Googlebook review: Android on a laptop is still Android
https://arstechnica.com/reviews/2026/10/googlebook-review-android-on-a-laptop-is-still-android/

https://redd.it/1x97ztn
@reddit_android

Will Google Ever Allow for Proper End-to-End Encryption of Your Photos in Google Photos?

Google Photos is a solid tool, but I’ve always been apprehensive about using it as my primary photo cloud/management solution because Google doesn’t allow you to end-to-end encrypt your photos, like some other platforms do.

Not interested in recommendations for alternatives right now. I’ve done extensive research on them already. Just curious what people’s thoughts are on the fact that Google Photos still doesn’t offer it and if people think it’s on the horizon.

https://redd.it/1x94uhh
@reddit_android

Could Samsung actually pull off its own mobile OS in the long run?

I mean creating something like iOS. When using my Galaxy, I noticed that there are a lot of “duplicate” apps, meaning apps that serve the same purpose.

I've been thinking about an idea I call Project TOS. Basically, it's a concept for an independent Samsung mobile OS, potentially based on Tizen.

The idea is to give Samsung more control over its own software, build a stronger ecosystem, and make its devices feel more integrated. One thing that got me thinking about this is how Samsung phones come with apps that do pretty much the same thing as Google's apps. Why not have a more unified experience, kinda like Apple does with iOS?

I know competing with Android and iOS would be a huge challenge, especially when it comes to app support and getting developers on board. But could Samsung actually make it work with a solid long-term plan?

Would you guys be interested in something like this, or do you think it's just not realistic?

https://redd.it/1x8q6va
@reddit_android

People who don't hide the navigation bar on Android, why ?

Hiding the white/black navigation bar makes u have more space for apps and games.

Some people even use the old navigation bar style which has the back and home buttons

https://redd.it/1x92hjq
@reddit_android

Android is the Best Mobile OS

I have spent a lot of time on android. All of my adult and teen life. Now, with that being said, last year I bought an iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB. The last iPhone that I had, I had back in high school, was an iPhone 4S. It was the first one that got Siri and all that good stuff. Since then, I upgraded to a Galaxy S3 right after that. and I’ve been on android ever since. Until just recently. I really wanted to understand why people buy iPhones, and I have been daily driving the iPhone for about a year now, and I’ll live with it until it finally dies, but I will not buy into the ecosystem. I will not be OK with it not having a lot of features that the android has, including in-phone file management and computer file management like a flash drive, it just like a little computer in the palm of your hand. I would definitely call myself a power user when it comes to phones, and iPhone just plain doesn’t cut it. But I felt like I couldn’t really give my opinion for so long because I needed to see if the grass was greener elsewhere and maybe they fixed all of my problems with the original iPhone 4S, which predominantly they have. My biggest gripe with my iPhone 4S was the battery life. It was absolutely atrocious. And to be honest with you, the iPhone 17 Pro Max with power saver is a game changer in general for Apple devices and I’m pretty pleased with the battery life that I get now with all that being said, the iPhone is definitely got some good things about it, but for me they’re not a big enough reason to stay. I personally like how iPhone uses my bit warden to automatically enter my login information anywhere that I need it. Android just isn’t quite as good. It’s not quite as seamless. Siri does not hold up to Google’s voice assistant in the slightest. My other biggest gripe going to iPhone from Android has been the fingerprint technology that I miss. My last Android phone before this iPhone was a OnePlus N30 5G. The fast charging that OnePlus and all the Chinese manufacturers have completely blows everything else out of the water, and the battery life that it gives for not a lot of money, I paid under $200 for that phone and that phone will outlive almost any other phone I’ve ever used. My favorite thing about that phone was they put the fingerprint sensor on the power button on the side of the phone, which is literally the best place you can possibly put it, it’s already got your fingerprint and you’re already into your experience. I personally have seen firsthand a mother and a daughter that look somewhat similar are able to unlock each other’s phones with face ID. I don’t like how iPhone does not play nicely with non-Apple smart watches. I think that’s pretty terrible personally. Overall, I’m very glad that I got the chance to use a modern iPhone, but whenever the time comes, I will definitely go back.

Thanks for reading!

https://redd.it/1x925a7
@reddit_android

Samsung promises 7 years of updates. Apple promises nothing and ships about 9.

