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samedi 18 juillet 2026

The best open-ear earbuds just dropped 33% back to their lowest price EVER at Amazon

It's not always easy to find good open-ear earbud deals, at least when compared with those of traditional earbuds. For that reason, it's exciting to see Amazon cut our favorite open-ear earbuds, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, back down to their lowest price ever. The deal represents a 33% price drop, marking $100 in savings and bringing their price down to just $199.

We love the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for a number of reasons, but especially for their powerful immersive sound setting, their minimal, sleek design, fast charging speeds, and a relatively long battery life.

While they don't come with multipoint connection or wireless charging, the Bose Ultra Open are still head and shoulders above other competitors in overall quality and design. At $199, they're still a little more pricey than others, but $100 off feels like it could be all the justification you need if you're already in the market.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: $299.00 $199.00 at Amazon

Bose's Ultra Open earbuds have dropped to this price before at Amazon, with the retailer cutting 33% off the price tag to bring them to just $199. In addition to featuring a sleek, likable design, the Ultra Opens are also available at this discounted price in a wide range of colors, including Black, Lunar Blue, Desert Gold, Midnight Violet, Driftwood Sand, Moonstone Blue, and several others still.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want the best open-ear earbuds on the market and your budget is around $199; you want a pair of open-ear earbuds that won't compromise on immersive, high-quality audio; you like having easy-to-use button controls for playback, volume, answering calls, and more on your earbuds; you need something with a minimal, comfortable fit that can be worn and used for long periods of time.

❌Skip this deal if: you aren't looking for open-ear earbuds and would rather spend this amount of money on higher-quality, fully in-ear devices; you need something that offers more than 4 hours of battery when spatial, immersive, or other modes are engaged; you prefer a pair of earbuds with a higher dust and water resistance rating than IPX4.

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are a certifiably great pair of open-ear buds, featuring a mind-blowing immersive mode and a solid stereo audio mode, a charging case, and a minimal, comfortable design. Bose says they'll get users up to 4 hours of playtime in immersive mode or up to 7 in stereo mode, while the case can offer up to 48 hours of with intermittent charges.



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Looks like the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra leaked and, yeah, not much changed

What you need to know

  • Rumored renderings for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra claim the device's design might not change much from its predecessor.
  • The tablet's renderings showcase it with the same camera notch, dual camera array, and thin build.
  • Rumors add that the Tab S12 Ultra might feature a 14.6-inch display, an 11,600mAh battery, and upwards of 16GB RAM/1TB storage.

Another round of Galaxy Tab S12 series rumors has surfaced. This time, the leaks claim to have discovered the design of the Galaxy S12 Tab Ultra.

To end the week, rumors about Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra have appeared, alongside renderings of its apparent design. In collaboration with tipster OnLeaks, Smartphone Checker posted a few alleged Tab S12 Ultra renderings (via SamMobile). Users hoping for a design change might be disappointed. The tipster's discovery suggests the Tab S12 Ultra won't veer too much from what the S11 Ultra delivered. The selfie camera notch, fairly thin bezels, and dual camera array remain.

The leaked renders showcase the Ultra tablet in black (or gray), keeping things similar to what we're used to.

Android Central's Take

I am a very sad boy. Remember those rumors about a potential design change for Samsung's tablets? I wish they were true, but maybe that's in the cards for the future? Personally, I don't like the selfie camera notch. It's ugly. It takes away from the tablet's massive display. I want a full immersive display, not a weird notch. Punch hole will suffice, but it looks like we'll have to settle with the same—again.

The publication adds that evidence "strongly" suggests the S12 Ultra will feature a 14.6-inch display. This is based on its rumored dimensions, which say it will measure 326.34 x 208.46 x 5.12mm. Other rumors claim the device could stick with a MediaTek chip. One that's upgraded, but still a year old. The folks at SamMobile mixed in some other rumors, stating the Tab S12 Ultra could feature a maximum of 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM.

