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Insane price alert! Pay just $39 for lifetime 2TB ThunderDrive cloud storage

AndroidGuys
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Here’s a question for you: where do you keep your music, important photos, and documents? Please tell us that you’re not storing it in one place.

Smart people backup files to at least one other place. Really smart people keep things in a variety of spots. Google Drive and Google Photos are convenient and really helpful, but it’s not without potential problems or hiccups.

What happens when you get close to filling up your allotted storage space? Before you break out that credit card and purchase more storage through your cloud hosting, or buying an external hard drive, consider the following deal.

How about a lifetime account with 2TB (terabytes) of storage for the price of date night dinner? It’s accessible anywhere you are, secure as hell, and comes with a host of friendly features. Indeed, the promotion we have on ThunderDrive is impossible to resist.

With this lifetime of 2TB of storage, the Pro plan offers up an incredibly affordable place to house your media and files. Not just the things from your desktop PC, either. It’s also mobile friendly and just as convenient.

Features

  • 2 TB lifetime storage
  • 2TB of download bandwidth
  • Shareable password-protected files
  • Set expiration for shared links
  • 30-day trash recovery
  • Upload/download speeds 6x faster than nearest competitors
  • Mobile friendly
  • Secure 256-bit AES encryption
  • SSL/TLS encryption
  • Length of access: lifetime
  • No device limit

Where to Buy

You pick up the lifetime account of ThunderDrive Pro cloud backup plan for only $39 through the AndroidGuys Deals Store. We’re not exaggerating about how much of a bargain this is, either. This runs $1,200 over at ThunderDrive’s website.

Alternatively, you can purchase a personal plan of 500GB for just $29. It, too, is a lifetime account and a massive discount on its normal price.

Best Sellers

Save even more!

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

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

Google adds RCS to Android Messages app for all US users

AndroidGuys
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Google on Thursday announced that it has begun deploying Google-operated RCS for its Messages app for Android. The feature will be “broadly” available to Android users by the end of 2019.

Similar to Apple’s iMessage, RCS lets Android users send and receive high-resolution photos and videos as well as see if recipients have read your message.

When you and your friends message each other with these chat features, you can chat over Wi-Fi or mobile data, send and receive high-resolution photos and videos, and see if people have received your latest messages. Plus, you’ll get better group chats, with the ability to name groups, add and remove people to and from groups, and see if people haven’t seen the latest messages.

Google’s announcement is somewhat of a sidestep or jump start on what wireless carriers are working on for phones. The big four service providers announced in October that they have formed a joint venture which promises to bring RCS to phones.

This isn’t the first time Google has opted to take things into its own hands. Indeed, it launched a similar service in Mexico, UK, and France earlier this year.

READ: Top wireless carriers come together with a plan for RCS

Google’s approach puts the heavy lifting on its own servers and infrastructure but does go a long way to unifying things across all Android phones.

It’s not clear if Google’s initiative will ultimately interfere or conflict with the carrier-backed agenda. Google, for its part, says it is “committed to working with our partners, including carriers and device makers, to provide a consistent and interoperable experience for everyone on Android.”

If you already have the Messages app on Android, you’ll be prompted to enable chat features in the next few weeks.

Motorola officially unfolds its reinvented RAZR

AndroidGuys
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Motorola on Wednesday formally pulled the curtain back on its new RAZR smartphone. The handset, which is a modern take on the iconic RAZR V3 from 2004, will be sold as a Verizon exclusive device when it arrives in 2020.

Designed to resemble the fashion phone from yesterday, the new Moto razr houses a 6.2-inch display that’s revealed upon opening the clam shell. Like the original, it has a “chin” that juts out from the bottom half with keys located along the edge of the top half.

READ: Best phones at Verizon

The phone spent much of the last year or more kicking around the rumor mill so it’s nice to see it finally makes its official debut. Moreover, it’s a welcome approach to the concept of folding phones.

Where other manufacturers are concerned with tablet-sized devices that fold in half, this is more pocket-friendly. This is a trend that we’d like to see other brands adopt.

In addition to the 6.2-inch display, the new Razr has a 2.7-inch touch screen on the outer side of the shell. Users can interact with notifications, take selfies, play music, and more. It’s also possible to access Google Assistant without opening the phone.

As for cameras, there are two present. The main one is a 16-megapixel camera that’s found on the outer shell. Inside is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Users can take selfies with the main camera when the phone is closed.

Internally, the Razr packs mostly mid-range hardware. A Qualcomm Snapdraon 710 processor is fortified by 6GB RAM with storage capacity pegged at 128GB.

There’s no microSD card for external storage nor is there a 3.5mm headphone jack. Additionally, it relies on eSIM instead of a physical SIM card. These changes are done in an effort to keep the phone as thin as possible.

