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Sure, you can use a smartphone to take control of your smart home, but a smart speaker is a much easier way to go about things. Not to mention, they often function as a smart home hub, especially if there are multiple people in your household. Adjusting the lights, locking the door, and setting the thermostat is much easier when you don't have to reach for your phone to talk to Alexa or Google Assistant. All you need to do is use your voice.
Best USB-C hubs for Chromebooks in 2024
Add ports, flexibility, and functionality to your Chromebook with an excellent USB-C hub
The best USB-C hubs for Chromebooks can effectively turn your laptop into a connectivity oasis, all with a compact piece of hardware that can even travel with you quite easily. True, some Chromebooks might have enough ports for your needs as they come, but even today's best Chromebooks are paring things down with a focus on just USB-C, which is when you'll need a portable hub to get all that functionality back.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: Is bigger always better?
Samsung's latest, biggest phones continue to impress
Samsung's Galaxy S24 family may not be some revolutionary redesign, but it does offer some worthwhile generational upgrades worth considering — and these remain some of the best Android phones around.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 5: Should you upgrade?
The Pixel 7, making up for the faults of the Pixel 5
Experts and average consumers consider the Google Pixel family one of the best lineups of high-end smartphones, year in and year out. And, it makes sense that Google goes all out on its flagship handsets, showcasing its streamlined Android implementation, novel hardware considerations, and class-leading picture-taking abilities. Our Google Pixel 7 review clearly showed that the 2022 release lived up to that hype.
Best microSD cards for Amazon Fire tablets in 2024
The fastest and most reliable microSD storage for your tablet
Amazon Fire tablets are as straightforward and affordable as they get. From the earliest model to the powerful Fire Max 11, they're easy to use, have access to a wide range of optimized apps, and work out especially well if you shop on Amazon or use its services a lot.
Best OnePlus 11 screen protectors in 2024
Keep your OnePlus 11's display looking great for the long haul
The high-performing but reasonably priced OnePlus 11 takes the company back to its enthusiast-brand roots and packs flagship-level hardware, thanks to the superpowered Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. It also features a gorgeous design with a smooth glass back and a Hasselblad-tuned camera that stands out and looks the part. Then there's its excellent battery life, which only adds to its case as one of the best Android phones of the year — it's the phone to buy for anybody who was a fan of OnePlus in its heyday.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 vs. Tile Pro: Which is the best Android tracker?
Can Samsung compete with the original worldwide Bluetooth tracker network?
The Apple AirTag gets a lot of attention, but the first Samsung SmartTag came months before it, and the original Tile years earlier. These immensely handy Bluetooth trackers all do basically the same thing, using a combination of Bluetooth technology to inform you where you misplaced items nearby and a worldwide network of connected users to help you find items that are far away. Samsung's latest Bluetooth tracker includes some nifty features that some users will love, but the Tile leverages a wider network to appeal to users, despite being slightly less advanced.
10 best gadgets we reviewed in January
Two fantastic phones headlined our slate of top devices, alongside some awesome peripherals and accessories
January's always a big month for tech, and this one was no exception, featuring a variety of interesting reveals at CES 2024 and Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event unveiling the Galaxy S24 series and even a new cheap Samsung phone. January also saw the stealthy, long-awaited U.S. release of its standard-setting Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet, a hero among entry-level slates.
Best heavy-duty Samsung Galaxy S22+ cases in 2024
A rugged case is the perfect way to protect your high-end Samsung smartphone
Of the three Samsung Galaxy S22 models available, the Galaxy S22+ is the easiest to recommend. It has vastly superior battery life than its smaller sibling while being more manageable to hold than the Ultra. It might lack the fancy space zoom periscope lens, but the triple cameras are excellent.
OnePlus 12 vs. OnePlus 12R: Impressive phones, different target markets
OnePlus brings nigh-untouchable specs with its new flagship and first stateside midrange
While a few companies lead the pack in U.S. smartphone sales volume, other manufacturers continue to sneak in with impressive offerings that threaten to shake up the market. Two such phones, the OnePlus 12 and 12R, pack some almost hard-to-believe features (especially in terms of hardware).
