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AdGuard: Get Rid of annoying ads and protect your device from malware

AG Deals Team
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Few things are as bothersome as navigating to a website to read something and having to deal with an obnoxious advertisement pop up on the screen, disrupting your viewing session. Even worse is when they’re accompanied by a loud video that starts playing on its own.

We’ve all been there before and we know what a pain in the butt it can be. If you’re tired of dealing with these sort of intrusions and interruptions, we have something for you to check out.

An AdGuard Family Plan, available in the AG Deals Store for just $30 right now, is your ticket to a cleaner and safer web experience.

Known by some as the “world’s most advanced ad blocker,” AdGuard not only prevents those annoying and intrusive ads from getting in the way of web browsing, it also features tools to keep trackers and malware at bay. Furthermore, there are other options for parents who may want to ensure their children aren’t accessing certain websites.

AdGuard Family Plan Features

  • Get rid of annoying banners, pop-ups & video ads once and for all
  • Hide your data from the multitude of trackers & activity analyzers that swarm the web
  • Avoid fraudulent & phishing website and malware attacks
  • Protect your kids online by restricting them from accessing inappropriate & adult content
  • Length of access: lifetime
  • Max number of devices: 9
  • Access options: desktop & mobile

AdGuard works on mobile devices (iOS 10.1+ and Android 5.0+) and laptop or desktop computers; your license will protect up to nine devices as part of the plan.

SEE: Benefits of ad blockers (Promoted)

AdGuard’s ad blocker software has received high marks from a variety of tech websites, including Trustpilot and G2 rates who give it a 4.7 and 4.6, respectively.

Sign Up Today!

Head to the AG Deals Store to learn more about the great offer on AdGuard Family Plan and to purchase your lifetime license. Valued at $129, we’re offering it to readers for just $29.99 right now, a 76% savings!

This quadcopter drone snaps 4K images and 2K video

AndroidGuys
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Drones and quadcopters can make for fun toys and hours of enjoyment, but they can also serve a practical purpose, too. More and more photographers and videographers are adding them to their gear. Why? Because they can capture aerial footage in a way that standard cameras and ladders cannot.

Not only are these quadcopters getting more impressive, they’re also getting less expensive with each generation. Take the EXO X7 Ranger 4K Dynamic Camera Drone, for instance, which features a 4K camera which provides a bird’s eye view of the world in a pint-sized design. And right now you can buy one on sale for just $278, a savings of 14% off the retail price.

EXO X7 Ranger 4K Dynamic Camera Drone Features

  • Safety auto return. With built-in GPS location, Ranger knows its exact take-off point
  • Dual camera. More dynamic range, brighter colors, & a soft look
  • Amazing camera control. 120° camera tilt lets you shoot different aerial shots
  • 720p Live-Feed. With an HD instant live feed, your eyes get to see straight from the drone’s camera
  • Interchangeable batteries. Come prepared & fly with batteries the provide 25 minutes flight each
  • Smooth, crisp video. X7 Ranger partnered with Sony to get you a 2K video camera
  • A drone that handles like a dream. Ranger will hover completely steady & fly no problem in 18-20mph gusts of wind

Power, image quality, simplicity – EXO Drones embodied everything into this affordable camera drone for anybody. X7 Ranger partnered with Sony to get you a 2K video camera, with a 1/3 in-camera sensor and a 3 axis gimbal. That means a more dynamic range, brighter colors, and a soft look. 

The 120° camera tilt lets you shoot bird-eye shots, all the way through skyline shots. Zoom it up to 50X (digitally) and watch it all play out from the app. With built-in GPS location, Ranger knows its exact take-off point. 

Order Yours!

The tiny, handheld EXO X7 Ranger 4K Camera Drone is an awesome toy and a practical tool for recreational and professional use. For a limited time, you can get the starter pack of the drone for $278 in the AG Deals Store, a 14 percent discount.

Skullcandy announces its next generation of wireless audio

Andrew Allen
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Skullcandy has been a longtime player in audio accessories. The company has just announced its latest generation of wireless earbuds with a laundry list of new features. This includes two new wireless earbuds and a new suite of tech from Skullcandy.

Say hello to Skull-IQ

The premier feature of both of these devices is Skull-IQ. This new hands-free technology allows you to interact with your headphones via voice only. Think of it as a mini-Google Assistant built into the Skullcandy earbuds.

