Table of contents for 94 in Android Advisor

DuckDuckGo is a familiar and popular search engine for people who think their searches are their own business, and no one else’s. But your search history is only one small part of the online profile that advertisers create for you, whether you know it or not. DuckDuckGo already offers a mobile Privacy Browser, a Chromium-based alternative to the stock browser that doesn’t do any of the usual snooping. But DuckDuckGo recently went even further, announcing that it’s going to rein in the tracking behaviour of every other app on your phone, too. The feature is called App Tracking Protection (fave.co/3d6u09D), and it’ll be baked into the existing DuckDuckGo browser for Android. Essentially it’s going to replicate one of the most popular new features for iOS: giving users the direct ability…

Price: £1,349 from fave.co/3H5GJqQ Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2 smartphone poses a problem. When we choose to review a product, we try to do so objectively. We test the device, compare it to others in its class, and then advise readers whether we think they should buy it or not. That’s still the goal. But the negative response to the Surface Duo as well as the mediocre offerings that accompanied the waning days of Windows Phone era certainly tarnished Microsoft’s reputation in the smartphone space. I think it’s important to acknowledge that scepticism, and apply it with a fresh eye towards some key questions: Does the Surface Duo 2 succeed as part of the Windows ecosystem? How does it compare to other Android phones? Does it solve the issues that…

There are so many good phones to choose from right now but which one is the king of the castle? Is there even a winner? In truth, there’s no one perfect choice for everyone, so bear in mind that the best phone for you might not be number one in our chart. Phones come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Here, we have ranked and reviewed the best phones money can buy. While you’re going to find established brands like Google and Samsung in this list, you might not be familiar with every phone-maker we’ve recommended. With that said, trust us – these phones are all top-notch. When choosing a phone you should consider these things: build quality and design, ease of use, features, performance and value. Generally speaking, a flagship…

One of the best parts of using a Pixel is the way tasty little specks of Google intelligence get sprinkled all throughout the experience. Those small but significant morsels show off the value of having Google’s greatest ingredients integrated right into your phone’s operating system, without any competing forces or awkwardly conflicting priorities at play. And that makes a world of difference. The features in question may not always be the most eye-catching or marketing-friendly advantages, but they’re incredibly practical touches that can make your life easier in some pretty powerful ways. Here, we’re going to zoom into an especially possibility-packed part of the Pixel’s software set-up, and that’s the Android Overview area. The simple-seeming interface for switching between recently used apps is overflowing with advanced actions on a Pixel…

Price: £519 from fave.co/3xqd8ns Even by Nubia’s standards, 2021 was a busy year for the Red Magic line. The Red Magic 6 series saw the introduction of a new Pro model, even if remains exclusive to China. It then launched a more affordable option – the Red Magic 6R – combining premium specs with a more muted design. Now, there’s the Red Magic 6S series. However, this time only the Pro model is getting a global launch. It’s the most expensive Red Magic phone we’ve seen launch outside China, but it’s still considerably more affordable than flagship phones from Samsung. As a gaming phone, though, can the Red Magic 6S Pro challenge the Asus ROG Phone 5 despite being significantly cheaper? Let’s find out. DESIGN There are no real surprises…

What a long, strange trip it’s been. From its inaugural release to today, Android has transformed visually, conceptually and functionally – time and time again. Google’s mobile operating system may have started out scrappy, but it’s certainly evolved. Here’s a fast-paced tour of Android version highlights from the platform’s birth to present. ANDROID VERSIONS 1.0 TO 1.1: THE EARLY DAYS Android made its official public debut in 2008 with Android 1.0 – a release so ancient it didn’t even have a codename. Things were pretty basic back then, but the software did include a suite of early Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Calendar and YouTube, all of which were integrated into the operating system – a stark contrast to the more easily updatable standalone-app model employed today. ANDROID VERSION 1.5:…

Android 12 is full of handy features, but there’s a new arrival you can make even more useful with a quick bit of customization. I’m talking about the Quick Tap system introduced on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and also now available on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. Quick Tap, in case you haven’t yet discovered it, is a splendid new shortcut system connected to physical presses of your favourite app icon. Once you set it up, you can simply tap twice on the back of your Pixel’s body to trigger a specific action on the phone. It’s a smart time-saver and a fantastic way to create your own fast-access shortcut to whatever function you want. The problem is just that the list of available options…

Price: £499 from fave.co/3wlwsSr The Xiaomi 11T is one of the first phones to land in the west without the classic ‘Mi’ branding. It was released alongside its slightly pricier and fancier sister handset, the Xiaomi 11T Pro. The phone is remarkably similar to the Xiaomi Mi 11, albeit with a few tweaks including faster-charging speeds, a refreshed design and a slightly different camera set-up. I’ve been testing out the Xiaomi 11T over the last few weeks to see how it holds up under day-to-day use. DESIGN The Xiaomi 11T comes in a choice of three colours: Moonlight White, Celestial Blue and Meteorite Gray. Sadly, the design is uninspiring and generic – it’s hard to tell this phone apart from the ever-growing market. Make no mistake, this is a big and chunky phone, measuring 164.1x76.9x8.8mm,…