The story so far

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 and S11 Ultra.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

On a related note, the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus surfaced in what rumors claimed were "live images." Similar to what these Ultra renderings suggest, the Tab S12 Plus might not look different either. The images showed a tablet that still featured rather thick display bezels and a selfie camera nestled inside them. The image was spotted in a Safety Korea database listing. This is something significant, which could point toward the device seeing a late 2026 launch, which many have anticipated.

On the other hand, we have a Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra battery rumor that's pretty mild. Supposedly, the device could settle for the same 11,600mAh with 45W charging support that the Tab S11 Ultra offered.



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I never lose track of my phones, watches, or earbuds thanks to these 5 Google Find Hub features

Apple's Find My network has long been a compelling reason to pick up an iPhone. It uses hundreds of millions of devices to track your products using crowdsourced location data, and almost everyone chooses to participate. Google lacked a true alternative for a while, but we've had one for the past two years with Find Hub (formerly Find My Device). It's still relatively new, so many Android users forget to use Find Hub or aren't aware of everything it can do.

I don't even remember to check Find Hub when I can't find an Android phone, Wear OS watch, or Bluetooth earbuds — but I'm starting to change that. Google Find Hub is loaded with features that help you keep track of your gadgets and protect your data in a worst-case scenario. These are the five Find Hub features you need to know about.

Check your phone's Wi-Fi network and battery percentage

Using Find Hub to locate Android phones and accessories.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Most people probably know that Find Hub uses crowdsourcing to update a device's real-time location so you can find it. You may not know that Find Hub can provide additional information about your phone, and this remote data can help you locate it. Crucially, Find Hub lists your device's battery percentage in the app — this lets you know how much time you have to find it before the charge runs out.

More importantly, Find Hub will tell you whether your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. It'll also let you know the strength of the connection signal. This only works when your device is online, but it can be very helpful. For example, if I see a phone in the Find Hub list connected to my home Wi-Fi network with a strong signal, I know it's in my apartment. If it's connected to my network with a weak signal, it could be in my car out front.

Sometimes, the information you get from a device's battery and connectivity status can be more helpful than the raw GPS coordinates. To try it for yourself, open Find Hub and tap a device in the Devices list. If it is online, you'll see when the device was last seen, its battery percentage, and network connection status under its name.

Find your device on a map, and get directions to it

Using Find Hub to locate Android phones and accessories.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

If you can't remember where you left your device, its location data can help. I don't always turn to Find Hub location data first because, unless you're using a tracker with ultra-wideband (UWB) support, the app can't help you narrow down the device's location beyond providing GPS coordinates. Still, it can be useful if you can't remember whether you left your phone at home, at work, or at a coffee shop.

To check it, open Find Hub and tap the name of your device in the list. A map will open with a pin showing the device's last known location. You can tap the Get directions button to open Google Maps, view the coordinates on your device, and start navigating to them.

Using Find Hub to locate Android phones and accessories.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

I use the Play sound feature in Find Hub more than the Get directions tool. If you think a device is lost near you, navigate to Find Hub > [Device Name] > Play sound to blare an alarm through your device if it is nearby and visible. It's really loud, and sounding the alarm gives you a great chance of locating your lost product.

Share ownership of a device with someone else

Using Find Hub to locate Android phones and accessories.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

For accessories like earbuds, you can share ownership with a trusted friend or family member in the Find Hub app. The way it works is simple. Open the Find Hub app, find your device in the Devices list, and tap it. Then, press Share ownership and hit Continue. This will create a shareable link that can be sent to one person and expires after 24 hours.

When the person you share an accessory with accepts the invitation, they'll be able to see the device's location until you stop sharing it. This is helpful for devices you share with someone else, as both of you will be able to track their location. It isn't available for every device, though, and it's made for accessories. I used it with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, sharing the location with my partner so we both can keep track of the earbuds.

Mark a device as lost, and get notified when it's found

Using Find Hub to locate Android phones and accessories.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Of course, there are times when you lose a device away from home and might not be able to easily locate it. Find Hub can help in this situation too, with a Mark as lost mode. In the Find Hub app, locate your lost device in the Devices list and tap its name. Then, hit Mark as lost and Continue.

