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MKC Tab Wallet review

Andrew Allen
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It’s rare these days that a piece of tech completely wows me with being original, but even rarer is that device isn’t connected to the internet. I’ve been on the search for the perfect keyring and I think I may have found it in an unlikely place… in a wallet. The MKC Tab Wallet just might be the perfect device for all my personal identification and keys.

My keychain search has turned up many contenders like KeySmart and KeyBar. I’ve carried two generations of the KeySmart with the Tile integrated model being the latest. Despite this, I’ve felt like it was still bulky and not quite what I wanted.

MKC which is a sub-brand of a company called IPPINKA may have filled that void and more with the Tab Wallet. Allow me to expand on just how impressive this wallet really is in my full review.

Design

The tanned leather look of the MKC Tab Wallet looks fairly normal when you pull it out of the box. You have a front pocket meant to store a single, or at most, three cards. I’ve chosen to use this as my placeholder for my driver’s license and insurance card.

Inside the main compartment, you have a larger slot for your main credit and debit cards to live. The company says this will contain three to six cards, but may need time for the leather to conform to the higher end of that capacity. I’ve found that to be true. I started with three cards and added additional cards to five total within a week. This compartment is also RFID protected.

So, far you’re right. This is a standard minimal front pocket wallet by MKC. However, flip the Tab Wallet over and you’ll see what looks like two brass buttons. These are actually Chicago bolts that screw into studs on the other side of this leather back.

And this is where the magic happens! Each stud will hold up to three standard-size keys for your household locks. Once in place, you screw the bolt through the keys and you now have your main keys and money all in a single MKC Tab Wallet.

Real-World Experience

While most of us probably don’t have a ton of keys, I do have more than one and this multi-functioning MKC Tab Wallet hits a sweet spot and is still very slim in pocket real estate. This allows me to have my house key, my parents key, a bottle opener, and a SIM tool (nerd alert) all hidden in the same wallet I’m going to carry every day.

The MKC Tab is also a better wallet in general than what I was previously using. I previously had one that had a tiered card slot on one side, a large pocket in the middle, and a plastic-covered ID slot on the back. I was always having issues with the plastic sticking to my license while ordering drinks and the card slots overlapped just enough to make getting to any card cumbersome.

The MKC Tab instead offers you a front pocket to easily get to my license or other documentation more freely. I don’t have to fumble through a plastic wall to get to them when a tasty beer is at stake.

It also makes paying the tab quicker with a tab. You pull the elastic band around the bottom of the main card slot and all your cards pull right out ready to be used. Once the cards are returned the tab slides back down into place tucked away into the Tab Wallet.

Now, the elephant in the room is car fobs. These are usually obnoxiously large and bulky. Well, that’s the one downside to this MKC Tab Wallet, but that’s not unusual. Every keychain I’ve tried on the market simply doesn’t make a great home for these keyless entry units.

It did however limit the bulk of my pockets by utilizing the wallet I was already carrying. I’ve always been a keys in the left pocket and wallet in my right kinda guy, but with a couple of keys and a couple of car fobs, this had gotten cramped over the last few years as phones have gotten larger as well.

MKC has freed up space around my keyless car fobs for my Pixel 4 XL and we all couldn’t be happier. And if I do need to carry them all at once, I put a locking carabiner on my car fobs and a small ring on my MKC Tab to be able to take both in the gym, etc.

Final Thoughts

I’ll wrap up by saying I am pretty sure this is the closest thing to a perfect combination of front-pocket wallet and a key organizer you’ll find on the market. MKC has a great build of real leather and functional compartments that I’m still impressed by.

You can snag your own MKC Tab Wallet, or it’s big brother, at the company’s website or Amazon. The Tab is available in black or brown leather for $72. Let me know what you think in the comments if you’re liking what you see from MKC.

Top five tools for testing a mobile application

AndroidGuys
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EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Mobile application testing can be done either manually or using automation. Most companies are starting to use automation tools to reduce overhead, and to speed up the testing process. Consumers expect apps to be developed, updated and tested thoroughly and faster than ever before.

Automated testing, or web app testing services, can help speed up the testing process, but every developer needs essential tools to help with the testing process, too.