This AI tech includes helpful voice commands to control volume, moving tracks, and calling your contacts. Using the hotword phrase of “Hey Skullcandy” you can then use the acceptable commands to follow like: “volume up” “volume down” or “call Mom”.

Skullcandy is the first to enable voice control of Spotify Tap thanks to Skull-iQ technology. This new software integration from Spotify allows you to use similar voice combinations to launch your favorite playlist, podcast, or artist directly from the earbuds.

Grind Fuel

You can’t have a new tech without great hardware to pair it with. The Grind Fuel aims to bring you that with a premium listening experience for $100. Skullcandy packed these new earbuds with a very compelling list of specifications.

  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, and more
  • Over-the-Air Updates – Update earbuds via the Skullcandy App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the earbuds
  • Premium Audio Quality – Experience supreme sound thanks to expertly-tuned acoustic drivers, dual noise-reducing microphones for natural and clear call quality, and a noise-isolating fit
  • Up to 40 Hours of Battery Life – Listen longer with 9 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 31 hours in the charging case
  • Wireless Charging – Enjoy the convenience of charging without wires
  • Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability via the Skullcandy App by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio
    levels
  • USB-C Rapid Charging Case – For 10 minutes spent in the case, receive 2 hours of battery life
    True Wireless via Bluetooth® 5.2
  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic turn on and pairing with the last device used
  • IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance – Go on an adventure without missing a beat
  • Built-in Tile™ Finding Technology– If an earbud is misplaced, simply ‘ring’ it from the Tile app

Push Active

Skullcandy has always kept things budget-friendly as well. If the Grind Fuel is a little much, you can snag the Skullcandy Push Active for $20 less while keeping most of the great new features.

  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, and more
  • Over-the-Air Updates – Update earbuds via the Skullcandy App to add new features for enhanced functionality and added value
  • Premium Audio Quality – Experience supreme sound thanks to expertly-tuned acoustic drivers, dual noise-reducing microphones for natural and clear call quality, and a noise-isolating fit
  • Up to 44 Hours of Battery Life – Listen longer with
  • 10 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 34 hours in the charging case
  • USB-C Rapid Charging Case – For 10 minutes spent in the case, receive 2 hours of battery life
    True Wireless via Bluetooth® 5.2
  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic turn on and pairing with the last device used
  • IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance – Go on an adventure without missing a beat
    Built-in Tile™ Finding Technology – If an earbud is misplaced, simply ‘ring’ it from the Tile app

Both wireless audio options from Skullcandy are available starting today. The Grind Fuel and the Push active can be purchased from the company’s website direct or numerous other retail outlets.

What is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675?

Scott Webster
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If you pay close attention to smartphones and their specifications, you’ve surely seen quite a bit of emphasis around the mobile processor. As the brain that powers the overall experience, the chipset is largely responsible for many of the other features that come with your handset.

It’s the processor that determines the quality of screen, cameras, Wi-Fi speed, and other details found in your favorite phone. It’s even responsible for how fast you can charge your device.

Qualcomm, one of the leaders in the mobile processor space, has quite a large portfolio of CPUs, with products that speak to a wide user base.

Here, we’ll showcase some of the key reasons why the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor is so important. Devices with this processor tend to be a nice mix of performance and affordability.

While it won’t be an exhaustive look at the chip, it will help you get a better understanding as to the types of phones that can be built using the CPU.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 features

  • CPU Clock Speed: Up to 2.0GHz
  • GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 612 GPU
  • Maximum device display: FHD+
  • Display features: Up to 10-bit DisplayPort
  • Wi-Fi: MU-MIMO with support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz
  • Camera:
    • Dual Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 16 MP
    • Single Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 25 MP
    • Single Camera: Up to 192 MP
    • Network Connectivity: Up to 600 Mbps download speed (LTE)
  • Charging: Quick Charge 4+

Straight Talk Buyer’s Guide

AndroidGuys
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Nearly everyone in the US is at least casually familiar with the names of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Not nearly as many people are as well-versed when it comes to the topic of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). How many can you name?

MVNO brands license the towers and coverage from the bigger providers but offer their own phones, rate plans, and customer service. These carriers might be a viable alternative to the provider you currently use.

In this write-up, we will take a look at Straight Talk.

About Straight Talk

Straight Talk is an MVNO that offers both CDMA and GSM coverage; it uses all three of the major US networks. As a joint-venture with Walmart, the retailer is the only place you’ll find Straight Talk phones and service.