You'll be able to add a contact phone number or message that appears on your lost device. It'll completely lock down your lost phone, showing a black screen with a shortcut that allows anyone who finds it to instantly call the owner (you). When you find it, you'll be able to unlock it from this screen, but you'll need to use two-factor authentication. Alternatively, you can remove the lost device lock remotely using the Find Hub app or the Find Hub web client at https://www.google.com/android/find/.

Factory reset your device when all hope is lost

Using Find Hub to locate Android phones and accessories.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

If you can't regain access to your device, Find Hub can permanently erase it to ensure your data is never compromised. This should be your last resort, as erasing a lost device remotely will remove it from Find Hub, and you won't be able to see its location. To do this, open the Find Hub app, find your device in the list, and tap it. Then press the Settings gear icon next to your device's name. Then, tap either Factory reset or Remove device — the former is for phones, and the latter is for accessories.

Completing the factory reset process will remotely wipe your lost device, permanently deleting all its data. This certainly isn't an easy decision to make, but erasing your device could be better than letting your data potentially fall into the wrong hands.

Google Find Hub works with Android-powered devices, Wear OS watches, Bluetooth accessories, and item trackers. When you learn to master it, you'll have a much better chance of finding your lost devices and items.



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vendredi 17 juillet 2026

I used the Redmagic Astra 2: the best gaming tablet just got even better

Redmagic's Astra gaming tablet was a revelation last year; OLED-toting Android tablets are vanishingly rare, and it was great to see a sensibly-sized tablet with a gorgeous OLED panel, high-end hardware, and great battery life. I used the Astra more than any other Android tablet over the course of the last 12 months, so when Redmagic said it was coming out with a new model, I was obviously interested.

What you need to know is that the Astra 2 isn't a wholesale refresh; it instead makes a few tweaks to the original design, and introduces liquid cooling. There's also a slightly bigger battery and Qualcomm's latest silicon, and outside of that, it is fundamentally unchanged — and that is a good thing.

The Astra 2 starts at $749/€699/£599 for the 12GB/256GB model, which is a modest $50 increase from last year. There's also a 16GB/512GB model that costs $849/€799/£679, and there's no 1TB variant this year. As always, Redmagic is incentivizing the launch with deals, and these will go live starting mid-August, with general sale slated for the end of August. If you're eyeing this tablet, my suggestion would be to get it at launch — Redmagic sold the Astra for as low as $499 last year, and you can get a decent deal if you buy as soon as it's available.

This OLED panel is a sheer delight to use

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The OLED panel is the clear star of the show; the 9.06-inch panel has a resolution of 2,400 x 1,504, and it has exquisite colors and contrast levels. Overall brightness is unchanged from last year, but it didn't prove to be a problem at all — I was able to use the tablet outdoors without any issues. There's 185Hz refresh as well, but you don't see that in gaming; that said, most games go up to 120Hz, which is great to see.

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central

The size of the Astra 2 makes it particularly well-suited to read comics or books, and that's what I did. It's just the right size to comfortably hold while sitting in the couch, and there's a dedicated reading mode that switches the panel to monochrome — if you want to read e-books on the device. Of course, this is a gaming tablet, and it excels in that regard. The smaller size makes it ideal to slot into a mobile controller like the GameSir G8 Plus, and that's predominantly how I played games on the tablet.

The Astra 2 retains a bold design - and you get LED lighting

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

Like last year, Redmagic went with an all-metal design, and it looks great. It just feels good to hold and use, and the sizing is just right; it isn't as huge as my iPad Pro M4, but it still has a decent-sized panel. The rounded edges make it comfortable, and while it has chunky bezels, they are uniform. The front camera is nestled into the bezel, so you get a panel that doesn't need any cutouts — which is a welcome change.

