French phone manufacturer Wiko on Tuesday announced it has begun selling its products in the US. Up first for the OEM is the Wiko Ride, an entry-level handset for prepaid buyers.
The Wiko Ride is a wallet-friendly phone that finds its home at Boost Mobile, a prepaid carrier under the Sprint umbrella. It’s an $80 device that gives consumers just enough to get going in the world of smartphones.
Powered by Android 9 Pie, the Wiki Ride features a 5.45-inch display at 18:9 aspect ratio. Inside is a quad-core 2GHz processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. Should one need more space for media, the microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 32GB.
Wiko Ride
It’s not clear which processor is at work here, but we suspect it matters little. Considering its price and target demographic, the average user won’t really care. The same might be said of the display resolution.
The Wiko Ride is currently offered with a discount from Boost Mobile where buyers can get the phone for just $40. It’s not clear how long the promotional price will be valid.
Other specifications in the Wiko Ride include a rear 5-megapixel camera, front-facing 2-megapixel camera, 2500mAh battery, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
If all of this sounds like an old outdated phone or something you’d never use, you’re not the user Wiko and Boost has in mind.
Wiko is based in France with more than 5,000 employees and is among the top four smartphone brands in Western Europe. As part of its expansion in the US market we can soon expect offices in Texas and Georgia.
Boost Mobile is a prepaid carrier that operates on Sprint’s network. It offers its own rate plans and customer service as well a portfolio of phones to compliment its network.
In our first impression post on the LG G8, we ask whether LG is finally ready to take on Samsung and its Galaxy lineup. LG has been releasing phones that take on Samsung for years but has been seen as an also-ran, a cheaper alternative to its South Korean rival. Does the G8 change that?
Most people find that the G devices have inferior displays, inferior cameras, or an inferior build. These, along with some smart marketing, have led to Samsung crushing LG in sales.
After a few weeks with the device, I finally feel ready to answer that question and give a few more insights on just what the LG G8 brings to the table.
Hardware and design
I have one admission to make: LG has long made the phone I find perfect for my hand. In a world of expanding screens, shrinking bezels, and slippery materials, LG seems to strike a balance between the three that few others can. The LG G8 is another in a long line of comfortable devices — but I do have a few gripes.
Much like every other premium phone on the market, the G8 is a glass and metal sandwich. The glass on the front and back of the device lend to a premium feel but come at a cost. This is the most slippery device I’ve ever had the pleasure of using.
That title used to be held by the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, but the G8 ups the ante by seemingly sliding off completely flat surfaces. This has led to multiple falls. Even though the device has mostly held up through it all, it’s frustrating to find my phone on the ground.
If you’re going to buy a G8, plan on picking up a case too. It’s almost mandatory unless you want to risk the out-of-pocket expense to replace a broken screen or back glass. Luckily, as JerryRigEverything pointed out, those are pretty cheap and can be replaced somewhat easily.
What cannot be replaced easily is the battery. Another revelation from the excellent video above is that LG used glue to hold down the battery in the G8. Other companies use pull tabs or glue that easily comes off, but not LG. This is an anti-consumer practice that forces users to upgrade their device instead of replacing a degraded battery and it’s unacceptable.
If you’re picking up a phone to use for three or more years, something that the LG would normally be good for, this is a hard pass due to this battery issue. Frankly, I’ve had my issues with some of the choices LG has made in the past but I’m incredibly disappointed in this one and hope LG reconsiders this practice in the future.
The G8 uses largely the same design language as the LG G6 and LG G7. Whether that’s a good thing is really in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I love it and think that the G8 is one of the best looking phones on the market. If you were hoping for a refresh, you didn’t get it but I don’t think that’s a reason to look in another direction.
The reason LG keeps coming back to this design is that it looks great and it’s functional. I get frustrated with the curved display edges of the Samsung Galaxy series and LG offers an excellent alternative.
The only problem for LG is now the Galaxy S10e is a thing and is both cheaper and offers a flat display for everyone who doesn’t like curved displays. The displays on the Galaxy S lineup are both better and more power-efficient too. Not that this is a bad display. In fact, I quite like how it looks, but seeing the Galaxy S10e and LG G8 next to each other in a carrier store will tell you everything you need to know.
