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Fast charging can be a difficult topic to wrap your head around. There are a lot of competing standards, all with different cables and power adapters, but one of the most popular is Qualcomm's 'Quick Charge' technology. There are different versions with different charging speeds, but QC 2.0 and 3.0 are still common to find in today's phones and tablets.
HMD Global is keeping up the pace on releasing new Nokia-branded Android smartphones (and TVs!) with yearly refreshes on its varied series ranging from the premium side to the penny-pinchers. For the most part, the new Nokia 2.3 brings progress for its most basic line of offerings, but as we're headed to 2020, there's one big thing about this phone that doesn't scream "future-proof": the microUSB connector.
We live in interesting times. As the USB Type-C standard slowly spreads, we're left with three different USB ports in operation. There's USB-C, USB-A, and microUSB, but no longer will you need different flash drives for all those devices. A company called Silicon Power has announced a flash drive that has all three connectors, and it doesn't look as awkward as you'd expect.
Amazon has a pretty good deal today on a 4-pack of microUSB adapters. These particular units are originally $7.99, but through the magic of Slickdeals and the associated promo code (2YZPICHF) an extra $3.04 can be knocked off. And the difference between having $3 and needing $3 is $6, more than these cost on sale! See, you're making money.
Those of you with a pile of microUSB cables about that might already own or be considering purchasing a device with a more modern connector might well consider this offer. It has 5 stars on Amazon, but no word on if these meet the Benson specification standards. If you use them with a sub-3A charger your risk should be minimized.Source: AmazonVia: Slickdeals
If your modern phone or tablet doesn't have a MicroSD card slot like many Android flagships and mid-tier devices released in the last couple of years, you have a few limited options to transfer data between it and other devices or computers. There's Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and finally there's USB OTG. That should be the fastest and if you have a flash drive with both a USB and a MicroUSB connector, you're set. If you don't, you can pick one of the best ones for cheap on Amazon today.SanDisk's Ultra USB 3.0 flash drives with a MicroUSB connector are on sale now. The 16GB is at an all-time $7.99 low — it usually retails between $9 and $14. The 32GB, which hovers between $13 and $20, is at $10.99. And the 64GB is down to $18.99 today, while it had been hovering around $24 but has recently gone as high as $30.With USB 3.0, you can copy data as fast as possible from your computers, then flip the other connector open and plug the MicroUSB side into your phone. Even if you don't transfer data to your Android devices this way, it's cheap enough that you can grab one now to use as a regular USB drive and have it handy on the off-chance you need it for your phone. Shipping is free for orders above $35 and Prime customers.Source: SanDisk 16GB USB MicroUSB drive, 32GB, 64GB
USB Type-C charging is an awesome addition to many of the new Android devices launching this year. Faster charging speeds, reversible plug, a more sturdy connection – what's not to like? Well, USB Type-C is cool and all, but the reality is that most of the gadgets you and I own still use a MicroUSB plug, and that isn't going to change for quite some time.One of the biggest perks of MicroUSB charging is that they are pretty affordable if you buy them from the right place. Today, using a coupon code, you can grab a five pack of super spiffy iXCC MicroUSB cables for on Amazon.You might think, "Meh. They are just cables." These, however, are no ordinary cables! They are corrosion resistant, high gauge, heavy-duty, gold-plated MicroUSB cables with a reversible USB 2.0 end (that's the fatter side). That's right folks, you can't plug the USB 2.0 end in the wrong way! Have you ever seen such an incredible thing in your whole life? These cables are so awesome iXCC backs them with an 18 month warranty, which is probably rarely invoked since they score a solid 4.4 star rating on Amazon. How can you say no to a deal like this?!? IT'S FREAKING AMAZING!Whoa. Sorry guys, a little bit of my inner infomercial salesman escaped there. I feel terrible that you had to see that.Anyways, the discounted pack includes your standard assortment of cables, including 1x one-foot cable, 3x three-foot cables, and 1x six-foot cable. Apply the coupon code 8O75T7S8 at checkout to drop the price to $9. Keep in mind that the code only works on this particular length assortment.Source: Amazon
Cables, the technological innovation that just won't die no matter how bad some folks want them to. There are wireless ways to charge smartphones these days, as well as options for transferring data without pulling out a cord. But frankly I still reach for a microUSB cable to do both of these things, and the number of people who do hardly stops with me.So here's a way to stock up on microUSB cables for cheap. Aukey has a six pack on Amazon for $11, and it will let you get them for $4.50 less if you use the coupon code ALXCCZHA at checkout. This will drop the price down to $6.50.