One of my favorite things about the Astra 2 is the flat design; the camera sits entirely flush with the body of the tablet — just like the Pixel 10a — and it feels wonderful. Thankfully, it doesn't slide off a table like the Redmagic 11 Pro, and that's down to the matte texture at the rear. It is on the heavier side at 363g, but it never gets uncomfortable to hold. The tablet retains IP54 ingress protection, and while it isn't good enough for a dunk in the pool, it withstands splashes of water.

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central

Redmagic prides itself on bold designs, and the Astra 2 delivers in this area. It has a rectangular insert that houses LED lighting, and it immediately shows off the tablet's gaming credentials. This section houses the biggest upgrade this year: a liquid cooling system similar to that of the Redmagic 11 Pro. You can see the coolant moving through the connectors, and it isn't just for aesthetics — it makes a genuine difference while gaming.

The tablet gets stereo sound, and it's decent enough if you're just playing casual games. I like that there are two USB-C ports; one is located at the bottom, and the other is mounted on the left side, making it convenient to charge the tablet when you're gaming.

This is a seriously cool tablet

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

On that note, Redmagic went with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is the fastest mobile silicon you can get at the moment. It's evident that Redmagic tuned the tablet to deliver reliable framerates, and it excels at sustained gaming — no other Android tablet comes close. It held up particularly well in thermal stress tests, and while there was some heating, the liquid cooling system did an admirable job.

So if you're looking to play marathon gaming sessions on a tablet, this is the one to get. I'm using the 16GB/512GB edition of the tablet, and I'd suggest getting this model over the base 256GB variant; it's easy to run out of storage these days, and you need the additional headroom if you're planning on using it as a gaming tablet. The only feature missing is cellular connectivity; that was the case last year as well, and it's evident this isn't a priority.

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central
Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review
Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central

Alongside the hardware, you get plenty of software tools to optimize your games. Game Space is an overlay that includes an fps counter, and it has a ton of settings that allow you to make the most out of any game. I also like the side-mounted USB-C port as it lets me connect video glasses — like the Rokid Max 2 — to the tablet. The Astra 2 gets USB-C Alt Mode, so you can easily connect it to an external monitor, TV, or smart glasses.

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The software itself is pretty clean, and you get Android 16 out of the box. There isn't much in the way of overt styling (which is good to see), and the interface itself is fluid and optimized to take full advantage of the high-end internals. You get a decent amount of customizability as well, and there's the obligatory AI features, which are easy to ignore. There is a lot of bloatware, but it can be uninstalled with relative ease. Redmagic is doing a better job with updates, and while it guarantees five years of updates, it's unclear if that includes platform updates.

Battery life is reliable; the 8,300mAh battery is good enough for marathon gaming sessions or watching an entire TV series. And when you need to plug it in, the Astra 2 uses 75W charging and takes just over 50 minutes to charge fully. You don't get a charger in the box, so you will need to buy a USB PD charger if you don't have one.

Redmagic Astra 2 gaming tablet review

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The best part about the Astra 2 is the OLED panel, and Redmagic thankfully didn't change it this year. The smaller size of the tablet combined with the caliber of the hardware makes it a delightful choice for everyday use and intensive gaming, and if you need a new Android tablet, you'll love what the Astra 2 has to offer.



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Will the Google Pixel 10 get cheaper when the Pixel 11 launches?

Google has officially confirmed that the 2026 Made by Google event will be held on August 12th in London, which means we're likely just weeks away from the launch of the Pixel 11 lineup.

While many folks can hardly wait for the new phones to drop, the arrival of a new generation has led some Android users to wonder if now is a good time to pick up last year's model, the Google Pixel 10.

While Pixel 10 deals have become more common in recent months, the answer may not be as cut-and-dry as you think. Should you buy the Pixel 10 today or wait for the new generation to launch? Let's discuss.

