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Red Pocket Buyer’s Guide

Jason England
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When it comes to your mobile service, I’m sure you’ve heard all of the big names out there like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. However, I’m sure you’ve also noticed the premium prices each one of these mobile providers charges. Cell service can oftentimes run you upwards of $80 or more a month.

What if I told you there was a cheaper way to get service using the same towers the mobile giants use? Welcome to the world of Mobile Virtual Network Operators, companies that lease the same towers as the big boys but charge a fraction of the cost.

One of those companies happens to be Red Pocket. Read on to find out more about this MVNO and the plans it offers.

About

Red Pocket is an American-owned company that was founded in 2006 offering no-contract mobile phone and internet service. Currently, Red Pocket offers service on four different networks using towers compatible with AT&T (GSMA), Sprint (CDMAS), T-Mobile (GSMT), and Verizon (CDMA) devices.

If you’re wondering what service to choose then check the coverage map for a better idea of which is best for you.

Rate Plans

Red Pocket offers a variety of plans to choose from with options to pay monthly or annually. Plans start as low as $10 per month for customers who sign up using the GSMT network from T-Mobile.

Also, plans starting at $19 and above offer unlimited slower 2G data speeds after reaching your limit of high-speed data. Here’s a breakdown of all the plans offered through Red Pocket. All plans are available on all supported networks unless otherwise stated.

Monthly Plans

  • $10 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 1GB of high-speed data per month. GSMT only.
  • $19 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 3GB of high-speed data per month.
  • $30 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 10GB of high-speed data per month.
  • $40 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 12GB of high-speed data per month. GSMA and GSMT customers get an upgrade to 22GB of high-speed data per month.
  • $50 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 30GB of high-speed data per month.

Next up are the annual plans, all of which offer unlimited 2G data after you hit your high-speed data cap.

Annual Plans

  • $30 – 200 minutes, 1000 texts, and 200MB of high-speed data per month. CDMA and GSMT networks only.
  • $60 – 100 minutes, 100 texts, and 500MB of high-speed data per month. GSMT network only.
  • $99 – 1000 minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of high-speed data per month.

Annual Plans – eBay Exclusives

  • $180 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 3GB of high-speed data per month.
  • $240 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 8GB of high-speed data per month.
  • $360 – Unlimited minutes and texts with 20GB of high-speed data per month.

Family Plans

Red Pocket also offers family plans with the first line costing $30 per month and each additional line can be added for $20 per month with a one-time $10 activation fee. For that, you get unlimited minutes and texts with 10GB of high-speed data and unlimited 2G data after that.

The best part of the Red Pocket family plan is that you can mix and match networks allowing each person to use the network that works best for them.

What devices are supported on Red Pocket?

With Red Pocket supporting every major carrier, there aren’t many phones that aren’t supported. However, certain phones such as locked Tracfone devices, Boost/Virgin Mobile branded devices, or phones that have been reported lost or stolen are not compatible.

Otherwise, you can bring your own device and pick a SIM card based on the network that provides you the best coverage and is supported by your device. Red Pocket even offers a small range of iPhones and Samsung phones to choose from in its store if you prefer to buy a phone directly from them.

More Information

If you’d like to learn more about Red Pocket then check out its website or the Red Pocket Mobile Help Center.

Apple TV Plus now available on most Android TV boxes, including the Nvidia Shield TV

Jason England
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0

Apple’s foray into services is only going to work if it can reach as many subscribers as possible. That’s why we see Apple Music on devices outside of the Apple ecosystem, and why Apple TV Plus has been present on select devices outside of Apple’s own hardware.

So far, we’ve seen Apple TV Plus on Roku, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and select TVs and devices running Android TV. The Chromecast with Google TV is a prime example of one of those Android TV boxes which gained Apple TV Plus support back in February.

However, that left out a lot of other TVs running Android TV, including the very popular Nvidia Shield TV lineup of streaming boxes. That all changed earlier this week when Nvidia announced on its blog that Apple TV was coming to the Shield TV.