As often is the case with MVNO’s or prepaid carriers, there are no contracts with Straight Talk. Moreover, there are no credit checks or hidden fees.

What are Straight Talk rate plans like?

When it comes to options, Straight Talk has three major nationwide plans with prices unlimited talk and text. Prices start as low as $35 per month and each comes with unlimited 2G data. For high-speed data, here’s what’s available today.

  • $35 includes 10GB of high speed data
  • $45 includes 25GB of high speed data
  • $55 includes unlimited high speed data (may be slowed at 60GB), 15GB hotspot data
  • $65 includes unlimited high speed data (may be slowed at 60GB), 20GB hotspot data, 100GB cloud storage

Customers who sign up for automatic payment each month can save up to $5 per month on their plan.

An unlimited international plan is also available which costs $60/month and comes with 25GB of high speed data. The main draw here is unlimited mobile-to-mobile calls to Mexico, Canada, China, and India but there are a couple of other smaller details, too.

Those who commit to longer terms with Straight Talk can save anywhere from $5 up to $45 on the unlimited nationwide plan. Options include 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month extended plans.

Are any other plans available?

Subscribers looking for two-line plans will like the $90 monthly rate which includes unlimited talk, text, and data.

There are other options and add-ons available to Straight Talk customers, including global calling cards and extra data. On the low end a “Basic” plan ($30) gives customers 1,500 minutes and 100MB data.

What other details should I know about Straight Talk?

It’s worth noting that most of the service plans do not include hotspot or wireless tethering. What’s more, video streams at up to 480p, or what’s commonly referred to as DVD quality.

Straight Talk customers can earn credits for referring others to its service. Additionally, they can earn them via watching video clips, sharing on social media, and automatic bill payments. The credits can be used toward high-speed data or a free service plan.

Are there any Straight Talk deals or discounts?

As of today there are a number of deals available through Straight Talk. Currently things are grouped under a “Clearance Sale” with a mixed of instant discounts, last-chance buys, and promotions when mixing phones with rate plans. Customers can also purchase refurbished phones and save extra money.

Can I bring my phone to Straight Talk?

Customers can bring pretty much any phone they want to Straight Talk as it’s compatible with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

Tell me about Straight Talk’s phone offerings

Should you wish to purchase a phone from Straight Talk you’ll find a range of devices from familiar brands like Samsung, Motorola, LG, and a few others. The current crop of handsets is quite a mixed bag and includes everything from new flagship phones down to models that are a few years old. It also offers reconditioned devices in the event you aren’t looking for something new.

The phones are priced outright as well as monthly, with financing options for 24-month and 15-month periods. There are also certified pre-owned models and reconditioned handsets, too.

Tronsmart Battle Gaming earbuds review

Andrew Allen
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Earbuds are seemingly a dime a dozen these days and it’s easy to find something to match your needs or budget. These wireless audio devices have become the darling of mobile devices over the last few years while the headphone jack dies its slow death. Tronsmart, a pioneer in this market for some time, recently sent us its latest offering, the Battle Gaming earbuds.

Just what does the new Gaming moniker bring to the Battle headphones? Let’s find out in this in-depth review.

Design

The overall construction of the Battle earbuds isn’t gonna be earth-shattering. You get the familiar in-ear teardrop with a stem that we are all familiar with at this point. On the outside of each, you will find a Tronsmart logo that doubles as your touch controls area.

I will note that the stemmed area of the Battle buds is quite a bit shorter than the other models we’ve reviewed of late. I don’t know that it attributed to any performance issues but I could see some users possibly having fitting preferences for one or the other.

Fit and sound

The fit of the Battle earbuds has been nice for me thus far. As mentioned, this is very much a personal preference, but I find that the non-silicon style Tronsmart has implemented here works best for my ears. The earpieces sit comfortably in my ears and the light weight makes it easy to wear all day.

The audio experience is also pretty good with these smaller earbuds doing a decent job of balancing sound and volume. Is it going to win audiophiles over? No, but it makes for a nice music and/or podcast-filled workday with zero issues.

We’d be stupid to not mention that this is where the Battle gets the gaming label as well. Tronsmart has included the option to put the earbuds into a low latency mode. This fires the 13mm drivers up an extra notch to deliver even better sound.

While it is noticeable, I found it greatly affected the Bluetooth connectivity. I had times where leaving my phone in the next room 10 feet away would cause skips in audio reception. I even had one instance of thicker jeans causing the same issue with my pocketed phone.