A few of the many mobile testing tools that are being used in 2020 include:

TestComplete

TestComplete is a leading UI testing tool that tests your user interface using AI object recognition. You can use scripts or no scripts, and you can test mobile applications as well as web and desktop applications if you build out your app to run on multiple platforms.

Developers can create and automate different function tests on iOS and Android devices. There is no need to jailbreak a phone to test out your app.

Tests can be automated on:

  • Mobile devices
  • Emulators
  • Virtual machines

You can also test mobile gestures if your app works with them, and you can record all of your testing for further insight into any bugs or problems your app may have.

Automatic checks with simple checkpoints can be added, and you could also integrate other testing tools using the API.

Robot Framework

A powerful, open source automation tool that allows you to create both robotic process automation and test automation for your apps. Robotic Framework is easy to use and setup.

When using this framework, you will be able to enjoy acceptance test driven development and testing processes. You can use this framework to create keyword driven tests and also use a variety of standard external test libraries to ensure your app meets testing standards.

This tool is cross-platform, so it will work on iOS and Android devices.

You can easily integrate this framework into a variety of editing and building tools for further customization of all of your app testing.

Appium

Appium is another open source testing automation framework that works with mobile apps on iOS, Android and Windows. The automation framework uses powerful tools with back-end APIs and databases to test code. You can use your favorite development tools to create code to use inside of this platform.

You can use this framework for creating UI tests on mobile apps, web apps and even hybrid applications. The framework covers both Android and iOS platforms, and it also supports code reuse across both platforms.

SEE ALSO

When using this platform, you will also be able to benefit from:

  • Testing using multiple languages, including Java, PHP, Ruby, Python and JavaScript
  • Easy integration with Jenkins and CI/CD tools
  • Recording of mobile gestures

Espresso

Espresso is the testing framework that was created by Google and has been integrated into the Android studio. If you develop apps using the Android platform, you’ll be able to generate scripts using several different options, but these scripts will only work for Android UI.

This platform incorporates:

  • Platform-specific solutions
  • Flexible API usage
  • Test recording
  • Manual creation of tests using Java or Kotlin

Espresso allows you create automated testing that is small and predictable. You can run tests quickly and easily with different tests state exceptions, assertions and custom infrastructure.

XCUITest

The XCUITest is Apple’s own tool for creating UI tests for iOS apps only. This tool will run inside of the XCode IDE and allows you to write tests directly inside of the IDE for greater convenience to developers.

When using this platform, it allows you to create tests and execute them on all Apple devices.

With XCUITest, you’ll also enjoy:

  • Support for objective-C and Swift programming languages
  • Integration with XCode
  • Test recording with the use of XCode UI test recorder
  • Platform specific solution for testing of all iOS apps

When you set up automated testing, you are allowing yourself and your team to conduct tests rapidly and in conjunction with new version releases of your app. In today’s quick app development world, you always need to have testing in place during the development phase. Testing allows you to push products to the market faster while also keeping consumers happier with the apps that they’re using.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

IMAGE: StockSnap from Pixabay

GoCube review

Scott Webster
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Raise your hand if you’ve ever completed a Rubik’s Cube. Yeah, there aren’t too many of us out there who can do it, much less in a timely manner.

On the other end of the spectrum are people who compete to see who can complete one in the quickest time possible. We’re talking a matter of seconds.

If you’ve ever asked someone to help you figure out how to solve the twisty-turny colorful square, you probably found yourself confused by what should be a few simple rules. Once you get it, you get it, but until then, it can be maddening.

The GoCube ($99) is smart version of the popular cube that pairs to your phone. And while it can walk you through the process of solving it, there’s more at play. After its popular Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign saw it raise more than $1.1 million dollars, it’s available for the masses.

We’ve had one of these in the office for a few weeks, picking it up, playing with it, and trying to get better at solving the puzzle. While we’ve gotten better, we’re nowhere ready to compete against friends or family.

The first impression of the cube was that it was buttery smooth and easy to articulate. There was no ratchet-y plastic sound of the gears in the Rubik’s Cube. This was quiet stuff that moved quickly and easily.

