• Warning — Samsung Theme Store icon packs don’t theme every icon in your app drawer. Thus, this is not the best option.

Good Lock via Theme Park

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Good Lock is not available on all Samsung phones in all regions.

• Download Good Lock along with the Theme Park extension from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
• Open Theme Park and navigate to the Icon tab.
• Hit the Create New button. This takes you to the main icon-theming screen in Theme Park.
• Using the options, select your general icon shape, icon color, and tray color.
• Optionally, you can click where it says Icon pack and select a third-party icon pack.
• Finally, to change individual icons, tap the 3-dot menu button at the top right corner and select Change icons.
• Select the icon you want to change, and then select the icon you want to change it to.
• Once you’re done configuring, go back to the aforementioned main icon-theming screen and tap the Save button at the top right corner next to the 3-dot button.
• Enter a name for your new, custom icon pack.
• Once done, you can apply the icon pack directly through Theme Park or through the Samsung theme store.

Theme Park has a bit of a learning curve, so take your time when you first go in there and familiarize yourself with its various functions. It’s quite powerful once you get used to it.

---

FAQ

Do some apps let you change the app icon natively?

Yes, a couple of examples include Textra and Pulse SMS. We don’t have a full list, but there are some apps that let you change the app icon from within the app’s settings rather than using device settings or third-party apps.

Is it possible to rename apps as well as change their icons?

Yes, but only a few apps can do it. Shortcut makers are one, Nova Launcher is another, and there are a few others. It is not possible to do it system-wide without root access.

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via IFTTT

App icons are a little bit difficult in stock Android. You can’t change them natively, so you’ll need a third-party tool along with an icon pack in order to do it. We have a list of the best icon packs, or you can find more in the Play Store. Once you have everything ready, it’s not terribly difficult to switch up your icons. Here’s how to change icons on your phone on Android.

QUICK ANSWER

To change app icons on an Android phone, you’ll need a shortcut maker app or a third-party app launcher along with an icon pack. From there, use the launcher or shortcut maker settings to change the icon.

---

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

• How to change app icons individually
• How to change all of the app icons with an icon pack
• How to theme icons with Material You
• How to change icons on a Samsung phone

---

How to change app icons individually

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Changing icons individually isn’t a difficult task However, only most Android phones don’t have this capability natively. For most folks, you’ll need a third-party launcher like Apex, ADW, Action Launcher, Nova Launcher, or something similar. We have a list of the best launchers if you need it.

The below tutorial uses Nova Launcher.

• Install the icon pack of your choosing along with Nova Launcher.
• Set up your Nova Launcher home screen as needed.
• Once ready, find the app icon on your home screen you want to change.
• Long press the app and tap the pencil icon.
• Tap the icon image on the left side of the window.
• Select your icon pack.
• Finally, select the icon you want.
• Once finished, press the Done button.

We use a third-party launcher in the tutorial above, but you can also use a shortcut maker app from the Google Play Store to theme individual icons. However, the ones we tested add an extra shortcut graphic to the icon, so it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

---

How to change all of the app icons with an icon pack

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

It is much faster and much easier to simply apply a whole icon pack. Unlike the previous method, you’ll want a third-party launcher for this because it would take hours to do it with a shortcut maker. Once again, we’ll use Nova Launcher for this example, but any launcher with icon pack support should be able to do this.

• Install Nova Launcher, set it up, and install the icon pack of your choice.
• On your home screen, long-press a blank spot and tap Settings.
• Navigate to Look & feel.
• Tap Icon style.
• Next, tap Icon theme and select your icon pack.
• When you return to the home screen, your icons will be themed with the whole icon pack.

Most icon packs also have the ability to apply themselves, provided that you have a phone or a launcher installed that can take it. Typically, you can open the icon pack once downloaded, find the apply button, and apply it directly from the icon pack app.

---

How to theme icons with Material You

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Starting with Android 12, Material You has been the design language of Android. One of the benefits of that is the ability to theme icons. The icons change color based on your wallpaper, and it’s all handled in the Wallpapers and style section of your phone.

