If you’re looking to get yourself or your student all set up with everything needed to handle basic web browsing and streaming, along with word processing capabilities and access to popular productivity apps, QVC has a bundle deal you won’t want to miss.
Normally listing for $469, QVC has marked down this HP laptop bundle to just $400 right now. It includes an HP laptop, a wireless mouse, a subscription to Microsoft 365 and a voucher for other free services. We don’t expect this deal will stick around for long, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later if you want to snag one at this price.
This HP laptop has a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen display, AMD Radeon graphics, 128 GB of SSD storage and 4GB of RAM, which is should serve your well if you’re just looking for a basic laptop to keep you connected and productive while you’re on the go. It comes with Windows 11 Home and a dual-core AMD Athlon Silver processor. And you can pick from four different colors to get a laptop that matches your personal style: moonlight blue, sea foam, silver or winter lavender.
Collaborating online will be a breeze with the built-in webcam and dual-array digital microphones. And you’ll get a one-year Microsoft 365 Personal subscription thrown in for free, which typically costs $70 per year. It includes access to popular programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and more, including 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage. There is also a voucher that provides you with a year of access to online classes that should help you master Windows and Microsoft programs, as well as a year-long VPN subscription to keep you save online, three free months of Pandora Premium and Lifetime Move Club to keep you entertained and much more.
And if you’re new to QVC, you can get an extra $10 off your first order when you use promo code WELCOME24 at checkout.
However, if this laptop doesn’t quite meet your needs, you can check out other deals on laptops including MacBooks, gaming laptops and more.
Whether you’re working in a noisy office or just trying to survive the commute, you’re probably being inundated with all kinds of noise just going about your day. That’s where a good set of active noise-canceling headphonescome in, allowing you to get some peace and quiet even in pretty noisy environments with the added bonus of making it easier to listen to your songs and podcasts. Some of our favorite sets of ANC headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5, are going for $295 right now, a saving of $105
You do need to make sure to enter the discount code PRESIDENT20 when checking out at BuyDig’s eBay store to get this special price, and it’s important to do so soon as well. We don’t know how long this deal is going to hang around. Given this is part of a limited-time Presidents Day sale it’s unlikely to be long.
The Sony WH-1000XM5s are not only Sony’s flagship headphones, they’re a winner of a CNET Editors’ Choice award. They usually go for $400 and don’t usually drop this low, making now a great time to pick up a set if you’ve been waiting for a discount.
These headphones have everything you’d expect from a high-end pair of ANC headphones including a battery life of up to 30 hours per charge and a quick charge feature that will have you up and running in no time if needed. Great noise cancelation is a given, as is great comfort and a pretty stellar look.
While these headphones are definitely cheaper thanks to this deal be sure to check out these other excellent headphone deals if you’re on the hunt for something a little less costly. And eBay’s Presidents Day sale is worth peeping if you’re in the market for other gadgets, home goods or fashion finds.
Read more: Best Noise-Canceling Headphones of 2024
The Apple iPad, in its various guises, is pretty great. No matter which of the models you pick you’ll get one of the best tablets that money can buy — especially if you’re shopping at the high end of the lineup. There are tons of use cases for an iPad, including drawing and note-taking, but you’re going to need a stylus to make the most of it. The second-generation Apple Pencil is the best Apple makes, but at $129 it’s not a cheap addition to your setup.
Thankfully, Presidents Day sales have hit the the Apple Pencil 2 hard, dropping it down to just $79 at Amazon — a huge $50 off. That price is also available at Best Buy and Walmart.
The Apple Pencil is a great way to take notes and get creative when using an iPad, and the second-gen model is the best of the bunch, with support for advanced features like pressure and tilt sensitivity, tapping to change tools and more. It also magnetically connects to the side of compatible iPads to wirelessly charge and pair, ensuring that it’s always charged and ready to go when inspiration strikes. The second-gen Apple Pencil works with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-gen models); all 11-inch iPad Pro models; iPad Air (fourth- and fifth-gen models); and the sixth-gen iPad Mini.
Need a new iPad to work with your new Apple Pencil? Our collection of the very best iPad deals should have you ready to roll in no time. We also regularly update that list so be sure to check back if you don’t see a deal that suits your needs just yet.
If you drop your phone in a puddle or spill a glass of water on it, it could end up costing you a lot of money. Though many smartphones are water-resistant, that doesn’t mean they’re waterproof, so it’s still important to dry out your phone. Here are three ways to get your phone dry after dropping it in water, and hopefully save yourself from having to buy a new one.
