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Klipsch is debuting new wireless headphones and a Google Assistant powered soundbar at CES 2019

Jason England
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Klipsch is one of America’s oldest audio brands and they are bringing new tech to their uncompromising sound this year at CES 2019. Beginning with a pair of truly wireless headphones and a soundbar featuring Google Assistant amongst other new products.

Headphones

The new T5 True Wireless headphones keep the classic styling Klipsch is known for along with a premium case, and promise up to 8 hours of battery life. Next up is the T5 Neckband offering neckband headphone fans a new updated style with the long battery life they are famous for.

The T5 Wireless is sure to satisfy the more sporty users out providing a more lightweight and portable design and sweat resistance. While the T5 Wired is for those of you who haven’t cut the cord and prefer a hard-wired connection.

One great feature of all Klipsch in-ear headphones such as the T5 series is the patented oval earbuds that ensure a more comfortable fit and better audio quality. Look out for the T5 series coming in the Spring of 2019 with prices ranging from $59-$199 US MSRP.

Soundbars

Klipsch is getting ready to take their home theater prowess to the next level this year with some new technology. The Klipsch Bar 40G will bring Google Assistant into your living room while providing detailed and dynamic sound for your television. While the Klipsch Bar 48W is compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, AirPlay 2, and DTS Virtual:X immersive surround sound.

Get ready for more dimensional sound with the Klipsch Bar 54A which uses discrete elevation drivers for a truly immersive theater experience. All soundbars will be available in Spring 2019 with or without subwoofers ranging from $299 to $1599 dollars.

Wireless Speakers

Klipsch recently launched its The Three speaker with Google Assistant built in and will be showing off a new finish as well as several other Heritage Wireless speakers. This includes The One II tabletop speaker, The Three II tabletop speaker, and The Fours. All of the speakers feature vintage styles with real wood veneer and metal knobs.

The Fours, in particular, stand out by offering dedicated left and right channel speakers, along with Bluetooth, USB, RCA, and digital optical inputs. The new Heritage Wireless speakers will be available in Spring and Summer of 2019 between $149-$499 US dollars.

Jabra introduces Elite 85h headphones: AI smarts and 32 hour battery

AndroidGuys
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Jabra today introduced a pair of headphones which feature an adaptive AI technology tucked inside. Called the Elite 85h, they’re part of Jabra’s Elite range of headsets and adjust the listening experience to the wearer based on the environment.

The tech, dubbed Jabra SmartSound, relies on Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), eight microphones, and a few other ingredients. This results in an audio experience that promises to be unlike any other. Whether commuting, listening to a book in the library, or taking in The Dark Side of the Moon at home, you’ll get something special and uniquely designed.

The Jabra Elite 85h are backed by a two-year warranty and offer dust and rain resistance. Sold in four colors (Black, Titanium Black, Gold Beige, and Navy), the headphones deliver up to 32 hours of battery with ANC and up to 35 hours without.

Of the eight microphones in the headphones, six of them are dedicated to calls. Four are for ANC while two of them are hybrid mics for calls and ANC.

You can’t really talk about AI smarts without mentioning digital assistants. To that end, the Elite 85h provide hands-free voice assistant access; there’s no need to press any physical buttons to trigger them tool. Indeed, the headphones allow for users to tap into Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.

Jabra Elite 85h Features

  • SmartSound: Audio that automatically adapts to your surroundings
  • 100 percent hands-free: Voice Assistant access without pushing a button
  • Four color variations: Black, Titanium Black, Gold Beige and Navy
  • Battery: Up to 32-hours of battery with ANC activated and 35 hours without ANC
  • Microphones: Eight microphones in total. Six dedicated for calls, four for ANC and two hybrid mics for both calls and ANC.
  • Speakers: 40mm custom-engineered speakers
  • Durability: Unique IP52 dust and rain resistance, backed by a two-year warranty against water and dust
  • Personalize: Jabra Sound+ app for SmartSound features, including customized settings

Availability

The Jabra 85h will be available to pre-order in the four colors including one exclusive to Best Buy in the US & Canada (Black) starting in March 2019. The retail price will be $299 USB/$399 CAD.

Mophie debuts powerstation PD and PD XL for ultra-fast portable charging

AndroidGuys
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Mophie, the top external battery brand in the US, has added a pair of new devices to its portfolio in the form of the powerstation PD and powerstation PD XL.

The two batteries share the same set of features across the board except for one, capacity. The powerstation PD houses a 6,700mAh battery while the powerstation PD XL packs a 10,500mAh power source.

The PD charging technology allows for a more universal charging experience, and it’s also incredibly fast. In fact, as mophie indicates, it will charge select iPhone devices up to 2.5 times faster than a tradition 5W charger. The same goes, of course for Android devices, which benefit from quick (up to 18W) speeds.

The mophie powerstation PD and powerstation PD XL house a shared USB-C PD port which works for both fast charging and recharging. Indeed, you can refill the power supply at speeds up to 15W. Additionally, the devices include a USB-A port for charging a second device at the same time.

“We developed this new line of powerstation batteries using the power delivery protocol so consumers can charge as quickly and safely as possible… the most advanced charging solutions that are convenient, fast, and efficient.” – Robert Johnson, mophie GM.

Both powerstations are finished with a familiar textured design, which not only look great but protect against scratches and scuffs. They also include an LED power indicator so that users have an understanding as to how much life is left in the battery.

Availability

The mophie powerstation PD and powerstation PD XL are available now at mophie’s website for a suggested retail price of $60 and $80, respectively.

Powerstation Plus

In addition to the aforementioned models, Mophie has also introduces a new powerstation plus line of chargers. These portable batteries are equipped with integrated Lightning/micro USB switch tip output cables.

As we’ve seen in other mophie families of chargers, this one comes in three sizes, the powerstation plus mini (4,000mAh), powerstation plus (6,000mAh), and powerstation plus XL (10,000mAh).

With speeds up to 10W, you can also recharge the line wirelessly on any Qi-compatible wireless charger. Like other models from mophie, the Priority+ charging lets you charge the battery and an external device at the same time. Moreover, the powerstation plus offer the ever-present fabric material and LED power indicators.

Availability

The powerstation plus line will be available in a variety of colors in Q1 2019 for $60, $80, and $100, respectively.

How to capture and edit long screenshots on your Android phone

Alexandra Arici
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Originally published on November 9, 2018

Taking a photo on Android is quite simple. On most phones, all you have to do is hold the Volume down and Power buttons for a second. That’s it.