Going back to those falls, I’m actually pretty surprised how well the G8 has held up. The glass that covers the display is still in perfect condition, despite lacking a screen protector. The rear has only seen minor scratches.
If you want your phone pristine from the time you leave the store with it, you’re probably going to put it in a case anyway so this is more for those who would rather have naked phone. You do run the risk of cracks and scratches, but overall I’m pretty pleased how the G8 looks almost a month after using the device.
Battery
During our initial hands-on, I was not impressed with the battery life with our review unit. I complained that the device was run by the power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, a chip that uses battery at a slower clip than last year’s Snapdragon 845.
In my early testing I would top out at around four hours of daily screen on time and occasionally have to charge up before bed. This falls behind other class leaders like the Galaxy S10, OnePlus 6T, and Huawei P30 Pro.A
A funny thing happened when LG switched out my Verizon-branded unit for a factory unlocked version; my battery life skyrocketed. Despite LG assuring me that there were no real differences between the devices, the proof is in the pudding.
Perhaps it was the pre-loaded Verizon apps killing the battery in the background, but I now routinely get more than five hours of screen on time and a day to a day and a half of usage.
After using the OnePlus 6T as my daily driver and not needing to worry about charging up at night, the LG G8 was disappointing to say the least. Now. I’m back to loving the battery life on this phone and charging up during the day while I’m doing other tasks instead of searching for a charger before bed.
Heavy users and gamers will still have some trouble. There have been rumblings for years that LG’s displays are rather power inefficient and I think there’s probably some merit to that. Standby time and battery usage, while the screen is off (streaming media, mostly), is great, but you can watch the battery percentage drop quickly while using the phone to stream video or play games.
Luckily, there are plenty of options to keep you topped up. Quick Charge 3.0 is on board as well as fast wireless charging. LG wins here over both the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the OnePlus 6T. The Galaxy lineup only supports Quick Charge 2.0 and the OnePlus devices might charge faster, but require a proprietary charger to do so.
I remarked that the LG G8 isn’t my first choice for an endurance champ and that hasn’t changed, but the picture is far prettier than I had once seen.
Camera
For years smartphone makers relied on higher megapixel counts to try and sell their phones to customers who assumed more equals better. We have seemingly moved past this phase but smartphone photography remains one of the more important aspects of buying a phone.
While LG isn’t normally thought of as one of the leaders in this area, that doesn’t mean you’re going to suffer if you pick up an LG G8. We’re not going to recommend the device over something like the Google Pixel 3 or even the cheaper Google Pixel 3a, but it does a great job and produces pictures you’ll be proud to post on social media or send to friends and family members.
One disappointing aspect of the G8 sold in the US is that there are only two camera sensors on the rear of the phone. We saw three on last year’s LG V40 and we see the same on the Korean model of the G8. For some reason LG decided to just go with a standard lens and wide-angle lens, opting not to include a zoom or depth sensing lens here. It’s disappointing but not a reason you should skip the G8.
We found the wide-angle lens a lot of fun to shoot with. As you can see in the camera samples you do get quite a bit more in your picture and it can lead to some interesting shots. This was a feature that you could really only find on LG phones for the past couple of years but other phone makers have caught on and included wide-angle lenses in their devices, too. This is just another reason to consider other options beyond the G8.
Where LG suffers most, in my opinion, is its computational photography. That’s really just a fancy way of saying how the LG G8 processes the pictures you take once you hit the shutter button. You can see just how far ahead Google is when you install the Google Camera application and snap comparison pictures. If you do decide to pick up the LG G8, we suggest you do just that.
For me, LG’s software skin has always been one of the biggest downsides of its devices. I don’t love the approach, colors, or way features are displayed, but I can fully recognize that I’m not the target market.
If you’re moving over from a different Android device or an iPhone, I can see the logic on hiding some features the way that they’re hidden and the (seemingly) constant reminders about moving over your data and not replacing your battery when you first set up the phone.
One of the indefensible software choices is sticking with a launcher that does not feature an app tray as the default launcher. Honestly LG, stop it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the app tray is one of the single biggest advantages Android has over iOS. There’s no flexibility in iOS to put your icons where you want and hide the lesser-used ones from sight. Why would you get rid of that here?
