Starting with Samsung’s newly-launched foldable smartphones, WhatsApp will now let you securely transfer your chat history should you jump from iOS to Android. While it’s not something most people will want to do most of the time, it’s nice to know that now you can.
The new feature was announced today at Samsung’s launch event, and leading the way are transfers from iOS to Android on the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. The new transfer capabilities include conversations, photos, and voice memos. The company says that other Samsung phones running Android 10 will come on board in a matter of weeks, but did not supply a specific timetable. Eventually, the feature will cover all transfers between iOS and Android phones, regardless of brand, but no other details were released.
The new feature solves a longstanding issue for users: That it’s never been officially possible to transfer chat history between mobile operating systems. If you reside in the Apple ecosystem, WhatsApp’s cloud backups are stored in iCloud; if you’re on an Android device, your backups go to Google Drive, and never before have the two been able to share a common ground. That’s about to change, and you’ll need a Lightning to USB-C cable to get it done. Even then, all may not be perfect. If you’re a historical platform hopper and have separate cloud backups, the new transfer feature won’t merge them into a single chat history.
The new WhatsApp feature works with Samsung’s Smart Switch transfer tool. Smart Switch already works to transfer contacts, photos, music, messages, notes, and calendars to Samsung Galaxy devices. It will now add WhatsApp chat history to that roster. But according to WhatsApp, the new operation needed to be — and was — a team effort. Because messages are end-to-end encrypted and stored on users’ devices, a tool that moves chat history between operating systems required cooperation between WhatsApp and operating system and device vendors to ensure proper security.
Allowing WhatsApp users to transfer their communications cross-platform is also seen as a way to lower the barrier for iOS users who wish to jump on to Android, and especially Samsung’s brand new offerings. However, it will also be useful for current Android users who may have an eye on an upcoming iPhone 13. Either way that customers move, pretty soon no WhatsApp user will have to worry about losing track of a critical conversation because of their smartphone platform of the moment.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.