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What is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888?

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 888 processor is so important. As 2021 draws to a close this is one of the premier models on the market, powering many a flagship experience.

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 888 features

  • CPU Clock Speed: Up to 2.84GHz
  • GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 660 GPU
  • Maximum device display: 4K resolution at 60Hz, QHD+ resolution at 144Hz
  • Display features: HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 technology with support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz
  • Fingerprint Sensor: Qualcomm 3D Sonic, Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max (In-Display)
  • Camera: Triple Image Signal Processor support with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HEVC support
    • Triple Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 28 MP
    • Dual Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 64 MP
    • Single Camera, MFNR, ZSL, 30fps: Up to 84 MP
    • Single Camera: Up to 200 MP
  • Network Connectivity: Up to 7.5Gbps (5G)
    • 8 carriers (mmWave)
    • 800 MHz bandwidth (mmWave)
    • 200 MHz bandwidth (sub-6 GHz)
  • Charging: Quick Charge 5 (0-100% in less than 15 minutes)

Qualcomm has also introduced a variation of the Snapdragon 888 in the form of the Snapdragon 888 Plus. The key difference being that the Snapdragon 888 Plus (888+) is able to run at speeds up to 3GHz.

Other standout features for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series include:

  • Qualcomm® Smart Transmit™ technology
  • Qualcomm® Wideband Envelope Tracking
  • Qualcomm® AI-Enhanced Signal Boost adaptive antenna tuning
  • Qualcomm® 5G PowerSave

Microsoft launches new and improved Surface Duo 2 for $1500, pre-orders now open

Jason England
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Last year, Microsoft introduced the Surface Duo, its first Android foldable phone. While many were enamored with the device’s innovative hinge and large display, they were also disappointed by some of the Duo’s rough edges given the phone’s $1,400 price tag.

Fortunately, Microsoft has learned from the criticism and has now launched the new and improved Surface Duo 2. One of the biggest complaints about the first Surface Duo was the inability to check notifications without opening the device.

To solve this issue, Microsoft has included the ability to view notifications, battery life, and more on the spine of the device via a curved display. It’s quite reminiscent of how Samsung used the curved edge on its Galaxy phones in the past, and it is an ingenious way to solve this problem without adding additional displays like on the Samsung’s folding phones.

Another sticking point for many users was the lack of NFC. Can you imagine paying $1,400 for a phone with no way to make contactless payments in 2020? I know I couldn’t. With the Surface Duo 2, this is no longer a problem because Microsoft made sure to squeeze in an NFC chip this year.

Finally, the fact that the Surface Duo only had one camera was the biggest blunder of all. Thankfully, Microsoft went above and beyond by adding four cameras to the Surface Duo 2.

This time around, there is a front-facing f/2.0 selfie camera on the right side of the device, as well as three cameras around the back, including a 12MP f/1.7 primary, 12MP f/2.4 telephoto, and a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle shooter.

When it comes to what’s running under the hood, the Surface Duo 2 packs a Snapdragon 888, 8GB of RAM, and a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. It has 5G and Wi-Fi 6 for connectivity, a fingerprint sensor in the power button, supports the Surface Pen, and is powered by a 4,449mAh battery.

Last but not least is the display, the Surface Duo 2 sports two 5.8-inch 1344 x 1892 PixelSense AMOLED displays which add up to a single 8.3-inch 2688 x 1892 screen when opened up. To make better use of the Duo 2’s form factor, there are several apps that have added support such as, TikTok, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Xbox Game Pass, Kindle, Asphalt 9: Legends, and more.

The Surface Duo 2 is available now for pre-order for $1,500 in Glacier or Obsidian with a release date of October 21, 2021.

Hisense U8G Android TV Review

Jason England
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Over the years I’ve used a variety of Android-powered TVs and streaming dongles. Among them are the original Sony Google TV, Nexus Player, LeEco X4-55, JBL Link Bar, and Chromecast with Google TV.

Google’s platform hasn’t always been the best when it comes to app support, which is why I’ve also used a handful of TCL Roku-powered TVs and streamer boxes to supplement in the past.

