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 Ninja Dragon Vortex 9 quadcopter 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 $80.
Ninja Dragon Vortex 9 RC Features
4K HD camera. Details are 4 times that of 1080 pixels; better highlight & shadows
Altitude hold mode. Stabilizes the drone’s flight
Real-time FPV. View real-time images with the compatible Wi-Fi app
Headless mode. No need to adjust the position of aircraft before flying
One-key automatic return. Enables it to find its way back automatically
4 channels. For ascent, descent, forward, backward, left flight, right flight & 360 roll
6-axis gyroscope. Allows smoother flight & more convenient control
Connect the Ninja Dragon Vortex 9 RC Quadcopter Drone to your handset and experience the unforgettable. Use it to view real-time images and capture the moment from above.
This camera drone quadcopter features an altitude hold mode function to stabilize flight so it can capture your image or video better. And when you’re done, the Vortex 9 can find its way back automatically.
The 4K camera on the Vortex 9 quadcopter is extremely detailed, providing sharp aerial images and interesting perspectives. Under two inches tall and just a smidge over five inches long, the pint-sized drone travels easily.
Order Yours!
The tiny, handheld drone Vortex 9 is an awesome toy and a practical tool for recreational and professional use. For a limited time, you can get the Ninja Dragon Vortex 9 for $80 in the AG Deals Store, a 46 percent discount.
As you may imagine, I write a lot. I do quite a bit of typing here at AndroidGuys, but I also do a lot of physical writing.
Between my day job and taking notes for review products, I constantly have a pen in my hand. To that end, I’ve spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the years looking for the perfect companion and I’ve yet to come up with anything I really loved.
Then, I laid my eyes on the reMarkable 2 and I knew I had to try it out. For the uninitiated, the reMarkable 2 is an e-ink writing tablet. No, it’s not like an iPad and stylus; it’s designed from the ground up to be a writing tablet. And it shows.
About the reMarkable 2
Before we get into the experience of writing on the tablet, let’s go over a few of the basics. The reMarkable 2 is the world’s thinnest tablet, according to the company.
It comes in at just .19-inches (4.7 millimeters) thick and weighs in at less than one pound (.89 pounds, 403.5 grams). Eight gigabytes of storage and one gigabyte of LDDDR3 RAM pair with a 1.2 gigahertz dual-core processor.
In the world of flagship phones, this sounds like something from 2015 or so, but there’s more than enough horsepower here to drive the 10.3-inch, 1872 x 1404 e-ink display, and custom Linux software.
When using the reMarkable 2, it feels impossibly thin. It’s actually only about 0.06-inches thinner than an iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) but that small bit of thickness makes a huge difference. It doesn’t feel cheap by any means, but it does take some getting used to. Pair it with a folio case and you’ve got an excellent little device you can carry around from meeting to meeting without feeling encumbered.
Writing on the reMarkable 2 is nothing short of fantastic. There’s almost zero lag (21 milliseconds) between the stylus hitting the screen and seeing the ink displayed there. That’s one of the biggest advantages the tablet has over its competitors and after experiencing this kind of latency, I could never go back to something else.
reMarkable 2 Features
Display: 10.3-inch, 1872 x 1404 (e-ink), no backlight
RAM: 1 Gigabyte LPDDR3
Storage: 8 Gigabytes, non-expandable
Processor: 1.2 Gigahertz ARM dual-core
Battery: 3,000 Milliamp hours, rated for two weeks of use
Connectivity: USB C port, WiFi
Accuracy is also quite good and I’ve never found myself missing any pen strokes. Button pushes, on the other hand, are pretty bad. Using the stylus to tap type or click buttons on the screen seems to only have about a 50 percent hit rate. This is easily the most frustrating part of my experience with the reMarkable 2 and I’m hoping that this can be corrected through software updates.
Speaking of software updates, that’s another win for this tablet. In the three weeks I’ve had the device, I’ve already had two software updates; one for stability and bug fixes and another that brought new features and a few layout changes. Long may this continue.
reMarkable still has a ways to go into making the software experience what it should be. They’re at a very good starting point but it does feel a bit like early iOS. Functional, sometimes frustrating, and with a ton of potential.
