Home Blog Page 589

Nokia 7.2 Review

Andrew Allen
-
0

HMD Global and its revival of the Nokia brand is quickly becoming one of my favorite stories in mobile. Nokia is back at a time when I think it’s needed in the space. With its combination of a great update road map and compelling, budget-minded hardware, the company has another potential winner on its hands.

Let’s take a look at it. Here’s my review of the Nokia 7.2 smartphone.

Hardware

The build and quality of the Nokia 7.2 are impressive for its $350 price point. With a mix of polycarbonate backplate and an aluminum frame, the 7.2 has an appearance well outside the realm of the mid-range market. Nokia continues to offer an industrial design that reflects the company’s past of making a great smartphone.

The button layout is pretty basic on the Nokia 7.2 with a volume rocker and power button residing on the right side of the screen. On the left, you have a single button dedicated to Google Assistant.

Both the Assistant button and the LED notification light built into the power key is a great new staple of all Nokia Android phones that I hope the company continues using. Each offers a dedicated hardware answer for general software and I really like it.

As you’d expect, the LED has a soft glow when you get an email or other notification. As I mentioned in my recent Nokia 4.2 review, it’s a nice touch to see here. The Assistant button is just as predictable, offering a quick way to launch Google’s AI from any screen. It even works with the screen even off.

Camera

Around the back, you have a capacitive fingerprint scanner and the camera housing. The camera is slightly different for Nokia with the mid-range phone offering three total cameras. The main one is a 48-megapixel sensor.

The main camera actually shoots a 12-megapixel image after it condenses the information from the 48-megapixel module but it is surprisingly good with the results. In well-lit areas you can get a detailed photo with nice colors. However, as lighting and other objects alter the mood, the shots become somewhat inconsistent in post-processing. Likewise, focusing tends to get tougher when taking the picture.

The overall performance and shutter speeds could use some optimization. There were a couple of instances where the camera really stumbled in attempts to take a photo.

One of the other sensors is a dedicated 5-megapixel depth lens. This allows for the Nokia 7.2 to produce rather respectable portrait photos with decent bokeh effects. While still not in the class of the Pixels, they are perfectly acceptable for the quick social media share.

The last camera sensor is a wide-angle 12-megapixel that allows for wide view shots via the camera app. Unfortunately, you’ll see a pretty significant drop in the overall quality of the photos. The pics aren’t terrible, but you see much more grain and noise in the final result.

Screen

The Nokia 7.2 houses a 6.3-inch 1080 x 2280 pixel IPS LCD. Its colors are balanced and the screen is easily seen in most instances, but I did find times where I wished the auto-brightness would have been stronger. Thankfully, we always have manual adjustments.

Software and performance

I won’t spend too much time here but you can reference my previous Nokia review if you’d like a little deeper dive. The Android One experience paired with the Snapdragon 660 makes for a very fluid and frugal operating system. The Android One build is crisp and snappy with no real issues in daily usage.

You can also feel more at ease about the security of your devices with Android One’s guarantee of two OS updates and three years of security level patches. Nokia has smartly decided to stay out of the way and not complicate the software experience.

Calls and network

I had zero issues, and even one surprise, while using the Nokia’s cellular and LTE support. Calls and texts worked as they expected with both sides of the call getting ample sound with no crackling. The speaker phone is also pretty decent.

The surprise is that the phone is only certified to work on GSM networks in the US which means only AT&T and T-Mobile. However, I found the phone has consistently worked well on the Verizon network. I hope this is something that doesn’t get disabled by a future patch or update.

Do note that I am not endorsing this as a Verizon phone and definitely do not recommend buying it specifically as such.

Final thoughts

My main takeaway is that Nokia is following a familiar path. With its 4.2 and now 7.2, the company is using the same formula Moto has used over the last few years.

Nokia is attacking the low to mid-range of the device market with quality handsets at the sub-$300 price tag — and it’s doing it better than Moto in my mind. To me, the overall hardware and camera experience is better on almost all the Nokia phones I’ve tested when compared to Moto. The same is true here with the Nokia 7.2 which lines up nicely against the Moto G7.

