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Android 12 Has Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve, But You Have to Know Where to Look
Android 12 Has Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve, But You Have to Know Where to Look
Android 13 is now available for certain Google Pixel owners to install, but Samsung Galaxy, Motorola and other Android users will have to wait until later this year to get their hands on Google's latest mobile software update. However, there is still a ton to explore on Android 12, which most people are still running on their Android phones.
Read more:How to Download Android 13 Beta 2 on Your Phone Now
Whether you own a Pixel 6 Pro or a Samsung Galaxy S22, you can find a number of hidden settings and features on Android 12 that can completely change how you use your Android device.
In this story we'll show you how to recover accidentally deleted notifications, use your phone with only one hand and more. Check out what Android 12 has to offer below.
If you want to learn more about how you can improve your Android experience, check out these seven tips to improve your Android's performance and how to save battery with Android's built-in dark mode.
Android 12 keeps your notification history a tap away
Do you ever clear out a notification without reading it? I do it all the time. Android has offered device notification history for some time now, but you either had to know where to look, or you had to install a third-party app to see it.
In Android 12, all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of your notification shade, where you'll see a new History button. Tap it, and you'll see recently cleared notifications as well as alerts from the last 24 hours.
If you see Manage instead of History, that's because Notification History isn't turned on. Enable it by tapping on Manage, then select Notification History and slide the switch to the On position.
You now have quick access to your past notifications.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 12 makes big phones feel smaller
A new one-handed mode in Android 12 may not be a headlining feature, but it's one that could make a big difference in how you use your phone. This is especially true if you're using a phone with a big display, like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The new one-handed mode moves the top half of whatever's on your screen to the bottom half, making it easier to tap a quick settings tile or a notification. To use it, place a finger on the small bar at the bottom of your phone's screen and swipe down. It may take a few tries, but once you get the gesture figured out, it's easy to reproduce.
Before you can do that, though, you'll need to turn it on: go into the Settings app, type in One-handed mode and toggle the feature on. Depending on which Android phone you have, this feature might have different settings you can toggle off and on.
Left: Google Pixel 6 Pro. Right: Samsung Galaxy S22.
Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
There's a dedicated gaming mode in Android 12
If you play a lot of games on your Android device, you'll be happy to know that Google added a dedicated gaming mode to Android 12. When it's turned on, your phone will do things like automatically turn on do not disturb when you start playing.
But you'd never know the mode existed if you didn't venture deep into, of all places, your notification settings. More specifically, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. Once there, check the box next to Game Mode to turn it on. Next, tap on the Settings gear icon to and toggle both items.
In my experience testing it, game mode doesn't work in every game (looking at you, Asphalt 9). It does work in Call of Duty Mobile, however. When it's active, you can do things like force your phone to optimize itself for gaming in a single-tap or view your device's current frames per second.
Use the new Game Mode in Android 12 to boost performance or live stream on YouTube.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 12 has a new app layout option
The app grid on your phone's home screen normally ranges for a 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6 grid (or similar combinations). However, in Android 12 on the Pixel, there's a new app grid option that's downright funny at first glance -- 2x2. I assume this is limited to just Pixel phones, but hopefully, other phone-makers adopt it, as it's a huge accessibility feature for those in need of larger app icons.
Switch to the new 2x2 layout with a long-press on your home screen, then select Wallpaper & style > AppGrid > 2x2.
This 2x2 app grid feature is only available on the Google Pixel.
Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
For more, check out the best Android phones and Samsung phones to buy in 2022, every reason why you should give Pixel phones another chance and how the Pixel 6 with its Tensor chip is more exciting than the iPhone 13.
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Android 12 Has Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve, But You Have to Know Where to Look
Android 12 Has Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve, But You Have to Know Where to Look
Android 13 is now available for certain Google Pixel owners to install, but Samsung Galaxy, Motorola and other Android users will have to wait until later this year to get their hands on Google's latest mobile software update. However, there is still a ton to explore on Android 12, which most people are still running on their Android phones.
