New phone day should feel exciting. It shouldn't mean spending half the afternoon moving photos, hunting down passwords and pairing every bit of tech you own all over again.

Thankfully, a modern Android phone takes most of that faff out of your hands. From bringing your digital life across to sharing files with friends and connecting your favourite audio kit, everything's designed to work together with less effort.

Newer phones like the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE bring these connected features into one smooth experience. Here's what they can do, and why they're worth knowing about.

Your phone doesn't live in a bubble. It talks to your laptop, your headphones, your friends' phones and plenty of other devices throughout the day.

Android brings those connections together. Its switching tools help your photos, messages and other essentials follow you onto a new phone. Quick Share handles the files you want to send elsewhere, while Fast Pair gets compatible headphones and speakers connected without a trip through the settings menu.

Some features depend on the phone and accessories you're using, but you shouldn't need to spend hours setting everything up from scratch.

Getting a new phone is the fun bit. Moving everything across has traditionally been the bit you put off.

Android's setup process helps bring the important stuff with you, including contacts, photos, videos, messages and compatible apps. On supported phones, the latest switching experience can also transfer passwords, passkeys, call history, accessibility settings and other useful bits that make your new phone feel like yours from the start.

The newest wireless setup works without an extra app or dongle on compatible devices. Your new Android phone displays a QR code, you scan it with your old phone, and the two devices connect.

Phones such as the Galaxy S26 FE support this upgraded approach, helping you move from another Android phone or iPhone without rebuilding your digital life one contact at a time. Upgrading your phone is as simple as 1-2-3-4:

1. Get prepared. Charge both phones, place them side by side and switch on your new Android device.
2. Pair your phones. Follow the instructions on screen to connect them wirelessly or with a cable, depending on the devices you're using.
3. Choose what comes with you. Select the photos, messages, contacts, compatible apps, passwords and other content you want to copy.
4. Transfer and enjoy. Start the transfer, leave the phones close together and let Android get everything moved across securely.

That's it. Once the transfer is under way, you can start getting to know your new phone while it handles the rest.

Depending on your devices and transfer method, Android can also help move your WhatsApp chat history and supported eSIM. Some items may transfer separately during or shortly after the main setup, so follow the prompts shown on your phone.

Bring the important stuff with you. Your contacts, photos, messages and other everyday essentials can move across together, helping your new phone feel familiar from the start.

Enjoy better messaging with RCS. Share high-resolution photos and videos, see typing indicators and read receipts, and react to messages with emoji when RCS is available and enabled.

Transfer the rest when you're ready. If you forget something during setup, you can move remaining compatible data afterwards. Look under Accounts and backup in Settings for Android Switch, or Smart Switch on a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Make sure both devices are charged before starting. eSIM transfer availability depends on the mobile network and phone manufacturer. Transfer options and supported content vary by device, manufacturer, software version and connection method. Some apps and chat histories have their own transfer requirements.

You've taken a brilliant group photo. Now comes the usual chorus of “send me that” from everyone standing around you.

Quick Share lets you send photos, videos, documents and other files straight from your Android phone. It works across compatible Android phones and tablets, Chromebooks and Windows PCs.

Friends with iPhones can get involved too. On supported Android phones with the latest software, including the Galaxy S26 FE, Quick Share can work with AirDrop on compatible Apple devices. You can also create a Quick Share QR code for someone to scan.

Open the thing you want to send, tap Share and choose Quick Share. Nearby devices appear on screen, the other person accepts, and the transfer gets going. No sending it to your own email first, no rummaging around for a cable and no blurry copy saved from a messaging app.

It's just as handy when the file is for you. Send holiday photos to your laptop, move a document onto your Chromebook or shift a big video without waiting for it to upload to the cloud.

Quick Share is available on compatible devices. Devices must be within Bluetooth sharing distance and have Wi-Fi enabled. Sharing with AirDrop requires supported devices and compatible software. iPhone and AirDrop are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Pairing Bluetooth headphones used to mean opening Settings, searching for the right menu and trying to work out which mystery device name belonged to you.

With Fast Pair, open a compatible pair of headphones near your Android phone and a prompt appears on screen. Tap it once and you're connected. The same simple setup works with a wide range of compatible earbuds and speakers.

Once everything is paired, Android can show your headphone battery level at a glance and help you find supported earbuds if they go missing.

Compatible headphones can also switch their audio between devices. If a call comes through while you're watching something on your tablet, your headphones can move across for the call, then take you back when you're done.

And if you and a friend both have compatible LE Audio headphones, Audio Sharing lets you listen to the same stream together. Handy for sharing a playlist on the train or watching something at the airport without passing one earbud back and forth.

Fast Pair, Audio Switch and Audio Sharing require compatible phones and accessories. Features and availability vary by device, accessory, region and software version.

A new Android phone doesn't just give you fresher hardware. It makes the whole experience around your phone feel more joined up.

Your photos, messages and everyday essentials can come with you when you switch. Quick Share gets files where they need to go, even when your friends use different devices. Fast Pair connects your headphones and speakers without the usual fiddling around.

And with newer options like the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE bringing all three together, upgrading can make staying connected feel a whole lot simpler.

Take a look at our latest upgrade offers and find the right Android phone for you.

Which of these features would make the biggest difference to your day? Let us know in the comments below!

Product availability, features and specifications vary by region, mobile network and device. Not all devices or features shown are available in all markets. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Samsung and Galaxy are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.