Luckily, you can change the launcher and I would encourage owners to install a Pixel launcher clone or Nova to get an even better experience.
One of the other big issues I had with my Verizon review unit went away on the unlocked unit too — laggy software. This thing now hums along with no dropped frames or stutters in sight.
Loading times are fast and I never have to think about what the phone is doing or wait on it to function. That’s the sweet spot of performance. I still occasionally have an issue with the multitasking button bringing up my last used app when I double tap it, but that could be more down to me missing it than it acting up.
One of the big features LG has been pushing has been using the Time-of-Flight sensor on the front of the phone to operate it hands-free in some situations. Once the phone recognizes your hand, you can unlock it, change music tracks, turn the volume up and down, and more. I like the ambition to try something a little different, but the experience falls flat.
It takes time for the ToF sensor to pick the gesture, it takes time to perform the action, and it takes time to get back into whatever you were doing. Again, cool feature, and maybe there’s some use for it in the future but it just takes longer to do these actions than if you’d press a button on your phone. Not sure why anyone would use this beyond a cool party trick, but it doesn’t cost you anything by being on the phone, I guess.
I think the software experience is going to be fine for the vast majority of potential customers but I don’t know why I’d recommend it over something from Samsung or Google. LG doesn’t do anything vastly better in software than either of those companies and they certainly don’t update their software any faster. If you want the LG G8, I say go for it but don’t do it because of the software experience.
Conclusion
The LG G8 is a good, but not top-tier phone. If you’re going to go out and spend a paycheck or two on a phone, I think there are probably better options out there. But, if you can find it cheaper than the $800 initial asking price, you might be in business. And with the quick price drop on LG devices, that’s a pretty good bet if you’re looking right now. I still wouldn’t pick it over the OnePlus 6T or 7 unless you have to have wireless charging or a high-quality DAC, but it’s a close race right now.
It can’t be said enough just how comfortable this phone is, though. It fits perfectly in my perfectly average hands and besides being a damn slippery device, I don’t really have any qualms with the build. LG even found a way to get rid of the camera hump, something that is under-appreciated but makes a difference to someone who is as particular as I am. Plus, this thing is damn slim and I love that.
Are we over the notch hate yet? Because I really am. I know there a lot of phones that will come out with more attractive options like the full-screen display on the OnePlus 7 Pro, the water drop notch on the OnePlus 7 and the cutouts on Samsung and Huawei devices, but I never noticed the notch on the LG G8 — except when it decided to scroll some icons in the top right when I was looking for the battery percentage. Even then, I waited for about two seconds and got what I was eventually after.
Where I think the G8 is really held back is in software. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s just not better than anything else out there. Samsung phones have more features that make a difference in day-to-day use. Google has quick software updated and free full resolution photo backups for its Pixel 3 and 3 XL owners (unfortunately, this is not available on the 3a and 3a XL).
I’ve seen a lot of hate for the G8 and demonizing on the internet with people wondering why LG even tries anymore. Why? Because they make damn good phones. They make the best alternative to those who don’t like what’s out there from Samsung and Google here in the US.
A lot of people don’t know whether to trust OnePlus or not since its a relatively new name. LG is safe. LG makes a really good phone with some compelling features that won’t frustrate you for the next couple of years. Unless you want fast software updates.
Let’s say you’re someone who’s been wanting to get some certification to launch a career or to enhance the one you already have. Perhaps you’re an IT graduate who feels as though a little certification could improve your chances for that first big job interview. Maybe you’re looking to polish things up before asking the boss for a raise.
If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve, you’ll want to master data like a pro. And when it comes to that field, Excel is one of the first places to start.
When you’re ready to get serious about certification or expanding your horizons, look no further than A to Z Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle.
The A to Z Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle includes eight courses, more than 45 hours of instruction, and nearly 700 tutorials in how to improve your knowledge and skills by way of Microsoft Excel.
The training lays out all the critical areas covered in Microsoft’s official Excel certification exams, meaning you’ll be versed in all important topics and tools. You’ll have no problem acing the tests and show your current or prospective employers that you’re the real deal.
This hyper-specialized Excel training is currently just over $6 per course as long as you act now.
