Latest Articles
What is pixel binning, and what does it mean for your mobile photography?
Megapixels aren't just about resolution
A few years ago, smartphone cameras were different. In 2017, the Google Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and Apple iPhone 8 had 12(ish)-megapixel sensors powering their rear cameras. Fast-forward to today, and most phones, from the Google Pixel 7 Pro to the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy 23+, have 50-megapixel primary sensors, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra features a 200-megapixel shooter. Apple even got wise, sticking a 48-megapixel primary camera in its newest iPhone 14 Pro.
The Google Pixel Watch picks up a potentially life-saving feature starting today
Fall detection is finally inbound
A couple of weeks ago, 9to5Google spotted code in the Pixel Watch app that seemed to indicate a promised Google Pixel Watch feature would be on its way soon. Now, Google's confirmed that: starting today, Pixel Watch users will see a toggle in the Pixel Watch app to turn on automatic fall detection. Google had previously said the potentially life-saving feature would be available on its smartwatches "this Winter."
Bose released the QuietComfort Earbuds II last year and the QuietComfort 45 headphones the year before, but the company's flagship over-ear ANC headphones, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, are coming up on their fourth birthday in March. According to a recent leak, though, we might be due for a new pair of high-end headphones out of Bose sometime soon(ish).
Android 13 tips and tricks: 10 things you'll want to try out
Upgraded your Pixel phone to Android 13 and wondering what to do next? We've got you.
Android 13 is the latest and greatest iteration of everyone's favorite mobile OS, and it's on Google Pixel phones right now and should roll out soon to devices from Samsung and others. Compared to the major overhaul that was Android 12, the newest Android version is a relatively light release as far as new features go. Still, it features many small updates and tweaks to existing functionality. Here are eight tips and tricks for navigating the latest Android release on your Pixel.
Google shares what to expect from the Pixel Watch app's first update of 2023
Get your bug fixes while they're hot
Like many modern Wear OS watches, Google's own Pixel Watch skips the legacy Wear OS app in favor of a bespoke solution in the Pixel Watch app. The app doesn't do anything special; it's mostly for pairing the watch with your phone and adjusting its settings. Today, Google announced that there's an update available for the Pixel Watch app rolling out and spelled out what it does.
Google Home picks up a new trick for controlling your Xbox
Just make sure you don’t lose your phone in your couch
Consoles like the Xbox Series X aren’t just for gaming anymore — they’re all-in-one entertainment hubs. Microsoft knows that many people stream YouTube videos, watch Netflix shows, and even browse the web on their Xbox, so the company has partnered with Google to bring a handy new remote feature to your smartphone.
Jabra Elite 5 review: Standard-issue earbuds
Competent audio and ANC and all the features you need for $150
Flashy flagships may get the most attention from tech media, but there’s something really satisfying about a product that does everything you need it to and nothing you don’t at a price that seems fair. The Jabra Elite 5 earbuds are just that. They offer good audio and ANC, long battery life, and great call quality, plus several convenient features that make them easier to use, all for a realistic MSRP of $150. I think I’ve found my new favorite midrange earbuds.
Google Photos Locked Folder could soon get a big cloud connectivity upgrade
It seems cloud backup will be opt-in
Almost two years ago, Google Photos introduced a feature called Locked Folder that lets you cordon off photos you might not want showing up in your main view in a separate folder tucked into Photos' Utilities menu. Opening your Locked Folder requires authentication in the form of re-unlocking your phone (hence the name), making it a great way to keep all your private photos private. There's one big flaw, though: photos in your Locked Folder aren't backed up to the cloud, meaning that if you lose your device, you lose the photos. That may be changing soon, though.
Flashy new Google Maps Immersive View shows these five cities like you've never seen them before
Available today, with more cities coming later this year
Back in May, Google announced a slick new feature for Google Maps called Immersive View. It lets you virtually explore a city from a birds-eye, similar to Apple Maps' Flyover. At its Search AI event in Paris today, Google announced that Immersive View is going live starting today in a handful of cities around the world.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 review: Powerful sound at a reasonable price
Not a huge upgrade, but the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are easy to like
OnePlus has largely shed the flagship killer ethos that once made its phones so appealing to Android enthusiasts, but that spirit lives on in its earbuds. Announced alongside the OnePlus 11, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offer robust audio and killer call quality for an upper-midrange price of $179. Their ANC and battery life is only average for this price point, but these earbuds still offer great value.
