EDITORIAL Posts on XDA

Galaxy Z Flip 1 to 4: How Samsung’s clamshell evolved to become the most mainstream foldable

Galaxy Z Flip 1 to 4: How Samsung’s clamshell evolved to become the most mainstream foldable

August 10, 2022
Whether it's sales figures collected by research firms, Samsung's own marketing claims, or my own personal anecdotal experience from seeing what phones people use in multiple countries, it's clear the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 was a big hit, and perhaps the first foldable phone to achieve mainstream status instead of being a niche, enthusiast-only...
Galaxy Z Fold 1 to 4: How Samsung’s foldable designs evolved through the years

Galaxy Z Fold 1 to 4: How Samsung’s foldable designs evolved through the years

August 10, 2022
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is here, and at first glance, it doesn't seem much different from last year's Galaxy Z Fold 3. It is still a book-like inner foldable, with basically the same design language as last year's foldable. Examine closer, however, and you may see that Samsung has made small changes that further fine-tuned...
I’ve tried many wireless earbuds, but I still return to AirPods

I’ve tried many wireless earbuds, but I still return to AirPods

August 7, 2022
Throughout the course of my working day there is one constant: headphones. I'm either listening to music, a podcast, the news, or on a Google Meet call basically all day. And I also like to be able to move about without missing anything, so they have to be wireless. Since over-the-ear headphones can get tiring,...
10 reasons why you don’t need to upgrade your phone annually

10 reasons why you don’t need to upgrade your phone annually

July 31, 2022
Smartphones have been around for over a decade now. What started as a luxury product that not everyone could justify paying for has now become a quintessential part of our lives. From basic tasks, such as viewing a restaurant's digital menu, to more complex ones, like authorizing transactions -- smartphones are no longer just phones....
Grid 1 is the perfect frame to honor and immortalize the Original iPhone

Grid 1 is the perfect frame to honor and immortalize the Original iPhone

July 27, 2022
"Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone." -- Steve Jobs, 2007. Every time I read or think of this quote, I'm reminded of how influential the Original iPhone is. I don't say this from a fanboy perspective. Even the Cupertino firm's heavy critics acknowledge that this device indeed paved way for the smartphones of today....
The Amazon Appstore is just as bad as I thought it’d be (but there is hope)

The Amazon Appstore is just as bad as I thought it’d be (but there is hope)

July 11, 2022
I've been testing the Amazon Fire 7 tablet recently and one thing I've always suspected is that the Amazon Appstore is not...to put it politely...good. Yes, that is putting it politely. I had a bit of anecdotal evidence to support that, but nothing concrete. So I decided to look where the rubber meets the road...
Why I spent $350 on an Amazon Kindle e-reader twice, and would do so a third time

Why I spent $350 on an Amazon Kindle e-reader twice, and would do so a third time

July 2, 2022
"I love the smell of a book." "You just can't beat the feel of a real book." "I really enjoy digging through a physical bookstore and finding what I want to read." "I guess I'm just old-fashioned." These are all things that I've heard from people about why they prefer to read physical books instead of digital ones. They're...
Is the Amazon Echo Sub worth buying over other speakers in 2022?

Is the Amazon Echo Sub worth buying over other speakers in 2022?

July 1, 2022
Amazon has a vast array of smart speakers and other home devices. There are many ways to get Amazon's virtual assistant into your home, and the list of these Alexa-enabled devices continues to keep growing. If you haven't been paying attention to Amazon's ever-evolving lineup of Echo devices, then the Echo Sub may have flown...
iOS 16 reflects Apple’s submission to the Android philosophy

iOS 16 reflects Apple’s submission to the Android philosophy

July 1, 2022
The iOS vs Android argument predates human civilization has existed since the release of these operating systems. We're all entitled to our own opinions. Whether these subjective views are logical, factual, or in sync with the hive mind is irrelevant. As mature adults, we accept these differences in others. Nonetheless, we also get to criticize...
The Amazon Echo Flex is so cheap, it’s the perfect starter smart home device

The Amazon Echo Flex is so cheap, it’s the perfect starter smart home device

July 1, 2022
I've written previously that the Amazon Echo Dot is the cheapest smart speaker from the company that you would want to buy. While I stand by that, I'm also not afraid to admit that it's quite harsh on the Echo Flex. The crucial difference is that only one of these two is good for listening...
The Apple Pencil 2 isn’t the magic wand I had hoped it would be

The Apple Pencil 2 isn’t the magic wand I had hoped it would be

June 21, 2022
I've had my eyes set on the Apple Pencil ever since the first-gen model came out. If you're a regular XDA reader, you're probably aware of my passion towards Apple products and the tight ecosystem that links them all together. Brainwashed FanBoi or not, there's no denying that these devices communicate on a deep level...
It’s high time Google added fine-grained volume control to Android

It’s high time Google added fine-grained volume control to Android

June 18, 2022
I like to listen to podcasts and audiobooks at bedtime as it helps me sleep better. Ideally, you want just the right amount of volume when listening to an audiobook or podcast in a quiet setting — something that remains comfortable to listen to for an extended period. A bit louder, and it becomes a...