Fortunately, the Android TV platform has matured, and these days there’s only a couple of reasons you might still require an additional streamer box. Keep reading below to find out what those reasons are, and all the things I loved about the Hisense U8G.

Design

The Hisense U8G comes in two different sizes, either a 55-inch or 65-inch model. For my review, I’ll be detailing my experience with the 65-inch model which weighs in at a little over 53 pounds and measures 57.1 x 13.6 x 35.6 inches overall.

It’s not a light or small TV by any means, and trust me, you’re going to need help setting this up. Just getting it out of the box and connecting the two feet at the bottom would be nearly impossible to do alone.

Speaking of the base, Hisense has done everyone a favor by not putting the two feet at the very edge of the TV making it easier to place it on TV stands less than 60 inches.

The ports on the back of the U8G include four HDMI ports on the left side with two of them dedicated for 4K 60Hz and the other two supporting 4K 120Hz, one of which features eARC for sound systems.

Flanking the HDMI inputs are two USB ports, a headphone jack, a coaxial input, and a port for connecting composite cables with an adapter.

Next door is another group of I/O, including the Ethernet jack, optical audio out, and serial inputs. The port for the power cable is on the left side of the TV and make note of that for deciding where to place it because if the outlet or surge protector is on the right side of the TV you’re going to need an extension cord.

The front of the Hisense U8G uses small bezels around its massive 65-inch ULED display with a small row of LEDs in the bottom center. There’s also a slider to mute the mic in the TV that’s used for Google Assistant.

Set up

After unpacking and getting the U8G in place, set up is a breeze, if you’re deep into the Android ecosystem like I am. All I had to do was pull out my phone and connect the TV with my Google account and sail through a few menu options.

Next, I connected it to my network where Google automatically filled in the Wi-Fi password and the U8G began downloading an update.

During that time, I was able to connect all my different devices to the HDMI ports and 10 minutes later I was all set up and ready to go. Without a doubt, being invested in the Android ecosystem helped speed along this process, and saved me from a bunch of tedious typing with the remote.

User experience

During the past year, Google has taken a lot of flack for updating the UI on Android TV to include promoted content, aka ads. In case you’re wondering, yes, this is also present on the U8G after the initial update.

While I don’t like ads on my TV more than any other person, and I wish Google would include a way to opt-out of showing them, I still really enjoy the UI and using Android TV. Besides, it’s not like Roku doesn’t also include promoted content, so it’s not like these sorts of ads aren’t present on other platforms.

Plus, I find the Google TV home layout to be clean and easy to use, especially the “Play Next” section, which makes it easy to pick up where you left off watching. That is when it works, as I’ve found it’s not always reliable and not all apps support it, I’m looking at you Prime Video. However, when it does work properly, and your apps support the “continue watching” section, it is a wonderful experience.

Apps

Android TV has matured a lot over the years and these days gives you access to pretty much every major streaming service out there. However, even though you have access to myriad apps, there are some quirks on this particular Hisense TV. For example, the Vudu and Movies Anywhere apps don’t support 4K playback. When attempting to play movies you’ve purchased in UHD using both of these apps you’ll be restricted to HD.

Fortunately, with Movies Anywhere syncing movies between services these days, you can still stream the UHD movies you purchased from Vudu in 4K through Prime Video, Google Play Movies, or even the Apple TV app.

The only problem being that studios such as Lionsgate and Paramount have opted out of Movies Anywhere. Meaning, if you purchased movies like Transformers or John Wick in UHD through Vudu, then you’re stuck watching them in HD unless you hook up a different 4K capable streaming stick to the U8G.

Additionally, I’ve since discovered Hulu also doesn’t support 4K playback on the U8G, making it one more of the built-in apps you’d have to use a different streaming dongle for if you want the highest quality video playback.

Google Assistant on your TV

Voice control is one of the areas where Android TV excels. Requesting a movie or TV show using your voice is simply the most convenient way to interact with your TV. It’s miles above trying to browse with your remote through screen after screen of titles, or trying to type out the name using the buttons on the remote.

