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XDA’s Top Smartphones of 2019

XDA’s Top Smartphones of 2019

December 31, 2019
It's truly crazy to think about all of the new technology that is launched in one year. 2019 was no different, of course. Hundreds of phones, hardware advancements, new software features, and even new form factors made headlines this year. So what was the best of the best? Some of the XDA Staff have put...
[Discussion] How long do you keep your phone?

[Discussion] How long do you keep your phone?

August 29, 2019
Smartphone longevity is something we probably don't talk about enough. We tend to get caught up in the cycle of new phones being announced almost every week. The average person isn't buying a new phone every week, month, or even year. In fact, according to recent research, the average Samsung phone is active for 16.5...
[Discussion] What do you think of the new gestures in Android Q?

[Discussion] What do you think of the new gestures in Android Q?

May 10, 2019
Android Q's third beta is now out for a number of devices---just like Android Pie's beta from last year, this beta build was released on several devices from multiple manufacturers, including those from OnePlus, Xiaomi, LG, and more. It was even released in the form of a GSI build so everyone can go ahead and...
Rear Camera Configurations — What’s the Future for Android?

Rear Camera Configurations — What’s the Future for Android?

April 27, 2019
We recently asked you about your preferences with rear camera layouts on smartphones. Seeing how Android has evolved from sporting a single rear camera to now as many as five cameras, their placement on the back lends itself to the aesthetic appeal of the device, as well as to practical decisions in holding the device...
Notch vs. Hole Punch vs. Slider – What’s the Future for Android?

Notch vs. Hole Punch vs. Slider – What’s the Future for Android?

March 27, 2019
This latest generation of Android smartphones has progressed the evolution of the smartphone notch. Many phones have moved to a water drop notch, others have implemented the hole punch notch, and a few phones have come out featuring a mechanical slider or pop-up camera of some sort. Let’s take a look at all the different...
[Discussion] Do you use a Google Camera port?

[Discussion] Do you use a Google Camera port?

March 3, 2019
Google Camera used to be just another Google app used mainly by hard-core enthusiasts who wanted to "Google all the things." Then the first Pixel phone launched in 2016 and the app became the difference between a passable photo and a great photo. Google showed that software can vault an otherwise ordinary 12MP shooter to...
[Discussion] What’s the better foldable: Samsung Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X?

[Discussion] What’s the better foldable: Samsung Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X?

February 28, 2019
The race for foldable devices is now officially on. During Samsung's Unpacked event, the company officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the consumer version of their long-awaited foldable phone, alongside their Galaxy S10 line of flagship smartphones. Shortly after, during MWC 2019, Huawei launched the Huawei Mate X, their own take on a foldable device....
[Discussion] What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S10 devices?

[Discussion] What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S10 devices?

February 22, 2019
After months of anticipation and waiting, Samsung finally revealed the Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+. We're still digging through these devices and finding tidbits of information. At this point, it's a tradition for Samsung to release the S series of smartphones in late February. Unlike the last two or three years, we didn't see...
[Discussion] Display holes, slider phones, or notches: What trend will dominate 2019?

[Discussion] Display holes, slider phones, or notches: What trend will dominate 2019?

December 16, 2018
It has been nearly two years since manufacturers started racing to make a truly bezel-less device. As you may have already figured, packing in the camera, microphone, speakers, accelerometer, and other kinds of components, is not so easy in a phone without bezels. That's why OEMs came up with notches - a temporary workaround while...
[Discussion] Are the latest Google Fi updates enough to make you switch?

[Discussion] Are the latest Google Fi updates enough to make you switch?

December 3, 2018
Anyone who has been following Google long enough knows how they like to experiment with various services. From Google Health to Knol, Google Wave and Google Reader (R.I.P), we've watched as the company has hyped up new ideas upon launch but later on decided to put them down Old Yeller style. Google+ was the latest...
[Discussion] What keyboard are you using on your Android phone?

[Discussion] What keyboard are you using on your Android phone?

December 1, 2018
Thanks to the open nature of Android, it's extremely easy to go on the Google Play Store and pick out a keyboard of your liking for typing. While most keyboards are remarkably similar, you occasionally will get something a bit more unique included. The Google Keyboard (Gboard), for example, can translate into another language directly...
[Discussion] What is your favorite smartphone announced in October?

[Discussion] What is your favorite smartphone announced in October?

November 3, 2018
We're already well into the last quarter of 2018, and the cool fall weather reminds us that we're not too far away from 2019 now. But while it's not quite done yet, it's safe to say 2018 has been a pretty exciting year for the smartphone scene. Lots of cool technology, including different kinds of...