• Long press a blank space on your home screen and select Wallpaper and style.
• Find the Themed icons option and tick it on.
• That’s it. When you return to your home screen.
• On some devices, like Samsung, you may need to manually navigate to the color palette section before you find the themed icons option.

This isn’t a hardcore theme, but it does match the icons to your wallpaper, color palette, and whether or not you have dark mode enabled. It’s a quick and dirty way to match your icons immediately.

---

How to change icons on a Samsung phone

Samsung users have an extra way to get icon packs without third-party apps. You can browse and purchase icon packs in the Samsung Theme Store. These work with Samsung’s One UI launcher, so there is no need for a different launcher. You can even use icon packs from the Google Play Store using Good Lock’s Theme Park module. We’ll show you how to do both.

Samsung Theme Store

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

• Long press a blank space on your home screen and select the Themes option.
• Once the Theme Store opens, select the Icons option at the bottom.
• Find and download whatever icon pack you want.
• Once done, tap Menu at the bottom right, then My Stuff at the top left. Select Icons from the row along the top.
• Select the icon pack you want to install.
• Tap the Apply button.
• Once done, your icons will be themed.
• Warning — Samsung Theme Store icon packs don’t theme every icon in your app drawer. Thus, this is not the best option.

Good Lock via Theme Park

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Good Lock is not available on all Samsung phones in all regions.

• Download Good Lock along with the Theme Park extension from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
• Open Theme Park and navigate to the Icon tab.
• Hit the Create New button. This takes you to the main icon-theming screen in Theme Park.
• Using the options, select your general icon shape, icon color, and tray color.
• Optionally, you can click where it says Icon pack and select a third-party icon pack.
• Finally, to change individual icons, tap the 3-dot menu button at the top right corner and select Change icons.
• Select the icon you want to change, and then select the icon you want to change it to.
• Once you’re done configuring, go back to the aforementioned main icon-theming screen and tap the Save button at the top right corner next to the 3-dot button.
• Enter a name for your new, custom icon pack.
• Once done, you can apply the icon pack directly through Theme Park or through the Samsung theme store.

Theme Park has a bit of a learning curve, so take your time when you first go in there and familiarize yourself with its various functions. It’s quite powerful once you get used to it.

---

FAQ

Do some apps let you change the app icon natively?

Yes, a couple of examples include Textra and Pulse SMS. We don’t have a full list, but there are some apps that let you change the app icon from within the app’s settings rather than using device settings or third-party apps.

Is it possible to rename apps as well as change their icons?

Yes, but only a few apps can do it. Shortcut makers are one, Nova Launcher is another, and there are a few others. It is not possible to do it system-wide without root access.

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Google exec “feels bad for iPhone users” not being able to use RCS

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

• Hiroshi Lockheimer spoke briefly about RCS, its growth, and Apple.
• Lockheimer explained that Google isn’t trying to turn RCS into something that replaces other messaging apps.
• Lockheimer also said he feels bad for iPhone users who experience degraded features and less security.

---

For a while now, Google has been trying to convince Apple to adopt the RCS standard. To this date, Apple has firmly chosen to stay inside its iMessage walled garden. Recently, the Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google spoke about RCS, its growth, and iMessage.

In a conversation with 9to5Google, Hiroshi Lockheimer delved into the topic of RCS. During the talk, Lockheimer reminisced about the history, explaining how the GSMA approached Google to bring support to RCS. This help was crucial as carriers — like Verizon and AT&T — all had their own plans on how to implement the standard. He also touched on how Google realized it could accelerate RCS adoption by letting users “get this experience by downloading an app rather than waiting for something they couldn’t control to happen.”

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Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

• Hiroshi Lockheimer spoke briefly about RCS, its growth, and Apple.
• Lockheimer explained that Google isn’t trying to turn RCS into something that replaces other messaging apps.
• Lockheimer also said he feels bad for iPhone users who experience degraded features and less security.

---

For a while now, Google has been trying to convince Apple to adopt the RCS standard. To this date, Apple has firmly chosen to stay inside its iMessage walled garden. Recently, the Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google spoke about RCS, its growth, and iMessage.