What we know

Pixel 10 display outside

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

The Google Pixel 11 lineup is expected to be announced on August 12th at 6pm EST during the 2026 Made by Google event. According to the latest rumors, the flagship lineup is going to include four phones: the base model Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Unfortunately, Google hasn't been exempt from the memory shortage that has been impacting tech prices this year, which means most of the phones will be seeing a $100 price increase in 2026. Here are the new prices for each phone, according to the latest leaks and rumors:

  • Google Pixel 11: $899 / €999
  • Google Pixel 11 Pro: $1,099 / €1,199
  • Google Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,299 / €1,399
  • Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,899/ €1,999

    (Prices displayed are for the 256GB starting configuration. Google is reportedly ditching the 128GB of base storage this year.)

Those prices are pretty daunting in this day and age, and it doesn't help that the Pixel 11 series isn't expected to be a dramatic upgrade from its predecessor, according to the latest reports. You get the new Tensor G6 processor, yes, plus the rumored LED light array that is expected to border the phones' camera bar (which is admittedly quite cool).

Aside from that, however, the upgrades appear to be largely iterative, which returns us to our original questions: is it worth skipping the Google Pixel 11 and grabbing last year's Pixel 10 instead? If so, will the Google Pixel 10 get cheaper once the new generation launches, or should I buy it today?

Is the Google Pixel 10 about to get cheaper?

The back of the jade Google Pixel 10 Pro

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

While some Android phones do get permanent price drops when a new generation launches, it's just as likely that the Google Pixel 10 will be completely sold out by the time the 2026 phones hit store shelves next month. Think about it this way: when was the last time you saw a great deal on a Google Pixel 9 that wasn't refurbished?

This is because retailers generally try to make room for new devices prior to their launch, which means they will often discount last year's model right before its successor arrives. In other words, if you want to buy the Google Pixel 10, now is a good time to do it.

Fortunately, there are plenty of active Google Pixel 10 deals that could make the 2024 flagships dirt cheap (or even free) if you play your cards right. Stock is already running low, however, so don't wait too long if a particular offer catches your eye.

If you do miss these last-minute Pixel 10 offers, don't worry too much: the launch of the Google Pixel 11 series is sure to come with some incredible preorder deals in tow, and I'll be covering all of those promotions as they go live.

Whichever generation you choose, you can rest easy knowing you're getting a great Android phone with a sophisticated design, versatile cameras, and all of the latest AI-boosted software tricks straight out of the box.

The top Google Pixel 10 deals this week

Get a free Google Pixel 10 with most plans at T-Mobile

Add a line with any of T-Mobile's standard unlimited plans and the carrier will give you enough promo credits to make the Google Pixel 10 completely free, no trade-in required. The Indigo variant is already out of stock, but there appear to be plenty of Obsidian phones still available. View Deal

Get a free Google Pixel 10 Pro with an eligible unlimited plan at Verizon

Add a line with Verizon's Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans and you'll get $1,000 in promo credits over 36 months. That's enough to make the powerful Google Pixel 10 Pro completely free! View Deal



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Motorola's Edge 70 Max has a huge battery and Qi2.2—I'm more interested than I thought I'd be

What you need to know

  • Motorola debuted the Edge 70 Max overseas with a 6.8-inch Quad HD Plus (2K) display and a smooth glass back.
  • Bigger moves were made elsewhere, as the Edge 70 Max features a huge 7,100mAh battery and fully integrated Qi2.2 wireless charging.
  • The phone is available in India for ₹59,999 (~$622), and there's no word yet on a U.S. release.

Motorola is expanding its latest phone series overseas in 2026. Its Max model is walking an interesting line that's putting all eyes on Moto.

Motorola debuted the newest entry to its 70 series: the Edge 70 Max. The company states this phone delivers "strong performance and power" over previous iterations. Immediately, the Edge 70 Max features a 6.8-inch Quad HD Plus (2K) display. Motorola states it has included "Extreme AMOLED" tech, which helps produce "enhanced contrast so that blacks are truly black and colors pop..." With 7,000nits of peak brightness, the Moto Edge 70 Max boasts a smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

What catches our eyes about the Edge 70 Max more are the upgrades Motorola has given it. Its press release states the phone offers a huge 7,100mAh battery with 90W wired charging. A battery like this would keep users in the game longer; however, Motorola integrated 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging, too. What's more, Motorola has placed Qi2 magnets inside the phone, meaning users won't need anything extra (other than the charger) to charge wirelessly.