Paired with your phone over Bluetooth, the GoCube’s sensors are able to show you exactly what each color and square looks like. Even as you flip the cube over in your hand you can see it moving in real time on your phone. And as easy as tapping a button you’ll have a literal turn-by-turn walk through of steps to solve.

If you’re already adept at completing a cube you’ll find it can time and encourage you to get better. The app makes a game out of learning how to master the GoCube and there are plenty of fun challenges to keep things fresh. Players can even play against others whether in-person or globally.

You wouldn’t know it from feeling the GoCube but there’s a battery tucked inside with the six-axis sensors. Moreover, the app provides the remaining battery level in the corner.

Charging is done by a proprietary plug that can snap directly into a particular square; the other end simply requires a USB port. Included in the box are a base and a dock that can hold your cube. If you like to show it off, or keep it on the desk, you’ll appreciate the ease in which you can charge.

We’ve enjoyed our time with the cube and have gotten better. Admittedly, we’re still to reliant on watching the phone tell us the steps instead of us learning the algorithms and ways to see it on the cube itself. Fortunately, there are plenty of steps and games left to help.

With a road trip coming up and two teenagers in the car we’re definitely packing the GoCube. That is, of course, provided we’re able to find it in time. For some reason, it has grown legs and began traveling between family members and friends.

In all seriousness, we appreciate the GoCube and think it’s a really cool toy or gadget. And while it does lend itself to fans of the original Rubik’s Cube and the speed cubing community, the app widens the demographic. It’s one of those “fun for all ages” sort of things.

Learn more about the GoCube at Particula’s website where the unit appears to be on sale. For a limited time you can purchase the GoCube for just $79.95. You can also find it at Amazon where it’s also listed for the same price.

This $12 magnetic phone holder is also a seat belt cutter and glass breaker

AndroidGuys
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We’ve seen our fair share of car mounts and docks over the years with various features and design choices. And as much as they’re each unique, they’re all pretty much the same, too. It’s kind of hard to make a phone holder sexy or compelling, right? Well, the Stinger might have something to say about that.

A one-of-a-kind patented product, the Stinger is not just a magnetic phone mount that clips into your air vent. No, it’s an emergency tool that could save a life some day.

Priced just $11.99 and available in three colors, it can be used as a seat belt cutter or a glass breaker. Should you find yourself in an unfortunate situation where you need to cut a seat belt to get someone out of a car, or break a window to get into one, Stinger is what you’ll reach for.

Stinger Features

  • Magnetically holds phone in place (adhesive metal plate has to be attached to your phone before use)
  • Swivels to securely attach to car air vent mount
  • Automatically deploys when pressed against a window
  • Razor-sharp blade for easily cutting through a seat belt

Buy Yours Now!

Visit our Deals Store today and purchase your Stinger in red, black, or white! Be sure to grab it while it’s on sale for just $11.99 and save 40% on yours.

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How to do homework: 6 expert tips and tricks

AndroidGuys
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EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Your parents will probably say that in their days, homework was very difficult, but modern students have more homework than ever before. Homework should not turn into torment. Learn to set up a schedule for assignments, organize the learning process correctly, find out if you need help, and it will become much easier to do. In addition, we are ready to reveal some secrets that will definitely help you.

Homework Should Become a Habit

Doing homework should be as natural as brushing your teeth or making your bed. It is necessary to form this pattern from the freshman year or better from high school. It is advisable that you do your homework at the same time every day and have some kind of ritual preceded to it. For example, turning on a table lamp or folding notebooks on a table. The brain will get used to this routine and will tune in to study as soon as the ritual begins. When homework becomes not a choice, but a habit, the likelihood that you put it off for later becomes less possible.

Put your Mobile Away and Disconnect from Social Networks

Nothing distracts from homework like instant messengers, mobile games, and other “gifts” of a smartphone. Set aside your mobile as far as possible and set the Do Not Disturb mode. However, just in case, make a list of contacts who can reach you even in the midst of preparing for a math test. If you are performing a task on a computer, develop the habit of disconnecting from all social networks.