Apple TV Plus will support 4K HDR with Dolby Vision on the Nvidia Shield TV, as well as Dolby Atmos for an enhanced watching experience.

Now, you’ll be able to watch Apple TV originals like the wonderfully hilarious Ted Lasso, which returns for a second season on July 23, 2021. There’s also For All Mankind from Ronald D. Moore of Battlestar Galactica fame, and Mythic Quest, a workplace sitcom about a gaming company from the creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Plus, other originals such as Greyhound starring Tom Hanks, See with Jason Mamoa, The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston, and more.

Users will also be able to subscribe to Apple TV channels with the app, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz through the app.

Besides the Nvidia Shield, Google has confirmed with 9to5Google that the Apple TV app will be available for all Android TV devices. However, while I see it on my JBL Bar Link, the app does not show up when searching on my aging LeEco TV that runs Android TV.

So, perhaps it won’t be available on all Android TV boxes, but only on some of the more modern ones. Yet again, another reason why I’m looking into buying a Chromecast with Google TV.

Improve your posture and WFH situation with this height-adjustable standing desk, just $255

AG Deals Team
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0

As things start to get back to normal, some of us are returning to offices and working in groups again. For a lot of others, though, the new normal includes working from home, even if just part of the week.

Regardless of where you work, you already know that sitting down in front of a computer for eight hours at a time can really take a toll on your body. And when you do this for years on end, well… you probably know the long-term damage that can be done.

While ergonomic chairs, balance balls, and other equipment can be helpful, nothing is quite as good for you back and body as standing and stretching. Perhaps this is why standing desks have become increasingly popular over the last few years.

The problem standing desks is that they are often quite expensive. If you’re on the hunt for a standing or height-adjustable desk and don’t have an unlimited budget, the EC1 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk could be the solution. Normally $299, it’s currently on sale for $255.

The EC1 desk employs a quiet single motor mechanism which allows it to move up and down; it can go from a fully seated position to comfortably standing in under 10 seconds. Looking to avoid that post-lunch fatigue or drowsiness? Hoping to burn a few extra calories whenever possible? The EC1 aims to please.

The EC1 goes gets as low as 28 inches, and reaches 48.6 inches at its highest. To adjust height simply use the keypad on the lip of the desk.

The EC1 standing desk is a generally great workplace companion as it features a one-inch-thick desktop and a generous 48″ x 30″ working surface. Whether standing or sitting at the desk you’ll have sufficient room to get the job done.

Check out the EC1 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk in the AG Deals Store. Get it while it’s on sale for $255, a 15 percent discount from its regular price of $299.

HBO Max ad-supported tier now available in the U.S. (Updated)

Jason England
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0

Updated 06/04/2021:

The new ad-supported tier for HBO Max has now launched with the $9.99 per month price tag. It’s available for new and existing subscribers, check this link to switch your account, and you can save $20 by paying for an annual plan instead of going month to month.

Some additional info on the plan has also been released, such as more restrictions for the ad-supported tier. We already knew subscribers on the cheaper plan would miss out on those hot new theater releases. Although, HBO says those new titles will become available months after they first debut on the streaming platform and in theaters.

Furthermore, HBO Max has revealed streaming quality will be limited to 1080p instead of 4K like on the full-priced plan, and you won’t be able to download videos with the Android or iOS app.

Original Article

HBO Max is one of the pricier streaming services out there at $14.99 a month. Now, it looks like the WarnerMedia owned streamer is doing something about it. In an announcement yesterday, it revealed in the first week of June 2021, HBO Max will begin offering an ad-supported tier costing $9.99 a month in the U.S. Just in time for the Friends Reunion special which premieres on May 27, 2021.

The discount puts it more in line with some of its competitors by offering a price under $10 per month. However, many of them, such as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video all offer ad-free experiences in that price range.

Regardless, HBO Max says it is dedicated to offering the “lightest ad load in the streaming industry, coupled with the most premium content.” At launch, advertisers will be able to offer a “brand block” where viewers experience a limited commercial experience featuring its brand.

