5 of my favourite Android options that Samsung and Google hold ignoring

It’s no secret that the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel manufacturers get a whole lot of consideration from the media and Android followers alike. There are a number of causes for this, together with higher software program replace help than the competitors and a big collection of unique {hardware} and software program options. For these in North America, it’s additionally as a result of these are the 2 largest Android manufacturers left.

Whereas it’s true that Samsung and Google have many unique options, they aren’t the one ones. Beneath are a couple of options that each manufacturers both miss fully or don’t do as nicely, all of which I might personally like to see come to extra units.

Whereas quick charging is fairly widespread today, not all of us have the identical definition of what which means. Within the US, cellphone manufacturers are typically extra conservative. On the highest finish, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Extremely provides 60W charging, whereas the Pixel 11 Professional household maxes out at 45W.

At these speeds, totally charging the Extremely takes about an hour, whereas the Pixel 11 Professional takes just a bit beneath two hours. The humorous factor is, these are literally upgrades for each manufacturers, as Samsung and Google stubbornly caught to roughly half these speeds for years longer than their opponents.

You’ll be hard-pressed to search out telephones above the 30–60W vary within the US, however exceptions exist. For instance, the now ill-fated OnePlus 15 takes round 40 minutes to completely cost due to 80W charging. Outdoors the US, the restrict is even increased. HUAWEI, Xiaomi, and OPPO all provide telephones able to 120W charging, and even increased in some circumstances.

This type of know-how is much less generally marketed within the US as a result of it requires proprietary charging requirements and may put a bit extra stress on the battery. That stated, it’s actually attainable, and these supercharging strategies have develop into extra environment friendly and fewer harsh on battery life than they have been prior to now.

If you happen to’re sufficiently old to have skilled the early days of Android, you’re probably conscious that IR blasters have been as soon as pretty widespread. I bear in mind having an Android mid-ranger with an IR blaster, and it was nice as a result of my then-only child saved shedding the distant, and this gave me a approach round that.

In 2026, most units outfitted with an IR blaster are imports or low-end merchandise, however a couple of flagship-tier choices exist. For these within the US, the OnePlus 15 was once more the outlier. In different markets, reminiscent of Europe, there are additionally choices just like the Xiaomi 17.

IR blasters are fairly uncommon today, however I nonetheless discover them tremendous helpful. Not solely can IR blasters management some older TV units, sound programs, and media gamers, however they will additionally work with AC items that use IR indicators. If you happen to reside someplace with all-new electronics, an IR blaster won’t be needed in 2026, however it might nonetheless be helpful. Pair your IR blaster app with an app like Google TV, and also you’ll by no means want a bodily distant once more.

Most Android apps are designed for a single person, so you must log off of an app in the event you use two accounts. One resolution is app cloning. Whereas Samsung technically permits app cloning, there are some very strict limits.

You may have two cloning strategies with Samsung. You should utilize Safe Folder to clone virtually any app, or use Twin Messenger mode for particular social media apps. So if it’s already attainable, why checklist this as a function that the Pixel and Samsung worlds are lacking? It’s all about implementation.

With Samsung’s Safe Folder technique, you may clone virtually any app, however the clone runs in a really restricted sandbox. The cloned app could have its personal remoted storage and gained’t have entry to your fundamental gallery, downloads, or different information. Cloned apps additionally typically have delayed notifications and may’t talk with apps exterior the folder, reminiscent of password managers or authenticator apps.

In distinction, Xiaomi’s Second House creates a completely separate person profile on the OS stage. As an alternative of tapping a folder in your profile, as on Samsung, you’ll have a second lock display with its personal PIN or fingerprint safety. You possibly can even customise this second residence area fully with its personal apps, wallpapers, and extra.

Those that need to hold personal or delicate apps in a second area will even admire that notifications work usually while you’re logged in, however are in any other case fully hidden out of your different profile. As you might need discovered, Xiaomi’s technique additionally means your apps can talk with system apps, authenticators, and extra — although you might have to log in once more and arrange a few of these apps first.

If you happen to’ve ever wished that Android had a number of desktop help like many fashionable laptop OSes, Xiaomi’s Second House is tough to beat.

Gesture-based controls are nothing new, however Moto Actions takes all of it to a complete new stage. As an alternative of relying totally on software-based strategies or present {hardware} keys to acknowledge gestures, as Pixel and Galaxy units usually do, Motorola makes use of {hardware} sensors to detect motion. This enables for far more intricate gestures that might be tougher for different units to tug off, reminiscent of chopping and twisting motions.

Moto Actions helps you to launch the digicam with a double wrist twist or activate the flashlight with a double karate chop movement. You’ll additionally discover glanceable notifications for viewing messages and extra with out unlocking your cellphone. Even higher, a number of gestures are designed for one-handed use. Not like on Pixel and Galaxy units, you are able to do all of this with out even waking your show, and in some circumstances even whereas sporting gloves or with soiled palms.

In the end, in the event you’re searching for quicker methods to make use of your gadget, you’ll be hard-pressed to search out anything at this stage.

Lately, Google launched the HiLight LED indicator, which is designed to enhance Gemini interactions and provide you with restricted notifications, utilizing pulsing colours to point your prime 5 contacts. To say the function felt underwhelming out of the field is an understatement, however worse nonetheless, one thing like this already exists on Nothing Telephones.

Whereas Google focuses totally on Gemini, treating notifications as an afterthought, the Nothing’s Glyph system takes a special strategy. As an alternative of specializing in Gemini interactions, the Glyph makes use of its LED-based round dot-matrix show to scale back display time and allow you to do extra at a look.

Not solely can the Glyph present app-specific alerts and contact-based notifications, however some newer Nothing fashions may even use customized icons for contacts, reminiscent of pixelated avatars. There’s additionally a caller ID function, a digicam countdown, and extra. A few of these options are extremely helpful time-savers, kind of like Moto Actions, however clearly dealt with very otherwise. Past that, there are even enjoyable time-wasters like Glyph Toys.

The Glyph Toys function provides instruments and micro-games that bypass the principle show and as an alternative use the micro-LED Glyph. This consists of stuff like a digital clock, a battery indicator, a stopwatch, and a few primary video games like Magic 8 Ball or Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Whereas the Glyph isn’t for everybody, it’s a standout function nobody else comes near matching. It’s additionally far more thought-out than the Pixel’s HiLight function in its present type.

These are simply 5 options you gained’t discover on Pixel or Galaxy units, but it surely’s removed from a whole checklist. Did I miss any main options you’d prefer to see come to Samsung and Google units? Tell us down within the feedback.