In a conversation with 9to5Google, Hiroshi Lockheimer delved into the topic of RCS. During the talk, Lockheimer reminisced about the history, explaining how the GSMA approached Google to bring support to RCS. This help was crucial as carriers — like Verizon and AT&T — all had their own plans on how to implement the standard. He also touched on how Google realized it could accelerate RCS adoption by letting users “get this experience by downloading an app rather than waiting for something they couldn’t control to happen.”

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First Fold, then Flip, now Samsung could launch a Tri-Fold in 2023

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

• A leaker has claimed that Samsung could launch a tri-folding device this year.
• Samsung has previously demonstrated this technology with prototypes at trade shows.
• The form factor would open the door for larger folding screens.

---

Samsung is the undisputed king of the foldable phone market, securing a reported ~80% of the market in 2022. The company has stuck to two form factors, namely the book-style Fold line and the clamshell Flip series, but it sounds like we could see a third form factor in 2023.

Frequent tipster Yogesh Brar has claimed on Twitter that Samsung could launch a tri-fold device this year in addition to the expected Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 models.

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Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

• A leaker has claimed that Samsung could launch a tri-folding device this year.
• Samsung has previously demonstrated this technology with prototypes at trade shows.
• The form factor would open the door for larger folding screens.

---

Samsung is the undisputed king of the foldable phone market, securing a reported ~80% of the market in 2022. The company has stuck to two form factors, namely the book-style Fold line and the clamshell Flip series, but it sounds like we could see a third form factor in 2023.

Frequent tipster Yogesh Brar has claimed on Twitter that Samsung could launch a tri-fold device this year in addition to the expected Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 models.

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ASUS ROG Phone 7: Everything we know so far and what we want to see

Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority

Each year, we see a handful of gaming phones launch from prominent manufacturers. However, ASUS almost always takes the cake when it comes to features, design, and, of course, pure power, and in doing so consistently ranks among the best Android phones you can buy. This year, we expect to see the ASUS ROG Phone 7 — and it could be the best gaming-focused phone of 2023.

But what can we expect from this next ASUS flagship? We’ve rounded up all the credible rumors below! We’ve also added a few wish list items — things we hope to see, but have no evidence for quite yet.

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Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority

Each year, we see a handful of gaming phones launch from prominent manufacturers. However, ASUS almost always takes the cake when it comes to features, design, and, of course, pure power, and in doing so consistently ranks among the best Android phones you can buy. This year, we expect to see the ASUS ROG Phone 7 — and it could be the best gaming-focused phone of 2023.

But what can we expect from this next ASUS flagship? We’ve rounded up all the credible rumors below! We’ve also added a few wish list items — things we hope to see, but have no evidence for quite yet.

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor leaks: A 64-bit-only powerhouse?

Credit: Qualcomm

• Details for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor have apparently leaked online.
• The new chipset will reportedly offer a 1+3+2+2 CPU design.
• Qualcomm’s chipset will purportedly be a 64-bit-only design as well.

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Qualcomm has long stuck with the same CPU layout for its flagship processors used in high-end phones, offering one powerful big core, three medium cores, and four little cores. That changed with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, as the company switched to one big core, four medium cores, and three little cores.

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Credit: Qualcomm

• Details for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor have apparently leaked online.
• The new chipset will reportedly offer a 1+3+2+2 CPU design.
• Qualcomm’s chipset will purportedly be a 64-bit-only design as well.

---

Qualcomm has long stuck with the same CPU layout for its flagship processors used in high-end phones, offering one powerful big core, three medium cores, and four little cores. That changed with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, as the company switched to one big core, four medium cores, and three little cores.

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“Click-to-Cancel” rule aims to make unsubscribing less of a pain

• The FTC has proposed a new rule to simplify canceling recurring subscriptions.
• The commission voted 3-1 in favor of the proposal.
• If enacted, the rule would require businesses to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up.

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The days of jumping through hoops to unsubscribe from recurring subscriptions may almost be over. A new ruling could change the way businesses handle subscription cancelations.

