
LA Times: Essential California
Easily access our exclusive reporting, photos, and videos wherever you are.
Times Newspapers Limited · com.apptivateme.next.la
- Signature matches the Google Play version Details
At a glance
- Latest version
- v5.1.06 (279)
- Updated
- Sep 29, 2026 (10 days ago)
- APK size
- 127.2 MB
- Requires
- Android 8.0+ (API 26)
- CPU support
- x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit
- Category
- News & Magazines (app)
- Listed since
- Feb 17, 2021 (at least)
- Permissions
- 21 (2 sensitive)
- Website
- latimes.com
- Developer contact
- [email protected]
- Privacy
- Developer's privacy policy
About this APK
LA Times: Essential California is an app by Times Newspapers Limited in the News & Magazines category, listed since at least February 2021. It includes native code for x86 32-bit, x86 64-bit, ARM 32-bit and ARM 64-bit, so it runs on practically every phone.
Since version 5.0.82, the minimum Android version rose from 5.0 to 8.0. It asks for 21 permissions, 2 of them sensitive: read phone status and identity and read shared storage. It asks for the same permissions as version 5.1.03. The app offers in-app purchases through Google Play and can read the advertising ID that ad and analytics services use.
What's new in v5.1.06
Description
From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.
Version history
5 versions are listed, going back to v5.0.82. Since v5.0.98 it requires Android 8.0+.
Security & authenticity
Signing certificate
- Signature matches the Google Play version Checked by the source store on Sep 29, 2026.
- Certificate issued to “Tribune Interactive” This is the certificate of the Google Play version.
- Same certificate as the 4 other versions checked
Store checks and file details
- Developer signature verified Sep 29, 2026
- Validated against Google Play Sep 29, 2026
- Signed byO=Tribune Interactive
- Signing certificate (SHA-1)07:63:A9:B3:45:C1:E1:04:41:8B:15:46:77:D3:5C:7C:BF:83:13:92
- File MD50bffc1c617a46a06971cd68bfa59f498
- Uploaded by “appupdater” Gold tier · 117,810 followers · uploading since 2020
Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (4 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.
Permissions (21)
LA Times: Essential California requests 21 permissions, 2 of them sensitive.
- Read phone status and identity Sensitive android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
- Read shared storage Sensitive android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
- Access adservices ad id android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
- Access adservices attribution android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
- Access adservices custom audience android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_CUSTOM_AUDIENCE
- Access adservices topics android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS
- Advertising ID com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID
- Control vibration android.permission.VIBRATE
- Download without notification android.permission.DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION
- Full network access android.permission.INTERNET
- Google Play install referrer com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE
- In-app purchases (Google Play Billing) com.android.vending.BILLING
- Internal broadcast protection (app-defined) com.apptivateme.next.la.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
- Prevent the device from sleeping android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
- Receive push notifications com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE
- Reorder tasks android.permission.REORDER_TASKS
- Run foreground services android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
- Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
- Use biometric hardware android.permission.USE_BIOMETRIC
- Use fingerprint hardware android.permission.USE_FINGERPRINT
- View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Required hardware & features
- Basic touch input android.hardware.faketouch
LA Times: Essential California APK: questions and answers
Is there a version of LA Times: Essential California for older Android phones?
The current version needs Android 8.0 or later. Version 5.0.82 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 5.0 and later. It is an old build: apps that rely on online services may no longer connect when they are this old. Get version 5.0.82 · All versions
Can I install this APK over the version I already have?
Yes, if your installed copy is older. It is signed like the Google Play version, so Android installs it as an update and keeps your data.
Is LA Times: Essential California free?
The APK is free to download, but the app offers in-app purchases through Google Play.
Is the LA Times: Essential California APK safe?
No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. Its signature matches the Google Play version. It is signed with the same certificate as the 4 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is 0bffc1c617a46a06971cd68bfa59f498.