Do you repurpose your old Android phones?

It feels like everyone is making a big deal about Qi2. Where does it work, is a particular implementation true Qi2, and which manufacturer is using it correctly? Meanwhile, the only wireless charger I own is super slow, and I use it mainly to hold my Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, giving it a home while keeping the battery topped off. Beyond that, I rarely use wireless charging, primarily because cables are faster, and my house is already filled with them. It’s not like the charger won’t need a cable, anyway, so it’s not like using one results in less clutter. I just don’t see the point; what problem do wireless chargers solve?

But I also know many tech enthusiasts are fans, so I figure let’s put the question to the test. Do you care about charging your devices wirelessly, or are you, like me, a wireless charging luddite?

The Pixel 6 made it to Android 15 with its promised three years of Android version update support. But now that it has hit the end of the road when it comes to new Android versions, will you miss receiving these updates? You’ll still get security updates, which means the phone will be plenty useable for the foreseeable future, but Android 15 is still the last stop when it comes to versions.

Sound off in the comments below what you think of this end of support. Thankfully, the Pixel 7 and beyond offer seven years of support, so we have some time before the Pixel 7 meets the same fate as the 6.

I’ve lost count of how many times Google has supposedly quit making tablets. I know it quit making Android tablets after the Nexus 9. But we did get the Pixel C and Pixel Slate. After the Pixel Slate, Google announced it would not be making more tablets, instead it would concentrate on laptops. But we eventually got the Pixel Tablet, which launched overpriced with an unnecessary dock. And now that the Pixel Tablet hasn’t sold well (surprise, surprise), Google is supposedly canceling the follow-up. Despite many years of making tablets over the last two decades, Google apparently can’t find any success with them, and tends to exist the market swiftly when sales tank. At this point, it will be very hard for me to take Google seriously if it ever plans to release a tablet again, be it ChromeOS or Android.

But what about you? Are you sick of Google repeatedly giving up on tablets, or are you somehow willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt the next time it decides tablets are t

Remember the Nexus 7 and its follow-up, which I like to call the Nexus 7.2? I really enjoyed those tablets, but it doesn’t feel like anyone makes any good small tablets anymore. Even Apple rarely refreshes the mini. What I wouldn’t give to have a small tablet that offers top-of-the-line specs. Gimme a 7-inch tablet with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, a high refresh rate OLED 16:10 screen, with dual front-firing speakers, a camera in the bezel instead of the screen, two USB-C ports, and flush rear cameras. Is that too much to ask?

So, am I dreaming here? Am I the only one who wants a small top-of-the-line tablet?

Did you know the latest Pixel 9s support video out over USB? Neither did I, but not that I know I am eager to get my hands on Google’s USB-C to HDMI cable so I can output video from my phone. As a matter of fact, the cable come from Cable Matters, and is also available on Amazon for less than Google’s pricing, which looks to be the place to snag one (read more about this in the linked coverage).

So here comes the big question. Have you ever needed to output video from your phone to the point you’ll go out of your way to buy a USB-C to HDMI cable? Hit the comments to let us know, as I can confidently say I’ll be ordering one shortly. After all, you may not need to output video from your phone frequently, but the one time you need to, it sure would be handy to have a cable on hand to do so.

The Pixel 8 Pro debuted the tech, which may sound a little silly, but a thermometer within a phone can be useful, as Will Sattelberg found out, putting the Pixel 8 Pro to the test. The thermometer works and can be handy for checking body temperatures, say your kid’s temps to see if they are coming down with a cold. Still, grabbing your phone to check temperatures probably doesn’t come naturally to most users, which brings me to a question that’s been burning a hole in my brain. For those of you who own a Pixel 8 Pro or a Pixel 9 Pro, do you find you are using the temperature sensor built into your phone? If so, what have you used it for?