In the future HBO Max will introduce “pause ads” similar to what you experience on Hulu’s ad-supported tier, and “branded discovery” which “surround the content discovery process as consumers explore HBO Max recommended programming.”

While $10 a month for access to all that HBO Max has to offer with a light ad load sounds like a decent enough deal, there is one major caveat here. Do you remember when HBO Max announced it would be releasing its 2021 movie lineup on the streaming service the same day as the theater release?

Well, those won’t be available on the HBO Max ad-supported tier. That’s right, if you want to see the latest Warner movies, you must be subscribed to the more expensive $14.99 a month plan. Although, that still beats what Disney+ charges for Premier Access to watch its latest movies while they’re still in the theater.

While the HBO Max ad-supported tier is coming to the U.S. in June, the ad-free version of the service will also roll out to 39 additional countries later that month. WarnerMedia will also transition HBO services in Europe to HBO Max by the end of 2021.

Twitter’s new subscription service allows you to undo tweets

Jason England
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0

There have been rumors and leaks about Twitter starting a subscription service with additional features over the past couple of months. Now, Twitter has gone official launching Twitter Blue, its first-ever subscription offering.

Curiously enough, Twitter Blue will initially roll out to Australia and Canada leaving out the U.S. and every other country on the map. Twitter hopes to use this first phase of the roll out to gain insight and test out the new service.

Twitter Blue will have a monthly fee of $3.49 CAD in Canada or $4.49 AUD in Australia, and will offer a host of premium features that Twitter says will take the experience to the “next level.”

The most notable of these new features is an option to undo a tweet. It’s not exactly a way to delete tweets, but it does allow you to set a timer of up to 30 seconds delaying your tweet from being published. During this time, you can preview your tweet and make any corrections to typos or make changes before posting it to Twitter.

Another perk for Twitter Blue subscribers is Bookmark Folders, an easy way to organized your saved tweets. Now you can create folders separating your memes into categories, so now your Star Wars memes won’t ever get mixed up with your Marvel memes again.

There will also be a Reader Mode for Twitter Blue users which is said to get rid of all the noise and make it easier for you to keep up with long threads.

Additionally, subscribers will get access to customizable app icons for the home screen on their devices and “fun color themes” for the Twitter app. Access to dedicated subscription customer support is also listed among the Twitter Blue perks.

This is only the start for Twitter Blue, the company says it will continue to monitor feedback from users for new features and ways to improve the service. However, Twitter has not announced when the subscription-based service will begin rolling out to more countries.

The best Android phones available at Simple Mobile

AndroidGuys
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0

T-Mobile is one of the biggest wireless network operators in the US, providing nearly 100 million subscribers with coverage. As you’d expect, it features quite an impressive handset selection, including models with 5G support. But what about other brands that use its network, such as Simple Mobile?

Simple Mobile, as is the case with other MVNOs, has its own rate plans, customer service, and phone selection. Here, we’ll dig into the Android devices offered at Simple Mobile.

We’ve gathered up a handful of the best phones you can purchase at Simple Mobile today. Although we do select one as the best overall (Editors’ Choice), the list below offers phones that work for a variety of user types.

For what it’s worth, the handset selection at Simple Mobile is fairly lean, skewing toward older models and refurbished phones. To that end, we always suggest buying an unlocked phone for use with a carrier. The options are plentiful in both directions and you’ll likely get something more powerful.

Samsung Galaxy S1

“The flagship Samsung experience for 2021 is not only powerful, but it’s gorgeous, too. It looks unlike any of its predecessors on the surface and we couldn’t be happier.

Internally, the phone is as about as powerful as they come, and should be more than sufficient for the needs of pretty much anyone. Whether you’re gaming, snapping ultra-wide photos, recording 4K video, or just hitting up your social media platforms, the Galaxy S21 is here for it.

Key features for the phone include a 6.2-inch AMOLED display, at least 128GB storage, and an all-day 4,000mAh battery. You’ve also got an amazing camera setup, 8GB RAM, a monster of a processor, and an improved in-display fingerprint reader.”

