Smartphone accessories aren\u2019t just add-ons, they\u2019re a huge part of the experience of using and owning your device. But, for.<\/b>
\nSmartphone accessories aren\u2019t just add-ons, they\u2019re a huge part of the experience of using and owning your device. But, for Android users, it\u2019s often felt like we\u2019re getting the short end of the stick, with a whole world of accessories that only ever seem to care about the iPhone. Finally, though, that feels like it\u2019s changing.
There are some staples in the accessory world. A case, a screen protector, a battery bank. These are pretty standard and, for the most part, abundant no matter what smartphone you\u2019re using. Some lesser-known Android phones might present trouble in finding a good case from a reputable brand, but there\u2019s something out there.
It\u2019s when you stray from the staples, or venture beyond phone accessories that a thriving ecosystem turns into a sparse desert.
For example, let\u2019s imagine you\u2019re a happy Nothing Phone (3) owner. Great phone! Need a case? There are a few recognizable brands, Spigen, Tudia, Ringke, but after that, it\u2019s a sea of jibberish sellers. \u201cFhyeugfy\u201d is in the top 10 results on Amazon right now. Need something local? Good luck. Frankly, owning almost any Android phone outside of the latest flagship Galaxy makes buying local accessories borderline impossible. You might have a handful of options at a local Best Buy, buried at the end of 1,000 different iPhone cases. At least, that\u2019s how it feels in the US.
Matters are even worse outside of phones, though. First-party accessories for other Android devices \u2013 like tablets and smartwatches \u2013 are incredibly important because the third-party market is just absolutely empty. Dialing in on smartwatches, the market for third-party accessories is laughable compared to the likes of the Apple Watch, even for \u201cheavy hitters\u201d like the Galaxy Watch. Google, with its specialized Pixel Watch connector, has been the only one making decent bands for its smartwatch up until this past year, and options are still very limited.
One area I\u2019ve been especially, personally frustrated is when it comes to charging docks.
The idea of a charging station for my phone, earbuds, and smartwatch is just so obvious. It\u2019s something that a lot of people want, and it\u2019s something accessory brands are clearly eager to create. You can\u2019t scroll even one page on a search for a \u201cQi2 charger\u201d without seeing a 3-in-1 station that has an Apple Watch charger baked into it. But to find the same thing for a Galaxy Watch? For a Pixel Watch? They\u2019re so far and few in between, it\u2019s almost a joke.
That is why I\u2019ve been thinking about Belkin\u2019s new charging dock for the past couple of weeks.
Since hearing about it and seeing it in person at CES, I\u2019ve just been so impressed by not only the company\u2019s clever little solution to supporting smartwatches other than an Apple Watch, but just the fact that this exists at all. If you know Belkin, you probably know that this is a company that focuses very closely on Apple above all else. So to see a solution like this from Belkin tells me that, finally, brands might actually be caring about Android accessories.
As far as how this one works, there\u2019s a pop-out ring in the back of the docking station that is designed to be used with silicone adapters that can house charging pucks for Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch (1st Gen), and Pixel Watch 2 & 3. There\u2019s no support for the Pixel Watch 4\u2019s dock (Google, seriously, stop changing the charger), but that\u2019s apparently not out of the question for the future.
Belkin, like everyone else, could have easily just stuck an Apple Watch charger on this and called it a day, raking in the sales of a 3-in-1 dock that, frankly, still appeals to plenty of customers. Nomad, another Apple-first brand, could have easily not put the effort into making a Pixel Watch band and just kept selling countless Apple Watch bands.
But the simple fact that brands like this \u2013 and so many others I\u2019ve not mentioned here \u2013 are even wading into the Android world feels like a good sign. It feels like, finally, brands maybe care, at least a little bit. I think a lot of this comes down to the smartphone industry as a whole standardizing a bit with things like Qi2, but it\u2019s just so nice to see, regardless of the reason. Am I overthinking this a little bit? Probably! But I\u2019m excited nonetheless because, while I\u2019m sure Android accessories will never get the same love as those made for an iPhone, taking a small step forward is just so refreshing.This Week\u2019s Top Stories
Major Verizon outage
Not that anyone is out of the loop on this, but there was a major Verizon outage on Wednesday. Lasting around 10 hours, many Verizon customers were completely unable to access cellular service, including data, calls, and SMS. Verizon has fixed the problem and is offering $20 credits to affected users.
Gemini\u2019s latest \u201cthis is the future\u201d moment
Google\u2019s big announcement in AI this week \u2013 because when isn\u2019t there a big AI announcement anymore \u2013 was \u201cPersonal Intelligence\u201d in Gemini. This is one of the biggest features Google has announced for a bit, with the new feature set giving Gemini the ability to, with your permission, pull personal data from Gmail, Photos, and other Google products to better answer questions and perform tasks.
The January update is out
Google also rolled out a slightly-delayed January update for Pixel owners this week, with the latest monthly update delivering GPU and battery life improvements, among other fixes.From the rest of 9to5
9to5Mac: Apple debuts \u2018Apple Creator Studio\u2019 subscription, here\u2019s what you get
9to5Toys: Nintendo officially announces Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition + FREE update
Electrek: Rivian R2 validation units roll off production line, deliveries to follow \u2018soon\u2019<\/p>\n