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LG Gram 14 review: Light as a feather, strong as a bull

Matt Adams
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As phones get bigger and bigger, more people are opting against carrying a secondary device with a large screen. Tablets, in theory, are fantastic because they offer more screen real estate and that helps a ton if you’re looking to get some work done, but don’t want to be tied down to a desk.

We recently took a look at the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) and really enjoyed what was possible with the device. Everything from video editing to watching media was enhanced, but there’s still a problem with the iPad; it’s just a tablet. To truly unlock the productivity we want, we hooked up with LG and in partnership with them, we’re taking a look at the LG Gram 14-inch 2-in-1. It’s a Windows-based laptop that has completely rendered my iPad and Android tablets useless.

Let’s start off with the basics. Here are the key specs of the LG Gram 14:

  • Operating System: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8565U
    • Base clock: 1.80GHz
    • Max frequency: 4.60GHz
    • 4 cores/8 threads
  • Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • RAM: 16 GB (8 GB x 2)
  • Storage: 512 GB M.2 2280 SSD (476 GB available)
  • Display: 14-inch IPS LCD, 1920 x 1080 touch-enabled
  • Ports: 1x power, 1x headphone jack, 1x full HDMI, 2x USB A, 1 x USB C (Thunderbolt 3), 1 x microSD
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi A/C (2×2), USB C with RJ45 gender (10/100Mbit)
  • Battery: 72Wh, 7.7V Rated up to 21 hrs
  • Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.3 x 0.7
  • Weight: 2.53 lbs
  • Materials: Magnesium alloy

So, there’s a lot to unpack there, but we’ll start by talking about the exterior of the Gram first. The magnesium alloy makes the devices incredibly light. To get a 14-inch device this light would normally require some sacrifices, but using this alloy allows LG to keep the laptop a high level of build quality without adding any additional weight.

And it makes a difference. I carry the Gram in my Waterfield messenger bag, but I have a bad shoulder from years of abuse during hockey games as a kid. I have pretty consistent pain and I can tell when even the amount of additional weight is present. The LG Gram allows me to have an incredibly powerful device while not carrying around a bulky brick and I appreciate that.

The weight and small dimensions also play into how I use the device on a day-to-day basis. My day job is at a TV station and I am often running around the newsroom trying to get stories together and creating documentation for use at a later time.

Since the Gram is so light, I pick it up and go without a second thought. I move from desk to desk, newsroom to control room, and inside the building to live shots while carrying this around in my hand. I don’t need to store it or make special consideration for it since it weighs about the same as a tablet.

As a smartphone enthusiast, I am fully on board with the shrinking of bezels. My current OnePlus 7 Pro is one of the first “full screen” devices out there and I love it. LG has done something similar here with the LG Gram and brought down the bezels around the screen to an absolute minimum. Yes, the bezels are still there but they are small and house important things like a webcam up top.

After using several devices with a camera below the display, this is a very welcome change from me and everyone that doesn’t have to stare up my nose during conference calls. This truly is a 14-inch laptop inside of a 13-inch laptop’s body.

Going back to that screen, it’s brilliant. The colors look absolutely fantastic on the IPS LCD display and the 1080p resolution is just right. While some creatives may want a 4K display, I don’t think the trade-off in battery life on an ultra-thin laptop like this is worth it. Creatives will love the 300 nits of max brightness and 96% sRBG coverage as well as the touch screen. All of this is covered by Gorilla Glass 5 which will keep your screen protected from scratches and breaks.

In the box, you get a Wacom pen that has 4096 points of pressure and two buttons for forward and backward functionality. I have loved using the pen because it makes taking notes or signing a contract incredibly easy.

Since Windows 10 is here instead of Android or iOS, there’s almost a limitless number of apps you can download from across the internet to take advantage of the pen. This is especially handy for artists who want a powerful graphics creation tool without using extra hardware.

I do wish the pen could somehow attach to the laptop and I don’t love that it takes AAAA batteries, but otherwise, this is a win.

Battery life is another area where the Gram is a class leader. While there’s an advertised “up to” 21 hours of battery life, I’m not getting that much in daily use. I’m getting only 15-16 hours, which is still mind-blowing. Seriously, a laptop this small and light getting that much battery life is crazy. I haven’t used a laptop as my main device for many, many years so I’m still stuck in the days of considering three hours of battery life great.

This is incredible.

It matches or beats devices like the Apple iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Dell XPS, and other thin and lightweight laptops. I work all day and then come home and write at night and I still have enough juice to get through most of the next day.

Unfortunately one of my pain points is the charging situation. While most of the industry is moving toward USB C, there’s a proprietary charging port here. It’s kind of a pain to carry the charger with me but luckily I usually don’t have to do that often because of the excellent battery life.

What really saves it for me, is that the USB C port can accept power and charge the laptop. It complains every time I plug in a USB C cable because it’s slower than the charger in the box, but it does the job. I love having one cable to charge everything and I hope that LG replaces the charging port in a future revision.

One of the most important factors when considering picking up a laptop instead of a tablet is the keyboard. LG put a killer keyboard in the Gram and I’ve really enjoyed writing this article on it.

While there’s the smallest bit of flex, that’s to be expected and it doesn’t impact the experience. The keys provide great travel and the layout is pretty comfortable. We get a full set of arrow keys without sacrificing a full sized shift key, a rarity in compact laptops like this.

