Following news that some 2016 Pixel XL owners are experiencing issues with fast charging following the Android Pie update, Google has confirmed that it is working on a fix for the problem. According to impacted device owners, their Pixel XL smartphones no longer fast charge after installing the latest Android update, forcing them to charge at normal or slow speeds.
![White House bans government use of Huawei and ZTE hardware [Update]](https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/huawei-p20-and-p20-pro-hands-on-0.jpg)
The White House has officially banned the government use of hardware made by Chinese companies ZTE and Huawei, including smartphones, routers, and similar devices. The move follows years of debate over the two companies and the potential national security risk their hardware may present. The ban is part of a $716 billion defense policy bill newly signed by President Trump.
Owners of the Pixel XL, the larger of the original Pixel models, are complaining about issues with fast charging following the Android Pie update. According to reports from impacted device owners, the update broke the device's ability to fast charge, an issue that isn't present on the smaller Pixel model. Not all users are experiencing the problem, however.
YouTube has released a list of smartphones its recommends for the best streaming experience. These "Signature Devices," the term used by the company, are said to offer best-in-class YouTube experiences across multiple aspects, including reliability and performance, and when viewing 360-degree content in addition to regular videos. The new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes in at the top of the list, and there's one surprising absence.
A new video shows off high-quality iPhone dummies said to showcase the designs Apple will launch with its 2018 models. Though unconfirmed, these dummies are said to accurately replicate the look of each of the three iPhone models Apple is expected to unveil in September, including a 5.8-inch OLED iPhone X update, a 6.5-inch OLED model, and a 6.1-inch model with an LCD.
The Democratic National Committee has advised Democrats and their staff to avoid purchasing and/or using smartphones made by ZTE and Huawei, both Chinese companies, citing potential security concerns. Both companies have been in the US government's crosshairs for years, with officials and politicians worrying that these devices may be used by the Chinese government to compromise US telecommunications.
Sennheiser has launched a new wireless microphone designed for cell phones, enabling mobile users to record audio near the source while recording video from a distance. The device, which is small enough to fit in a pocket, can also be used in professional environments to, for example, record interviews or capture commentary. The device supports both the iPhone and Android smartphones.
Amazon has expanded its Prime Exclusive smartphone lineup with the LG Stylo 4, a 6.2-inch Android smartphone with its own stylus. As with other Prime Exclusives, Amazon's offering is discounted over the regular price, dropping the rate by fifty bucks to $250 USD. For that price, buyers get a mid-range handset supported by all four major US wireless carriers.
Samsung is developing an Android gaming smartphone, according to a tipster. The handset will be designed specifically for mobile gaming, joining existing similar products like the Razer Phone and Sony Xperia Play. The leak follows a recent report claiming that Samsung will launch a folding 7-inch smartphone in 2019, one that will, among other things, cater to mobile gamers.
OnePlus is slowly rolling out OxygenOS 5.1.9 to OnePlus 6 phones, bringing a variety of bug fixes, improvements and new features. This latest update promises better camera performance for the OnePlus 6, including new Google Lens integration for faster access to the service. OnePlus is rolling the update out incrementally over-the-air with the promise of a broader rollout soon.
Sony has taken the wraps off its new Xperia XA2 Plus, a smartphone packing the company's Hi-Res audio technology, as well as an 18:9 display, 4K camera, and more. The company hawks the XA2 Plus as an "entertainment-focused" handset, one that falls within the mid-tier Xperia range. This marks the first time Sony has offered Hi-Res audio in its "super mid-range" Xperia lineup, the company says.
Your phone can do things you didn't know it was capable of. With the VAST number of features and potential of the computers we all carry with us every day, I can be SURE there are features of which most readers do not take advantage. The following is one of a series of lists of features your phone has that you're not likely rolling with right this minute.