Unlike Apple, however, reMarkable isn’t allowing third-party apps on its platform at this time. I hope that changes because you could do so much more on this tablet than you’re capable of right now. Yes, you can load some books and use it as an e-reader, but how great would it be if you could install Libby?
You can convert all your notes to text and send them off in an email, but wouldn’t it be great to respond to all your work emails in your chicken scratch and have it sent off in perfectly legible text?
Despite the deficiencies, I really have enjoyed my time with the reMarkable 2. You have to make some adjustments to get it into your workflow but once you do, it’s really fantastic.
For example, the lack of a backlight in the display sounds like a killer, but even with dark mode on, I can write perfectly fine with just the light of a computer monitor in an otherwise dark room. There’s also no fingerprint scanner, but there is a passcode option for those 2015 vibes (again).
Key Facts
Codex, custom Linux build operating system
Supports PDF and ePub, no third-party apps
43 default page templates
Eight brush styles from Mechanical Pencil to Highlighter
Supports cut, copy, paste, and convert to text
All those compromises allow reMarkable to be impossibly thin. And I cannot overstate how fantastic the tablet feels in the hand, in a folio case, and being written on. It’s the feel of this thing that really sells you, unfortunately, that’s pretty hard to express on a spec sheet.
What I can say, however, is that the experience is so good that I actively find myself making excuses to write something down, take some notes, or doodle even though I am quite possibly the worst artist in the northern hemisphere.
The reMarkable 2 is on sale for $400 right now and the company sells a variety of first-party accessories as well. For most people, the price is going to be a hard pass. You can get a full-fledged iPad and Apple Pencil for essentially the same price. But, if you need a dedicated writing tablet, I think this makes a lot more sense.
On the other hand, the first-party cases are very overpriced. I would suggest going with the Marker Plus for $99 instead of the Marker for $49. The eraser on the Marker Plus is absolutely worth it in my opinion.
Finding the right car insurance can be difficult. Between price, level of coverage, and control over your plan, picking the right car insurance can be as labor-intensive as picking the right car. If you’re looking for a car insurance plan that has better coverage at lower prices, then consider Clearcover.
Clearcover is an affordable, completely digital car insurance provider that is easy to use, and there for you when you need it. From the comfort of your phone, you can set up your plan, file claims, pay bills, and view proof of your insurance. Because Clearcover is an entirely digital car insurance provider, the process is expedited, so you can check your price in just a few minutes.
Available in 16 states across the US, Clearcover has a 90% satisfaction rate among customers. That 90% is earned by transparent pricing and clear communication about what your plan will cover–fast and easy online service, and coverage where you need it.
Clearcover simplifies the car insurance process for you by giving you digital access to access to everything you need. From your phone, you can file claims and check your price, which are tasks that require long periods on hold for other insurance providers. You will even be able to view proof of your insurance anywhere, even if you don’t have a wifi connection.
Reasonable prices and a guarantee of convenience make Clearcover an easy choice for your car insurance needs. Experienced drivers and those new to the road alike can benefit from quality, affordable service that you can access anywhere.
With consistently excellent reviews, Clearcover is an insurance company that can give you coverage you don’t have to worry about for a price that won’t break the bank. If you are looking for a car insurance provider that will cover you when you need it and fade into the background when you don’t, then Clearcover is the provider for you.
Be sure to check out everything Clearcover has to offer in the way of fast, convenient, and entirely digital car insurance. Drivers can switch car insurance at any time, so take this opportunity now to get Clearcover for all your car insurance needs.
Klipsch first launched its T5 True Wireless buds in 2019 with the iconic Zippo-like case. In 2020, it followed up with the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds, and we were fortunate enough to get a pair in from Klipsch for this review.
Design
Klipsch went a long way towards improving the design of its true wireless headphones with the follow-up to the T5 series. Not only are the buds more compact but the T5 II case is also smaller. It feels much better in your pocket now, and even better, the buds no longer stick far out of your ears like the previous model.
Of course, the Zippo-inspired case is the real show stopper with the T5 II True Wireless earbuds. It has a classic refined style while also feeling heavy-duty and premium in your hand. Besides looking good, it also uses a USB-C charging port on the back and features three LED lights to show how much of a charge is remaining in the case.
There’s really only two drawbacks to this beautiful case. First, it is still quite hefty despite its smaller size. You’re definitely going to feel this in your pocket while walking around. Secondly, it doesn’t support wireless charging. That may not be a big deal for some of you, but it’s worth noting.