Touch controls

A modern wireless earbud isn’t complete without a capacitive touch area. The Tronsmart Battle buds have got you covered. The logo on each earpiece doubles as this touch zone. Let’s go through the list of available gestures.

A single tap of the left or right Battle earpiece will lower and raise the volume of the playing track. Double tapping either will play and pause audio or answer or end a phone call. A triple tap powers up or shuts down the low latency gaming mode.

I’m not a big fan of timed holds on earbuds with such a small touch-sensitive footprint, but you have two such options on the Battle buds as well. You can hold the left earbud for two seconds to reject an incoming call. The same cadence on the left earbud will send you back a track if playing music playlists and a long-press on the right earpiece will take you forward a track.

These gestures or taps work well most of the time, but I have found them slightly less consistent with activation than some other earbuds I’ve tested. You have to be very deliberate especially with the double-tap to play and pause media.

Battery

Tronsmart rates the Battle gaming earbuds at up to 20 total hours with the volume at 50% and paired with the power back case. I’ve found this to be fairly accurate. I’ve been seeing results of around 4.5 hours of playback and four full recharges per charge of the case.

Speaking of the case, there’s no wireless charging. I would have expected this feature for a niche market of power users like gamers. Thankfully, quick charge is available for fast recharge of the buds and USB-C can top off the case in two hours.

Conclusion

The Tronsmart Battle gaming earbuds are a decent set of headphones taking advantage of an industry buzzword. Without the gaming label, it falls in line with most other wireless earbuds in the $50 price range.

While I don’t think these quite live up to the hype of the marketing, you can consistently find them on sale already. At the time of publishing this review I saw them listed at just $34.99 at AliExpress. I feel they make a great addition to anyone’s travel bag for the price.

What is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690?

Scott Webster
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If you pay close attention to smartphones and their specifications, you’ve surely seen quite a bit of emphasis around the mobile processor. As the brain that powers the overall experience, the chipset is largely responsible for many of the other features that come with your handset.

It’s the processor that determines the quality of screen, cameras, Wi-Fi speed, and other details found in your favorite phone. It’s even responsible for how fast you can charge your device.

Qualcomm, one of the leaders in the mobile processor space, has quite a large portfolio of CPUs, with products that speak to a wide user base.

Here, we’ll showcase some of the key reasons why the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 processor is so important. As 2021 draws to a close this is one of Qualcomm’s top units for mid-range handsets. It’s a great balance of performance, versatility, and efficiency.

While it won’t be an exhaustive look at the chip, it will help you get a better understanding as to the types of phones that can be built using the CPU.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 features

  • CPU Clock Speed: Up to 2.0GHz
  • GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 619L GPU
  • Maximum device display: FHD+ at 120Hz
  • Display features: HDR10
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 technology with support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz
  • Camera:
    • Dual Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 16 MP
    • Single Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 32 MP
    • Single Camera: Up to 192 MP
  • Network Connectivity: 1.2 Gbps (LTE), 2.5 Gbps (5G)
  • Charging: Quick Charge 4+

Social Distancing Bundle: Lifetime access to Rosetta Stone, VPN, and more

AndroidGuys
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In today’s climate we find ourselves working from home and often staying away from others. We’re changing habits in both personal and professional settings as we grapple with the “new normal.”

Some of us find that we have more free time because we’re not going out as often. What do you do with your evenings, weekends, or spare moments? Why not use it to learn new languages or become versed in various topics?

The Social Distancing Lifetime Subscription Bundle, available in the AndroidGuys Deals Store for $199, is the well-rounded kit that you never knew you needed.

Included in the bundle are lifetime subscriptions to Rosetta Stone, 12min books, and KeepSolid VPN. It’s everything you need to master up to 24 languages, immerse yourself in new fields, and stay safe in the process.

12min Premium Micro Book Library: Lifetime Subscription

Not enough hours in the day to get through your reading list? You’ll only need 12 minutes to finish your next book with 12min! This innovative platform gives you access to hundreds of micro books in text and narrative form for you to absorb in just 12 minutes each. Every month, you’ll get 30 new titles so you can keep learning new things well into the future.

Rosetta Stone Unlimited Access: Lifetime Subscription (24 Languages)

If your dream is to master a foreign language, there’s no better teacher than Rosetta Stone. With its intuitive, immersive training method, Rosetta Stone will have you reading, writing, and speaking new languages like a natural in no time. You’ll start by matching words with images just like when you learned your native language as a child. Then you’ll move onto interactive lessons where speech recognition technology works to evaluate and improve your accent with instant feedback.

