EXCLUSIVE Posts on XDA

Exclusive stories are stories you will only find on the XDA Portal. We work hard to bring new and exciting information about upcoming devices and services. If you want to find out about an upcoming Android device before it launches, this is where you’ll find it.

Exclusive: Here are the new camera features in the Samsung Galaxy S20+

Exclusive: Here are the new camera features in the Samsung Galaxy S20+

January 13, 2020
Next month, Samsung will be launching the new smartphones in its Galaxy S line up. Previously believed to be the Galaxy S11, we now know that the devices will be called the Galaxy S20 series. Thanks to a series of images shared with us by an anonymous source, we got our first real-world look at...
Exclusive: Download some of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Wallpapers

Exclusive: Download some of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Wallpapers

January 13, 2020
The Galaxy S20 is launching in just a few weeks. A lot of information about the phone has leaked, but that doesn't mean everything. For example, the wallpapers. We usually don't see those until the official renders leak or the device launches. Luckily, we have access to a few of the wallpapers launching with the...
Exclusive: This is the Samsung Galaxy S20+

Exclusive: This is the Samsung Galaxy S20+

January 12, 2020
The next major smartphone launch event for Samsung, Samsung Unpacked 2020 is just a few weeks away. On February 11th, Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S20 trio of flagship smartphones as well as a new clamshell foldable smartphone. As we approach the launch event, we've already seen a few live images of the alleged...
[Update 2: Leaked Renders] The Motorola One Hyper may have a pop-up camera and mid-range specs

[Update 2: Leaked Renders] The Motorola One Hyper may have a pop-up camera and mid-range specs

December 3, 2019
Full-screen smartphones with pop-up displays are all the rage these days. The concept was first introduced with the Vivo Apex last year, and back then, it looked truly futuristic and out of this world. Nowadays, though, it seems normal to us, with devices from different manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, and even Samsung employing...
How Google is taking control of Gesture Navigation in Android 10

How Google is taking control of Gesture Navigation in Android 10

October 8, 2019
After experimenting with button-based gesture controls in Android 9 Pie, Google went back to the drawing board to improve the fluidity and one-handed use of Android's gesture navigation. With Android 10, Google arrived at a solution that's visually like iOS: a gesture bar that can be swiped up to go home or swiped left or...
Google requires new Android devices with Type-C ports to not break USB-PD compatibility

Google requires new Android devices with Type-C ports to not break USB-PD compatibility

October 7, 2019
Charging has seen massive improvements in smartphones, at least on the Android side of things. Companies are pushing charging solutions that deliver 50W, 65W, and even 100W of power. These fast-charging technologies reduce the need for huge batteries, though I would argue they still don't excuse companies packing smaller batteries on new smartphones. The biggest...
Google will require new Android devices to run Android 10 if approved after January 31, 2020

Google will require new Android devices to run Android 10 if approved after January 31, 2020

October 7, 2019
Earlier today, we first reported on Google's new Game Device Certification program and Digital Wellbeing requirements. We obtained information on both thanks to the latest version of Google's GMS Requirements for OEMs/ODMs. This document also outlines the deadlines in which OEMs/ODMs can submit software builds to Google to get approval for GMS distribution. Notably, the...
Exclusive: Google is making Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls an Android requirement

Exclusive: Google is making Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls an Android requirement

October 7, 2019
One of the biggest themes of Google I/O 2018 was improving digital wellness. As consumers realized they're spending way too much time online, Google and other tech companies have responded with new wellness tools to minimize our access to smartphones and social media. To help users monitor and control their smartphone use, Google created the...
Exclusive: Google is working on a Game Device Certification program for Android gaming smartphones

Exclusive: Google is working on a Game Device Certification program for Android gaming smartphones

October 7, 2019
With the recent success of mobile games like Call of Duty Mobile, it's easy to see why AAA game publishers, Google/Apple, and smartphone OEMs are pushing mobile gaming so hard. In the smartphone space, we've seen gaming-centric, flagship product launches from brands like ASUS, Black Shark, Razer, Nubia, and others. The competition is only going...
Google Pixel 4 Tips reveal “Pro Sessions” in Google One, Social Share in Google Camera, more

Google Pixel 4 Tips reveal “Pro Sessions” in Google One, Social Share in Google Camera, more

October 3, 2019
The. Google. Pixel. 4. Just. Can't. Stop. Leaking. Yesterday, 9to5Google brought us a huge number of leaked marketing videos and renders. While there wasn't a lot of new information to learn since the 2019 Pixels have leaked so much already, those marketing images did provide us our highest quality look at the Google Pixel 4 features...
Google updates Recorder app from the Pixel 4 with transcriptions and audio search

Google updates Recorder app from the Pixel 4 with transcriptions and audio search

October 1, 2019
Yesterday, I unexpectedly received an update to the "Emergency Information" app, which changed it into "Personal Safety" and also revealed that car crash detection and emergency message sharing were coming to Pixel smartphones. Today, I unexpectedly received an update for another app: the leaked Google Recorder app from the Pixel 4 XL. This simple app...
Google accidentally rolls out “Personal Safety” app, confirming car crash detection is coming to the Pixel

Google accidentally rolls out “Personal Safety” app, confirming car crash detection is coming to the Pixel

September 30, 2019
Back in May, we discovered changes to the Emergency Information app that hinted at Google adding automatic car crash detection to Pixel smartphones. We haven't heard any new information about this feature since then, and it hasn't appeared in any of the numerous Pixel 4 leaks this past month. However, Google updated the built-in Emergency...