The ghosts of Android Central past, present, and future descend upon the 500th episode of the podcast! Daniel Bader is joined by Hayato Huseman, Jerry Hildenbrand, Ara Wagoner, Alex Dobie, Joe Maring, Phil Nickinson, Harish Jonnalagadda, Russel Holly, and Andrew Martonik to share their favorite phones and features of 2020. They also examine how technology is helping them navigate through life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Links:

Best Android Phones: Our top picks for November 2020 | Android Central

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It was a pretty good year overall for Google on the hardware front, although Daniel, Jerry, and Joe weigh in on the Pixel 5 display gap and latest iteration of Nest Thermostat.

Samsung is rumored to be working on Galaxy Buds Beyond, plus Daniel reviews the Elite 85t earbuds from Jabra.

T-Mobile is making good on paying back $200 million in debt to taxpayers, and Dish Network is sidestepping its 2020 5G timeline.

Links:

• Some Pixel 5 units develop a gap between the display and frame | Android Central
• Google says the Pixel 5's display gap is nothing to worry about | Android Central
• Galaxy Buds Beyond might be Samsung's next pair of true wireless earbuds | Android Central
• Galaxy S21 may come bundled with Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Buds Beyond wireless earbuds | Android Central
• Jabra Elite 85t review: Big upgrades, at a cost | Android Central
• T-Mobile will pay back $200 million Sprint took from taxpayers | Android Central
• Dish Network Sidesteps 2020 5G Timeline - SDxCentral
• Amazon Luna hands-on: Off to a (mostly) good start | Android Central
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Pixel 5 is now available! Jerry makes the case for why it's a good thing that Google is no longer playing the flagship game. He, Dan, and Ara also check out the budget-minded OnePlus Nord N10 5G and N100.

The gang rail against new icons, say goodbye to Google Play Music, and compare Google's subscription bundle options to Apple One.

Chromebooks powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chips are on the way. How will they compare to their Intel counterparts with regard to battery life and performance?

Links:

• Google may never make a flagship phone again, and that's a good thing | Android Central
• OnePlus expands into the budget segment with Nord N10 5G, Nord N100
• OnePlus just turned into Samsung with the Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 | Android Central
• Google rebrands G Suite to Google Workspace, rolls out a new Gmail icon | Android Central
• Remembering Google Play Music: A mixtape for my favorite streaming music service | Android Central
• Google blasts past expectations with a big rebound in Q3 earnings | Android Central
• Snapdragon chips are going to make Chromebooks even better | Android Central
• Acer Chromebook Spin 513 arrives with LTE and Snapdragon 7c | Android Central
• Windows apps on Chromebooks are here, but most of you can't use them yet | Android Central
• Early Black Friday Chromebook deal makes the Lenovo Chromebook Duet just $229 | Android Central
• 5 Chromebook trends that need to die | Android Central
• Google resumes Chrome OS 86 rollout after botched launch | Android Central
• Introducing Chrome OS 86 to The Stable Channel - Chromebook Community

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Daniel and Hayato welcome special guest Raymond Wong of Input for an in-depth conversation about iPhone 12 and his direct comparison to the Google Pixel camera system.

There's also a segment about OnePlus. The underdog has historically placed customers and value first, but some of their decisions have made us wonder if they are losing their way.

Foldable phones partially serve as a new product category. Rectangular slabs will still be around for quite awhile, but they are making mobile devices a lot more interesting. And they're definitely starting to justify their existence.

Links:

• Raymond Wong📱💾📼 (@raywongy) / Twitter
• iPhone 12 and 12 Pro review: Virtually flawless
• iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12: Release date, price, features, and more | iMore
• iPhone 12 Pro: Release date, price, and everything you need to know | iMore
• Google Pixel 5 vs. Pixel 4a 5G: Which is right for you? | Android Central
• Google Pixel 4a 5G review: Pricing itself into a corner | Android Central
• OnePlus 8T review: Striking the perfect balance | Android Central
• The OnePlus 8T has a 120Hz display for only $750
• Has OnePlus finally sold out?
• We won! OnePlus no longer pre-installing Facebook apps and services on phones
• The LG Wing's swiveling display is exactly the kind of weird phone 2020 needs
• Exclusive Q&A: Panos Panay on how the Surface Duo transforms Microsoft again
• Surface Duo review: Microsoft didn't make a phone. It made the future.
• Galaxy Z Fold 2 review: The foldable you want at the price you don’t

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Google's Pixel 5 is their best model yet, but it's not the best phone available. Daniel Bader, Hayato Huseman, and Joe Maring are here with a full review! They also discuss the OnePlus 8T, which has proven to be an extremely well-balanced phone.

Apple announced their lineup of iPhone 12 models. Joe is particularly a fan of the iPhone 12 mini as he makes the case for Android makers to embrace smaller size options.

Links:

• Google Pixel 5 review: The best Pixel ever | Android Central
• After 48 hours with the Galaxy S20 FE, I no longer care about the Pixel 5 | Android Central
• OnePlus 8T review: Striking the perfect balance | Android Central
• Confirmed: OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, has left the company to go independent | Android Central
• OnePlus OxygenOS 11 (Android 11): Release date, eligible phones, new features, and more! | Android Central
• iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12: Release date, price, features, and more | iMore
• iPhone 12 Pro: Release date, price, and everything you need to know | iMore
• Here's what the iPhone 12 Mini looks like next to the top Android phones | Android Central
• The iPhone 12 Mini is about to change Android phones in the best way possible | Android Central

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Daniel, Jerry, and Ara bring you fresh reviews of Chromecast with Google TV, Nest Audio, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, and the LG Wing. They also chat about a huge update to Google Assistant for Android and discuss the current state of antitrust allegations against Google and other companies in the tech sector.