Comfort
Klipsch uses a patented oval ear tip on its earbuds and I absolutely love it. I always find that Klipsch makes some of the most comfortable buds to wear, and this is a big reason why.
User Experience
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds use physical buttons to control music playback and answer calls. The buttons themselves work fine, but I found they require a little more pressure to push than I’d like. This resulted in me either needing to hold the bud while pressing the button or else I’d just keep jamming it into my ear every time I pushed on them. So while it’s functional, I wouldn’t exactly call it ideal.
One of the features I was happy to see the T5 II True Wireless buds add is Transparency Mode, which allows outside noise in to be aware of your surroundings or to have conversations. Unfortunately, I could barely tell a difference whether I had it enabled or disabled. I’d love to see them adjust this so that the “High” setting in the app allows in more sound, because the “High” setting is more what I would expect from “Low” in Transparency Mode.
Another helpful feature I’d love to see added is a sensor that automatically pauses or resumes your music when the buds are removed from your ear. This would be less of an issue if Transparency Mode worked better, but when I need to remove the buds or a singular bud to have conversations it would be great if it paused the song for me as well.
Besides that, the T5 II True Wireless buds function great. I never ran into any issues and they stayed in my ears well.
App
As someone who has used Klipsch headphones over the years, I have been waiting for the Klipsch Connect app to launch for a long time. It seemed to have been delayed for years, but I’m glad to say that it has been out for a while now and the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless are supported by it.
Like with most Bluetooth headphone apps, the Klipsch Connect app will aid you in upgrading firmware for your headphones and changing additional settings.
In this case, you’ll also be able to adjust the equalizer, enable/disable Transparency Mode, and view the battery level of the individual earbuds. I wish there was a way to also view the battery level of the case, but checking the battery level of the buds is more important.
Sound Quality
The T5 II True Wireless earbuds continue in Klipsch’s tradition of clear crisp sound. These are perfect if you’re a fan of headphones with lots of clarity that tend to lean towards a bright sound with more treble.
And while the T5 True Wireless have a nice punch of bass, I would not recommend them to bass heads. Even after adjusting the EQ to increase the low-end, I found the bass was stronger but still lacking some depth.
Regardless, the T5 True Wireless buds have a balanced clear sound with enough bass to satisfy the majority of people.
Mic
For all of us working from home these days, mic quality for calls can be a big deal. I’m happy to report that the T5 II True Wireless have a fantastic mic. My voice sounded clear and natural on calls. Plus, I didn’t have to speak too loud for mics to hear me.
Battery Life
Klipsch rates the T5 II True Wireless earbuds for eight hours of continuous listening and 24 additional hours with the case. In my experience, I was easily able to get through a week without charging and they certainly lived up to Klipsch’s estimates.
Final Thoughts
Klipsch has made some important improvements to the T5 II True Wireless headphones and that makes them a true successor to the original. While they still lag behind in some smart features, most notably ANC, the sound quality is on par with other top true wireless buds in the field with the bonus of a premium unique case.
As long as you’re ok without ANC and some additional features, you can save a little money and get a great-sounding pair of true wireless earbuds. The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Earbuds are currently available from Amazon for $139 in Silver and $199 in Gunmetal. Of course, you can also purchase them from Klipsch’s website for $199 in both colors.
Whether you’re a blogger, aspiring journalist or anyone else who writes for work, speed and accuracy are of utmost importance. Sure, you can always slow down to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors, but time is money. Sometimes we hit a stride and need to “strike while the iron is hot”, so to say. That’s when speed becomes critical.
The problem that often comes with moving at our fastest pace is that typos and errors happen. Then it takes just as long to go back and spend time editing.
The Lightkey Pro Text Prediction Software, available for just $50 in the AG Deals Store today, is powered by AI and learns your typing patterns, improving your pace by suggesting words and correcting errors. Indeed, a lifetime subscription to this powerful tool is currently 70 percent off.
Lightkey learns your typing patterns and begins to predict words, with punctuation, to help speed things up, all without losing coherence. In fact, it will boost your speed by around four times offering up to 12 words ahead of time.