The delete key sits in the top right corner right next to the power button. Normally this would be cause for concern but the power button is concave and requires more pressure to press than a normal key. It also houses a quick and accurate fingerprint scanner that has been a joy to use.

Overall, I’d say the typing experience has been great and the only thing I’d change are the combo function/quick action keys. You have to hold down function to use the quick action keys and to me, that’s backward. I want to turn my volume up and down and change the backlit key brightness far more often than I want to hit a function key.

We’re getting to the end of our review here, but I wanted to be sure to point out that this is one of the first laptops that I really feel the company has considered every aspect of the experience. There are some small issues like the charging port, some screen flex, and the function keys that I wish were different, but overall this is an excellent package.

The display doesn’t get a ton of love in reviews, but I think it’s perfect for working professionals. It’s slightly wider than you’d normally see in a laptop which makes using side-by-side windows or multiple apps a breeze. It’s the little things like this that LG absolutely nailed.

The LG Gram 14-inch 2-in-1 isn’t cheap. It comes in about $1500, but when considering you’re getting a full Windows experience and the ability to use it as a tablet along with an included Wacom pen as well, I think it becomes a lot better of a deal.

More than once I’ve flipped the screen around and used it as a tablet to display PowerPoint projects or videos that I’m working on. Due to the incredibly powerful processor and a healthy heaping of RAM, the screen flip is instant and tablet mode is immediately accessible.

The only issues I’ve had is from Windows not recognizing I’m now in tablet mode and keeping the keyboard active. This normally only takes place for a few seconds but it can be frustrating.

After using the Gram for a month, I can easily say it’s a better option than any Android tablet on the market and the Apple iPad Pro. All in, you’re looking at $1500 for the Gram, but the hardware is better than you’ll find anywhere else.

To turn the iPad Pro into a true competitor, you’ll need to spend well over $1700 for a 512 GB iPad Pro, Apple Smart Keyboard, Apple Pencil, and more. And you’re still lacking in RAM and locked into a closed ecosystem without a true file browser in that scenario. Don’t even get me started on the sad state of Android tablets.

If you want to find out more about the LG Gram, you can head over to LG’s website where they have even more information for you to check out. This review was produced in association with LG but all of the opinions expressed in it are mine and are as unbiased as you can get.

Do you have any more questions about the Gram? Ask us down in the comments or on Twitter.

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 True Wireless Earbuds review

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We love the idea of true wireless earbuds. Having absolutely no wires and such a compact headphone is invaluably convenient. If only the functionality was also as noteworthy.

Building earbuds that have everything packed into their tiny earpiece spaces have their engineering challenges, and it shows in even top-end offerings, in the form of short battery life and unreliable wireless connection.

Originally published June 5, 2018

Optoma wasn’t exempt from these troubles with its first crack at it. We liked several things about last year’s BE Free8, such as its notable aptX-capable sound quality, but couldn’t look past some of its questionable functionality (primarily, too many Bluetooth signal hiccups). Well, the company has had time to work on it, arriving in the form of the more affordable BE Free5. Is this a memorable case of more for less? Let’s find out.

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds

Design

Despite closely following in the Be Free8‘s footsteps, the Free5 is a different animal from a design perspective – some for the better but not all. For instance, it’s more blocky in shape than the streamlined, tapered Free8 earpieces. This also means a bit more girth in depth (but in turn, thinner width).

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds

So they stick out a little more on the ear than the contoured Free8 earpieces, but it ends up being of little consequence. Optoma was carefully to make sure they’re still ergonomic and don’t fall out of the ears (more on usability later).

The primary smooth chassis feels similar as before – sturdy but pretty standard hard plastic. A big design difference is that Optoma cut back on the glossy plastic cap. This is a move we prefer, as that plastic on the Free8 felt cheap. But that’s not all.

The scored texture is also gone in favor of a striped pattern underneath the transparent cover. It’s a grainy and silvery finish that shimmers at the right angle of light. We think it’s a lot classier than before and serves as a unique touch.

This design cue is also cohesive with the finish of the carrying/charging case, which has undergone the most drastic change – and we’re really glad about it.

The Free8’s case was completely made of the cheap-feeling and smudgy glossy plastic. Not only is it now matte, but Optoma sand-blasted it entirely, resulting in a grainy (almost sandstone-like), shimmery, and premium-feeling texture. It’s fabulous, and it feels sturdy too. We only wish the slimmer teardrop form of the Free8’s case was maintained, but it’s not a big deal.

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds
Case differences between older Free8 and newer Free5 earbuds.

A benefit of modified design is that the earpieces are easier to remove from the case. The slippery caps of the Free8 made this frequent operation a minor annoyance. Additionally, Optoma listened to the gripes about the flimsy insertion of the earpieces. They now magnetically latch onto their corresponding silos.

Turn the case around and you’ll see how to charge it. We always cry a little bit when we continue to see a microUSB port instead of the current USB-C, but it’s acceptable in lower-costing devices, which the Free5 is.

Function

Optoma decently packages the BE Free5. Namely, we appreciate the use of SpinFit ear tips, which are highly-regarded for their fit (their stems flex to suit different ear canal shapes).

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds
All of the contents in the Free5 box.