Rounding out the hardware is a 2,510mAh battery with USB Type-C charging, NFC, and dual-band Wi-Fi. The phone comes with USB-C razr earbuds which are “professionally tuned” by Denon.

Availability

The new Motorola Razr doesn’t come cheaply. At $1,499 it’s among the most expensive smart phones on the market. Like its predecessor of days gone by, you’ll pay a price if you want to be in the cool kids club.

Verizon will have exclusive rights to the new Razr when it arrives in 2020. The carrier will let customers split up payments over two years at $62.49 per month. Pre-orders start on December 26 with full retail availability expected on January 9, 2020.

In Canada, the new Razr will be available early in the coming year and it will also be on pre-order in select European markets starting in December. Latin America, Asia and Australia are expected to carry the phone, too.

Cool gear under $100 (November 2019)

Matt Adams
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Try as we might, there’s simply too much cool technology to keep up with. New products hit the market every day and, as much as we’d love to write extensive reviews about all of them, we just don’t have time. To that end, we’re happy to share bite-sized reviews of technology and gear that we find interesting or worth a closer look.

Below you’ll find products that we’re impressed with that all share one thing in common – they’re all under $100. While these aren’t purely electronics or gadgets, we think they’re awesome.

Keysmart Pro with Tile Tracking

If you’re anything like me, you’d forget your head if it wasn’t attached. I’m constantly running around looking for my wallet, keys, coffee, child… Anyway, my point is that I’m always looking for products to help me keep my life more organized.

In the past, we reviewed several smart wallet options (take a look at those, they’re seriously awesome) and came away impressed enough with the Nomad Slim Wallet with Tile Tracking to make it our everyday carry. Now, we’re back with the Keysmart Pro with Tile Tracking.

The Keysmart Pro does exactly what you’d think by looking at it. It hides your keys and has a tiny Tile tracking module inside that helps you keep track of where it is at all times. Once you connect it to the Tile app on your phone via Bluetooth, you can ring it or see it’s location on the map. If your keys are no longer in range of your phone, the map shows you its last known location and allows you set up an alert so if someone else using the Tile app comes in range, it’ll transmit that location to you. Pretty nifty stuff.

We also came away impressed with the quality and versatility of the Keysmart Pro. There are a ton of modules you can purchase in addition to the base product. We’ve checked out the 16 GB flash drive, pocket clip, quick disconnect clip, and mag connect. It also comes with a multitool inside that has a bottle opener and an integrated flashlight.

You can grab the Keysmart Pro with Tile Tracking for $59.99 from the company’s website or Amazon.

Noreve Cases

We’ve reviewed every kind of case here at AG but nothing quite compares to the quality of a Noreve case. The French company designs and sells premium cases for those who are looking not only to protect their devices but class it up a little bit too.

We’ve had our hands on the OnePlus 7 Pro case from Noreve for the last month or so, and it’s really been a treat. It’s a little bulky and adds some weight, but there’s a good reason for that. It’s made out of real leather and hand made just for the device you select. Noreve says its cases “meets quality standards” and while the company doesn’t really go into detail on what those standards are, we have no problem believing their standards are pretty high.

The benefit of a little bit of bulk in the case in the shock absorption. I have no doubt that the device can take a little bit of a beating in this case because of how thick it really is. The leather is also slip-resistant so the device is much easier to hold in your hand. With the OnePlus 7 Pro, I was always struggling to get a good hand on the device because of the curved display and the Noreve case helped me solve that problem.

You can grab cases from Noreve on their website from about $50 in one of almost a dozen colors.

Lume Cube

Lume Cube makes a ton of awesome accessories if you’re looking to up your photography game, provide dramatic lighting for shooting video, or you’re just looking for a great lighting solution. The compact lighting units put out customizable and extremely bright light while coming in a small and easy to deal with package.

We’ve had our hands on several Lume Cube units and have used them extensively in our product pictures. They have an internal battery that recharges through micro USB so there’s no waste created or ongoing cost of using single-use batteries. We’re honestly surprised by how long the battery life lasts based on how bright these little lights get. This long battery life and small size make them a perfect “throw it in a bag and forget it” solution for heading out on shoots.

If you’re interested in picking up some lights, you can head over to LumeCube’s website or Amazon to check out the variety of options.

Liz Smart Water bottle

Staying hydrated can be a chore. There are apps to download and reminders you can give yourself, but one water bottle can do that for you. Liz, a smart water bottle by French company Noerden, helps you stay on top of your hydration.

The water bottle comes with a built-in reminder that pings you when you need to drink. The reminders show up after two hours of inactivity which I’ve found myself needing quite often. Hot beverages stay warm for up to 12 hours and color beverages stay cool for up to 24. Our testing fell a bit short of these times but we were still pretty impressed in how it could keep beverages at their desired temps for well over six hours. That’s pretty handy when we’re sipping on our coffee in the morning.