Intuitive dashboard helps you unlock your key productivity metrics
The real-time text spelling and grammar correction software folds in tons of writing rules and suggests relevant predictions. Lightkey dives into dozens of built-in content domains such as technology, academia, and business to inform and shape the predictions.
Lightkey is simple and intuitive tool that works with many common word writing apps (Microsoft Office, Google Docs, etc). Oh, and it supports over 80 languages.
Get Started Today
The most recent version of Lightkey Pro offers a lower price, new UI, new features and more accuracy for predictive text. You can get a lifetime subscription to this real-time correction app for just $50, down from $169.
Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a company called LeEco that burst onto the American shore with big promises and reasonably priced 4K Android TVs. Long story short, the company went belly up within a year. Fast forward to 2021 and I’m left with a TV stuck on Android 6.0, while the most recent version is Android TV OS 10.
It’s a tale as old as time, but a company doesn’t have to go under to leave you stranded with old software. My JBL Link Bar soundbar with Android TV is proof of that. It’s currently running Android TV OS 9 with the last update coming nearly a year ago and no signs of another update coming anywhere in the near future.
The takeaway from this is, if you want your TV to run the latest version of software, it’s best to stick with a brand with a good track record with updates. And what other company would be more likely to update its TV box than the one that is responsible for creating the software? That’s right, I’m talking about Google, this is the Chromecast with Google TV review after all.
Design
The Chromecast with Google TV is slightly larger than the previous generation Chromecasts, while also being compact. Basically, all you need to know is that it’s sleek and small enough to stay hidden behind your TV.
It also comes in three different colors, Snow, Sunrise, and Sky. None of this matters for the unit itself, but it will change what color your remote is. I have the Snow unit here, as if you couldn’t tell by its white color already.
When it comes to I/O, there aren’t a lot of options here. You get an HDMI out on one end and a USB-C input on the other. That doesn’t leave you with a lot of options.
However, it is possible to connect a USB-C hub with power delivery to expand the Chromecast with Google TV and add external storage. Some things to note, it will only read FAT32 filesystems and it’s going to require a higher wattage power brick.
For USB hubs, I’d suggest the Vemont USB-C Hub 5-in-1. It has been proven to work well with the Chromecast with Google TV and it can even add an Ethernet port to it. However, you’re going to have to switch to a power brick with more watts such as this Anker USB-C 45W charger.
User experience
To address the elephant in the room, yes, Google recently updated the home screen on Android TV that shows “recommendations” AKA ads. The Android TV community has been very vocal about this, even tanking the review score of the Launcher app on the Play Store with negative reviews.
I’m not a fan of ads myself, but I’m honestly not too bothered by this change. I’m mostly blind to the promoted shows and just treat it as a live wallpaper that makes the background more interesting than a static image. A few times I may even pay attention and learn about a new show or movie.
Regardless, I can’t defend Google’s decision here, and at the very least there should be a way to toggle this off in the settings. I’m sure there would be many like myself who wouldn’t touch it, but it definitely would make a lot of users happy to disable it.
Now, putting that aside, here’s what the Chromecast with Google TV’s UI is all about–content instead of services. That’s why everywhere you look there are suggestions for movies and TV shows for you to watch with your apps list taking a back seat.
In essence, Google is trying to get you to content as quickly as possible without requiring you to open a variety of apps to find something to watch. That’s why there is a “Continue watching” section which compiles a list of shows and movies you’ve started from various services. In theory, this should allow you to jump right back into whatever you were watching bypassing opening the actual app.
At first, I was blown away by this and found it extremely convenient. It even synced up with shows I had started from apps on a Roku box. Soon though, I became disappointed when the section failed to update.
For example, shows stopped updating what episode I was on leaving it stuck on one particular episode. Even worse, it would remain there even after I finished the entire series. After a couple of weeks, the show finally disappeared from the “Continue watching” section, and now nothing from Netflix has appeared there since.
There are also apps that don’t support the “Continue watching” section such as Vudu and Prime Video. That’s the fault of the app developer though–but even if it worked, it wouldn’t work properly–just like with the Netflix integration. All in all, this would be an amazing feature, if only it worked consistently.
Aside from the broken “Continue watching” section, another way Chromecast with Google TV streamlines watching content is with the voice-activated remote.