Links:

• Chromecast with Google TV: Everything you need to know! | Android Central
• Nest Audio review: The best smart speaker for most people | Android Central
• Google Assistant for Android just got its biggest update in years | Android Central
• Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: The new flagship killer | Android Central
• LG Wing review: Swing and a miss | Android Central
• Google refutes House antitrust report, says it 'features outdated and inaccurate allegations' | Android Central
• What Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook have at stake in the antitrust fight - The Verge
• Google to face antitrust scrutiny in India for abusing its Android TV dominance | Android Central
• WarGames | Netflix

It was Google's time to shine as they officially unveiled Pixel 5, Nest Audio, and Chromecast with Google TV. Daniel Bader, Hayato Huseman, Art Wagoner, and Joe Maring convene for a discussion about these new gadgets as we roll full stream ahead into Techtober.

Links:

• The Pixel 5 is Google's answer to the iPhone 12, and it looks really great
• Here's why Google gave up the flagship race with the Pixel 5 | Android Central
• Google announces the Nest Audio, a Google Home successor for 2020 | Android Central
• Chromecast with Google TV: What you need to know about Google's answer to Roku and Apple TV

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• SanDisk: No matter what kind of Android device you have, SanDisk has the perfect data storage solution for you. Get 10% OFF your first order of either a Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB Type-C flash drive or an Extreme microSD UHS-I Card by visiting: sandisk.com/ACP

Daniel Bader is joined by Nick Sutrich and Jeramy Johnson to sift through the deluge of product announcements from Amazon. They also examine upcoming Google product leaks, including the Pixel 5. Oculus Quest 2 is on the way from Facebook. It's not without controversy, but it could end up being a solid Holiday gift choice this December.

Links:

• Amazon Event 2020: Everything announced, from Luna to Ring's indoor drone | Android Central
• Luna is Amazon's answer to Google Stadia, and it looks so much better | Android Central
• Amazon Luna launch titles: How do they compare to Stadia, xCloud, and other cloud gaming services? | Android Central
• Google's upcoming Nest smart speaker gets an early unboxing | Android Central
• Google's new Chromecast leaks in first real-world images | Android Central
• This green Pixel 5 is the phone color of my dreams | Android Central
• Google's Pixel 4a 5G leaks in its full glory ahead of September 30 launch | Android Central
• Oculus Quest 2: Everything you need to know! | Android Central
• You will soon need a Facebook account to use an Oculus device | Android Central
• Oculus stops selling Quest and Rift in Germany due to regulatory battle | Android Central
• Away | Netflix Official Site
• Listen Free to Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald on iHeartRadio Podcasts | iHeartRadio

Daniel and Jerry are joined by Alex Dobie and Joe Maring to make sense of the impending (at the time of recording) TikTok and WeChat bans in the U.S. The crew also preview the LG Wing and discuss Apple's recent Watch and iPad announcements in comparison to Android-compatible watches and the Galaxy Tab S7.

Alex also reports on the rumored Pixel 5s. Plus, the next-gen consoles are coming into focus with pricing and release dates for PS5 and Xbox.

Links:

• TikTok, WeChat to be banned from U.S. app stores Sunday, September 20 | Android Central
• LG Wing hands-on preview: The weirdest phone of 2020? | Android Central
• Apple Watch Series 6 & Apple Watch SE hands-on: Kind of blue | iMore
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 review: The best premium Android tablet for most people | Android Central
• The new iPad Air reminds us just how bad most Android tablets really are | Android Central
• iPad Air 4: Release date, price, and everything you need to know | iMore
• Apple One: Release date, price, and everything else | iMore
• 5 ways Google could beat Apple One at its own game with a better Google One bundle | Android Central
• The Google Pixel 5s, explained | Android Central
• Google's answer to the iPhone 12 will be unveiled at the end of the month
• PS5: News, price, specs, release date, and everything we know about PlayStation 5 | Android Central
• Sony's PS5 preorder situation is an inexcusable mess | Android Central
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The reviews are in for Galaxy Fold 2 and Surface Duo. But there's another entry into the dual screen phone market — the LG Wing is coming soon!

Russell Holly helps Daniel and Hayato navigate pricing and differences between the two next-gen Xbox consoles, Game Pass, and Google's Stadia service.

Links:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review: The future isn't flat | Android Central
• Microsoft Surface Duo review: Hot mess | Android Central
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 review: Exceeding my Ultra-high expectations | Android Central
• Why Samsung only cares about 'Android' and 'Google' when it's convenient | Android Central
• LG's 'Wing' rotating dual-screen phone will be unveiled on September 14 | Android Central
• Xbox Series X: Price, Release Date, Specs, Games, And Everything We Know | Windows Central
• Xbox Game Pass: Everything you need to know | Windows Central
• Stadia: What you need to know about Google's game streaming service | Android Central
• Doom & Doom II for Android review: Glorious retro shooter action on the go | Android Central

Sponsors:

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• Indeed: Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at indeed.com/acp. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Offer valid through September 30.