But a select number of handsets like OnePlus devices or Samsung and Huawei phones offer an extra option – the ability to take scrolling or long screenshots.

Fortunately, even if you don’t have a phone which supports this option, you can still capture a long screenshot with your Android device. How? Keep reading to find out.

How to take a long screenshot on OnePlus devices

OnePlus has long been offering this feature and it’s very easy to take advantage of it.

  1. Navigate to the screen you want to take a shot of.
  2. Take a screenshot as you normally would.
  3. Look at the bottom and tap on the third icon.
  4. The page will start going down. Tap the screen to stop scrolling.
  5. Voila, the expanding screenshot is captured!
  6. You can check out the the result in the Gallery and from there you can use the phone’s built-in editor if you want to tweak it a little bit.

How to take a scrolling screenshot on any Android device

If you can’t afford to buy a OnePlus phone or a high-end Galaxy device, don’t worry. You can still take advantage of this feature by employing the help of third-party apps from the Google Play Store.

For this tutorial, we’re going to use LongShot, but there are other options like Scroll Capture. Unfortunately this app has a few shortcomings.

Here’s how to use LongShot to take a long screenshot

  1. Open the LongShot app on your device.
  2. Turn the Auto-scroll option in Settings>Accessibility as prompted.
  3. Tap on the Capture Screenshot icon in the app. The following messages should be displayed: “LongShot will start capturing everything that’s displayed on your screen.” Tap Start Now.
  4. Navigate to the page you want to take a screenshot of.
  5. Tap on the floating “Start” green button that has appeared on your display.
  6. Scroll down until satisfied and click above the red line to stop capturing
  7. Edit the resulting screenshot in the app and save it.
  8. From there you can easily Share it.

For really long screenshots, the app performs a stitching act. Fortunately you can edit them (using the Adjust button) in such as way as to merge the parts quite seamlessly.

There’s also the option to use the Capture Web page option, but this feature only allows you to screenshot in the app’s browser.

Scroll Capture is another app you can take long screenshots. However, you can only use it to take a shot in the app’s own browser. On top of that, it takes screenshots of the entire web page, top to bottom and does not let you select certain parts. Although, you can manually crop the parts that interest you afterwards.

How to take a long screenshot in Scroll Capture

  1. Open the app on your device.
  2. Enter the URL of the page you want to take a shot of.
  3. Tap on the purple circular button at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Check the long screenshot in your Gallery

Note: for some websites the tool doesn’t seem to work.

Accidentally dismiss a notification on your phone? Here’s how to retrieve it!

AndroidGuys
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Google has improved the notifications system on the Android OS a lot over the years, introducing various intuitive features along the way. Take, for instance, the ability to snooze them for a particular amount of time, or even block notifications from an app altogether.

However, there is one particular option which Google has not yet implemented in its Android OS. We’re talking, of course, about the ability to view the history of all notifications you have received. Taking things a step further, we’d love to undo the action of dismissing one every so often.

So Many Apps, So Many Notifications

Many of us have multiple apps installed on our device, each of which sends out numerous notifications throughout the day. While a lot of people tend to view them almost immediately, some of us just dismiss them for the time being. Perhaps we think we’ll open the app and view them later, ultimately forgetting completely about them after a while.

Thankfully, there are a few simple solutions where you can not only view recently dismissed notifications, but also view the entire history of those received on your device. It’s nice and easy and the best way to start.

The first solution is rather simple and works on most devices. To do it you simply have to add a settings widget to your home screen. Specifically, you’ll add the “notification log” to the phone’s main panel.

Tapping it you’ll get a history of notifications and the time at which they arrived. They won’t be pretty, but the information is there.  If you open a message from Hangouts, for instance, you’ll have to look close for the content of the text.

It’s worth pointing out that this feature seems to be missing on the default launcher and experience of Samsung devices. If you are own a Samsung phone, you might want to install Nova Launcher, or an other 3rd party launcher.

Step 1

Long press on your home screen and select the widgets option. Now scroll until you find the settings widget and select it.

If you are a Samsung user and using Nova Launcher, you might have to select the Nova activities widget instead.

Step 2

Now, scroll until you find the Notification log under the settings Widget and just select it to add it to your home screen.

You can now just open this widget to view your notification history and interact with them to view more details like the app it was sent from and the time.

A better, cleaner solution

If you prefer a simple and a more polished interface with less technical details, you may want to download and install Catch notify from the Google Play Store. The app displays your notification log history in a simple and a clean interface and you can open any log for viewing its content and time it was sent.

Undo your notification dismiss action

If you just want to view the last notification you dismissed by mistake instead of your entire log history, there is an Android app for that, too. Unfortunately, you can only use this method if your smartphone runs Android Oreo 8.0 or newer.

The app is called Unnotification and displays a new notification every time you dismiss a notification on your device, asking whether you want to undo the action. You can set the app to not display the undo option for certain apps.

Once you install the app on your Android device, you just have to grant the app notification access permission and it will start doing its work. The app will display a notification every time you dismiss a notification from an app, unless you have blacklisted the app, asking whether you want to undo the action or not.

The undo option will automatically display after a specified time period. You can also modify the settings to display the undo option only when you click on the app tile on your quick settings panel.

If you click on the undo option from the app, the notification which you just dismissed will be restored and you can just tap on it to open the corresponding app on your device.

Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions regarding any of the above mentioned methods and also which method do you prefer.

Doogee S80 review: An Android that’s also a walkie-talkie

Alexandra Arici
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Over the past few years, there’s been a clear trend across the smartphone industry to go thinner, lighter and more compact. If you remember, we were surprised when phones with 10 mm profiles started to emerge, but now 8 mm smartphones are the norm.

So in the era of super skinny smartphones, it’s indeed quite unusual to stumble upon a device with a heavier frame.

The Doogee S80 is one such bulky smartphone, but is by no means the only one currently available on the market. However, there’s a good reason why the S80 is so thick, one that might compensate for it’s less than appealing profile. It houses a monstrous battery.

Also read: Poptel P10 review

Most of the times it feels like, in the rush to make phones slimmer or more powerful, Android device makers forget all about battery life. While the modern smartphone has been around for nearly a decade at this point, the length of time you can expect on a charge has remained roughly the same. Best case scenario, you’ll be able to get a full day of use on a single charge.

