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Zach Laidlaw-

Zach Laidlaw

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About Zach Laidlaw

Zach is an experienced writer, self-proclaimed tech addict, and hobbyist gamer. Throughout his career, he's worked for Samsung and Apple, giving him a broad view of the mobile tech landscape at large. To learn more, connect on Twitter @ztlaidlaw

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Every year, new phones, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets take centerstage as the highlight gifts of the holiday season. Amid the excitement of receiving a new handset, it's easy to forget that all of these devices need one thing in order to be of any value: power. Give the gift of a full charge with the Jackery Explorer 240 Power Station for 4.99 ( off) plus a Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel for 5.99 ( off), on sale today only on Amazon.The Jackery Explorer 240 Power Station is a compact power bank that is engineered to be portable without compromising on function. It includes a 240 watt-hour (16.8Ah, 14.4V) lithium-ion battery pack that excels at charging everything from phones, to tablets, to laptops, and even mini coolers. Power is delivered via an integrated AC outlet (110V, 200W-400W peak), 2 USB-A ports, or DC car port, ensuring you always have access to a charge, whether you're camping in the wilderness, fishing at your favorite lake, or touring the country in your RV.

The Android tablet ecosystem isn't nearly as vibrant as Apple's, but that hasn't stopped companies like Samsung from trying to make it work for them. The South Korean giant has honed the tablet experience (within Android's limitations), and now you can reap the rewards. Pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 for an all-time low of 8 (2 off) right now on Amazon.The Galaxy Tab S4 features a 10.5" Super AMOLED display, a mighty S Pen, DeX for productivity, and Dolby Atmos for cinematic surround sound. When we reviewed the device last year, one of our biggest gripes was the inflated price tag, a barrier that's ultimately eliminated by today's discount. However, keep in mind that each color and storage option for the Tab S4 results in variable savings; if you want the cheapest model, you'll have to reach for the Tab S4 with 64GB in black.

While 4K televisions have started to become the viewing standard of households everywhere, these gorgeous windows into infinite entertainment aren't created equal. You'll need plenty of cash if you want a premium visual experience, the latest audio technology, and a huge display — that is, unless you find a great deal. Today, you can pick up a TCL 8 Series Smart TV 65" for ,599.99 (0 off) or 75" for ,599.99 (0 off) at Best Buy.

It's been nearly a year since the stock investment and cryptocurrency company Robinhood paused its launch of no-fees checking and savings accounts. It was forced to make changes after mistakenly claiming that its industry-leading 3% interest rates were insured by the SIPC. Now, Robinhood is finally announcing plans to move forward with a revamped version called Cash Management.

Sure, the Note10 and Note10+ are undoubtedly at the top of many wishlists this holiday season, but the Note9 is still a fantastic device in its own right. Last year's Samsung flagship is especially enticing when you can snatch one up for almost half off its original price. For a limited time, grab a brand new Galaxy Note9 128GB for 9.99 (0 off) or a Galaxy Note9 512GB for 9.99 (0 off) on eBay.

Everyone loves to have intrusive audio ads break up their playlists, which is why you're going to be thrilled with what Pandora's got up its record sleeve. The music streaming service is testing out a new interactive ad format. Instead of playing randomly without knowing if the user is paying attention or not, ads would prompt listeners to respond with simple "yes" or "no" voice commands.

Although we're now weeks beyond Black Friday, the holiday shopping season is still very much in full swing, and there are plenty of great deals to be had. To prove it, Anker has unleashed a swath of discounts on its Soundcore Bluetooth speakers, wireless headphones, and more for up to 45% off via Amazon. You'll have to act fast, though, because these deals are only available until the end of the day.For those in the market for Bluetooth speakers, the Anker Soundcore 2 and Soundcore Motion+ both include an IPX7 waterproof rating and extended playback on a single charge, making them great for outdoor adventures. The Soundcore Flare and Flare+ both feature 360-degree sound and ambient LEDs for a more immersive experience. Then there's the SoundCore Pro+ that boasts big bass packed into a portable design.

Sometimes, the best places to sit back and kick up the music are also a bit perilous for fragile electronics. Whether you're heading to the beach, hiking a nearby trail, or taking a float trip downstream, you're going to need a rugged Bluetooth speaker that can withstand the journey ahead. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 for just .99 ( off) on Amazon and other retailers was built to endure all of these challenging environments and more.The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is a portable wireless Bluetooth speaker featuring 360-degree sound that can be amplified via an outdoor boost function. Its chassis is rated at IP67, making it waterproof and dustproof, plus its lightweight build is even engineered to float, just in case your speaker falls into a pool, lake, or stream. Finally, a hefty 13-hour battery means you can keep your tunes rolling all day long without running out of juice.

Two humanoid phones high fiving each other with RCS feature icons in the background

To say the rollout of Rich Communication Services (RCS) has been a slog is one of the biggest understatements of the decade. Google bit the bullet and started to roll out RCS on its own with the promise of widespread availability by the end 2019. This week, Google is delivering on that promise by extending RCS to US Android devices via a Carrier Services update.

When you think of owning a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, big brand names with $300+ price tags probably come to mind. Luckily, you don't have to pay these tolls to get a great audio experience. Case in point: You can pick up a pair of Anker Soundcore Life Q20 wireless active noise-cancelling headphones for as low as .99 ( off) on Amazon.The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 feature 40 mm dynamic drivers with memory foam ear cups and headband for premium sound and comfort. A uniquely tuned active noise-cancelling algorithm targets low and mid-frequency noises — like those made by cars and airplanes — to reduce ambient sounds by up to 90%. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 can keep the tunes rolling for up to 40 hours between charges in active noise-cancellation mode, and 60 hours in regular mode. If you're low on juice, a quick 5-minute charge will give the headphones 4 hours of additional playback time.