Ask for Help if you Really Need it

Mistakes and difficulties in doing homework – this is natural and even useful. If you understand that you cannot cope with the task, seek help. You can interact with other students or friends who understand the subject better than you, so you create a support network around you. In addition, one can turn to the appropriate services. You just have to write “do my programming homework” or any other subject, and professionals will do everything for you. You also may ask them for explanations, so you could do it yourself next time.

If Possible, Get Rid of Distractions

Hide the phone, turn off the computer, and surround yourself with silence. If all your attention is focused only on homework, it will be much easier for you to cope with it, because your brain does not have to switch between tasks.

Pupils often try to do their homework together with other things: watch TV, listen to the radio, chat with someone on the Internet. It will be much more convenient for you to do these things after you finish doing homework, and it will take much less time to do your homework if you are not distracted.

View news feeds on social networks only during breaks – not before and after them. Use these distractions as a reward rather than a sedative.

Download the Planner-App to your Smartphone

It will be much easier for you to complete tasks if you have the entire list with deadlines in one place. In this regard, modern technology can provide a huge service. Some planner applications give bonus points or badges for completing goals, and although these are just virtual bonuses, the brain perceives them as very real, which increases your productivity. Do not believe me? Just download such an application and see for yourself. There are a lot of such applications now, there are paid ones, there are free ones and you can download them on absolutely any operating system.

The Maximum Concentration of Attention is Achieved through a Constant Change in Activities

In elementary school, a child can concentrate for at most 5 minutes. In the middle and senior – 10 minutes. To make learning more productive, students need to regularly change activities. The maximum concentration is achieved by changing intellectual and physical activity. In short breaks between rounds of studying, you should have a full rest. You can jump, run, squat. You can sing a song – it perfectly relieves stress and helps to switch.

Summing up

The discussion around homework always remains inexhaustible. There will always be “easy” and “difficult” homework, however, if you understand the principle of its implementation it will cease to be torture for you. Also, be sure to try our tips in action, we are sure that they will help you.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Boost Mobile adds LG Tribute Monarch, Samsung Galaxy A21 to lineup

AndroidGuys
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Boost Mobile this week announced a handful of new phones as part of its portfolio, starting with a pair from LG and Samsung. The LG Tribute Monarch and Samsung Galaxy A21 are immediately available, giving customers a little something at the entry level and middle of the pack, respectively.

LG Tribute Monarch

Priced just $69.99 at launch, the LG Tribute Monarch offers up a 5.7-inch HD display, a super-wide (120 degrees) rear camera, and a 2,890mAh battery.

Diving a bit deeper into the specifications, the display has a cutout notch for the front-facing 5-megapixel camera. As for the rear, there is a 13-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel shooter.

Powered by Android 10, the Tribute Monarch has a 2.0GHz octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 32GB storage. A microSD card allows for up to 32GB of external media.

According to Boost, consumers who make the switch to the carrier in the coming weeks can pick up the LG Tribute Monarch in-store for free. Further, current Boost customers will also be able to save; the new smartphone will be just $49.99 for upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy A21

A little bit bigger and more robust in nearly all aspects, the Samsung Galaxy A21 arrives with an introductory price of just $199.99. It will ultimately list for $249.99, however it’s not clear as to when.

Features here include a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-O display, a quad-camera array, and a generous 4,000mAh battery.

As an Android 10 device, the Galaxy A21 provides the latest in Google’s software and combines it with some of Samsung’s best hardware.

The camera configuration consists of a 16-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth sensors.

Samsung Galaxy A11

Look for the Samsung Galaxy A11 to arrive on July, bringing with it an entry-level experience that’s priced just $129.99 for a limited time.

Key features for the phone include a 6.4-inch HD+ Infinity-O display, a triple-camera system, and a 4,000mAh battery.

Understand the language of love via technology

Guest Blogger
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EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

The language of love is changing a lot in the present. As a society, we went from written word to phone calls and instant messages. Now, we’re into the texting, swiping, and emoji age, leading some people to feel left behind in terms of the language of love. However, you can catch up with just a little practice, giving you the opportunity to find people by using online dating outcomes. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to have a better idea of what it means to communicate with a partner in the 21st century.

