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Google’s follow-up to Android 14 — Android 15 — is now available to download for early testers.

The latest major OS update, with a focus on beefing up privacy and security, 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 — as well as 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 just 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:

• Pixel 6
• Pixel 6 Pro
• Pixel 7
• Pixel 7 Pro
• Pixel 8
• Pixel 8 Pro

• Pixel Fold
• Pixel Tablet

If your device isn’t on the list, don’t fret just yet. As the year progresses, Android 15 will become 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 up now. Depending on the last backup and how many apps and files need to be backed up, this process can be instantaneous 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, click Get Started and then hit Allow ADB access in the pop-up that appears (if there are any ad blockers, turn them off).
2. Next, 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 DP 1 under Android 15 Preview Releases.
5. Click Install build and then hit Confirm.

Now, you’ll need to interact with both your computer and phone to flash Android 15, which begins with unlocking your phone’s bootloader.

1. Click Start on your computer to begin the unlocking bootloader process.
2. Over on your phone, hit any volume button to choose “Unlock the bootloader” and then hit the power button to unlock the bootloader.

The Android 15 software will then begin to download from your computer to your phone. It’s nearly 2.5GB, so it may take a few minutes, depending on your internet speeds. Once the download is finished, you’ll need to lock your phone’s bootloader.

1. Click Start on your computer.
2. Go back to your phone, use the volume keys to choose “Lock the bootloader” and then hit the power button.

Your phone will then restart and the Android 15 Developer Preview should now be installed. 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.

If you want to remove Android 15 from your device, you’ll need to use the Android Flash tool to go back to a stable version of Android 14.

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.

Have an older Android? Check out five tips to make your Android phone feel like new again.

Mobile World Congress sees almost all of the world’s biggest tech companies descend on Barcelona every year to show off the latest and greatest in mobile technology. This year will be no different, with many major brands already teasing their launches ahead of the show’s official opening on Monday, Feb. 26.

We will be there in person this year, armed with laptops, cameras and a thirst for the next big thing. Also we’ll have tapas and beer, because Barcelona.

Read more: Top Phones to Expect in 2024: iPhone 16, Google Pixel 9 and More

So what can we actually expect from the show? Let’s pop our safety hats on and dive into the rumor mill.

Phones, lots of phones

It’s a mobile-focused show, so it’s safe to assume that we’ll see new phones from a whole variety of brands. In typical years we’d see launches from the likes of Nokia, TCL, Honor and a host of others and we’d absolutely expect to see new launches this time round. In fact, Honor has already confirmed the launch of its flagship Magic 6 Pro on Feb. 25.

London-based mobile brand Nothing was rumored to be launching its new phone, the Nothing Phone 2A at MWC, but the company confirmed a launch event on March 5, so this technically falls outside of MWC timings. Still, it’s close enough to deserve a mention on this list.

Mind-bending folding concepts from Motorola

Last year, Motorola treated us to an amazing concept phone that featured a rollable display that automatically extended out of the phone. It was an exciting product to be able to see in the flesh, although the company made no comment on whether it would ever actually go on sale.

Back in October, Motorola teased a different sort of bendable device: a phone that can be worn like a bracelet. While the company hasn’t said anything about launching this concept as a real product, we firmly expect it to be shown off in person at MWC, and we’re excited to potentially get our hands (well, wrists) on it.

OnePlus concepts and Watch 2

Speaking of concepts, OnePlus has a good track record of showing off quirky concept versions of its devices at the show. Last year, we were treated to a liquid-cooled version of its OnePlus 11 flagship. The company hasn’t yet teased any kind of new concept for this year’s show, but we remain hopeful for something unusual to be on display.

We may, however, get an actual product from the company in the form of the OnePlus Watch 2. The company’s first-generation wearable launched back in 2021 and didn’t really impress. We don’t know anything about the watch itself, but some rumors suggest it will be unveiled at the show. Stay tuned, watch fans.

Smart rings and mixed reality headsets

Samsung teased its upcoming wearable, the Galaxy Ring, during its Galaxy Unpacked event in January but we’ve so far seen very little of it. It’s possible that Samsung may show off more of the ring — or at least let us put one on — during the show. Or it might continue to keep its cards close to its chest.

