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Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: This could be the best phone of 2020
$600 buys a whole lot of phone here
Samsung's top-end phones are getting more and more expensive at an alarming rate, as evidenced by the fact that very few people bought an S20 during the series's launch window. Seeing the gap to fill between bargain-bin budget phones and outright luxury devices, this week, Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition. It costs $700 (currently $600 on sale), and it packs a ton of features we're used to seeing in flagships with very few compromises. This might just be the best phone of the year.
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Last year, back before Google was conspicuously trying to cut costs in its phones, the Pixel 4 included a chip called the Pixel Neural Core. The special hardware ostensibly helped with a number of tasks like machine learning and always-on listening. But a look at the Pixel 5's spec sheet shows the Neural Core is nowhere to be found.
The Pixel 5 isn't even out yet, and Samsung already beat it
The Snapdragon 865-equipped Galaxy S20 FE is launching weeks earlier at the same price
Today, Google officially announced the extremely leaked Pixel 5. It's a lovely device with a very cool green colorway option, and as an unrepentant Google hardware fan, I'm struggling against the urge to buy it. Honestly, there's only one thing stopping me: the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, launching early next month, is the exact same price at $699. And on paper, it's a much better value.
Google's $99 Nest Audio is official and available for pre-order right now
Google says it delivers 50 percent more bass than the original Home
Like practically everything else at today's Launch Night In event, Google's new speaker, the Nest Audio, was leaked extremely thoroughly. We learned the name early and we had a good idea of the $99 price tag weeks ago. It's turned up in stores, and it even got an early unboxing. But now, finally, it's official.
With the Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung looks poised to eat OnePlus's lunch
This phone is going to clean up in the US at $699
Samsung makes a lot of affordable phones in its A series, but its flagships have become notoriously pricey — case in point, the uber-premium Note20 Ultra starts at $1,300. Today, at its Unpacked for Every Fan event, Samsung is officially announcing a sort of middle ground in the Galaxy S20 FE, a surprisingly well-equipped device at a refreshingly fair price. OnePlus better watch out.
Sony's new flagship phone actually looks kind of good
...And it's very expensive and won't launch with Android 11
Last month, we saw an extensive leak about the Sony Xperia 5 II, an upcoming flagship that looked more or less like a smaller Xperia 1 II. Now, the company's gone and made it official: the Xperia 5 II will be available later this year for $950.
This year's OnePlus 8 Pro is a flagship phone, full stop. It's also the most expensive device OnePlus has ever made, starting at $900. What's more, the version with 12 gigs of RAM and 256 of storage (up from the eight and 128 of the base model) is usually a cool grand. But right now, you can get this most excellent cellular telephone for $900 on Amazon, $99 off MSRP.In the 8 Pro, OnePlus didn't pull any punches: it's got every spec you could ask for in a modern high-end phone, including a 120Hz display, 5G, and long-requested fan-favorite features like wireless charging and IP-rated water resistance (finally). All those fancy-sounding components and big numbers translate to cost, though. And while $900 is still expensive, savings are savings. Use your leftover scratch to order some nice takeout.
The wonderfully compact Samsung Galaxy S10e is $400 ($350 off) on eBay
A great one-handed phone for a great price
The conversation about affordable small phones has been centered around the Pixel 4a and iPhone SE in recent months, but there are other options. Last year's 5.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S10e is a well-equipped little fella, and you can currently get a brand new one for $400 — well under MSRP — from Microsoft on eBay.
Get a Stadia Premiere Edition bundle with a controller and Chromecast Ultra for $90 ($10 off)
Discounts on Stadia hardware are still relatively rare
You technically don't have to buy any hardware to start playing Stadia: you can use a mouse and keyboard on a desktop or laptop, and even touch controls on mobile. But to get the best TV experience, you'll need both a Chromecast Ultra and a first-party Stadia controller. If that's an upgrade you've been considering, now's a good time: the Premiere Edition bundle that includes both is $10 off on the Google Store.
Mesh Wi-Fi is a game changer in environments where a single router just isn't cutting it, and there aren't many systems more user-friendly than Nest Wifi. A set with one router and two satellite points will normally run you $349, but today, Woot's got a rare deal on the three-pack: it's $280, down $69.