Remote
This is a pretty big deal because this is the first Chromecast device to include a remote. Not only that, but it’s pretty essential to the user experience because it has a mic in it which allows you to use Google Assistant with the Chromecast with Google TV.
Using voice commands was my preferred way to interact with the Chromecast, because it made it so easy to start up videos. Plus, you can even use it to quickly rewind a video if you missed something important. Just try saying, “Hey Google, rewind 10 seconds” or any other duration.
However, if you prefer to press buttons or need to keep the noise down late at night, then rest assured, the remote has all the buttons you need.
At the top, is a circle that allows you to navigate up, down, left, and right. In the center of the circle, is the button you’ll use to make selections. Below that, is the back button, Google Assistant button, home button, mute button, and two buttons dedicated to the YouTube and Netflix apps.
Additionally, there is a power and input button that can be programmed to control your TV, as well as volume keys on the side of the remote. These are programmed during the initial setup and it walks you through selecting your TV, soundbar, or Audio/Video Receiver.
Final Thoughts
Is the Chromecast with Google TV still worth buying in 2021? The answer is a resounding yes. For $50 you get a very capable streamer with a voice-activated remote that supports 4K HDR up to 60fps in Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ that runs the most up-to-date version of Android TV OS.
Plus, Google has announced Stadia support is available for Google TV so you’ll also have a great way to get Stadia on your TV. A feature that should have been there at launch, sure, but better late than never.
Today, T-Mobile announced a new entry-level 5G smartphone for its network carrying the Un-carrier’s REVVL branding. The latest to join this lineup is dubbed the REVVL V+ 5G and is very friendly on your wallet starting at $200.
You might not be expecting much when you hear the REVVL V+ 5G’s $200 price tag, but this entry-level phone packs some big features. Namely, the massive 6.82-inch display which will be perfect for streaming Netflix if you have one of T-Mobile’s plans with it bundled in.
Another one of the surprising features on this affordable 5G phone is a triple camera setup on the back. T-Mobile doesn’t go into much detail about the focal lengths of the cameras, but we do know it comes with an array that includes a 16MP, 5MP, and 2MP camera housed on the back. While on the front is a 16MP selfie camera that is capable of face unlock.
Additionally, the REVVL V+ 5G uses a fingerprint sensor in the power button as a more secure form of biometric unlock. Rounding out the list of impressive specs at this price point is a 5,000mAh battery, which should be plenty of juice to get you through a day and then some.
Under the hood, the REVVL V+ 5G packs a MediaTek Dimensity 700 Octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM paired with 64GB of storage. Thankfully, if you need more storage than that, there is also a microSD card slot for expansion.
Finally, the REVVL V+ 5G will run Android 11 when it launches next month. It will launch first on Metro by T-Mobile and be available in stores beginning on July 12, 2021. T-Mobile customers will have to wait a little longer though, as it won’t be available in T-Mobile stores until July 23, 2021.
While $200 is a great deal for a 5G smartphone, there’s a way you can win one for free. As part of the launch, T-Mobile is rolling out an Augmented Reality game to celebrate and giving away a REVVL V+ 5G to a few of the top scorers. All you have to do is play the game and “tweet a screenshot of your score with #LeaderIn5G and #sweepstakes for a chance to win!”
Back in 2019, Samsung introduced their fastest charging yet. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (my former device) was announced with 45W USB-C charging. There were some caveats to this; the only way to get 45W charging was with a 45W brick from Samsung. 45W charging was also featured on the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Galaxy Note20 and S21 series
In the same year, however, it had seemed that Samsung gave up on 45W charging. Both the Galaxy Note20 and the Galaxy S21 series maxed out 25W charging.
This was a point of upset for me switching from the Galaxy Note10+ to the S21 Ultra. My 45W charger was rendered essentially useless for me, so I gave it to my parents, who both still have the Galaxy Note10+. The device still charges fast and maintains a great battery life, but I was definitely disappointed.
Now, however, it seems that Samsung is once again backtracking with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. Recently, a Samsung phone with the model number SM-G990U passed through the FCC for certification, with most assuming this is the upcoming Galaxy S21 FE. The FCC listing shows that the device includes support for Samsung’s 45W charging adapter. This is quite an interesting inclusion, as the FE tends to be a cheaper device than the phone it is modeled after; peculiar that an additional feature would be in it. And yes, I am quite upset that this phone will feature 45W charging while my top-tier flagship does not.