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Biggest and Best

You can’t have a list of top phones without including the latest and greatest flagship. In this case, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. Sure, there are other versions of the S20 to consider but this reigns supreme. Outfitted with a large (6.9-inch) screen, lots of RAM (12GB), and an incredible camera experience, it’s a no-compromise device.

Powered by Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI, the phone is as powerful as it is sleek. Come for the 8K video recording, stay for the top-tier performance.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

LG Stylo 5 LTE

Big, practical, and (most importantly) affordable, the Stylo 5 LTE provides users with a large (6.2-inch) screen with stylus support. It’s perfect for scribbling notes, marking up documents, editing, and more.

Running Android 9 Pie, the phone is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. A microSD expansion card slot blows the door wide open for up to 2TB external media.

Wrapping things up, the LG handset has a 13-megapixel rear camera, front-facing 5-megapixel selfie camera, and a 3,500mAh battery with USB Type-C charging.

Buy the LG Stylo 5

Motorola Moto G6

We really like how Motorola handles its smartphones. For the past few years it has employed a stock version of Android, adding only the smallest of custom features. Moreover, they’re priced considerably lower than what a lot of bigger name brands charge.

Here, you get a big (5.7-inch) screen, a fairly modern build of Android, and respectable smattering of mid-range hardware. Details include an octa-core processor with 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot for external media.

Other things we appreciate? The dual rear cameras, lightning fast charging, and a water resistant coating. Tthat extra money left in our wallets is always nice, too.

Buy the Motorola Moto G6

Samsung Galaxy A50

Knowing that we already have a Samsung phone on this list, we have to add the Galaxy A50. Why? Because it’s a fraction of what the Galaxy S models cost, yet it still gives users all the features they find important.

The Galaxy A series in itself is very interesting to watch, however this is the one we like most. Present are a generous 6.4-inch display and a multi-camera (25 MP/8 MP/5MP) array on the rear, and a battery that rivals most phones. You know, the stuff we love.

Under the hood are an octa-core processor with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and a microSD expansion card slot for up to 512GB space. Rounding things out are a headphone jack, fingerprint reader, and USB Type C charging.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50

Amazfit T-Rex Pro Smartwatch review

Jason England
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0

There’s no shortage of smartwatches to choose from these days, however, most tend to focus on classic or sporty designs. Fortunately, there are still a few outdoor rugged models on the market, such as the Amazfit T-Rex Pro that we were recently sent for review.

Design

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro features an oversized design with a look reminiscent of the rugged Casio watches loved by outdoor enthusiasts. The display is a 1.3-inch AMOLED with an always-on option allowing you to get a quick glimpse at the time, date, battery life, steps, and more. It also includes an ambient light sensor to ensure it can be seen clearly in any lighting condition.

The durable body of the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is military standard certified, passing 15 military-grade tests, including being able to withstand temps of up to 150F and down to -40F below. On top of being built durable, the T-Rex Pro also features 10 ATM water-resistance, meaning it can survive in depths of 100 meters.

User experience

Now that you know how tough the T-Rex Pro is, how well does it function? First off, you must have noticed the up, down, select, and back buttons on the watch. These do exactly what you’d think they’d do, control those functions on the watch. This makes it possible to use the T-Rex Pro regardless of how dirty, wet, or slimy your fingers are. It also makes it perfect in the cold when you’re wearing gloves.

No matter what the situation, you’ll be able to use your watch without having to touch the screen, and that really comes in handy when you’re trekking around outdoors and your hands are constantly covered in something. Using the touchscreen also works flawlessly, so when you’re back home you can still interact with it that way as well.

Besides offering a user-friendly way to use the watch during all your outdoor activities, the T-Rex Pro also comes with a ton of features. It has a built-in compass and barometer for when you’re out in the wild, plus it’s a full-blown fitness watch.

It tracks your steps, has over 100 sports modes, and can check your blood oxygen levels. Additionally, it has 24-hour monitoring of your heart rate and stress, while also tracking your sleep. While I found it could sometimes detect I was sleeping when I was awake, the step tracker was very accurate. Plus, you can manually adjust the sleeping time in the app if you find it made a mistake.

