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
The increased cost of memory components is having the expected effect on devices, raising their costs for consumers. An interesting report points out some nuance to that, predicting that cheap Android devices will get hit much harder than your standard flagship.
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Google’s Find Hub ecosystem is starting to get filled out as accessory brands like UAG are starting to release their first trackers compatible with the location database. UAG’s new tracker card for Android is already available for $45.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series has been as much as $900 during the phone’s pre-order period. Unfortunately, that early deal phase is coming to an end this week, meaning getting significantly boosted trade-in deals and promotional discounts won’t be nearly as easy after Wednesday.
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As another year goes by without OnePlus’ second foldable phone, its sister company, Oppo, is getting ready for its fifth release. New Oppo Find N6 leaks give a glimpse of the Android foldable in stunning colors, including orange.
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Valve got tons of folks excited about its new Steam Machine, catering to gamers who want a familiar library and experience stuffed into a console that was supposed to release in 2025. Well, that reality might be farther off than expected.
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Claude is gaining significant traction, with a new report stating that the company is seeing in excess of one million user signups on a daily basis. If that trend continues, it could surpass other AI firms like OpenAI.
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The mobile Amazon Fire TV experience is taking on a new look with a few thoughtful UI changes and smart features that look genuinely exciting. Amazon says the experience will come in the form of a free update for users.
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Following an update to how ChatGPT models react to users, OpenAI is rolling out an even newer version to cater to complex problems with ChatGPT-5.4.
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OnePlus’ upcoming compact Android phone is getting some extra power, with the company confirming the OnePlus 15T will house a 7,500mAh battery.
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A recent lawsuit was filed against Google this week, alleging wrongful death caused by the company’s AI model. Google has since put out a statement in response to the lawsuit that presents a case where Gemini was able to convince Jonathan Gavalas to live out real-life dangerous missions, and ultimately end his life.
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OpenAI announced that it’s rolling out an update, bringing the model to ChatGPT-5.3 Instant. The update is said to prevent the model from focusing on lead-up explanations, with the goal of providing more concise and consistent help.
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Galaxy devices will receive another One UI security update soon as Samsung makes the March 2026 security patch official with important fixes.
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The YouTube app for Android and iOS is currently suffering from an irritating bug that doesn’t seem to be new. The bug places ads over YouTube videos that can’t be dismissed.
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There seems to have been a mistake, and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 base model and Ultra variant are shipping with a display capable of 8-bit color, instead of 10-bit. This was always supposed to happen, but Samsung initially said the phone would offer support for more colors.
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Samsung is adopting the Aliro smart lock standard, run by the same team responsible for Matter. In Samsung Wallet, a new Digital Home Key function will be able to unlock your compatible smart locks with NFC and UWB technology.
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The Galaxy S26 Ultra is set to start shipping next week, but one user reportedly received their model a little early.
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The Motorola Razr Fold doesn’t need to get the leak treatment right before it’s announced because the company already gave us a sneak peek at the beginning of the year. What wasn’t known, however, was what Motorola’s flashy FIFA special edition Razr Fold would look like.
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This is the second time Google has adjusted how privacy icons appear in the status bar recently. This time, Android 17 Beta 2 simplifies the privacy icons with more instantly recognizable designs.
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Android 17 Beta 2 has officially been released by Google. Its aim seems to be privacy, as new features like a limited-access contact picker and EyeDropper API are bundled in this early Android 17 beta build.
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Whether it’s because of increased chip costs, inflation, or a combination of both, Samsung is putting users in a tough spot. The Galaxy S26 series is filled with technically excellent devices, but the only one worth buying might be the one that costs $1,299.
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One UI 8.5 beta is still going strong, though it’s nearing its final few updates – hopefully. Samsung is currently rolling out the Galaxy S25 series’ patch for the latest beta version of One UI 8.5.
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The Galaxy S26 series is official, and as always, there are certain places to order the new phones before they become publicly available. This quick guide will direct you to the best deal, even though two of the three phones are slightly more expensive.
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The Galaxy S26 Ultra is official, and despite its shockingly stable price point, the flagship phone is hiding some significant camera upgrades. That includes enhanced “nightography” and lossless 8K video capture.
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Samsung is completely changing directions this year, and among moves like adding Perplexity as an AI assistant instead of relying on Gemini, Samsung is releasing something called “Now Nudge” on the Galaxy S26 series. Now Nudge is essentially just Magic Cue on the Pixel, but it only works with the Samsung Keyboard.
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