Andrew Romero is a North Carolina-based journalist specializing in Android and Google news, reviews, and in-depth analysis. With a keen eye for detail honed from his previous career as a CNC machinist, Andrew possesses a unique appreciation for hardware and the intricate engineering behind the technology we use daily.
He brings this passion to his coverage, offering insightful perspectives on the latest devices, software updates, and the evolving Google ecosystem. When he’s not diving into the world of tech, Andrew can be found tackling the trails on his mountain bike, enjoying the natural beauty of his home state of North Carolina alongside his wife.
Andrew is active on Twitter – @chaosromero – but can also be found on Threads – @organizedchaos50.
Emails are open at andrew@9to5mac.com
Spotify announced that it would be increasing its Premium subscription pricing in a few key regions, but the hike, which seems clockwork-like, excludes the US.
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Samsung’s engineering is brought into question every single year when a new foldable lineup comes out, and every year, things get just a little bit better. The brand-new Galaxy Z Flip 7 goes through the same torture tests, and it just won’t give in.
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After announcing an expansion to bring satellite talk and text to users across the US, T-Mobile has officially purchased US Cellular. The company will absorb all existing customers and a handful of employees top continue expanding the existing network.
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Android devices are not what they used to be. Eventually, they caught up to one particular fruit-themed OEM and then surpassed it in many ways. Still, habit is hard to break for some, and it seems like the overarching stigma is that Android phones are weak, susceptible, and terribly designed. At least, that’s what some are being told when buying an Android phone.
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Verizon is, once again, gearing up for a price increase across the board, affecting most, if not, all of its customers. That includes plan pricing and activation fees. On top of that, beloved Google Play perks are going away, really nailing the coffin tight.
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Solid evidence that Samsung is looking to make lineup changes for its Galaxy devices is mounting. A recent earnings call from the company detailed an earlier launch for what might be Samsung’s new base model Galaxy S device – the Galaxy S25 FE.
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As a long-time Galaxy Watch Classic fan, I’ve been sitting idly by for the past two years waiting to see what Samsung does for the next generation. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic clearly brings Samsung into a new era of design, cementing what one previous model set up last year, and it’s for the better.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, and Flip 7 FE were just announced, set for pre-order, and launched within the last month. Just a few days after the official, widespread launch, Samsung is pushing a software update to these devices, including the Z Fold 7.
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Many users have been excited about Samsung’s new foldables, but the last expected mouthpiece for Samsung’s praises seems to be Apple. Apple’s official support page on a Chinese social platform has posted a Galaxy Z Flip 7 promo video, very likely by accident.
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As Galaxy S26 leaks have started to mound, one more added to the pile indicates that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could decrease in thickness. It might not get a bigger battery, but charging speed could increase up to 60W. That, among display, and camera changes, may prompt some excitement for the company’s most expensive slab phone.
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It’s quite possible that the sudden and mostly unexpected Galaxy S25 Edge release was a precursor to a larger lineup change. Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch a Galaxy S26 series with subtly different variation names, opting to use the “Edge” moniker in the flagship trio alongside a curious new Galaxy S26 “Pro” model.
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We’re learning that Samsung’s sudden launch of One UI 8 on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be the new normal, according to a new leak. Samsung is reportedly looking to change how it debuts its latest software, and it looks like Galaxy S devices won’t be key.
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In case you missed it, a massive Pixel 10 leak left little to the imagination, with a slew of “Moonstone” devices on display, including the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
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The 200MP main camera sensor in the Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly be the same one we’ve seen for generations, though a minor change to the housing itself might mean a substantial jump in performance.
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Samsung Wallet is adding a “buy now, pay later” installment feature that will appear alongside your credit cards during transactions. Where Google has rolled out a similar feature, this option appears to be available for in-store contactless payments.
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The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is already shipping to those who pre-ordered the phone, but if you’re waiting for a better deal to come around, you may have found it. Samsung is upgrading Galaxy Z Fold 7 trade-in discounts for the last day – today.
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YouTube is starting to implement GenAI into its Shorts creation hub, with new features like photo-to-video generation and an arsenal of AI-powered video effects powered by the company’s second-best generation model. Not to mention, YouTube’s new AI Playground adds full-on content generation.
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Prior to launching next month, the first few leaked images of Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold have surfaced online, making an appearance in two of Google’s more appealing colorways that have already been seen on the non-folding version’s renders.
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As much as I have always loved having a robot vacuum around that connects to my Google Home ecosystem, I’ve still always felt like they fall short in small ways. The X8 Pro Omni from Ecovacs finally feels like an option that doesn’t, and that’s all you need.
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Getting the newest devices in and the latest version of Android on-device go hand-in-hand, but Samsung’s newest Galaxy watch 8 isn’t exactly ready to handle the latest beta version of Android.
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The Galaxy Unpacked event ended with Samsung launching several new devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8 series. Users are now reporting that their orders are shipping as we get closer to the end of the pre-order period.
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Samsung stuck to its set pattern and released a Classic edition for the Galaxy Watch 8 series two years after the last model. But what’s actually different between the more traditional Watch 6 Classic and Samsung’s newest flagship? Does it come down to software alone, or is it worth it to make the jump a couple of generations?
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As expensive as YouTube TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket package is, it’s no wonder some users seem to be cancelling their subscriptions halfway through the year. User reports indicate that cancellations are causing discounts to show up in their inboxes.
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In the wake of several years where Samsung had decidedly changed very little in the way of device thickness, the company has officially reached a halfway point. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is half the size of the original Galaxy Fold, and that’s something to celebrate.
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