Let's be real, Samsung has yet to build Qi2 magnets into its Galaxy phones.

Elsewhere, the Moto Edge 70 Max delivers a 50MP main sensor that's been Pantone SkinTone validated. The company says this "assures the camera captures results representing the vast spectrum of human skin tones." An 8MP ultrawide plus macro lens and a 32MP selfie lens round out its camera.

The design of the Edge 70 Max's back panel also leaps forward. The phone features an all-glass back, bringing about a cleaner (and slipperier) experience.

Max means power

The Motorola Edge 70 Max in Dark Shadow sitting on top of a suitcase.
Motorola
The Motorola Edge 70 Max in Ice Melt in a model's hands in their living room.
Motorola

On the power front, the Moto Edge 70 Max is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC. While this is a one-year-old chip, Qualcomm designed it to bring flagship-quality power to affordable phones. The chip targeted users who want to game on affordable devices, while also bringing AI and device performance up to par. The SD 8 Gen 5 is built on a 3nm process with Qualcomm's strong Oryon CPU cores.

Motorola says this chipset facilitates a 36% boost in CPU performance, an 11% increase for its GPU, and a 46% boost in NPU (AI-related performance). The phone offers 8GB and 12GB of RAM paired with 256GB of internal storage.

GSMArena spotted that the Moto Edge 70 Max has been announced for India. It seems like this is the only market to have received this announcement. The phone will be available on July 20 for ₹59,999 (~$622), and consumers can grab the phone in Dark Shadow, Aqua Gray, and Ice Melt. There's no word yet about a U.S. launch.

Android Central's Take

I need to remind everyone of something: in the U.S., in Q1 2026, Motorola was the only phone maker that made serious headway in a struggling market. Motorola jumped 18%, and I think it's because the company's been making some incredible moves. I saw comments from my colleagues Derrek Lee and Nicholas Sutrich when the Edge 70 Max debuted. I completely agree with them: this is interesting, especially coming from Motorola. Its foldables are already interesting to me, now a phone has caught my attention for the first time in a while.



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jeudi 16 juillet 2026

This T-Mobile feature could save your life someday (and you don't even need T-Mobile for it to work)

Years ago, you could go nearly anywhere outside of a city and have no cell coverage. Mobile networks have improved substantially since then, but there are still places that don't have adequate cell coverage for one reason or another. Thankfully, T-Mobile has an ingenious solution to fix this problem: satellite connectivity.

While some phones have had satellite connectivity for decades, modern smartphones only recently received the feature when Apple introduced it on the iPhone a few years ago. Since then, Google has adopted it on its Pixel phones, and T-Mobile has taken things further by expanding coverage to phones that were never advertised to have satellite connectivity in the first place.

T-Mobile calls this program T-Satellite, and it's available to both T-Mobile customers and subscribers to other phone carriers. The program uses StarLink satellites to connect to T-Mobile's Network anywhere you can see the sky, which substantially opens up the coverage possibilities when compared to traditional cell networks.

What is T-Satellite?

The T-Mobile T-Life app on an Honor Magic V6

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

T-Satellite is the name of T-Mobile's satellite connectivity service, which operates using newer StarLink satellites. These satellites have a new kind of cell radio that can transmit via the 1980-2000 MHz spectrum, using T-Mobile's FCC-authorized LTE Band 25. This means that phones that support T-Satellite can automatically switch between T-Mobile's terrestrial Network and the StarLink-based satellite Network on the fly to ensure that you have connectivity 99% of the time.

Because of this, T-Mobile says its T-Satellite service can be used across over 500,000 miles in the U.S. that aren't covered by any other cell phone service. T-Satellite is also available internationally in select countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and Japan.

