Android Faithful

We're still reeling from the roller coaster launch of Android 17 but we're doing our best to hold our own as Florence Ion, Ron Richards and Huyen Tue Dao ponder the new OS beta along with more AirDrop/QuickShare news and lots of new phones to discuss!Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:02:30 - NEWSThe first beta for Android 17 was released after a bit of back and forth from GoogleQuickShare is making adjustments to be more like AirDrop and AirDrop compatibility is available for Pixel 9s!PATRON PICK: Unlock the Android Auto Developer Options for more control of your in-car experience!00:32:13 - HARDWAREThere's leaks of the upcoming Google Pixel 10A and the colors are delightful and the EU shows the battery life is impressive!Could it be? Could NVIDIA be working on a NEW NVIDIA Shield TV device?Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is coming and that means that all the specs for the upcoming S26 line have leaked along with a possible glimpse of the WIDE Foldable? Is it wider than the Pixel Fold?And some new phones in the world with the Tecno Pova Curve 2 and the global release of the Huawei Mate 80 Pro  00:58:03 - APPSNow you can pin tabs on Chrome on Android!Looks like Now Playing will graduate to a full app but maybe for Pixels only?Nothing's Playground launches letting you vibe code your own widgets with AI, but is it any good?01:10:40 - COMMUNITY FEEDBACKChris K writes in for an AirDrop like experience via PushBullet@MColey on Threads shares how their family uses AirDrop on iOS to share photos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Ron gone (in Portland for pinball, don't worry), Jason Howell, Florence Ion, and Huyen Tue Dao do their best to hold down the fort. From Android desktop UI leaks to Nvidia's masterful 10 year (and counting) run with the Shield, to a live unboxing of the new Motorola Moto Watch, everything you need for Android bliss is right here.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:02:33 - NEWSAndroid’s full desktop interface leaks: New status bar, Chrome ExtensionsChromeOS will be ‘phased out’ in 2034 as Android PCs arrive late, court docs suggestGoogle releases ‘Desktop Camera’ app that’s seemingly for Android PCsAndroid 16 is off to a strong start in Google's latest usage breakdownGoogle Pixel expected to see ‘strongest growth’ in 2026, report saysPatron Pick: Motorola is getting away with zero OS updates thanks to regulatory loophole00:36:11 - HARDWAREMotorola Moto Watch first lookThere won’t be a Nothing Phone 4 this yearNothing’s next over-ear headphones reportedly cost around $150, launching in MarchNothing Phone 4a series leak reveals launch date, and it's just weeks awayInside Nvidia’s 10-year effort to make the Shield TV the most updated Android device ever00:58:12 - APPSGemini in navigation is now available for walking and cycling in Google Maps.Fitbit's co-founders are back with a new app, and you can sign up for the limited betaThis free app turns your Android phone into an iPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rumors swirl about a popular manufacturer's demise but we see right through it plus the latest Gemini news that Google has to offer to keep Jason Howell, Florence Ion and Ron Richards amused in the key of Android for another week!Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:05:05 - NEWSWe've got Q4 2025 smartphone market data and it shows growth!ASUS confirmed no new phones this year and maybe even beyond 2026Also, news of OnePlus's demise may have been overwrought, but there's definitely something happening in Oppo-landThe latest from Google and Gemini is called Personal Intelligence and Jason got the advanced look at it!Patron Pick: Smartphones are likely going to be more expensive this year and here's why...00:35:50 - HARDWARESomeone's Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold already broke...oops.Honor is hard at work ripping off the iPhone Air, making a wacky camera phone with Porsche and Jason compared the Honor Magic8 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra at the Grand Canyon!The new battery king might be the RealMe P4 Power with a 10,001 mAh battery!00:51:46 - APPSGoogle is looking to amp up MagicCue thanks to Google Wallet and TasksNeed a quicker answer from Gemini? Google has a button for that.There are some major upgrades to Voice Search from Google featuring, you guessed it, Gemini.Nova Launcher lives again with a new owner! And now there will be ads, but that's ok!01:03:02 - FEEDBACKRobert from Alaska blesses us with the discovery of the rugged phone Xever 7 Pro from RugOne, and it's a doozy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back from the holidays and ready to dive into 2026 for Android and what better way to start than with CES? Florence Ion, Huyen Tue Dao and Ron Richards break down all the Android related news coming out of Las Vegas and we get hands-on reports from Jason Howell on the scene at CES 2026!Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:05:58 - CES NEWSWe've got all the Android related CES news at AndroidFaithful.com!Google showed up at CES and put Android XR on the Sphere, made some Google TV announcements and extended their partnership with XREALSamsung had a lot to say about AI, but that's okay because everyone fell in love with the Samsung Galaxy Z TrifoldPatron Pick: GE Lighting’s new Matter-compatible smart shades impressed the patrons!00:40:05 - CES HARDWAREClicks made a big splash with the Clicks Communicator but the Clicks Power Keyboard is the sneaky winnerWatch lovers rejoice, the Pebble Round 2 has arrivedTCL continues their NXTPAPER devices with the NxtPaper 70 Pro Phone and Note A1 NXTPAPERIt's real and it's delightful, the Honor Robot AI Phone was on the sceneFor something minimal, european and secure, check out the Punkt MC03 phone, with a subscription 01:21:21 - NON-CES NEWSGoogle makes a major change to the Android Open Source Project release scheduleMotorola's upcoming Razr Foldable phone design leaksASUS may be getting out of the smartphone business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another glorious week on the Android Faithful podcast with Jason Howell reviewing a 32" tablet, Mishaal flexing his Google sleuthing muscles all over Android 17, and Huyen bringing the TURBO to 2026!Don't forget the 2025 Annual Podcast Kudos (APKs!!!) You can vote for your favorite phones and news stories at https://bit.ly/2025apks - Voting closes on 12/22 at 11:59pm ET!Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor0:05:18 - NEWSGoogle and Apple partner on better Android-iPhone switchingGalaxy Z TriFold Becomes Instant Hit, Sold Out Within MinutesAndroid 17 may finally add the native App Lock feature Pixel users have been waiting forAndroid 17 could mimic this helpful iOS feature to reduce motion sicknessPatron pick: Google's Stadia controller just got a big upgrade courtesy of Steam0:32:25 - HARDWAREJason reviews the KTC 32" Android TabletOnePlus says its upcoming ‘Turbo’ gaming phones are ‘frighteningly strong’Return of 4GB RAM in smartphones by 2026 amidst DRAM crisis2026 Smartphone Shipment Forecasts Revised Down as Memory Shortage Drives BoM Costs Up0:52:09 - APPSInstagram hands you the keys to control 'Your Algorithm' in Reels, plans to expandBringing state-of-the-art Gemini translation capabilities to Google Translate0:59:35 - FEEDBACKJeff is having Pixel 10 Qi2 issuesHilton thinks monochrome icons make Android less usableMorgan shares a (long) report on Google's sub-par customer service Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're kicking off the last month of 2025 with Florence Ion, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards pondering everything from multi-tasking to foldables to earbuds and whether or not icons should be themed or as the developer intended them to be? So many questions to start the end of 2025...Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:03:20 - NEWSThe last Pixel / Android Drop of 2025 has arrived and we've got all the details of Android 16 QPR2Google is hyping the next wave of news from Android XR coming next weekThe wait is over! The OnePlus 15 is going on-sale for pre-orders in the US on December 4th and you can get a free smartwatch or earbuds in the process!Patron Pick: 90:10 Split-Screen multitasking in Android is brilliant… so why do I almost never use it?00:44:18 - HARDWAREIt's finally happening, Samsung quietly announces the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold (yes it's just called the Trifold)Flo's End of 2025 hardware picks for Ear Buds are in and they've got blingSony unveiled their 200 Megapixel camera sensor and it's going to be in phones soon01:10:14 - APPSGoogle may be getting ride of the Weather app! Netflix got rid of Casting support!MKBHD's wallpaper app is shutting down! 01:20:52 - FEEDBACKMatt from Louisville provides an amusing solve to the lack of Gemini features for his Pixel BudsMike from Ohio shares how Google Photos and AI helped make some memorable photos for his familyCraig K. ponders how sustainable the Fairphone actually is... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a big episode full of first looks, glimpses and glances as Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards gear up for everything from AI to OnePlus, Samsung, Motorola and more this week in the world of Android.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:02:13 - NEWSGemini 3 has landed and here's how Mishaal put it to the testMore developments in the Google Sideloading emotional rollercoasterAndroid apps are coming to Steam?Android 17 updates focusing on alternate app stores, gaming controllers and contacts management privacyPatron Pick: Android is about to get better facial recognition00:39:45 - HARDWAREThe official Android Faithful OnePlus 15 ReviewUnboxing the Moto G Play 2026, a nice low end phoneThe Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold gets another pre-release update01:02:38 - APPSGoogle Play announced the best games and apps of 2025!Google's attempt at Apple's NameDrop might be coming to Android soon?Predictive weather gets a boost from Google's WeatherNext 2 model on Pixel Weather01:15:11 - FEEDBACKJoey checks in now that he got his new Pebble WatchJoseph wants to know if the Onn 4k Pro is a good buy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.