MakeUseOf - Android Nougat

The Blackview P6000 Has a Huge Battery, But That's About It

Joe Coburn — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:30:23 GMT

The Blackview P6000 is a chunky 5.5 inch Android phone, with a huge battery and some impressive hardware under the hood. Priced at around $280, this isn't a flagship model, even if the specification fools you.

Nubia Z17 Lite: Flagship Device For a Reasonable Price

James Frew — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 16:30:00 GMT

There once was a time when premium Android phones reigned supreme. If you wanted your smartphone of choice to run Google's operating system, you'd have to part with substantial sums of money to the likes of HTC, LG, or Samsung. Fortunately for those of us that want the flexibility of Android without the iPhone price tag, the market has changed since then.

UHANS Max 2: The Biggest Screen Ever on a $150 Smartphone

Yusuf Limalia — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:45:26 GMT

Is it a phone? Is it a tablet? No, it's a phablet! Looking for a full-bodied phone and a tablet on a budget? The UHANS Max 2 comes in at just under $150 and is trying to be everything. Will it succeed? Let's find out.

Razer Phone Review: There's a First Time For Everything

Yusuf Limalia — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 17:30:41 GMT

Razer – a company synonymous with PC gaming – has stepped into the mobile device arena with their all-new Razer Phone. But do they have what it takes to stand out in a cutthroat, hyper-competitive market?

Blackview S8 Review: Galaxy Features Without The Astronomical Price

Dave LeClair — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:30:02 GMT

What if we told you that there was a phone out there that promised Galaxy features at a price tag that's a fraction of the size? It sounds too good to be true, but that's exactly what the Blackview S8 promises. It comes with a similarly-sized screen, good enough hardware, and all the other goodies you'd expect – but it costs around $160.

Moto G5 Plus Review: Solid Mid-Range Phone

Skye Hudson — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 16:30:12 GMT

If you want a phone with high-end specs but can't afford a $700 phone like the Galaxy S8, the Moto G5 Plus might just be for you. At $299 for the model with 4GB and 64GB of storage, it sits firmly in the mid-range smartphone market. (The 2GB/32GB model, however, is just not worth the $229.)

HTC U11 Review: The Definition of Mediocrity

Skye Hudson — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 16:30:23 GMT

HTC can't seem to figure out what they want their flagship device to look like. Whereas Samsung and others tend to have a distinct look, this year's HTC U11 is drastically different from last year's HTC 10, which was in turn a good deal different from the HTC One M9. And don't get me started on the bizarre naming convention.

Leagoo T5 Review (and Giveaway!)

Skye Hudson — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 16:30:04 GMT

Most high-end flagship smartphones now ship with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but Leagoo has taken those specs and squished them down into a $130 package with the Leagoo T5.

OnePlus 5 Review: Seriously, This is the Best Android Right Now

Skye Hudson — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 16:30:57 GMT

If you're considering getting a new high-end Android phone, your search is over.

Powerful and Rugged: The Blackview BV8000 Pro Takes Everything You Throw at It

James Bruce — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:30:14 GMT

Deliberate or not, modern smartphones are getting more fragile every year. They're so thin you can bend them just by sitting down. Edge to edge glass screens make even the smallest of drops fatal. If you're sick of such precious devices, consider something rugged instead, specifically designed to take a beating. Blackview has just the one for you: the BV8000 Pro, for a not unreasonable sum of $250. Is it worth it? Read on to find out, and enter to win a new Blackview BV8000 Pro!

Doogee Mix: Beautiful "Bezel-Less" Phone for under $200

James Bruce — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 16:30:14 GMT

Chinese phones have a reputation for being cheaper clones, but that's a broad and sweeping statement that's not always fair. In the case of the Doogee Mix however, it's almost entirely fair: the Doogee Mix is a clone of the Xiaomi Mi Mix. They didnt even bother to change the name, but they did change the price. Available in blue or black for less than $200, the Doogee Mix packs a good amount of power in a stylish design, alongside a 5.5 inch "bezel less" display. There's even a dual-sensor camera in there. Does this hit a sweet spot of value? We think so, but keep reading to find out more.