The Hisense U8G even gives you multiple ways to issue voice commands, either by pressing the Assistant button on the remote or hands-free by saying the “Hey Google” hotword out loud. Plus, not only can you search content, but also control playback, volume, ask for the weather, control your smart home, and much more. You have the full power of Google Assistant built right into your TV.

My one issue with this, and it’s a big one, is that I have a house full of Google Assistant enabled speakers and smart displays already.

While I appreciate beyond words the ability to search video content on my TV using the remote, I did not want my TV to be always listening and competing with these devices. The primary reason being that it will cause the Assistant to pop up at the bottom of your TV and/or pause the content you’re currently watching.

My TV’s primary function should be to show me the video content on the screen without having it interrupted if I want to turn my lights on or off.

To make matters worse, I’ve had TV shows and movies activate Google Assistant while I’m watching, causing it to pop up and search for whatever random thing the actor just said. It’s a completely disruptive experience when trying to relax and check out a new movie or binge a show.

There are a couple of workarounds for this, such as using the mic slider switch on the front of the TV, disabling Google Assistant on the TV entirely, or turning off permissions for the mic in the Assistant app. Unfortunately, none of these is a good workaround. Disabling Google Assistant or removing the mic permissions means you can’t use one of the TV’s most valuable features.

Alternatively, muting the mic with the slider on the front turns on four bright orange distracting LEDs permanently. While this still allows you to use the mic on the remote, those glaring orange LEDs are just too intrusive to leave on constantly. Ideally, Hisense would have given us the option to turn off the LEDs in the settings and allowed us to use the mic in the remote with the mics on the TV disabled.

Now, besides my criticism of the ads, 4K playback missing on popular apps, and the lack of Assistant customization, Android TV runs wonderfully on the U8G. I never experienced any stutters or issues with the UI, navigation was quick and responsive, and the Assistant integration was smooth as silk.

Picture quality

The Hisense U8G features a 4K resolution 120Hz ULED panel with Quantum Dot technology for brilliant, purer, richer colors. The U8G also boasts a peak brightness of a whopping 1500 nits, up to 360 dimming zones, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

Before discussing the picture quality, I’d like to take a minute to recommend that you immediately go into the picture settings and disable all the motion settings. These are enabled by default and are what give TVs the often dreaded “soap opera” effect. Be aware that you may have to disable it for each input or app that you use, in case you ever notice something looking off when you swap to an input or app for the first time.

Watching UHD Dolby Vision content on the U8G is simply stunning. The display is uber bright and I had to dial the backlight down to 40 or else I was in danger of searing my retinas. If you have a room with a lot of sunlight during the day, then this is your TV. It should be able to overpower sunlight-drenched rooms without a problem.

Thanks to the abundance of dimming zones the Hisense U8G was also able to provide the inky darks needed for HDR content and provided a wide range of contrast in scenes. However, I did notice on a few occasions that the blacks were a little lifted or blooming was present, and there’s also some red smearing that I found most apparent on the Netflix logo when launching the app. Overall, the panel still performed beyond my expectations, and when watching content, you rarely notice these issues.

One issue that I did notice from time to time while watching content was some judder in scenes with slow panning motions. This can be tamed with the motion settings, but I’d much rather live with some occasional judder than watch everything with the “soap opera” effect enabled.

Besides the fantastic dynamic range, the U8G also impressed me with vibrant colors that leapt off the screen. My previous TV only supported HDR10 and seeing movies and TV shows in HDR10+ and Dolby Vision was a real game-changer. Both standards provide more granular high dynamic range control with metadata customized from scene to scene and it makes a big difference.

If you would like a more in-depth analysis, then I’d suggest you check out the rtings.com review, where they have the equipment and expertise to measure and rate the U8G’s display more accurately.

Gaming

The Hisense U8G sports two HDMI 2.1 ports with support for up to 120Hz, which means it is made for next-gen gaming. I gave it a try myself with Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition and saw first-hand how smooth the 120fps mode is in the game.

You’ll need to make sure you go into the settings and switch the HDMI mode from “standard” to “enhanced” though or else you won’t be able to game in HDR or make use of the high frame rate. I’d also suggest changing the HDMI dynamic range to limited on the U8G, otherwise games looked washed out on the PS5.

