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You can save $400 on a Galaxy Z Flip3 if you're willing to give Boost Mobile a try
Dish is hoping this deal will give its carrier a boost
Pre-orders for Samsung's most affordable foldable smartphone yet are over, but the deals screaming out at us about free Galaxy Z Flip3 devices are still fresh in our minds. If you're willing to make some compromises, though, you can get a Flip3 for just $600 right now. No kidding.
T-Mobile's 3G shutdown is back on schedule for October
Also, Sprint's LTE network now has an end date
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In its bid to keep on the forefront of the 5G race in the United States, T-Mobile hasn't made its plans to kill off its and Sprint's 3G networks exactly loud and clear, but we had a good idea of when the ball would start rolling and when it would finish. Well, that was until the plans apparently changed, before shifting again just a few months later.
It's all too easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding new phones. Maybe you're excited for Google's Pixel 6 and its Whitechapel chip, or you're dying to get your hands on Samsung's latest stylus-friendly foldable. Regardless of your personal preference, there are all sorts of devices ready to launch over the next few months. But forget all of them — they're old news. We know what you're really looking for: keyboards, 5G, and one of the hottest brands from the 2000s. That's right, folks — another BlackBerry phone is still in the works.
T-Mobile is selling 5G gin, and I drank some
Now you can get drunk on 5G marketing hype just like a carrier
You probably heard, but T-Mobile finally succeeded in merging with Sprint last year. The decade-long dance came together with T-Mobile in the driver's seat, which might not have been the case if the merger went through five or six years back. That's why we've got "T-Mobile 5Gin" commemorative booze instead of, I don't know, Sprint Sangria? T-Mobile is in a strong position for the era of 5G, and it's commemorating its latest 5G milestone with 5G-branded booze. And you can buy it! Should you?
Motorola has been seeing success with its line of stylus-equipped G-series phones. So naturally, Moto has announced its third stylus phone in less than two years. The Moto G Stylus 5G has, you guessed it, 5G connectivity. It has solid specs for a G phone, too, but the $400 price tag puts it in the realm of Pixels and Galaxies.
Motorola is adding 5G to one of its most interesting phones this year
Maybe the stylus and some extra storage will convince you to pick one up
If there's one thing Motorola likes more than not delivering timely updates to its phones, it's releasing multiple iterations of its devices with slight changes. The Moto G Stylus hit the market earlier this year, offering a Galaxy Note-like experience for a lot less cash upfront. If you've been holding out hopes for a 5G-compatible device, a new leak hints that you won't have to wait much longer.Nils Ahrensmeier — who leaked the LTE version of this phone prior to its official announcement— tweeted leaked renders of a US-exclusive 5G version of the Moto G Stylus. Besides its upgraded networking, this new model features 256GB of storage and a new four-lens camera module first shared by reputable leaker OnLeaks months ago. Outside of those changes, this looks to be pretty similar to the LTE model which, despite some issues with both the display and general performance, is a decent option for anyone who wants a stylus without ponying up for a Galaxy Note20.[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/NilsAhrDE/status/1399124872626835469[/EMBED_TWITTER]Motorola refreshed the entire G-series in January, but none of its lineup of phones included support for 5G. For that, you had to step up to the Moto One 5G Ace, with a not-so-wallet-friendly price of $400. A 5G-equipped version of the Moto G Stylus could help lower the price barrier for anyone looking to future-proof their purchase. Right now, the LTE version is selling for 9 on Amazon. With any luck, the 5G version would fall somewhere below that $400 mark to help bring faster networking down-market.There's no word yet on when the Moto G Stylus 5G might be set for release or if it will launch locked to a specific carrier. Hopefully we won't have to wait much longer for official details.
Check your carrier's real-world 5G coverage with this new feature on Opensignal's apps
Time to compare network maps
There are plenty of internet speed testing apps out there, but Opensignal and its sister app Meteor have just received important updates that allow their users to see how their carrier's own 5G network coverage map stacks up against reports from the crowd. You know, in real life.
Nokia has a bunch of new phones you'll probably forget exist next week
X20, X10, G20, G10, C20, C10, BH-105, HMD 5G MVNO, DYKWIM?
Nokia is preparing a fresh batch of entry-level phones — including those with 5G — for 2021. But in the E.U. and U.K., where the six devices and some wireless earbuds will arrive first, there's more to this announcement than just hardware and new names.
While Huawei remains shut out of the US smartphone industry, the company is seeking to bring in revenue through new methods. On Tuesday, Huawei announced its intention to begin charging companies like Samsung and Apple royalties for access and use of its 5G-related patents.
