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Love it or hate it, the Android OS still scores over iOS in terms of customizability. Over the years, Android phones have gotten a lot smarter. Whether you are using a budget OnePlus Nord N30 SE , or a high-end Samsung S24 Ultra , it is now possible to use your Android for several different purposes.
Whether you have an older Android phone or the recently launched Android 14, these devices have several hidden features that you may never know. These range from simple hacks to more complex tools for developers. So everyone can use them.
Let’s dive into some hidden Android features that can make you get the maximum out of your smartphone.
- Access Google Maps Without an Internet Connection
- Turn On The Developer Options In Your Android Phone
- Use Split Screen on Your Android Phone
- Lock People Out of Specific Apps
- Assign Custom Notification Icons to Your Favorite Contacts
- Generate Real-Time Audio Captions From Any Media in Your Phone
- Discover Lost Notifications
- Wrapping up
1. Access Google Maps Without an Internet Connection
Did you know that you can use Google Maps offline? Here’s how:
- On your phone, open the Google Maps app. At this time, you should have an internet connection.
- Go to the location whose map you want to access offline.
- Choose an option from the three-dots button on the app.
- Now, choose ‘Your Places.’
- Choose ‘Select a new offline map.’
- Give the map a name and save it.
- The map of your selected area will be downloaded.
- To access this saved map offline, open the Google Maps app.
- Swipe the option to the left.
- Tap ‘Your Place,’ scroll down, and tap ‘View All.’
- Now, choose ‘Manage.’ Here, you can see your saved map.
2. Turn On The Developer Options In Your Android Phone
If you are a tech-savvy person who wants to control your phone, enabling the Android Developer Options will be a great idea. Developer options provide access to various types of useful tools and tweaks.
To enable it, just go to the ‘Settings’ of your phone. From there, navigate to ‘About phone’ and tap ‘Build number’ seven times. Now, input your passcode and go to the ‘Settings’ menu. Tap ‘System settings’ followed by ‘Developer options.’
Similarly, enabling Developer options on an Android phone lets you root your phone and install more advanced apps. You can also speed up device animations This, in turn, can significantly speed up your daily tasks. You can also fake the GPS location of your phone and boost the speed of high-end games.
3. Use Split Screen on Your Android Phone
Are you a multitasker? Well, you may not be able to afford two Android phones. But you can carry out your work effortlessly. Use the split screen settings for this purpose.
- Open Recent Apps . You can find it by swiping up from the screen’s bottom.
- Tap the icon of the first app you want to open.
- Now, touch the Split Screen option.
- Now, touch the other app.
- You can now work on both of them via the split screen mode.
4. Lock People Out of Specific Apps
We have all faced this familiar situation. You hand your phone to another person to show them a specific photo, game, or anything else. But you soon find them accessing other things like your gallery or messages. It is an uncomfortable spot to be in. Luckily, there’s a fix for it. Use the app pinning to lock people out of specific apps.
- Go to the Settings app on your phone.
- Touch Security & Privacy.
- Touch More Security Settings.
- Choose App Pinning.
- Now, toggle App Pinning so it turns on.
- Open the app you wish to pin. Touch the icon above it and choose Pin.
5. Assign Custom Notification Icons to Your Favorite Contacts
This is a useful feature for those with a huge contact list. You can assign custom notification icons to specific or important people in your contact list. That way, when they message, you can view their picture at the top of your phone’s screen.
This feature is only available for Android phones running version 11 or higher. To activate it, press your finger on the messaging notification of a contact. Now, hit ‘Priority’ on the panel that appears. Tap ‘Done’ on that panel to save your changes.
That’s all there is to it. Pretty simple, isn’t it?
6. Generate Real-Time Audio Captions From Any Media in Your Phone
This feature is particularly useful for those who need to transcribe conversations. Additionally, it is also useful for those with hearing problems.
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Touch Accessibility followed by Live Transcribe .
- Now, touch Open Live Transcribe.
- Tap OK to accept permissions.
- Ensure that your phone is linked to the internet.
7. Discover Lost Notifications
Android phones are like the second home for most people. It is a single centralized place for all their online activities. They receive texts, emails, and other notifications on the device. But in the midst of all these notifications, some are bound to disappear. You may accidentally swipe them away without reading.
If the notification happens to be an important one, you can face unpleasant consequences. Thankfully, you can restore all notifications through a hidden feature. Here’s how to access old notifications.
- Long-press an empty space on your phone’s home screen.
- Keep holding it till the screen-adjusting mode appears.
- Now, hit ‘Widgets’ on the screen’s bottom.
- Locate the ‘Settings’ shortcut widget.
- Drag this widget to the phone’s home screen.
- Select the ‘Notification Log’ option in the popup menu.
- Use this shortcut to see your notification log right on the home screen of your phone.
Wrapping up
Your Android phone can do a lot of secret things. It’s only a matter of learning about them. The seven hidden features mentioned in this article will enhance your overall user experience. Different Android phones come with unique features. But the ones mentioned here apply to most of the phones. Start using them if you haven’t already and upgrade your tech experience.
Author:Anna Makama
Gadget lover making my way through life one day at a time.
