Android Police

This week, the discussion dives into Google's restructuring and how it could impact the future of the Pixel 9a. Samsung's Galaxy S25 also takes center stage, with criticisms about its dull colors and cumbersome AI features. The hosts reflect on the nostalgic journey of Pebble smartwatches and explore the emotional connections users have with their fitness technology. With a focus on the emerging player DeepSeek in the AI arena, the conversation highlights the ethics of data usage, painting a vivid picture of the evolving tech landscape.

It may have been the sharpest unit out of the entire Unpacked presentation, but did it really live up to all the hopes we had of at least a dash of excitement from Samsung in 2025? The Android Police podcast is on the ground in San Jose as we report and opine on what the Galaxy S25 family has to offer and what Android's biggest brand name is holding back. 00:27 | Sledging the EdgeSamsung's Galaxy S25 Edge teaser put a bow on an otherwise 'slim' Unpacked06:38 | Everything else S25Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hands-on: The indifference is on displayIt's official: The Galaxy S25 Ultra's S Pen has fewer features than last yearSamsung's Galaxy S25 series is 'Qi2 ready,' but only if you shell out extra on these cases5 Samsung Galaxy S25 takeaways from my first hour with the phone5 reasons the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra left me unimpressedSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with 16GB RAM exists — but you can't get it19:37 | Servicing the S25Google's fingerprints are all over the new Galaxy S25 seriesLatest Circle to Search update brings more AI summaries, less Google Lens 29:31 | Android 16 betaAndroid 16's first beta is here with major tablet improvements and iOS-like Live UpdatesHow to install Android 16 Beta 1 on your phoneAndroid 16 Beta 1 brings Google's predictive back animation to button navigationAndroid 16 may tidy up your lock screen with a compact notification shelf35:28 | Pour Me AnotherThe Traitors (TV Series 2023– ) - IMDb‎A Real Pain (2024) directed by Jesse Eisenberg • LetterboxdGoogle levels up its Android XR ambitions with another HTC acquisitionTikTok's For You page has amnesia after the app's resuscitationOur regular hosts are Daniel Bader and Will Sattelberg. Our editor is Jules Wang.Android Police lives here. Reach out to us at podcast@androidpolice.comMusic - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

In the latest discussion, the hosts express skepticism about the expected innovations in the upcoming Galaxy S25 series, analyzing its design compared to competitors. They highlight the challenges smartphone manufacturers face in standing out in a saturated market. A humorous take on TikTok's political controversies contrasts with reflections on the gaming world, particularly the excitement for the Switch 2. The talk culminates in a playful critique of recent smartphone releases, revealing a general disappointment in the lack of true innovation.

After a well-deserved holiday break and a taxing-as-usual CES, we're back with a fresh new episode of the Android Police podcast. Daniel and Will are here to chat about their favorite power bank from Anker at the show! Also, a phone that neither of them can really buy, but it still looks cool to us anyway! And we take a crack at defining how the OnePlus 13 might play the market this year as a solid Android device that isn't from Samsung or Google, doesn't have as much retail reach as the two of them, but delivers great value for money.01:26 | CES 2025Best of CES 2025: Android Police's awards for the world's biggest tech showLenovo just announced three new Android tablets and two new gaming handheldsThe Lenovo Legion Go S could finally get me into handheld gaming PCsTCL's latest smartphone might be the Boox Palma 2 rival you've been looking forThe next generation of Google TVs will let you talk to Gemini without a remoteThe people behind NFC and Qi charging are cooking up a new standard for kitchensA major wireless charging pain point in cars will be fixed by Qi2 extensionAndroid’s MagSafe moment has finally arrived26:10 | OP13Review: The OnePlus 13 is good enough to make you say goodbye to SamsungReview: The OnePlus 13R will make you forget you’re using a sub-$600 phoneI think I like the OnePlus 13R better... | YouTubeThe OnePlus 13 Paradox | YouTube46:42 | ScatteringsThis Iron Man phone looks awesome, but there's one giant catchSonos CEO resigns as 'courageous' app redesign fell flatCES 2025 predictions, most improved phone, OnePlus Open 2 leak, Poco X7 series details, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cameras, and Apple iPhone 17 rumors with Will Sattelberg of Android Police – Mobile Tech Podcast 408 | World PodcastsOur regular hosts are Daniel Bader and Will Sattelberg. Our editor is Jules Wang.Android Police lives here. Reach out to us at podcast@androidpolice.comMusic - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Welcome back to this Android Police podcast already in progress: this episode, Daniel and Will go over all their favorite (or, at least, the most impactful to them) non-tech stuff of 2024 from books to movies to games. It's a subdued outing this time around, but you might take home a couple of decent recommendations for your new year. We're back in two weeks with all the action from CES 2025!Excerpts from Sony Pictures and Mom + Pop Records.‎Challengers (2024) directed by Luca Guadagnino‎Trap (2024) directed by M. Night Shyamalan‎Madame Web (2024) directed by S.J. Clarkson‎Twisters (2024) directed by Lee Isaac Chung‎Interstellar (2014) directed by Christopher Nolan‎The Outrun (2024) directed by Nora Fingscheidt‎Dune: Part Two (2024) directed by Denis Villeneuve‎The Hitman (2023) directed by Xavier GEnglish Teacher (TV Series 2024– ) - IMDbDark Matter (TV Series 2024– ) - IMDbSilo (TV Series 2023– ) - IMDbMartyr! by Kaveh Akbar | GoodreadsThe Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates | GoodreadsPlayground by Richard Powers | GoodreadsVampire Weekend: Only God Was Above Us Album Review | PitchforkCharli XCX: BRAT Album Review | PitchforkMagdalena Bay: Imaginal Disk Album Review | PitchforkNilüfer Yanya: My Method Actor Album Review | PitchforkBalatro - Apps on Google Play3 reasons why the RTX 5090 will steal the spotlight at CESThis might be our first glimpse at the OnePlus Open 2's new designOur regular hosts are Daniel Bader and Will Sattelberg. Our editor is Jules Wang.Android Police lives here. Reach out to us at podcast@androidpolice.comMusic - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Welcome to this year-end cope session of an Android Police podcast. So, what did we deal with in 2024? A year of manufacturer mediocrity for the sake of revenue-treading agentic AI, that's what. Amid the storylines of fiery crash-and-burns on the hardware side and the lack of a money tree on the software side, there was little of substance to adore when it came to the average commodity smartphone. But we'll share some thoughts (and a whole lot of feelings) on the big stories in our field and the biggest products of our day on this very episode.0:49 | In Our Worldexposing the hawk tuah scam | Coffeezilla (YouTube)Haliey Welch on X: "I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected, and the broader community [...]"I'm convinced AI won't be replacing our smartphones anytime soonGemini 2.0: Five major changes you need to knowGoogle proposes multiple changes to its strategy following antitrust rulingDoes AR or VR interest you at all?Google's market share stays surprisingly high after hot Pixel 9 sales startArm's licensing battle with Qualcomm just got a lot more serious40:08 | No spoilers, but check out our Android Police Awards for 2024 for a holistic take from the entire AP team!Other media excerpts from Google, Headgum, WBZ-TV (CBS News Boston), and KXTV (ABC10).Our regular hosts are Daniel Bader and Will Sattelberg. Our editor is Jules Wang.Android Police lives here. Reach out to us at podcast@androidpolice.comMusic - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