Still, we always like to see the option of foam tips. Silicone tips don’t isolate sound nearly as well. Something additional that we didn’t see with the Free8 are different sizes of ear fins. These hug the ear for an extra secure fit.

Speaking of the fit, it was a bit of a mixed bag for us. For some reason, the SpinFit tips that Optoma opts for are shallower than those packaged with the Free8. This makes getting an appropriate ear canal seal trickier than it should be. We managed an acceptable seal with the larger tips, but it’s borderline (i.e. the seal breaks with mouth movements).

Fortunately, the earpieces are shaped well to stay in place, so the seal shouldn’t rock with head movement or exercise. We were able to confidently work out without the ear fins with no worry about the earpieces falling out. However, we noticed that these bulkier earpieces aren’t as comfortable as the Free8, especially during longer listening sessions.

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds
Each earpiece has its own status LED and single-button control

The Free5 continues Optoma’s single-button playback control method. But instead of a tiny button atop the earpieces, now the entire cap depresses for the function(s). We welcome this change (mostly).

The buttons are definitely easier and more natural to press. But the area is so large that you’ll press it frequently by accident. This is especially when you don the earpieces. You have to get a habit of only grabbing the sides when you’re seating them, or you’ll be pressing the buttons like crazy.

Optoma’s instructions for all the button functions.

We’re not a fan of the complicated system of controls. With only one button, you have to learn what different kinds of presses do. What’s more, the left and right buttons can have different functions. For instance, double-clicking the left button skips the track but double-clicking the right toggles the phone’s virtual assistant.

What’s additionally not intuitive is the LED indicators. There’s one on each earpiece, and two on the case. They flash between white and orange, and all have a different indication.

On the earpieces, what you essentially need to know is that they’re solid orange when charging and alternate white/orange when in pairing mode.

Although the two case LEDs look the same, they indicate different things. The left one lets the user know if the battery level of the charging case is below 25% (will flash orange when you open the case, or flash white if above 25%). The right LED just show the charging status (orange if currently charging and white if fully charged).

How the Free5’s LEDs work.

None of these things are complicated, but you do have to do some learning before you know what the heck is going on.

A big contention with Optoma’s first crack at a true wireless earbud was the finicky Bluetooth signal. We noted plentiful drops in our review of the Free8, making us hopeful that it would be addressed in this follow-up model.

While the Free5 is not completely free of hiccups, we’re happy to report that the connection is drastically more stable. Even with phone in pocket or walking a few feet from it, the playback is largely uninterrupted.

As for technical specs, we have pretty common features. On a charge, the earpieces can last up to four hours, which is average for this kind of wireless earbud. The case has enough capacity to charge them four times over (so 16 hours total with a full case). And Optoma didn’t forget about designing the Free5 with IPX5-rated water resistance.

Audio

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds
One of the BE Free5’s biggest compromises is the lack of aptX support for higher fidelity streaming.

One of the Free8’s standout features was the inclusive of aptX support in its chipset. This wireless audio codec can be found in many Qualcomm-powered smartphones these days, allowing for a higher bandwidth channel (up to 352 kbps).

Alas, aptX was forgone in the Free5; but Optoma doesn’t leave us hanging. It does support the AAC codec, which is still better than standard bit-rates. Also, the Free5’s driver diaphragm is said to be made from a new graphene material that’s lighter in weight and responds more quickly (retrieving clearer details) than the typical diaphragm.

But more importantly, how does it sound? Pretty darn good for the most part. One of the first things that caught us was the clean sound. The noise floor is surprisingly silent (most earbuds of this type have some level of audible hiss). This makes it easier to pick up the details, which the Free5 has ample of despite the lack of aptX.

The mid-range is more forward than you’ll typically hear, so elements like vocals and guitars really shine. The bass can sometimes be subtle and sometimes show a great deal of body (particularly when there’s a strong mid-bass presence in the track). We appreciate how controlled it is. It’s never boomy or overbearing.

That said, the separation between upper bass and lower mid-range isn’t the cleanest. But we should expect a little muddle in a $99 true wireless earbud. It’s perfectly acceptable in this case.

The treble is decently conveyed. It’s not the most detailed (especially with a clear roll-off of the upper frequencies that you’ll miss out on) but is clean and has a nice presence. You shouldn’t expect much of a soundstage/spacious quality from the Free5. Its airy characteristic does help the sound not be so 2D, but you just won’t get a fuller, encompassing reproduction like that in higher-end earphones.

Final Thoughts

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Earbuds

The BE Free5 isn’t a perfect true wireless earbud (then again, none of today’s are). However, we have to keep reminding ourselves that this is just a $79 offering. It’s not just that but the Free5 make a couple worthy improvements from the more expensive Free8, such as its more premium charging case and remedied Bluetooth signal stability.

All the negatives we’ve noted aren’t in deal-breaker territory and can be easily justified by the lower price. We look forward to seeing how Optoma pushes the “value” envelope next.

Optoma NuForce BE Free5 Product Page

Verizon taps LG V50 ThinQ 5G for June 20 launch

AndroidGuys
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Verizon on Tuesday confirmed it will offer the LG V50 ThinQ 5G as part of its portfolio of phones starting on June 20. This marks the second phone to support Verizon’s 5G ultra-fast 5G network.