New in the World of Technology that Connects People

The single most important change that is happening in the realm of online dates is the development of technology specific for the purpose of connecting people. That’s not to say that new tech is being made for dating websites, but the overall desire to be connected has bled through to online dating outcomes. So, what is the latest in the world of tech to connect people? The ability to video chat and call someone without using your personal phone line is completely transformative in the modern day. Yet, you can also look at the future and see outcomes like bio data being used as security and virtual reality bringing people closer together than ever before! The technology that is cutting edge now will certainly be included for dates in the future!

Tips that Help You Be on a Wave of Success with Dating Online

Now that you know how technology impacts dating, how do you get started on a wave of success? There are a lot of things to do, but we’ll help cover the most important things. First and foremost, make sure that you use a nice, clear, unfiltered, picture of you. Moreover, make sure that you’re the only person in the photo to give your partners a fair view of you. Moreover, if you’re going to be using an online dating site, make sure that you have the capability to use your phone or other device for video chat and voice chat. You want to be accessible to the people that you’re trying to have a good time with! That’s not all, though. You can have a wave of success by being honest and forward with the types of experiences that you would like to have with your partners. Don’t settle for less than what you’re worth, but don’t claim to be alright with an experience that you will not appreciate. Keep all these tips in mind, and you should have a very good time using dating sites!

More Choices, New Meetings, New Conversations, and a New Online You

Remember, when you go online you are forging a new identity in a positive light. You can leave behind the personal baggage of the past and go into the dates with a clean slate. How do you manage to make this new you, though? You’re going to need to approach every day online like it’s a new one. Don’t let missteps undermine your desires to find dates, and don’t let the speed of modern dating mess up your good time. In the modern world, you should try as much as possible to do a little bit of everything. You might have the feeling that you need to be everywhere and to do everything. However, modern technology can help you compartmentalize some of these feelings to give you a better chance to not be overwhelmed and to be a more sociable person. Flirtmoms.com will help you find people with whom you can spend leisure time especially in the summer when you don’t just want to sit at home in front of the TV.

It’s true that the language of love is changing. While some people are bemoaning the state of the dating world, the fact is that your dates are more accessible now than ever before. In the past, you had to wait to see someone for days on end. Now, you can start a video chat and talk with someone like you are right at their side. Technology changes have also pushed changes for the way we communicate with romantic partners, too. Now that you know how tech informs the loving language we use; you’ll be better prepared for dates!

Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay

Become your company’s Big Data hero with this $40 online training bundle

AndroidGuys
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Whether you realize it or not, Big Data is a big deal. Big Data, in short, is a data set so complex and massive that your standard data-processing software is not capable of processing or handling it. We’re not talking about basic spreadsheets and docs.

Think in terms of the content stored on Facebook’s servers or the information Google gathers from smartphones and you’ll understand its scope.

Big Data has increasingly become a big business in today’s enterprise world, and it has created great career opportunities in the process. Whether you are an aspiring data scientist, IT expert, or someone looking to change career paths, there’s plenty of room.

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How to create and share WhatsApp QR code for groups

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Visit the AndroidGuys Deals Store and you’ll see The Complete Big Data & Power BI Bundle, a complete training guide designed to help you elbow your way into the space.

Includes

  • Power BI: Beginners Guide to Analyzing Data & Creating Beautiful Dashboards
  • Power Pivot, Power Query & DAX in Excel: Analyze Data at Scale with These Advanced Excel Functions
  • Advanced Excel 2019: Delve Into High-Level Consolidation, Analysis & Financial Reporting
  • Access 2019 – Beginners: Start Your Database Journey by Learning the Fundamentals of MS Access 2019
  • Access 2019 – Advanced: The Next Step to Supercharge Your Microsoft Access & Data Analysis Skills

With more than 250 lessons over five courses, it touches on all things Power BI, Excel, and Access. These are the key apps in the Big Data universe and you’ll need to know them. Fortunately, you’ll come out of the training not only knowing them, but a master. What’s more, you will get certification of completion, too. Show those to your boss and negotiate a raise.

The entire bundle is yours for just $39.99, or a fraction of it’s normal value. Worth upwards of $500 we’re offering our readers a massive 90% discount.