Pair that with a better outlook for OS updates and Nokia has a winning combination in the Nokia 7.2 smartphone.

Availability

Learn more about the Nokia 7.2 and other models at the Nokia website. The phone can be purchased in Charcoal and Green colors for $350 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo Video.

Thriftydroid: Best Buy phone promos and offers worth a look

AndroidGuys
-
0

It’s November, and that means it’s a great time of year to save on a new purchase. What with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and a whole month of savings. Actually, we’re in a whole season of discounts and promotions.

If buying a new phone is something you’re considering, there’s plenty to choose from. A handful of new models are hitting the market and retailers are slashing prices to attract buyers.

Here, we gather up a number of phones with discounts, rebates, and other promos through Best Buy. It’s not everything available, to be sure, but some of the best offered.

Unlocked Phones

Verizon

AT&T

Sprint

Other Savings

Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger review

AndroidGuys
-
0

As we move from microUSB to USB Type-C for our devices, we have to transition away from some of our existing chargers. Look around the home or office and you’ll likely find more than a couple plugs lying about.

The problem with tossing them out completely is that you may still use the traditional USB. Yes, even though it’s nowhere near as fast as today’s chargers, that trusty old wall plug can still work for a pair of headphones.

What happens when you have a cable that’s USB-C on both ends? Use both outlets so you can have something “just in case?” You know where we’re going with this…

Consider something like the Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger.

What is the Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger?

A wall charger, of course.

In all seriousness, this is a charger that houses both a USB-C (PD) and a USB Quick Charge 3.0 port. Both ports allow for 18W charging, meaning you can get a total of 36W output at once.

It’s compact in stature at about 2.5-inches on two sides and around one inch wide. It doesn’t take up much more space than what you’re currently getting from your charger, but it’s a hell of a lot more practical.

What’s in the box?

  • Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger
  • User manual

Who is the Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger for?

Anyone who cares about efficient charging for their phones, tablets, Nintendo Switch, digital camera, etc.

People who spend a lot of time in coffee shops, libraries, or hotel rooms will enjoy having a dual-purpose charger for laptops and phones.

Our thoughts

It’s pretty tough to get excited about a wall charger, but we do find ourselves really happy with this one. Given we’re often charging a phone, Chromebook, Pixelbook, Nintendo Switch and or something else, we like the flexibility.

It’s more stylish than it needs to be with an interesting color scheme. The charger looks good in any environment and travels well.

There’s an 18-month warranty that comes with the charger, which is about six months longer than what others do. That’s peace of mind, and worth a few bucks on its own.

We love the price point of the charger, which is currently just $23 at Amazon.

Should I buy the Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger?

Yes. This one is priced to sell and comes with a customer-friendly warranty behind it.

Three reasons to buy

  • Price
  • 18-month warranty
  • Two fast charging standards

One reason to reconsider

  • Unfamiliar brand for some

We’ve had a chance to play with other Xcentz products and feel they’re definitely worth a look. Thus far our wall charger has been a pleasure to use.

Where can I buy the Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger?

Learn more about the Xcentz 36W PD Wall Charger and/or purchase one at Amazon. It is listed at $23 at the time of publication.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a sponsored product review, however the views and opinions expressed here are entirely those of AndroidGuys. No editorial consideration or adjustment was made on behalf of the sponsor.

Nokia 6.2 arrives in US at just $250

Andrew Allen
-
0

HMD earlier this year announced its Nokia 6.2 for the international audience, but remained tight-lipped about a potential US release. Things get clearer today as Nokia brings its unlocked phone to the US, offering it up for just $250.

Read: Who is HMD Global?

The Nokia 6.2 isn’t the most powerful phone on the market, but its price tag is justified. It runs Android 9 Pie and is on the Android One program. This means at least two years of operating system updates and three years of monthly security updates.

The Nokia 6.2 includes a Snapdragon 636 processor which is paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. A microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 512GB removable media.

One of the key features of the mid-range phone, however, is the triple camera module on the rear of the Nokia 6.2 smartphone. The triple cameras setup has a 16MP main shooter, 5MP depth sensor, and an 8MP wide-angle lens. This should give you those standard shots, portrait captures of your friends, as well as landscape images all in one package.