Either way, big tech announcements like this have a habit of sparking similar ideas from other players and it’s quite likely we’ll see similar wearables at the show from other brands. Whether these take the form of rings, or if we’ll see a sudden influx of smart necklaces or smart nose piercings, remains to be seen.

Read more: Samsung’s Surprise Galaxy Ring: Who’s This Wearable Actually For?

But the same is likely to be true of mixed reality or spatial computing headsets. Apple’s Vision Pro is making big waves in the tech world and even managed to impress our very own Scott Stein, who called it “a mind-blowing look at an unfinished future.” While Apple never attends these shows, it’s highly likely that we’ll see competing devices from brands wanting to get in on the headset computing action.

Xiaomi’s new SU7 electric car

Rumors suggest that Xiaomi will be taking the wraps off its latest Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra phones, with the latter featuring titanium in order to keep pace with Apple and Samsung. Exciting stuff, for sure, but the company might have an even bigger product to show off.

Xiaomi has been clear since 2021 about its plans to get into the automotive market and at the end of last year it announced its first EV, the Xiaomi SU7. Xiaomi plans to become one of the top five car manufacturers in the world, so we firmly expect this vehicle to appear in some form as part of the company’s 2024 MWC showcase.

With iOS 17.4, Apple just made it easier to track your iPhone 15’s battery life and overall health. The new software update, which is currently in beta, changes up the Battery submenu in the Settings app to make it easier to see and understand your battery’s overall health.

Previously, across all iPhone 15 models, there was a section named Battery Health & Charging that opened a screen showing your battery’s capacity as a percentage. (Over 80% is considered good.) Now, the newly named Battery Health menu shows whether your battery is normal or not.

Read more: Best iPhone To Buy in 2024

If you tap on Battery Health, a submenu opens to show your iPhone’s battery cycle count, the manufacture date and date of first use.

And speaking of cycle counts, Apple said it retested all iPhone 15 models and that their batteries should remain at 80% or higher capacity for 1,000 charge-and-drain cycles. Apple estimated older iPhone models still have 80% battery capacity retention after 500 cycles.

Obviously, the hardware and batteries across the iPhone 15 series have not changed, just Apple’s prediction of how many complete cycles it takes before the battery’s charging capacity hits 80%.

In CNET’s battery tests for the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, all four phones were some of the best in terms of battery life that you can buy now. We’re excited to see Apple make it more intuitive to know your iPhone’s battery health and hope there are more additions in the future to manage your battery.

TV makers premiered a range of wild innovations at CES 2024, from LG’s transparent TV to Samsung’s ultra-premium 98-inch 8K TV. Also of note were the display behemoths: Hisense announced an ultra-bright 110-inch TV, and TCL dropped an even bigger 115-inch TV.

This tech is all marvel-worthy and certainly something to keep your eye on in the future, but they won’t be found in many peoples’ living rooms this year. That’s because they’ll all be wicked expensive. Here, instead, are our most anticipated, practical and (relatively) affordable 2024 TVs you may consider buying this year.

How did these TVs make the list? Most of them are successors to TVs we’ve reviewed and liked in the past. They stood out at CES because they strike what seems like a great balance between quality and expected price. To be clear, however, none of the TV makers on this list have announced official pricing yet, so our expectations are based on the prices of the 2023 models.

What about Sony’s 2024 TVs?

Sony didn’t announce any TVs at CES 2024, so we can’t cite any specific examples on this list. The company did demo a prototype of improved mini-LED screen technology that CNET’s David Katzmaier got the chance to check out in person, however. It looked great and delivered improved brightness, local dimming zone count and more precise control of the image according to Sony. It will also likely be very expensive when it becomes available. Last year Sony announced its new TVs in spring, so we expect to hear more soon.

Why should you consider waiting to buy a 2024 TV?

This year’s TVs will hit shelves throughout the spring and summer, doing so at their highest sticker price. Those prices will then fall in the fall (consider that a fun mnemonic for the TV buying cycle) before hitting an all-time low around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

If you’re looking for a steeper discount for extremely similar quality now, check out the 2023 lineup of TVs. Most of these TVs don’t differ greatly from their newer versions, so you’ll get a similar product at a lower price (until they sell out). For this reason, for the most part, we will continue recommending 2023 models over 2024 until they’re gone.