Liz also sterilizes your water right in the bottle. It exposes water to UV-C light (you can also do this while the bottle is empty) to destroy 99.9% of bacteria and viruses by breaking down their DNA, according to the company. The LED lid lets you know when the process starts and stops, as well as indicating if your drinks are hot or cold. Pretty nifty.

The crowdfunding campaign for the Liz Smart Water Bottle has wrapped up and the product is now shipping. You can head over to Indiegogo for more information or Noerden’s website to keep your eye open on the company’s other products.

Infinity Cable

We live in a world where we use multiple devices every day. Unless you’re locked into just one ecosystem, you may have to use multiple cables to charge your tech. A micro USB for your headphones, USB type C for your Android phone and lightning for your iPad. What a pain in the butt.

Or you could just get one cable for everything! The Infinity Cable has a magnetic head with interchangeable heads that can connect to whatever tech you throw at it. It comes with three heads in the package, a micro USB, USB type C, and lightning. There’s also a braided cable design that protects the cord for long-term use.

The Infinity Cable is truly a one-cable solution because it can do everything. Data transfer? No problem. Fast charging? Yep, it’s there too. In fact, the Infinity Cable can charge at up to 100w if you can find a wall charger that will actually run that fast. It’s compliant with Quick Charge 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and Power Delivery. It’s truly the only cable you’ll ever need.

The Infinity Cable is currently being crowd-funded with a ship-by date in February 2020. Be sure to jump on this one quick, though, because the funding round is set to expire on November 17, 2019. Head over to Kickstarter to check it out for yourself.

Waterfield Sleevecase

We’re big fans of Waterfield here. We’ve reviewed several of their products and have been impressed every time. The Sleevecase is no exception and might be our favorite Waterfield product yet.

The Sleevecase’s mission is simple: protect your tablet or laptop and look damn good doing it. I’ve been using our review unit that with the Pixel Slate and a Chromebook and have really fallen in love with it. There’s enough padding to keep your devices safe but it doesn’t add a ton of bulk to your bag.

It comes in a couple of different finishes, waxed canvas or black, and in two different styles, vertical or horizontal so you can get exactly what you want. There are also optional features like D-rings or a suspension strap that you can add on for a minimal price. All Sleevecases are made to order so if you have a device that doesn’t quite fit in one of their pre-made templates, you can have them make one just for your device too.

If you want to check out the Waterfield Sleevecase, you can head over to the Waterfield’s website.

Treblab X5

These Bluetooth buds have a striking design that borrow the stemmed look of AirPods, but with a much more aggressive, sporty look. They also have a great silicone surround that helps keep the earbuds stable while in use.

Our biggest takeaway from the Treblab X5 earbuds is that the playback is some of the loudest we’ve heard in this market. Most of the true wireless audio devices struggle to really provide ample output in noisier settings, but the Treblab X5 blew most of the competition away.

Rounding out the specifications for the Treblab X5 headphones is passive noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0, IPX4 waterproofing, and up to 24 hours of total playtime withe included charger case. The only knock is that charging is done via micro-USB. You can snag your pair of Treblab X5 through Amazon today.

Master & Dynamic offers up wireless variant of MH40 headphones

AndroidGuys
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Five years after first hitting the market, Master & Dynamic has gone back to its roots. Today finds the premium audio brand introducing the MH40 Wireless on-ear headphones, which are — as you guessed it — a wireless approach to its first set of cans.

This isn’t just taking unused or unsold stock and sticking a Bluetooth chip inside. That would hardly be a way to celebrate a fifth anniversary. Indeed, Master & Dynamic has made a handful of adjustments and improvements to the iconic model.

Even with an internal battery, the MH40 Wireless are considerably lighter (276g) than its wired counterpart (360g). Moreover, they have a new 40mm custom driver set whereas the original model had 45mm drivers. As to how that translates to audio experience remains to be seen.

READ: Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus and MW07 Go review

The MH40 wireless have Bluetooth 5.0 with support for Qualcomm aptX and are said to offer upwards of 18 hours battery life per charge. Master & Dynamic claims that just 30 minutes on a charger will replenish half of the battery.

The MH40 feature a dual mic array on the right ear to filter out external noise on phone calls. Additionally, the headphones come with a USB-C-to-analog audio cable for use when listeners don’t want or need Bluetooth.

The MH40 Wireless are sold in three color combos: Gunmetal with black coated canvas, black metal with black coated canvas, and silver metal with brown coated canvas. The headphones come with a canvas carrying bag with the USB-C-to-analog cable and a standard USB-C charging cable.