Not much else is known about the device, but rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE will feature a Snapdragon 888, 6 or 8 gigabytes of RAM, a 120Hz screen, and a 4500mAh battery(500mAh larger than the Galaxy S21). This makes the device a flagship level phone, which seems to be Samsung’s ethos with the FE tag. They are venturing to create their own “flagship killer” phones which takes top tier specs but cuts a few corners to make a cheaper device than their full-fledged counterpart.
The road to an Android version of iMessage has been long and grueling, though we might be closer to an end thanks to Google Messages and RCS
For years, one of the notable features of iPhones has been a consistent messaging experience across phones and carriers – iMessage. One app can both send text messages and participate in rich communication with stickers, message effects, reactions, and large attachments. Android has long not enjoyed such a feature.
The history of RCS
RCS in Google Messages
To change this, Google turned to Rich Communications Services (RCS). In 2018, Google and Samsung both worked to bring RCS to their respective messaging apps. In addition, carriers had been introducing so-called “Advanced Messaging” based off of RCS. The issue, though, was that each carrier used different RCS profiles, which meant that you could only enjoy Advanced Messaging with people on your own network.
In 2019, carriers tried to fix this by creating the Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI). This group had a goal of creating a unified messaging experience by 2020. This goal wasn’t met, but I’m going to assume that this was probably due to some..global circumstances, to put it lightly. There wasn’t a complete lack of progress, though.
In 2020, T-Mobile switched to RCS Universal Profile 1.0, which meant that cross-carrier RCS messaging could occur; assuming that the other carrier also supported the Profile and both individuals used Google Messages. Then, earlier this year, T-Mobile fully switched all users to Google Messages as the default messaging app on their devices.
AT&T is now doing the same thing. Google Messages will become the default messaging app for all AT&T Android phones moving forward. This means that AT&T customers will be able to: send larger files, see typing indicators, and have easy group chats where people can be added and removed with ease.
Google has also introduced end to-end encryption for RCS chats. There’s little info about the rollout over at AT&T, but this announcement is a massive step towards a unified messaging experience across all Android phones. Now, the only holdout is Verizon.
The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is the latest from the Chinese phone maker and it boasts a wide array of high-end features. Priced a few hundreds bucks cheaper than its main competition, the unlocked handset works with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile.
On paper, the Axon 30 Ultra is one of the strongest phones of the year. Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, no less than 8GB RAM, and a 64-megapixel quad-camera configuration, it has the makings of a “best of the year” type of experience.
How does it handle in real world and day-to-day usage? Is it a dark horse candidate that begs for consideration? Or does it fall short on delivery? Read on to find out our thoughts on the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra.
Design
First and foremost, this is a gorgeous phone. In fact, even after we placed it in the carrying case that comes in the box, we feel like it’s exposed and vulnerable; we’re nearly afraid to have it out.
The Axon 30 Ultra is also a large phone. At 6.7-inches, the AMOLED screen is among the bigger ones on the market. What’s more, it has a 2,400 x 1,800 pixel resolution and up to 144Hz refresh rate.
The bezels around the screen are very slim with the display curving ever so slightly around the edge. We’re generally not a fan of these types of screens because they lend to accidental swipes and/or unread swipes.
Around back we locate four cameras in the top left corner. The module is rather pronounced, emerging from the back and taking up a fair amount of real estate. This is largely due to the rest of the phone being so slim.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the aluminum Axon 30 Ultra is a treat to look over. Our review unit, which is “black” looks to be more like a gunmetal or silver and it has just the right blend of matte finish.
Software
The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is powered by an Android 11-based MyOS11 which largely resembles a stock experience. There are very few extras installed here, and because it isn’t sold through a carrier, there are no bloatware or “value added” apps that come from service providers.
If you like your Android unadulterated and straightforward, you’ll like what’s on offer. However, if you like to customize your experience a bit, there are plenty of options available. The deeper you dive, the more settings you’ll find.
One such setting that appreciate is under “Features” which lets us decide how sensitive the edges are for mistouches. We’re also fond of the number of gestures and settings we can use and that they are not an “all or nothing’ approach. Oh, and the number of quick settings available from the notification bar is staggering.
As a stock Android purists, we had little trouble with the way things are presented here. It’s easy to find your way around, make adjustments, and customize the experience.