But Chinese companies like Doogee promise you something more. Case in point, the S80 packs a huge 10,080 mAh battery, which according to the company can offer 1380-hours standby time and 136-hours of talk time.

The Doogee’s impressive battery is the main thing that draws attention to it. But the device isn’t only about the battery. Keep reading below to find out more.

Design and display

If you’re like us, you’re probably accustomed to holding pretty skinny devices in your hand. While in its promo pictures, the Doogee S80 seems like a relatively sleek device, in reality, it looks and feels pretty much like a brick.

It’s a really thick handset with a 21.2mm frame, that weighs heavily in your hand. It tips the scale at 398g after all. By comparison stylish phones like the Galaxy S9 weight only 163 g and feature an 8.5mm profile.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S9 review

But if you can look past the bulkiness, the Doogee S80 doesn’t look that bad. The phone has that rugged look phones in this category often do. Made of a combination of glass reinforced plastic, metal and glass, this monster has most of its ports hidden behind protective rubberized inserts to keep dust and water out (it’s IP68 rated).

The phone has also been MIL-STD-810G certified, which means that the S80 can survive a drop from up to 8ft on rough concrete with only superficial damage.

The charging Type-C port is at the bottom behind a flap that’s really annoying to open. We had to use a pencil to get it to unlatch.

The power and volume buttons are housed on the right side of the phone. On the left side, lives the SIM tray, which is a hybrid affair, so that means it will be able to take your microSD card slot too.

Turn the S80 around, and you’ll see the centrally arranged dual-camera setup. Beneath, sits the fingerprint scanner – which most of the times works pretty well in unlocking your phone. It’s also perfectly positioned, so your finger can reach it easily and conveniently.

The battery monster features a 5.99-inch IPS display with 2160 x 1080 resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio.

The relatively high resolution makes for detailed reproduction of images and video, where individual pixels are almost impossible to spot.

The display is made by LG and it’s an IPS panel that offers a reasonable color palette and really great viewing angles. Overall, the screen is big and bright and offers all the tools you needed for navigation.

Performance

Although it’s not the most attractive-looking phone out there, the Doogee S80 is quite powerful. It’s based on a MediaTek Helio P23 which is an octa-core processor that can run up to 2.5GHz. The phone ships with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on board, which is extendable to 128GB via the microSD card slot.

This setup is able to deliver pretty reliable performance. Opening apps, browsing or switching between apps is a pretty fluid affair on board of the Doogee S80. The phone did have a tendency to slow down once we loaded a demanding game and played a while, but overall we don’t have much to complain about. Sure, there are much faster phones around, but for most uses, the S80 is fast enough.

Where the Doogee S80 excels is in the battery life department. We found that the 10,080 mAh battery could last for up to 7 days on moderate use and around 5 days with more intense usage.

This is indeed superior to most smartphones on the market, who can only provide up to 1 full day of use on a single charge.

Camera

Like most smartphones in the market today, the S80 features a dual-camera setup on the back which is comprised of a 12.2MP main sensor and a 5MP secondary one.

Results using the main camera are a mixed bag. In bright daylight, photos turn out quite decent. Although some colors are a bit too bright to look realistic (eg. overly blue sky) Alternatively, in some instances, colors appear to be quite washed out.

The amount of details captured is ok-ish for a mid-range device like this one. In low-lighting scenarios results are what you’d expect, as the camera struggles when the light is not so good. To be fair, at times the camera did surprise us with some pretty great low-light snaps, but most of the time the images turn out to be pretty dull.

At the front sits a 16MP selfie snapper which takes relatively good selfies, albeit they are bit overexposed, even if the sun is not shining brightly in the background. As for selfies taking in low-light environments, they tend to come out looking quite noisy.

Doogee camera app is quite basic with no HDR option or face tracking. You do get a macro mode, and a beauty mode which makes self-portraits look quite fake, so it’s not really our thing. But then again, there are people out there who appreciate this sort of thing.

Additional features

Given that this is a phone developed for active users who like going on adventures, the S80 comes with a lot of extra tools to help outdoorsy types make out the most of their trip.

The phone features NFC, GPS, a G-sensor, proximity sensor, Coulometer, as well as Barometer. Strangely, it does not have a gyroscope on board.

The Doogee S80 isn’t the only phone out there carrying these sensors, of course, but the inclusion of barometric sensing does stand out.

But the phone also offers a truly unique function. It can be turned into a walkie-talkie. The handset takes advantage of DMR or Digital Mobile Radio technology with a wide range of frequencies between 400-480 MHz range and is effective up to distances of 10km.

This function transforms the phone into an outdoor communication device that can work without the need for a network. This is especially practical if you find yourself in remote mountain areas, forests or desert areas.

As intriguing as this option is, we couldn’t give it a go. Because for the walkie-talkie function to work you actually need another DMR device (another S80).

On top of the walkie-talkie mode, we should also point out that Doogee has also taken the measure to include two speakers on board the device with HD sound quality. During out time with the phone, these proved to be some of the loudest speakers we’ve seen on a handset. The sound is super loud and crisp with no noticeable distortion at high volume.

Software

The Doogee S80 runs a stock-like version of Android, which is good news for a lot of people. It’s the older Android 8.1 Oreo which on board of this rugged monster features very few alterations.

The app icons specific to the phone have their own style, but other than that you won’t see too many differences compared to Google’s standard approach.

There are some pre-installed apps which you will find in the Toolbag. These are apps like Pic hanging, Magnifier or SoundMeter.

Hopefully, Doogee has plans to push new updates for the S80 in the near future, but given that our review unit has the outdated August security patch on board, we’re not very optimistic.

Pricing

The Doogee S80 is currently available for purchase for $349.99 at Banggood. This is a promotional price to celebrate the winter season that shaves 13% off the original $399.99 price.

Verdict

The Doogee S80 is a phone build for survivalists and explorers. Alternatively, professionals like construction workers or first respondents might make look at this phone as a piece of essential equipment.

But if you’re just like us, a typical urban dweller, then chances are that you might not want to invest almost $400 in a device that’s not very portable and doesn’t look that stylish.

The Doogee S80 is a niche smartphone for people who want and need specific things. Such as long battery life and resistance features. And while indeed, there’s a demand for such things on the market, we’re inclined to think most users will still prefer and opt for the now classic sleek smartphone instead of bulkier options like the S80, despite the benefits.