Head to Master & Dynamic’s website to learn more or to purchase the MH40 Wireless for $299.

Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus and MW07 Go review

AndroidGuys
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Master & Dynamic recently rolled out a follow-up to its MW07 wireless earbuds. But rather than just one model, it opted for two models for 2019.

The MW07 Plus are the spiritual successor and carry a $299 price tag while the MW07 Go tick many of the same boxes yet cost quite a bit less at $199.

If there’s one thing that catches our eye when looking at Master & Dynamic, it’s the cost. No matter the product, we ultimately base our purchasing decisions on price. If it’s too high, we have to walk away or wait for a price drop. Our gut reaction with Master & Dynamic is almost always along the lines of “ouch, that’s pricey.”

Were we not privileged enough to test its products out ahead of time we would probably not give them much consideration. It’s after we get to use them that we realize how good its audio experience can be and we “get it”.

As we get older we start to view purchases like these as investments. We’ve moved beyond the notion of buying something that’s just good enough and replacing it every year or so. If you’re gonna do something, do it right the first time. Right?

Master & Dynamic products routinely impress us with not just its audio experience but in its build quality, too. It’s easy to see the attention to detail, quality craftsmanship, and focus when looking at wired and wireless headphones. And while we didn’t get a chance to see it in the MW07, we do in the 2019 models.

Our team was provided review samples of both products; we spent the better part of a month splitting time between the two sets. Here are our thoughts on the Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus and MW07 Go.

Design

The two models look similar and have the same overall design, but there’s just a smidge different in the build. The MW07 Plus are technically heavier but it’s negligible. Both feel the same in a blind test.

The MW07 Go have a composite body and have a solid color while the MW07 Plus are made with an acetate and feature a marbleized finish. Opt for the premium design and you’ll find that no two pair look the exact same.

Each set comes with a number of silicone fit wings and ear tip sizes. We went with the standard out-of-the-box setup and didn’t have any trouble. Your mileage will vary, of course, as every ear is different. We noticed that there was a discernible difference between the different sizes and feel confident you can mix and match to the perfect fit.

Staying on the topic of design for a moment, we didn’t exactly love the outward appearance of the earphones. They’re not ugly or oddly shaped, but they don’t look as sophisticated as we might expect.

These somewhat resemble in-ear monitors that you might find a musician using on stage. They’re flat and look heavier than they are and somewhat remind us of big clip-on or toy-like earrings for children.

Sound

Put either pair on, though, and you quickly forget about the appearance. They’re light and comfortable and pack a decent all-around punch.

Whereas these sound amazing, and the Plus model has a few audio tricks to play with, we wish they could have gotten louder. Another 25% at the top would have worked wonders.

Master & Dynamic doesn’t go for heavy bass, or rich warm sounds in either of these earphones. Where it appears to focus is on the initial punch or the way music attacks your ears. Things flow nicely in orchestral or classical but really shine when there’s drum, staccato notes, or “interesting” things happening in the music.

Both models support Qualcomm’s aptX codec and SBC codec, leading to low-latency and a consistent sound with a wide range. It’s really good stuff that you notice once it’s taken away from you.

General Performance

Thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, the earphones pair easily and display their remaining battery life in your phone’s setting. Moreover, you can get up to 100 feet away from the music source.

We tested the distance a few times and found it to be markedly better than older headphones and earphones. While we didn’t get to 100 feet every time, they do stay connected through walls and floors better than others.

MW07 Plus

Available in four colors, these wireless earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.0 and provide up to 40 hours of playtime per charge. That’s counting the charge that comes with the carrying case, of course. Otherwise, you’re looking at around ten hours at a time.

The MW07 Plus have active noise cancellation and an “Ambient Listening Mode”, each of which can be easily toggled. Depending on your environment you might wish to hear a little bit of the background noise or completely immerse yourself into a playlist.

In our testing of the MW07 Plus enabling and disabling these features did not affect the audio experience. It’s nice to drown out the clickety clack of keyboards in the library or the white noise of a daily train ride.

There are four microphones at work here, giving the noise cancellation a bit of a boost. This is twice what’s available in the predecessor and the MW07 Go.

If you’re the kind who likes to have just one earbud in so that you’re always available for in-person conversations, you’ll appreciate the MW07 Plus. Indeed, you can use either the left or the right model as a standalone audio experience.

The earbuds have an IPX5 water resistance which means they’ll take a little bit of a splash or light sprinkle. They’ll be alright if it starts to rain before you have a chance to put them away. And truth be told, they can handle a bit of a sweat so take ’em to the gym.

When not in use, the earphones tuck away nicely in a stainless steel case. It looks really sharp and catches the eye, but we do wonder how long it’s going to be scratch-free. Master & Dynamic does include a soft pouch for carrying the case around if that’s your thing. Otherwise, they’ll fit into a pocket or purse without much bulk.

