Latest news with #flashlight
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Phone Arena
This app will quickly double the intensity of your Pixel's flashlight from 50% to 100%
Last month we had some exciting news for Pixel users. Using a Quick Settings tile and a slider available in Quick Settings, users would be able to control the brightness of the flashlight which they will be able to monitor by viewing a percentage indicator in the tile. If this sounds like the perfect Pixel Feature Drop, it appears that the feature could be released when Google pushes out the September Quarterly Platform Release. We feel pretty comfortable looking for the new feature to debut in September because it has been discovered hidden inside the recently released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 update which I have installed on my Pixel 6 Pro. However, the feature does not yet run. Considering that Google typically pays more attention than Apple does to fixing little pain points for customers, it is a little surprising that Pixel users have had to wait so long to see an improvement to the Pixel flashlight. Android phones made by Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus already give users the ability to change the intensity of the flashlight as does the iPhone. Hidden code in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 shows the new controls to increase the intensity of the Android flashlight. | Image credit-Nail Sadykov Nail Sadykov, who posts his leaks on Telegram, was able to get the controls showing on the screen of a Pixel device. He took screenshots showing the Flashlight turned off in Quick Settings, and another showing the Flashlight turned on in Quick Settings with a percentage indicator showing the intensity level of the light at 46%. The middle image had a slider for the flashlight titled "Flashlight Strength." To make the flashlight brighter and increase the intensity of the light, you swipe your finger to the right on the slider. To reduce the intensity of the flashlight, you swipe your finger to the left on the slider. However, there is a strong possibility that the final version of this feature will have controls that don't look anything like the ones that we are seeing now. Pixel users hope that they don't have to wait for the September Pixel Feature Drop to increase the intensity of the flashlight on their devices because the default setting for the "torch" on a Pixel phone is only a dim 50%. But what if we told you that there is a way to hike the intensity of your Pixel's flashlight right now without having to wait for the update? It's a simple hack and you'll be able to increase your Pixel's flashlight intensity to 100% right now. Use the Google Magnifying app to increase the intensity of your Pixel's flashlight app to 100%" | Image credit-PhoneArena The first step requires you to install the Google Magnifying app on your Pixel. Once you've done that, open the app, tap the flashlight icon along the lower right corner of the screen, and swipe up on the white flashlight icon all the way to the top. You should notice an immediate improvement in the intensity of your Pixel's flashlight and you can adjust it if the ight is too bright.
Phone Arena
12-06-2025
- Phone Arena
It only took Google three years to add this basic feature to Pixel phones
How the new feature works Android 16 Receive the latest Google news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Coming soon to a Pixel near you Pixel 6 Android 16 Google may finally be catching up with a surprisingly basic feature that Pixel owners have been requesting for years: the ability to adjust the flashlight's brightness. Found in the latest Android 16 QPR1 beta, the update suggests Google is adding a native brightness slider to the flashlight tile in Quick Pixel phones only offer a simple on/off toggle for the flashlight, despite the hardware supporting variable intensity since at least the Pixel 6 . While other Android skins like Samsung's One UI, Xiaomi's HyperOS, and OnePlus's OxygenOS have supported flashlight brightness controls for years, Pixel users have had to rely on third-party apps like FlashDim—or Google's own Magnifier app—as clunky that appears to be changing. Strings found inQPR1 reference a 'Flashlight Strength' dialog, and developer Nail Sadykov has already managed to activate the feature. Once live, tapping the flashlight tile in Quick Settings will toggle it on or off, while tapping the label below the icon will open a brightness slider. A long-press may be required if the tile is dialog is functional, but still lacks the polish seen in Apple's implementation. That could change before its final surprising it has taken Google this long to implement a native version of something most Android users have enjoyed for years. After all, stock Android only gained support for flashlight brightness control at the API level back in Android 13 . That means the groundwork has been there for nearly two years, but Google simply hadn't bothered to implement it in its own Pixel Pixel users, this isn't just about convenience, it's about parity. Small usability touches like brightness sliders make a difference in real-world use, especially in dark environments or when trying not to disturb others. And you shouldn't have to rely on an app to have this feature will likely debut in a future Pixel Feature Drop and may arrive officially later this year on supported devices like theand newer. Combined with otherimprovements, it's one more reason Pixel users can look forward to the next update.