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited: Lifetime Subscription

Whether you’re using a private internet connection or public Wi-Fi, your online privacy and security is far from guaranteed. With top-rated solution VPN Unlimited, you can regain control over your digital life with full security and anonymity online. There are no speed or bandwidth limits, so you’ll still enjoy full browsing speeds, without the dangers of leaving your data exposed or the geographic restrictions set on certain websites abroad.

Buy the Bundle!

Valued at more than $800 for the whole bundle, you can purchase it from the AG Deals Store for just $199. They’re all three yours for as long as you live.

Get $30 Credit

If you buy the Social Distancing Lifetime Subscription Bundle, you’ll receive a $30 credit that can be used on future products from the AG Deals Store. Look for it to arrive about a week after your order.

What’s the difference in Qualcomm Snapdragon processors?

AndroidGuys
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Qualcomm is one of the biggest names in mobile CPUs. If you pay close attention to the smartphone space, you’ve surely heard its name or its “Snapdragon” branding along the way.

Snapdragon is the moniker Qualcomm adopted for the mobile arm of its processors. And while Qualcomm makes other mobile chips, Snapdragon is the one you want to keep your eye on when it comes to smartphones.

The processor that governs a phone dictates a wide variety of compatible features. Processing speed, download/upload speed, camera resolution, connectivity standards, and charging are all dictated by the CPU. What this means is that a modern phone’s CPU – much like a computer’s motherboard – dictates the quality of its components.

READ: What’s the difference between MediaTek’s chips?

Keep in mind that because a chip supports a technology does not necessarily mean that a phone comes with it. It simply means that the processor could, theoretically, handle such technology. It is up to the phone maker to fold in the feature or include it as part of the experience.

Qualcomm Snapdragon Overview

Although we split the following into four tiers, Qualcomm’s current Snapdragon processors actually span five product lines, each with its own set of features and focuses. For the purpose of this guide we have selected the most recent models, dating back over the last few years.

Premium-Tier

When it comes to smartphones, much is made about flagship devices. Why not? They’re the best of the best and are built with the top specifications. Qualcomm’s 8 series of processors power many of the high-end phones you’ll find on the market.

Features in this range are bleeding-edge and today include details such as 5G connectivity, screen refresh rates as high as 144Hz, and support for multiple cameras with 4K, slow-motion, AI, and more. It’s also here where you’ll find options like in-display fingerprint readers and Quick Charge 5.

Take a slightly deeper dive into specific processors below

High-Tier

High-Tier processors are featured on a wide range of smartphones, many of which might be classified as “junior flagships”. You won’t find the full suite of top-notch hardware, but it is still far more than what a typical user might need.

The best part about trading out hardware performance and specs is that you’re able to slide the price range down a bit. If your phone has one of these processors, you’re doing quite alright for yourself as it’s likely a “premium” experience.

Qualcomm’s 7 series fits in the high-tier as it provides for options such as triple-camera configurations, 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.2, and Quick Charge 4+.

Notable models:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 780
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 778
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 768

Mid-Tier

Mid-tier processors support the most popular smartphone features of the day. Power and specifications are not the focus in these processors, merely bringing compatibility to as many features as possible.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 series of chips are a perfect blend of affordability and practicality. Phones with these chips tend to lean a little more into features that are fun and exciting but not necessary. Among them are cameras with 4K video capture, 5G connection, and AI smarts.

Notable models:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 690
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 675
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

Entry-Level

The Snapdragon 4 series of chips powers the budget-friendly sort of phone that provides a great bang for your buck.

A typical phone user is not all that demanding of their device and as such, a Qualcomm 4XX processor should meet the needs of the masses. Some of the key details here include high-fidelity audio, full HD displays, high-megapixel cameras, and optimized internet connectivity.

Notable models:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 480
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 460

Stepping down the ladder a bit, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 2 series delivers the most essential features, forgoing any extras. These cost-conscious devices are usually paired with Android Go software and/or found in emerging markets.

Notable models:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 215

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 review

Jason England
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Over the past few years, the field of Wear OS watch manufacturers has consolidated to a handful of companies. What started out as full-on land grab between traditional watch makers and phone manufacturers has whittled away to a much smaller space; you don’t have a lot of choices these days when you’re shopping for a smartwatch.