The case charges via USB Type-C and features colored LED lights so that you can quickly understand how much juice is left in the case. We’d have loved it if the case had wireless charging, especially at the price point. It’s a feature that’s showing up in increasing numbers and at lower costs.

MW07 Go

Although they’re priced one-third of the Plus models, we think we like the Go version better. As a total package it’s almost indistinguishable for a lot of people and who doesn’t like keeping extra money in their pocket?

The MW07 Go offer up to ten hours of playback on a charge with the carrying case holding another 12 hours. Sure, it’s just over half of what the other model provides, but you’re probably only charging your case twice a week anyhow.

Present here is the same USB Type-C charging which promises five hours playtime on a 15 minute charge. The case isn’t nearly as fancy or heavy, but it’s just as modern looking. The “technical knit” fabric calls to mind the case that came with the first generation of Google Pixel Buds or something you might expect on a Nest Home Mini.

The MW07 Go are a smidge better at protecting against water, something we’re sure you’ll appreciate when getting a pump on or a few miles on the treadmill.

There are only two microphones at play so you don’t get the noise cancellation or ambient listening. With that said, we had no issues blocking out most environmental sound. And, because they don’t get super loud, it’s like having a built-in ability to tap into ambient noises.

Also worth pointing out, you can only use the right earbud if you plan to listen to music in just one ear.

Conclusion

We’ve really loved getting to know Master & Dynamic over the last few years. It does a great job of producing quality products, consistently. It’s not always cheap, but you largely get what you pay for.

Ask someone who has a quality pair of headphones how much they spent on them and you might be surprised. Then, ask an audiophile and see what they say. How is it that people are able to justify high prices? Simple – they only have to do it once.

While we might go through a new phone every year or generational cycle, we hold onto the speakers and headphones we love. With that in mind, we recognize that some of our favorite headphones are already a couple of years old.

We would have loved to see a louder overall experience from the MW07 Plus and MW07 Go. Further, it would have been great to see the Plus model offer wireless charging to the case. Other than that, we don’t have any real issues with either model.

Given that they’re so similar, we feel very confident recommending the MW07 Go to anyone interested in quality, true wireless earphones.

At $100 more there’s certainly something else for your money. As a recap that includes left and right independent single earbud listening, double the microphones for ambient listening, noise-cancellation, almost twice the battery life, and a fancier aesthetic.

If this is your first foray into wireless earbuds, you might be reluctant to spend that much money. We get it. But, if or when the day comes that you do think it’s worth exploring something at the high end, make sure that Master & Dynamic is a part of that conversation.

Availability

You can learn more about the MW07 Plus and MW07 Go at the Master & Dynamic website where you can also purchase them. You can also shop for various Master & Dynamic products at Amazon.

  • The MW07 Plus are offered in Black Quartz, Steel Blue, White Marble, and Tortoiseshell and cost $299.
  • The MW07 Go are offered in Jet Black, Electric Blue, Flame Red, and Stone Grey and cost $199.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ review

Matt Adams
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When it comes to Samsung smartphones, the company doesn’t have to worry about cutting corners, or dealing with other competitors. That includes Apple’s iPhone lineup that has become a bit stagnant as of late.

Instead, Samsung is allowed to focus on what it does well with its new products. Regarding the Note 10+, this is the culmination of just about everything Samsung does well with the ultra-popular Note line.

Samsung’s Note series of phones is the only lineup (that matters) which includes stylus built-in. Yes, we know LG does something similar, but that’s a budget-range device and doesn’t come anywhere near what the Note does.

As we got closer to the release of the Note 10 lineup, there were a few questions about how Samsung would shock us. And then it didn’t. However, let me explain.

An ultra-desirable spec-sheet

Before getting into my gripe about the Note 10+, let’s take a look at what’s under the hood and what the Note 10+ has to offer.

Display 6.8-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED (Infinity O)
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM 12GB
Storage 256GB/512GB
Battery 4,300mAh
Front Camera 10MP; f2.2 aperture
Rear Cameras 16MP Ultra-wide, 12MP Wide, 12MP Telephoto, DepthVision Camera (VGA)
Water Resistance IP68
Fingerprint Scanner Ultrasonic (in-display)

This is the best phone that Samsung has ever released, other than maybe the Galaxy Fold. Spec-wise it’s a monster. The Note 10+ has four rear-mounted cameras, an absolutely gorgeous 6.8-inch Quad HD+ display, and the expected Snapdragon 855 SoC.

Paired with the SD855 is 12GB of memory, the only option, and either 256GB or 512GB of expandable storage. On the battery front, Samsung packed a huge 4,300mAh lithium-ion cell into the Note 10+ with promises of all-day battery life and more.