None of these methods are guaranteed to work, however, and while there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence there are very few scientific studies on the subject. The most recent study we could find was from 2014 by Gazelle, a company that buys and sells used and broken phones. According to that study, the make and model of phone were found to influence whether or not a phone could return to working order, with Android phones typically faring better than iPhones.
Sources agree that getting your phone out of the water as quickly as possible helps by minimizing how much water comes into contact with your device. If you follow these instructions and your phone won’t turn on, or it turns on and has some issues, you should take it to a phone shop to see if they can help.
What Apple and Samsung recommend
The two biggest phone manufacturers have some tips for users in case your phone is dropped in water.
If your iPhone gets wet, it might display a warning that there’s water in your phone’s charging port. If you see this warning, were’s what Apple says to do:
1. Remove your iPhone from the water, turn it off and dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth. 2. Tap your phone gently with the charging port facing down to get excess water out. 3. Place your iPhone in a dry area with good circulation and wait at least five hours. Pointing a fan at your iPhone’s charging port might help the process.
After five hours, try turning your iPhone back on. If you’re still having issues, you can try the other methods mentioned in this article, or you could take your phone to an Apple store for further assistance.
1. Remove your phone from the water, turn it off and dry it off with a dry towel or a clean cloth. 2. Place your phone in a well-ventilated area or in the shade with cool air from a fan. Samsung doesn’t specify a length of time to wait, though.
Samsung says even after you’ve followed these steps that there might still be water inside your phone so you should bring it to a Samsung Electronics Service Center.
Both manufacturers also say if you drop your phone in a liquid other than clean water — like soda or pool water — you should quickly rinse your phone using tap water before drying with a towel and then air drying.
Apple and Samsung say to never use a heating source, like a blow dryer or oven, to dry your phone off. The heat could damage your phone.
Silica gel beads could help
You could also try silica gel. According to Gazelle, silica gel beads are a good option to absorb moisture out of phones. Silica gel beads can be found in those white packs labeled “Do not eat” that many products come packed with. You can save these packs from packages you’ve received, or buy packs through online stores like Amazon or companies like Dry & Dry.
Once you have your silica, here’s what to do after dropping your phone in water:
1. Get your phone out of the water and turn it off. 2. Dry the outside of your phone with a lint-free towel. 3. Place your phone in a large container. 4. Fill the container with your silica gel beads and seal the container. 5. Gazelle recommends waiting 72 hours to let your phone dry. 6. Remove your phone from the container and try turning it back on.
Other household items might help
If you don’t have silica gel beads on hand, you could try other household items. Gazelle found couscous and instant rice both work well as drying agents.
Follow the steps in the above section, but replace the silica beads with either of these, wait for the same amount of time and then try restarting your device.
Gazelle also tested conventional cat litter, oats, chia seeds and uncooked white rice but doesn’t recommend these products because they leave behind debris that could damage your phone.
For more tips, check out how low-frequency sounds can get rid of water from your phone’s speakers, how to get two days out of a single iPhone charge and how to easily manage your Android permissions.
Best Buy’s massive blowout sale for Presidents Day is continuing through the holiday with deep discounts across the board. You’ll find bargains on tablets, laptops, kitchen stuff, TVs, washing machines and a lot more. It’s the perfect time to grab yourself something if you missed your chance during the past few big sales, such as those tied to Black Friday and and the new year.
To save you some time, we’ve gone through and highlighted some of the best offers on popular items. The sale ends tonight, Monday, Feb. 19, at 9:59 p.m. PT, so be sure not to wait too long if you don’t want to miss out. You can also check out CNET’s roundup of other Presidents Day sales for more bargains.
Some items may have additional discounts available for My Best Buy Plus or Total members, so you may want to consider signing up if you haven’t yet. Those are paid accounts, but you could make the money back in exclusive savings during this event or throughout the year if you shop at Best Buy regularly. There are some other perks too, like like free two-day shipping with no minimum amount and extended return windows.
And if you want even more Presidents Day deals, check out our posts on mattresses, home security devices, Amazon devices, home goods and other great items.
Even though Presidents Day is tomorrow and there are a ton of greatdeals to take advantage of across the board, there are also some solid bargains to be had as well. From Rotary cutters to white noise machines, you don’t have to spend hundreds to get yourself some good products. Also, be sure to check out CNET’s gift guides as you do your weekend bargain-hunting.