I, for one, usually run my phones free of cases, but after a recent drop that obliterated my Redmagic 9s Pro, I decided to pick up a Pixel 9 as a replacement. With that new purchase came a strong sense that I should probably splurge on a case this time around. So I went all out. I wanted something that looked good, made of leather, so a Bellroy case is what I purchased. It wasn’t cheap, but I’m pretty happy with it, so feel my money was spent well. 

But what about you? What kind of case do you normally go for when you purchase a new phone? What’s your go-to? Is it leather, plastic, rubber, colorful, muted, expensive, or cheap?

Out of every smartphone you’ve ever owned, which is the one that stands above the rest as the worst? For me, that would be the Pixel 4. That forehead was ridiculous, and the reason it existed was for movement tracking that never really amounted to much beyond waving to change tracks in a music app. While the Soli Radar lives on in the newest Nest Learning Thermostat, boy, was that hardware useless in a smartphone. I quickly moved on to something else.

But what about you? What stands out in your memory as the worst smartphone you’ve owned? Hit the comments to let us know; perhaps the same devices will come up again and again. Let’s see.

Amazon’s fire tablets run a custom version of Android, so they ship without access to the Play Store. Amazon offers its own Android app store, but sometimes it lacks when compared to Google’s storefront, and that’s saying something because the Play Store is a nightmare to navigate, but it does house the majority of Android apps, unlike Amazon’s store. This is why there are guides out there that explain how to sideload the Play Store onto Fire tablets, and thankfully, it isn’t even that difficult to do.

So, have you installed the Play Store on your Fire tablet, or do you plan to?

We recently learned that the new Google TV Streamer remote works with older Chromecasts (read more about this in the linked article). So now that it is clear the new remote will work with older 4th gen devices, do you plan on picking up a replacement for your aging Chromecast? Sure, the Chromecast 4K and HD came with a remote, but perhaps it stopped working or is showing its age.

But this got me thinking: how many Chromecast owners actually want a replacement remote? So, hit the comments to let us know if you are planning to purchase the Google TV Streamer remote for your 4th gen Chromecast.

I only recently switched to a Pixel 9, and I have to say I love the experience. Android feels more polished, the user experience more cohesive, and I appreciate that. But Pixel’s don’t always have the best reputation, with bugs and other issues typically cropping up after release. But this year seems different, partly because Google has held Android 15 back, which means Pixel 9 users are on a more stable and tested system, at least for the time being. This has certainly worked in Google’s favor, but for some, I’m sure the reputation remains lacking.

So, I have a question for all you Pixel users out there. Why did you choose to buy a Pixel over any of the other OEMs? Is it brand loyalty, do you simply prefer the experience Google offers, or is there another factor why you choose Pixel over the competition?

Now that Apple is starting to offer more and more of the features that made Android unique, like the recent addition of RCS messaging, it’s getting harder and harder to tell the two systems apart. Where using one operating system over another is becoming less about features and more about looks and branding. Still, there are some areas where Android excels and others where iOS comes out on top. For me, I choose Android because it is still more open than iOS, allowing me to easily sideload whatever I want, and I can even dip into ADB if I really need to change something, like remove a default app. I’ve used iOS plenty, but overall, it just feels locked down, and most workarounds often cost money.

But what about you, what is the major dealbreaker that holds you back from mainlining iOS? Hit the comments to let us know.

When I want to take a photo, I tend to grab my actual camera instead of my phone. Generally, I don’t care how good my phone’s cameras are, as I rarely use them. Short of grabbing a few quick shots of my dog when out and about, the photo quality of my phone rarely factors into my day-to-day thinking. But I also know people are really adamant about their phones taking good photos, with arguments constantly surrounding which phone takes the best pictures that year.

So, are you absolutely concerned about the photo quality of your phone, or are you more easy-going like me and willing to use whatever is provided?