Best Sellers

Earn Credits!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

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Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G with focus on gaming

Josiah Ward
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Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 865, powering the Samsung Galaxy S20, the OnePlus 8, and many more phones in the first half of 2020.

Now, Qualcomm has decided to give the 865 a little bit of an upgrade with the Snapdragon 865+ 5G.

The Snapdragon 865+ 5G is focused on gaming, with Snapdragon Elite Gaming Features, such as updateable GPU drivers, better rendering, up to 144fps gameplay, 10-bit HDR, and more.

Snapdragon 865+ 5G

The Snapdragon 865+ 5G also features upgrades to the CPU, GPU, AI Engine, and connectivity technology over the original 865.

Considering the 865+ 5G is focused on gaming, it’s no surprise that the first devices to be announced with the processor are the ASUS ROG Phone 3(Read our new review of last year’s ROG Phone II here. ) and new devices coming out of the Lenovo Legion sub-brand later this year, though hopefully we’ll see more announcements within the third quarter.

You can read more about the 865+ here.

Reviewing the ASUS ROG Phone II one year later

Matt Adams
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I am not a gamer. Well, let me clarify that; I’m not a “mobile gamer”. I’ve been gaming on PC and console for basically my entire life but mobile gaming has never really taken off for me.

I’ve had top of the line Android and Apple phones capable of playing whatever games were out there. I’ve had an NVIDIA Shield TV that can play games from the Google Play Store. Hell, I even have a Nintendo Switch. For whatever reason, they just don’t do it for me.

So, when I started my review of the ASUS ROG Phone II, I knew I was going to have to approach it a little bit differently. I can’t speak intelligently about the gaming performance of this phone, because frankly, I don’t have experience with Android gaming.

I decided to look at it through a different lens. I might not be a gamer, but I am a “power user”. And as much as I hate that term, I do fit it. I’m on my phone for 7-8 hours a day working, entertaining myself, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Even though ASUS wants this to be known as the best gaming phone out there, I think they need to accept that they didn’t make the best gaming phone of 2019. They made the best phone of 2019. Period.

While every phone manufacturer wants to market its device as “an experience” or a life-changing event, they’re just phones. They’re a collection of components that run Android and live in either our pocket or our hand. The ASUS ROG Phone II is exactly that, but it’s one of the devices that I feel ends up being more than the sum of its parts. Very few phones are able to jump this hurdle but the ROG Phone II does.

So, what does that actually mean?

Picture this: you’re in the carrier store looking for a new phone. Lined up on the wall you have the newest releases from Samsung, Apple, LG, and OnePlus. They’re all same-y looking with displays that cover the entire face of a phone, almost no bezels and bright screens. They’re sleek, they’re sexy, and they scream out to be held.

The ROG Phone II is not that. It is huge and is unconcerned about being skinny or small. Its design is aggressive, not svelte. It is powerful and unapologetic about it.

The 6.59-inch 120Hz AMOLED display isn’t the biggest on the market, but it’s close. But the phone feels absolutely massive in your hands because above and below that display are front-facing speakers.

Between the beautiful display and the class-leading speakers, this is a media powerhouse. Sure, it’s great for gaming but if you watch videos on your phone, this is the phone you want. The speakers sound better than some Bluetooth speakers I’ve reviewed and max volume is insane. You could sit this thing down in a corner at a party, pump the volume and provide music for the whole crew. It’s that good.

Poco F2 Pro Review

And that display is excellent. While I was happy with the 90Hz options last year, the ROG Phone II pumps it up a notch to a 120Hz refresh display. That means the display is refreshing itself 120 times a second.

The standard in the past has been 60Hz, or 60 times a second. This added refresh rate gives us silky smooth animations that makes everything feel faster and more fluid. While this is a feature that most can live without, I think it adds to the overall package in a way that most features can’t. It enhances everything else.

Speaking of enhancements, the 6,000mAh battery means you can keep all of those enhancements enabled. Battery life is the biggest feature for me when selecting a device because nothing else really matters if my phone is dead halfway through the day, or if I’m unable to use it because it’s sitting on a charger.