The second installment of the sci-fi epic Dune from director Denis Villeneuve is set to hit theaters on March 1. Adapted from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, the film series is a sweeping production that takes place in a complex world rife with political conflict, conspiracies, mysticism and families trying to survive on a harsh planet.
2021’s Dune introduced Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, a young man with extraordinary abilities. He resides with his parents, Leto and Lady Jessica, on planet Arrakis, a rough desert environment where sandworms and leery locals called the Fremen dwell. Conflict erupts over a precious substance called “spice” that puts House Atreides at odds with its enemies, House Harkonnen, and it can potentially shape the future of the story’s entire Known Universe.
A compelling tale told with stunning visuals and an all-star cast, the film earned six Oscars. Before heading to the theater to see part 2, you can relive the feel and magic in Villeneuve’s first Dune film. See below where you can stream it and learn how a VPN can come in handy while viewing.
Read more: Dune Movie’s Out Now: A Guide to All the Terminology You Need to Know
Watch Dune, part 1 on two platforms
You have two main options to stream Dune on-demand. As a Warner Bros. production, the movie is available on Max, where you can also stream the 1984 adaptation of the film by director David Lynch.
Additionally, Netflix has Dune, part 1 available to stream until Feb. 29, one day before the next film in the series lands in theaters.
Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2024
How to watch Dune, part 1 from anywhere on VPN
Maybe you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Dune while away from home. With a VPN, you can virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to access the film from anywhere. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.
A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic and stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling, find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.
You can use a VPN to legally stream content as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.
Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation and choose a country where Dune will be streaming on a service like Max. Before opening the streaming app, be sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the movie on multiple devices, you may need to configure each to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account.
If you run into streaming issues, first ensure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device, and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.Reviews ethics statement
Matt ElliottSenior Editor
Matt Elliott is a senior editor at CNET with a focus on laptops and streaming services. Matt has more than 20 years of experience testing and reviewing laptops. He has worked for CNET in New York and San Francisco and now lives in New Hampshire. When he’s not writing about laptops, Matt likes to play and watch sports. He loves to play tennis and hates the number of streaming services he has to subscribe to in order to watch the various sports he wants to watch.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Read how we test products and services.
Leading 3D performance among budget gaming laptops
Plastic keyboard deck is solid
Aluminum top cover adds durability
Roomy and bright 16-inch, 16:10 display
Crisp, 1080p webcam
Plenty of ports, including Thunderbolt 4
Cons
Bulky and heavy
Design borrows liberally from Acer’s entry-level Nitro 16
Weak audio output
Short battery life
Acer’s entry-level Nitro and midrange Predator Helios lines have long been laptop favorites among gamers on tight budgets, delivering good 3D bang for the buck with solid if unspectacular designs. Wedged between these two series is the Predator Helios Neo line, which sacrifices nice-to-have features like an all-metal design, a mini-LED display, mechanical WASD keys and per-key RGB lighting while supplying must-have items like a full-wattage GPU and bright and fast display.
Without many of the features available in the Predator Helios line, the Predator Helios Neo 16 has more in common with the entry-level Nitro 16. The two laptops, in fact, share nearly identical enclosures — the Predator Helios Neo 16 is really just a Nitro 16 with an aluminum top cover. Both are excellent RTX 4050-based budget gaming laptops, each priced at $1,200, but the Predator Helios Neo 16 is the better buy with our test systems. In addition to the sturdier lid, it offers faster 3D frame rates. And the Predator Helios Neo 16 becomes a steal when it’s on sale; it was recently at Best Buy with a hefty $350 discount, dropping the price to a very reasonable $850.
We reviewed the entry-level unit (model PHN16-71) in the Predator Helios Neo 16 line. It features an Intel Core i5-13500HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics and a 512GB SSD. I’d have a hard time recommending it at its full price, but it’s regularly discounted at Best Buy. Higher-end models offer up to a 14th-gen Core i9 CPU and RTX 4060 graphics. Most configurations, including our test model, feature a 16-inch, 16:10 IPS display with a 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, and there’s at least one model with a 2,560×1,600-pixel, 165Hz display.
