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I replaced my Chromecast with a Shield, and you should too while it's on sale for Black Friday
You get what you pay for
The Chromecast with Google TV was easy to recommend when it launched last year at just $50, and it's still a good device now. However, I've been on the hunt for a more powerful streaming box—something that can handle uncompressed audio and whatever video formats I throw at it. There's really only one game in town that gets close, and that's the Nvidia Shield. It has all the streaming prowess of the more expensive Pro box but at a much lower $150 price. However, the Shield is on a rare sale this Black Friday for $129, and I couldn't resist.
Samsung One UI 4 review: It's the (very) little things
It's Android 12 under the hood, but One UI is in the driver's seat
It wasn't that long ago that buying a Samsung phone meant saying goodbye to speedy updates. Thankfully, Galaxy updates have been appearing faster and for a much longer time on recent Samsung devices. With the update to One UI 4, Samsung has shown that phones don't need to languish on outdated versions of Android for months on end. Barely a month after Android 12 came out, Samsung has released One UI 4 based on Android 12 for the Galaxy S21 series. Samsung's newfound commitment to update support is a feature—one of the most important you can get on an expensive smartphone. The rest of the features are going to be less impactful than you're probably hoping because Samsung doesn't like to rock the boat.
Samsung got into the true wireless earbud game early on, but its Icon-branded buds were unreliable and had terrible battery life. The Galaxy Buds line has been far superior, and Samsung has only beefed up its true wireless credentials over time. Almost every Unpacked event has featured a new pair of Samsung earbuds, and the most recent one was no exception. Alongside the new foldables, Samsung unveiled the $150 Galaxy Buds2.
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When I started reviewing smartphones, there was always something new happening. There were physical keyboards, tablet docks, sliders, flippers, and every hinge conformation you could imagine. Then, everyone settled on the flat glass slab, because let's face it, most of those ideas were terrible. You know what's not terrible? Foldables. I know, I was surprised, too.
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Most of the attention-grabbing smartphones these days are at the extremes. There are ultra-premium devices that are interesting because they have everything but the kitchen sink, and on the flip side, decent budget phones are getting into impulse purchase territory. And then there's the vast, boring gulf between them known as the mid-range. Even when these phones are good, they rarely stand out from the crowd. That's the new Motorola Edge, which retails for $700. However, the Verizon-locked version will only run you $550. Moto might as well have made this phone a Verizon exclusive because there's no reason to buy it unlocked for $150 more. It's not an exciting phone, but it might be a good purchase if you're standing in a Verizon store.
Google Nest Cam Battery review: Getting used to disappointment
The monthly subscription is a firm requirement, and even then it has issues
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Google's line of Nest cameras have always offered impressive hardware, but they're expensive and the current lineup is getting a bit long in the tooth. Enter, the new Nest Cam, which features a battery so you can mount it anyplace, even if that location is far away from power. If you're looking for long battery life, this camera has it. The rest of it, not so much.
Android 12's best feature is still in beta on the Pixel 6
Google likes to show off Material You icon theming, but you have to activate it on your Pixel
Google has talked a lot about Material You, which is the biggest visual change for Android in years. Every promo image of the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro shows off the theming, but you might notice something when you get the phone in your hand: no themed icons. You can fix that, but the icon feature is still technically in beta. Did you expect something else from Google?
The battery life on mobile devices isn't quite as abysmal as it was a few years back thanks to denser batteries and a move toward physically larger phones. Still, the tank is going to run dry eventually, and a capable portable battery can keep all your devices charged—not just your phone. USB-C continues to expand into more areas of our lives, and that makes the Zendure SuperTank Pro look better and better as time goes on.
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Should you give up a grandfathered YouTube plan for Pixel Pass?
Pixel Pass gets you all the Google goodies, but you have to live that Google life
Google just wrapped up the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro announcement, and it's taking the Pixels more seriously this year, with a focus on premium design and software experiences powered by the custom Tensor chip. Google is even launching the Pixel Pass bundle deal to make sure you can get a Pixel and a bunch of Google services without dropping a ton of cash up front. Pixel Pass starts at $45 per month with a Pixel 6, an extended warranty, Drive storage, and even YouTube Premium. I know I've been clinging to my grandfathered $7.99 YouTube subscription, but Pixel Pass might finally have that deal beat. Let's break it down.
Google has completely redesigned the camera setup on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, and not a moment too soon. The camera sensors in that big honkin' bar have lots of raw imaging power, but the key to the Pixel camera is software. One of the new features Google has included with the Pixel 6 is called Motion Mode, and like the name implies, it's all about making movement come through in your snapshots.
Google is going all out with Pixel hardware this year, including addressing the charging speeds. With a wire, the new phones can charge at a respectable 30W rate, but there's also a new Pixel Stand wireless charger. Or, there will be. The Pixel Stand with its 23W charging is still 'coming soon.'
With Android 12 around the corner, the year-old Microsoft Surface Duo is still on Android 10
Does Microsoft even care?
