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The Razer Kishi controller is perhaps the closest we've come to duplicating the Nintendo Switch experience with phones. It's compatible with many different devices, functions over a low-latency USB Type-C connection, and now you can get it for just $58.25 from Amazon. That's a discount of $21.74 from the original price.The Kishi is a controller with an adjustable middle strap, designed to securely fasten to most Android devices. It connects to the phone using the Type-C port, so you don't have to worry about Bluetooth lag. The gamepad should work with every Android game that supports controllers, including Fortnite, Minecraft, DOOM, Stardew Valley, and many others.
Lawnchair Launcher resumes development after year-long hiatus
The app is now developed by a new team
Lawnchair Launcher is a popular third-party home screen launcher, especially for people interested in bringing a Pixel-like experience to non-Google phones and tablets. Development has stagnated over the past year, but now a new team is restarting development.
Jabra Elite Active 65t earbuds are just $70 today only ($30 off)
Wireless earbuds that can also handle some exercise
The world of true wireless earbuds is rather crowded at this point, but Jabra has always managed to stand out with excellent sound quality and value. Now you can get the Jabra Elite Active 65t wireless earbuds for just $69.99 from Best Buy, a savings of $30 from the original MSRP.
Get a SanDisk A2 256GB SD card for just $38 from Amazon ($5 off)
Perfect for your Galaxy S21... oh wait...
Even though the Galaxy S21 series dropped microSD card support, there's still plenty of other Android phones with SD slots, as well as hundreds of other kinds of electronics. Now you can get SanDisk's 256GB A2 card for just $37.99, a savings of $4.92 over the usual price.This is an A2-rated card, meaning it's the best possible option for running applications from. However, even A-rated cards are significantly slower than the internal storage found in modern smartphones, so these cards are still best suited to storing photos, videos, and other non-application files.
V-Moda has been producing high-quality audio products for years, and the company's headphones are best known for their recognizable hexagon design. Now you can get the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones for $199.99 from the company's website, a savings of $80 over the usual price.These are wireless over-ear headphones, with 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers, up to 14 hours of battery life (420mAh), memory-foam ear cushions, and a total weight of 309g. There's also a case included in the box. The only downside here is that the headphones use microUSB for charging, not USB Type-C. Check out our full review if you're on the fence.
The sale appears to only be live on V-Moda's own website, as Best Buy, Amazon, and other retailers are still selling the headphones for (close to) original price.Buy: V-Moda
Google's Stadia game streaming platform is still hanging in there, but it still hasn't lived up to some of its original goals. The available library is limited (compared to other platforms), there won't be any first-party games developed by Google, and Stadia's ambitions for 4K gameplay didn't really pan out. Now the company faces a possible class action lawsuit over 4K gaming claims.
The best Android smartphones you can buy right now (Early 2021)
These are our top phone recommendations right now
There are thousands of Android phones available right now, and while it's great there are so many choices, the abundance of devices can sometimes feel overwhelming. That's why we've created a list of the best Android smartphones to buy, with something for every price point and taste. By the end, you should have all of the information you need to make an informed purchase.
The system-wide dark theme was one of the headlining features of Android 10 when it was released in 2019. The exact implementation varied by device, but on Google's Pixel theme, the dark theme was completely black. Google appears to be tweaking this, as the first Android 12 beta changes the primary color to a blueish tint.
Pixel 5's hole punch can be hidden on Android 12
The feature was available at launch for the Pixel 3 XL
Many phones with notches or camera holes have options to 'hide' the cutout, usually by filling in the space around it with a black background and/or shifting the status bar down. Google offered the feature on the Pixel 3 XL, and now it's coming to the newer Pixel 5.
LineageOS ends Android 9 Pie support, cutting off 24 phones and tablets
Lineage is clearing the way for Android 11 support
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM around, not only because it brings a stock-like experience to phones and tablets, but also because it has kept many devices supported long after the manufacturer dropped support. The project has offered builds based on Android 9 Pie since early 2019, and now that many devices have been updated to LineageOS 17.1 (and with Android 11 support coming soon), support for Pie is ending.
