Latest Articles
Fitbit Charge 6 review: Do you really need a smartwatch?
Quality fitness tracking, more Google than ever
At a time when it seems like dedicated fitness trackers as a category are getting stale, the Fitbit Charge 6 feels surprisingly relevant. The Charge 6 is actually $20 less expensive than the last-gen Charge 5 was, but at an MSRP of $160, it's still approaching cheap smartwatch territory. It also packs in more Google-centric smartwatch-like functionality than Fitbit's previous trackers have, though, with support for both Google Wallet and Google Maps, all while maintaining the multi-day battery life central to the proper fitness tracker experience. If you can get past the tiny, narrow display, there's a lot to like here.
Ultrahuman Ring Air review: A subscription-free Oura alternative
Unobtrusive health tracking without a fee in sight
Smart rings still aren't nearly as ubiquitous as smartwatches or other wrist-based fitness wearables. Still, the category has been slowly and steadily growing since Oura more or less defined it with its first-generation ring nearly a decade ago. The Ring Air is the first smart ring from India-based Ultrahuman, founded in 2019. Compared to the third-generation Oura Ring, the young company's entry into the smart ring market is a little rough and ready. But Ultrahuman's pricing model — a one-time payment with no monthly fee required for full functionality — might make it the smart ring to get for the subscription-averse.
Google Pixel Watch 2 review: The watch we wanted last year
Reliable battery life and improved fitness tracking, wrapped up in a near-identical package
The original Google Pixel Watch was my favorite smartwatch last year, but I've always felt that opinion was against my better judgment. Google's first smartwatch looked fantastic and performed very well, but at a premium price of $350, its weak battery life just took too much babysitting to make it a solid recommendation for most people.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs. Sony WF-1000XM4: The best of the buds?
They're both winners, but for different reasons
Samsung and Sony are two of the most established names in electronics, each making great wireless earbuds. Sony's flagship WF-1000XM4 have been the gold standard for ANC earbuds since they debuted in 2021, but the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have a lot going for them, too — including a more svelte form factor. It's not an easy decision, especially when the Sony buds are on sale (which they often are). Here, we'll try to make your choice a little simpler.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Easy choice
The choice depends almost entirely on the phone you have
Every major device manufacturer offers their take on wireless earbuds to complement the smartphones they offer. Giants in the industry don't get much bigger than Samsung and Apple; both make an array of earbuds to complement their bigger-ticket devices, and each provides a Pro model for the most discerning listeners.
The Google Pixel Tablet is Google's first new tablet hardware since 2018. First teased at Google I/O 2022 and released nearly a year later in June 2023, the tablet is bundled with a charging dock that helps it act as a smart display while keeping its battery topped up. There's a lot to wrap your head around with this hybrid device, and we're here to help. Here's what you need to know about the Pixel Tablet.
The Pixel 8's new exposure controls make taking good photos harder
Pixel Camera ditches the exposure controls we've had since 2019, and I really miss them
The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have been out for a couple of weeks now, and most of us here at AP like them quite a bit. True to the Pixel lineage, Google's newest phones are extremely competent pocket cameras, debuting the latest Pixel Camera app that introduces some sorely needed organization to Google's myriad camera features. But the new Google camera experience also changes the way exposure controls work, and even after hundreds of photos, I'm still not on board.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro vs. Google Pixel Buds Pro: Which premium buds are best for you?
Two of the biggest names in Android have Pro earbuds, and we're comparing them here
In the world of wireless earbuds, there are many brands vying to be the undisputed champion of premium, noise canceling sound. Samsung and Google each have incredible options, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Google’s Pixel Buds Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro vs. Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: Old school meets modern minimalism
Are premium materials and a bigger battery enough reason to drop hundreds on the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro?
Even though the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic has been released, deals can still be found on older Samsung smartwatches that will save you a few dollars.
5 things we'd change about the Pixel Watch 2
It's a good watch, but there's clear room for improvement
Google's Pixel Watch 2 is one of our favorite Wear OS watches. It's not much different from the first generation, but it's got a uniquely Google look, and with more reliable battery life than the original, the second-gen Pixel Watch is easier to recommend to more people. But there are still things we'd change about Google's newest watch if we could. Here are five things about the Pixel Watch 2 we hope Google fixes in its next smartwatch.