Just over a year ago, Microsoft launched the Surface Duo, its first Android phone. In some ways, the Duo was one of the most ambitious Android phones in the world with its unique dual-screen design. On the other hand, it was lacking some key features you'd expect from a $1,400 phone, like NFC, the latest ARM SoC, and a big battery. It also launched with Android 10 in the immediate aftermath of Android 11's release. Surely, that would just be a temporary issue, right? Well, here we are a year later, and the phone is still on Android 10.
Hands-on: Motorola's new and aspirationally priced Edge invites us all to dream big
And it's $200 cheaper if you order now
Motorola announced a trio of Edge 20 phones for international markets a few weeks back, and it promised one Edge phone would come to the US soon. Well, here it is. The US will get a phone known simply as the Motorola Edge. This device has the most in common with the middle child in the Edge 20 family, but it has a few tweaks for the US. However, this is not a flagship phone on par with the Edge+ from 2020. The $700 Edge sports a Snapdragon 778G, and a 1080p LCD that doesn't curve like last year's OLED Edge phones. However, it does have a big 5000mAh battery and a 108MP camera. It's also 0 off if you order it right now.
Photo gallery: How annoying is the Galaxy Z Fold3's under-display camera?
Maybe we'll get used to it...
Samsung had a lot to talk about at Unpacked today with two new phones, two new watches, and yet another pair of earbuds. Even with a packed schedule, Samsung made certain to point out the Galaxy Z Fold3 sports the first-ever under-display selfie camera in a foldable. However, the resolution of the OLED matrix over top of the camera is about a quarter of the surrounding screen. The results can look a bit weird, and Samsung's renders don't really do it justice. Here's what it looks like in real life.
Samsung's new $150 earbuds have noise canceling and fun colors
And they'll replace the Buds+ in Samsung's lineup
There are some immutable truths, even in these uncertain times. The sun will rise in the east, the tides go in and out, Coke is better than Pepsi, and Samsung can't go more than a few months without releasing new earbuds. The Buds Pro debuted earlier this year, and now there's a new entry in Samsung's true wireless lineup. The oft-leaked Galaxy Buds2 are official with a $149.99 price tag, which is $50 less than the Buds Pro (when they're not on sale). They have most of the same features, too.
Review: The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 is the Microsoft Surface killer I've been waiting for
A windows detachable for keyboard fans
I can't tell you how many times I've almost bought a Microsoft Surface Pro, but I must have had one in my cart at least a dozen times. I like to plug in a small mechanical keyboard when I need to do a lot of typing on the go, and the detachable form factor makes that easier. However, once you add things like a Core i5 CPU and more RAM, the Surface costs well over a thousand dollars. That's before you add Microsoft's mediocre keyboard cover. So, I never pull the trigger, and now I might never have to after using the Lenovo ThinkPad X12. It offers the same detachable form factor as the Surface, but it comes with everything you need plus a few nice-to-have features.
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra review, one month later: A question of commitment
Might I suggest: "ZTE Axon 30 Pretty Good?"
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Do you miss the days when you could get a spec-heavy smartphone for less than a thousand bucks? Well, you're in luck because ZTE is finally launching a new flagship phone in the US, and it's competitively priced. For $749, the Axon 30 Ultra packs a Snapdragon 888, a big camera array with multiple zoom levels, and premium build quality. However, there are still rough edges abound, and the phone's 5G connectivity in the US is lacking. While, the Axon 30 Ultra doesn't earn that "Ultra" name like the Samsung and Xiaomi ultras do, but it's still a pretty good phone. Might I suggest: "ZTE Axon 30 Pretty Good?"
The Google Pixel 6 is already on the Google Store, but you can't buy it yet
You can see all the pretty colors, though
For the last few years, Google has thrown caution to the wind and released details about its upcoming Pixel phones months ahead of time. Of course, it's usually little more than a confirmation of rumors. Google sure confirmed a lot of Pixel 6 rumors today, offering a pretty good look at the next Google phone. You can even head over to the Google Store right now to salivate over the phones, but you can't buy one yet.
Motorola won't say which of its new Edge phones is coming to the US
Weirdly, none of these three phones has an "edge" screen
Last year, Motorola released two Edge phones, marking its return to the flagship phone market. There were no Moto Mod pins or foldable screens, but the Edge and Edge+ looked nice with the curvy OLEDs, though I didn't think they were very nice to hold. Now, there are new Edge phones, and they look... different. The Edge 20, Edge 20 Pro (above), and Edge 20 Lite lack the curved display, but the overall design does look more refined than last year's Edges. Those in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia will get to experience all three versions of the phone, but the US will only get one 2021 Edge at some point this fall. Which one? Your guess is as good as ours.
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Sony makes numerous headphones and earbuds across a range of prices, but the 1000X line is its flagship family with top dogs like the WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones and the aging but still capable WF-1000XM3 earbuds. The latter were top-of-the-line when they launched almost two years ago, but newer options like the ANC-equipped Galaxy Buds Pro and AirPods Pro have overshadowed Sony's old buds. The updated WF-1000XM4 puts Sony right back in the thick of things with phenomenal noise canceling and premium features. The XM4s are without a doubt my favorite earbuds right now, but they don't come cheap at $279.99, and some of the competition is only a little worse for a lot less money.