Everything is presented on a 6.3-inch FHD+ PureDisplay, meaning up to one billion shades of color. Rounding things out, we see there’s a 3,500mAh battery which should be good for at least one day of usage from its targeted user base.

If you pay close attention to the Nokia scene, you may notice physical similarities between the 6.2 and its brother the 7.2. The design language is very much the same with polycarbonate and glass combinations. It looks pricier than it is

As previously mentioned, the Nokia 6.2 is available now through Amazon with a $250 price tag. This phone provides Nokia with an option just below the 7.2 and costs around $100 for users looking to upgrade.

Much like the 7.2 and other Nokia phones, the Nokia 6.2 is only certified for GSM networks such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and all the appropriate MVNOs associated with these two carriers.

Google Play Store rewards program expands to US

AndroidGuys
-
0

Google on Monday announced that it has expanded its Google Play Points rewards program to US consumers. Following a launch that started in Korea and Japan, it gives people the ability to earn points for purchases made in the Play Store.

Play Points can be accrued for purchases made on anything from apps and games to movies, books, and other content. Indeed, it also works on subscriptions to magazines and other services, too.

The move comes on the heels of another major feature recently launched in the Google Play Store. Just a few weeks back Google introduced Play Pass, a subscription-based service which gives its buyers unlimited access to a library of games, apps, and in-app content that’s otherwise tucked behind a paywall.

Once a user accumulates points they can redeem them for rewards such as special items in games, discounts, and more.

Google is working with developers and partners to help spur adoption and usage. As of today it offers rewards through Niantic, King, Electronic Arts, Playrix, Jam City, Kabam, Ludia, Kongregate, and others.

Customers don’t have to pick from rewards or in-app unlocks and purchases; it’s also possible to swap out for Google Play Credit. Likewise, users can donate points to rotating charitable causes such as Doctors Without Borders USA, Save the Children, and the World Food Program USA.

Look for Google Play Points to show up in the Play Store over the next few days. Once available, you can opt in as a user through the app.

EarFun Free wireless earbuds review

AndroidGuys
-
0

Truly wireless earbuds are all the rage now. Partially because phone makers have removed 3.5mm headphone jacks, but mainly because the tech is pretty cool.

There’s nothing quite like the freedom that comes with not dealing with cables or tethers. If you’ve ever used them, you know what we’re talking about.

Up for review today we take a look at the EarFun Free.

What is the EarFun Free?

Offered in black and white color options, the EarFun Free are a pair of true wireless earbuds. You’ve seen the design a bunch of times in other brands and probably know what you’ll get.

These earbuds offer up six hours of play time per charge with up to 30 hours in its carrying case. Waterproof and sweat resistant, they pair via Bluetooth 5.0 and come in at less than $50.

When it comes to charging, the EarFun Free have a USB Type-C port, something that we didn’t expect at this price. Further, the case has built-in Qi support and can also sit on a wireless charging pad.

What’s in the box?

  • EarFun Free earbuds
  • Charging case
  • Three sizes of ear tips
  • USB-C cable
  • User manual

Who is the EarFun Free for?

Because of their price, the EarFun Free should appeal to people who shop with a budget in mind. They’re inexpensive enough that you can splurge on them as a gift for someone else, but they’re not “cheap”.

These are the sort of earbuds you might turn to when it’s time to go to the gym, ride a bike, or expect to get sweaty.

Our thoughts

Sound gets plenty loud and we found ours fit the ear nicely using the out-of-box tips. Pairing is nice and easy and connection happens immediately. Also, listeners can use just the right earbud if they want to leave one ear exposed. Note, though, that the playback controls are found by pressing the left one.

Noise isolation was on par with expectations, with typical environments mostly disappearing behind music. It’s not full-on, though, as noisier rooms or situations could bleed in just a bit. This will vary based on ear tips and user, of course.

We appreciate the Bluetooth 5 connectivity as it lets us get to around 50 feet away from the music source. And, once paired they connect automatically just by opening the case and taking them out.