Besides console gaming, the U8G provides two other ways to get your game on. The first is by installing games from the Play Store. I installed a few to test them out and had no issues playing them with a Bluetooth controller paired with the TV. A word of warning though, the U8G only had 6GB of storage free after I installed my streaming apps, so you won’t be able to load it up with many games.

That leaves us with Stadia, Google’s cloud gaming service which recently added support for televisions running Android TV. After installing Stadia on the U8G, I fired up Cyberpunk 2077 and was so pleased to be able to finally play without the need for an additional dongle attached to the TV.

Sound quality

As far as TV speakers go, I was impressed with the U8G. The speakers had far more bass than I expected them to have and they were plenty loud. I often had the volume set to 10 out of 100 and had no issues with hearing dialog or anything else.

If you want to take things to the next level, then using the optical out or eARC HDMI port makes it easy to hook up an external sound source. About half of the time I used a soundbar with the U8G through the eARC HDMI port and found everything worked perfectly, including adjusting the volume through the TV remote and having it power on or off with the TV.

Final thoughts

In the land of premium budget TVs, the Hisense U8G has a lot going for it. The 4K 120Hz ULED Quantum Dot panel provides a crisp, vibrant, dynamic picture that’s perfect for watching movies in Dolby Vision or next-gen gaming. While it still suffers from some blooming and elevated blacks from time to time, there’s no doubt that the Hisense U8G is one of the best-looking TVs you can buy at this price range.

Regardless, I’d still love to see a software update to disable the always-listening mics on the TV while leaving the one in the remote active, and 4K support in all apps. These are minor annoyances, but they would go a long way in enhancing the overall user experience.

If you’re wondering if the Hisense U8G is right for you, then right now is the perfect time to give it a try. Currently, Hisense is running a promotion through October 31, 2021, that allows you to try out the U8G and other models such as the U800GR (8K), U8G, U7G, U6G, or L9G TriChroma Laser TV for 100 days. If you’re not satisfied, then Hisense will allow you to return the TV for a full refund via a Visa gift card or Paypal transfer. Just be aware that you’ll also need to register the TV within 14 days of purchase or delivery date.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Best Buy

Work smarter and not harder with officio.work, just $49

AG Deals Team
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If you’re like us, you have a heck of a time balancing your time throughout the work day. No matter how hard you try, sometimes it feels impossible to get tasks done. Why is that? Is it because of a lack of focus? Probably not.

In the course of an hour at your desk, you might split your attention and time across a range of programs, apps, and services. How many messaging apps, email clients, video calling tools and other software do you open up on a daily basis? We bet you’re spending a lot of time (read as: wasting) managing your tools, instead of being productive.

That’s exactly the dilemma that officio.work, a productivity platform, aims to solve. The makers of this popular tool udnerstand that while you may need all that stuff to hit your goals, you don’t need to open a dozen different apps to get things done. Get your team on board with officio.work and keep things in one streamlined environment.

Open up officio.work and you can message members of your team or start a video call with them in just a couple of clicks. Then, collaborate on a Kanban board, add notes to a project, update tasks, or send calendar invites to staff and other attendees.

With features for invoicing, messaging, tasks, notes, and Zooming together with team members, officio.work will save you time managing your work, business, and less hassle to manage team collaboration. Ditch the hassle of juggling multiple programs for different functions and get all your management needs in one place. For any business, team, organization, and anyone.

Managers have access to even more functions within the tool, such as adding and assigning team members, tracking hours, payroll, sending contracts and invoices, and accepting payments. This all-in-one platform lets you work smarter and more efficiently.

Get Started

Ready for offico.work to help take your team ( up to 20 members) to the next level? AndroidGuys readers can get a lifetime subscription to the starter plan for just $49.99 — 91% off the $600 MSRP. Have a larger team? There are plans for that, too!

Android will begin revoking permissions automatically on unused apps on more phones beginning in December

Jason England
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I’m sure we’ve all done this before, you install an app for one-time use or a game you play for a week and then forget about it. However, you’ve granted this app all sorts of permissions upon installing it, and now it’s sitting there on your device this entire time keeping all of those same permissions whether you’re using it or not.

