Very vague question, I know, but I don't know how else to ask. In the United States it's common to see iPhone, Samsung, and Google with some smaller brands in the weeds. However with sites like Alibaba and Giztop gaining traction, I am finding myself confused with the immense volume of different phone companies.

Off the top of my head:

Xiaomi Poco Vivo Redmi Realme Oppo Red Magic Asus Huawei ZTE OnePlus

My main question is: What separates these from the competition? Many of them use the exact same parts, OS, designs, prices, etc.

What makes you go for one brand over another when they all offer such similar performance and parts?

Banking apps on mobile often rely on fingerprint biometrics for reasonably-easy mobile login. Before private space, if someone gets my phone, they still need at least fingerprint to get into the banking app (and maybe fingerprint twice if my phone itself was locked when they got it).

I was hoping that private space could improve security in that situation by requiring attacker to bypass 2 diverse barriers if he gets my phone:

1. thief should have to enter a pin to get into private space

2. thief should have to enter fingerprint to log into the banking app within private space.

But if I enable biometrics to be used within private space, then biometrics can also be used for entering private space. So the attacker needs fingerprint twice to get into my banking app... but if he can figure out how to bypass fingerprint once then he can surely figure out how to do it twice and it's not a heckuva lot safer than how it was prior to private space where fingerprint was needed once in this scenario. Sure I can try to make sure my phone is locked when thief gets it, but for me that means locked with fingerprint. It is not practical to have to enter pin every time I myself want to unlock my phone so I can't add that as a barrier for routine unlocking the phone.

And if I disable biometrics to be used for private space, then I cannot even use biometrics to get into my banking app inside the private space. I need a big clunky password and 2fa... which is way too much trouble for routine use on mobile.

.... so neither enabling nor disabling biometrics for private space gives the desired 2-diverse-barrier behavior descrbed above. Am I missing something?

Assuming I'm not misunderstanding something, then I think google really needs to separate the settings for using biometrics within private space and using biometrics for getting into private space. (so I can allow biometrics used within private space without allowing it to be used for entering private space).

WASI and WASM will allow complex desktop apps to be ported to Android. This will unlock many possibilities. We might be able to run AAA Windows games too.

Samsung's recent decision to launch the Galaxy Z Fold SE exclusively in China and South Korea carries interesting implications. This move suggests that Samsung is capable of producing a foldable device with a slimmer form factor and a wider cover screen, meeting the demands for a more practical design—yet they have only chosen to release it now, and only in these two markets.

Why China and South Korea? While we can only speculate, one likely reason is the intensifying competition from Chinese phone manufacturers. Many of these brands are setting new standards in foldable technology, offering wider cover screens and sometimes even more premium designs. To stay competitive in these regions, especially in China’s dynamic market, Samsung likely felt pressured to introduce a product that could stand against local offerings. Thus, the SE variant seems tailored to meet specific regional demands, showcasing Samsung’s adaptability in response to market pressures.

Should consumers in other regions feel frustrated? Perhaps, for two main reasons. First, Samsung has restricted access to this improved design, offering it only to select markets. Second, this move seems to reveal Samsung’s strategy of incremental innovation. The company appears to be reserving features, like a wider cover screen, for future models (Z Fold 7, Z Fold 8), potentially prolonging the rollout of advancements to maintain steady sales growth. This strategy raises questions about whether Samsung prioritizes business interests over delivering the best possible product for all markets.

Meanwhile, China is shifting the global tech landscape by driving rapid innovation. Chinese manufacturers have resisted the trend of releasing minor updates each year and are instead offering significant, cutting-edge advancements in new models. This approach contrasts with practices commonly seen in the U.S. and South Korea, where companies often make small, iterative changes annually. As a result, China’s influence in the market is growing, and it is setting an expectation for meaningful upgrades, which may ultimately reshape global consumer preferences.

Note: I wrote the text, but I used ChatGPT to rephrase it for better grammar and structure.

In this test, the button is above the message box instead of within it or to the side of it.

This placement makes a lot more sense and will hopefully reduce accidental presses!

Thanks to Joe Lenington for the tip!

This function can work even on pixel 3 but not in the most recent flagship phones?

I know in Europe it is mandatory to have this crash detection system (called ecall) on your car if it is newer than 2018. So it might not be needed in some countries but not every country in the world mandate this functionality.

Also, those who love both the folding phones and non folding phones? I’m currently in iPhone but because I’m myself, I want to get a second phone to use as a camera only. Don’t tell me to stick with my phone I have now. This is my dumb choice. I love the concept of the z flip and fold 6 and the pixel 9 fold. But I love the amazing cameras on the pixel 9 pro and the S24 ultra. Which would be recommended for the camera and for the fun factor? *FYI, I wouldn’t get this for a little over a year, so I’d get the newest model when the time comes.