Priced $1,000 outright, qualified Verizon customers can spread payments out to the tune of $41.66 for 24 months. For a limited time, Verizon is offering access to its 5G network at no additional cost, saving subscribers $10 per month.

Unlike Sprint, Verizon is not limiting the availability of the V50 ThinQ 5G. Sprint only sells it in markets where its 5G bands are active, but Verizon will offer it nationwide. Chicago and Minneapolis are the only two cities with Verizon 5G but another 28 markets are expected to light up with the next-gen high speed data network.

Powered by Android 9 Pie, the LG V50 ThinQ is outfitted with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. It’s IP68 rated against dust and water, shock resistant, and protected by Gorilla Glass on the front and back.

As a phone with tons of cameras and AI, the LG V50 ThinQ also boasts excellent sound tuning and audio quality. Three cameras (12-MP standard, 16-MP super-wide, 12-MP and telephoto) sit on the back with a standard (8-MP) and wide-angle (5-MP) lens around front.

If $1,000 sounds like a lot for the phone, consider it’s a few hundred dollars less expensive than the only other 5G Verizon handset, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G – it’s $1,300 for that one. What’s more, it’s also cheaper than what Sprint commands for the LG phone.

Boost Mobile adds Coolpad Legacy to roster

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Boost Mobile on Tuesday added the Coolpad Legacy smartphone to its roster of devices. Priced just $100, the prepaid phone offers consumers a big screen experience and the latest version of Android.

Powered by Android 9, the Legacy has a 6.36-inch display, a Snapdragon 450 processor with 3GB and 32GB internal storage. The rear houses two cameras (16-megapixel and 5-megapixel) while the front has a 13-megapixel shooter.

A 4,000mAh battery lets users get up to two days on average use; a USB Type C port ensures quick charging (QC 3.0) and less time plugged into the wall. Rounding out the specifications are a microSD expansion card slot, rear fingerprint reader, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Coolpad Legacy review

Previously, the Coolpad Legacy was offered through T-Mobile’s prepaid brand, Metro, where it had a similar price. We had the chance to review that phone and found it to be a wonderful bargain.

Boost offers the Coolpad Legacy for just $100, but for a limited time is discounting it to $50 for customers who switch from another carrier.

Boost Mobile is a prepaid service provider that uses Sprint’s network for cellular coverage. It offers its own rate plans, device selection, and features. Check out our Buyer’s Guide for June 2019 to learn more about Boost.

Cut the cord: This $20 HD TV antenna streams 4K for free

AndroidGuys
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TL;DR: This money-saving digital HD antenna is 31% off, and provides you with a ton of 1080p and 4K broadcast channels.

If you’re thinking about cutting the cord, you’re not alone. Many people have, and the reasons to get away from traditional cable continue to grow. Similarly, we’ve seen a rise in people who never even bother with signing an agreement with a cable provider.

While a lot of us like Hulu, Netflix, and the other streaming players, some still like the local channels for live broadcasts of news, sports, and general programming. Awards shows, season finales, and playoff games are serious business and work best live. If you’re among those aching for the live shows, listen up.

There are options that let you cut the cord, or not have to worry about signing up for cable. In fact, it’s cheap, too. Consider the current offer in the AndroidGuys Deals Store: the Rveal Digital Indoor HDTV Antenna.

Priced just $20, it’s all you’ll ever need to spend for your local broadcasts. The Rveal Digital Indoor HDTV Antenna is super thin, easy to set up, and receives signal from up to 50 miles away. We’re talking high definition 1080p and even Ultra-HD 4K resolution at no cost.

It’s easy to install; plug it in and scan for channels with one click. Before you know it, you’ll have access to the channels available in your area for news, weather, and sports. Its advanced 4K signal filtration beams higher picture quality compared to cable or satellite.

Rveal Indoor HDTV Antenna Features

  • Install by simply plugging in & scanning for channels w/ one click
  • Enjoy the most popular over-the-air local & national TV programs w/ no monthly fees or subscriptions
  • Experience higher picture quality than cable or satellite w/ the advanced 4K signal filtration
  • Get crystal-clear content & strongest broadcasting signals thanks to a 50-mile, multi-directional range and quality amplifier
  • Fits anywhere due to the sleek, flexible, paper-thin design

The best part of this whole deal is you only pay a one-time fee for the antenna and end up with free TV for life. Get the Rveal Digital Indoor HDTV Antenna for just $19.99, or 31% off the original cost — at the AndroidGuys Deals Store.

Save even more!

In addition to the savings above, when you buy through AndroidGuys Deals, for every $25 spent, you get $1 credit added to your account. What’s more, should you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

If this is your first time buying, then you are also eligible for a further 10% discount when you subscribe for email updates.

How about a freebie?

Not looking to spend any money today? That’s alright, we understand. Why not visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and take something anyhow? Go ahead, grab two!

Coolpad Legacy review

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Thanks to the Google Pixel 3a the conversation around smartphones has shifted again. We’re back to talking about what we really need from our phones and how much money is necessary to keep pace.

Whereas we were creeping into $1,000 (and higher) phones over the last few years, it’s refreshing to once again talk about those which cost far less. As much as these top-tier models have under the hood for games, photos, and performance, it’s often hard to justify the cost. Many consumers simply don’t harness that much hardware.