It’s a good thing that Google has decided to implement a feature for just such an occasion that will automatically revoke permissions from apps after a certain period of time. The main problem being, that it was restricted to phones running Android 11 or above, but what about all the millions of users running Android 10 and below.

Well, good news everyone, Google has decided to expand this feature to all phones running Android 6.0 and above with Google Play Services installed. This could potentially affect millions of devices worldwide and tighten up privacy on all of the devices not slated to get the Android 11 update. The rollout will begin starting in December 2021, and as a user, there isn’t anything you need to do except wait for it.

Once it begins rolling out all apps that target permissions API level 30 or above will start having those permissions revoked after the app goes unused for a few months. As a user, you may notice a notification from time to time when this happens.

Developers will have the option to add some code allowing you to opt-out of having the permissions revoked, and users will also be able to manually override the auto-reset as well. That can be handy for apps that tend to run in the background that you rarely open.

The rollout is expected to reach all devices by Q1 2022 so if you don’t get it immediately in December, you’ll just have to hang on as the feature gradually makes its way to devices.

Arrow Fest hits the bullseye for boring repetition (App Review)

Scott Webster
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You’ve seen the game advertised inside of other apps – sling your arrow down a path, attempting to collect as many as you can for the end of the level. Does Arrow Fest use quick math and reflexes in a fun and enjoyable way or might it become repetitive too quickly? Find out what Scott thinks of the free-to-play game for Android.

Bluetti AC300 and B300 now available

AndroidGuys
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Approximately two months ago (July 2021), Bluetti – the portable solar storage pioneer, announced the release of an industry first, modular solar power station – the AC300 and its accompanying LFP battery module, the B300 (3,072Wh).

“The time has finally come to go solar and ditch your noisy gas/propane generators.”

Word spread fast, and before anyone knew it, the AC300 was trending throughout the United States, with a particular interest coming from portable solar power users based in California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

At long last, after two strenuous months of waiting, the AC300 and B300 are finally here!

Now Available For Order

Solar Vs. Gas Generators (Why Should Everyone Go Solar?)

Solar Generator:

  • No added noise/extremely quiet operation – 35dB (As quiet as whisper)
  • Free, clean, endless renewable power source from the sun or wind.
  • Increases your daily solar consumption 24/7
  • Extremely low maintenance (due to barely any moving parts)
  • Seamless UPS(Uninterrupted Power Supply) when power outages occurred

Gas/Propane Generator

  • Noisy operation ≥70dB (As loud as a washing machine)
  • Emissions, deadly toxic carbon monoxide (The generators must be used outside)
  • Higher carbon footprint – (Uses fossil fuels for power)
  • Requires maintenance – (Lots of moving parts to maintain)
  • Monthly fuel costs – (Fuel is not free like the sun)

When using a solar generator, you are essentially using free energy from the sun instead of using costly dirty fossil fuels. You can continue getting this free energy from the sun for the lifespan of your solar panels, which is usually around 25 to 30 years. And, Unlike most conventional fuel or gas generators, solar generators have absolutely no moving parts and do not use liquid fuel. Means that the likelihood of needing to pay for any types of repairs is significantly lower.

Aside from the obvious financial gains of using a solar generator, choosing this green technology over other fossil fueled systems has various environmental and health benefits. Gas powered generators lead to air pollution alongside noise pollution, and while the latter is just simply annoying, the former contributes to climate change and respiratory diseases.

Last but not least, most heavy duty gas powered generators can weigh hefty amounts, sometimes up to 250 pounds. While Bluetti’s heavy duty solar powered AC300 weighs a mere 44 pounds and the external battery B300 weighs 74lbs in comparison. Obviously, the less powerful the generator the lighter it usually weighs but in summary, solar generators are way more easier to move around than gas powered generators for the same amount of power density.

Why Choose the BLUETTI AC300?