My Google Pixel 7 Pro has more RAM than my desktop computer. That computer is hardly a pro-level rig — my job is mostly typing — but the point stands: many of the best Android phones have a lot of memory these days. It's not unusual to see 12GB on current Android phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and the highest trim Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, and some phones have 16GB of RAM or more. Each phone in the iPhone 14 series, on the other hand, has 6GB of RAM, but they still perform as well as or better than Android phones with twice as much. How could that be?
Google Pixel Tablet plans get streamlined as latest rumor goes all-in on Pro
We might only get one model after all
Back in September, developer Kuba Wojciechowski shared his finding that the Android 13 QPR1 Beta 1 code contained references to a second model of Google's upcoming Pixel Tablet. At the time, Wojciechowski believed that there were two versions of the Pixel Tablet in development, referred to internally as tangor and tangorpro. Now, he's tweeted that only one of the two will actually make it to market — the pro version.
120 days with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 has been about 99 too many
After four months with a folding phone, I'm eager to go back
As generational improvements in traditional smartphones have slowed, folding phones have seemed to me like a more and more interesting avenue. Outside a Galaxy Z Fold 3 I had access to for about a week, though, I'd never spent much time with one. That is, until last year, when a confluence of deals meant I could get a Galaxy Z Flip 4 at a very appealing price point. But having used the Flip full-time for four straight months now, I'm surprised to find just how eager I am to get back to the world of boring, non-folding phones again.
Amazfit GTS 4 review: Premium price, budget experience
Solid hardware, but this just isn't worth $200
The Amazfit GTS 4 is a strange device. At a retail price of $200, the tracker is positioned as an upper midrange option, competing not only against scores of trackers from market leaders like Fitbit, but also fully-fledged smartwatches. I really like some things about the GTS 4: it’s got an attractive (if familiar) design, and its display is lovely and vibrant. But in the ever more crowded fitness wearable space, that’s probably not enough to justify the GTS 4’s existence, let alone its price.
When you hear "smart speaker," you probably think of companies like Amazon, Google, or maybe Sonos — but Apple's also been making smart speakers in the HomePod series for nearly five years now. The original HomePod was discontinued in 2021 in favor of the smaller, less expensive HomePod Mini, but today, Apple's announced a full-size HomePod sequel. The second-gen HomePod goes for $299, and it's available for pre-order from Apple right now.
Wyze's latest super-cheap camera comes in two unique flavors
The Wyze Cam OG is available today, with either a floodlight or a telephoto lens
Affordable smart home gear maker Wyze just released a new camera in the Wyze Cam Pan v3 last week, but it's got a couple more up its sleeve. Today, Wyze announced the Wyze Cam OG in two distinct flavors: a regular model with a floodlight, and a version with no light, but a 3x telephoto lens instead.
Hey Google: Make your next Chromecast like this
Our realistic hopes for a higher-end Chromecast with Google TV
Yesterday, we learned that there's a new Chromecast with Google TV device in the works. That's pretty much all we know about it: per references found in the code of the latest preview version of the Google Home app, a new Chromecast labeled YTC (consistent with previous Chromecast with Google TV streamers, which are referred to as YTV and YTB) is currently at some stage of development.
It looks like Google is cooking up yet another new Chromecast
Fingers crossed it's a higher-end model
The newest Chromecast, the 1080p Chromecast with Google TV (HD), is only a few months old, but we could be due for another new streaming dongle out of Google in the near future. According to 9to5Google, the latest preview update for Google Home makes reference to a yet-unannounced Chromecast with Google TV device. As for what exactly it could be, there's not much to go on — but we have our theories.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review: Go-anywhere ChromeOS companion
An affordable tablet with a good bundled keyboard? Yes, please
I spent years as a daily ChromeOS user, but I’ve never been sold on Google’s desktop operating system on tablets. Whether on convertible laptops with 360-degree hinges or detachable two-in-ones like the defunct Pixel Slate, I’ve never actually wanted to interact with ChromeOS by touch.
The new Wyze Cam Pan v3 can keep an eye on your entire backyard
It's Wyze's first indoor-outdoor Pan camera, and it's available today
Smart security camera options can get pricey fast, with some of the top options costing $100 or more apiece. Wyze is known for making especially affordable smart home gadgets, though, and today, it's announcing a versatile new connected camera, the Wyze Cam Pan v3. The third iteration in the Pan series offers some serious upgrades at a characteristically Wyze price of just $34.