Read more:How to Download Android 13 Beta 2 on Your Phone Now
Whether you own a Pixel 6 Pro or a Samsung Galaxy S22, you can find a number of hidden settings and features on Android 12 that can completely change how you use your Android device.
In this story we'll show you how to recover accidentally deleted notifications, use your phone with only one hand and more. Check out what Android 12 has to offer below.
If you want to learn more about how you can improve your Android experience, check out these seven tips to improve your Android's performance and how to save battery with Android's built-in dark mode.
Android 12 keeps your notification history a tap away
Do you ever clear out a notification without reading it? I do it all the time. Android has offered device notification history for some time now, but you either had to know where to look, or you had to install a third-party app to see it.
In Android 12, all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of your notification shade, where you'll see a new History button. Tap it, and you'll see recently cleared notifications as well as alerts from the last 24 hours.
If you see Manage instead of History, that's because Notification History isn't turned on. Enable it by tapping on Manage, then select Notification History and slide the switch to the On position.
You now have quick access to your past notifications.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 12 makes big phones feel smaller
A new one-handed mode in Android 12 may not be a headlining feature, but it's one that could make a big difference in how you use your phone. This is especially true if you're using a phone with a big display, like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The new one-handed mode moves the top half of whatever's on your screen to the bottom half, making it easier to tap a quick settings tile or a notification. To use it, place a finger on the small bar at the bottom of your phone's screen and swipe down. It may take a few tries, but once you get the gesture figured out, it's easy to reproduce.
Before you can do that, though, you'll need to turn it on: go into the Settings app, type in One-handed mode and toggle the feature on. Depending on which Android phone you have, this feature might have different settings you can toggle off and on.
Left: Google Pixel 6 Pro. Right: Samsung Galaxy S22.
Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
There's a dedicated gaming mode in Android 12
If you play a lot of games on your Android device, you'll be happy to know that Google added a dedicated gaming mode to Android 12. When it's turned on, your phone will do things like automatically turn on do not disturb when you start playing.
But you'd never know the mode existed if you didn't venture deep into, of all places, your notification settings. More specifically, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb > Schedules. Once there, check the box next to Game Mode to turn it on. Next, tap on the Settings gear icon to and toggle both items.
In my experience testing it, game mode doesn't work in every game (looking at you, Asphalt 9). It does work in Call of Duty Mobile, however. When it's active, you can do things like force your phone to optimize itself for gaming in a single-tap or view your device's current frames per second.
Use the new Game Mode in Android 12 to boost performance or live stream on YouTube.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Android 12 has a new app layout option
The app grid on your phone's home screen normally ranges for a 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6 grid (or similar combinations). However, in Android 12 on the Pixel, there's a new app grid option that's downright funny at first glance -- 2x2. I assume this is limited to just Pixel phones, but hopefully, other phone-makers adopt it, as it's a huge accessibility feature for those in need of larger app icons.
Switch to the new 2x2 layout with a long-press on your home screen, then select Wallpaper & style > AppGrid > 2x2.
This 2x2 app grid feature is only available on the Google Pixel.
Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET
For more, check out the best Android phones and Samsung phones to buy in 2022, every reason why you should give Pixel phones another chance and how the Pixel 6 with its Tensor chip is more exciting than the iPhone 13.
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Android 13 Is Coming: Every Feature We Know of So Far
Android 13 Is Coming: Every Feature We Know of So Far
The Android 13 public beta arrived last month and with it came a clearer idea of the new features and functions coming to the rumored Pixel 7, plus eventually other Android devices later this year. Between the beta and speculation from leakers, we're already learning a lot about how Android 13 could build on Android 12's privacy features, user-interface enhancements and Material You design overhaul. And we're likely to get even more clarity on the next-gen OS at Google I/O, which starts today.
If you're curious about Android 13's release date, or if you're wondering what new features could hit your phone in the coming months (here are some of the best hidden features from Android 12), we recommend bookmarking this page. We'll be periodically updating it with all the Android 13 buzz we can find.
Read more: Best Android Phones You Can Buy in 2022
When's the Android 13 release date?