  • Bluetti AC300 is 100% modular and can accept up to four B300 battery modules per unit, adding up to a total of 12,288Wh – Good luck running out of power.
  • Being modular means people can transport vast amounts of power with ease. All together the machine has way too much to transport, but individually, each part is highly portable.
  • AC300 uses top of the range LFP cells which have 3500+ life cycles leading up to 80% of the original capacity. (In other words, putting the device through one cycle a day, means 10 years of service life.)
  • Capable of receiving 2,400 watts of unrivalled MPPT solar charging input, it’s time to go full-time solar!
  • Packed with a 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter able to adjust the AC charging rate (no need for a power brick, one charging cable will do just fine)
  • While connected to two B300 battery modules, the AC300 can be charged with both solar and AC simultaneously, adding up to 5400 watts of power input.
  • Allows the connection of the new BLUETTI Fusion Box Pro, connecting of which doubles the voltage, power, and capacity up to 6000W, 240V, 24,576Wh.
  • All of this technology can be controlled by a complex, yet easy to use smartphone app via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Where To Buy The AC300 & How Is It Delivered?

All brand new BLUETTI products can be bought on the official website: bluettipower.com

AC300 paired with 1× B300 battery module now starts at $2899 (original price is $3699, that is $800 OFF for a limited quantity).

AC300 paired with 2× B300 battery modules starts at $3648 (original price is $4498, that is $850 OFF).

Also, for all one-stop shopping a total amount of one thousand bucks can be saved when buying certain AC300 solar bundles.

Orders will be delivered in 3~5 weeks from purchase date, according to Bluetti’s statement.

The AC200 MAX Is Now Back In Stock

After being quickly sold-out on its debut release, the AC200 MAX and B230 battery modules are now both available to be purchased again.

And in the unlikely case it was forgotten, the AC200 MAX has a standard built-in 2,048Wh LFP battery pack (with expandable battery capabilities) – an all-round upgrade of the long loved AC200/P.

Excitingly, the AC200 MAX can be connected to both the B230 and B300 battery modules, unlike the AC300 which is only compatible with the B300 battery module.

At total capacity (connected with two B300 battery modules) the AC200 MAX boasts up to 8,192Wh!

For a limited time period, BLUETTI is also offering a discount coupon on the AC200 MAX meaning it can now be bought for $1,799, that is $300 savings. Additional savings can be made by purchasing bundles.

If you are looking for raw power, then it’s quite simple. Look no further, get your power here: www.bluettipower.com

Lepow 14-inch 1080p Portable Monitor review

Jason England
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Not too long ago I reviewed the Lepow 15.6-inch portable monitor and found it to be a very capable secondary display for work and play. However, if you’re looking for something a little smaller the 14-inch model from Lepow might be what you’re needing.

Not only does it offer a 1080p display in a more compact size, but it’s also made some improvements to the stand and I/O on the monitor.

Key Features

  • 14-inch 1080p 60Hz display
  • USB-C, HDMI, and 3.5mm inputs
  • Weighs 1.7lbs
  • Works with the Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, Xbox, and computers
  • Stereo speakers

Design

The Lepow 14-inch Portable Monitor features a 14-inch 1080p 60Hz IPS display with slim bezels around all sides except for the bottom. One of the biggest differences between the 15.6-inch model and this one, besides the size, is the port arrangement.

The 15.6-inch model had all of the ports and controls on the sides of the display which could look messy and make it difficult to have both monitors side by side. It also made it nearly impossible to stand it up in portrait mode.

Lepow’s 14-inch model fixes this by putting the ports and controls on the back but at the cost of making it slightly heavier and thicker than the 15.6-inch model. It also now features a permanently attached case that acts as a stand in either landscape or portrait mode.

When it comes to the I/O and controls, the Lepow 14-inch Portable Monitor includes a USB-C port dedicated to power, a USB-C port capable of power and audio/visual signals, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a mini HDMI port, and a toggle switch to adjust settings. Additionally, there is a dedicated power button to turn it on and off.

How well does it work?

The Lepow 14-inch Portable Monitor provides two different ways to connect to it, by either using HDMI or USB-C. This makes it compatible with the majority of devices out there, such as a computer, phone, or game console.