T-Mobile introduces employer-managed 5G internet for home office workers
The company is also debuting a suite of collaboration tools that sync across devices
With high speeds, low latency, and frequencies that work best in dense urban areas, 5G has often been touted as a wireless alternative to conventional internet systems. T-Mobile is putting its money where its mouth is by announcing a business class option for its home internet service. The system is similar to its current home internet offerings, but managed and paid by an employer rather than the end user, and packing a few more security tools.
Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G dual SIM support has been improved in March update
You can now use 5G on both a physical SIM and eSIM at once
Monday's feature drop for the Pixel phones included a fun nugget that wasn't in the official changelog: it appears you can now use both a physical SIM card and an eSIM on 5G networks at the same time. Previously users who had both installed and operational were limited to LTE speeds, even if their carrier had 5G service in the area.
Buy a Pixel 4a 5G unlocked at its lowest price of $449 ($50 off)
Anywhere you can buy one, you'll see this price
The March Pixel Drop isn't the only Google Pixel-related thing that's dropping: if you've been looking at grabbing a Pixel 4a 5G, you can look forward to a nice price drop, too! And it's available pretty much anywhere you can buy the unlocked version of the phone.It's the phone that's bigger (and better, in our opinion) than the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 with a 6.2" FHD OLED display with sub-6GHz 5G network access thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. It also has 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 3,885mAh battery, and dual rear cameras (12MP wide and 16MP ultra-wide) plus a reliable fingerprint sensor and a headphone jack. It's also awaiting the first of its three guaranteed annual OS updates.
Google Fi welcomes trio of new Motorola phones, all available free with bill credits
Including the Motorola One 5G Ace
Google Fi always has a few Motorola phones in stock at very affordable prices to cater to anyone who'd be willing to give the carrier a spin. Well, a fresh wave has arrived, all three of them well under MSRP, and it includes the brand's first 5G entry on the network.
MediaTek has finally revealed its first mmWave-compatible 5G modem. Though the technology is most popular here in the 'States (where it's also kinda useless), carriers continue to champion its incredible speeds while conveniently overlooking its many limitations. But soon, you'll be able to enjoy losing that super-fast connection when you cross the street on a MediaTek phone, too.
The unlocked Galaxy S21 series supports all 5G networks in the US
Worrying about whether or not an unlocked Samsung phone will work on your carrier is a thing of the past
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is continuing a trend that other 5G phones before it already started: It's compatible with all 5G networks from all US carriers, and it even supports some technologies that are yet to be deployed. You won't have to worry about carrier interoperability when you buy an unlocked S21 in the US — they work on all carriers.
Samsung's next Lite tablet could have 5G and come in two sizes
If you're looking for specs, you won't find them here
Samsung usually releases two Tab S slabs in a year and we're inching toward what would historically be the time for a "Lite" release. While we don't have any spec points to discuss at the moment, it's been figured that a mid-range tablet or even two are on their way, including the first in the category to connect to 5G.
Visible offers up OnePlus 8 for $449 ($351 off)
It looks like you don't have to use the service to get the discount, but you can get an extra $450 value in gifts if you port your number over
Sometimes, the best deals you can get on a phone come from the carriers. It depends on the person's situation, but it's true. Verizon-owned Visible, though, has a pretty good deal on the OnePlus 8 whether you sign up for its service or not. Of course, there are strings attached to what you do with it afterwards.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 series — after months of leaks and rumors — has finally been announced. While there are a bunch of new features to be talked about, the one that stands out the most is the humbler pricing. Instead of the steep $1,000 tag that the S20 started with, the S21 starts at a relatively affordable price of $800. But, that's not the case in India; the S21 series is, in fact, more expensive than its predecessor here.
Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 480 chipset wants to bring 5G to budget smartphones
Nokia and OnePlus are excited about implementing it into upcoming devices
Qualcomm makes plenty of powerful chips for all kinds of smartphones, but its latest processor has got an eye out for budget phones in particular, hoping to bring them some substantial upgrades. A successor to last year's Snapdragon 460, the Snapdragon 480 claims not only big performance boosts, but is also the first 4-series chipset to offer 5G capabilities.
The Snapdragon 888 is a surprisingly big step forward
Substantial CPU, GPU, and AI performance gains make this chip a head-turner
Last year, I said the Snapdragon 865 was the most important smartphone chip in years. I meant that, and stand by it, because it was the chip that introduced 5G to the (relatively unenthusiastic) masses and ensured that 5G would be a standard feature on most mainstream phones going forward. The Snapdragon 888 doesn't have that same wireless generational leap as its predecessor, but the architectural changes to Qualcomm's newest silicon actually do feel more significant this year. Let's break it down.