 

Blu VIVO XI+ review: A new direction for the unlocked phone maker

AndroidGuys
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Originally Published: August 29, 2018

Update: As of January 4, 2019, the Blu Vivo XI+ and Vivo XI are compatible with Verizon bands.

When it comes to smartphones, the term “flagship” is thrown around an awful lot. It seems every 3-6 months you an announcement touting a device as a flagship or flagship killer. And when it comes to Blu, that seems to be the case even more frequently.

In the past Blu would take it rapid fire approach to releasing devices. It would not be uncommon for it to release anywhere from six to eight phones a year. Many of them, sadly, tend to look and sound similar to one another.

As a company who specializes in unlocked devices for GSM phones, Blu tends to focus on the entry-level and mid-range experience. Prices are often a fraction of what you would find in another brand, such as Samsung or LG.

Generally speaking its competitors are usually brands that you’re not too familiar with here in the United States. Sure, its phones can take on the bigger global brands on paper, but in practice it is more akin to “no name” or less recognizable models from overseas.

As a whole, we like the devices that we review from Blu and often find ourselves recommending them for first time users or for customers who need affordable replacements; they make excellent Band-Aid phones, or something to get in a pinch. If you have a young user in your house or are just starting to dabble in smartphones, Blu makes excellent options.

The problem that we run into is that it’s often a what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience from the manufacturer. Software updates are never promised and rarely show up.

As longtime smartphone users, we like to focus on security updates and timely patches, and it’s even here where Blu has a so-so track record. What’s more, it has run into its fair share of vulnerabilities and bad press.

All of this leads to a less-than-stellar experience from the phone maker. Despite its best intentions, Blu struggles to break out of its current mold. Looking ahead, things look to be changing for the company.

Something New?

Today marks the release of Blu’s latest smartphone, the Vivo XI+. What can customers expect in the device? You guessed it, another flagship. It arrives on the heels of its predecessor which launched just six months ago, signalling it might not be all that different…

Wait, you’ll want to hear this one out.

What makes the Vivo XI+ so different? For starters there are a number of firsts in this phone. But, before we get into the hardware let’s talk about the new path ahead for Blu.

Slow Things Down

Rather than launching with many devices and flooding the market with confusing and overlapping options, Blu is opting to slow its pace. What’s more, it is taking a strategic approach to software updates and is even making promises. Indeed, this phone comes with the company’s first promised Android update.

One only need look at the recent statement from its CEO to see that Blu understands where it can do better. Assuming things go the way they hope, the horizon looks good for the brand.

VIVO XI+ Impressions

When you look at the hardware on this phone, one finds that it matches up nicely with devices that tend to run a good $700 or more. As we’ve seen from Blu time and again, this unlocked phone works with GSM carriers and features an incredible amount of bang for the buck. Things are no different for the 11th generation of the flagship line.

Key Features

  • MediaTek Helio P60 with AI Technology 2.0GHZ Octa Core Processor
  • 64GB/128GB internal storage (with microSD slot up to 128GB)
  • 6GB RAM
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • 6.2-inch display with 19:9 and 18:9 aspect ratio (1080 x 2246 pixels)
  • Dual rear cameras (16-megapixel, 5-megapixel)
  • 16-megapixel front-facing camera
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • 3,050mAh battery
  • USB Type C
  • Wireless Charging
  • 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/7/12/13/17/28/66

That’s quite a bit of heavy hitting hardware to be sure. And, that’s not really painting the whole picture. There’s a few things going on here that aren’t super obvious when reading bullet points.

As indicated above, this phone launches with Android 8.1 Oreo, the most recent version widely available. Very few others offer Android 9 Pie so it’s nice to see Blu keeping pace with the big brands. According to the phone maker, the Vivo XI+ will see its Android 9 update at some point in the first quarter of 2019.

With a window of around six months to work with it’s not too bad. It could definitely be better but we suspect it will still beat other phones with an update.

What’s Included?

The review unit provided to us by Blu looks to be the same as what consumers will purchase. To that end, this does mark the first time one of its phones came shrink-wrapped in the box. We didn’t see anything inside all that different from previous phones, but we did take notice.

Inside we find the standard fare of Blu pieces and parts. In addition to the phone you’ll get a protective carry case (that matches the box), an already applied screen protector, sticker, SIM key, charger and cable, 3.5mm earbuds, and an adapter.

Although there is no headphone jack on the Vivo XI+, Blu throws in the adapter so you can plug into your car stereo or, of course, the included headphones. Otherwise, feel free to pair your Bluetooth earbuds and rock out.

Design

Constructed from a solid metal body with a curved back design, the Vivo XI+ looks and feels like a solid experience. There’s a good amount of heft to the phone, but we would expect that when we’re approaching small tablet-sized displays and these materials. One glance signals to us that the phone is to be taken seriously.

Powered on we see that Blu has opted to go the same route as nearly every other phone maker. Yes, there’s a “notch” on the display. Not to worry, though, you can toggle it on and off with a simple swiping down gesture from the top left. In essence you can go from 19:9 aspect ratio to 18:9.

You have to look closely to see that there is screen up near the top edge. When not in use you get an image that resembles more traditional smartphone designs. It’s really a matter of opinion and personal preference as to whether the notch works or is necessary.

Internally, we here at AndroidGuys are pretty mixed when it comes to the idea and day-to-day usage. To us, at least, it’s fairly easy to get used to both experiences in the Blu Vivo XI+.

The power button and volume rocker are located to the right side of the display, which is typical for most phones. Across to the left side is where one finds the microSD card and dual SIM card trays.

On the bottom edge of the handset we see the USB Type C port flanked by speaker grilles. We’ve seen Blu dabble with this charging port in other models but it has yet to fully commit to it. Here’s hoping the new direction means a standard approach to devices.

The fingerprint reader is found on the back in the upper center of the phone. It’s right about where your finger wants to fall naturally, but we may have liked for to be just a smidge bigger or maybe even a little more of a pronounced edge. We can find it without looking — but it sometimes blends in a bit too well.

There are two cameras, which are stacked on top of each other, on the rear left of the phone. Below them is the LED flash. We like having these away from this fingerprint reader if only because we’d hate to run our finger across it when blindly unlocking.

Software

If you’ve read our reviews on Blu before, you know we like the experience. It’s a nearly unadulterated version of Android and doesn’t have very much in the way of pre-installed apps. There are usually a couple added but they’re not the invasive carrier-branded stuff you get from wireless providers.