The 2026 flagships are out and the marketing is backwards.

Samsung states it plainly: Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, seven years, patches through August 2033. Written down, easy to check.

Apple states nothing. No policy, no end date, nothing on the spec sheet. But going by what they've actually done, the iPhone 18 Pro should get security updates into 2035 - the iPhone 13 is still getting them five years on.

So the company that commits gives you less, and the company that commits to nothing gives you more. Would you rather have a promise or a track record?

https://redd.it/1x95l2p
@reddit_android

Giving lifetime Pro access to my countdown & reminder app

Hey everyone!

I'm an indie developer and I just launched Countdown Pro on Google Play. To celebrate, I'm giving away free lifetime Pro subscriptions to this community.

What it's for:
\-Counting down to the moments that matter — birthdays, weddings, trips, exams, launches, holidays
\-Setting reminders so you never miss a deadline or important date
\-Staying productive by keeping your goals and deadlines in front of you

How to get your free lifetime code:
1-Download the app here 👉 Click here to Download the app
2-Comment below with one event you're counting down to or a reminder you'd set — a vacation, a deadline, a big day, anything!
3-DM me and I'll send your promo code 🎟️

Codes are limited, so first come, first served.

I'd also really love your honest feedback — what you like, what's missing, and what would make it more useful for you. Every suggestion helps a solo dev a lot. 🙏

Thanks, and good luck with whatever you're counting down to!

https://redd.it/1x8bpbp
@reddit_android

Can we talk about how shamelessly Android OEMs are copying iOS's Liquid Glass UI? Thank God Pixel is actually sticking to its own identity.

It is honestly exhausting watching the current state of Android skins. Ever since Apple dropped the "Liquid Glass" aesthetic in iOS, almost every major Android OEM—Vivo (OriginOS), Oppo (ColorOS), Xiaomi (HyperOS), OnePlus—has tripped over themselves to copy it screen-for-screen.

The translucent frosted blurs, the bubbly rounded toggles, the exact same floating menu bars and dynamic island clones... it is a shameless 1:1 rip-off.

What frustrates me the most isn't just the copying itself—it's the complete lack of ambition. The whole point of Android is supposed to be variety, freedom, and distinct character. These brands have massive design teams and incredible hardware, yet they willingly throw away their own visual identity just to look like a knockoff iPhone. It screams insecurity, like they are telling their own buyers, "We know you secretly wanted an iPhone, so we made our software pretend to be one."

Right now, Google's Pixel UI feels like the only breath of fresh air left. With Material 3 Expressive, Pixel actually has a spine. It uses bold colors, distinct geometry, and fluid motion that doesn't look anything like iOS. Even Google's Android boss publicly shot down the idea of bringing Liquid Glass to Pixel, and honestly, thank God for that.

What blows my mind is how normal this has become. People in the community just shrug and say "everyone copies everyone" or "it looks smooth, who cares?" Taking inspiration on a useful feature is one thing; copy-pasting an entire aesthetic direction because you're afraid to be different is pathetic.

Why isn't there more pushback on this? Do people actually want their Android phones to look like iOS clones, or have we just given up on OEMs having their own character?

https://redd.it/1x6xbvw
@reddit_android

Galaxy S27 Ultra Could Switch to Exynos 2700 Over Snapdragon Heating Issues
https://sammyguru.com/galaxy-s27-ultra-snapdragon-overheating/

https://redd.it/1xaxenh
@reddit_android

Samsung Electronics Begins Wafer Production of Exynos 2700, Expanding Volume by More Than 10%
https://finance.biggo.com/news/fc2adcc4-3575-439b-944a-ea8a2dcc011b

https://redd.it/1xayipg
@reddit_android

Are we reaching a point where we can't trust brand update promises anymore?

It feels like every brand is competing to promise 4, 5, or even 7 years of major OS updates just to sell a phone at launch.But lately, we're seeing more cases where a phone gets cut short or a major update gets quietly canceled down the line because the mid-range or budget hardware apparently "can't handle it." It makes the whole update marketing war feel entirely meaningless if companies can just change their minds later.