A 16-inch, 165Hz display powered by RTX 4050 graphics isn’t uncommon in a budget gaming laptop, but the Predator Helios Neo 16 is better than most with this setup. The display is much brighter than that of the typical budget gaming laptop, and it has a dynamic refresh rate that can hum along at 165Hz when you’re gaming or watching video and then dial it back to 83Hz when you aren’t gaming, to extend battery life. More importantly, the RTX 4050 GPU is running at full wattage. It’s set at 140 watts — 115W from the GPU itself and another 25 watts borrowed from the CPU via Nvidia’s Dynamic Boost. That’s the maximum TGP you’ll get from an RTX 4050.
The Nitro 16 I tested alongside the Helios also has an RTX 4050 at 140 watts, but other budget gaming laptops feature lower-wattage RTX 4050 GPUs, such as the HP Victus 16 (120 watts), the Lenovo 82XT LOQ 15APH8 (95 watts) and the MSI Cyborg 15 A13VE (45 watts). And if you scroll to the bottom of this review, you’ll see that this difference in wattage shows up in the performance results.
The Predator Helios Neo 16 enjoyed a clear advantage on all three of our 3D gaming tests, achieving significantly higher frame rates than its RTX 4050 competition. It was also a clean sweep for the Predator Helios Neo 16 on both our 3DMark tests. And it proved its 2D graphics mettle with a first-place finish on Cinebench.
Its application performance was up and down, with a strong result on Geekbench 6 but only a middling score relative to that of the other budget gaming laptops. If a gaming laptop must sacrifice some performance in an effort to keep the price in check, gamers will happily take the hit in application performance rather than 3D ability. Acer made a smart trade-off with this model by pairing a midrange 13th-gen Core i5 CPU from Intel’s high-powered HX mobile series with a maxed-out RTX 4050 GPU.
One area where many budget gaming laptops cut costs is the display. You might get a speedy 144Hz or 165Hz refresh rate but on a dim, 250-nit or 300-nit panel. On my Spyder X Elite colorimeter tests, the Predator Helios Neo 16’s display achieved a peak brightness of 442 nits. That’s an impressive figure for a budget gaming model. To put it in context, the MSI Cyborg 15 hit only 266 nits, the HP Victus 16 got as bright as 287 nits, and the Lenovo LOQ 82XT peaked at 343 nits. Acer’s own Nitro 16 was the closest to the Predator Helios Neo 16’s bright display at 424 nits. The Predator Helios Neo 16 also covered 100% of the sRGB gamut, which the Nitro 16 and HP Victus 16 could match, but not the MSI Cyborg 15 or Lenovo LOQ 82XT.
The downside of having a bright display powered by a 55-watt HX-series CPU and full-wattage RTX 4050 is shorter battery life. The Predator Helios Neo 16 lasted just 6.5 hours on our online streaming battery-drain test. For a big and heavy gaming laptop that I’m unlikely to lug around with me all day, that’s a trade-off I’m willing to make for a brighter, more vibrant display and higher frame rates. Colors looked more vivid on the Predator Helios Neo 16 than they did on the other budget gaming laptops, and I could see more details in the darkest and lightest areas of a scene.
A Nitro in disguise
The Predator Helios Neo 16 features a plastic keyboard deck and an aluminum top cover. That’s better than most budget gaming laptops, which are usually all-plastic affairs. You won’t find all-metal designs unless you move up to midrange models that start at roughly $1,500. Acer’s Predator Helios (non-Neo) line boasts an all-aluminum enclosure, but the Predator Helios Neo is mostly plastic. In fact, it features the same keyboard deck and keyboard as the Nitro 16 with only a slight modification to the venting pattern above the keys. Plus, the WASD keys, four arrow keys and a hotkey to open Acer’s PredatorSense app are jazzed up with blue translucent edges instead of a bold white.
The overall look isn’t terribly gamer-centric. When the RGB lighting is turned off and you don’t notice the different font for the WASD keys, the Predator Helios Neo 16 could be mistaken for an oversize work computer. The aluminum lid, too, is about as plain as can be; it’s a drab gray color with a buttoned-up matte finish and only a small Predator logo at the top.
It may be made of plastic, but the keyboard deck isn’t flimsy. It offers a solid base for mashing keys. The drawback to the design is its bulk and heft. The screen bezels on the sides and top are fairly thin, but the bottom bezel is wider than is fashionable today. With a 16-inch, 16:10 display that’s already taller than a traditional 15.6-inch, 16:9 panel, the Predator Helios Neo 16 takes up a lot of space.