The A to Z Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle comes with lifetime access, so you need not worry about taking advantage of these courses within a limited time frame. Learn at your own pace.
The A to Z Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle is valued at $1,600, but we’re offering it to our readers for just $49 (96% off). It’s literally pennies on the dollar.
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.
Thanks to improvements to Android, Google makes the process of setting up a new Android device a quick and painless process, even if you have to transfer content from an existing device.
The stuff that’s baked directly into Android makes for a fairly pain-free process and can go a long way to ensuring your mobile experience is seamless. So, whether you’re going through a planned upgrade or dealing with an emergency situation, it won’t be a hassle.
With the help of Google and multiple other useful Android apps, we’ll show you how to transfer all your data from your old phone to your new Android phone.
How to transfer all data from old phone to a new Android phone
With the help of Google and its cloud services, you can almost instantly restore most of your important data from your old Android device including apps, contacts, calendar entries, and events, your passwords. Even some of your device’s settings like WiFi passwords, sound profiles and other things can be migrated.
Transfer data using Google
This process will transfer data including app data, WiFi passwords, and contacts.
Step One
Open the settings app on your old Android phone and then go to the Backup and reset or the Backup and restore settings page based on your Android version and phone manufacturer.
Select the Backup my data from this page and then enable it if not already enabled.
Step Two
To ensure that your data has been backed up successfully by Google, open the Google Drive app on your Android phone and then go to the Backups page by selecting the backups option from the left hamburger menu.
You can find a folder in this page with your device’s name and it will contain all the backed up files including app data, call logs, device settings, and even your SMS messages.
Make sure that the date on the backups folder is the most recent to ensure that all your data would be restored to the most recent version.
Step Three
Now when you set up your new Android device, all you have to do is sign in using the same Google account you used for backing up your data and select the ‘Restore from backup’ option to restore all your data.
Google would also automatically download and install the apps installed on your old Android phone to your new one, based on your preference.
Transfer SMS messages and call logs
While Google has an option to backup your SMS messages and call logs it doesn’t work well and in most cases, the cloud option does not backup your messages properly. So, if you want to backup your SMS messages and call logs and then transfer it to your new Android device, just follow the below post.
The post contains a list of backup apps for Android which allows you to backup and transfer not only your messages and call logs but also your apps to your new Android phone.
Transfer media files
Media files including photos and videos might probably be the most valuable and perhaps the biggest files anyone might have in their Android phones. Fortunately, Google provides a quick and easy way to transfer all your photos and videos to your new Android phone.
Follow the below steps to easily transfer all the photos and videos from your old Android device to the new one.
Step One
Open the Google Photos app on your old Android phone and then select the device folders option from the left hamburger menu.
Step Two
The device folders page will display all the folders in your device with photos or videos. Open the folders which you want to backup and transfer to your new Android phone and then enable the Backup and sync option at the top.
Step Three
Once the photos and videos you have selected have finished backing up, just open the Google photos app on your new Android device and sign in with the same Google account you used on your old device.
You will now be able to view and download all the photos and videos you have backed up on your old device in your new Android device.
Transfer other files
Besides the photos and videos and the general data that were mentioned above, some people might have different file formats stored on their Android devices including PDF documents, local MP3 files or some personal data.
While you can use the conventional method of physically copying the data from your old Android phone to a computer using USB cable and then transferring the data from the computer to your new device, it is both time consuming and impractical.
You can transfer small document files or audio files by uploading it to cloud storage providers like Google Drive or One Drive from your old device and then downloading them to the new one. However, if you have a large number of files this might not be an ideal solution.
So, to transfer the files from your old Android phone to your new one, both wirelessly and as quick as possible, you can use wireless file sharing services like Shareit. Just follow the below steps to wirelessly transfer your files from your old phone to new one using Shareit.
Install the Shareitapp on both your old and new Android phones.
Open the app on both the devices and then select the send option in the home page of the app in your old phone and the receive option on your new one.
In the next page on your old phone, you would be able to select the files or folders as a whole you want to transfer to your new phone.
You can transfer any kind of files using the Shareit app including documents, songs, videos, images, and even Android apps.
Once you have selected what files to send and clicked on the send button, the app will create a WiFi direct network between the sending and the receiving devices and will share the files as quick as possible.