Today the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed and voted on a new rule called “Click-to-Cancel,” according to NBC News. If enacted, the ruling would require businesses to simplify the steps needed to cancel a subscription. Specifically, these companies would need to make unsubscribing as easy as it was to sign up.

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• The FTC has proposed a new rule to simplify canceling recurring subscriptions.
• The commission voted 3-1 in favor of the proposal.
• If enacted, the rule would require businesses to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it was to sign up.

---

The days of jumping through hoops to unsubscribe from recurring subscriptions may almost be over. A new ruling could change the way businesses handle subscription cancelations.

Today the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed and voted on a new rule called “Click-to-Cancel,” according to NBC News. If enacted, the ruling would require businesses to simplify the steps needed to cancel a subscription. Specifically, these companies would need to make unsubscribing as easy as it was to sign up.

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The best sports shows on every major streaming service

Credit: Amazon

There’s nothing like an impassioned speech or training montage to get you riled up. Sports stories can reach something primal in viewers, whether that’s through personal achievement or a team coming together. And there’s lots to choose from, including some stellar streaming shows. So, what are the best sports shows you can stream now?

We’ve broken down the best sports shows by service, covering all the major players in the streaming space, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more. So read on to find the sports show for you.

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Credit: Amazon

There’s nothing like an impassioned speech or training montage to get you riled up. Sports stories can reach something primal in viewers, whether that’s through personal achievement or a team coming together. And there’s lots to choose from, including some stellar streaming shows. So, what are the best sports shows you can stream now?

We’ve broken down the best sports shows by service, covering all the major players in the streaming space, like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more. So read on to find the sports show for you.

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HUAWEI Mate X3 announced: Everything but the kitchen sink (and Google support)

Credit: Huawei

HUAWEI was part of the first wave of foldable phones, delivering the outward-folding Mate X back in 2019. The company would offer the Mate X2 in 2021 as its first inward-folding Galaxy Z Fold-style device. Now, the company has revealed the Mate X3.

The new foldable offers the same book-style form factor as the Mate X2 and Galaxy Z Fold series, featuring a 7.85-inch internal folding screen (2,496 × 2,224, LTPO 120Hz) and a 6.4-inch FHD+ curved smartphone display (LTPO 120Hz). It doesn’t seem like the folding screen uses ultra-thin glass protection, but HUAWEI still says that it’s got an impact-resistant design.

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Credit: Huawei

HUAWEI was part of the first wave of foldable phones, delivering the outward-folding Mate X back in 2019. The company would offer the Mate X2 in 2021 as its first inward-folding Galaxy Z Fold-style device. Now, the company has revealed the Mate X3.

The new foldable offers the same book-style form factor as the Mate X2 and Galaxy Z Fold series, featuring a 7.85-inch internal folding screen (2,496 × 2,224, LTPO 120Hz) and a 6.4-inch FHD+ curved smartphone display (LTPO 120Hz). It doesn’t seem like the folding screen uses ultra-thin glass protection, but HUAWEI still says that it’s got an impact-resistant design.

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Daily Authority: 📱 Pebble Phone to make a splash?

Hey there! I took Monday and Tuesday off, and I’m still trying to get back into the swing of things. Woe is me, right? Anyway, we’ve got a lot to cover in today’s edition of the Daily Authority.

Pebble’s compact phone ambitions

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Hey there! I took Monday and Tuesday off, and I’m still trying to get back into the swing of things. Woe is me, right? Anyway, we’ve got a lot to cover in today’s edition of the Daily Authority.

Pebble’s compact phone ambitions

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Samsung Galaxy M54 launched: A longer-lasting Galaxy A54 with 108MP camera

Credit: Samsung

• The Samsung Galaxy M54 has been released in the Middle East.
• It’s a Galaxy A54 with a bigger battery and higher resolution main camera.
• It does see a couple of downgrades compared to the Galaxy A54, though.

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Samsung just recently launched the Galaxy A54, bringing a squarely mid-range experience to the table. Now, it looks like the company is offering a spin-off in some regions.

