I’m switching phones more than ever, here’s how I stay sane

After I began at Android Authority, the evaluate season was fairly properly contained. I knew I used to be in for a busy Techtember and Techtober, however the remainder of the 12 months would enable me to concentrate on one or possibly two gadgets at a time. Now, that calendar is out the window. There are main launches seemingly each month, embracing new type components, new variations of Android, and extra highly effective smartphone cameras than ever earlier than. And truthfully, it may be overwhelming.

Fortunately, in my years of switching from one telephone to the subsequent each week or so, I’ve realized a couple of issues. I’ve even needed to relearn a factor or two to maintain up with new AI options, hoping to maintain my head on straight. And, when you in all probability gained’t want to modify telephones as usually as I do, right here are some things that preserve me leaping from one Android telephone to the subsequent with relative ease.

Earlier than I soar into my suggestions for establishing a brand new Android telephone, I ought to provide you with a peek behind the scenes. In any case, there’s a slight distinction between taking a telephone out of the field and turning it on and truly setting it as much as really feel like your personal. Anybody can do the previous with little assist, however the latter could be a course of.

So, let’s discuss me. After I dive into a brand new evaluate, I preserve issues fairly easy. I nonetheless solely have one major SIM, which suggests one major telephone quantity, it doesn’t matter what telephone is in my pocket. I additionally log into two Google accounts on each Android system — one for work and one private — after which I’m able to go. Is it nonetheless a headache to modify to an eSIM-only iPhone a couple of times a 12 months? Sure, however it’s simpler than having a second telephone quantity, as a result of how would my pals know who to textual content?

Furthermore, I usually begin from scratch every time I arrange a brand new system. I don’t hassle with my current Android backups as a result of it may be some time between visits to a Google Pixel or Motorola Razr, so I won’t want the identical apps or need the identical format the subsequent time I come round. I take my recent begin as an opportunity to strive every taste of Android in its cleanest type earlier than I determine what so as to add and the way I wish to lay it out.

Now that you’ve got a baseline for the way I strategy every new Android telephone, let’s speak in regards to the enjoyable stuff — you realize, the stuff that makes every telephone really feel distinctive. These aren’t exhausting and quick guidelines — you would possibly discover they’re the alternative of your style — however they appear to work properly for me. Let’s dive in.

First, it seems like our telephones require extra logins than ever earlier than. With the rise of AI partnerships, like Motorola teaming up with Perplexity on its newest sequence of Razrs, it’s simply turn into the best way issues are. So, with that in thoughts, be able to make one or two new ones. This time, although, be sure you learn the phrases of every little thing you’re agreeing to — particularly if you end up serving to to coach an AI mannequin.

For me, this has concerned creating accounts for Motorola itself to entry the bottom Moto AI options, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, simply to make sure that I may entry any wrinkle that my beloved Razr Extremely threw at me. In the previous couple of months, although, I’ve additionally needed to create a Lenovo account whereas establishing the Yoga Tab Plus, which is annoyingly separate from my Motorola account.

I can’t say that I really like having primarily a dozen totally different variations on the identical login, identical to I sort of hate having a dozen different streaming platforms to look at a full season of soccer, however that is the world we dwell in now. This tip additionally dovetails properly into my second one, who may have guessed…

Sure, up subsequent is a reminder that you just, actually, really want a password manager. I simply rattled off three or 4 accounts I’ve created in the previous couple of months, and that’s not counting my short-term spin by means of the world of Paramount Plus or signing up for Garmin’s Join Plus. Beforehand, I believe I’ve directed folks in the direction of LastPass and even 1Password, however these days are behind me.

Now, I’m all about Google’s Password Supervisor always. It’s already baked into virtually each main Android skin, making it a breeze to arrange every time you log into your Google account on a brand new telephone. It additionally syncs with my Chrome browser and the Chromebooks I’ve used over time, giving me one seamless password supervisor anytime I take advantage of a Google product.

Nonetheless, I’m not comfy letting Google generate and retailer brand-new passwords for me as a result of I’m nonetheless terrified that I would lose entry to my password supervisor and, by extension, no matter accounts it has saved.

As a result of I arrange every new telephone from scratch, this subsequent tip needs to be no shock, both. You would possibly assume your new telephone wants each single app your outdated one had, however that’s in all probability not the case. Sure, possibly you’re extra environment friendly than I’m, solely protecting your must-have apps and deleting every little thing else as soon as it’s served its function, however that’s simpler stated than completed.

So, because you’re within the technique of establishing a brand new telephone, I like to recommend you skip the app part of the backup part. In any case, the Motorola telephone pictured above shipped with a couple of video games, a duplicate of the Chime app, and Fb put in proper out of the field — none of which I really use. If I have been to again up that telephone earlier than switching to a brand new one, I’d get caught with that very same stage of bloatware, taking on much more cupboard space as a result of my new telephone would possibly include an additional app or two of its personal.

It’s like doubling one thing or giving it to the subsequent individual… solely you’re doubling it and giving it proper again to your self. As an alternative, I’d say begin from nothing (and doubtless skip the additional apps that your telephone suggests you obtain). Then, head to the Play Retailer, go to your Apps web page, and filter by Not Put in. Now you possibly can go down the listing, tapping solely the apps that soar out to put in. This technique has freed me from all method of ineffective apps — from video games I don’t play anymore to courting apps that really feel like video games half the time, too.

If I’ve harped on it as soon as, I’ve harped on it a dozen instances, however simply because your outdated telephone labored properly doesn’t imply your new one wants the identical format. And no, I’m not simply speaking about the truth that your new show may be greater than your outdated one. In the event you’ve determined to leap from Motorola to Samsung or Samsung to Nothing, you’ll shortly understand that not all apps, widgets, or folders are created equal.

So, I counsel that you just open your telephone to no matter its default format is, spend a day with that, after which work on determining which widgets you need or want. I believed I might do this with the Phone 3a pictured above, however I’ve stored the format as-is. It places simply the precise widgets inside attain, making it simple to examine the climate or develop my absolutely loaded Google folder, however it’s additionally simple to faucet into the Important Area, toggle Do Not Disturb, and tweak my Nothing X settings (for headphones, not ex-Twitter) with out opening the app drawer.

In the meantime, my go-to Samsung format seems to be completely totally different, too, prioritizing a couple of bigger folders alongside the underside edge with one or two widgets larger up on the display screen. I suppose you would additionally strive DIY Home if One UI is your most well-liked model of Android, however that’s a sort of chaos that I’m unsure I help simply but.

The very last thing I’ve realized from establishing a number of dozen telephones per 12 months is that it’s not that deep. None of it’s — it’s your telephone. In the event you get up sooner or later and now not like the way you laid out your property display screen, otherwise you assume your wallpaper feels dated, swap it. This time, although, I counsel you again up your telephone since there’s a greater probability you’ve narrowed down the apps you utilize, at the very least should you adopted my different recommendations. Then, should you discover that your semi-fresh begin felt a bit too recent, you possibly can return to the best way your telephone was earlier than.

In my expertise, although, typically change is strictly what you want. It may be enjoyable and thrilling to strive a brand new Android pores and skin or swap from a conventional candybar-style telephone to a flip telephone or a book-style foldable, and also you’ll in all probability end up your favourite working system in an entire new means. And no, I do know that most individuals gained’t have the identical flexibility to swap telephones that I do, however I believe you’ll discover it simpler than ever to select a profitable Android phone while you determine to improve.