You can access all the transferred files from the file manager on your new Android phone or using the supported apps.
If you have any questions or doubts regarding how to transfer a particular type of file from your old Android phone to a new one, feel free to let us know about your queries in the comments section below.
We’ve seen months of speculation that Moto will soon enter the mix of foldable phones. Better yet, it’s rumored it will revive the RAZR moniker and as the in-house “Moto guy” I’m understandably excited about the latest video leak.
This new video hit popular Chinese social site, Weibo, earlier this morning and seems to show a promo render of the RAZR in all its glory. You can see the full folding phone that has an obvious influence by the classic flip phone. With that design in mind, the new rendition looks like a standard smartphone when fully opened.
The flip phone take is a stark difference from what other like Samsung and Huawei are doing with phones that double in size to a tablet form factor when open. This RAZR should appeal to some who don’t want a tablet, but would like a larger phone with more portability of tossing it their pockets folded up.
As mentioned, the phone hits the nostalgia button hard for those of us that owned the original RAZR back at the turn of the century. Moto has made an effort to really lean on that old design with the raised chin at the bottom of the opened phone and windowed display on the closed chassis. It even looks to have the classic glowing “M” logo.
Now, what about the specs? Again, this is complete speculation until Moto takes the covers off the real deal, but we do have popular assumptions. The primary display of the opened device is said to be a 6.2-inch 876×2142 screen with an additional ambient-display for clock and notifications on the outside. This would be on the “top” of the closed RAZR and will be around 600×800 from estimates based off leaked images.
Internals are said to be powered by the combination of Snapdragon 710, 4GB/6B of RAM, and 64/128GB of storage. The RAZR will also supposedly have a battery bank of 2,730mAh. This looks scarce at first glance, but one would hope that the phone has some kind of battery save feature when closed.
Opinions will vary, but I personally like what I’ve seen in the RAZR leaks. I think it offers a unique take on the “standard” form factor while also introducing foldable technology. Throw in the cool factor of one of the most popular phones of all time and Moto might have a winner.
Timing and price will also play a huge role in the phone’s success. So far, we know nothing about the timeline Moto has for release, or if the phone will actually even hit the market. Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you posted as this story progresses.
We’ve had a ton of cool products come into the shop across the years, but for some reason, I remain obsessed with high-quality USB cables. I suppose it’s because I use at least one every day, but there’s nothing quite like a good cable that can stand up to the test of time.
This leads to a bit of a problem because there are three major standards out there today, micro USB, USB type-C, and Lightning. With over a dozen devices in our house that require consistent charging, it can be a challenge to find the right charger. I’ve gotten to the point where we have several charging stations throughout the house that feature this Anker wall charger and cable with each standard. It’s effective, but messy.
Recently, ASAP technologies contacted us about taking a look at the UNO charger. As the name would indicate, it’s one cable for all your charging needs. One end houses a USB type-C cable with the other end housing a port for different connectors. In the package, you get one connector each for micro USB, USB type-C, and Lightning. You also get a USB C to USB A adapter so you can use the UNO cable on literally any wall charger or USB port, no matter what the input is.
So far in my time with it, I really have enjoyed it. The cord is coated in a fabric exterior and there’s an anti-fraying neck that should help the heads of the cable stand up over time. The magnets are pretty damn strong too, rated to hold up to 437 grams (0.96 lb). That’s about the weight of an iPad Air and more than almost every phone on the market today. While the head did tend to bend with enough pressure, it never let go so I felt pretty safe with my phone connected to it.
The UNO cable is currently fully funded on Kickstarter right now with a guaranteed ship date in July. Click the button below to check out some more information.
In an age of lookalike phones and steep competition, hardware makers need to be creative. And, while last year was all about squeezing in extra display around a cutout display, the trend in mid-2019 is to work around that concept.
ASUS today joined the ranks of phone makers offering up an interesting design choice for its latest device, the ZenFone 6. Moreover, the new handset also packs incredibly compelling hardware with a competitive price.
The flagship-worthy phone follows on the heels of the OnePlus 7 in that it’s essentially all-screen on the front. Rather than a front-facing camera that pops up from inside the chassis, the ZenFone 6 flips its around. Indeed, when not used for selfies, the camera faces the rear of the phone.