Read more: Your TV Buying Guide: Winter 2024 Edition

Signal on Tuesday announced that username support is rolling out, and if you want it to, it can supplant the need to give out your phone number to new contacts.

The chat app is launching username support in beta first, and when it rolls out widely it will hide your phone number from other people in the Signal app by default unless they already have it stored in their phone’s contacts.

The change to usernames will mean that you can also choose to make it impossible for others to find you on Signal by phone number, which will be an optional setting. If you choose to use that setting, then other people will only be able to contact you on Signal if they have your exact username.

In the announcement, Signal notes that usernames will not fully replace phone numbers in regard to how you set up your account, but it will function as an alternative to giving out that information when starting conversations with others.

Signal will also provide a QR code option — similar to other apps like WhatsApp — which will direct other people to your username.

Usernames will need to be unique and have two numbers appended to the end of them, which Signal states was done in order to help keep usernames “egalitarian and to minimize spoofing.” A username can also be changed as often as one likes, and deleted if you don’t want to use it anymore.

Ideally, the change will provide a lot more flexibility in how Signal can be used, while preserving privacy. Under the current system where Signal needs a phone number for setup, several of my colleagues have set up a Signal account using an entirely separate phone number that’s dedicated to contacting sources.

This username system — especially the ability to change the username at any time — might allow for preserving that privacy without having to give access to a phone number that’s set up across multiple services.

This username system is expected to roll out widely to Signal users over the next few weeks.

Presidents Day may be behind us but there are plenty of deals still to be had. Apple’s popular AirTag item trackers dropped by $20 ahead of the holiday weekend and that deal is still available right now at Amazon. AirTags typically sell for $29 apiece, or $99 for four, but you can currently snag a four-pack for just $79. There’s no telling when this deal will sell out or expire, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Losing your most important items is incredibly stressful, especially when you’re in a hurry. But finding and keeping track of your keys, wallet and other essentials can be as simple as investing in some Apple AirTags. They’re among the top-rated Bluetooth trackers you can get, and Apple’s Find My network will quickly help you locate anything you’ve tagged.

Apple’s AirTag trackers work seamlessly with your iPhone and the Find My app, with a super simple one-tap pairing process. You can then throw a tracker into a pocket as it is, or grab an AirTag accessory to clip them to keys, hook them onto a bag, stick them to your bike or attach them to anything else you want to keep tabs on.

Once set up, the AirTags will show up in the Find My app and display your items on a map so you can easily find them. If an item is in your vicinity, you can use the app to play a sound on the AirTag’s tiny speaker to help you find it and use the Precision Finding feature to be guided to your lost possession. This is handy if you’re just looking for your keys or wallet around the house, for example. If you lose an item farther afield, you can put it in Lost Mode, which will then ping you if the AirTag is detected on the Find My network and allow you to add a message and include your phone number or email address.

Read more: Have Apple AirTags? 5 Unexpected Places to Put Them

Each AirTag is powered by a CR2032 coin battery, four of which are included with your purchase. The batteries last around a year before you need to replace them. AirTags are IP67 water- and dust-resistant too, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged if exposed to the elements.

For more savings on top-rated Apple products, check out our roundups of Apple Watch deals, MacBook deals and iPhone deals currently available.

Bose has long been one of the biggest players in the world of noise-canceling headphone, and its QuietComfort 45 headphones are generally accepted to be among the best you’re likely to find. Buying top-quality hardware normally means spending a lot of money, but you can pick up a pair of Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones for just $199 at Best Buy right now.

There are no codes or coupons required here, but it’s important to pay attention wen clicking through the options at Best Buy. The $199 price is available in the triple black and white smoke colors. These are the two options for the 2021 QuietComfort 45 headphones with all of the other colors being for the newer 2023 version which cost an extra $50.