Although Google has not publicly revealed a specific release date for Android 13, the Android Developers blog provides a rough timeline for the rollout, with a beta coming out every month through July. The beta in July is listed as the "near-final build for final testing."
Judging from precedent, Android 13 could debut a month after that final beta. Android 12's fifth and final beta came out in September 2021, and Google officially released the app in October. With Android 11 (2020) and Android 10 (2019), the final betas dropped in August, and the OS hit phones in September. So we can reasonably assume that Android 13 will arrive in August this year. If not, September is a safe bet.
Keep in mind that Google sends Android updates to its Pixel phones first (and will probably ship the rumored Pixel 7 with Android 13). If you have a different Android phone, like a Samsung, Motorola or OnePlus, you'll likely have to wait a few months after the initial release to experience Android 13.
New photo privacy feature
Android 12 introduced a kill switch that allows you to prevent apps from accessing your camera and mic, and it also added the option to show apps your approximate location instead of your exact whereabouts.
It appears that Android 13 will bolster these privacy settings. According to Google's Android Developers blog, Android 13 will include a photo picker. This means when an app wants access to your images and videos -- like social media and photo editing apps often do -- you can select specific media files to share instead of granting access to all of them. (Android already has a document picker that allows for the same thing.)
Apps need your permission to notify you
The second developer preview for Android 13 introduced a new feature called "notification permission," the Android Developers blog said. In order to send you notifications, apps will need you to give them your permission -- and you can say "no." The blog post shows a dialog box that asks, "Allow [App] to send you notifications?" (You're then prompted to select "Allow" or "Don't allow".) Apple already requires developers to obtain your permission for apps to send you notifications.
Upgraded design with more color options
The Material You redesign was the star of the show for Android 12, featuring UI color schemes that automatically adjust based on the wallpaper you select. The Android Developers blog says Android 13 will add even more color customization to Material You.
In Android 12, only Google apps work with the adjustable color palette feature. But Android 13 will expand the feature to all apps, as long as the apps' developers agree to design alternate icons that are monochromatic.
A rumor from AndroidPolice citing a "trusted source" says Android 13 will let you choose more options for color customization. Among these are "spritz," a desaturated version of the color scheme, and "expressive," which incorporates hues differing from those that come by default with your wallpaper selection.
Notifications about battery-draining apps
You'd be surprised how much of your battery life a single app can gobble up -- even when you're not actively using the app. Android 13 will send you a notification when an app uses a significant portion of your battery over the course of a day, according to the Android Developers blog.
Adapting an iOS perk
The flashlights on Apple's iPhones have offered adjustable brightness for years, but a rumor from Android analyst Mishaal Rahman says Google will finally integrate the feature into Android 13, allowing for some customization when you're using the phone as a light source.
But Rahman says a lot of current Androids don't have the hardware required to use this feature. Perhaps the rumored Pixel 7 will. If you have a Samsung phone, though, Samsung's software overlay One UI already lets you adjust the torch brightness.
Read more: Android Settings Changes That'll Make You Like Your Phone More
Will my phone be compatible with Android 13?
If you own a Pixel 4 or Pixel 4A, Android 13 might be the last supported software update your phone can receive. This prediction is based solely on precedent: Android 12 is probably the last update for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3A, and Android 11 was the last for the Pixel 2.
If your Pixel 3 or 3A ends up being incompatible with Android 13, you can still keep using it with an older OS. But this means you won't have access to the latest security patches, and that could put your data at risk.
How to download Android 13
For now, don't. As exciting as the previews may be, early betas can make some apps stop working on your device for good. They usually have bugs and can put a damper on your battery life. (CNET's Jason Cipriani experienced this while testing the iOS 15 betas.) If you have a spare Android lying around, go for it -- but we strongly caution against subjecting your main phone to bugs.
If you're really feeling risky, though, here's how to get Android 13 in its current state. Don't say we didn't warn you.
Even as we look forward to everything Android 13 will bring, it's worth exploring all the highlights from Android 12. Last year's OS had fun hidden features, including Game Mode and One-Handed Mode. Also, be sure to check out the Android 12 Easter egg.