How to cancel Fitbit Premium on your Google Pixel Watch
Ditch the Daily Readiness Score and save yourself 10 bucks a month
Google-owned Fitbit still sells great standalone fitness trackers, but the Google Pixel Watch was the first Wear OS smartwatch to hit the market with Fitbit integration built in. And now the recently launched Google Pixel Watch 2 follows suit. The watch also comes with a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium, a paid offering that unlocks additional content and functionality. If you're a Fitbit fanatic, you might want to keep that subscription active, but the $10 monthly fee might be steep for some people. Here's how to cancel Fitbit Premium.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of two fully fledged smartwatches to feature Fitbit integration. With a name like Fitbit behind its health tracking, you'd be right to expect the Pixel Watch 2 to be a capable fitness tracker in its own right — and generally speaking, it is. Serious athletes might want something a little more purpose-built, but the Pixel Watch 2 does track exercise, sleep, stress, and more. With considerably improved battery life compared to the original Pixel Watch, the second-gen model is a good fitness tracker for most people.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was one of 2022's best Android phones. It brought back the Galaxy Note design that had been missing in action for over a year. The boxy design and S Pen were hallmarks of the Note range for a long time, but can it truly take over the legacy of the Note 20 Ultra, or is this just a pretender to the throne?
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: All about the battery
Two second-gen Google wearables, head to head
Both the Google Pixel Watch 2 and its predecessor come with built-in Fitbit health tracking, but Google-owned Fitbit still makes and sells its own dedicated fitness trackers. The Fitbit Sense 2 is Fitbit's latest premium tracker, coming in at a spendy $300 MSRP. The Pixel Watch 2 and the Fitbit Sense 2 share similar health-tracking hardware and use the same Fitbit app, and with similar pricing between the two, it might not be easy to tell at a glance which is right for you. We're here to help.
How to set up Emergency SOS and Fall Detection on your Google Pixel Watch
Take advantage of the Pixel Watch's safety features
Google recently launched the Google Pixel Watch 2, one of the best Android smartwatches due to its fantastic suite of features and charming profile. It is more or less the same as the first-generation Pixel Watch. The biggest upgrade is the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chipset. Apart from Google Assistant integration and Google's exclusive watch faces, you also get new fitness tracking hardware in the form of the continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor. This helps the Pixel Watch 2 approximate stress levels and gives it a skin temperature sensor.
5 ways the Google Pixel Watch 2 is better than the original
They may look identical, but the second-gen watch packs a handful of upgrades
Along with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Google finally, officially announced the sequel to its first smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2, at its Made by Google event in New York. We had the opportunity to try the watch out, and our main takeaway from the brief time we spent with it was that it's very similar to the first-gen model. But there are a handful of objective upgrades here, even if they're not obvious. Here are the biggest generation-to-generation improvements.
Google Pixel Watch 2 hands-on: Spot the difference
The hardware seems fine (and familiar) — but I still wonder about battery life
Google announced its newest crop of Pixel hardware today in New York: the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2 are all available for preorder right now. I had about an hour to play around with the new Pixel Watch this morning, and it's... really similar to the first-generation Pixel Watch. I never had a problem with the Pixel Watch's hardware, so that's fine in my book — but I'm really hoping for meaningful improvement in one particular area that Google couldn't show off in a demo.
After months of leaks, rumors, and official teasers, Google has finally, formally unveiled the Pixel Watch 2. We knew a lot of what to expect before the official announcement, and the rumors were largely true: the Pixel Watch 2 looks nearly identical to the first Pixel Watch, sports a handful of under-the-hood improvements, and costs the same $350. Here's everything you need to know about it.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is exactly what you'd expect, and it's coming very soon
Also: Galaxy Buds FE are official
It's a big week for Android. As many enthusiasts are looking ahead to Google's upcoming Pixel hardware, Samsung has quietly announced a new batch of FE devices. The company's FE line — short for Fan Edition — features stripped-back versions of existing devices, offered at lower prices. The biggest news of the day is probably the $600 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, but that's not all Samsung announced today. We're also getting the first-ever FE-branded Galaxy Buds, plus not one, but two tablets: the Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+.
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni robot vacuum review: Low maintenance, high price
It's expensive, but the Deebot X2 Omni is one heck of a robo-vac
If you haven't been following it closely, you could be forgiven for not knowing that the smart vacuum space has gotten crowded in the past few years. Companies like iRobot, Roborock, and Dreametech release new models at a breakneck pace, with new, high-quality smart vacuums and mops hitting the market at what seems like a monthly cadence.