Even though the T-Rex Pro is a fantastic fitness watch, one area I found it came up short is with notifications. It will show notifications from your phone, if you set it up through the app, but you cannot dismiss notifications from your phone or interact with them.

That means no replying to messages, deleting emails, and sometimes you can’t even view the full message. So while you can view notifications, the experience is far from ideal. There’s also a limited number of watch faces to choose from, so you won’t have as many options as you do on some other wearables. I was able to find a couple that I like, but it’s just something to be aware of.

App

The Zepp app is used to change your watchface, view all of the stats the watch collects, and is used for the initial setup of the T-Rex Pro. I’m a big fan of how the Zepp app displays the information it collects and it works well.

However, the initial setup can be tedious having to dig through menus to enable everything. It all seems a little unorganized and there are a few grammar errors, but overall, I appreciate the insights it provides. Plus, once you get it set up you’ll mostly stay on the homepage where it provides all the accumulated data, and that’s where it excels.

Battery life

Amazfit rates the T-Rex Pro for up to 18 days of battery life. I’m sure this is technically possible, but if you want to turn on all the different health monitoring functions and use the always-on display, then you’re looking at something closer to five days. Regardless, that’s impressive for a smartwatch that does so much.

Final thoughts

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a durable smartwatch for the outdoorsman that helps fill a gap in the wearables market. It features a wealth of health tracking features, fantastic battery life, and convenient buttons to control the watch.

My biggest criticisms are that the app could use a little polish and I wish notification support was better. Although I suspect that last one is due to a limitation that Google has placed on third-party wearables. You can pick it up now from Amazon for $180.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Amazfit

Google officially announces the new Pixel Buds A-series for $99

Jason England
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0

After several months of being leaked, Google has officially announced the arrival of the Pixel Buds A-series. Similar to the A-series of phones Google makes–such as the Pixel 4a–the Pixel Buds A-Series is a mid-range offering with some of what makes the Pixel Buds 2 great, while at a more affordable price.

And by more affordable, we mean $99, because that’s the price of admission on the Pixel Buds A-Series. For that, you’ll get a pair of true wireless headphones with custom-designed 12mm dynamic drivers, that Google says delivers a “full, clear, and natural sound.” However, it knows some people prefer a bit more oomph from their music–such as myself–and for them, there is a Bass Boost option to bring out the low-end.

Comfort is paramount in a pair of earbuds, and according to Google, it has scanned thousands of ears to ensure the Pixel Buds A-Series “fit securely with a gentle seal.” Not only that, but just like previous Pixel Buds, these include a spatial vent to reduce pressure in the ear to prevent that stuffy feeling.

Besides the sound quality and comfort fit, the Pixel Buds A-Series also includes some smart features. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Google product without support for Assistant, and even better, you can activate it hands-free by simply saying, “Hey Google.” Then you can give commands to check the weather, change the volume, or even reply to messages.

Additionally, the Pixel Buds A-Series offers Adaptive Sound which will adjust the volume depending on your surroundings. For example, the volume would be lower inside of your quiet home, but jogging down the street would cause it to increase the volume to combat the sound of traffic. Plus, the Pixel Buds A-Series are IPx4 water-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about getting sweat on them during your jog.

Finally, the Pixel Buds A-Series feature real-time translation, just like its more expensive counterparts, in more than 40 different languages when using an Android 6.0+ phone.

When it comes to battery life, Google claims the Pixel Buds A-Series will last up to five hours on a charge and 24 hours with the charging case. They can also offer up to three hours of listening time after 15 minutes of charging.

The Pixel Buds A-Series are available for pre-order now in the U.S. and Canada in either Clearly White or Dark Olive. Orders should start arriving to customers by June 17, 2021.

 

Simple Mobile Buyer’s Guide

AndroidGuys
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0

Picking out the right wireless carrier isn’t all that difficult. After all, there are just a few names to choose from in the US, right? Hardly. For every one of the service providers you can name, we bet there are two others you don’t even know exist.