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HMD Global is a Finnish mobile phone manufacturer that has exclusive rights to the Nokia brand for mobile phones. The company was founded by Jean-Francois Baril, a former Nokia executive, on 1 December 2016.
The European phone brand initially manufactured only Nokia-branded smartphones and feature phones from 2016 to 2023, but from 2024 is pursuing a brand identity separate from Nokia and engaging in production of HMD-branded phones. Find out more details below.
- Nokia and HMD Phones
- Where are HMD phones made?
- Countries and Markets where HMD Phones are sold
- HMD Global Market Share in the US
- Nokia and HMD phones sold in the US
- Upcoming HMD Phones
- HMD Global’s market share worldwide
- The Rising European Cell Phone Brand
Nokia and HMD Phones
HMD Global makes a range of smartphones that run on Android One, as well as feature phones that run Series 30+ or KaiOS operating systems. Some of their popular models include Nokia 8.3 5G, Nokia 2720 Flip , and Nokia 3310.
HMD originally made only Nokia-branded phones from 2016 to 2023, but in 2024 the company also began to make HMD-branded smartphones, carving out a new identity for itself separate from Nokia.
In January 2024, HMD Global officially removed the mobile phone section from Nokia’s website and now has the “nokia.com/phones” page redirected to their newly launched official website, “ hmd.com ”.
Where are HMD phones made?
Like most other phone brands, HMD phones were all originally manufactured in China. However, in October 2023, some HMD phones began to be manufactured in Europe, specifically in Romania. This makes HMD Global the first major global smartphone manufacturer to return manufacturing to Europe, joining the likes of Gigaset.
The first phone manufactured in Europe by HMD Global is the rugged 5G Nokia XR21 .
HMD Global has development facilities in Finland , where it is headquartered, and where it has also acquired assets of Valona Labs and launched a new Centre of Excellence for software, security and services.
Countries and Markets where HMD Phones are sold
HMD Global sells phones in 91 markets across 8 regions and has sold over 240 million phones to date. Some of the countries where HMD Global operates include Finland, India, China, Romania, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, and Nigeria . HMD Global is also expanding its presence in the Middle East and Africa regions.
HMD Global Market Share in the US
HMD Global tops the feature phone market for Q3 in the US, with a 30.7% market share by value and 22.4% by volume. However, the market share of HMD Global for smartphones in the US is miniscule.
The company announced its largest US expansion and growth in 2022 at major US wireless providers. The new brand identity and upcoming line of HMd-branded phones could also potentially increase its smartphone market share in the US in the future. Time will tell.
Nokia and HMD phones sold in the US
Some of the phones by HMD that are officially sold in the US are:
- Nokia G310 5G : A feature-packed and durable 5G smartphone with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, a 48 MP quad camera, and a 5000 mAh battery.
- Nokia G400 5G : An entertainment powerhouse with a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, a 64 MP quad camera, and a 4470 mAh battery with wireless charging.
- Nokia G50 : A future-proof 5G smartphone with a 6.82-inch HD+ display, a 48 MP triple camera, and a 5050 mAh battery.
- Nokia XR20 : A life-proof and long-lasting smartphone with a 6.67-inch FHD+ display, a 48 MP dual camera, and a 4630 mAh battery with wireless charging. It is also water, dust, and drop resistant.
- Nokia C200 : A budget Android smartphone with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, a 13 MP dual camera, and a 3000 mAh battery.
- Nokia C100 : A budget Android smartphone with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, a 5 MP dual camera, and a 3000 mAh battery.
- Nokia 2780 Flip : A modern twist on the classic flip phone with a 2.8-inch QVGA display, a 2 MP camera, and a 1500 mAh battery. It runs on KaiOS and supports 4G connectivity.
Upcoming HMD Phones
The new HMD-branded phones are coming under two product lines – Pulse and Legend. Pulse devices are entry-level models, while the Legend models exist in the midrange segment. A breakdown of some of the upcoming phones:
- HMD Pulse,
- HMD Pulse+,
- HMD Pulse Pro,
- HMD Legend,
- HMD Legend+,
- HMD Legend Pro.
HMD Global’s market share worldwide
According to the web search results, HMD Global’s strongest sales are in the feature phone segment, where it tops the market for Q3 in 2023, with a 30.7% market share by value and 22.4% by volume. Some of the regions where HMD Global has a strong presence in feature phones are Africa , Latin America , and Europe .
For smartphones , HMD Global’s market share is much lower, accounting for only 0.7% of shipments in Q4 2020. That was a drop in the ocean. However, HMD Global’s smartphone shipments grew 42% YoY to 12.24 million units in Q1 2022, increasing its market share to almost 1% . So, the company is seeing growth, small as it is.
Some of the countries where HMD Global has increased its smartphone sales are India , China , and the United States . HMD Global is also investing in the development of head-mounted displays (HMDs), which are projected to have a market size of USD 26.4 billion by 2029.
The Rising European Cell Phone Brand
HMD Global is the leading European cell phone brand and also one leading the modern charge of made in Europe phones. As the company transitions into producing its self-branded HMD phones separate from Nokia smartphones, it holds a promise, a breath of fresh air, to a market that has been dominated by American , Korean , and Chinese companies, and provides options for users looking for smartphones that are not made in China .
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
