Google One subscribers get thorough automatic backups for Android phones
Now the entire family can make sure their phone data is safe.
If you're a Google One subscriber, there's a new perk to your cloud storage service. Starting today, all Google One memberships include automatic phone backups as long as you own an Android device. The feature builds on the operating system's existing backup functionality, which ensures your texts, contacts and apps are automatically saved to the cloud, to include photos, videos and MMS messages as well. The feature is available to everyone on the same account.
Google One subscriptions start at $3 per month for 200GB of online storage. The company first introduced One in 2018 before making the subscription tier more widely available in the US later that same year. The main reason to get a Google One subscription is still to take advantage of the built-in family sharing, which allows you to split whatever amount of online storage you buy with up five other people. However, the addition of enhanced phone backups is a nice bonus and one that helps One better compete against similar offerings from companies like Apple.