They might not always look as pretty, or packs all of the AI tech, but sub-$400 phones are more than sufficient for daily tasks. Heck, you can likely get into a $200 handset and get by for quite a while.

Coolpad, a smartphone brand that plays in the affordable and ultra-affordable space just launched its latest device, the Legacy. Priced at $130 you might expect a bare-bones experience that runs on outdated software. That’s not the case.

After spending a few weeks with a review unit we can say that the Coolpad Legacy punches far above its weight. There’s much more going on in this phone than one might imagine for a budget device. It doesn’t compete with conventional flagships but it represents the best of what Coolpad has delivered thus far.

About

Offered through Metro by T-Mobile, the Coolpad Legacy rubs the latest version of Android (9 Pie), and boasts a 6.36-inch display. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 (1.8GHz) processor is paired with 3GB RAM with storage pegged at 32GB, internally.

 

As for cameras, the Legacy has a 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel rear combo with a 13-megapixel shooter on the front. Rounding things out are a microSD expansion card slot, 4,000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, Bluetooth 4.2, FM radio, and a rear fingerprint reader. A USB Type-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack are both found on the phone.

Impressions

The Coolpad Legacy is a big-screen phone that belies its price. From the moment you pick it up you feel like it would cost at least $50 more. Often we find such low-cost handsets have thick bezels on each margin but this one has thin side edges and respectable amounts at the top and bottom.

The sides have a taper to them and lead to a more comfortable grip. Even though the screen has an 18:9 aspect ratio and is thinner than phones of days gone by, it’s still a wide design. Without the curved sides this would be awkward and hard to hold in one hand.

Display

The 2160×1080 pixel resolution is sharp and easy to look at and helps to render text clearly. Video and photos also appear nicely; we enjoyed YouTube, Netflix, and Google Photos in our time with the phone.

The plastic shell around the phone gives off the impression of a more expensive experience. Our review unit was silver which also helps to create an air of “premium” aesthetic.

Camera

We liked the cameras but didn’t necessarily fall in love with then. Keeping in mind the price of the phone we were surprised at the speed and quality. It’s not until you’ve compared it to other devices, or a more pricey flagship that you see the corners being cut.

If your main concern is snapping a few decent pics, sharing over social media, and not worrying about slow-motion, 4K, or anything fancy, this works well.

Software

Running Android 9 Pie, the Legacy is about as current as it gets. The Q release is still a few months off; we suspect the target user doesn’t care or know about what lies ahead for Android. With that said, the phone came with the March 2019 security update.

As for the the overall software experience, this doesn’t stray far from the default Android build. The UI is largely the same as what you’d get from the Pixel line with the inclusion of some Metro apps and utilities. This review device had Name ID, myMetro, Visual Voicemail, and a few others installed.

If you’re buying your first smartphone, or find yourself switching to Metro from another carrier, you won’t feel like there’s too much added. Each is in the name of added customer value and a couple of them actually do have benefits.

Conclusion

The Coolpad Legacy is definitely one to consider if you’re a Metro subscriber. At its normal price of $130 it’s worth the money but when purchased at a discount it’s even more attractive. Looking at Metro’s website today we see it selling for just $29 when you port your number to the carrier and select a $50 rate plan.

Coolpad is a brand that specializes in family-friendly products and prices and the Legacy is its most compelling product. It checks the boxes for the features that a lot of consumers find important, including display, battery, and software.

At 6.36-inches this is every bit as big as the Samsung Galaxy S10+ while the 4,000mAh power source is more than enough to get users through a day. The USB Type-C puts it on the right side of charging in 2019 but it doesn’t remove the headphone jack in the process.

The Legacy doesn’t feel like it comes from the same company who produced the Illumina. All things, and discounts, considered, they’re essentially the same price but they couldn’t be any further apart from each other.

Availability

You can purchase the Coolpad Legacy from Metro for as low as $0 right now, with qualifications. Head to Coolpad’s website to learn more about the phone.

Kick-ass gadgets from Western Digital, Adonit, iOttie, myCharge, and more

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We’re back with another roundup of cool gadgets worth checking out. While we tend to focus our reviews on mobile phones and accessories, sometimes we get the chance to try things that fall just a bit outside of that space. Nevertheless, we think they’re the sort of things that our readers might enjoy learning about.

For this edition we take a look at a solid state drive for a laptop, portable charger, dashboard mount, phone stand, and sound machine. Cool, right? We like ’em all enough to recommend them so that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Western Digital Blue SN500 NVMe SSD

It wasn’t all that long ago that having a terabyte of hard drive space was considered overkill or at least future-proof. This was, of course, in the days before 4G LTE, 4K video, and incredibly massive files. Sending, receiving, and storing data has changed dramatically in the last decade and our needs have evolved.

That we simply have a large hard drive isn’t enough any longer. Files are so big now that they must also be fast and stable. Nobody wants to sit around waiting for things to copy or save.

When it comes to efficiency and value, Western Digital has a compelling option for laptops. Its Blue SN500 is a NVMe SSD which delivers fast write speeds on a budget. Available in 250GB and 500GB capacities, it’s a great way to step up your laptop’s performance without breaking the bank.

We’re an Android and mobile-related site and hard drive benchmarks and performance tests are not what you’d expect from us. We use laptops as part of our daily lives in personal and professional settings. To that end, we can appreciate the differences in a traditional, platter-based hard drive and the solid state stuff that’s so much better.