For better or worse, Samsung has moved to solely using its ultrasonic, in-display fingerprint scanners. With this phone, it really feels like we are living in the future, as the spec sheet is better than some computers. And it’s in he palm of your hand.

How good is the software?

At the time of this writing, we have been unable to load up Samsung’s new One UI 2.0, which is based on Android 10. The beta program has been reserved for those running unlocked variants, and we currently have a Verizon unit.

Samsung’s software used to be the sticking point as to why I could never fully get behind what the company was doing. The hardware was always great, but felt hindered and held back by slow and lag-infested software.

With the release of One UI many of my complaints have been resolved, and this may just be the third-best software experience. Who’s ahead? In my opinion, it’s Google and OnePlus, with Samsung having moved ahead of LG and HTC.

One UI is smooth, fluid, and everything just works. That includes all of the extra software features and gimmicks that Samsung packs into its software, such as the Edge Display stuff and the endless myriad of tweaks that can be made in Settings.

Over the course of the review, I never felt stutters, jitters, or lag unless my phone got too hot from playing games. Even then, the stutters were very minor.

One more thing to make note of is the launcher. Samsung’s launcher used to be an abomination of frustration that I couldn’t use for more than a day. With the Note 10+, it was about two to three weeks before I switched over to my favorite launcher (Lawnchair v2.0).

The hardware is a dream

Curved edges, a slightly curved display, and a beautiful glass sandwich. That’s what you get with the Galaxy Note 10+ and it’s an absolute dream to hold and use on a daily basis.

It almost feels like Samsung did a bit of magic as the Note 10+ is lighter than one would expect. Even when switching between the iPhone XS Max and the 10+, there’s not much of a difference and I don’t get much hand fatigue.

More important than the weight, to me, is just the way that the phone looks. I never want to put it down, I always want to be actively using it, and I’m always looking for excuses to do so. That’s something that I haven’t experienced since the release of the iPhone X.

Samsung did it perfectly here and made sure that we wouldn’t have to do any finger gymnastics to unlock it. Yes, I’m looking at the Note 8 and its absurdly placed scanner.

The fingerprint scanner is one of my biggest gripes and complaints about the Note 10+. It’s too slow. I don’t understand all of the ins and outs of biometrics, and I know that ultrasonic fingerprint scanners are new and trendy, but it’s just too slow.

It’s even more obvious when you look at the OnePlus 7 Pro and how fast that scanner is comparatively. Given its resources and the money spent on R&D, we expected more from Samsung.

I’m sure that the Galaxy S11 and Galaxy Note 11 lines will be better, but for now, we are disappointed. Another disappointment is the removal of the headphone jack. Samsung had been one of the remaining proponents of the 3.5mm jack, but it’s now gone from the Note line.

The only sense in removing it comes when looking at the battery life, which we’ll touch on here shortly. But it still seems that with the S Pen and speakers, something could have been adjusted to keep the headphone jack. Oh well, another excuse to use my AirPods Pro on a regular basis.

Holy **** battery life is great

There’s no reason to mince words here. Battery life on the Galaxy Note 10+ has been absolutely phenomenal. Here’s how my day usually looks.

  • Wake up and spend time catching up on emails/social media before getting out of bed
  • Drive for up to an hour and a half to my day job with Google Maps/Spotify running
  • Spend 9-10 hours at work with random emailing and social media interaction, mixed with some game playing on lunch
  • Drive back home for up to an hour and a half with Google Maps/Spotify running

On a regular basis, even with Maps running for my drive to and from work, I still end up with 20-30% when I get home at 830 PM. It’s a workhorse and allows me to get through my whole day without feeling the need for a charger. And if I’m not around a charger, I can just switch into power-saving mode quickly to last me the rest of the day.

Triple camera features for days

I’m not an Instagram photographer and I don’t go out of the way to find reasons to use my phone’s camera. But, what I want is a smartphone camera that can handle the times that I need to quickly snap a photo. That, and enough features to tweak and change settings on the fly.

When you open the camera app on the Note 10+, you have to swipe a lot to see the different modes that are available, and it’s pretty awesome. Here’s what you get:

  • Photo
  • Video
  • Live Focus
  • Live Focus Video
  • Super Slow-mo
  • Slow Motion
  • Hyperlapse
  • Pro
  • Panorama
  • Night
  • Food
  • Instagram

That’s a lot to handle, but knowing there is a mode for every situation puts my mind at ease. If I want to play around with Pro mode, I can. If I want to fiddle around with Night Mode, I can. If I want to quickly open up my phone and snap a quick pic of my daughter, I can.