The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) space is a crowded one and there’s plenty to consider. While they each have their own rate plans, terms, and features, they rely on the network infrastructure built by the bigger names.

Take, for instance, Simple Mobile.

Who is Simple Mobile?

Simple Mobile is an MVNO that offers GSM coverage from T-Mobile; however it may not fully offer the exact same network speed, availability, and coverage. This isn’t it exclusive to Simple Mobile as even T-Mobile’s own Metro brand sees the same experience.

As often is the case with many MVNO and prepaid carriers, there are no contracts with Simple Mobile.

What are Simple Mobile rate plans like?

When it comes to options, Simple Mobile has a number of 30-day plans available for customers. Prices range from as low as $25 per month up to $60 with varying amounts of high speed data.

Limited time promotions will sometimes see extra data or features like mobile hotspot added at no cost. The 5GB plan is priced just $20 per month for the first three months with automatic bill payment.

  • $25 per month for unlimited talk, text and 3GB of high speed data
  • $30 per month for unlimited talk, text and 5GB of high speed data
  • $40 per month for unlimited talk, text and 15GB of high speed data
  • $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited high speed data w/ 5GB hotspot, 480p video streaming
  • $60 per month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited high speed data w/ 15GB hotspot, 480p video streaming, 50GB cloud storage

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

What else should I know?

Simple Mobile customer can purchase add-on plans for extra data or international calling. Unused data does not roll over to the next month, but the international balance does.

There are other options and add-ons available to Simple Mobile customers, including global calling cards and extra data. Simple offers some modest international calling to 69 destinations and roaming.

Fine print and other details

It’s worth noting that most service plans include hotspot capabilities but it dips into the data allotment. The “Truly Unlimited” plan does get its own 10GB of data to share.

  • $5 – 2GB data add-on
  • $10 – 5GB data add-on
  • $20 – 10GB data add-on
  • $10 – Add-on International

Simple Mobile customers can earn rewards for referring others to its service, watching video clips, sharing on social media, and automatic bill payments. Credits can be used toward high-speed data or a free service plan. Get a friend to sign up for service and you’ll both get a month for free.

Any promos or discounts?

As of today there are a number of deals available through Simple Mobile, including a limited time Blowout Sale. A mix of instant discounts, price drops, last-chance buys, and promotions, it’s a great way to save money on purchases.

Can I use my own phone with Simple Mobile?

Customers can bring pretty much any unlocked GSM or T-Mobile phone to Simple Mobile. A $.99 SIM card can be purchased which fits all slots – nano, micro, or standard.

How is the phone selection at Simple Mobile?

Should you wish to purchase a phone from Simple you’ll find a range of devices from familiar brands like Samsung, Motorola, LG, and a few others.

The current crop of handsets isn’t overly attractive, but there are top-tier models like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G or Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

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.

T-Mobile is one of the biggest wireless network operators in the US, providing nearly 100 million subscribers with coverage. As you’d expect, it features quite an impressive handset selection, including models with 5G support. But what about other brands that use its network, such as Simple Mobile?

Simple Mobile, as is the case with other MVNOs, has its own rate plans, customer service, and phone selection. Here, we’ll dig into the Android devices offered at Simple Mobile.

We’ve gathered up a handful of the best phones you can purchase at Simple Mobile today. Although we do select one as the best overall (Editors’ Choice), the list below offers phones that work for a variety of user types.

For what it’s worth, the handset selection at Simple Mobile is fairly lean, skewing toward older models and refurbished phones. To that end, we always suggest buying an unlocked phone for use with a carrier. The options are plentiful in both directions and you’ll likely get something more powerful.

Samsung Galaxy S21

“The flagship Samsung experience for 2021 is not only powerful, but it’s gorgeous, too. It looks unlike any of its predecessors on the surface and we couldn’t be happier.

Internally, the phone is as about as powerful as they come, and should be more than sufficient for the needs of pretty much anyone. Whether you’re gaming, snapping ultra-wide photos, recording 4K video, or just hitting up your social media platforms, the Galaxy S21 is here for it.