The laptop measures more than 11 inches from front to back, is more than an inch thick and weighs a considerable 5.7 pounds. The nearly identical Nitro 16 also weighs 5.7 pounds, but the Nitro 16’s power brick weighs nearly two pounds on its own, while the slightly smaller power brick for the Predator Helios Neo 16 weighs 1.6 pounds. Still, you’re forced to haul more than 7 pounds in total with the Predator Helios Neo 16.
The keyboard offers four-level, four-zone RGB lighting. The multiple zones allow for more customization than you get from one-zone RGB lighting that’s typical at this price. The laptop is also one step away from per-key RGB lighting with the non-Neo version of the Predator Helios. The keys themselves have snappy feedback and feel fast when gaming but lack the satisfying deep travel of higher-end models. Again, the non-Neo Helios line provides a better keyboard for gamers by offering swappable mechanical switches for the WASD keys that provide better tactile feedback.
Overall, the keyboard is acceptable for the price, but it’s a bit disappointing that it’s the same keyboard you get with the truly budget Nitro 16. For example, the NitroSense button that’s nestled into the number pad on Nitro models has simply been rebranded as the PredatorSense button. Other than the name, there’s no difference between Acer’s NitroSense and PredatorSense apps that let you monitor and adjust the power mode, fan speed and RGB lighting.
The display is also nearly identical to what you get with the Nitro 16. Each is a 16-inch panel with a 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. As discussed in the previous section, both panels are considerably brighter and more vibrant than those on an average budget gaming laptop. The 16:10 aspect ratio also results in an expansive screen that feels much larger than a traditional 15.6-inch, 16:9 display. Even if games are usually displayed with a 16:9 ratio, the added space makes juggling multiple windows easier when you aren’t gaming.
The Predator Helios Neo 16 has the same downward-firing stereo speakers that emit flat sound with little bass. The lack of bass response is evident when listening to music, and explosions lack their full effect in games.
One area where the Predator Helios Neo 16 has the advantage over the Nitro 16 is with the webcam. Its 1080p camera provides a sharper, less grainy image than the Nitro 16’s 720p camera. With neither an IR sensor on the camera nor a fingerprint reader on the keyboard, the Predator Helios Neo 16 is devoid of biometrics for easy, secure logins.
The Predator Helios Neo 16 isn’t lacking in external connections, though, with ports on each side and also on the back edge. For starters, the power connector is located on the back, which is an arrangement I like because it means you can remain comfortably plugged in whether you’re sitting to the left or right of the nearest outlet, and it keeps the cable out of the way on a desk. Also on the back are two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI port, so display and external storage cables won’t add to desk clutter, either. Elsewhere, you get a USB-A port, an Ethernet jack, a combo audio port and a microSD card slot on the left and two more USB-A ports on the right edge.
All things being equal — and the list price for each is $1,200 for the RTX 4050 configs we tested — the Predator Helios Neo 16 has the edge over the Nitro 16 for its faster frame rates, aluminum top cover and higher-resolution webcam. The Predator Helios Neo 16 also had a bigger price break, dropping as low as $850 at Best Buy. It’s worth tracking for the return of that $350 discount, but if you can’t find the Predator Helios Neo 16 on sale, then the Nitro 16 is a good consolation prize at its sale price of $900 at Newegg. Newegg’s $300 discount for the Nitro 16 is offered more regularly than Best Buy’s $350 discount for the Predator Helios Neo 16. However, either model is a great buy when you can find it for less than $1,000.
The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computerlike devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device’s aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments.
With a focus on beefing up privacy and security, Google’s first developer preview of Android 15 is now available to download. The latest major OS update, a follow up to Android 14, also allows creators to take better advantage of camera hardware and gives developers more ways to manage heat and processing power for more efficient app performance.
This early version of Android 15 is intended mostly for developers, to help them build apps tuned for the next release of the Android OS and for Google to get valuable feedback as it rolls out updates throughout 2024.
Read more: Best Android Phone of 2024
But just because the preview is meant for developers doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t download Android 15 right now. As long as you understand the limitations of a developer preview (which can include bugs, missing features and app incompatibility) and how to install it with manual flash (adding the OS to your phone’s flash memory storage), you can check out Android 15 right now.
If you don’t want to deal with software issues or installation, wait until April and May for Google to open enrollment for its Android beta program, or you could even wait until June and July for a more stable version to drop. The final version of Android 15, intended for all Android users, is expected to release sometime in the fall.