The Vivo XI+ is exactly what we expected: lean and mean Android with a touch of custom Blu flourishes and a sprinkling of apps. The model we received came with Opera, NextRadio, Amazon Prime Video, Wish, and Amazon Shopping.

The first two had icons on the home screen and could not be directly uninstalled; the other three could be uninstalled completely. For what it’s worth disabling NextRadio and Opera ultimately results in them being removed from the phone.

There’s also a couple of smaller apps like Blu Help, Compass, and Data Clone (new phone setup), Torch (flashlight), SIM Toolkit, Sound Recorder, Video Player, Music Player, Notes, and File Explorer. Unfortunately, you can’t remove these or disable them. Thankfully, they are lightweight and take up next to zero space. All in all, it sounds worse than it really is and it definitely beats a bunch of games and apps selected by the carrier.

In terms of Google apps, the gang’s all here. Look for Google, Gmail, Maps, Drive, Play Music, Play Movies & TV, Photos, Messages, YouTube, and Duo.

Performance

We’ve had our unit for approximately ten days as we readied our review. In that time we’ve installed nearly all of the software that we use on a daily basis. Given the hardware we felt no reason it couldn’t meet our demands. To that end we loaded up multiple accounts, and a handful of apps, and games.

We tried as much as possible to use the phone as a “daily driver” over the time we had the review unit. There were times where it did stay back for a few hours while we took a different model with us, but we didn’t mind coming back to it at all.

After living with so many different phones over the years we come to appreciate certain things over time. Take wireless charging, for instance. Once you get used to doing it, you tend to not want to go back. In previous Blu models we couldn’t do this; going from a more feature-rich flagship to other Blu devices left us missing the option.

The same goes for USB Type C. Yes, we still have plenty of reasons for microUSB ports and chargers in 2018, but we don’t rely on it for our phones. Those cables have been replaced either outright or with a wireless dock. It’s nice to see Type C if for no other reason than us not having to swap out car chargers and other cables.

The Vivo XI+ also comes with a few other goodies baked in, too. The Real 3D Face ID lets you unlock your phone using your face. Blu indicates that you can’t trick it with photos, masks, or “even wax sculptures”, adding that its IR sensor aids in detection in all light conditions, including total darkness.

Setting this feature up only takes a couple of moments and it really makes for a hassle-free unlocking experience. We found it to be not only fast and accurate, but true to its promise. There were no instances where we couldn’t get it to register, regardless of environmental light.

It didn’t really matter what apps or games we played as the phone handled the duties in stride. Hopping from one app to another didn’t yield any delays and there were no noticeable lags or stutters.

You can say that an octa-core 2.0Ghz processor doesn’t stack up on paper and be right. But, in practice, you have to run benchmark tests and really look for the differences. Coupled with 6GB RAM, there’s enough horsepower in the Blu Vivo XI+ to qualify the phone as more than capable for demanding users.

There are a handful of gestures and settings that help you really tailor the experience around your personal preferences. It’s not unlike what Motorola offers in that it’s helpful stuff if you want to use it. There’s nothing that is vital to set up; however, playing with stuff like navigation settings, display notch, camera options, and Face ID can make the phone feel like “yours”.

Camera

The  phone boasts a dual camera setup on the back, which is “powered by AI technology” for smarter and better pictures. With a 16-megapixel main camera, it has an F/2.0 aperture, 1/3 inch sensor and 5P lens. The 5-megapixel secondary shooter is what captures your depth of field and is what’s responsible for the blurred backgrounds in portrait shots.

The Vivo XI+ focuses on its subject quickly thanks to the Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) with Laser Focus. Pictures, even those in taken with filters or additional settings, are captured quickly and accurately.

To be perfectly honest, one of the main reasons we would leave the phone at home in favor of the daily driver (Pixel 2) is because we know what we’re getting in the camera. After having spent most of a year with that one we didn’t want to take a chance on missing out on key moments with a goofy camera app or experience.

Over the last two weeks, though, our anxiety over this has eased. Each time we pick it up and play with the camera we like it more and more. We’re more confident now that we can take it out and capture candid moments and look forward to really using it over the next few weeks.

Click here to see some sample pics taken from the Blu Vivo XI+ in a growing library

With that said, the pictures we’ve taken so far have been solid. The color is accurate and they’re crisp and vibrant. Playing with the different shooting modes is pretty intuitive, giving us pretty much what we could hope for in the end results.

We expected the phone to struggle more in lower lighting if only because of price and previous experience. Blu did well here, providing sensors that capture more light than in its predecessors. It will be fun to figure out where the line is on the Vivo XI+ and learning where its capabilities end.

Conclusion

If you’re on T-Mobile, AT&T, or one of their respective prepaid networks and don’t care about whether your phone has a major brand name, this is an excellent place to start.

As an unlocked phone, the Vivo XI+ is compatible with GSM networks [4G LTE (1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/28/66), 3G (850/900/1800/1900), and HSPA (850/900/1700/1900/2100) ]. Like other Blu models, this one comes with support for two SIM cards so feel free to mix and match, especially if you travel.

As of January 2019, the Blu Vivo XI+ and Vivo XI are now supported by Verizon. Compatible with the biggest provider in the US, customers can get a $150 prepaid MasterCard and free SIM card with activation.

Customers who have already purchased a BLU VIVO XI+ and/or VIVO XI and want to switch to Verizon under the Bring Your Own Device Promotion, can contact Blu at service@bluproducts.com and receive a software update pushed to their device.

There may be more exotic or sexier models out there, but you could pay double for that experience. Moreover, we tend to protect our phones with cases, often hiding a glamorous finish or fancy flourishes. When that happens, it’s pretty much a level playing field on the front.

Unfortunately it’s all to easy to look at devices for what they don’t have as opposed to what they do have. After nearly two weeks with the Vivo XI+ we’ve come to like it quite a bit, finding it more in line what we want from a phone.

The things we didn’t love in its predecessor are pretty much addressed and it falls within about $50 of its price. If it’s a case of fixing the little stuff that bothered us, Blu did very well.

We often recommend that anyone considering a first Android phone start with something in the middle of the pack. This way you can figure out whether they want, or need, more later on. Luckily for today’s buyers, the mid-range is more than strong enough to handle daily needs.

You’re going to have a tough time beating this phone’s specs at this price, at least from a brand you’ve heard of before. If you’re looking for a phone for T-Mobile or AT&T in the US, start here and work your way out. Likewise for those overseas considering something new for Orange Vodafone, O2, or other GSM carriers.

