Alex Dobie
Alex was with Android Central for over a decade, producing written and video content for the site, and served as global Executive Editor from 2016 to 2022.
Latest articles by Alex Dobie
![Google Pixel 4 XL long-term review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Jm5VPPQdhZxSPP5psMAyVY-320-80.jpg)
Remembering the Google Pixel 4
By Alex Dobie published
After a few generations of hit-and-miss Google phones, hopes were high for the fourth-gen Pixels. But what ultimately arrived were the weakest phones in the series...
![Google Pixel 6 Pixel 5a Side By Side](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aq9evjE8ktmdu44LMn8uQZ-320-80.jpg)
6 reasons to buy a Google Pixel 6 instead of settling for the Pixel 5a
By Alex Dobie published
The Pixel 5a may be a great buy, but for an extra $150, you're getting so much more if you pick up the Pixel 6.
![Pixel 3 XL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9nRV3V3673MGBrgs9Z8fM5-320-80.jpg)
Remembering the Google Pixel 3
By Alex Dobie published
The Pixel 3 series was memorable for its groundbreaking AI features, photographic firsts, but it wasn't all smooth sailing for the third-gen Google phones.
![Android 12 Material You Pixel 4 Xl Theme Pink](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jzw76fTv7FnCnfumH3sP7Y-320-80.jpg)
From the Editor's Desk: Is Android 12 done or not?
By Alex Dobie published
Android 12 officially launched October 4, with the AOSP code drop, but good luck finding any phones with an official Android 12 update. So what's going on?
![Google Pixel XL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hqWywHmk5ZbVth8TcKf2MS-320-80.jpg)
Remembering the Google Pixel 1, five years on
By Alex Dobie published
We take a look back on the first "made by Google" phone, how it impressed us back in 2016 and how it set the stage for future Google handsets.
![Google Pixel 5](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FyYyNzK2GgrQ2XUm5Gvpm4-320-80.jpg)
Google Pixel 5 review: Still a great buy — if you can find it
By Daniel Bader, Alex Dobie published
Google spent a lot of time over the past few years coming up with new ways to impress us. In 2020, it impressed me simply by being less ambitious.
![iPhone 13 Pro Max](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hSjjMeQwsCA6NoJbNhvadh-320-80.jpg)
The iPhone 13 Pro is why you'll care about macro photography in 2022
By Alex Dobie published
The iPhone 13 Pro can capture impressive close-ups thanks to its upgraded ultra-wide camera, which is why it's a good thing next year's Android phones will likely borrow this feature.
![Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 S Pen Taking Notes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fxsQS99uurMm6D8L8NhcDk-320-80.jpg)
There's room for an iPhone 'Ultra' to take on Samsung — so what if it's foldable?
By Alex Dobie published
This year's iPhones are the most boring ever, but Apple could fix its lineup in future with a super-high-end foldable model.
![Android 12 Logo + Pixel phones](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ShS4cFPGvm8NNeYxW4MFbL-320-80.jpg)
From the Editor's Desk: Is Android 12 still too buggy?
By Alex Dobie published
Android 12 isn't perfect yet, including the recently-launched One UI 4 beta, but should we really expect it to be?
![Android 12 Material You Pixel 4 Xl Theme Pink](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jzw76fTv7FnCnfumH3sP7Y-320-80.jpg)
Android UI through the ages: From Droid Sans to Material You
By Alex Dobie last updated
As we enter the fourth design era of Android, following the early days, Holo and Material Design, it's time to revisit the past 13 years in Android UI and remember how we got here.
![Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 under display camera](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohykAuDvdDUd898xTCW2yN-320-80.jpg)
Under-display cameras explained: A look beneath the Z Fold 3's unique screen
By Alex Dobie published
Under-display cameras could make the dream of an all-screen smartphone a reality. But it's still early days, and there's a delicate balance between display performance and photo quality.
![Samsung Galaxy Note 7](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hpccCmJpDEqZPncHeGYRgJ-320-80.jpg)
Recalling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, five years later
By Alex Dobie last updated
It's been five years since Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets started exploding. Let's take a look back at the most catastrophic smartphone launch in history.
![Google Pixel 5a Rear](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pqtbo2LtJMSChfcT8xPz9E-320-80.jpg)
Why does the Pixel 5a exist?
By Alex Dobie published
The Google Pixel 5a is finally here, with a bigger battery and important features like water resistance. But a more important question than what the Pixel 5a is is why it even exists.
![Pixel 6 Portfolio](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZJEZxJaV5EV2WNrwvbUQ9N-320-80.jpg)
Google Pixel 6: The best Samsung phone of 2021?
By Alex Dobie published
Ten years on from the legendary Galaxy Nexus, do we have more Samsung-made Google phones coming in the form of the Pixel 6? Well, yes and no.
![Pixel 6 Pro](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bNyhMayc3dppsWDht9wsP4-320-80.jpg)
6 Google Pixel 6 predictions that will definitely maybe come true
By Alex Dobie published
Google has already revealed a lot about the Pixel 6 series, but plenty of unknowns remain. So this gives us the chance to grab our crystal ball and make some Pixel predictions.
![OnePlus 8T review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EW5GThRyZ266cVmpYtRMEm-320-80.jpg)
If the OnePlus 9T actually exists, here's what I want to see from it
By Alex Dobie published
A successor to the OnePlus 8T could be unlikely, but that doesn't mean OnePlus won't launch another high-end phone before the year's out.
![Galaxy S2 Android 11](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mQGUJULeoZD4JrPRCaa9G7-320-80.jpg)
I installed Android 11 on a Samsung Galaxy S2, and it was better than I expected
By Alex Dobie last updated
A good idea? Debatable. A productive use of my time? Definitely not. But shoehorning a new version of Android onto an ancient phone was pretty fun.
![Google Pixel 6 Pro Front Back Leak](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4GevUMGERE5ctFNNZar969-320-80.jpg)
The one big reason Google chose a 50MP sensor for the Pixel 6
By Alex Dobie published
A much-needed sensor upgrade will give the next Google smartphone shooter more data to feed on, which could be vital for the most advanced Pixel camera ever.
![OnePlus Nord 2 vs Galaxy S21 Ultra](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DpWtnoU2ncKBWLuoPpfxUh-320-80.jpg)
The OnePlus Nord 2 just proved that we don't need flagships anymore
By Alex Dobie published
When you can get everything you really need in a phone for a third of the price of a Galaxy S21 Ultra, have traditional flagships jumped the shark?
![NHS Covid 19 Vaccine Passport](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NFq8mY8sM9zgodXb2tJF3D-320-80.jpg)
UK vaccine passport app produces broken QR codes on popular Android phones
By Alex Dobie last updated
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