The pack comes with one 6.6 foot cable, two 3.3, and three that are just a foot each. This way you can have one cord hanging out from behind your couch, two by the bed, and three that avoid making a tangled mess on your desk. You just have to supply your own power adapters. Each cable is Quick Charge 2.0 compatible and supports transferring data at up to 480Mbps.Source: Amazon
We have another good deal to share with you all today, this time on a Quick Charge 2.0 wall charger. The charger is an Anker branded unit on Amazon and the price is only $7.99 after entering the coupon code QPPAQPP5 at checkout. That's half off the normal retail price of $15.99 and every bit as good of a bargain as the last charger deal we posted.
You can never have too many SD cards. By the time you have one in all of your devices, the next thing you know, you have another device. After that, an old one gets filled up. What's a person to do? Simple, wait for deals.Today Amazon has a big heaping helping of memory cards on sale for as low as $7.99 (16GB). For people with more demanding storage needs, the 64GB MicroSD card is marked down to $26.49. That sure beats paying anywhere from double to quadruple that price elsewhere.
[Deal Alert] 64GB Patriot Stellar USB 3.0 OTG MicroUSB/USB Going For Only $28.99 On Amazon (64% Off)
So you decided to save yourself a few bucks and opted for the 16GB version of the latest phone, or even worse, are still stuck with an 8GB Nexus 4*, and now you're really feeling the pinch. The phone's lacking a microSD card slot, and that cloud storage isn't helping all that much on a limited data connection. What's a guy or gal to do? Pick up one of these dandy flash drives with dual microUSB/USB support. A 64GB Patriot Stellar option is currently up on Amazon for just $28.99, over 50% off its usual price. This is a great deal, even cheaper than the Corsair Flash Voyager drive that's also on sale today.
So your phone maker thought you could get by with only 16GB of internal storage, eh? You could get a microSD card for some phones, but that's not always supported. So a USB drive with an OTG cable? What is this? The middle ages? You can get a Corsair Flash Voyager GO USB 3.0 drive with a dual microUSB/USB plug built right in – and they're on sale today.
It wasn't too long ago that I would have thought of a dual USB/MicroUSB flash drive as a dream accessory. Now the landscape has changed so quickly, I'm nearly embarrassed that I have yet to buy one. When we first heard about the Leef Bridge Dual-USB/MicroUSB flash drive, the idea was still novel enough that its quirky name wasn't off-putting. Since then the more traditional players have jumped into the ring, with SanDisk and Sony both coming out with their own drives. Now add Kingston's name to that list. Its DataTraveler microDuo is available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB doses.
There's been an slew of new "ultra-portable" USB cables show up over the past several months (you know, because USB cables definitely aren't portable on their own) – like ChargeCard, for example. These little gems aim to do one thing: hang out in easily-accessed areas (like your pocket) and be there when your phone needs some juice or file transfer.
If you've never heard of Leef Bridge, it's an upcoming flash drive that doesn't discriminate between PCs and smartphones by having a USB port on one end and a MicroUSB port on the other. The company pushes the device as the quickest way to move files between a computer and a phone - and now it just got even faster. Leef Bridge has made the leap from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0, which means zippier file transfers for anyone who picks up the flash drive once it goes on sale in January.
In today's world of widespread broadband and increasingly ubiquitous WiFi, some people frankly balk at the thought of using flash drives. Those of us who ignore the naysayers still have had to accept the reality that our trusty flash drives that proved so useful while we sat at PCs aren't quite as useful when transitioning to smartphones. A 32GB flash drive filled with music is awesome when I want to pump music from my laptop, but it's a brick when I want to listen through my phone instead. This is why the new Leef Bridge flash drive for Android devices, Macs, and PCs is a pretty big deal, despite coming in a small package.
Something that surprised me at the CTIA conference yesterday was the connector port used in both the HTC EVO 3D and View 4G. Instead of 2 distinct standards, like on the EVO 4G - MicroUSB and MicroHDMI - the new EVO devices have only 1 port that uses the brand new MHL technology (Mobile High-Definition Link). And it is brilliant.
A couple of weeks ago, Engadget ran a piece on a new product from a company called Phonesuit aimed at smartphone users with MiniUSB and MicroUSB charging ports (this should cover every Android phone as far as I know). Shortly after Engadget's piece, we were contacted by Phonesuit and offered a review unit, which we gladly accepted.