It’s a fantastic phone at $350 and an even better buy if you’re an early adopter.

We’re optimistic about the future of Blu, especially if it delivers on its new promises. If it can meet the self-imposed deadline for Android 9, and slow down on the sibling releases, then it will be doing well for itself.

Throwing stuff at the wall so many times a year likely has a negative effect. If it wants us to think its phones are special, it needs to take a more measured approach. There’s nothing wrong with a couple of annual releases but they ought to be spread out across various lines. Here’s hoping that’s what is in store for us.

Availability

The Blu Vivo XI+ is available from Amazon at launch with an introductory, limited time price of $250. This is a $100 off the standard retail cost and is subject to available stock. After the short window Blu will set the price to its everyday sticker of $350. Sold in Midnight Black and Chrome Silver, it comes with free shipping, too.

Brand Profile and Interview: House of Marley

Andrew Allen
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Smartphone accessories are a dime a dozen these days. You can’t pull up Amazon or walk into a carrier store without seeing them. However, we rarely see a company entering that market with an original angle. House of Marley looks to change that with a model built and fueled by sustainable materials. I set down with a few representatives of the company this month and I’d like to share the House of Marley story.

Origin Story

The company was announced January of 2012 by founder Rohan Marley at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marley is the son of famous reggae artist Bob Marley and former professional football player. Rohan has started many other environmentally friendly businesses similar to House of Marley, such as Marley Coffee.

What Makes House of Marley Different?

Rohan’s House of Marley prides itself on using sustainable materials to make all of its accessories. What does that mean exactly? In short, the company uses as many natural or recycled sources as possible.

What kind of materials? A multitude of items are used to make the accessories you can find on House of Marley. Let’s look at some of the items listed on the website just to give you an overview of how thorough House of Marley (HoM) is at sourcing items with limited long-term effects on the environment.

Bamboo and FSC Wood

Bamboo is used in many of the House of Marley stable of devices. Marley doesn’t just pick it for the aesthetics. While it looks great, the material is renewable and can be cultivated with an extremely low carbon footprint.

Bamboo is also one of the most durable materials in the world, with a structural integrity that is almost as strong as steel. The result is a stunning wood look with added durability that can take a beating.

Wood is a recurring theme among HoM accessories as the company uses it in most of its headphones and portable speakers. Marley also uses only FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) woods.

The Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to forestry efforts and conservation. It has certified vendors, like the ones used at House of Marley, who adhere to processes that help in keeping deforestation at a minimum and give back to maintaining the natural forest.

“We want to use wood in our products as a beautiful material, but we want to make sure they are coming from responsibly forested suppliers.”

Cork

After talking to House of Marley, and seeing some of the items they sent our way, cork might be my favorite. It offers such a unique end result while conforming to the company’s sustainable mindset.

First, cork allows the design to take a great look and texture. It really pops when you take the No Bounds portable speaker out of the box; and, I swear it adds a deepness to the sound that wouldn’t be there with another material choice.

“Cork is great because it’s an amazing insulator. It’s a dampener and is vibration resistant. We use what’s called conglomerated cork. Which uses less virgin cork and some from Asia with more defects. We then use a process to grind that with scraps from cork for wines bottles and compression mold it with a binder into a very solid, stable product we can use. We use it as a base of our speakers in place of silicon to protect from drops and offer buoyancy.”

Cork is another core substance that strikes the environmental balance Marley looks for during design. Director of product development, Josh Poulsen, attributed the choice of cork to it’s 100% natural as well as being completely biodegradable as some of the reasons it’s chosen for accessories. Again, House of Marley goes the extra effort to find ways to make high-grade products with low environmental impact.

Aluminum

Even when the substances aren’t biodegradable, or renewable, the company strives to make sure it makes the same efforts to avoid adding to the waste stream. Aluminum is one of the most easily recycled materials in the world. HoM uses it accordingly to provide design elements with aluminum while keeping the risk of it making its way to a landfill.

You’ll find recyclable aluminum in many of their speakers and accessories. The Stir It Up Turntable uses aluminum in the table platter and many of the headphones use the material in the speaker housings as well.

Poulsen was adamant that just because they do have to use less environmentally friendly items at times, the company still has a focus on making the lowest environmental damage as possible.

“Obviously, we sometimes can’t avoid some materials like plastics and aluminum.

The company really wants to make a lasting impact on the environment while appealing to audio consumers and it goes beyond just being mindful of the materials used in its products.

Poulsen and his team at House of Marley will have helped plant 146,000 trees by January 2019 via the One Tree Planted initiative. This global program has allowed House of Marley to contribute to reforestry efforts worldwide:

  • California – 20,000
  • Ethiopia – 20,000
  • Rwanda – 10,000
  • Kenya – 5,000
  • Ghana – 5,000
  • Haiti – 5,000
  • Colorado – 5,000
  • India – 5,000
  • Vietnam – 1,000
  • Guatemala – 1,000
  • Brazil – 1,000
  • Oregon – 1,000

The team doesn’t plan to stop there. This is an ongoing staple of the company that is always in the forefront.

House of Marley also has plans to help with the wildfire restorations in California. These are the huge moves that Marley’s culture sees as a responsibility of major industry to have a positive return on the materials and resources they use on a daily basis. Poulsen believes that consumers will speak with their wallets that this type of philanthropy matters:

“Consumers (especially today’s youth) when they have a choice, I think they are more in tune with what’s going on with our Earth and oceans and global warming. I think consumers absolutely prefer a sustainable brand.”

The company is also open to always researching new opportunities and materials in its next line of products. Poulsen didn’t want to reveal company secrets but says House of Marley is looking at new options of stone that could one day land as accents of new accessories.

How cool would it be to buy a new set of headphones that have a granite ear housing? I really hope this is one material that Josh, and the House of Marley, realistically pursue.

Really, it’s more about the use of all the possible materials with the most limited waste. Through its Regrind, Recycled, and Rewind processes the company uses its own particles from virgin scraps materials to reuse in plastics, metals, and fabrics. It really is the core of House of Marley and its team.

I was fortunate enough to speak with Josh Poulsen and it was readily apparent that he believes this is how this company, and others, should operate.

“I absolutely believe that’s how a company should operate. To me, it’s good leadership and we want to be equally sustainable despite being a small brand in the scheme of things. I believe that any little bit we can do it is making an impression with setting a standard.”