We've been asking what good AI is for a while now. In its search for answers, Google has stood up and said "headsets." This week on the Android Police podcast, we're talking about the launch of Gemini 2.0, Android XR, and what both could mean for hardware partners, app developers, and the competition involved from Meta to Apple. We also take a sidelong look into iOS 18.2 and the slow crawl of progress that is Apple Intelligence. AP staff writer and resident New Jerseyan Stephen Radochia joins us for the first time!06:57 | Gemini in Virtual SpaceGoogle unleashes Gemini 2.0 with new image and audio powers for the AI agent eraHey Gemini: Google's hotword gets a refresh in official teaser videoGoogle wants Android XR to power your next VR headset and smart glassesAndroid XR software: Here are the VR games and AR apps coming to the new OSGoogle Gemini steals the show in live demo of Android XR and Project MoohanI'm amazed Samsung's XR glasses shifted to such a different focus than originally impliedThis is our first look at Samsung's VR headset running Android XR52:45 | iOS 18.25 ways Android 15 is better than iOS 18Vision Models: How AI understands and interprets visual mediaOur regular hosts are Daniel Bader and Will Sattelberg. Our editor is Jules Wang.Android Police lives here. Reach out to us at podcast@androidpolice.comMusic - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Another Pixel-packed update to Android makes a bigger splash than we would've thought this time of year and the Android Police podcast is all over it. Also on this program, we see Samsung fall firmly into Apple's line when it comes to many of the design choices it made for the big One UI 7 update. And who would've thought that the PlayStation Portal would've been an item to celebrate? Funny how it goes sometimes when the PS5 Pro is, truly, such a punching bag. That and more this week.01:04 | QPR does not stand for Quarter PounderGoogle's December Pixel Feature Drop is all about Pixel 9All the features Google didn't tell you about in Android 15's first quarterly releasePixel Screenshots escapes its app in massive new Pixel Drop updateAndroid's new feature bundle brings captions that actually show emotionsGoogle breathes new life into old Pixels with two more years of OS upgradesThe canceled Pixel Tablet 2 suggests Google learned all the wrong lessons43:52 | Samsung BashingSamsung's long-awaited One UI 7 beta is here to end 2024 on a high noteSamsung's One UI 7 finally embraces the vertical app drawerSamsung's new app drawer has one big, ugly thing wrong with itOur regular hosts are Daniel Bader and Will Sattelberg. Our editor is Jules Wang.Android Police lives here. Reach out to us at podcast@androidpolice.comMusic - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

The hosts dive deep into the tangled web of Google's tablet strategy, lamenting the potential cancellation of the Pixel Tablet 2 while speculating on the future of its flagship Pixel Tablet 3. They also critique the new iPhone 16 Pro Max, marveling at its camera capabilities but noting it feels more Android than ever. A spotlight shines on the Oppo Find X8 Pro, showcasing its dual periscopes and AI features. Through humor and insight, they navigate the complexities of smartphone choices and the frustration of market fragmentation.

Excitement brews over the upcoming Android 16, with new features promising privacy enhancements and a promising food-ordering AI integration. The conversation delves into Google's ongoing antitrust challenges, particularly surrounding its Chrome browser and the implications of potential government actions. A humorous take on AI's role in daily life questions its current value compared to traditional methods. Cultural discussions also emerge, comparing notification management on Android and Apple, and reflecting on music nostalgia amidst tech talk.