Like most top-tier devices of 2019, the ASUS ZenFone 6 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. Bolstered by up to 8GB RAM, it can house up to 256GB internal storage. What’s more, it has a microSD expansion card slot for even more media.
The ZenFone 6 has a 6.4-inch FHD+ LCD screen with support for HDR10. Because it’s not an AMOLED the fingerprint reader is not hidden under the display.
The phone also houses a capacious 5,000mAh battery which is considerably higher than what most handset makers are doing. Charging is fast at 18W but not quite as quick as what some flagships can do. It’s a trade-off that ASUS thinks customers will appreciate. Oh, and it does reverse charging which means the phone can be used to charge other devices. Just make sure to have the proper USB C cable.
The phone employs a 48-megapixel f/1.79 main camera (with laser focus) and a 13-megapixel 125-degree ultra-wide camera plus a dual-LED flash. As a reminder, this is for both front and back. There’s no optical stabilization because of the tight fit, but both cameras support up to 4K video recording.
For those worried about the camera snapping off in a fall, fear not. Similar to how the pop-up camera on the OnePlus 7 Pro retracts, this one immediately jumps back into place when a drop is detected. ASUS says this mechanism has been test to work on more than 100,000 flips and drops.
Other noteworthy features include an aluminum body, Gorilla Glass 6, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Not present, however, are wireless charging and water resistance.
The ZenFone runs Android 9 Pie with the ZenUI 6 and figures to be a near-stock experience. A system-wide dark theme is present as is a dedicated hardware “Smart Key” which can toggle Google Assistant or a custom action like do not disturb or screen shot.
ASUS is on the Android Q Beta program so the ZenFone 6 could be quick to see the next version of Android as well as “R” when it’s released.
While most phone makers are content with asking $800 or more for a flagship, ASUS keeps the price of its ZenFone much lower. In fact, the starting price is just €499 (about $557 USD) for the 6GB/64GB model.
The LG V50 ThinQ 5G will retail for $1,152 outright; however, Sprint will offer it for just $24 per month on an 18-month Sprint Flex lease. This is a special pricing for those who pre-order the phone and amounts to half off the cost.
Customers who want to take advantage of Sprint’s 5G speeds will need to sign up for the company’s Unlimited Premium plan. At $80 per month it’s $20 more than its standard Unlimited Basic option. For the extra money, though, subscribers get Amazon Prime, Tidal HiFi, and 100GB of LTE hotspot data.
The HTC 5G Hub will cost $600 on its own but Sprint will discount it by 50% if purchased on pre-order. Doing so puts it at just $12.50 per month.
Both devices start shipping on May 31 but it’s not clear when the 5G network will be activated. Sprint hasn’t made any overt announcements other than it will be available in Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, and Houston this month.
Other markets expected to see Sprint’s 5G network include Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.
Those who want to utilize the hotspot on 5G will have to pay $60 per month for 100GB of ultra fast data. Worth noting, once that threshold is reached, speeds are throttled. Not to 4G or even 3G… but 2G. Keep that in mind in the event you were planning on changing your entire home around.
Amazon has refreshed its Fire 7 tablet for 2019, giving both the standard model and the Kids Edition a punch-up. Not to worry, though, it has not touched the price. Yes, you can still get the 7-inch tablet for $50.
Things aren’t drastically changed this time around as it essentially sees the Fire 7 getting twice as much storage as before. The new model has 16GB internal capacity whereas its predecessor had 8GB.
External media doubles, too, as the device now supports microSD expansion cards up to 512GB. Other than that, the situation is largely the same. Amazon still employs a quad-core 1.3GHz processor but the retailer says the new model has more memory bandwidth.
Available in three new colors (Sage, Plum, and Twilight Blue), the new Fire 7 will be released on June 6. Customers can start pre-ordering the devices ahead of launch. Those who do so before the release will receive a $10 credit to use on apps or games.
Fire 7 Kids Edition
The $100 Kids Edition tablet is also getting a slight tweak in the processor. And, while its storage stays put at 16GB, it does support the 512GB microSD cards.