Performance
The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is a snappy phone that doesn’t stutter or lag but we never expected that. We loaded this up with as many accounts and daily usage apps that we could think of and never once saw the phone show any signs of weakness. With this much memory (8GB) paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor it could be a few years before we see that being an issue.
The phone is a treat to look at and hold, but it is almost too thin and slippery. Should you opt to not have a protective case on it you may find it escapes your grasp easier than your previous phones.
The in-display fingerprint sensor is quick to read and placed in a convenient spot. Unlocking the phone results in a fun on-screen animation and sound that lets you know it’s happened. On a semi-related note, you can also opt for an always-on display with various clock and notifications settings.
The screen is a lovely one that responds well to touch. Games look great at practically any refresh rate, but it’s always fun to dial things up to 144Hz. Truth be told it is tough to really see the difference from 120Hz and 144Hz but a lot of apps don’t really lean into high refresh yet. With that it in mind, you can set the refresh at 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. Just know that the higher you go, the more of an impact it will have on your battery.
Axon 30 Ultra Camera Samples
Camera samples resized to 1920p width, no other edits.
Speaking of battery, the 4600mAh power source is a strong one that lasts well into the day, even beyond. Charging is very fast, and just a few minutes of being plugged in is all it might take to get you over the last hurdle of a long day of usage.
When it comes to the topic of cameras, thus far we’ve been relatively impressed with things. The Axon 30 Ultra features three 64-megapixel lenses, a standard, ultra-wide (120 degree), and portrait. Additionally, it has an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 5X optical/60x hybrid zoom on the rear.
In our time with the phone we’ve found it captures a pretty consistent image, regardless of lens. Daylight photos look tremendous and the amount of detail is higher than expected, especially for the ultra-wide.
Lower light situations also performed better than anticipated. The Axon 30 Ultra takes surprisingly quick pictures even when HDR or other settings are dialed up.
Saturation does run a little high from time to time, but a quick edit in your favorite photo app can fix things ahead of sharing online. With that said, you could probably leave them alone and be satisfied with results.
We tend to take a lot of photos using the portrait mode on our phones as the depth of field always makes subjects stand out. With that said, it does sometimes appear to struggle with outlines between subject and background. You can adjust pictures after the fact, but moving the needle too far in the direction of background blur will occasionally result in a wonky cutout-like picture.
We had two quibbles with the app itself but both are minor in the scheme of things. First, the phone defaults to adding a watermark to each image with the model number in the bottom corner. That’s an easy fix as there’s a toggle in the settings.
The other nuisance is that the camera shutter sound is always present. There’s no way around it, at least as of today. We’re hoping for a fix in a future software update.
These things aside, we’re having a lot of fun playing with the numerous filters, lenses, and settings. The app is rather intuitive and takes just a few moments to get the handle of things. Suffice it to say, you shouldn’t be taking any boring photos with the Axon 30 Ultra.
Conclusion
There is an awful lot to like about the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra, especially its price tag. But, that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect device.
Two features we increasingly find in flagship and high-end models, water resistance and wireless charging, are not present here. For some either one of those could be a deal breaker or reason to spend an extra $50 on an alternative.
The phone is a fun one to play with as its large display is almost mesmerizing, especially when playing around with the camera. Games and videos look silky smooth with the (up to) 144Hz refresh rate and the 20:9 aspect ratio feels very comfortable.
It will be at least two years before our mobile needs even come close to requiring the hardware of this device. Few of us have Wi-Fi 6 networks in our homes or offices and 5G will continue to be a work in progress for the foreseeable future. However, when those become commonplace the Axon 30 Ultra will have already celebrated its first anniversary.
The topic of performance is a non-starter. We did our best to throw games and multi-tasking at it and didn’t see it struggle once. Surely you can find an outlet that has benchmarks or who measures frame rate drops, but we suspect they’ll still find this one a good value proposition.
If you’re an AT&T or T-Mobile customer, or subscribe to one of their MVNO/prepaid brands, you’ll have no issues with support. Verizon subscribers have to sit this one out.
Availability
You can learn more about the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra at the manufacturer’s website where it’s also available to purchase. As of today the 8GB/128GB option is priced $750 with the 12GB/256GB model at $850.