If you're curious about the best phones you can buy in 2022, we've put together a list that includes the Google Pixel 6 Pro and last year's Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
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Android 12: Google's major new revamp changes your phone from head to toe. Here's how
Android 12: Google's major new revamp changes your phone from head to toe. Here's how
Google's Android 12 operating system, revealed at the Google I/O developer conference Tuesday, represents the biggest design change in the history of the OS, complete with customizable color palettes, updated notifications and faster, battery-saving performance.
There are now more than 3 billion active Android devices worldwide, Sameer Samat, vice president of Android, said during the Google I/O keynote. Now available as a public beta (here's how to download Android 12) and with a general release likely arriving around September, Android 12's new features may differ depending on your device. On Google Pixelphones, when you choose your wallpaper, a feature called color extraction will update the whole system, including your lock screen, widgets and notifications, with custom complementary colors, Samat said.
Another part of the redesign involves more fluid motions, animations and responses to your touch. You'll find an always-on display, and more adaptive notifications -- for example, when you dismiss them on the lock screen, the clock will appear larger, so you know you're caught up.
Several under-the-hood improvements promise to speed up your phone and save battery life, including reducing the CPU time needed for core system services by up to 22% and reducing the use of big cores by the system server by up to 15%, Samat said.
Notifications also get a refresh to give you a better at-a-glance view. The Quick Settings bar also gets an update, and now includes Google Pay and Home Controls along with more customization so you can keep everything you need in one place that's easy to access.
When you press the power button, you'll trigger Google Assistant for helping to make phone calls, asking questions or reading articles aloud.
For more, check out how to use Android 12's new app privacy features, and the best new Android 12 features.
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Motorola schools Android P on how to make swipe navigation good
Motorola schools Android P on how to make swipe navigation good
Google's upcoming Android P software has nothing on the humble Motorola Moto Z3 Play, Moto G6 and Motorola's other phones for 2018, for one simple reason. You can swipe left to go back.
Android P, now in its third and final beta, is Google's vision of the next version of its Android operating system. This is the software that will eventually run on most Android phones around the world. Android P embraces swipe gestures over the traditional three button navigation we've seen since the very beginning of Android phones. With Android P, a slider control lets you swipe right to open your recent apps and press it once to go Home.
But if you want to go Back, you have to press a separate Back button to do so. Android P's Back button supports apps that require it, and it only appears when you can actually use it. Otherwise it doesn't show up.
This change is interesting and important because Android P will bring Android phonemakers a unified look and feel that they can riff on. Android P will also be the basis of 2018's Google Pixel phones, and of phones that run the more "pure" Android One operating system, which is about as Googly as you can get without being a Google phone.
Google's Android P swiping navigation lags behind Apple's novel iPhone X gestures by about a year. Those gestures -- added because Apple completely removed the iconic home button from the iPhone X's face to maximize screen size -- will no doubt be expanded to additional iPhone and iPad models as the iPhone X-style design moves further through Apple's line, as rumored.
Now as Google attempts to catch up to the iPhone in screen navigation and support for the notch screen design, a wave of Android phones will shift to adopt gesture navigation, too.
But while Google hammered out what it wanted to do, phonemakers like Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi and others have already dreamed up their own formats for gesture navigation. Motorola's option, which it calls one-handed navigation, relies on a single virtual button that has an elegance and economy of movement that Android P's software lacks.
You can swipe right on Android P, but you can't swipe left.
James Martin/CNET
Gesture navigation helps free screen space of unnecessary digital and physical buttons. Swiping to get around can also feel more natural and fluid than hunting for buttons.
But although Google's design works, in the strictest sense of the word, phones like the Moto Z3 Play manage to pack everything you want to do into a single onscreen slider button.
In comparison, the placement of Android P's back button on the left of the phone, next to a home button you can slide right, adds up to a clunky, asymmetrical experience.