The main change in the Fire 7 Kids Edition comes in the protective case that houses the tablet. This year’s model comes with an adjustable stand to allow for hands-free usage. Color choices are blue, pink, and (new) purple.
The refreshed Fire 7 Kids Edition comes with a two-year warranty against any sort of defect, and includes a one-year subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited. Like its brethren, the kids-centric model launches on June 6 and pre-orders are available starting today.
For a limited time, Amazon has a two-pack of the Fire 7 Kids Edition tablets for $149.99, $50 off.
Audio is still complicated in 2019. With the removal of the headphone jack in most phones, you’re left to consider your options. Most people opt for Bluetooth headphones since you can find something as low as $10, up to premium headphones like the Bose QC 35 II which run north of $300. To say you have options would be an understatement.
But, Bluetooth isn’t the only option for our headphone jack-less friends. USB type-C audio is still a thing and headphones and earbuds that connect through the USB port are rarer, but they’re still kicking around. In fact, they may be a superior option to Bluetooth headphones because they don’t need a battery and are therefore generally lighter and you never have to worry about charging them. Plus, there’s the added benefit of better sound quality.
Despite these advantages, USB type-C headphones and earbuds are pretty rare. Moshi is one of the companies committed to making USB type-C audio products and has sent over its Avanti headphones and Mythro Earphones for us to check out.
If you know anything about Moshi, you’ll not be shocked by the high quality and fashionable looks of these audio products and we were not disappointed one bit as we took them out of the box.
Moshi Avanti Headphones
Before I even placed the Avanti headphones on my head, I was already in love. The build quality and aesthetics here are second to none, and honestly, they’re not even really my style. I prefer over-the-ear headphones and a little more of an industrial-type design, but the Avanti headphones are just so striking.
With leatherette earcups and a metal band, these just scream high-end audio. I love how the band stretches as far as it needs to because my big noggin has led to some painful audio experiences in the past. The earcups are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and since they’re on-ear rather than over-the-ear you don’t get hot wearing them. One thing you do need to be aware of, these are meant to be worn at a big of an angle. They sit a little bit further back on your ears and angle the music into your ear canal, rather than sitting directly on top of your ears. It feels a little bit weird at first but you get used to it.
And once you get used to them, you’re going to love how they sound. While you’re not going to be blown away by the bass or soundstage, they sound really great for everyday listening. I wouldn’t suggest these for the gym because they’ll fly off of you at some point, but I was pretty impressed at how they kept out outside noise out of my ears. You wouldn’t expect that from on-ear headphones but they do a pretty good job.
Overall, I really love using the Avanti headphones due to how great they sound and their out-of-this-world looks. The headphones click as you fold out the earcups which make them feel even cooler and the hard carrying case is a nice touch. You can grab the Moshi Avanit USB type-C headphones for $199.95.
With a design that will remind you of an Apple device, the Mythro earbuds are going to be attractive to anyone who values how your earbuds look as much as how they sound.
But, that’s not to say that they don’t stand up on their own in terms of audio quality. the Mythro do sound very nice in day-to-day use and provide a decent soundstage and bass for the price ($50). Mids are just fine here and anyone not looking for audiophile quality sound should be pleased with bumping out rap, rock, or even spoken word tracks.
The brushed aluminum and cable look great, if not subtle until a close inspection. The little details like the included remote are all in line here for a nice experience which is important in a segment like USB C audio where there just aren’t that many great choices. I wouldn’t say that you need to run out to the store to buy these because they’re that much better than anything else on the market, but I would put them up there with pretty much anything else, especially when you take price into consideration. A comparable pair of Bluetooth earbuds will probably cost more and come with all the compromises of Bluetooth audio.
I really enjoyed my time with the Mythro earbuds just due to the convenience of them. I also work at a television station and will occasionally have to call into our IFB lines (those little earbuds TV anchors and reporters wear) to communicate with our control room. My daily driver OnePlus 6T doesn’t have a headphone jack and when you’re pressed for time, fumbling around for a dongle can be a huge pain. The Mythro earbuds provided unexpected relief and really demonstrates why the death of the headphone jack sucks and while USB type-C audio is the next best option.
You can grab the Moshi Mythro earbuds for about $50 from Moshi and Amazon.