The EarFun Free are said to include the ability to access your voice assistant. We had trouble getting this to work. You’re supposed to be able to hold the right ear button in for two seconds to access it. Hold it down for four seconds and it powers off. There’s no sound that prompts the listener that the assistant is available.

Either way, as nice as it is to access a voice assistant like Google Assistant or Siri, we’d love the ability to adjust volume. Alas, you cannot control volume levels from the earbud.

Sitting at a coffee shop isn’t so bad if your phone is handy. But, get up and walk around without it and you’ll miss the control.

Should I buy the EarFun Free?

When it comes to buying wireless earbuds or headphones from unfamiliar brands we’re reluctant to part with too much money. The problem with that is spending too little leads to its own problems. With that in mind, we’ve seen earbuds at this price that don’t have the flexibility of the EarFun Free.

Four reasons to buy

  • Water and sweat resistant
  • Bluetooth 5
  • USB-C and wireless charging
  • 30 hours playback per charge

Two reasons to reconsider

  • Voice assistant doesn’t work properly
  • No volume controls on earbuds

If you own a wireless charger or one of Samsung’s recent phones with built-in charging, you’ll dig the extra feature. Not that you’ll use it too often because the case packs 30 hours of playback.

Amazon is where you’ll have to go if you plan to buy these and that’s nice. If you run into any problems, there shouldn’t be a problem with returning them.

Where can I buy the EarFun Free?

Learn more about the EarFun Free at the brand’s website but to purchase them you’ll need to go to Amazon. Currently they’re listed at $50 but we’ve seen them dip to $40 for a short bit.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a sponsored product review, however the views and opinions expressed here are entirely those of AndroidGuys. No editorial consideration or adjustment was made on behalf of the sponsor.

Akaso V50 Pro: An action camera with premium features that doesn’t break the bank

Guest Blogger
-
0

When you’re looking for a new action camera, what name springs to mind? GoPro, right? It seems to be the only name in the game right now. But, there’s actually a few companies that are making some really compelling options that cost a fraction of what GoPro offers and offer the same features. Today, we’re here to tell you about the Akaso V50 Pro, an action camera with an attractive build and great features.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Akaso V50 Pro is the attractive outer casing. The rubber case makes it easy on the eyes and easy to hold onto when your fingers get wet. It’s also water resistant which means you can take it down to the lake too, if that’s your thing.

There’s thought behind the design beyond that water resistant rubber casing. The lens doesn’t stick out as much as other cameras and it’s flat. That’s important because it makes it far easier to clean than concaved lenses. An action camera is made to be taken places where dirt and mud are prevalent, so cleaning off your lens should be an important factor in making your buying decision.

The Akaso V50 Pro comes with a wealth of accessories in the box

There’s also a simple clasp design that makes removing the outer casing an breeze. It’s inevitable that you’ll need to get the casing off so choosing an option that frustrates you as little as possible should be something you consider. Whether it’s charging or transferring files, that casing will eventually need to come off and if you’re using the camera a lot, this could be a pretty important factor. Do you want to be frustrated every weekend when trying to take your camera out of the case?

Now, onto the camera itself.

The Akaso V50 Pro shoots in 4k @ 30 fps, 1080p @ 60 fps, and 720p @ 60 or 120 fps. You have all your standard resolutions and frame rates to give you versatility in what you want to shoot. The 4k option has become a standard in action cameras and you’ll absolutely want to buy one that supports it. Buying anything without it could be considered throwing your money away because all of our screens are moving to higher and higher resolutions.

Electronic stabilization is included and used to smooth out those video clips of you in the boat on choppy water or riding your bike down a mountain. While there are third party applications that can help with stabilization, you really want the camera to be your first line of defense here. You can tweak in in post, but having electronic stabilization, like the Akaso V50 Pro does, on board is very important.

The Akaso V50 Pro also does stills! It’s not all about video here as you can shoot pictures too. The camera can capture still at up to 20.1 MP. You won’t need to carry a dedicated camera or bring your phone with you which can be important as you don’t want an extra device to protect or keep track of. The Akaso V50 Pro really is a one device solution.