High-quality products can be successfully designed, sourced, and produced without destroying vital natural resources or contributing to global warming. House of Marley has shown me that the road map not only exists, but it is pioneering the movement.

While others in the tech industry are also doing their part, many don’t seem to have the same grassroots approach to the effort. House of Marley seems ingrained with this philosophy from the ground up since the beginning.

I’ve truly grown respect for the House of Marley itself and the people I’ve been introduced during this project. Not to mention that the products are really solid! I hope you take the time to check out the full interview below and then use the links to consider House of Marley the next time you’re in the market for audio accessories.

New year, new career? Here some of the best Android apps for finding a new job

Alexandra Arici
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Job hunting has changed a lot in recent years. Now thanks to mobile technology, you can take your job search on the go, and apply for the positions that seem appealing to you anytime, anywhere.

The era of looking for job offers in the local newspaper is long gone, and today you’re most likely going to have to rely on that Android phone of yours if you want to get a new job.

So for the purpose of this article we’ve rounded up seven great job apps every one looking for a new position should know about.

LinkedIn

What it is:

The most popular social network for professionals. LinkedIn is for anybody and everybody who wants to take their professional life more seriously by looking for new opportunities to grow their careers.

Why we like it:

  • Allows you to quickly create a profile/resume page.
  • The app allows you to quickly discover and connect with people that matter in your industry.
  • It’s a great way to search and apply for new jobs opportunities.
  • Recruiters can easily find you and your profile and invite you to interviews.
  • With LinkedIn, you can stay up to date with the latest business and industry news.

Install LinkedIn

Upwork

What it is:

Upwork gives you access to one of the largest databases of freelance/remote jobs.

Why we like it:

  • Clean and intuitive interface, Upwork lets you search, view and apply to jobs quickly.
  • Employees can also send you job invitations.
  • Upwork offers its own in-app chat feature which allows you to send and receive screenshots and files.
  • Easily get paid via PayPal.

Install Upwork

Indeed

What it is:

One of the most comprehensive jobs searching tools for mobile available. Let’s you find jobs in over 60 countries and in 28 languages.

Why we like it:

  • The app features a huge database of jobs of over 16 million jobs.
  • You can create an Indeed Resume (to apply for select jobs) or simply upload or import a resume from your computer.
  • Gets you the newest jobs delivered to your inbox.
  • Allows job seekers to see how companies rate, as reviewed by employees.

Install Indeed

Snag

What it is:

A job finding app that puts an emphasis on applying fast and finding you flexible positions.

Why we like it:

  • Snag wants to make the job application process easier. You can apply with one click for some of the positions available in the database.
  • The app offers localized job search.
  • Perfect app for students and teens who are looking to work flexible hours or part-time jobs.
  • Let’s you take Employee Personality Quizzes to show off your strengths to prospective employers.
  • You can spice up your resume with a video showcasing your wonderful personality.

Install Snag

Glassdoor

What it is:

A job searching app backed-up by a comprehensive career community.

Why we like it:

  • It’s super easy to start searching for a job. Just use a keyword and your location.
  • Glassdoor offers access to in-depth info about companies, as well as salary reports by job title.
  • App has a unique “Know Your Worth Tool” which shows you how your market value has trended over time and how it compares to typical workers in the same field.
  • The app allows you to read opinions from current and former employees about specific companies.

Install Glassdoor

Trovit

What is it:

A job searching app that wants to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Why we like it:

  • Trovit lets you look for jobs in 46 different countries and 19 languages.
  • Use a relevant keyword to search for jobs, but also add filters to narrow down your search.
  • Create personalized alerts, so when a new add that fits your criteria gets posted you’ll know.

Install Trovit

Good&Co

What it is:

Good&Co is not a traditional job searching app. Instead, its main goal is to help you discover yourself and to find the career best suited for your style.

Why we like it:

  • Good&Co is a self-discovery tool based on science that will help you understand your personal strengths so you can fulfill your true potential.
  • Provides a fun way to get to know yourself via various personality assignments.
  • Discover the company culture that’s a match for your personality and see how you fit with companies that are after you.

Install Goo&Co

Extra

Free resume builder CV maker

What it is:

This app lets you easily create a custom CV that will make your application stand out.

Why we like it:

  • Allows you to create a custom resume or cover letter.
  • You can choose from various templates.
  • Easily fill out information by categories including Personal Info, Education, Work Experience and more.
  • Print the resume directly from the app or download it to your device as .PDF.

Install Free resume builder CV maker

OnePlus 6T review

Alexandra Arici
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Over the years, OnePlus has released phone after phone with flagship-level specs and power at a fraction of the price you’d expect. The OnePlus 6T is the latest in the line, and naturally it comes packed with stellar performance, as well as a great camera and a new style of notch.

And even though prices for the latest model have crept up to $550, which is quite different from the super affordable price of the first OnePlus phone, the OnePlus 6T is still comfortably cheaper that flagship phones currently offered by Samsung, Huawei or LG.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ review

The OnePlus 6T improves upon its predecessor, the OnePlus 6 with a number of things, but obviously the most important upgrade is the in-display fingerprint scanner.

Although, the OnePlus 6T is by no means the first smartphone to take advantage of this novel technology (think OPPO R17, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition or Huawei Mate 20 Pro), it’s indeed the first to offer the feature on the US market.

What else does the OnePlus 6T bring to the table and how well does this new tech perform? Keep reading below to find out more.

Design and display

The OnePlus 6T and OnePlus 6 are quite similar in design, although with a few key differences that make it easy to tell them apart from one another.

For starters – the notch. The OnePlus 6T replaces the tab-shaped cutout at the top of the display, with a less-intrusive waterdrop-shaped notch that’s barely large enough to include the single selfie camera. This means OnePlus had to move the earpiece, which now lives on the right on the top edge. In case you don’t like the tiny notch, OnePlus gives you the option to hide it from Settings, just like before on the OnePlus 6.

Also read: Ten first things you should do with your new OnePlus 6T

Furthermore, the bottom chin on the OnePlus 6T is a bit slimmer than its predecessor, although this detail is less noticeable, unless you put the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T side-by-side.

Compared to the previous iteration, the OnePlus 6T does have a LED notification light anymore. Given the popularity of the feature, we expect a lot of OnePlus fans to be disappointed by this design choice. Although they will probably not mind it as much as the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Yeah, unfortunately the OnePlus 6T is the first phone from the company to come without it. Apparently it was a hard decision to take, but it had to be done in order to make space for the in-display fingerprint display underneath the hood, as well as for the larger battery.

