Sixth Tone

This app brings you people-focused stories about contemporary China.

Shanghai Dongfang Newspaper Co., Ltd. · com.thepaper.sixthtone

Not rated yet 5K+ downloads v1.7.2 30.7 MB Android 10+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

Download APK 30.7 MB All versions

Signature matches the Google Play version Details

At a glance

Latest version: v1.7.2 (1721)
Updated: Oct 7, 2026 (yesterday)
APK size: 30.7 MB
Requires: Android 10+ (API 29)
CPU support: ARM (legacy), ARM 32-bit, ARM 64-bit
Category: News & Magazines (app)
Listed since: Mar 20, 2021 (at least)
Permissions: 18
Website: sixthtone.com
Developer contact: [email protected]
Privacy: Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Sixth Tone is an app by Shanghai Dongfang Newspaper Co., Ltd. in the News & Magazines category, listed since at least March 2021. It includes native code for ARM (legacy), ARM 32-bit and ARM 64-bit, so it runs on practically every phone.

Since version 1.5.6, the APK grew from 17.8 MB to 30.7 MB and the minimum Android version rose from 5.0 to 10. It asks for 18 permissions, none of them sensitive. Compared with version 1.7.1, it adds 1 new permission (“Foreground service media playback”) and drops 5 (“Broadcast package install”, “Read media images”, “Read media video” and 2 more).

What's new in v1.7.2

1. support Android16 2. fix bug

Description

From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.

The Sixth Tone app brings you people-focused news, features, commentaries, and visual storytelling about contemporary China. Main features of the app: Daily Tones are daily news and highlights from across China. News are timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing from a vast range of sources, these articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context. Features are articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants. Voices & Opinion are contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are rarely heard. Multimedia are visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization. Sixth Tone × features translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. Special Projects showcase the collaborative efforts of Sixth Tone’s newsroom on diverse topics. Q & A features in-depth interviews with the minds and makers shaping today’s China. Your questions, answered. Announcements are the latest news about Sixth Tone as well as its events, projects, and other initiatives.

Version history

6 versions are listed, going back to v1.5.6. Since v1.7.2 it requires Android 10+.

v1.7.2 LATEST Oct 7, 2026 30.7 MB TRUSTED v1.7.1 Feb 7, 2026 21.8 MB TRUSTED v1.6.8 Nov 26, 2025 20.3 MB TRUSTED v1.6.6 Feb 6, 2025 20.3 MB TRUSTED v1.6.2 Jul 24, 2024 17.9 MB TRUSTED

All 6 versions

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

Signature matches the Google Play version Checked by the source store on Oct 7, 2026.
Certificate issued to “Shanghai Dongfang Newspaper Co.Ltd” This is the certificate of the Google Play version.
Same certificate as the 5 other versions checked

Store checks and file details

Developer signature verified Oct 7, 2026
Validated against Google Play Oct 7, 2026
Signed byCN=Zhiwen Ouyang, OU=Technical Center, O=Shanghai Dongfang Newspaper Co.Ltd, L=Shanghai, ST=Shanghai, C=86
Signing certificate (SHA-1)97:B2:7A:65:B8:D1:5A:70:13:66:5C:FB:2B:B9:1C:D0:13:B3:57:D4
File MD5052ad9ec0bc5deab4ebd1871b67621aa
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 (5 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (18)

Sixth Tone requests 18 permissions, none of them sensitive.

Broadcast package added android.permission.BROADCAST_PACKAGE_ADDED
Broadcast package changed android.permission.BROADCAST_PACKAGE_CHANGED
Broadcast package replaced android.permission.BROADCAST_PACKAGE_REPLACED
Change wifi state android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
Control vibration android.permission.VIBRATE
Foreground service media playback android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK
Full network access android.permission.INTERNET
Get tasks android.permission.GET_TASKS
Internal broadcast protection (app-defined) com.thepaper.sixthtone.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION
Launcher change badge (custom) com.huawei.android.launcher.permission.CHANGE_BADGE
Notification badge icon (custom) com.vivo.notification.permission.BADGE_ICON
Prevent the device from sleeping android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
Read logs android.permission.READ_LOGS
Run at startup android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Run foreground services android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
Show notifications android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
View Wi-Fi connections android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
View network connections android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE

Required hardware & features

Basic touch input android.hardware.faketouch
Portrait screen android.hardware.screen.portrait
Wi-Fi android.hardware.wifi

Sixth Tone APK: questions and answers

Is there a version of Sixth Tone for older Android phones?

The current version needs Android 10 or later. Version 1.7.1 is the newest listed build that installs on Android 6.0 and later. Get version 1.7.1 · 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 the Sixth Tone 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 5 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is 052ad9ec0bc5deab4ebd1871b67621aa.