Posts From Mishaal Rahman

Mishaal Rahman
Mishaal Rahman

I am the Editor-in-chief of XDA. In addition to breaking news on the Android OS and mobile devices, I manage all editorial and reviews content on the Portal. Tips/media inquiries: [email protected]

The Pixel 6 Pro comes with these beautiful plant wallpapers

The Pixel 6 Pro comes with these beautiful plant wallpapers

September 19, 2021
Every Pixel launch event is a delight for themers, because Google is one of the best in the business at making new wallpapers. It's pretty normal for a new phone's wallpapers to be plastered all over the Internet, but in the case of Pixel, the new wallpapers generally leak ahead of the new phone's launch....
Exclusive: Pixel 6 Pro regulatory label shows Google is finally upgrading charging speeds

Exclusive: Pixel 6 Pro regulatory label shows Google is finally upgrading charging speeds

September 19, 2021
The next Pixel phone won't charge as slowly as previous models. Starting with the original Pixel in 2016, Google has shipped an 18W USB-C charger in the box with each Pixel phone. Google, like Apple and Samsung, has been averse to shipping faster chargers, instead opting to stick with the same 18W USB PD charger...
Android 12.1 will improve the foldable phone experience likely in preparation for the Pixel Fold

Android 12.1 will improve the foldable phone experience likely in preparation for the Pixel Fold

September 18, 2021
The next big update to Android is launching on October 4th according to a document reviewed by XDA. Android 12 will be the biggest Android OS update in years, bringing a complete redesign, a new theme engine, a one-handed mode, and much more. Because of how extensive the update is, it's possible that Google ran out...
Android 12.1 will bring a new AOSP wallpaper after nearly 5 years

Android 12.1 will bring a new AOSP wallpaper after nearly 5 years

September 17, 2021
"The sky is not pink", reads the title of a code change Google has just submitted internally to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) Gerrit. The code change replaces the default "pink sky" wallpaper that Google first introduced to the open source version of Android nearly 5 years ago. In its place is a new...
Exclusive: Here are the likely specs of the Google Tensor chip in the Pixel 6

Exclusive: Here are the likely specs of the Google Tensor chip in the Pixel 6

September 15, 2021
Ever since rumors arose that Google was developing its own chip for Pixel phones, one of the burning questions that we've been asked over and over again is: What are its specifications? Leak after leak have confirmed various tidbits about the Google Tensor chip, but none have confirmed details on the most important part: the...
Exclusive: Here’s everything we learned about the Pixel 6 Pro from the actual phone

Exclusive: Here’s everything we learned about the Pixel 6 Pro from the actual phone

September 14, 2021
Apple may have just launched the iPhone 13 series today, but they're not the phones I'm most excited about this year. My attention is focused on the Google Pixel 6 series, of which the Pro model will be Google's first-ever ultra-premium flagship smartphone. The Pro model has it all: a high-resolution and high refresh rate...
One UI 4 Beta program lets Galaxy S21 users try out Android 12

One UI 4 Beta program lets Galaxy S21 users try out Android 12

September 13, 2021
Ahead of the iPhone 13 launch tomorrow, Samsung has just announced an incentive to keep some users from switching: a major software update for the Galaxy S21 series. Starting September 14th, owners of the Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra in select countries can try out the Android 12 update ahead of its stable release....
Xiaomi’s Smart Glasses are more than a wearable companion for your smartphone

Xiaomi’s Smart Glasses are more than a wearable companion for your smartphone

September 13, 2021
Xiaomi is launching its first smart eyewear product today, the Xiaomi Smart Glasses. The company joins the ranks of Google, Snapchat, Nreal, and Lenovo in launching smart glasses, but unlike the products sold by those companies, Xiaomi's offering doesn't immerse the user with an augmented reality view of the world. Rather, they're akin to the...
Android Auto tests a new UI with a media player and notification overlay

Android Auto tests a new UI with a media player and notification overlay

September 13, 2021
Google is testing a new UI in the Android Auto projected car interface that appears when you connect your device to a compatible head unit. This new UI, code-named "Coolwalk", is seemingly designed to reduce the number of times the user leaves the navigation screen, potentially saving drivers from missing their next turn. Screenshots of the...
Apple wins some and loses some in big Epic Games lawsuit

Apple wins some and loses some in big Epic Games lawsuit

September 12, 2021
On the eve of the iPhone 13 launch, we've finally been handed a ruling in the lawsuit filed by Epic Games last year. Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, sued Apple last year over claims the company was violating U.S. antitrust law by prohibiting developers from implementing alternative in-app purchase methods. Today, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers...
Android 12 is scheduled to launch in early October for Pixel phones

Android 12 is scheduled to launch in early October for Pixel phones

September 12, 2021
Last week, Google released the fifth (and final) beta build of Android 12 for Pixel phones. Google says we should expect the stable update to launch in just a few weeks from now, but they never gave a firm date. Now, we've seen evidence pointing to what may be the tentative launch date of the...
Developer ports YouTube Music to Wear OS 2.0 smartwatches

Developer ports YouTube Music to Wear OS 2.0 smartwatches

September 9, 2021
After shutting down Google Play Music last year, Google was criticized for failing to have its replacement — YouTube Music — ready for Wear OS, Google's smartwatch platform. We only learned about Google's plans to launch YouTube Music on Wear OS this May, but sadly, the app requires the latest version of Wear OS —...