On the Moto Z3 Play, the actions look like this:
Short press - Home
Long press - Launch Google Assistant
Swipe left - Back
Swipe right - Recent apps
Google Product Manager Allen Huang recently addressed the Android team's position on Reddit:
HOME and BACK are so central to Android navigation (both the system and the apps) - that ensuring the dependability of them via buttons with enough space led us to the current design. All that said - we really value both the aesthetic and functional appeal of a smaller nav bar / more gross-gesture navigation and are continuing to explore opportunities to bring that in.
It sounds like the Android P Back button could still get the heave-ho.
Once upon a time, Google owned Motorola. I used to credit that association with Motorola phones' long history of smart software additions. But Team Motorola, which is now owned by Lenovo, has proven it has its own ideas. It's clear that Google still has much it can learn about software from the hardware brand it once brought into its fold.
This story first posted July 31, 2018 and updated Aug 1.
Read now: Apple iOS 12 versus Google Android P: Guess who's winning now
Read next: Google: We'll officially name Android P 'soon'
Motorola schools Android P on how to make swipe navigation good
Motorola schools Android P on how to make swipe navigation good
Google's upcoming Android P software has nothing on the humble Motorola Moto Z3 Play, Moto G6 and Motorola's other phones for 2018, for one simple reason. You can swipe left to go back.
Android P, now in its third and final beta, is Google's vision of the next version of its Android operating system. This is the software that will eventually run on most Android phones around the world. Android P embraces swipe gestures over the traditional three button navigation we've seen since the very beginning of Android phones. With Android P, a slider control lets you swipe right to open your recent apps and press it once to go Home.
But if you want to go Back, you have to press a separate Back button to do so. Android P's Back button supports apps that require it, and it only appears when you can actually use it. Otherwise it doesn't show up.
This change is interesting and important because Android P will bring Android phonemakers a unified look and feel that they can riff on. Android P will also be the basis of 2018's Google Pixel phones, and of phones that run the more "pure" Android One operating system, which is about as Googly as you can get without being a Google phone.
Google's Android P swiping navigation lags behind Apple's novel iPhone X gestures by about a year. Those gestures -- added because Apple completely removed the iconic home button from the iPhone X's face to maximize screen size -- will no doubt be expanded to additional iPhone and iPad models as the iPhone X-style design moves further through Apple's line, as rumored.
Now as Google attempts to catch up to the iPhone in screen navigation and support for the notch screen design, a wave of Android phones will shift to adopt gesture navigation, too.
But while Google hammered out what it wanted to do, phonemakers like Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi and others have already dreamed up their own formats for gesture navigation. Motorola's option, which it calls one-handed navigation, relies on a single virtual button that has an elegance and economy of movement that Android P's software lacks.
You can swipe right on Android P, but you can't swipe left.
James Martin/CNET
Gesture navigation helps free screen space of unnecessary digital and physical buttons. Swiping to get around can also feel more natural and fluid than hunting for buttons.
But although Google's design works, in the strictest sense of the word, phones like the Moto Z3 Play manage to pack everything you want to do into a single onscreen slider button.
In comparison, the placement of Android P's back button on the left of the phone, next to a home button you can slide right, adds up to a clunky, asymmetrical experience.
On the Moto Z3 Play, the actions look like this:
Short press - Home
Long press - Launch Google Assistant
Swipe left - Back
Swipe right - Recent apps
Google Product Manager Allen Huang recently addressed the Android team's position on Reddit:
HOME and BACK are so central to Android navigation (both the system and the apps) - that ensuring the dependability of them via buttons with enough space led us to the current design. All that said - we really value both the aesthetic and functional appeal of a smaller nav bar / more gross-gesture navigation and are continuing to explore opportunities to bring that in.
It sounds like the Android P Back button could still get the heave-ho.
Once upon a time, Google owned Motorola. I used to credit that association with Motorola phones' long history of smart software additions. But Team Motorola, which is now owned by Lenovo, has proven it has its own ideas. It's clear that Google still has much it can learn about software from the hardware brand it once brought into its fold.
This story first posted July 31, 2018 and updated Aug 1.