Unsure about what to do next? Well here’s everything you need to know about Android 15. For more, here’s how Google built its Immersive View for Maps and how to clear your browser’s cache in Android.
What’s new in the first Android 15 developer preview?
With this first developer preview, Google said the focus is on enhancing user privacy and file security. It’s also focused on giving creators greater access to tools and hardware — including in-app camera controls — and on heat and power management for improved app and game performance. The latest release uses the confectionery-theming code name Vanilla Ice Cream.
For privacy and security, Android 15 is using the latest version of Privacy Sandbox, which is a multiyear initiative to enhance user privacy on Android. Privacy Sandbox improves privacy around mobile advertising, by limiting what data third-parties can access. Android 15 also allows users to screen share part of their screen, rather than the entire screen.
Google will give developers and creators more precise control of camera hardware to help them take advantage of premium hardware features, including the Pixel camera, GPUs and AI processing. These expanded controls can boost the brightness of the camera preview, adjust flash strength, connect MIDI 2.0 devices via USB and more.
This first developer preview of Android 15 also includes heat and processing power management tools via an improved Android Dynamic Performance Framework to help developers optimize performance-heavy and graphic-intensive apps and games.
As more developer previews and beta releases drop, Google will continue to add and refine features based on the feedback from everyone using Android 15.
Which phones support the Android 15 developer preview?
Google typically releases early developer previews just on its own devices, and it’s the same with Android 15. Right now, you can download Android 15 on the following Google Pixel phones and tablet:
If your device isn’t on the list, don’t fret just yet. As the year progresses, Android 15 will be available on other phones and tablets. You also have the option to use the 64-bit system images with the Android Emulator in Android Studio.
Before you install Android 15, back up your phone
Note that running prerelease software on your phone can make it unstable, and you may lose data. We recommend downloading and installing prerelease software on something other than your primary Pixel device, just in case Google’s new software causes issues.
The first thing you should do before you download the first Android 15 developer preview is to back up your supported device. Why? Developer previews are software in its early days, and so you can expect bugs, app crashes and other issues that can make it difficult to use your phone or tablet on a daily basis.
By default, your Pixel should back up automatically whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi and your phone has been idle and charging for 2 hours, but you can also do it manually. Depending on the size of your phone backup and how much available space you have on Google Drive, you may need a Google One subscription for this to work.
To back up your Pixel phone, go to Settings > Google > Backup and tap Back upnow. Depending on the last backup and how many apps and files need to be backed up, this process can be instant or take up to several minutes. Once you’re backed up, you’re ready to begin the process of downloading and installing Android 15.
Next, enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking
To install Android 15 on your Pixel, connect the phone to your computer via USB. That requires that your Pixel be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Although unlocking your phone is easy enough, to enable USB debugging you’ll need to first unlock Developer options.
Note: If you’ve flashed a developer preview before, you may be able to simply update OTA to Android 15. If not, skip to the next section.
1. Unlock Developer options. In the Settings application, go to About phone and then tap Build number seven times. Enter your password when prompted, and a new Developer options menu will appear in your settings.
2. Next, you’ll need to enable USB debugging so your phone and your computer can transfer data between each other. Go to Settings > System > Developer options and toggle on USB debugging. In the notification that appears, which briefly describes what USB debugging is meant for, tap OK. 3. And finally, while you’re still in Developer options, toggle on OEM unlocking. This unlocks your device’s bootloader, which is what loads the operating system. Once unlocked, you’ll be able to choose a different operating system to boot up on your Pixel — in this case Android 15.
Finally, flash Android 15 on your device using Android Flash Tool in Chrome
You have two ways to flash the Android 15 developer preview on your Pixel, but for the sake of simplicity, we’ll use the Android Flash Tool, which you can use directly from your web browser. It works best on Chrome or Edge. Also, your computer must have 10GB of available storage for this to work.
If everything is good to go, connect your Pixel to your computer via USB, unlock your device, go to https://flash.android.com/ in Chrome and do the following:
1. First, hit Allow ADB access in the pop-up that appears (if there are any ad blockers, turn them off). 2. Now click Add new device, choose your device from the list and hit Connect. 3. On your Pixel, check the box next to Always allow from this computer and then tap Allow to give Android Flash Tool access to your phone. 4. Back on your computer, click Developer Preview under Popular builds. 5. Click Install build and then hit Confirm.
The Android 15 Developer Preview should now be installed on your phone. You can safely disconnect your Pixel from the computer.