What makes NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) so awesome is that its read times are incredible fast, to the tune of 1700MB/s. Even write speeds are up to 1450MB/s, or exponentially faster than the drive currently in your laptop. The bus protocol is so much better than what we’ve seen over the last few years. For what it’s worth, SATA tops out around 550MB/s.

Western Digital offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a five-year warranty on its Blue SN500 NVMe SSD hard drives. The Western Digital solution runs about $53 for the 250GB and $70 for the 500GB, both a fraction of what we would have spent a generation or two back. And, when you consider it’s more reliable and efficient technology, it becomes a better bargain. $50 (250GB), $65 (500GB) at Amazon

Adonit PhotoGrip Qi

We get a lot of interesting hardware sent our way at AndroidGuys. Some of it good, and many more often that not are just gimmicks. We weren’t sure where the PhotoGrip Qi landed in that spectrum when it initially arrived in our mailbox.

Surprisingly, we found the PhotoGrip Qi to be an awesome little addition to my bag. It’s also super simple to use. After a quick pairing session over Bluetooth, you are ready to roll with this camera accessory. Does it add anything to the camera module on your phone? No, but it’s not meant to be that at all.

What is does do is offer a stabilizing cradle for you to better hold the phone while taking photos. Either when you are physically holding the device, or using it on a table as a stand, we found that it increased the quality of our photos by stabilizing the shot. The PhotoGrip Qi does what its name intends and just allows you a more consistent grip on the phone being used to snap pictures.

It also adds a Qi wireless power bank inside the PhotoGrip for you to continue to take photos beyond your phone’s internal battery. Add that with the removable shutter switch and you have a unique accessory to add to your travel bag on your next trip. $60 at Adonit

iOttie iTap 2 Wireless Dashboad Mount

Many of today’s top phones have wireless charging capabilities and that means less cables around the home. It’s much more convenient to place your handset on a platter or dock to pick up a charge than it is to fuss with a cable. Why not get that same experience in the car?

 

The concept of a magnetic dashboard mount isn’t new but it’s starting to become a little bit more mainstream. They’re stronger, smarter, and more flexible. The iOttie iTap 2 Wireless is not just a great magnetic phone holder, but it charges up Qi-enabled wireless handsets, too.

Place it on the dashboard and rest easy knowing the iOttie iTap 2 Wireless is designed to hold your phone in place, in a convenient location. What’s more, it allows for users to change the orientation from portrait to landscape, which makes for better navigation. That’s convenience and flexibility.

Included in the box are two magnetic pad which means you and your spouse can reap the benefits of the wireless charge. Not to worry, though, as the power cord used for the mount has a USB plug in it, too. Those who don’t have Qi wireless charging, or those looking to charge a portable battery or Nintendo Switch can still juice up.

It takes all of a few minutes to set things up, and iOttie does a great job of walking you through the process. A metal plate placement guide helps line up the exact spot you’ll want to put on the adhesive and super-strong magnet. $55 at iOttie

myCharge HubPlus Universal

We’ve long appreciated the myCharge brand of portable chargers as it does an excellent job of creating solid, dependable products. The myCharge HubPlus Universal is one of its latest devices and we love it.

We really appreciate the Hub series in general because of the all-in-one flexibility. Not only do the various models include built-in chargers, but they’ve also got a pair of integrated cables, too.

As for the HubPlus Universal, there’s one cable for USB C and one (Lightning) for iPhone. Not only that, but a USB port at the top means you can plug in any cable you need or want. That’s up to three devices being charged at one time. More importantly, it’s any plug you need.

A 6700mAh is tucked inside this portable unit and allows for about two full charges of a recent flagship phone. For older handsets or those which don’t have a massive battery it could be upwards of three charges. Alternatively, myCharge has a HubMax Universal which squeezes in 10,050mAh worth of power, or 50% more. $80 at myCharge

Douni Sleep Sound Machine

There’s an app for everything, right? Well, sometimes software isn’t as good as hardware. You could go with a free app for white noise and ambient sounds, sure, but how good does it really sound on your phone?

The Douni Sleep Sound Machine is a pint-sized unit that delivers up to two dozen sounds over three different categories. Enjoy seven types of white noise, ocean and nature sounds, ticking clocks, metronome, campfire, and others.

Small enough to sit anywhere in your bedroom or den, it puts out a surprising amount of sound. The wood grain finish and grey fabric fit pretty much any environment and don’t distract.

Set timers for 30, 60, and 90 minutes and fall asleep knowing the sound machine won’t drain a phone battery. Weighing less than one pound, this is a great accessory to toss in your bag for travel. Worried about disturbing others with the sound of a train slogging along on the tracks? Plug in some headphones and drift off to sleep.

If there’s one thing we’d like to see changed here, it would be that the buttons had some sort of backlight to them. As it is, there aren’t many to deal with and once you figure them out, you’ll be good. Nevertheless, we would appreciate being able to see the functions without flipping on a light or breaking out the phone. $36 at Amazon

Verizon now offering Moto Z4, Samsung Galaxy A50

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Verizon is hitting the summer season in full stride, this week adding a whole bunch of fun things to its portfolio. Now available from the carrier are two new phones and a “smart locator”.