Android 12 could include one-handed mode for tall phones
The feature has been in some custom skins for years
Google's yearly Android updates almost always include a few features that manufacturers already implemented in their own device software. Some recent examples include screen recording and scheduled dark mode in Android 11, and now the upcoming Android 12 update is set to add another long-awaited feature: one-handed mode.
Grab two Google Nest Audio speakers for just $150 ($50 off)
Get a pair for stereo sound, or put them in different rooms
Google released the Nest Audio near the end of last year, as a replacement for the company's original Google Home smart speaker. The Nest Audio offers enhanced sound and support for multi-device pairing, and now you can get two of them for just $150. That's $50 off the usual cost of buying two.
The market for true wireless earbuds is very crowded at this point, but Jabra has always managed to stand out with its excellent sound quality and value. Now you can get the Jabra Elite 65t wireless earbuds for just $49.99 at multiple stores, a discount of $30 from the usual price (and $70 below MSRP).These are true wireless earbuds with up to five hours of battery life, passive noise cancellation, and 6.0mm x 5.1mm audio drivers. You can activate Google Assistant, Siri, or Alexa (depending on the connected device) with a tap, and three sets of ear tips are included in the box. The main catch here is that the earbuds use microUSB, not Type-C.
Tasker can read JSON data and web pages in latest beta
Bringing the power of the internet to phone automation
Tasker is one of the most popular automation tools on Android, allowing you to perform multiple actions on your phone or tablet automatically or by pressing a single button. The app is now receiving two important features that make it easier to integrate Tasker tasks with web services: HTML and JSON parsing.
Google released the Chromecast with Google TV last year, which uses a modified build of Android TV. The altered software is still compatible with all Android TV apps, but it deviated in a few important ways, including how it handles multiple users. After many people were annoyed by its absence, parental controls are coming to the Google TV platform.
Google says over 100 games will join Stadia in 2021, despite first-party studio closure
FIFA 21, some of the Shantae series, and other titles are on the way
Google revealed earlier this month that it would close its own first-party game studio for Stadia, less than a year after forming it (seemingly forgetting that most games take multiple years to complete). The company said it would focus instead on turning Stadia into a turn-key cloud solution for publishers, as well as releasing more third-party games, and now Google has shared more details about the latter plan.
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Microsoft released its first Android phone back in 2020, the Surface Duo. It's the only modern Android device with two side-by-side displays (not counting the add-on cases for various LG phone), and even though it's still a questionable buy at its new 9 retail price, Microsoft plans to sell it in more regions this year, starting with Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany on February 18.
IMDb TV finally arrives on Android TV, two years after launch
It seemingly can't be installed on anything yet
Amazon launched an ad-supported video streaming service back in 2019, then called IMDb Freedive. The service has continued to expand since then, and was eventually renamed to IMDb TV, but Amazon never released an Android TV application — until now, that is.
The National Park Service has offered mobile apps for some of its national parks in the United States, but maintaining a separate application for each park or landmark probably wasn't the best idea. That's why the NPS has now released a unified app for its parks, allowing you to research and monitor hundreds of landmarks in one place.
Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR review: A great not-smartwatch
Fossil Group updates its hybrid smartwatch with Skagen branding and new styles
Fossil released its first hybrid smartwatch in late 2019, a halfway point between the company's traditional watches and its Wear OS devices. The watch has continued to receive updates since then, and while Fossil hasn't yet developed a full-blown sequel, the company did announce a new variation under its Skagen brand at CES last month.The Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR isn't too different from the existing Fossil hybrid smartwatches, but it is available in more styles and sizes. The software has also matured more since our initial Fossil Hybrid HR review, so we thought it was worth looking at the new model.