Aukey's surprisingly capable B60 Bluetooth earbuds are down to $17 ($23 off)
Great comfort and USB-C charging for a pittance
You're probably aware that Aukey makes all kinds of charging accessories, but the company makes some pretty capable audio gear, too. Consider, if you will, the B60 earbuds: they're not flashy, but they tick a lot of boxes, and you can get a pair for a measly $17 today on Amazon, $23 under the normal going rate.I reviewed the B60 early last year, and while I wasn't blown away by the sound quality, I was struck by how comfortable they are thanks to their soft silicone stabilizing fins. And they charge with USB-C, which is far from a given at this price point. You'll also get IPX6 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.0, and a respectable seven or so hours of playback on a charge.
The Crew 2 will be free to play for Stadia Pro subscribers this weekend
And don't forget to redeem September's free games, including Hitman and Hello Neighbor
Google kicked off Stadia's Free Play Days program last month with an event that let Pro subscribers play looter-shooter Borderlands 3 free for four days. Later this week, subscribers can enjoy limited-time access to open-world racing title The Crew 2, free of charge.
Marvel's Avengers: Deluxe Edition is available on Stadia right now
$20 extra for early access and some costumes
Crystal Dynamics's superhero action-adventure title Marvel's Avengers is available on Stadia right now. Well, the Deluxe Edition is, at least — it'll run you $79.99. Your extra 20 bucks gets you access to the game several days early, plus a fancy black-and-gold costume for each playable hero. The standard edition will be available Friday, September 4.
Philips makes some of the best smart lighting you can get in its Hue line, but the it's generally more expensive than options from competing outfits like Lifx and GE. If you're in the Philips ecosystem and you don't mind getting some bulbs that aren't brand new, today is a good chance to stock up: Woot's got refurbished Hue products for up to $50 off MSRP.
Charging accessory powerhouse Anker has a bunch of fresh deals on power bricks and USB cables in a one-day Amazon sale today. You can save up to $12 on an assortment of items that'll keep your gadgets going, including a 65-watt USB-C charger that comes with swappable international plugs — for whenever that's useful again.The aforementioned 65-watt charger, pictured above, is usually $39.99, but today, you can grab it for $27.99, a savings of $12. There's also a super cheap 10,000 mAh power bank and a very nice price on a car charger with two USB-C ports. See the full list of deals below.
Sony Xperia 5 II leak points to Snapdragon 865, 120Hz display, and headphone jack
The official reveal should be next month
The Sony Xperia 5 was announced last September. It was more or less a mini Xperia 1. Right on schedule, we're starting to see leaks about Sony's next small flagship, the Xperia 5 II — and surprise of surprises, it hews pretty closely to this year's Xperia 1 II, just in a smaller package.
Get a 512GB microSD card for $68 ($17 off) in one-day PNY storage sale
Or a 20-pack of 16-gigabyte cards for 40 bucks
You need storage? We've got storage. Well, we don't, but Amazon does, and we're telling you about it. In today's one-day sale, a bunch of PNY memory products are on sale, including a big honkin' 512-gig card for $68, $17 less than it usually is. There are also deals on smaller cards, as well as flash drives, RAM, and other such things.The half-terabyte card is probably the star here, but there are other noteworthy deals, too, including a 20-pack (yes, a twenty-pack) of 16-gig cards for $39.99, which shakes out to a measly two dollars per card. The full list of deals follows:
The Pixel 4a is an incredible phone, and not just for the money. With an incredible camera, a new design that feels much more modern, and amazing battery life, Google really did knock it out of the park with its new budget Pixel. Seriously: this is a damn good phone. But we wouldn't be proper phone nerds if we didn't nitpick, and there are a few areas where we think Google could take the Pixel 4a from a 9.5 to a perfect 10 in our book. Here are five additional features we'd have loved to see in the Pixel 4a.
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GeForce Now, Nvidia's PC-based cloud gaming platform, is available in beta on Chromebooks beginning today. The service was already playable on PC, Mac, and Android — but Chrome OS, an environment known for both low-power hardware and a lack of high-end games, had previously been a particularly glaring omission. Now, practically any old Chrome laptop can fire up some of the most demanding games out there (provided it's got a strong internet connection).
Samsung Galaxy A21 review: Large device, small price
A 6.5" screen for $250, but performance leaves something to be desired
Samsung is best known for its big, powerful, and obscenely expensive phones. But what does $250 buy you in the Galaxy lineup these days? Getting your head wrapped around Samsung's budget offerings is an understandably difficult task given their confusing naming scheme and year over year model refreshes, but the Galaxy A21 is one of the latest price-conscious phones from the Korean manufacturer. It's available on a number of US carriers now, including Boost, which is the version of the phone we reviewed. While the A21 offers a large screen and decent battery life, the phone's overall performance and cameras (for the price) should give budget-conscious big-phone enthusiasts pause.