Key features for the phone include a 6.2-inch AMOLED display, at least 128GB storage, and an all-day 4,000mAh battery. You’ve also got an amazing camera setup, 8GB RAM, a monster of a processor, and an improved in-display fingerprint reader.”

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Biggest and Best

You can’t have a list of top phones without including the latest and greatest flagship. In this case, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. Sure, there are other versions of the S20 to consider but this reigns supreme. Outfitted with a large (6.9-inch) screen, lots of RAM (12GB), and an incredible camera experience, it’s a no-compromise device.

Powered by Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI, the phone is as powerful as it is sleek. Come for the 8K video recording, stay for the top-tier performance.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

LG Stylo 5 LTE

Big, practical, and (most importantly) affordable, the Stylo 5 LTE provides users with a large (6.2-inch) screen with stylus support. It’s perfect for scribbling notes, marking up documents, editing, and more.

Running Android 9 Pie, the phone is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. A microSD expansion card slot blows the door wide open for up to 2TB external media.

Wrapping things up, the LG handset has a 13-megapixel rear camera, front-facing 5-megapixel selfie camera, and a 3,500mAh battery with USB Type-C charging.

Buy the LG Stylo 5

Motorola Moto G6

We really like how Motorola handles its smartphones. For the past few years it has employed a stock version of Android, adding only the smallest of custom features. Moreover, they’re priced considerably lower than what a lot of bigger name brands charge.

Here, you get a big (5.7-inch) screen, a fairly modern build of Android, and respectable smattering of mid-range hardware. Details include an octa-core processor with 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot for external media.

Other things we appreciate? The dual rear cameras, lightning fast charging, and a water resistant coating. Tthat extra money left in our wallets is always nice, too.

Buy the Motorola Moto G6

Samsung Galaxy A50

Knowing that we already have a Samsung phone on this list, we have to add the Galaxy A50. Why? Because it’s a fraction of what the Galaxy S models cost, yet it still gives users all the features they find important.

The Galaxy A series in itself is very interesting to watch, however this is the one we like most. Present are a generous 6.4-inch display and a multi-camera (25 MP/8 MP/5MP) array on the rear, and a battery that rivals most phones. You know, the stuff we love.

Under the hood are an octa-core processor with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and a microSD expansion card slot for up to 512GB space. Rounding things out are a headphone jack, fingerprint reader, and USB Type C charging.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50

Google will soon give apps one less way to track you on your phone

Jason England
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0

When you opt-in for personalized ads on your Android phone, Google creates an advertising ID which it uses to track you and make suggestions. However, did you know that advertising ID is also available to apps on your phone? Well, that’s all about to change.

Google recently updated its support page on the Play Console to inform developers that in the near future their apps will lose access to this advertising ID when a user opts out of personalized ads.

Starting in late 2021, when a user opts out of interest-based advertising or ads personalization, the advertising identifier will not be available. You will receive a string of zeros in place of the identifier.

As you can see, the change won’t be coming until late 2021–whenever that may be–but at least it’s coming. According to the article from XDA-Developers, a notice shared by a developer sheds some more light on the upcoming change. For starters, it will come via a phased rollout affecting apps on Android 12 first. Later, devices supporting Google Play will get the same treatment starting in early 2022.

This Google Play services phased rollout will affect apps running on Android 12 devices starting late 2021 and will expand to affect apps running on devices that support Google Play in early 2022. In July, we will provide more details and an alternate solution to support essential use cases such as analytics and fraud prevention.

While most users will be waiting till early 2022 for this feature, if you’d like to go ahead and opt-out of personalized ads right now, here’s how to do it. Open the settings menu on your phone, navigate to Google, select Ads, and toggle on Opt out of Ads Personalization.

This recent development is one of Google’s latest attempts to play catch up with Apple, as the Cupertino company pushes its privacy-first approach to smartphones. Google also announced back at I/O that the Play Store would be adding privacy info to apps similar to what Apple added to its App Store last year.

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