Table of contents for 33 in Android Advisor

Along with its new Pixel smartphones (read our review of the Google Pixel on page 42) and Daydream View VR headset (see page 101), Google has launched Android 7 Nougat as the latest version of its mobile operating system. Here we reveal the best new features. 1. Faster multi-tasking It’s something we’ve been waiting to get in Android for ages (perhaps Google saw our requests) and now you can finally double tap the recent apps buttons (the square) to switch between your two last apps. 2. Split-screen mode A number of Android phones have offered this kind of feature for a while but Google has brought it to stock Android at long last. To open the split-screen mode, long press the recent apps button (the square) when you have an…

£399 • oneplus.net/uk OnePlus is a company that doesn’t much like its reputation in the smartphone business as a plucky upstart. Yet that’s what it is, competing as it ;must with the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google for the crown of best smartphone in the world. The OnePlus 3, launched in June 2016, was a sublime blend of design and performance for just over £300 but nevertheless, here’s our OnePlus 3T review. So it’s odd that just five months later OnePlus has ended production of that handset, sticking to it’s motto of ‘never settle’ and released this upgraded version of the same phone, the OnePlus 3T. The company that prides itself on listening to its fans’ reaction to its products has boldly dared to update a handset that people…

Announced back in June 2016, the Moto Z was launched alongside the Moto Z Force, a phone with a screen that is ‘unbreakable’. Motorola has no plans to launch the Z Force in the UK, but the Moto Z is now here, along with the Moto Z Play (page 78). Price Motorola originally announced a price of £529.99, but the Moto Z now starts at £499 from Motorola’s website. It’s undeniably expensive, especially when compared to the £370 Moto Z Play, but it’s cheaper than plenty of other flagship phones and the Moto Z is every inch a flagship phone, including the Galaxy S7, Google Pixel XL and iPhone 7. However, to keep things in context it’s £50 more than the Huawei P9 and £70 more than its modular rival,…

For use with its new Pixel smartphones, Google has released its first VR headset: the Daydream View. Price Rather than a fully fledged VR headset such as the HTC Vive, the Daydream View is a headset with which you look at a smartphone through built-in lenses. It’s a step up from Google’s popular cardboard VR and a rival to the likes of Samsung’s Gear VR. Plus, because it doesn’t contain a huge amount of tech, its price is low. Design The Daydream View is one of the most attractive headsets we’ve seen with its fabric covering on the outside. It’s available in three colours: Slate (see right), Snow and Crimson. Google said it’s worked hard on creating a cosy feel and it’s certainly done this with the ‘jersey fabric’ finish.…

Qualcomm has announced that its next-generation flagship processor will be the Snapdragon 835, not the Snapdragon 830 and it will be made in partnership with Samsung with a 10nm method. The firm joked at its Snapdragon Tech Summit in New York that the reason behind the name is that more people would pick it over the 830. The firm also announced Quick Charge 4 at the event. “We can’t speak about future plans and the roadmap but you’ll just have to trust us that the 835 makes sense,” explained Keith Kressin, senior vice president of product management at Qualcomm Technologies. The other big news around the Snapdragon 835 is that it will be manufactured in partnership with Samsung, which has made the Snapdragon 820 and 821 during a decade-long collaboration.…

Snapchat Spectacles are one-size-fits-all sunglasses with built-in always-on cameras. They are available in Coral, Teal or Black. Its developer says they operate like any other sunglasses, and the lenses are not polarised. Also note that Spectacles are not waterproof, so don’t take them swimming. By pressing a button on the front of the glasses you can record a 10-second stream of what you see with a 115-degree field of view; a second press will capture a 30-second stream. A ring of LEDs around the camera will let those around you know you are recording. The resulting circular video streams are transferred wirelessly to Memories on Snapchat – using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on an iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8+, and Wi-Fi on an Android 4.3+ device with BLE and…

Joining the ranks of the Pixel C and Chromebook Pixel are Google’s new Pixel phones. The new Pixel and XL take over from Google’s Nexus phone range and – like other Pixel devices – isn’t cheap. But at £599 from Google’s online store it’s no more expensive than flagships from Apple and Samsung: just don’t expect the same kind of unbelievable value you got from the Nexus 4 and 5 (and the similarly unbelievably good-value OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T phones). And unlike the lower specifications in the Nexus 5X compared to the Nexus 6P, Google hasn’t done that here: the Pixel is simply a shrunk down Pixel XL with essentially the same hardware inside: cameras, processor and connectivity are all identical. Price You may see the Pixel as a…

Following on from the success of its hidden games inside Facebook Messenger such as football keep ups and basketball, the firm has launched a fully-fledged gaming feature called Instant Games to its chat service. The firm describes it as a new ‘gaming tab’ inside the app that allows you to challenge your friends and family at a number of games. It’s simple enough to play if you follow the steps below, making sure you’ve updated to the latest version in your app store first. Play games on Open or start a conversation (groups included) Tap on the game controller icon Choose the game you want to play Games list With over 1.2bn games of the basketball game played, launching Instant Games is the next logical step. The feature is rolling…

At it’s Snapdragon Tech Summit in New York, Qualcomm officially announced Quick Charge 4 ahead of its release in 2017. It is the leading charging method in more than 300 accessories and 100 devices. The headline feature is something called ‘5 in 5’ meaning you can get five hours worth of battery life from just a five-minute long charge. Quick Charge will be available via the upcoming Snapdragon 835 (see page 4) processor that Qualcomm has given the first details on. Thanks to technologies such as ‘Dual Charge’, ‘typical premium phone users’ can expect to see up to 20 percent faster charging and 30 percent higher efficiency compared to Quick Charge 3.0. “As mobile devices become more capable and feature rich, people tend to use them more. That’s why consumer…

If Father Christmas is about to bring you a shiny new gadget for Christmas, or you’re buying one for someone else, you’re probably not thinking about what to do if there’s a problem. The new Consumer Rights Act covers things like faulty products and late deliveries, and we explain the law so you know how to return a product for replacement or refund. Computers and gadgets do fail from time to time, so it’s important that you know your rights. Almost all products come with at least a year’s warranty but, depending on exactly when the problem arises, you might need to deal with the retailer rather than the manufacturer itself. In October 2015, the new Consumer Rights Act became law and it replaced the 1979 Sale of Goods Act,…

I’ve long been a fan of Xiaomi products, but have always had one problem with its phones: for UK users who don’t speak Chinese and are familiar with Google services they can be confusing. Having to install Google Play and associated Google apps such as Gmail yourself, install an English keyboard and uninstall or hide away into the folders all the Chinese-language apps preinstalled on the device is too much of a push for less technical users, and the Chinese notifications that continue to pop up merely add to the confusion. In fairness Xiaomi phones aren’t intended to be sold in the UK, and it’s not its fault if we don’t speak the same language. However, with that in mind I’m extremely pleased to see GearBest is stocking the International…