Update, April 10, 2020 (04:15 PM ET): It appears either the update described below was a mistake or Google has quickly realized that people hate it because it’s already starting to revert back to the way it used to be. Users are now reporting that the Google-branded spacebar is no longer there and the Google search function has returned. Here’s hoping it doesn’t revert back. Original article, April 10, 2020 (08:44 AM ET): Gboard quickly established itself as the leading keyboard app on Android, delivering a fast experience with some sensible Google integration as well.

HTC U12 PlusAt its core, the HTC U12 Plus is a solid high-end smartphone. It's fast and powerful, has a great screen, impressive camera, and HTC is actually trying to innovate with Edge Sense. If you're an HTC fan, you'll love the U12 Plus. The problem is, this phone doesn't surpass the competition in any one area. And of the things that the U12 Plus gets right, its competition also gets those things right.

Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority It seems that we were spoilt for choice not too many years ago when shopping for affordable flagship smartphones. The industry was awash with handsets from Honor, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and others that offered the bulk of what you’d look for from a premium experience but without the hefty price tag. $700, and often even less, used to net you several decent options to pick from in the late ’10s.

Robert Triggs / Android Authority I’ve never really been a massive Samsung fan for whatever reason. I guess this can be partially attributed to my love of the underdog, be it in sports, gaming, or the smartphone world. Of course, Samsung has been anything but the underdog for almost a decade, dating back to 2012 when it first beat Nokia to become the number one smartphone maker in the world. Since then, the company has enjoyed an almost uninterrupted run of success at the top.

HMD Global TL;DR Nokia is launching the G20 in the US on July 1 for $199. The phone mates a 6.5-inch screen with a huge 5,050mAh battery and a 48MP camera. It could be a good value if you’re happy with a modest MediaTek G35 chip. One of the most important models in Nokia’s reworked phone lineup is headed to the US. HMD Global’s Nokia brand has revealed that the G20 will be available stateside on July 1 in “night” and “glacier” colors for a price of $199.

TL;DR Last week, @evleaks leaked that HTC is planning to launch another phone in the Desire series called the HTC Desire 12. Android Authority has obtained an image of the Desire 12’s retail box, all but confirming the specs. The release date, pricing, and images of the phone itself are still missing, but should show up soon. Last week, we talked about how HTC might be releasing a new phone in the Desire series, and it was rumored to go by the moniker HTC Desire 12.

TL;DR ZTE confirmed plans to release more phones like the Axon M. The company confirmed it hopes to eliminate the Axon M’s middle bezel and make the display more seamless. As such, ZTE also plans to eventually move away from dual displays. ZTE‘s dual-screen Axon M might not have won awards in 2017, but it was a valiant effort at something different. That effort does not appear to be a one-off attempt, as ZTE vice president of marketing Jeff Yee confirmed there is more in store from ZTE.

Realme Buds Air 2The addition of active noise-cancelling has elevated the Realme Buds Air 2 from being an otherwise ho-hum pair of earphones. The bass emphasis, in particular, makes it appealing for fans of electronic music. I wasn't a big fan of the bling-heavy design but your mileage may vary. Overall, the Realme Buds Air 2 stand out more for the affordability, than the quality of the product. Table of contents

Coolpad Americas, the US subsidiary of the China-based Coolpad, has announced and launched their first unlocked smartphone, the Coolpad Conjr, as part of CES 2017. The 5-inch Android smartphone will go on sale later today with a reasonable looking $179.99 price tag. The Coolpad Conjr (which, in case you are wondering, is pronounced like “Conjure”) features a 2.5D HD display and comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow installed out of the box. Unfortunately, inside it comes with a pretty slow processor, an quad-core MediaTek MT6735CP chip that only runs at 1.

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR YouTube Music free background listening will finally be a feature starting November 3. Unfortunately, this feature will only be available in Canada. There’s no word on when this feature might expand to other markets. YouTube Music is the latest attempt by Google to compete in the streaming music business. It finally took over from the now-shuttered Google Play Music nearly a year ago.