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Out with the old, in with the new: LineageOS cut support for Android 9 Pie earlier this year, and to make up for the loss, the open-source project has just released version 18.1 based on Android 11. It comes with official support for about 60 phones and tablets.

LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM in existence, and the project prides itself on bringing newer versions of Android to unsupported devices. However, Lineage has been a bit slow to roll out a version based on Android 10 ⁠— the Pie-based ROM was already available by this time last year. Thankfully, the next major version of LineageOS seems to be just around the corner.

ASUS announced the ROG Phone II earlier this year, and it is truly a beast of a smartphone, featuring up to 1TB of storage, a Snapdragon 855 Plus, 12GB of RAM, and a 120Hz display. With the September launch date inching closer, the company is sharing which games will support the high-refresh-rate screen, plus a couple more that barely surpass 60fps.

The LineageOS project just keeps on trucking. Since the last time we covered the most popular custom ROM around, it has added six more phones to the device roster, including the original Razer Phone and the Asus Zenfone 6.

The original Razer Phone received widespread praise when it was released in late 2017, mostly thanks to its then-unique 120Hz screen. However, Razer hasn't done a great job with long-term support, as the device is still running Android Oreo with a year-old security patch. Thankfully for those of you who bought the device, Razer has finally confirmed that a Pie update for the OG Razer Phone will arrive soon.

The Razer Phone 2 was released in October of last year, and if you enjoy playing games on the go, it's not a bad phone. However, it did ship with Android 8.1 Oreo, even though Pie was released two months prior. Razer has now announced that Android 9.0 will start rolling out to the phone next week.

Razer's second phone, creatively named "Razer Phone 2," has been on the market for a couple of months now. Our review showed that it's a good device overall, with many improvements over the original Razer Phone. It's now available at a $100 discount from Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft, and Newegg, bringing the price down to $699.99.The Razer Phone 2 sports a 5.72" 1440p 120Hz LCD (in a now-rare 16:9 aspect ratio), a Snapdragon 845, 8GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, dual 12MP rear cameras, an 8MP front-facing camera, and a 4,000mAh battery. We enjoyed the 120Hz display, the dual front-facing speakers, and the RGB logo, though we did note that the display is a bit dim, the camera is still merely okay, and the design can be uncomfortable for some. This phone excels in many areas, though it does have a niche audience.You can find the Razer Phone 2 for $699.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft, and Newegg. We're not 100% sure when the sale will end at every retailer, though Newegg's site says that it'll expire on Monday. Hit the source links below if you're interested.Source: Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft, Newegg

For many, a phone is a black box filled with apps, connectivity, and no small part of modern tech magic. But for the technically inclined (like enthusiasts and developers), the intricate operations that keep us knee-deep in apps and services are well understood, and access to specifics like kernel sources and factory images helps tremendously when it comes to rooting, ROMing, and device-targeted development. So it's a good thing Razer pushed out both factory images and kernel sources for its most recent flagship, the Razer Phone 2.

It's not easy to turn heads in the mobile industry in 2018. At best, we see new handsets come out to critical acclaim but also a sense of stifled boredom. Maybe it is the best of its kind yet, but so what? Apart from the fact that it ticks every box, what does it bring to the table that's new? Fortunately, for those of us seeking something different (if a bit quirky), Razer has decided to get into the mobile market. The gaming hardware company is now on its second generation smartphone, the Razer Phone 2, and it's staying true to its original vision: a handset for elite mobile gamers. This puts the device in an interesting position. It's vying to be a luxury product — so it should not only compete with the best but somehow achieve more. That's where the 120Hz refresh rate display comes in, and the RGB light-up logo.

Google's ARCore team just rolled out a new update that appears to bring the augmented reality framework to several more phones and tablets. Some hot new (and upcoming) devices are on the list, like the Galaxy Note9, OnePlus 6T, and ROG Phone. These are also joined by some older models like the Sony Xperia X.

Razer making a smartphone? A few years back the idea would have sounded positively nutty, but last year brought us the surprising debut of the first-gen Razer Phone, a solidly equipped Android gaming handset with an extra-high-refresh-rate display. A follow-up device sure seems like a sensible enough idea, and earlier this month we received confirmation that Razer was planning just such a smartphone. Today we start learning about how it will debut, as Razer sends out save-the-dates for an October 10 event.

With this year's IFA expo now squarely behind us, it's finally time for a return to some modicum of normalcy. As we shake off the jet lag and catch up with everything else that's been going on, we're taking a look back at some of the best tech deals to surface over the course of the last week. And whether you're in the market for a new phone, some old home-entertainment hardware, or just a few accessories, we've got you covered.

With confirmation that a second Razer Phone is in the works, it's not surprising to see the current one dropping in price. Razer is currently offering its first-generation Razer Phone for just $399.99, a full $300 off MSRP, with a coupon code.

It's been over twenty months since Razer acquired Nextbit, but the gaming hardware manufacturer has made good use of this time. It released the Razer Phone last November and got applauded for its 120Hz display and high-end specs. A second generation phone was pretty much a given — it only makes sense to use the Nextbit acquisition and talent to build more mobile hardware — and now it's been confirmed.

Prime Day keeps on trucking, and there are definitely some Android-related deals to pay attention to. If you're looking for a Razer Phone, then this is a good time to grab one. Amazon is currently selling them for $524.65, a nice $175.35 off MSRP.The Razer Phone packs a 5.7" 1440p IPS LCD display with an awesome 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 835, 8GB of RAM, a 4,000mAh battery, 12MP+12MP rear and 8MP front cameras, and a clean Android 8.1 software experience. On paper, it's not a bad phone, though even at this price, it's still in OnePlus 6 territory.Prime Day goes until midnight PST tomorrow, July 17, so if you've had your eye on a Razer Phone, now's the time to act. Hit up the source link below to get started.Source: Amazon

Razer launched its first smartphone last year following the acquisition of Nextbit. However, the Razer Phone had a few issues at launch, including a mediocre camera. It's getting better, but it's far from being the best. As part of improving its camera performance, Razer is rolling out a new update today that adds a portrait mode, plus there are new security patches and other goodies.

Since release, the Razer Phone has been available from Amazon, Razer's online store, and Microsoft. If you want to try one before buying, your only option was to hunt down a Microsoft store and hope they had a display unit. Now the device is available from another retailer - Best Buy.

The Razer Phone is one of the few devices that caters to developers and enthusiasts with an unlockable bootloader, factory images, and so on. It was stuck on Nougat until recently, though. Razer just started pushing the Oreo 8.1 update, but you don't have to wait on the OTA. There are already factory images available for download, and the kernel source is out.

Razer's first smartphone came out last year, and no surprise, it was marketed as a "gaming" phone. I don't know how you have a gaming phone without RGB LEDs, but I digress. If you've been on the fence about the Razer Phone, now may be the time to pick it up thanks to the new $100 discount. That drops the price to $599.99.

Late last month, Razer released an Oreo preview build for the Razer Phone, with the final release slated to arrive in mid to late April. Well, we're now solidly in the territory of mid to late April, and Razer has kept its word. The company has also announced that the Razer Phone is now available at Best Buy.

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