I know I personally miss having small phones. I’m on team small phone all the way, which is why I loved the Zenfone 10 and why I was sad to see Asus move to something much bigger for the 11. Even before smartphones, I was into the smaller stuff, like what Sony Ericson was putting out for its candy bar designs. But that was a long time ago, and things progress, but sadly it would seem everything progressed to being gigantic with huge screens, and I’m just not feeling it. Perhaps I’m simply being nostalgic, which is why I wanted to bring this question to the masses.

Which do you prefer, large or small phones? Hit the comments, and let’s settle this age-old debate for good.

Google’s released a boatload of new products this summer, including four phones, two watches, and a smart thermostat. But we’ve still got more look forward to. The Google TV Streamer, heir apparent to the Chromecast legacy, is set to hit store shelves next week. Judging by what we know about the $100 set-top box so far, it’s essentially a souped up Chromecast with Google TV, featuring updated hardware and a new form factor, more storage space, and a built-in Thread radio for smart home hub functionality. 

But with the release date less than a week away, we wanted to ask: what do you want to know about the Google TV Streamer? Drop your questions in the comments here, and we’ll do our best to answer them over the coming weeks.

We’ve had ample time with Google’s latest Pixel phones, and the general consensus here at AP is that they’re all quite good, but Google hardware season isn’t over yet. Personally, I’m pretty excited about the Pixel Watch 3, which is set to hit store shelves next week. It’s the first Pixel Watch to come in two sizes (the 41mm we’re used to and a new, larger 45mm variant), and both sizes feature brighter displays with slimmer bezels than previous generations. So far, it’s looking like Google’s newest wearable is going to tick a lot of our boxes.

We’ll be writing all about it in the coming weeks and months, but I wanted to ask: what do you want to know about the Pixel Watch 3? Drop your questions in the comments and we’ll start answering them as soon as we’re able. 

I have a feeling I’m a lifer. Sure, I’ve used iOS (on iPads), but ever since Android was released, I’ve only owned and used Android phones, and I don’t see this changing anytime soon. Apple just never felt like the hardware for me, and I’ve certainly dabbled with Macs, but the walled gardens and higher prices for everything just leave a bad taste in my mouth. Android is still more open, and Android is still cheaper for comparable hardware. Most importantly, I’m used to the interface and the actions I can perform within, be it running emulators, sideloading apps, or simply adding icons to my screen wherever I want (yes, I know Apple has started supporting all of these), Android simply feels like the right place to be accomplishing these tasks.

While I know there are plenty of hardcore Android users around here, just like me, I do wonder how many of AP’s readers would be willing to jump the fence for the possibility of greener pastures. So, what say you? Would you ever consider ditching

The Google Pixel camera visor has become a staple of Google’s design language since the Pixel 6. Unfortunately, it has some durability issues. Such a large, flat surface housing the cameras makes it susceptible to micro scratches, which can cause unsightly blemishes and potentially cloudy photos. 

In addition, whatever materials Google uses to construct the visor show wear within days. My Pixel 8 Pro’s visor looked like I ran it through my dryer after only two or three days in my pocket, and that was with being careful. I don’t abuse my phones, but that doesn’t matter. Drop a photo of your battered Pixel visor if you’re similarly frustrated with Google’s lack of build quality and how it makes your shiny new phone look beat up in the first days of ownership.

There is a lot one can do with the Google TV Streamer. For one, with Google Home integration, you can use your TV to watch your video doorbell or check your floodlight cams in the back. Heck, you can change the temperature of your house from your TV. Pretty cool. At the same time, it’s not the most powerful Android TV box out there (the Shield TV takes that prize), and to me, it’s never something I considered buying when I have multiple Shield TVs in the house.

So, were you enticed by Google’s latest TV box, or have you remained a skeptic like me?

News recently broke that Google Fiber is expanding into Las Vegas, having broken ground, the lucky ducks. Around me, there is no Google Fiber, which is true for most people in the US; there simply aren’t many Google Fiber locations. I certainly wish there were more, and if it was available in my town, I would likely subscribe. Do you wish you could subscribe to Google Fiber, or are you fine with your current ISP?