And thankfully, Lepow includes an HDMI to mini HDMI cable, USB-C to USB-C cable, and a charging brick with USB-A to USB-C cable in the box. That should be everything you need to hook it up to a variety of devices.

During my time with the Lepow 14-inch Portable Monitor, I used it with my laptop, Nintendo Switch, and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Each device worked fine with the monitor, just remember that you’re going to need to use a separate power source with anything other than your computer.

In my case, I tried it with the included charging brick, as well as a power bank, which makes it even more portable when on the go.

Just a heads up, when connecting to your computer the audio will default to playing out of the Lepow’s speakers. This can be changed using the audio settings on your computer to swap the source.

Picture quality

The 14-inch Portable Monitor from Lepow has a great picture. It has adequate brightness for indoor use, vibrant colors, and offers wide viewing angles. It also gives you plenty of options for changing brightness, contrast, and color. Although, I wouldn’t count on it for design work if you’re looking for something color accurate.

Instead, the Lepow 14-inch Portable Monitor excels at being a secondary monitor to place toolbars when editing, monitoring emails, writing, or watching videos.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re in the market for a secondary monitor to help with work or have some fun, the Lepow 14-inch Portable Monitor is a winner. It is fantastic for freeing up your primary monitor when doing design work, catching up on some shows while working, or gaming on the go.

My only criticism would be that the weight and thickness make this version feel slightly less portable than the 15.6-inch model I previously reviewed. However, I typically only use it in a couple of areas around the house so that’s not such a big deal to me.

Buy from Amazon

Xiaomi formally intros three models for its flagship 11 series

Scott Webster
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If there’s one constant in the world of smartphones, it’s that there’s always something bigger and better coming around the corner. Xiaomi on Wednesday announced three new models as part of its 11 series of handsets.

Available in three versions, the 11T, 11T Pro, and 11 Lite 5G NE, join the increasingly popular brand’s portfolio and each has a little something unique about it.

The 11T series promise “industry-leading filmmaking technology” in the palm of your hands, thanks to its 108-megapixel rear camera system. Meanwhile, the 11 Lite 5G NE deliver high-end style and innovative features in a lightweight package.

Xiaomi 11T Pro

The more powerful of the two new phones, the 11T Pro throws one hell of a punch. It runs an Android 11-based version of MIUI 12.5 for the software and features a host of top-notch hardware.

The 6.67-inch display has a 2400x 1080 pixel resolution, boasts 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 480Hz touch sampling rate. Having earned a DisplayMate A+ rating, it provides up to 1000 nits brightness, over 1 billion colors, and HDR10+.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor is paired with at least 8GB RAM and 128GB; additional storage and memory configurations are offered.

Things get equally interesting in the camera as the Xiaomi 11T Pro comes with a 108-megapixel f/1.75 wide-angle camera, an 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, and 5-megapixel f/2.4 telemacro camera. Around front is a 16-megapixel f/2.45 camera.

That’s really only part of the story, too, because the phone is loaded with AI and other smarts to help capture the best photos and footage.

…The smartphone boasts impressive computational filmography capabilities with one-click AI Cinema modes, 8K recording and HDR10+, allowing users to capture footage with the same smart ISO technology found in digital cameras. 

Other noteworthy details include a 5,000mAh battery with 120W wireless charging. Indeed, the HyperCharge tech is proprietary to Xiaomi and promises a 100% charge in just 17 minutes.

Rounding things out, the 11T Pro has support for Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6, NFC, and an IR blaster. The dual speakers are tuned by Harman Kardon and provide Dolby Atmos compatibility.

As per a recent Xiaomi announcement, this handset and its 11T counterpart will receive three years of Android updates and four years of security support.

Xiaomi 11T

With specifications that rival most other devices on the market, the 11T is a small step down from the 11T Pro. The screen is nearly identical save for a lack of Dolby Vision and the DisplayMate A+ rating.

A MediaTek Dimensity 1200 Ultra processor powers the show and is paired with 8GB RAM and either 128GB or 256GB storage capacities.