Other satellite-based connectivity with phones like the iPhone, for example, requires you to point the phone toward a satellite to initiate contact. This also means that connectivity is limited to basic text messaging and is only intended for emergencies. T-Satellite doesn't require you to hold your phone a certain way because it connects via an LTE channel, making the experience seamless.

T-Mobile logos in 16:9 aspect ratio

(Image credit: Future)

You can use full voice and data services through a specific set of approved apps. Thankfully, this includes common apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps, AllTrails, AccuWeather, X (formerly Twitter), and even MMS texting, so you can send and receive pictures in addition to text messages. T-Mobile maintains a full list of compatible apps here.

Voice calls are made through WhatsApp, while users can text 911 from anywhere. You'll know you're using the T-Satellite service when the connectivity icon on your phone changes to show "T-Mobile SpaceX" or "T-Sat+Starlink" in the status bar. Compatible apps may also show a banner letting you know that you're connected via satellite.

T-Satellite isn't as fast as T-Mobile's regular 5G Network, but since it's available virtually everywhere, that's an okay trade-off. The company launched this service in 2025, and things have only gotten better since then, making this a must-have service in the modern era.

Is my phone is compatible with T-Satellite?

T-Mobile's very magenta dialer app on the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

T-Mobile T-Satellite is available for T-Mobile and non-T-Mobile customers. T-Mobile customers on any of the company's "Experience Beyond" plans can use the service without additional fees or add-ons. Folks using other carriers (like Verizon, AT&T, etc) can sign up for T-Satellite service separately for $10 per line per month via the secondary SIM on your phone.

T-Mobile says most phones sold in the last four years are compatible with T-Satellite, but I found that doesn't seem to be the case. What T-Mobile likely means is that most phones sold through its distribution channels and stores are compatible, but a significant number of smartphones made over the past four years don't appear to work with the T-Satellite service.

The Razr Ultra 2026 on a table next to the Razr Fold

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

I tested phones from several phones from major brands not sold by T-Mobile and found that none of them are compatible. That includes phones from brands like OnePlus, Oppo, Nothing, Honor, RealMe, and Xiaomi. Phones officially sold through T-Mobile channels, like Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Motorola, and even the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, all work splendidly with the service. Thankfully, T-Mobile regularly runs great deals so you can get a compatible phone.

To find out if your phone is compatible, head over to T-Mobile's official compatibility tool and input your IMEI and EID numbers to check. To find these numbers, open your phone's system settings (found in the app drawer) and scroll down to About Phone. Most phones show these numbers in this section, although you may also have to open the Status section (under About Phone) to find them.

How to enable T-Mobile T-Satellite

If you're already signed up for a compatible T-Mobile plan (as discussed in the section above), or you have a separate SIM just for T-Satellite, you should be all set. It's good to double-check and make sure things are working before you venture out, though, so follow these steps to ensure that T-Mobile T-Satellite is enabled:

1. Open your phone's system settings. On most Android phones, this is found by tapping the settings icon in your app drawer.

2. Open the Network & Internet section (Connections on a Samsung phone).

3. Select SIMs & mobile network.

4. Tap your SIM card in the list (not the toggle button to the right of it). On Galaxy phones, you can go directly to Satellite networks and skip the next step.

5. Select Satellite connectivity from the list.

If your phone doesn't support satellite connectivity, you will not find a Satellite Connectivity option in the menu.

(Image credit: Android Central)

The next screen will let you know if your phone is set up for satellite connectivity. On one of my T-Mobile plans, my Motorola Razr Fold shows that the plan doesn't support satellite connectivity features.

On another T-Mobile plan that supports T-Satellite, the connectivity section shows that data and messaging are included with the account, plus a list of all supported apps currently installed on the phone.

(Image credit: Android Central)

Now that you're all set up, enjoy advanced satellite connectivity anywhere you can see the sky. Keep in mind that any obstructions, including trees, signs, and buildings, could block your connectivity.

For the best results, get to a clear, open area and keep an eye out for the special "T-Mobile SpaceX" or "T-Sat+Starlink" in the status bar on your phone to know you're connected to T-Mobile's



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