Read now: Apple iOS 12 versus Google Android P: Guess who's winning now
Read next: Google: We'll officially name Android P 'soon'
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Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared
Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared
Phones that cost just under $500 are looking better and better as 2022 continues, with Samsung, Google and new contender Nothing all offering three phones at pretty much identical $450 prices. All three of these phones promise a slick and enjoyable experience, even with their lower prices.
The Google Pixel 6A has already earned itself a glowing review, with CNET's Lisa Eadicicco calling it "the best budget Pixel yet." Meanwhile I myself was impressed with the Nothing Phone 1's balance of price and performance -- not to mention its flashing rear lights. Then there's the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, which earned a great review score thanks to its price, its display and its cameras.
But which phone is actually deserving of your hard-earned cash? I got hold of all three to put them through their paces.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Price and availability: The Nothing Phone 1 is hard to get
Let's start with a biggie. the Nothing Phone 1 is on sale in the UK and wider Europe but a rollout into the US is so far uncertain. While Nothing has said it would like to launch its phone in the US, it needs a network partner to make it compatible with US 5G networks. As of the time of writing, there are no plans for a proper US launch. People in the US can easily get the Pixel 6A and the Galaxy A53 5G, however.
All three phones start at very similar prices; $450 for the Pixel 6A, $450 for the Galaxy A53 and $472 for the Nothing Phone 1, based on a conversion from its UK price. In the UK, all three phones start at £399. Simple.
Design and display: Nothing's flashing lights stand out
While many phones in recent years have been forgettable-looking slabs, all three of these midrangers have designs that are very much their own. The A53 keeps things simple with a plastic back, raised camera unit and metallic edging. The Pixel 6A maintains the distinctive camera bar seen on its pricier siblings and while its back is technically plastic, you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from the glass back of the 6 and 6 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Between the two, the Pixel 6A has a more premium feel, than the plasticky A53, but it's the Nothing Phone 1 that stands out in the looks department. That's due to its transparent back panel, which not only provides a unique view of its internal components but also allows for its light-up LED "glyph" to pulse when you get notifications. It's arguably a gimmick and one that you may not care about at all, but it's certainly fun and it's nice to have something quirky at this price.
The Pixel 6A is the smaller of the three, packing a 6.1-inch display against the Nothing's 6.55-inch and the A53's 6.5-inch screens. That said, the Pixel's resolution results in a pixel density higher than its competitors, although all three are pin sharp with vibrant colors and high brightness levels. The Nothing's extra size might make it the better choice for mobile gamers among you, or those of you who watch a lot of video on the move, but they all do a good job of displaying vibrant content and colorful games.
Power and performance: Pixel 6A packs a punch
The Nothing Phone 1 makes use of a Snapdragon 778G+ processor and 12GB of RAM (as reviewed), while the Galaxy A53 5G uses an Exynos 1280 chip and 6GB of RAM. The Pixel 6A meanwhile uses Google's own custom-built Tensor processor with 6GB of RAM.
And that Tensor processor put in some excellent scores on our suite of benchmark tests, that put it consistently above the other two. The Nothing was a fair second, while the A53 did somewhat fall behind on both CPU and graphics benchmarks.
Performance comparison chart
Nothing Phone 1
Galaxy A53 5G
Legend:
Geekbench 5 (Single core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-core)
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Longer bars equal better performance
Benchmarks alone aren't a perfect indicator of real-world performance however and I found all three to be perfectly capable of handling the essentials well. Navigating the interfaces was swift and lag-free on all models and all of them handled more demanding gaming in Asphalt 9: Legends without any noticeable stuttering or slow-down. Video streaming was no problem on any phone and I could immediately jump between open apps with the multitasking switcher.
Over time I would expect the Pixel 6A to generally perform better as it's already starting from a more powerful position. It might mean that as even more demanding games arrive it's well-placed to handle them in a way that perhaps the A53 couldn't. Right now though, any of your everyday emailing, Instagramming, Candy Crushing, WhatsApp group message avoiding fun will be handled perfectly well by any of these phones.