The camera experience is the same across the board as is the software and connectivity. The battery, while also 5,000mAh, only support 67W wired turbo charging. Still, that’s incredibly fast and beats most other phones of the day. Xiaomi claims it takes just 36 minutes to fully charge the battery.

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE

Slightly smaller than the other two, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is still quite the value proposition.

Also running Android 11-based MIUI 12.5, the phone has a 6.55-inch screen with 90Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. Still, it packs a hole host of display tech and prowess.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 chipset is paired with either 6GB RAM or8GB RAM with storage capacities of 128GB and 256GB available.

The camera experience sees the phone offering up a 64-megapixel f/1.79 main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide f/2.2, and 5-megapixel f/2.4 configuration. A 20-megapixel selfie camera is located in the front display.

The battery is rated at 4,250mAh with up to 33W fast charging capability.

Availability

The Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro will be available in three colors with a brushed finish, including Celestial Blue, Moonlight White, and Meteorite Gray. Each will be offered through the typical Xiaomi channels.

The 11T is offered in 8GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB options with recommended retail prices of EUR 499 ($589 USD) and EUR 549 ($649), respectively.

The 11T Pro comes in three variants, including 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 12GB/256GB; pricing is set at EUR 649 ($766USD), EUR 699 ($825 USD) and EUR 749 ($884 USD), respectively.

The 11 Lite 5G NE is sold in Truffle Black, Bubblegum Blue, Peach Pink, and Snowflake White with 6GB/128GB, 8GB/128GB, and 8GB/256GB options. Pricing is not immediately available.

Govee Portable Lamp with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Review

Jason England
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After recently reviewing the Govee Smart Table Lamp and Flow Pro Light Bars, I’m quickly becoming a fan of all things Govee. The smart lighting brand recently released a new portable lamp with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and as always, I was excited to try it out.

Design

The Govee Portable Lamp features a half bowl design that mimics the Philips Hue Go Light for less than half the price. The bottom of the lamp makes use of two little nubs that allow it to be positioned either on its side or facing upwards, and the power button is located at the base.

User experience

The Govee Portable Lamp puts out 360-degrees of soft diffused lighting using up to 16 million different colors, which makes it perfect for filling a room with some mood lighting. Plus, it can also display white light in warm or cool tones for when you want to use it more like a traditional lamp, or need a bedside lamp to read next to.

Additionally, Govee’s Portable Lamp has over 32 different “scenes” made up of colors that fade in and out or smoothly transition from one color to another. With this, the lamp can be a relaxation tool or even a party in a box thanks to its dedicated mode that reacts to music.

When powering the lamp on or off, you have a couple of different options to choose from. The first is by pressing the power button on the bottom of the lamp, but using the Alexa or Assistant voice controls are much more convenient.

Finally, the third way to control the lamp is by using the power toggle in the Govee Home app.

App

One of the best parts of owning a Govee light is the Govee Home app. It’s obvious that the brand has put a lot of time and energy into its app because it is chocked full of features and laid out in a clear concise way.

This makes the app so easy to use, which is very important because it allows you to select all the different lighting modes, choose the color, switch to different scenes, or even DIY your own scene.

In short, the app is a large part of the reason the Govee Portable Lamp is worth purchasing. Without such a well-designed and fully featured app, this light wouldn’t be half as useful. You can even set timers or have it gently wake you up in the morning or gradually turn off in the evenings.

Battery life

One of the standout features of the Govee Portable Lamp is the fact that it has a 3,350mAh battery which allows it to be used untethered to the power outlet. In my testing, I found that it is usually good for three and a half hours at 50% brightness.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a smart bedside lamp, a light to take with you on the go, or something to add a little mood lighting then the Govee Portable Lamp is perfect. However, when it comes to pricing, the Govee Portable Lamp is a little expensive coming in at $65.

That still makes it significantly cheaper than the Philips Hue alternative though, and right now, you can save 30% off of that price by clipping the coupon on Amazon.

If you’re looking for a more functional smart lamp and don’t need it to be portable, then I’d recommend the Govee Smart Table Lamp which boasts more features and brighter lighting for the same price.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Govee

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