Once you’re done shooting for the day, you can use the included WiFi to connect to the Android or iOS apps. This allows you to transfer files directly to your device for easy backup and editing. This is a perfect solution if you’re using something like the iPad Pro, Pixel Slate or Pixelbook Go as your mobile editor and want to quickly transfer files without first moving them to a physical storage device.

Speaking of physical storage, there’s an included micro SD card slot next to a micro USB and micro HDMI port on the side of the device. The SD card slot allows you to pull your card out and directly upload to your computer, while the USB allows for transfer and charging while the HDMI port allows you to display your media directly from the cam onto to your TV.

If you’re interested in picking up the Akaso V50 Pro, head on over to the company’s website for more information or Amazon, BuyDigg, eBay, or Walmart.

This article is a sponsored product overview produced in cooperation with Akaso. As such, the opinions expressed in this article may not represent the views of AndroidGuys.com and should be evaluated on your own. 

Our AKASO Brand:

Comparing GoPro, AKASO is a leading international extremely affordable action cameras brand and the biggest action camera brand in Amazon. We have served millions of customers and invited the famous all-around rock climber-Tommy Caldwell as AKASO ambassador.

How to snooze notifications in Android 10

Andrew Allen
-
0

One of the great things about Android has been the power, flexibility, and evolution of its notifications. For years, Google’s OS has kept things a step ahead of the competition when it comes to actionable items.

Google has done a great job over Android’s history making notifications extremely granular when it comes to controls. As many of you know, it’s easy to turn notifications off and on for most of the things that happen on your phone.

READ: Android 10 now available for Pixel phones

Another option, that’s now tucked away in Android 10, is the ability to snooze notifications. This neat feature lets users quickly quiet notifications for a set amount of time.

How to make it happen

You can easily turn this on by just navigating through a few panels of the Settings menu. Let’s take a look at how we can put some notifications to sleep for a bit.

This tutorial is twofold, and we need to start with turning the option on as it’s sometimes off by default in Android 10.

  • Find the Settings app in your app launcher
  • Select Apps & notifications
  • And then Notifications
  • Click Advanced at the bottom of the page
  • About midway down, toggle Allow notification snoozing button

You’re now halfway there and should now see a new option in your notification previews on the Android pull down shade. This will allow us to continue the snooze option.

  • Open the notification shade for the app you’d like to snooze
  • Slide the app to your left to reveal the Settings cog and a Clock icon
  • Select the clock
  • Set the duration of snooze you’d like to silence the app

Enjoy the temporary silence

There you go. Now you and your favorite apps can have some time apart. It’s not you. It’s them. You just need some time to think. Either way, the app(s) should not show any notifications during the designated time — just like when you have Do Not Disturb turned on.

Google acquires Fitbit in $2.1B deal

AndroidGuys
-
0

Google on Friday announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Fitbit. The deal is worth some $2.1 billion according to a Fitibit press release.

It may take some time before we see how things ultimately unfold, but it sounds like Google will treat Fitbit much like it does Nest. In other words, it belongs to Google and its future products will get the “Made by Google” moniker.

Google has yet to make its own wearable, even after opening its wallet to scoop up some of Fossil’s technology.

On the other hand, Fitbit has been in the game for some time now and has gotten increasingly better at its hardware and software. So much so, in fact, that it has sold more than 100 million devices around the globe.

And while Wear OS hasn’t taken off, its software-based Google Fit is pretty smart stuff. How will Wear OS and Fitbit work together? Will they even design hardware with Google’s platform?

According to Fitbit, it will remain platform-agnostic and work across Android and iOS. And, Google, for its part,  “remains committed to Wear OS“. Both could keep doing what they do today and consumers ultimately not see a difference. But that’s probably not going to happen.

 

Google aspires to create tools that help people enhance their knowledge, success, health and happiness. This goal is closely aligned with Fitbit’s long-time focus on wellness and helping people live healthier, more active lives.

We imagine that Google’s internal developer support, AI, and growing ecosystem of products will pair nicely with wearables made by the Fitbit team. And the two companies likely do, too. Then there’s the whole space of developers who have created apps and custom features for both Wear OS and Fitbit.

