How long should your phone last?

time smartphone

With flagship phones regularly pushing $1000 it’s no wonder why sales have started to stagnate while people strive to hold onto their devices as long as possible. Features like high refresh rate displays, quad camera setups, and foldable screens are all novel, but they’re ultimately things the majority can go without.

Phones, much like laptops, have reached a point of maturity where more isn’t necessarily better in terms of price to performance. From casual gaming to productivity, most devices are plenty capable of taking on today’s modern demands.

And if you’re like most consumers, you’ve begun to see this when stacking up your own device against the flash of advertisements for upcoming hardware. Even still, it’s natural to wonder exactly how long – whether the latest iPhone or dated Samsung – you can expect your phone to last.

Thankfully, as long as your device is relatively modern, you can go a good while before you’ll need to upgrade.

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Why do Samsung phones slow down?

why do samsung phones slow down

If you’ve ever used an Android phone during the early days of the mobile operating system, then you know just how wonky the overall experience could be. General jank, navigational stuttering, overheating, and slow speeds over time – the problems with most early Android phones made it hard not to jump to the land of iOS.

Of earlier models, Samsung Galaxy phones like the S4 were notoriously bad in terms of slowing down over time. Sure, most phones naturally degrade in performance over time, but there was (and still is to a certain extent) something about Samsung phones that made them age in the worst way possible.

Why is this?

Likely culprits exclusive to the Samsung lineup include its bundled feature set and user interface, but general issues related to aging hardware only compound the issue.

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Are iPhones faster than Android?

are iPhones faster than Android

The short of it: Modern flagship devices on both iOS and Android are incredibly fast. Most are overkill when stacked up against current app requirements. Differences in speed are mostly negligible and come down to your preference for navigation (quickness on Android vs fluidity on iPhones).

Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, the utility of speed has never been more useful. Writing documents, composing emails, capturing life’s moments, and generally keeping the flow of life intact – phones have never been more useful. These days, most people are using their phones as pocket sized computers instead of solely relying on them as a means of communication.

And when you find yourself in the moment of crucial multitasking, there are few things as annoying as running into a brick wall of lag or stuttering. While the majority of high end phones have matured in terms of speed, it’s still worth looking into whether or not your next device is ultimately up to the task.

Which begs the question: are iPhones faster than Android?

The answer, like most involving technology, is mostly ambiguous. In some aspects, the hardware delivered by Apple is superior to that found in Android device, but ultimately, speed is often a factor independent of a device’s hardware.

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Does Android have Siri?

does android have siri

Quick answer: No, Android phones do not support Siri. Siri, similar to apps like iMessage, is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem. The best alternative available on Android phones is Google Assistant.

Despite what reservations you may have about Apple, there’s no denying that the iPhone offers unmatched integration, fluidity, and useful features that are dead simple. One popular feature that most iOS devices offer is the inclusion of Siri. It is one slice of the digital assistant market, a sector that has been booming over the past few years.

What was once thought of as absurd and impractical has now become commonplace in the daily lives of users trying to make calls, send texts, set reminders, attain information, and automate in a general sense.

At this time, Siri is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem. This means those using Android phones (Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and so forth) will not be able to use the feature. Unlike various exclusive Android features, there is no unofficial APK (Android Package Kit) for Siri.

Why is Siri absent on Android?

Apple thrives on its exclusive suite of features and products, and making something so integral to its growing AI division wouldn’t make sense from a business perspective. The evolution also benefits the growth of Apple’s catalog of services and products.

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How to Share a Screenshot on Android

android sharing options

As Android has continued to progress in overall OS functionality, the mirroring of PC features has become more and more commonplace. For many, an Android phone or iPhone is their most used, and most useful, computer. And that is essentially what smartphones are these days – miniature pocket PCs.

One simple but immensely useful OS feature of Android is the ability to take a screenshot of what is currently on the screen. Whether one needs work related documentation, or simply a way to share something, taking a screen shot is a few button presses or swipes away in modern Android (Nougat, Oreo, Pie etc.).

Taking a screenshot with most Android phones requires one to either hold the power button or hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time. You can even take a screenshot with Google Assistant using the following command: “Hey Google, take a screenshot.”. But what if you want to share your screenshot with someone else, or email/upload it to one of your own accounts? This too is very simple.

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How to Access Your Voicemail on OnePlus 6 (Android 9.0)

oneplus 6 visual voicemail

Accessing your voicemail with the OnePlus 6 without using voicemail notifications, while seemingly hidden from plain view, is very simple. I myself am a new(ish) owner of the OnePlus 6, and didn’t have Android Oreo running on the phone too long, so keep in mind that I’m using Android Pie 9.0. I would imagine the navigation is similar in Oreo and prior OnePlus models, but it’s all in the details when it comes to major Android updates.

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Android Pie on OnePlus 6 and Behind

oneplus 6 black

I’ve owned the OnePlus 6 for about a week now, and while I want to do a full review after some more time with mid-range heartthrob, I will say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the transition from the Samsung Galaxy S7 thus far.

And with yesterday’s announcement of Android Pie’s (Android 9) official release for not only Google Pixel devices, but the Essential Phone as well, the rush of the honeymoon phase had a bit of fuel thrown into the fire.

This news, in conjunction with OnePlus’s prompt participation in the Android P beta, are signs that we could be seeing the official release of Android Pie for the OnePlus 6 sooner rather than later.

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Google Pixel 3: What I Want From the Titan of Search

It turns out that for all the care and attention you throw at an expensive modern smartphone, there’s always technological quirks right around the corner to provide free, and endless frustration.

For me, it’s a bug surrounding my Galaxy S7 that prevents cable charging due to a moisture detected message, and the irritation provided knows no bounds. It’s the reason I’ve been eyeing up the Google Pixel 3 as a possible candidate for a new phone, provided the issue doesn’t correct itself or I can’t troubleshoot it into oblivion.

It’s not the only reason the Pixel 3 looks so tempting, others include becoming fed up with the dreaded Samsung lag over time, Samsung’s slow updates, and an interest in experiencing a pure Android experience, or Android’s iPhone as I like to call it.

In the meantime I’ll be making due with wireless charging, and idealizing the perfect scenario for Google’s upcoming flagship.

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