Table of contents for Issue 47 in Android Advisor

CES may be all about consumer electronics, but sadly that doesn’t really include phones. Most companies hold off until the spring to unveil their newest handsets, and there hasn’t been a big Android splash at CES since Google unveiled the Nexus One back in 2010. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any Android news coming out of Las Vegas last month. While the Intel-AMD love affair and Google Assistant-powered speakers such as Lenovo’s Smart Display (see page 32 for our hands-on) might have snagged most of the headlines, Android fans still found enough cool things on the show floor to entertain them. Here’s a look at what you might have missed. 1. Moto Mods Moto Mods were all the rage a year ago, but the fad isn’t completely over. During…

£699 inc VAT from fave.co/2rJmXOY As expected, HTC is back with some new smartphones including a bigger and better version of the U11 flagship. It’s onwards and upwards for the firm following its deal with Google. Design As you’d expect from a ‘Plus’ version of any phone, the U11+ is a bigger version of the U11. It’s got a bigger screen, of course, but there are a few other design bits and pieces that are new. The device still has the same design language with HTC’s ‘Liquid Surface’ curved glass at the back. This time round there are two colours to choose from starting with Ceramic Black, which to our eyes in real life looks more like chrome/silver. A Translucent Black option, as teased ahead of the launch, is a…

If your phone runs Android, and you are interested in buying a smartwatch, your journey begins with answering a single fundamental question: Samsung Gear or Android Wear? Sure, there are other smartwatch platforms that work with Android phones, but Gear (perhaps best represented by the Gear S3) and Android Wear (represented by watches too numerous to mention) have the most mature ecosystems and refined hardware. Google’s Android Wear platform has strong third-party app support, and if you opt for a Wear watch, you can choose from a wide variety of models in all shapes, sizes and styles. Samsung, meanwhile, has gone its own way with its Gear smartwatch line-up. These watches run Samsung software, and adhere strictly to the Samsung ecosystem, but also offer some benefits that Wear watches do…

Every Android phone is different, and so is taking screenshots with them. Even though Android 4 introduced screenshots for all with the power-and-volume-down-key combo, nailing it can still be tricky. That’s why some phone makers have introduced new methods. We’re here to help: just find your Android phone on the list below to learn the various ways to snap, share, and save a screenshot. Acer phones • Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds. • Pull down the notification panel to reach quick settings and tap the Screenshot icon. Asus phones • Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds. • Pull down the notification panel to reach quick settings and tap the Screenshot icon. Google phones • Nexus: Hold down…

Another CES, another Razer prototype. Unlike last year’s three-screened laptop Project Valerie, Razer’s Project Linda is something that might actually make it to market. Project Linda is a dock for your Razer Phone (page 57) in the form of a laptop. Razer’s approach might have taken inspiration from the clamshell-like Lap Dock (originally called the Mobile Extender) that shipped as an option for HP’s Elite x3 Windows phone. That phone is dead, though, so Razer has an opportunity to reincarnate the idea on a more successful phone platform. I’m optimistic: Project Linda is only a prototype, but it’s the best I’ve seen from Razer. Hybrid hardware Because it uses the processing power of the Razer Phone, there isn’t much inside Project Linda. The form factor mimics the Razer Blade Stealth…

£259 inc VAT from fave.co/2nh34ub Long has the Moto G line of budget smartphones been considered excellent. Not just at Android Advisor but worldwide, we’ve come to expect a lot of phone for not a lot of money when the latest one comes out. There are only two real differences between the older G5 Plus and this newer G5S Plus – the larger screen and dual cameras. Thankfully, the G5S Plus continues the trend and is the best Moto has ever made. It costs a little more than you might expect, but the extra money is worth it for a phone that packs dual cameras, decent battery life with fast charging, a sleek design and offers superb performance. Design We prefer the design of the G5S Plus to the rest…

Earbud makers have been busy doing away with wires – a good thing whether or not your phone still has a headset jack. You no longer have to deal with cords if you don’t want to. True wireless earbuds connect to one another and your audio source via Bluetooth. No wires mean no inline microphones or controls, but truly wireless earbuds sound just as good as traditional Bluetooth counterparts (for better or worse). They also boast all of the features we’ve come to expect from earbuds designed to work with your smartphone, tablet, or PC. Since Apple’s AirPods became a runaway hit, an endless stream of companies have rolled out their own true wireless earbuds and earphones. As you might expect, not all of them are worth your time or…

Technically, Nvidia did not announce any smart TVs at CES. Instead, it revealed a set of 65in monitors that it’s calling Big Format Gaming Displays (BFGD). Built by Acer, Asus, and HP – but all using the same 4K HDR panel – they’re supposed to bring high-end PC gaming into the lounge. But if you look past the gaming elements, Nvidia’s BFGDs could become the best smart TVs that money can buy when they arrive in the second half of this year. Their display quality rivals some of the best televisions from companies like Samsung, they use a fancy variable refresh rate technology that no other television has yet, and they have the guts of an Nvidia Shield TV – arguably the best media streamer on the market today –…

Amazon has brought put a screen on an Echo device in June last year, with the Echo Show (though it took a few months longer to reach the UK). Now, more than half a year later, Google has finally caught up, partnering with third-party manufacturers to build its own Echo Show rivals powered by Google Assistant. LG, JBL, and other manufacturers are all working on Google Assistant devices with displays, but the most impressive so far is the Lenovo Smart Display. We went hands-on with the new device at CES 2018, and here’s what we thought. Price The Lenovo Smart Display doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but it’s expected to arrive – in the US at least – in “early summer”. We’re not sure yet if other markets…

£699 inc VAT from fave.co/2DkqeZJ Following its acquisition of Nextbit, gaming brand Razer has entered the smartphone market with a device aimed at gamers. Called the Razer Phone, it offers incredible tech not found on any other handsets on the market including a 120Hz Quad HD display capable of offering double the frame rate of the likes of the iPhone X, Pixel 2 and more. It’s a great concept, but has Razer done enough to cement its place in the smartphone market? Read on to find out. Design Let’s be honest, the Razer Phone won’t be winning any smartphone design awards when compared to the likes of the iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S8 or OnePlus 5T. The rather angular, blocky design that the Razer Phone employs is oddly reminiscent of…

Locked out of your phone? Don’t panic. While lock screens are deliberately hard to get into by design, we’ve got a couple of potential ways you can get around them. Android Device Manager The most immediate solution that springs to mind is to use the Android Device Manager. You’ll need to log into your google account for this, and it will only work on the more modern devices, though but you can access this service from any device you’d like. If the service has picked up your device then click the“Lock button. You will then be asked to enter a new passcode that will replace the current locking method on the phone. Tap the lock button again to confirm the new code. If the Device Manager isn’t picking up your…