News

Fairphone 2 gets up to five years of software support

Android 9 Pie is the latest OS for the device

Published

March 31, 2021

Kenrick Buduan

Picture this: you own an almost 6-year-old smartphone when you just heard the news that your device will get an official OS update. The smartphone in question is not an iOS device, though. It is an Android smartphone, but this seems too good to be true. Well, a small company from the Netherlands just proved that Android smartphones can receive software updates for longer.

Fairphone — which made headlines in recent years for building smartphones with modular parts — is sticking to its promise of longevity by officially updating the Fairphone 2 to Android 9 Pie. Fairphone 2 saw its release way back in 2015, launching with Android 5 Lollipop out of the box.

The device launched with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, which is pretty respectable during those times. Updating the device is no small feat mainly due to the limitations with the processor.

Qualcomm initially promised up to six years of support for other processors, yet the Snapdragon 801 was an exception. That processor received a total of two years of support so most phones equipped with it also got one to two years of Android updates. In the absence of official support, Fairphone marched on and released Android 7 Nougat in 2018.

Updates are no small feat

For Android 9, the company even underwent 477,000 Google tests to get certification for the update. It may not be the latest version, but the Mountain View company still supports it enough to be usable for many users.

With the release of Android 9, Fairphone fulfills its promise of supporting devices for at least five years. In the Android world, it is rare for manufacturers to support their devices beyond the usual two years. Samsung, for its part, changed course last year and began supporting its devices for a minimum of three years.

However, it remains to be seen if any Android manufacturer can match the support Apple gives to its iOS devices. The iPhone 6s, for example, is now in its sixth year of OS updates launching with iOS 9 in 2015 and still getting support for iOS 14 this 2021.

Source: Fairphone via XDA Developers

Related Topics:Android Fairphone Fairphone 2

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

Enterprise

OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.

Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.

For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.

As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.