Upgrade to a 128GB Galaxy Tab A9+ now and save $50
Select retailers are offering free upgrade to the 128GB/8GB model
Samsung's Galaxy Tab A series looks even more enticing than ever now that the version with more storage also packs an additional 4GB of RAM. Normally, that upgrade would set you back $50, but select retailers are offering it for free over the next several days. While the base model performs just fine, the beefier specs of the higher-tier offering ensure it'll remain snappy and effective for years to come.
Best smart plugs in 2024
The right smart plug can turn nearly many standard electrical devices into smart home devices with ease
Smart plugs offer complete appliance and electrical gadget control, unlocking features such as voice control through Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT, and other smart home assistants. Depending on the model, you will find smart plugs with a scheduling function that can power devices on/off when needed, allowing for hands-free operation. Additionally, these plugs have apps for device management, even when you are away from home. So they're convenient for those who often forget to turn off their smart home devices before leaving the house. Take a look at this selection to find the smart plug that is the best fit for you.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Machine learning showdown
Samsung's middle child and Google's top model share some interesting similarities
Samsung's big reveal of the Galaxy S24 family may not have included any Earth-shattering hardware upgrades, but the company's increased focus on machine-learning (also known somewhat erroneously as AI) features both turned heads and made it clear that Google's main competitor still has a few tricks up its sleeve. The intermediate version of Samsung's flagship lineup, the S24+, will undoubtedly make its way into the discussion of this year's best phones. So how does it fare against Google's top-of-the-line Pixel 8 Pro?
As high-end smartphone hardware continues to plateau, manufacturers look to branch out and make their flagship devices stand out for increasingly novel reasons. As one of the most purely iterative generational upgrades we've ever seen, the S24 series can't really find any ground to break in terms of common use cases. So, while it's a little late to the party that Google started with the Pixel, Samsung's leaning into its new machine learning features instead this year.
Best Buy offers up to $870 in savings and $150 in gift cards on Galaxy S24 series preorders
Instant discounts, the right trade-in, and a free gift card combine for a fantastic deal
Active right now, preordering at Best Buy nets you up to several hundred off each of the new Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones via trade-in, but that's not all. It's also offering a free upgrade to the second tier of storage, and e-gift cards of up to $150 on anything at Best Buy, in person or online. If you're itching to jump into Samsung's new AI playground and moving from the right high-end phone, that means you could get your hands on an S24+ for as little as $250.
There’s only a week left to get Mint Mobile’s unlimited data plan for $15 a month
No contract, no commitment, and your choice of renewal length
Phone plans don't get much cheaper or more straightforward than the ones from Mint Mobile. It's not a pricey carrier to begin with, but for the next 7 days, you can get any of its plans for just $15 per month for 3 months. That includes the top-tier Unlimited plan, which will never run out of data or minutes, so it's an easy call which package to choose.
Best cheap Samsung phone in 2024
Samsung's refined interface and thoughtful design, at reasonable prices
While Samsung's high-end phones get most of the press, its more affordable models sport a nearly identical OneUI Android implementation and, in most cases, reasonably competent hardware. They can't touch the flagships' performance, but at hundreds of dollars less, many users find them considerably more attractive.
Best Kindles in 2024: Find the perfect Amazon e-reader
The right Kindle e-reader will have you reading up a storm in no time
Remember when Amazon exclusively sold books and operated out of a small, suburban garage? Nearly three decades later, its Kindle e-reader family is one of the best tablets for getting your fix of the written word. Even the latest, highly affordable base model Kindle offers a remarkably comfortable, user-friendly experience. And if you opt for one of the more premium versions, you're looking at easily some of the best e-readers around.
Best microSD cards for Android devices in 2024
Picking the best microSD expansion storage for your modern smartphone
Picking the right microSD card can be a challenge. With an alphabet soup of letters and numbers that represent a broad range of speeds and capabilities, it's tricky to know whether you're getting the best microSD card for your needs. Even when you stick with reputable brands, there's still an embarrassment of options available to choose from.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: Ultimate Android showdown
Similar sizes, two very different phones
We're big fans of the Pixel 8 lineup, which is why it features heavily in all our top smartphone roundups. Google does some really interesting things with its hardware and software, delivering an experience and feature set that no other company can yet match.