Whatever unfolds as a result of today’s deal is bound to be interesting and, hopefully, compelling.

Klipsch T5 Sport Review

Jason England
-
0

Klipsch is an American company that has been making high-quality audio products since 1946. It started with loudspeakers but these days Klipsch is more well known for its lineup of home theater and personal audio products, such as the recent T5 series of headphones.

Recently, Klipsch sent me the T5 Sport headphones and let me try them out. Here are my thoughts after spending a few weeks with them.

Design

My initial reaction to the T5 Sport was, “how did Klipsch pack the drivers into these things?” The headphones are surprisingly small and lightweight. Next, I was pleased to see the T5 Sport used a braided cable.

I’ve always been a fan of braided cables, they look nice, feel premium, and help prevent cables from tangling. In my opinion, it’s a big upgrade over most headphones that use a plastic or rubber cable.

Housed on the braided cable is a three-button remote that lets you control music. Present are options for play/pause, volume up/down, and the ability to skip tracks or answer calls. The buttons are rubberized and all have a unique feel making them easy to use without guessing which button you’re pressing.

Comfort

Included in the box are several ear tips including a pair of Comply comfort tips and Klipsch’s patented oval tips. I can’t stress enough how much I love Klipsch’s oval ear tips. Compared to other circular ear tips, the oval ones fit better, provide a better seal, and it helps prevent them from falling out.

I’m not exaggerating when I say, the Klipsch T5 Sport are one of the most comfortable, if not the most comfortable, earbuds I’ve ever tried. That’s big praise from me.

As someone with smaller ear canals, it has always been a challenge for me to find earbuds that fit properly or offer a true comfortable fit. Klipsch has always excelled in this regard.  Thanks to the oval ear tips and variety of sizes they provide, wearing its headphones is always a pleasure.

Even the ear wings Klipsch includes are comfortable and I didn’t suffer from any ear fatigue, even after wearing them for hours.

Sound Quality

The Klipsch T5 Sport make use of aptX technology to ensure high-quality sound similar to a wired connection when paired to your device. Music sounds very bright with an emphasis on the highs. So much so, in fact, that it overwhelms the mids in many cases.

Bass was lacking but had a small kick here and there; however, if you fancy a nice resounding thump, you’ll be left wanting. I did find that using the ear wings will enhance the bass, but still not to the levels I prefer.

In short, if you’re a fan of bass, I’d pass on these. If you are someone who enjoys headphones with more of a bright sound, the T5 Sport will be more your style.

Klipsch is working on an app for the T5 series of headphones though, and once released you’ll be able to tweak the equalizer to your liking. Hopefully it will be released soon and those of us that like oomph can add more.

Battery Life

Klipsch rates the T5 Sport for 10 hours of battery life and in my experience they match or exceed that. I’ve barely had to charge these headphones these past few weeks and that’s pretty impressive, especially considering how lightweight they are. It’s also a nice change of pace to not have to use a bulky charging case.

I’d say my only criticism here comes when it’s time to charge. Sadly, we’re still forced to use microUSB. I’m hoping to retire my microUSB cables some day but it’s gonna take Klipsch and others to fully make that switch.

Connection

The T5 Sport use Bluetooth 5 for pairing and offer a rock-solid connection. During my time with the buds I never once experienced a hiccup. I was consistently able to use them at 30 feet or more without an issue.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a pair of Bluetooth headphones with unmatched comfort and fantastic battery life, look no further. The Klipsch T5 Sport delivers on both fronts.

On the other hand, if you’re hoping for a pair of bass-heavy workout buds, you’ll need to look elsewhere. That’s the one area I feel Klipsch comes up short with the T5 Sport buds. Hopefully that changes once Klipsch releases its app with a built-in equalizer.

Until that time these buds are best suited for someone who enjoys a brighter sound from their headphones. You can pick up a pair today starting at $114 from several retailers including Amazon, B&H Photo, and Klipsch. The earbuds are available in black and white colors.

Buy from Amazon Buy from B&H Photo Buy from Klipsch

1...588589590...1,315Page 589 of 1,315