Motorola Moto Z4

First up is the Motorola Moto Z4, the latest edition of the flexible phone with Moto Mod support. A close partner with Motorola over the past decade, it’s no surprise to see Verizon offering up the solid Android device.

The Moto Z4 can be had for $20.83 per month over with 24 payments or a full retail price of $500. For a limited time, Verizon is dropping the phone’s price to just $10 per month over two years, putting it at just $240 all in. This promotional rate is restricted to new customers or those adding a line of service.

Existing Verizon customers can upgrade to the Moto Z4 and save $200 for a limited time. Subscribers can add the 5G Moto Mod for just $50 provided they have a Moto Z3, Moto Z4, or add one to the shopping cart at time of purchase.

As a reminder, those who want to take advantage of the 5G service must live in one of the markets where it’s offered. What’s more, they must sign up for the Verizon Above Unlimited or Beyond Unlimited plans. Verizon is currently throwing in the 5G Ultra Wideband feature at no additional cost.

Samsung Galaxy A50

Announced this week, the mid-tier phone packs a whole bunch of hardware into a budget-friendly price. Features include a 6.4-inch display, 64GB internal storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy A50 is priced $14.58 per month over to 24 months, or $350 outright.

Smart Locator

Rounding things out, Verizon’s Smart Locator is an LTE-enabled tracking device for use with bags, pets, accessories, and other possessions. Attach to your bike, for instance, and you can see its location using an app on your phone. It’s real-time tracking with a battery that lasts up to four days per charge.

Priced $100, customers get one year of service at no additional cost. After the 12 month period is up the service is $3 per month and gets added to your bill.

Doogee S90 review

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What constitutes a flagship phone experience in your eyes? We can ask that question to ten people and get ten answers. Everyone has their own preferences and ideas and there’s no magic pill for the entire industry.

Generally speaking, when we think of a “flagship”, our mind goes to the best of what’s available in its particular space. For phone consumers in the US this conversation is often centered around the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, Apple’s iPhone, and the Google Pixel.

While these may be the big names and some of the best in the industry, we’ve also got products from LG, Motorola, and other brands. Each of them has a flagship device, even if it doesn’t compete in the larger landscape.

Chinese manufacturer Doogee has a new phone which looks to wrestle its way into the conversation. It’s big and powerful, rugged, modular, and runs a semi-current version of Android. Indeed, the Doogee S90 reads like one of the most powerful devices on the market but at a fraction of the price of the “big boys”.

What is the Doogee S90?

Powered by Android 8.1 Oreo, the Doogee S90 has a 6.18-inch display with a cutout notch and a 16-megapixel/8-megapixel rear camera combination. Around front is an 8-megapixel camera.

Internally there’s a MediaTek Helio P60 processor (up to 2GHz) with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage capacity. Need more room for media? Add in a microSD card up to 256GB for photos, videos, games, and more.

The whole thing is wrapped in an IP69K protective coating and meets US military standard MIL-STD-810G rating. It’s not going to withstand water and dust, but also extreme temperatures, shock, humidity, vibration, mold, and even steam.

With rubber flaps and a strong shell, there’s no mistaking this one for a premium device that can be dropped. Gorilla Glass 4 keeps its screen from scratches and scuffs. In other words, it’s designed to go anywhere you do and take a beating in the process.

What about battery, you ask? How does a 5,050mAh power source suit you? It’s bigger than pretty much anything else in the space and offers 10W wireless charging, too.

How about adding in another 5,000mAh worth of battery? Yep, this is a modular phone, similar to the Moto Z line, and it comes with a second battery that can snap on in a moment’s notice. Once on, you’ve got more than 10,000mAh of power, or nearly three times what you’ll get from your more familiar brands.

What is it like to use the S90?

Make no mistake, this is not the phone you carry if you’re hoping to impress people with your taste. Aesthetically, the Doogee S90 is chunky, clunky, and feels like it’s designed for utility workers, contractors, and plumbers.

The phone is thick, even by itself. Snap on that magnetic battery or any other module and it gets doubly wonky. Then again, it’s not really any worse than carrying a 5,000mAh portable charger with you. It’s actually better because it won’t go anywhere and you don’t have to worry about cables.

There’s a certain charm to the phone, thanks to the textured rubber and orange accent colors. It doesn’t go a long way to make the phone feel sexy or anything, but it does give it personality. At least as much as one might expect in a phone built for blizzards and dust bowls.

It’s a hefty phone, to be sure. In an age of uber-thin handsets with tapered edges and premium materials, the Doogee S90 is anything but those things.

We can appreciate the rubber and plastic shell that houses the phone, and even the idea of the flaps to cover ports. In practice, though, it can get a bit aggravating to fuss with the USB C cover or the SIM slot. To be fair, there’s more room to plug in the charging cable than we’ve seen in other rugged devices.

The rear dual-lens camera is an interesting design choice if only because of how far it appears to just out from the phone. We can easily imagine this getting scuffed and scratched over time.

A dedicated button on the left lets users define its usage. Choose whether you want to launch an app, flashlight, or something else in single, double, and long-press actions.

Doogee makes a few assumptions as to the target user base and installs some apps it thinks one might find helpful. A “Toolbag”, for instance, acts as a folder of sorts, and reveals tools such as compass, height measure, protractor, barometer, plumb bob, and more.