When you buy a phone, do you actually buy it expecting it to get those later years of support, or do you just buy it for what the software can do right now? What's the worst time a brand broke a software promise on you?

https://redd.it/1x6zeez
@reddit_android

Powerful hardware, but by no means flawless - Xiaomi 18 Fold review
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Xiaomi-18-Fold-review-Big-display-big-performance-big-compromises.1428903.0.html

https://redd.it/1xb2378
@reddit_android

I finally gave up the headphone jack and I hate it.

I know I'm about 10 years late to this complaint but I finally bought a new phone without a 3.5mm headphone jack. I resisted for as long as I could but apparently wanting to plug a pair of headphones into your phone is now an unreasonable demand.

And I absolutely hate it.

I have Galaxy Buds 2, so it's not like I'm new to wireless earphones. I use them regularly. But I liked having the option of wired headphones. Especially at night when I'm lying in bed listening to something and don't want to worry about another bloody device running out of battery. Now I have to remember to charge my phone, charge the earbuds, charge their case, and hope everything has enough battery when I actually want to use it.

Then there's the audio delay. Bluetooth has improved considerably but there's still latency, particularly with games. Wired headphones just worked. You plugged them in and got sound. No pairing, no connection issues, no batteries, no wondering why the audio is suddenly coming out of the phone speaker.

And before someone suggests a USB-C adapter, yes, I know they exist. But now I need to carry around another little accessory just to use something that worked perfectly fine before. And if I want to charge my phone while listening to wired headphones, I need yet another adapter. Not to mention the USB-C port is already being used for charging and data transfer, and now we're supposed to put even more wear on it.

What annoys me most is that we actually lost functionality. This wasn't some obsolete technology that had stopped being useful. The headphone jack worked perfectly well. It was universal, cheap, reliable and didn't require charging. And somehow the industry managed to convince everyone that removing it was progress.

I remember when phones competed by giving us more features. Now they remove features and sell us accessories to compensate.

I understand why companies prefer wireless audio. What I don't understand is why the existence of Bluetooth headphones meant the headphone jack had to disappear. We could have had both. For years we did have both.

Anyway, I know this battle was lost a decade ago. Just wanted to complain now that I've finally been forced to surrender.

Anyone else still miss the headphone jack or have we all just accepted this nonsense

https://redd.it/1x6gbyz
@reddit_android

HMD is preparing to withdraw from select markets and scale down production for its global device portfolio, shifting its core focus toward regional markets and the enterprise/industrial sector.

https://x.com/smashx_60/status/2110272650350318017

https://redd.it/1x6h0f7
@reddit_android

Coolpad has opened pre-orders for its Cool X Wide smartphone in China. It features a 6.38-inch 16:10 display
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Coolpad-unveils-wide-screen-smartphone-with-12GB-RAM-256GB-storage-and-TF-card-support.1428568.0.html

https://redd.it/1xb8mjv
@reddit_android

Arm wants up to $65 per Qualcomm chip with custom cores, trial figures suggest
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Arm-s-v10-royalty-demand-equals-up-to-30-of-a-220-Snapdragon-chip-s-price-trial-figures-suggest.1429935.0.html

https://redd.it/1xbybk0
@reddit_android

TechTablets - Oppo Find X10 Pro Max Vs Xiaomi 18 Pro Max Vs Vivo X500 Pro Max Camera Comparison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPNgUaR3fG4

https://redd.it/1xcosac
@reddit_android

Samsung to Equip Galaxy S28 With 2nm 5G Modems to Boost Battery Life
https://www.androidheadlines.com/2026/10/samsung-2nm-5g-modem-galaxy-s28.html

https://redd.it/1xcoqr6
@reddit_android

Get hands-free personalized help on the road with Gemini - Google blog
https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-auto-cars-with-google-built-in-gemini-personal-intelligence/

https://redd.it/1xcrdn2
@reddit_android

YouTube removing 'Subscriptions' bottom bar tab on Android, iOS
https://9to5google.com/2026/10/22/youtube-subscriptions-android-ios/

https://redd.it/1xd0tap
@reddit_android

what is that one android feature you literally cannot live without and what is your runner up

we all know android has a million little customization tricks and smart features that ios users can only dream about. whether it is universal back gestures, split screen multitasking, proper file system access, or just changing your default launcher entirely.

if you had to pick the single android feature you use every single day that would make you miserable if you switched away, what is it? and what is your runner-up feature that comes right behind it?

https://redd.it/1xcw9tj
@reddit_android