You can now use Android 15 on your Pixel
Once your Pixel boots back up, you’ll see a notification that says you’re now running the Android 15 developer preview. Hit OK and then set up your phone just as you would a brand-new phone. That means connecting to Wi-Fi, copying over apps and data from your latest backup via Google, agreeing to terms and conditions, setting up a password and so on.
You’ll automatically get future updates over-the-air for all developer previews and betas, so you don’t manually have to flash Android 15 every time.
What’s the release schedule for Android 15?
Google said it expects to release several developer previews — this one in February and another date in March — to shake out new features and check compatibility.
Planned beta releases for early adopters in April and May should be more stable and will focus on quality and compatibility improvements. Finally, Platform Stability releases slated for June, July and August will center on Android 15 final testing before the first public release in the fall.
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On Jan. 29, Amazon rolled out advertisements in Prime Video content for customers in the US, and if you’re here reading this, you might be missing the commercial-free days of yore.
Whether you’re accessing Prime Video through an Amazon Prime membership ($15 a month or $139 a year) or a $9-a-month standalone Prime Video membership, you can remove ads on movies and TV shows for an extra $3 a month. Commercials will still appear during live sports and events, and you may still see skippable promotional trailers on on-demand titles if you upgrade.
For current Prime Video customers, the process of going ad-free is pretty straightforward. On the web, for example, I found three different routes that led to the option to upgrade. But if you’re new to the streaming service, you’ll need to sign up for either a monthly Prime Video subscription or a Prime subscription — all come with the default, ad-supported version of Prime Video — before you can upgrade to the ad-free version of the streaming service, according to Amazon.
If you opt for the basic, ad-supported version of Prime Video, you won’t be able to watch with Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision. Instead, you’ll have 5.1-channel Dolby Digital Plus and HDR 10 (as tested by CNET). Dolby Vision’s functionally is very similar to HDR 10, so you may not mind that difference.
If you thought Prime Video already had ads, you might be getting it confused with Amazon’s streaming service Freevee, which has commercials but is free to use. CNET’s Kourtnee Jackson recently tested Prime Video with ads and noted that commercial breaks didn’t last as long as interruptions on competitors like Netflix and Hulu. But if you’re dedicated to your ad-free streaming routine, you don’t have to stick with the ad-based version of the service.
Below, you’ll find ways to upgrade to Prime Video if you’re an existing or new customer. If you currently have Prime Video through a free trial and want to upgrade to ad-free, you’ll also need to pay $3 a month, according to Amazon. Note this applies to US-based customers.
How to upgrade if you already have Prime Video
On the web
After testing different ways to upgrade, I had the easiest time using the web. The phrase “Go ad free” was in a row of selections on the homepage. Clicking that took me to Account & Settings and another Go ad free message. Pressing that gave me the option to start my ad-less subscription. I could also reach Account & Settings by hovering over my profile name.
While I was using the site, a pop-up window (pictured below) appeared and prompted me to upgrade.
On the TV and media player app
According to Amazon, you can also upgrade using “the Prime Video app for Fire TV, smart TVs, game consoles and set top boxes.”
Using a Fire TV streaming device, I opened the side menu and saw a crossed-out blue “Ad” icon and the phrase “Go ad free.” Selecting that took me to Prime in Settings, where there was another Go ad free. Once I clicked that, I could start an ad-free subscription. I could also get to “Settings” and “Prime” by clicking the gear icon on the side menu.
Upgrading worked the same on a Roku streaming device, but when I used a Google TV, I was instead shown an on-screen QR code and a link I could type in to manage my ad-free subscription on the web.
On the mobile app
You may also be able to upgrade through the Prime Video mobile app. The mobile apps we tested also featured the blue “Ad” icon with a line through it. With an iPhone, I reached a page where I could click Start Subscription, but a colleague with a Samsung phone tapped the icon and was only able to opt in to receive an email with more information about upgrading.
How to get ad-free Prime Video if you aren’t a customer yet
The ad-based version of the streaming service is the default option. If you are already a Prime Video subscriber, you should be able to upgrade using the methods in the last section. But if you aren’t, you’ll need to make sure you are one before you can opt to get rid of ads.
The cheapest way to subscribe to Prime Video is the $9 a month standalone subscription, but you can also pay for the $15 a month or $139 a year Prime subscription, which comes with additional perks like free Amazon delivery. Once you’ve met that requirement, you can follow the instructions above to remove ads from your streaming experience.