Blackview A9 Pro Review: Dual-Camera Sensor and Under $100

James Bruce — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 16:30:42 GMT

The A9 Pro is an ultra-budget smartphone at just $100 -- and it's even got a dual-sensor camera. With above-average photo quality, is this a great all round budget device? Read on to find out.

Xiaomi MiPad 3 Review

James Bruce — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 16:30:58 GMT

Outside of the Western world, Xiaomi is the king of Android. There's a very good reason for this: they make Apple-quality devices at half the price. The MiPad 3 is their latest offering to the mini tablet market, and follows on from previous successes.

How to Identify Which Apps Are Draining Your Battery on Android

Ben Stegner — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:30:16 GMT

Trying to squeeze more battery life out of your smartphone is a constant battle. It seems that every new app you install, plus regular system updates, negatively impacts how long your battery lasts. While there are certainly some big apps to avoid if you want to preserve battery life, sometimes you just don't know which apps are causing the problem.

Google Assistant Is Coming to More Smartphones

Dave Parrack — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 21:30:33 GMT

Google is beginning to roll Google Assistant out to more smartphones. Unfortunately, the majority of Android handsets are not included in this initial rollout. However, seeing as Google Assistant was previously only available on the Google Pixel, this is still a vast improvement.

How to Get Google Assistant on Non-Pixel Phones

Ben Stegner — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:30:26 GMT

Google's new Pixel phone is the successor to the Nexus line, and takes their place for getting new updates and features from Google first. We reviewed it favorably, and despite the high price point, it's arguably one of the best Android phones you can buy right now.

Get the New Google Pixel Features on Any Phone

Christian Cawley — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 21:00:00 GMT

Whether it flops or not, the $650 Google Pixel phone certainly looks like the next generation of Android smartphone hardware. Its unique features are tempting, but what if you can't afford a new phone?

Android Nougat's Quick Shortcuts Save You Time

Ben Stegner — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 14:30:55 GMT

Android Nougat is the newest version of Google's mobile operating system, and it contains plenty of cool features. Unfortunately, most Android devices don't have it yet, so unless you have a Nexus phone or Google's new Pixel device, you haven't experienced what Nougat has to offer.

Build Chart-Topping Android Apps with Lessons From Top-Rated Instructor Rob Percival

MakeUseOf Deals — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 18:30:20 GMT

With the right training, anyone can jump into a lucrative career as an app developer. And there's no better place to start than learning how to code for the world's most popular mobile OS: Android. We'd like to recommend The Complete Android N Developer Course from acclaimed instructor Rob Percival, available from MakeUseOf Deals for just $19.

7 Reasons You'll Want to Upgrade to Android Nougat

Christian Cawley — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:00:00 GMT

Android's latest update is upon us, but while you might be interested in Android 7.0 Nougat, there's a good chance that you're pretty happy with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. So why would you want to upgrade?

8 Best Apps for Customizing Nougat's Quick Settings Panel

Andy Betts — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 19:00:00 GMT

Android's Quick Settings panel received a welcome overhaul in Marshmallow, and with some major finessing in the latest version, it has turned into one of Nougat's most useful features.

How to Enable the Secret Night Mode in Android Nougat

Ben Stegner — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 13:30:21 GMT

Apps that change your screen's temperature to reduce eye strain are nothing new on the desktop, but they haven't seen as wide of an adoption on mobile. f.lux, a favorite for Windows, Mac, and Linux, is also available on Android, but requires root to work fully.

Android Nougat Navbar & More: Try These RRO Layers Themes

Christian Cawley — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 18:00:00 GMT

The preview of Android 7.0 Nougat, expected for release in Fall 2016, features a new navigation bar that fills in the triangle, circle, and square, while also adding Google colors around the circle.