Report Highlights Ultra-Fast Charging, IR Blasters and Second Space as Features Missing on Samsung and Pixel Phones

On charging, the article says U.S. phone brands tend to be conservative. Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra offers 60W charging and the Pixel 11 Pro family maxes out at 45W, according to Android Authority. At those speeds, a full charge takes about an hour for the Ultra and just under two hours for the Pixel 11 Pro. The article describes both as upgrades because Samsung and Google stuck to roughly half those speeds for years longer than competitors. In the U.S., phones above the 30–60W range are hard to find, but exceptions exist: the OnePlus 15, described as now ill-fated, takes about 40 minutes to fully charge with 80W. Outside the U.S., Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO offer phones capable of 120W charging or higher in some cases. Android Authority says such technology is less commonly marketed in the U.S. because it requires proprietary charging standards and can put more stress on the battery, though it adds that supercharging methods have become more efficient and less harsh on battery life.

IR blasters are another feature the article says are rare on current Samsung and Pixel devices. Android Authority recalls that IR blasters were fairly common in the early days of Android and that the author once used an Android mid-ranger with one to work around a lost remote. In 2026, most devices with an IR blaster are imports or low-end products, though a few flagship options exist. In the U.S., the OnePlus 15 was again an outlier, while markets such as Europe have options like the Xiaomi 17. The article says IR blasters can control some older TVs, sound systems and media players, as well as air-conditioning units that use IR signals. It adds that if a user lives somewhere with all-new electronics, an IR blaster may not be necessary in 2026, but it can still be useful. Pairing an IR blaster app with an app like Google TV, the article says, can eliminate the need for a physical remote.

The article also contrasts Samsung's app cloning with Xiaomi's Second Space. It says most Android apps are designed for a single user, so using two accounts requires logging out. Samsung technically allows app cloning, but with strict limits. Users can clone almost any app through Secure Folder, or use Dual Messenger mode for specific social media apps. Android Authority argues the problem is implementation: cloned apps in Secure Folder run in a restricted sandbox with isolated storage and no access to the main gallery, downloads or other data. They often have delayed notifications and cannot communicate with apps outside the folder, such as password managers or authenticator apps. Xiaomi's Second Space, by contrast, creates an entirely separate user profile at the operating-system level. Instead of tapping a folder, users get a second lock screen with its own PIN or fingerprint security, and can customize the second home space with its own apps, wallpapers and more. Notifications work normally when the user is logged in but are otherwise hidden from the other profile. The article says Xiaomi's method also lets apps communicate with system apps and authenticators, though users may have to log in again and set up some apps first.

The headline describes five favorite Android features, but the published excerpt details three and begins a fourth concerning multiple desktop support. The article asks readers which of the features they would most like to see on Pixel or Galaxy devices.