Speaking of Night Mode, it’s clear that Apple and Google have this figured out, while Samsung is still tinkering. You aren’t going to get the astro-photography mode offered by the Pixel 4, and Apple’s “magic” with the camera isn’t available either. I’m sure that there will be some type of software upgrade in the future, but it’s not here yet.

That’s not to say that the Note 10+ is a slouch, because it’s definitely not. Samsung has a bit of work to do with computational photography, but at least you get three cameras to switch between based on the situation that arises.

Okay, so what’s my gripe?

Battery life is great, the design is beautiful, and the software is finally good for me. So, why would I say that Samsung didn’t shock anyone? That’s because I’m disappointed in the display.

Sure, the 6.8-inch Quad HD+ Infinity O AMOLED display is stunning in every way, and is the best smartphone display I’ve ever seen. Except for the fact that the company decided to “skimp” or skip on the 90Hz revolution we’re currently seeing.

After seeing a 90Hz display used in the OnePlus 7 Pro, I was convinced that this was the future. Thanks to staring at screens for years on end, my eyes aren’t the greatest, but there is still a discernible difference between viewing 90Hz and not.

Oh, and just as a little salt to the wound. Samsung provided the display for the OnePlus smartphones.

You may be thinking “yeah, but Google added 90Hz displays and battery life is terrible”. That’s true, but Google isn’t Samsung, and OnePlus did the same thing without a major hit to battery life. In fact, the 7 Pro continues to be one of the best phones on the market, despite being succeeded by the OnePlus 7T.

Samsung has the wherewithal to get this right, and I really wish that they had.

Conclusion

The Galaxy Note 10+ is going to be the best phone on the market until the calendar turns to 2020, and then a little beyond that. Something is going to come out that beats the overall package, possibly the S11, and then Note 10+ will be discounted and slowly forgotten.

For now, though, if you’re in the market for a flagship, and you want all the bells and whistles without worrying about a budget, the Note 10+ is perfect.

Let us know what you think about Samsung’s handset and if you already have, or will be picking one up for yourself.

You can purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ at all major carriers and a variety of retailers.

Waterfield Tech Rolltop Backpack review

Matt Adams
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Okay, it’s time to admit the truth. I have an addiction. Not to technology or gadgets, but to bags. Whether it’s a backpack, a messenger bag, or a carrying pouch, it doesn’t matter. The addiction is real. Which brings us to the Waterfield Tech Rolltop Backpack.

Just before we published our review of the Waterfield Vitesse messenger bag, Waterfield announced its latest offering, the Tech Rolltop. Needless to say, I had to get my hands on it. And boy, oh boy, did I. This bag has been a part of my EDC (everyday carry) ever since it arrived on my doorstep. And it has left the Vitesse in the dust.

What are the “specs”?

Before getting started with how awesome this bag is, we need to share a few things about the lineup. First and foremost, the bag comes in two size models: Compact and Full.

The Compact bag measures in at 16.5 x 10.5 x 4.75-inches, weighs 2.4 pounds, and has a volume of 15 liters when the bag is open.

The Full bag, which is the one we’re reviewing today, measures in at 19 x 12 x 5.5-inches and weighs 2.8 pounds. The volume comes in at 18 liters when closed, or 24 liters when expanded.

Other than the sizes, these bags are practically identical and they come in three color options: Black Ballistic Nylon, and Blue or Brown waxed canvas.

On the outside, Waterfield has included a pocket at the top of the front with a magnetic closure, along with a pleated zipper pocket that is found below.

On the right side of the bag is a water bottle holder, while the left side has an open pocket that will either work with a smaller water bottle or a portable charger. These pockets are not protected from the outdoor elements, so you’ll need to be careful if you opt to put a charger in here.

There’s one more pocket found on the outside of the Tech Rolltop, and that’s located beneath the straps. The company has included a padded zipper pocket which can be a home for your laptop or tablet.

What about the inside?

This is the real star of the show. As stated above, we have the “Full” size, which has a volume of 24 liters when packed to the brim.

When you first unroll the top, you find a small zipper pocket which is handy for headphones, keys, or your wallet. There is an additional padded pocket that’s also capable of housing your laptop or tablet. This gives you even more versatility in the event that you don’t want to use the outer pocket.

Since we reviewed the Waterfield Vitesse, my EDC has not changed all that much, but I have a new addition. Here’s a list of everything I can fit in the Full-sized Tech Rolltop bag:

  • 15” Laptop
  • 2018 12.9” iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard Folio
  • Nintendo Switch Lite
  • Cable bag
  • Anker Portable Charger (2 of these)
  • Android smartphone
  • Small notebook with pen
  • AirPods
  • Sony WH1000MX3 Headphones

This is quite the haul for my EDC, but it gives me access to everything I need, regardless of where I am. Even more impressive, the Tech Rolltop is capable of holding even more — should I need it.

