Droid Life: Opinionated Android news.

Here’s the Sweet New Software Updates Page on Android 14 QPR1

Kellen October 5, 2023 9

Within the new Android 14 QPR1 Beta 2 update that dropped on Pixel phones today, a new "Software updates" page showed up that lets you know in a flashier way if your device is up-to-date or not. And we aren't just talking about system-level updates - this...

Original Pixel Watch Will Get Wear OS 4 Update “Later This Year”

Kellen October 5, 2023 6

There's a chance you watched the Pixel Watch 2 unveiling yesterday and said, "Cool, I'll stick with my original Pixel Watch." And that's fine! We don't all need to upgrade to the shiny new things whenever the shiny new things show up. But if you did decide to...

Samsung Wallet Gets Mobile Driver’s Licenses, Arizona and Iowa Will Have First Access

Tim October 5, 2023 9

Samsung announced this week that Samsung Wallet now supports mobile driver's licenses, a relatively new way to house and provide identification when shopping and traveling. This builds upon the work Samsung recently did with university IDs, which was only...

Android 14 QPR1 Beta 2 Update Released for Pixel Phones

Kellen October 5, 2023 5

Android 14 only arrived in stable form yesterday, but Google has another Android 14 update available for testing. The Android 14 QPR1 Beta 2 just dropped for those participating in the program and want to see some bugs squished. Like the previous build, Google...

Typhur’s Sous Vide Station Might Get Me to Finally Try Water Cooking

Tim October 5, 2023 16

Ever heard of Typhur? Before 2023, I was unaware of the company, but I was made familiar with their existence back when a close friend of mine showed me their own Typhur-made InstaProbe after I wouldn't shut up about my beloved MEATER smart meat thermometer....

Google Will Supply Pixel 8 Buyers With 7 Years of Spare Parts, Too

Tim October 5, 2023 20

Google is committed to 7 years of life for the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, whether you plan to use them that long or not. When news first hit that the latest Pixel phones would get 7 years of Android OS and security updates, many minds went directly to the...

$30 Galaxy SmartTag 2 Now Official With 500+ Day Battery Life

Tim October 5, 2023 15

We got our first look at the all new Galaxy SmartTag 2 back in July of this year when it passed through the FCC. Since then, we have been patiently awaiting its launch, and with Google taking over the news this week with new Pixels and Android 14, Samsung...

Google Confirms What We’ve Known: Pixel’s First Monday Update Schedule is Out

Kellen October 5, 2023 18

During yesterday's full reveal of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, hearing Google confirm that it was indeed committing to a full 7 years of updates, that includes Android OS upgrades, is still something I'm not sure we've wrapped our brains around. Updates on a...

How to Claim the $20 Verizon Outage Credit

Kellen January 15, 2026 18

Verizon announced today that it would give all of its customers a $20 credit after experiencing a 10-hour outage yesterday....

Read More
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 Just Released for Pixel Phones

Kellen January 14, 2026 18

Google has released Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 for all of its still-supported Pixel phones, tablets, and foldables. After...

Read More
Google Just Gave Gemini “Personal Intelligence”

Kellen January 14, 2026 18

Google's Gemini now has Personal Intelligence and can reason across your data, assuming you give it access. For AI as an...

Read More
2026 January Pixel Update Available for Your Pixel Phone

Kellen January 12, 2026 18

We've entered 2026 and the first Google Pixel update of the year is here. For those with a still-supported Pixel phone or...

Read More
Apple to Use Gemini to Power New Features on iPhone

Tim January 12, 2026 18

Google and Apple released a joint statement today, announcing a multi-year collab which will bring Gemini to Apple's...

Read More
Galaxy S25 Sales Going Up When It Should Be Going Down

Tim January 12, 2026 18

There's something funky going on with Samsung's Galaxy S25 series sales numbers. As one might imagine, after the first few...

Read More
Google Gave Your Gmail 3 Actually Useful Gemini Features for Free

Kellen January 8, 2026 18

Not that any of us expected Google to dial back on the Gemini push as we enter 2026, but I'm also not sure I anticipated them...

Read More
T-Mobile’s New “Better Value” Has Lots of Data and a 3-Line Requirement

Kellen January 7, 2026 18

T-Mobile announced its new Better Value plan with all of the data, included streaming perks, and a 3-line requirement. T-...

Read More

YouTube
Swipe

Google’s Latest Ad Pokes at iPhone for Copying Its Features, iPhone 17 Rumors

Kellen May 6, 2025 9

The iPhone 17 won't arrive for months, likely after Google releases its Pixel 10 series. For the most part, all talk around...

Read More
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen October 11, 2023 9

Some of you have been lucky enough to receive your Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro pre-orders a day early, thanks to Google's wildly...

Read More
Pixel Watch 2 Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen October 11, 2023 9

The Pixel Watch 2 has been on my wrist for a full week and my list of notes has only grown. I've tested sleep tracking, put...

Read More
Video: Galaxy Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5 Unboxing!

Tim July 27, 2023 9

Samsung was gracious enough to send us its latest foldables devices, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5. Naturally,...

Read More
Google Pixel 7a Unboxing and Tour!

Kellen May 10, 2023 9

Because the Google Pixel 7a is available today for you to run out and buy at $499, you may not want to wait around for our...

Read More
VIDEO: Galaxy S23 Ultra Unboxing!

Tim February 3, 2023 9

Unboxing time, baby! We have the Galaxy S23 Ultra in-house, a bit before they're set to make their way to buyers later this...

Read More
Pixel 7 Pro: First 10 Things to Do!

Tim October 13, 2022 9

Fancy new Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro just show up at your doorstep? Perfect, then this video is for you. As is tradition, we've...

Read More
Pixel Watch: First 10 Things To Do!

Kellen October 13, 2022 9

The day that most of you will receive your Google Pixel Watch from pre-orders is here. It's time for you to slap Google's...

Read More