Despite being an older model, the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have plenty of features to get excited about, including over 20 hours of battery life from a single charge. You can top that battery life up with a single 15-minute charge to get an extra three hours of listening time, too. The headphones are noted for their active noise cancellation, and you also get a volume-optimized active EQ to ensure everything sounds as good as possible, no matter the volume.

It’s worth remembering that the QuietComfort 45 headphones were replaced in the Bose lineup by the more simply named QuietComfort headphones in 2023, though the upgrades weren’t much to write home about with essentially the same design, marginally improved battery life, and some small software improvements, plus a $50 price hike. With the QuietComfort 45s available this low, it’s well worth going for the previous-gen model.

While we’re huge fans of the QuietComfort 45 headphones, we do know that they won’t be for everyone. Be sure to check out our collection of the best headphone deals around before you shop elsewhere.

If you want to update your entertainment setup without having to buy a brand new TV, streaming devices are the way to go. These nifty devices have made it easy to keep the screen you already have and still get access to all your favorite streaming services. While the Fire TV Stick 4K Max earned the top spot on our list of best Fire TV Stick options, the Fire TV Stick 4K came in a close second and is the closest alternative you can get. It doesn’t deliver speeds quite as fast as the Max, nor does it have Wi-Fi 6, but otherwise it’s a solid choice for those looking for 4K streaming options.

Right now, Woot has slashed the price on Fire TV Stick 4K media streamers in new condition to just $23 — that’s a $27 discount on its list price. This deal is only available today, Feb. 20, while supplies last — so be quick if you want to snag one at this price.

Though this is an older model, the Fire TV Stick 4K on offer at Woot is still feature-packed. It comes with an Alexa voice remote so finding the content you want to watch is fast and simple — and the TV controls make it easy to adjust the volume as well. And you can also use compatible devices like the Echo or Dot for even greater convenience, giving you the ability to launch apps, control video playback and more, completely hands-free. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10 Plus and Dolby Atmos, providing you with everything you need for solid picture and sound quality at home. It boasts an impressive game selection as well.

Note that you will need a 4K TV in order to stream in 4K, but this streamer does work with non-4K TVs, too (though it will only stream at the highest possible resolution your screen offers). At this price, this deal is hard to pass up.

And if you do choose to spring for a new TV, we have plenty of 4K TV deals to help you save some money, including deals on budget TVs.

Read more: Best 4K TV for 2024

The never-ending email chain. Somebody accidentally tapped “reply all,” giving everyone the unspoken permission to do the same. Now, your notifications are going off constantly, interrupting meetings and work. You can’t find anything you need because your inbox is full. We’ve all been there, and it’s frustrating.

Thankfully, you can take back control. Microsoft Outlook and Gmail both have tools for you to silence notifications on a specific thread and move it out of your inbox. If you later decide you need a muted thread, it’s easy to find and unmute.

Unclog your inbox and restore your digital peace with these mute settings in Outlook and Gmail.

How to mute Outlook email threads

1. Open Outlook
2. Find the thread you want to mute
3. Right-click to open a side menu
4. Click Ignore Conversation.

Ignore Conversation is Microsoft’s version of mute. With this function, all emails in the chosen thread will be moved to your Deleted folder, and you won’t be notified about new emails in the chain. If you sent a message in the thread, that will stay in your inbox.

To unmute, all you have to do is right-click on the thread again and click Stop Ignoring. You’ll get notified about all the messages that you muted — as well as future ones — and it will also move the thread back into your inbox.

How to mute Gmail threads

1. Open Gmail
2. Find the thread you want to mute
3. On desktop, select Mute. On mobile, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and choose Mute from the popup menu.

Muting email threads will stop notifications for future messages and remove the thread from your main inbox. But if you’re part of a Google Group that’s on the recipient list, or your email address is moved to “to” or cc’ed, you’ll be pulled back into the chain.

To unmute, type “is:muted” in the search bar to pull up all your muted messages. Open the message you want to unmute, tap the three dots in the upper menu and select Unmute.

Muting a Gmail thread is different than snoozing it. Gmail’s Snooze function lets you delay and choose a specific time and date for when you want to be reminded about a message. It won’t remove the thread from your inbox or silence future messages.

For more inbox optimization and less annoyance, check out CNET’s top tips for Gmail and Outlook.