Android Authority
12-06-2025
- Android Authority
Pixel phones may finally get native flashlight brightness controls, years after Samsung and Apple
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google may add native flashlight brightness controls to Pixel phones in the next quarterly release of Android 16. While the hardware has long supported it, Pixel users currently need to use an app to adjust the flashlight's intensity. The new feature, discovered in the latest beta, will likely make the Quick Settings flashlight tile expandable. Nearly every smartphone has an LED flash on the rear that you can use as a flashlight in a pinch, but most don't let you adjust its intensity, leaving you stuck with a light that's either too dim or too bright for the situation. Google Pixel phones currently lack a flashlight brightness slider in the Quick Settings panel, but that could finally change in the next quarterly release of Android 16. While Samsung Galaxy devices have offered flashlight brightness controls for years, stock Android only added support for the underlying functionality with the Android 13 release in 2022. This update introduced an API that allows apps to control flashlight brightness, provided the phone's hardware supports it. Most Pixel devices already support brightness control at the hardware level, but Google has yet to provide a built-in way to access it. As a result, Pixel users must turn to third-party apps like FlashDim or Google's Magnifier app to adjust the flashlight brightness, both of which use the Android 13 API to provide a brightness slider. This workaround is especially needed on newer Pixel phones, which oddly default to 50% brightness when the flashlight is toggled from the Quick Settings panel. It was always strange that Google's own Magnifier app provides a UI for adjusting the flashlight brightness while the Android OS doesn't, but Google is finally rectifying this discrepancy. While digging through the latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release, we spotted new code that hints at a 'Flashlight Strength' dialog being added to the System UI. Code Copy Text Flashlight Strength Although there aren't many references to this dialog yet, we believe Google will make the flashlight tile expandable, similar to the Internet and Bluetooth tiles. Thanks to tipster Nail Sadykov who managed to activate the dialog, we can confirm this will be the case. Sadykov first revealed the existence of the feature in a post on his unofficial Google News Telegram group a few weeks ago, and he shared some images with Android Authority that show the feature in action. Nail Sadykov Tapping the tile's icon will toggle the flashlight, while tapping its text label will open the new 'flashlight strength' dialog with a slider. When the flashlight is enabled, the brightness level will be shown underneath the text label in the tile. If the tile has been shrunk, the brightness level won't be shown and a long press will be required to open the dialog. The dialog is quite basic in its current form and lacks the visual polish found in Apple's version of the feature. We don't know if Google plans to add a more refined interface later, but it wouldn't be surprising given the competition. Once this feature rolls out, Google will be joining other manufacturers like OnePlus and Xiaomi in finally offering native flashlight controls. OnePlus quietly introduced this feature to some of its flagships in the past year, and Xiaomi recently did the same for some of its devices. Flashlight brightness controls in One UI 8 (Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra) Flashlight brightness controls in HyperOS 2 (Xiaomi 15 Ultra) Flashlight brightness controls in OxygenOS 15 (OnePlus 13) It's surprising it has taken this long for many Android phones to add what's considered a basic function, but the addition is welcome nonetheless. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Auto Blog
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Walmart is selling a ‘quality' $30 rechargeable flashlight for $11, and shoppers say it's ‘impressively bright'
Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Every home needs the proper emergency kit to help them feel safe during inclement weather, blackouts, and more. And if there's one item that every homeowner should have, it's a rechargeable flashlight. Long gone are the days where you have to rely on a battery-powered flashlight for illumination. Right now, you can grab the MoonSun Rechargeable Flashlight for just $11 at Walmart. Originally priced at $30, you can save 63% on this must-have essential. MoonSun Rechargeable Flashlight, $11 (was $30) at Walmart Weighing less than 1 pound, this flashlight can be used for just about any occasion. It offers 1,000 powerful lumens that can fully illuminate a 100 square meter room. It is five times brighter than other LED flashlights and features three lighting modes — high to medium, strobe, and SOS. Another feature that sets this flashlight apart from others on the market is its zoomable function, that allows you to adjust the focus and choose the spotlight for remote or large-area viewing. 'Best flashlight I've ever owned!' wrote one shopper. 'It is built well. The case is made of metal and every part fits together well. The light is bright and the cowl adjusts focus of the beam from narrow to wide. The light it produces is evenly distributed over the entire area, unlike flashlights that use incandescent bulbs.' A second customer said, 'These were a delight to have at the campsite in preparation for late-night treks to the lake. We own a number of compact LED lamps, but this one surpasses them all in quality.' With a telescopic design, this device is IPX7 waterproof and made of durable aviation grade aluminum alloy. The flashlight uses a USB-charging interface that can be powered through a laptop, socket, and power bank. Once the battery is fully charged, it can last for 12 hours in low brightness mode. It also uses an LED display to show the exact power level, so you'll know when it needs a recharge. 'Impressively bright,' wrote a third reviewer. 'Little size, fits in my coat pocket easily, charges fast, and lights up a room if hung in a tent. Outdoors it lights up my backyard effortlessly.' Get ready for any type of emergency or outdoor excursion with this $11 rechargeable flashlight. Add one (or two) to your cart today before the sale ends. About the Author Victoria Garcia View Profile
Phone Arena
24-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Pixel phones are finally fixing this utility feature iPhones have had for years
Pixel users will soon have a more convenient way to control flashlight is working on a native brightness slider that will be built right into the flashlight Quick Settings tile. The feature is expected to arrive with Android 16 QPR1, which is currently in beta testing. Android has technically supported flashlight brightness control since Android 13, thanks to a system-level API. But until now, Google limited its use to specific apps like Camera and Magnifier. That meant Pixel users couldn't adjust the flashlight intensity from the system UI and had to rely on third-party apps to access the full range of brightness settings. However, that's starting to change. A new feature spotted in Android 16 QPR1 testing shows a redesigned flashlight tile with an integrated slider. If you're using the wide version of the tile, tapping on the right side opens the brightness menu. If you're using the smaller version, a long press does the same. In both cases, the flashlight turns on right away, and you can immediately adjust the brightness level. The current intensity is shown as a percentage on-screen. Adjusting the strength of your flashlight will soon be available on Pixel phones. | Image credit — Google News (Telegram) Once this is live, it will bring Pixel phones closer to what iPhones have offered for some time. On iOS, flashlight brightness can be adjusted through the Control Center, and it's a feature many Android users have wanted to be built into the system for years. With this update, Google is finally bringing that same level of control to Pixel users without the need for extra apps. We've already taken a look at Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 in more detail, where Google is introducing several UI changes under the Material 3 Expressive design language. There are also tweaks to the lock screen, quick settings, and launcher. Although the flashlight slider is not yet available in this first beta, and it might seem like a small thing, I'm sure it will add to the feeling that Google is polishing the Pixel experience based on user feedback. For now, the feature is still hidden in the code, and there's no word yet on whether it will expand to other Android devices. But for Pixel owners, it's a useful addition that improves one of the phone's most basic tools. If your Pixel phone is enrolled in the Android beta program, you might start seeing it soon.