Cameras: Pixel 6A strikes the right balance
All three phones have multiple rear cameras, giving both standard views and ultrawide shots. The A53 includes a 5-megapixel macro camera and a depth sensor for portrait photos, but it's the main and wide cameras you'll likely find yourself using most often. Samsung's phone cameras have often had a tendency to look overly saturated and contrasty and that's absolutely the case with the A53.
Galaxy A53 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nothing Phone 1 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 6A main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Its shots are consistently punchy with the colors, to the point that they look as though you've slapped on some high-contrast filter on Instagram. The Nothing Phone 1 goes the other way, however, with frequently muted tones. It's particularly noticeable when you switch to the Phone 1's ultrawide lens, which produces drab-looking images that look almost shameful against the others.
Galaxy A53 ultrawide camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nothing Phone 1 ultrawide camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 6A ultrawide camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
It's the Pixel 6A that consistently produces the most balanced-looking images in both its standard and ultrawide views. The 6A's colors are accurate and vibrant, without looking overly processed, and it generally captures a more balanced exposure than the other two, keeping bright skies under control well.
Galaxy A53 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nothing Phone 1 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 6A main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
All three phones are perfectly capable of taking decent snaps at your next family picnic, but if photography prowess is important to you then the Pixel 6A is the one to go for.
Battery life: A close fight but Pixel 6A takes the win
With a huge 5,000-mAh battery stuffed inside I expected the Galaxy A53 to put in the best performance when it came to battery life. It's a more capacious cell than the 4,410 mAh of the Pixel 6A or the 4,500 mAh of the Nothing Phone 1. On my tests, however, it was the Pixel that managed to edge out the competition.
After 1 hour of streaming a YouTube video on Wi-Fi, with the screens set to maximum brightness, the Pixel had dropped from full to 98% remaining. The Nothing Phone 1 dropped to 95% in the same time, while the A53 dropped to 94%. After a second hour, the Pixel had dropped to 92%, with the Nothing phone coming in a close second at 90%, with the A53 having dropped to 89%.
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Sure, the Pixel technically did the best here, but we're really only talking a few percentage points between them, which isn't a big deal. All three put in solid performances: Both here and in everyday use, the battery lift you can expect to see will vary depending on how much you demand of your phone.
With careful use you won't struggle to get a full day out of any of the phones, and all three will likely want a full recharge every night.
Software and other features
All three phones run Android 12 at their core, but you will find some notable differences in the experience. The Pixel 6A runs a pure, Google-produced version of Android 12. It's a clean and clutter-free experience that I've enjoyed using for some time on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Nothing Phone 1 has a visual skin that includes different colors, fonts and backgrounds, but it's also neat and stripped-back, making it smooth and simple to navigate.
The A53 immediately annoyed me with a variety of prebundled apps, including ones for Booking.com, TikTok, Nextdoor and a variety of Samsung's own apps and stores. These apps make the phone feel cluttered before you've even begun to install your own. There are two different messaging apps, for example -- Google's and Samsung's -- so Android novices might find it more complicated to get to grips with.
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The A53 does have a killer feature not found on the other two though: expandable storage. While the Pixel 6A comes with 128GB of storage and the Nothing Phone 1 is available with up to 256GB, the Galaxy A53's 128GB of storage can be expanded with microSD cards up to 1TB in size. That makes it a great option if you take a lot of photos or videos or want to save a lot of media locally to your phone to enjoy when you don't have an internet connection.
Which phone should you buy?
The Nothing Phone 1's unique design certainly gives it an edge over the others, but if you're not bothered about those flashy lights, you love taking wide-angle photos on vacation -- or if you live in the US and can't even buy it -- then you should look toward the others.
While the A53 5G performed admirably in our tests, it was the Pixel 6A that consistently came out on top. Its processor performance is better, it takes better photos from both its cameras, its pure Android interface is nicer to navigate and it even feels like the more premium device when you hold it.
The A53 is larger and its expandable storage gives it a definite one-up if you want to store a lot of media, but overall it's the Pixel 6A that offers the best value for money.
Pixel 6A vs. Nothing Phone 1 vs. Galaxy A53 5G specs comparison chart