Samsung has launched the Galaxy M54 in the Middle East, and it looks like the Galaxy A54 with several tweaks. Perhaps the most notable tweaks are the 108MP main camera with OIS (instead of a 50MP OIS shooter), as well as a 6,000mAh battery instead of a 5,000mAh cell.

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Credit: Samsung

• The Samsung Galaxy M54 has been released in the Middle East.
• It’s a Galaxy A54 with a bigger battery and higher resolution main camera.
• It does see a couple of downgrades compared to the Galaxy A54, though.

---

Samsung just recently launched the Galaxy A54, bringing a squarely mid-range experience to the table. Now, it looks like the company is offering a spin-off in some regions.

Samsung has launched the Galaxy M54 in the Middle East, and it looks like the Galaxy A54 with several tweaks. Perhaps the most notable tweaks are the 108MP main camera with OIS (instead of a 50MP OIS shooter), as well as a 6,000mAh battery instead of a 5,000mAh cell.

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Mint Mobile vs Cricket Wireless: Which is better for you?

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Big mobile carriers have a lot to offer, but sometimes it’s better to get back to the basics and go with a prepaid plan. MVNO carriers usually have the best options. These tend to provide fewer bells and whistles, but they also cost less. Today we’ll compare two of the most popular budget carriers in this Mint Mobile vs Cricket Wireless comparison.

We’ll take a look at pricing, plans, coverage, phone selection, and more. Let’s jump right in and see which is the best bet for your specific needs.

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Big mobile carriers have a lot to offer, but sometimes it’s better to get back to the basics and go with a prepaid plan. MVNO carriers usually have the best options. These tend to provide fewer bells and whistles, but they also cost less. Today we’ll compare two of the most popular budget carriers in this Mint Mobile vs Cricket Wireless comparison.

We’ll take a look at pricing, plans, coverage, phone selection, and more. Let’s jump right in and see which is the best bet for your specific needs.

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Today only: Save $750 on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 with trade-in

Credit:

Samsung

The Discover Samsung sales event has been running all week, and today’s deal of the day is perhaps the pick of the offers we’ve seen so far. Until midnight, you can save as much as $750 when you pick up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

The bulk of the savings refers to enhanced trade-in credit for your old device. By trading in, you can save up to $700 on the retail value of the foldable, giving you a chance to pick it up for as little as $1,099.99.

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Credit:

Samsung

The Discover Samsung sales event has been running all week, and today’s deal of the day is perhaps the pick of the offers we’ve seen so far. Until midnight, you can save as much as $750 when you pick up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

The bulk of the savings refers to enhanced trade-in credit for your old device. By trading in, you can save up to $700 on the retail value of the foldable, giving you a chance to pick it up for as little as $1,099.99.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 gets the March 2023 security update

Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 series update hub! Here you’ll find all the newest information on software updates for Samsung’s latest flagship foldable phone. We’ll tell you the current software versions for the device and give you a heads up when new updates are rolling out.

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Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 series update hub! Here you’ll find all the newest information on software updates for Samsung’s latest flagship foldable phone. We’ll tell you the current software versions for the device and give you a heads up when new updates are rolling out.

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Switching between Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo phones just got easier (Updated)

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

• Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi have announced improved data transfer functionality.
• This will allow you to transfer third-party app data when switching between their phones.
• It’s unclear if this feature will come to global markets.

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Switching between different brands of Android phones isn’t the worst experience in the world, but it could certainly be better. Now, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo have announced an agreement to enable more seamless data transfers.

The trio announced improved device transfer functionality on Weibo, allowing you to transfer third-party app data between their phones. This is in addition to the brands offering seamless transfers of system data like contacts and photos.

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Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

• Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi have announced improved data transfer functionality.
• This will allow you to transfer third-party app data when switching between their phones.
• It’s unclear if this feature will come to global markets.

---

Switching between different brands of Android phones isn’t the worst experience in the world, but it could certainly be better. Now, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo have announced an agreement to enable more seamless data transfers.

The trio announced improved device transfer functionality on Weibo, allowing you to transfer third-party app data between their phones. This is in addition to the brands offering seamless transfers of system data like contacts and photos.

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First Pixels, now the Windows snipping tool has a major privacy flaw

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

 

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

 

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