There are enough pockets for smaller items to where it feels there is some semblance of organization. To be sure, the primary pockets handle the heavy lifting. And man, this thing gets heavy, however the straps are so comfortable that you wouldn’t think about it.

The Straps

Waterfield has added quite a bit of padding to the shoulder straps. This ensures you don’t experience too much fatigue, even if traveling for a day with a full backpack.

The straps are easily adjustable with buckles that can be found at the bottom. They won’t adjust themselves by accident, which is great. This is a problem that I’ve encountered in other backpacks so I’m excited to see this as a non-issue with the Tech Rolltop.

We’ve talked about how you can unroll the top of the bag to access the opening, but we have not mentioned how it stays closed. Well, that brings us to the absolutely-amazing fastener with a “Fidlock” buckle.

This buckle is magnetic and slides horizontally so that your gear stays safe and the bag doesn’t accidentally open at the wrong time. You definitely wouldn’t want to run in a rainstorm and have your bag inadvertently open, getting everything on the inside drenched. That won’t happen here.

Conclusion

I have fallen in love with the various products that come from the folks at Waterfield. The Tech Rolltop is its latest, and it could be my favorite backpack ever used.

Considering just how many other bags I have used over the years, I’m excited to see how long I can stick with this one. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere else, anytime soon.

If you want to pick up the Tech Rolltop for yourself, head over to the Waterfield website and grab the Compact bag for $229 or the Full-size bag for $249. Both bags are worth your investment. You will be surprised at how much these can hold.

New Alcatel 3V offers up gigantic screen and battery

AndroidGuys
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Alcatel on Friday announced its latest smartphone, the 3V, is on its way to Metro in the coming weeks. The Alcatel 3V features entry-level performance paired with a massive display and generous battery.

Alcatel is the fourth-largest phone maker in North America and often makes low-cost alternatives to Samsung, LG, and others. Its phones are typically paired with prepaid and MVNO carriers.

The Alcatel 3V runs Android 9 Pie with Google Assistant baked into the experience. In terms of power, there’s a 2.0GHz octa-core processor with 3GB RAM with 32GB of storage. Users who need more room can add a microSD card with up to 32GB extra media.

The main draw here is the 6.7-inch display with 1440 x 720 pixel resolution. Protected by Dragontail Pro glass, it’s among the biggest you’ll find on a phone.

The 4,000mAh battery is no slouch, either. It’s big enough to last most users around two days and charges via USB Type-C.

As for cameras, you’ll find a 16-megapixel main rear shooter with a 5-megapixel sensor for depth. Around front is an 8-megapixel camera and the experience is complimented with AI scene detection tech and Google Lens.

The Alcatel 3V is coming soon to T-Mobile’s prepaid brand, Metro. Pricing and exact availability is not yet known. Canadian customers will also see the phone at Freedom Mobile.

ZTE expands US portfolio with Blade 7 Prime, Blade 10 Prime

AndroidGuys
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ZTE on Thursday introduced a number of new phones for the US market, including two which are exclusive to Verizon-based carrier Visible. Available now are the Blade 7 Prime, Blade 10, and Blade 10 Prime.

Blade 7 Prime

The Blade 7 Prime run Android 9 Pie and comes with a 6.09-inch HD display, a rear 16-megapixel camera, and 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

Internally, the handset packs a 2.0GHz Mediatek Helio A22 processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. A microSD expansion card slot lets users increase storage to the tune of 2TB.

Rounding things out are a 3,200mAh battery, USB Type-C charging, a headphone jack, and rear fingerprint scanner.

The Blade 7 Prime retails for $99 through Visible. through the carrier’s Swap program, new customers can trade in any incompatible Android device for a free Blade A7 Prime when signing up for Visible service.

Blade 10 Prime

Also powered by Android 9 Pie, the Blade 10 Prime is a more robust offering with a little more across the board.

Features include a 6.3-inch FHD+ display with a waterdrop cutout notch which allows for the front-facing 16-megapixel camera. Around back are a 16-megapixel F/2.0 main camera with a secondary 5-megapixel depth sensor.

Performance comes from the Helio P60 processor with 3GB RAM, and storage is pegged at 64GB. Like its sibling, the Blade 10 Prime allows for up to 2TB external media. Also present are a 3.5mm headphone jack, rear fingerprint scanner, and 3,200mAh battery with USB Type-C charging.

The Blade 10 Prime runs $179 through Visible.

Blade 10

US buyers interested in the Blade 10 Prime who don’t want to sign up for service with Visible can still get their hands on the device. Dubbed the Blade 10, it’s sold unlocked on ZTE’s website and carries the same $179 price tag.

 

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