It's not too terribly difficult to find a new unlocked phone for sale, but many of the deals that come across our desks commonly only run on GSM networks, leaving a lot to be desired for the CDMA users of the world. Today, though, you're in luck. Motorola is currently selling an unlocked version of the Moto G7 with Alexa Push-to-Talk support for as low as 9.99 ( off) on Amazon.This Amazon-exclusive version of the Moto G7 Play includes a 5.7" HD+ display, Snapdragon 632 processor, 3,000 mAh battery, and either 32GB or 64GB of storage. It comes pre-installed with an array of Amazon apps, such as Amazon Music, Audible, and Amazon Shopping. You'll also get Push-to-Talk support powered by Alexa. As we mentioned above, these Moto G7 Play phones are unlocked and can run on both GSM and CDMA networks, including Verizon, AT&T, T–Mobile, Sprint, and Boost.

Earlier this week, Nokia held its anticipated Nokia Mobile Live event in Cairo, Egypt to discuss its hardware and software efforts for the immediate future. In addition to unveiling the new Nokia 2.3 smartphone, the once-prolific phone manufacturer officially released Android 10 for the 9 PureView and provided an update on the OS roadmap for its newest devices.

Despite Google's efforts to turn Wear OS into a viable wearable platform, Samsung arguably offers the best smartwatch operating system and hardware available for Android users today. If you've been holding out on getting a watch of your own, or you've been waiting for the perfect time to upgrade, now's your chance to pounce. Select versions of Samsung's Galaxy Active2 smartwatch are available for $50 off right now on Amazon and Best Buy.When we reviewed the Galaxy Active2 in early October, we couldn't get enough of how buttery smooth the software experience felt. Powered by Tizen OS, Samsung's proprietary operating system outmaneuvers Wear OS in nearly every way, from speed, to a unique touch bezel, and even multi-day battery life. The watch materials feel premium, too. Our biggest gripe was actually the hefty price tag, which this deal greatly alleviates by bringing it closer to the $200 pricing of the original Galaxy Active.

Despite the many things the new Pixel 4 phones do well, one of their more criticized qualities has to be the price tag. Early adopters have grown used to shelling out hundreds of dollars on launch day just to be scorned by steep discounts one month later. If you were't able to grab a Pixel 4 on Black Friday, you're in luck, because you can pick one up on eBay for only 9 (0 off) right now.

In addition to the awesome Google Nest Hub with Nest Mini bundle that you can still grab on the Google Store and at other retailers for $79 ($99 off), Google is extending more savings to its entire family of Nest products. Right now, you can snag a free Nest Hub with the purchase of a Nest Hello doorbell for $229 ($129 off) or get a free Nest Mini when you buy any Nest item for $99 or more.

With your inbox inundated by plenty of promotional deals, coupons, and order confirmations from the Black Friday weekend, you may have missed the extra little gift Google floated your way last Monday. Right now, select users can save $10 on their next Google Store online purchase, but they only have until the end of 2019 to redeem it. Here's what you need to do to see if you're eligible for these savings.

If you're in the market for a new smart display or speaker – and this awesome Google Nest bundle doesn't tickle your fancy – Amazon is basically running its own version of the same deal for its Echo line of products. Right now on Amazon, you can pick up a brand new Echo Show 8 with Echo Dot bundle for just .99 (.99 off), which is the price of an Echo Show 8 all by its lonesome.Headlining this bundle is the Echo Show 8, which features an 8" HD display, video calling and messaging support, and Amazon Photos album integration that can turn the Show into an active picture frame. You'll also get the newest third generation Echo Dot, which boasts improved speaker quality over the previous version and hands-free calling, all wrapped in an elegant fabric design. Since these are Echo products, you'll be able to carry out tasks using Alexa voice commands, such as getting the weather forecast, playing a specific song, and more.

If you've been waiting for the perfect time to outfit your home with a smart hub and smart speaker, you may not find a better deal than this one. Right now, you can pick up a brand new Google Nest Hub and a Google Nest Mini for just ( off), or the price of the discounted Hub all by itself.

If you didn't grab some of Mobvoi's smart products when they went on sale last week for Black Friday, you're getting another chance. Right now over on Amazon, you can pick up a pair of TicPods Free wireless earbuds for just $49.99 ($80 off).The TicPods Free are true wireless Bluetooth earbuds that boast clear audio, a IPX5 rating for dust and waterproof protection, and two sizes of silicone ear tips to get the perfect fit. Battery life is rated at 4 hours on a single charge, plus 14 hours of extra juice are stored away in the rechargeable carrying case. They also come with touch controls to change songs, or a long-press to the right earbud will summon your voice assistant.

When you hear the word ”smartwatch,” the last name that probably comes to mind is PUMA. Despite all other major athletic brands having thrown their weight behind wearable tech — like the Under Armour Samsung Galaxy Watch, Nike Apple Watch, and Adidas Fitbit Ionic — PUMA has remained out of the wearables race… that is until the PUMA Smartwatch made its debut at IFA 2019 as the newest Fossil partner. I’ve been wearing the PUMA-branded Wear OS device for the last two weeks, and there are some things you should know before strapping one around your wrist.

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