Thankfully, one of the companies still remaining is Mobvoi, a brand that continues to push the wearables market forward with the latest tech and health tracking. Its newest offering, the TicWatch E3, is a prime example of this being one of only two smartwatches to use the latest Snapdragon 4100 chip from Qualcomm.

Keep reading below to find out what other goodies Mobvoi’s latest smartwatch packs.

Design

The first thing that stands out on the TicWatch E3 is the massive black bezel around the 1.3-inch 360 x 360 display. Mobvoi isn’t the first brand to design a smartwatch like this. Fossil has been using this design for years, and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve avoided purchasing a watch from them.

In the past, I’ve always appreciated that Mobvoi hid this bezel with a metal frame, because not only does it look better, but it also helps protect the glass. While the huge bezel is an eyesore, perhaps this was one of the cost-cutting measures Mobvoi had to take in order to hit the affordable $200 price range while still including top-of-the-line specs. I just hope they won’t be using this design in its more expensive models in the future the way Fossil does.

Additionally, the display isn’t the best looking in the world, and even with that bezel, there’s still no ambient light sensor. Meaning, you’re going to have to adjust the brightness manually to make it bright enough to be seen outdoors or dim enough to not drain your battery while indoors.

Besides the display, the TicWatch E3 uses a lightweight polycarbonate body that’s IP68 rated and suitable for swimming in pools. It also comes with a 20mm silicone strap in the box, which is very comfortable and looks nice whether you’re working out or in the office.

The underside sports a host of sensors for health tracking, as well as pogo pins for charging. Then, on the right side, are the two physical buttons for controlling the watch. The top button opens the launcher, while the bottom one is programmed to the TicExercise app by default, but it can be customized in the settings.

The TicWatch E3 is a little on the chunky side and I would have loved a third button with a rotating crown, but overall, it’s perfectly acceptable for its price range.

User experience

Without a doubt, Mobvoi has been my favorite manufacturer of smartwatches for the past few years, and it’s all thanks to its wonderful lineup of Tic apps on the watch. While most Android smartwatches were content to do the bare minimum like counting steps or tracking your heart rate, Mobvoi has always strived for more.

The only problem was that the majority of Mobvoi’s best smart features were reserved for its most expensive watches. However, the TicWatch E3 bucks the trend by delivering big at the $200 price range.

Not only will you be able to track your heart rate and steps, but also your blood oxygen level, sleep, stress levels, and over 20 different exercises. All of this syncs with the wonderful phone app making it even easier to digest and stay on top of all of your stats.

My only criticisms would be that in recent years Mobvoi’s app has changed the way it displays heart rate data and I miss the old easier to read line graph it used to use. Additionally, the app used to have a dark theme which made it much easier on the eyes.

Enough about the smartphone app though, back on the watch Mobvoi offers a range of apps to help you balance your life such as TicZen and TicBreathe to help aid you in relaxation, as well as TicHear to help protect your ears.

Plus, there’s also a mic and speaker for taking calls, and NFC for making payments with Google Pay.

Pair that with the Snapdragon Wear 4100 and 1GB of RAM, and the TicWatch E3 is one of the smoothest performing and most capable Wear OS smartwatches available in this price range.

Battery

The TicWatch E3 uses a 380mAh battery and along with Qualcomm’s latest chip, that’s going to easily get you through a full day. During my time with the watch, I was able to go nearly a day and a half without issue, and that includes putting the watch into theater mode while tracking my sleep.

You’ll probably not want to push it any further than that, but if you do, then the TicWatch E3 features a low-power Essential mode that continues health monitoring and displays the time, date, steps, and heart rate. This kicks on automatically when the watch reaches five percent battery life, or it can be enabled manually.

Final thoughts

The TicWatch E3 is the most powerful and fully featured Wear OS smartwatch you can buy for $200. It includes a host of Tic apps on the watch, a fantastic mobile app, Qualcomm’s most powerful wearable processor, and great battery life.

Unfortunately, one area Mobvoi had to cut corners was on the display, regardless, the TicWatch E3 gets so much right for such an affordable price, that it’s still one of the best and most affordable Wear OS smartwatches on the market.

Even better, Mobvoi has confirmed the TicWatch E3 will get the next big Wear OS 3 update so you won’t have to worry about buying now and getting left behind once the new platform update is released. Although, we expect the update won’t get released until sometime late next year.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Mobvoi

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