Simply stated, this is the best battery life I’ve ever seen on an Android device and comes second only to the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max in my in-person testing.

I don’t run benchmarks or do scientific battery testing because real people don’t do that either. In my experience I was getting 1.5 days of usage with close to 10 hours of screen-on-time. Again, take note that I’m not a gamer and mostly work in documents, read Reddit, watch YouTube, message, and deal with a ton of email. You will absolutely get through a day of use with this unless you’re playing PUBG all day.

One of the last things I want to focus on here is software. ASUS has a reputation of putting terrible skins on its devices in the past, but I’m happy to report you can pretty much bypass that here on the ROG Phone II.

ASUS does give you the option to use its theme, but you can choose stock Android if you like, and that’s what I did during my usage. It felt quite a bit like the Nexus/Pixel experience with some added features.

We’ve seen this approach by more and more companies over the last few years. Motorola started the trend and others like OnePlus have picked up the mantle.

ASUS let Google focus on the core of Android while putting its focus into features like Armory Crate, which allows you to fine-tune almost every aspect of your device from the clock speed of your processor to hiding notifications while you’re gaming.

You can even dial in custom settings depending on which app or game you have open. It’s crazy good and gamers and average users alike will find features in there they love.

ASUS also took the time to add in an audio wizard. This is an area that most companies are shying away from, just like how they’re getting rid of the headphone jack. The headphone jack is a feature here on the ROG Phone II and the audio wizard makes sure you get the most out of it. There are a ton of EQ scenes and DTS X spacial audio so you can dial in audio exactly how you want it.

My biggest issue with the ASUS ROG Phone II’s software is the unknown. Who knows how many updates this phone will get? Who knows how fast they’ll come?

ASUS is not the company you think of when you think of fast updates or long-term support. If those things matter to you, I’d tell you to really do your research first-hand and make sure you’re comfortable with whatever the results are before dropping your money on one of these.

If you do decide to pick one up, I think you need to be prepared to be stuck on that software for the duration of the phone’s life.

Cameras and pictures are an area where the big boys tend to separate from the other guys. You used to get what you paid for in this area, but then Samsung, Google, and Apple started putting class-leading cameras in their mid-range devices and that all changed. Now, you can get a great photography experience by spending a few hundred dollars less than flagship prices.

All that being said, if photography matters to you, you’ll want to grab one of those other devices. That’s not to say the ASUS ROG Phone II has a bad camera, but it’s nowhere near class-leading. Pictures come out cool and the lack of OIS is a real bummer when you’re trying to get that perfect action shot or shoot some video.

The ultra-wide camera is a ton of fun but the sharpness is a disappointment. As long as you don’t try to push in too much on these pictures, you’ll enjoy them but once you do, it’s a different story.

The most frustrating part for me was the over-sharpening on the main camera. Everyone seems to do it these days, and ASUS isn’t among the worse, but there have been some pictures that could have been better with some better photo processing. Are the pictures still fine for social media and sending to friends and family? Sure. But not much more than that.

Conclusion

Despite its flaws, I truly believe that the ASUS ROG Phone II was the best phone released in 2019. In fact, I think its still the best buy on the market right now. If you can find one of these used or open-box for the $500-$600 price range, you should absolutely do it.

That is to say, as long as you’re comfortable using an absolutely massive phone. I can’t overstate just how big this thing seems in the hand. It’s definitely a two-hander if I’ve ever seen one.

I’m not a big phone guy, but I don’t mind it here. It’s allowed ASUS to pack in a ton of stuff I love like a 6,000mAh battery that supports reverse charging (but not wireless charging), a 120Hz AMOLED display with 240Hz touch-sampling and HDR10, amazing front-facing speakers, and a headphone jack.

I’d say this is a phone you can buy and use for years upon years as long as you’re comfortable with the software situation. I never felt a slowdown nor did I see any stuttering when using the device and I used it for well over a month. It’s flawless in that regard. Even with apps getting bigger and demanding more processor resources, I still think that the ROG Phone II will keep up with newer devices many years down the road.

The ASUS ROG Phone II is one of my favorite Android devices of all time and I can’t recommend it enough.

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