Aesthetics-wise, we can’t say we love the color palette and “feel” of the experience. The system itself uses grays, blacks, and golds with a specific, skeuomorphic iconography but everything else gets its own app icons and widgets. To say that they clash with each other is an understatement. What’s more, none of the actual apps match the design.

The software is okay, if not ugly, but we’ve seen far worse in the area of pre-loaded apps and games. There’s overlap with browsers and galleries and other small stuff but a custom launcher could fix all of this.

How does the Doogee S90 perform?

A few years back the general trend in rugged phones was to focus on the outside as opposed to the inside. In other words, specifications would often be a generation behind the higher end models.

Things have changed over the years and the Doogee S90 not only keeps pace with other models, but its specs put it on the upper end of the spectrum. It’s refreshing to have a phone that has this much power in it with such a level of durability.

We’re at a point in phones where everything new feels snappy and responsive out of the box. With that said, we added a couple of accounts to the phone, threw a few games at it, and pushed it about as much as we would any other review unit.

It generally takes a few weeks or so to really settle into a groove with phones, and to be fair, we didn’t use this as a “daily driver”. For our tastes it’s just too big and heavy, but that’s only personal preference.

The MediaTek Helio P60 processor (octa-core 2GHz) is plenty fast and the 6GB RAM goes a long way to helping with a fluid experience. When we consider the target demographic (plumbers, contractors, utility workers, etc.) we can’t imagine them asking for more.

Our review model came with the extended battery and a second box with a night-vision camera. These proved to be easy to snap on and they largely stay in place without problem.

Battery life was incredible, of course. The 5050mAh main source was enough to get us into two or more days of casual usage. Snapping on the secondary battery essentially doubles this, stretching things out to nearly a week’s worth of use. Real world results will vary based on the user, but a carpenter ought not worry about running out of juice halfway through his week.

The phone we were sent had some (literal) rough edges around the area where the module goes on. It was not present until after removing the protective film but it is sharp and unsightly. Were this one we purchased, we would have immediately returned it.

The first time this thing falls to the ground it will pick up a scuff, but we just prefer to put our own character on our products. Nevertheless, you don’t see it if/when a module is on the phone.

Is the Doogee S90 worth buying?

We really like the overall package of the S90 but it’s not without a few issues. It’s easy to pick at the seams and find hangups, but that’s not exclusive to this phone. Taken as a whole, there’s a lot to admire in the handset — and we’re not the demographic Doogee has in mind.

The Doogee S90 is a phone that’s tougher than nails and built to perform, two things that are stronger than the sum of its parts. It also helps that it’s cheaper than one might expect.

The concept of modular phones is an interesting, if not potentially worrying one. Motorola has found a way to keep its Moto Mods going through four generations now, but Doogee is a different brand.

Will Doogee keep things in house for future models or might it open the door to other companies? What happens if this phone doesn’t sell as well as it hopes? Does it shutter the line unceremoniously? These are the sort of questions one might ask if considering the Doogee S90 because of its modular capabilities.

The Doogee S90 picks up where the Samsung Galaxy Active line ended and competes against other rough and tumble models like those from Kyocera or CAT.

US buyers might proceed with caution as network compatibility isn’t guaranteed for your carrier. While it does support many 4G bands, it may not provide you with all of those offered by your current provider.

Availability

You can learn more about the Doogee S90 at the Doogee website where it’s available for $300. For your money you’ll receive the phone and the extra battery. Opt for the $400 bundle and you’ll also get night vision camera, extra battery, walkie talkie module, and a carrying case.

This $25 bundle will teach you to build tower defense, Mario style games, and more

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Having a vision is one thing, but execution is another. Ideas are nothing if not implemented. We’re willing to bet you’ve had an idea for a game on your phone or game console somewhere along the line.

Are you full of great ideas for mobile games? Ever played something and thought you could design a better one? That sure-fire, million-dollar game idea is terrific but what do you do with it? Hire a software developer or farm it out to someone and hope for the best?

Why not try to design and develop the game yourself. People do it all the time and you’re smarter than them, right?

READ: A lifetime unlimited mobile backups can be yours for just $19.99

If building a game from scratch is something you’ve ever considered, you’ll want to check out the Zero to Hero HTML5 Game Developer Bundle in the AndroidGuys Deals Store. It’s currently discounted some ridiculous 97 percent and is just $25.

Whether it’s instituting a scoring system, creating maps, building an authentication tool, or something else, this is an affordable way to master the skill sets that come with HTML5, Java, and more. There’s 24 hours worth of education spread over 220+ lessons.

What will you build? A Flappy Bird clone? A tower defense game? A Mario-style platformer?

A lifetime membership for the Zero to Hero HTML5 Game Developer Bundle is valued at nearly $1,200 but, for a limited time, it can be yours for only $25. Deals such as these don’t come around all that often so take advantage of this one before it’s too late.

Save even more!

In addition to the savings above, when you buy through AndroidGuys Deals, for every $25 spent, you get $1 credit added to your account. What’s more, should you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

If this is your first time buying, then you are also eligible for a further 10% discount when you subscribe for email updates.

How about a freebie?

Not looking to spend any money today? That’s alright, we understand. Why not visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and take something anyhow? Go ahead, grab two!

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