The company does include a USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone port dongle in the box with the phone, so at least you won’t have to worry about going out and buying an extra adapter just so you can use your favorite pair of wired headphones.

Speaking of the most important innovation that comes with the OnePlus 6T – the in-display fingerprint scanner aka Screen Unlock. It uses an optical sensor beneath the display panel to shine green light that ensures all the important details are captured when your fingerprint sensor is registered.

But as it often is with very new technology, the fingerprint scanner is far from being perfect. You get a cool, futuristic animation (which can be customized) when you press your finger against the display, but in our experience it often takes a few tries before the scanner unlocks the phone.

Also read: Ten tips and tricks for the OnePlus 6T

When it works as intended, the setup is quite quick to do its job, even though it’s not as fast as the fingerprint sensor we’ve seen on the previous OnePlus 6.

Interestingly enough, OnePlus claims (via a blog post) that the Screen Unlock feature gets faster over time. We’re told that as the phone learns how you unlock it, its sophisticated algorithms allow the system to improve and work faster and more accurately. We can’t say we’ve experience a significant improvement over time, but then again we’ve been using the phone for less than a month.

Well in case the in-display fingerprint scanner gets on your nerves, you can always switch to face unlock or use the PIN/pattern way of unlocking the device.

Those who used the OnePlus 6 before, will probably notice that the OnePlus 6T is a bit heavier than its predecessor. The new model weighs 185 g and has an 8.2mm profile. By comparison, the OnePlus 6 tips the scales at 177g and has a sleeker 7.8mm frame. You can feel these differences just by holding the two phones in hand. This happened because the OnePlus 6T has a larger battery and the new authentication tech under the hood.

As for the display, the OnePlus 6T continuous to feature an OLED display, although this time around it’s a bit larger at 6.41-inch. It boasts the same FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) as before, which is lower than what flagships like the Galaxy S9 or LG V40 offer, but that’s quite alright. The display is still crisp enough, and it does not look pixelated or anything like that. Indeed, it might not be the sharpest around, but most of the times you won’t even notice that, unless you get uncomfortably close to it.

Also read: LG V40 review

The phone also comes with a few different screen calibration modes which you can find in Settings. Out of the box, the 6T’s display is set to system default, but you can easily switch it up to sRGB, DCI-P3, Adaptive mode or a user-defined calibration profile.

What’s more, OnePlus has also included Reading Mode, as well as Night Mode, to help you use the screen more comfortably when you’re reading or before bed.

Power and speed

The OnePlus 6T is one of the most powerful phones around. Based on a Snapdragon 845, the phone can be coupled with up to 8GB of RAM.  Recently, OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition which includes a whopping 10GB of RAM on board.

Such a sturdy configuration guarantees that the OnePlus 6T will handle every task you throw at it like a champ. Whether you’re loading a bunch of demanding games, or you’re switching fast between apps, the overall experience is quick and effortless. The occasional stutters do arise from time to time (frozen apps, phone becomes unresponsive to taps), but they are quickly forgotten in the face of overall swift performance. Interestingly, with the OnePlus 6 we did not noticed any such glitches.

While the internal specs are pretty much the same as its predecessor’s, the OnePlus 6T does get an upgrade in battery department. The phone now packs a 3,700 mAh power house, up from the 3,300 mAh one of the OnePlus 6.

So what does the difference amount to in the real world? Well, with the OnePlus 6T we would constantly end the day with close to 50% left. On busier, more intensive days, the battery levels would drop down to around 30%, which is still pretty good.

The difference between the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T battery life is not HUGE, but it’s still noticeable, as the latter does then to last a bit longer.

While the OnePlus 6 performed great out of the box, in terms of battery life, over time we noticed it was fading a lot faster than before. To the point that it’s draining quite quickly presently. For example, it will habitually go down to around 30% by 6 pm.

So it remains to be seen whether the OnePlus 6T will retain its great battery life as time passes.

Anyway, the new comer still doesn’t have wireless charging, but it does come with fast charging technology which the company has rebranded into Wrap Charge. This allows you to fully juice up your phone in around an hour and a half. And if you get palpitations seeing your phone at the 25% mark, you can always plug it for 25 minutes or so and get the levels back up to 70%.

Photography

The OnePlus 6T has pretty much the same camera specs as it predecessor. You get a 16MP main sensor on the back that’s supported by a secondary 20MP for bokeh shooting. It’s a solid camera with which you can take great photographs. You can check out the gallery below for some samples.

With this new model, OnePlus has included a new Night Mode which uses a Huawei-like emulated long exposure trick. This results in pretty great night shots, although in some instances you’ll still get a lot of blur in your images and a loss of details. But compared to the OnePlus 6, the OnePlus 6’s night shots definitely retained more detail and had less noise.

OnePlus also included a feature called Studio Lighting, which is designed to recognized faces when portrait shooting and adjust the lighting accordingly to simulate professional lighting. The feature is quite subtle, so in most shots you can’t really tell the difference between the standard photos of pictures and portrait shots. Except for the blurred background, of course.

The selfie snapper is still a 16MP sensor, but here we could see a difference in performance. The selfies taken with the OnePlus 6T appear to have a better contrast than the ones taken with the OnePlus 6, although it also depends on the lighting conditions.

Software

As weird as it might sound, the OnePlus 6T is among the few recent smartphones to launch with Android 9 Pie out of the box. With the company’s Oxygen OS on top, of course, which is a joy to use like always.

It’s clean and clutter free, as it resembles Google’s stock Android version, but it also packs a lot of customization options and tweaks that aren’t available in the standard version.

For example, unlike the competition, OnePlus lets you swipe down from anywhere on the screen to pull down the notification shade. Or it allows you to use quick gestures to control music, answer calls by raising the phone to your ear and so much more.

With the OnePlus 6T, the company has introduced the OnePlus Laboratory where you can find experimental features. For the time being, you can give Smart Boost a try, a feature designed to leverage the performance of loading app and games by taking full advantage of the larger RAM on your phone, based on daily usage.

Software is also a big contributing factor to the phone’s overall lighting speed. Apps take a second to load, and everything is just smooth sailing.

So even as other flagship offer similar and at times superior specs and features compared to the OnePlus 6T, the software experience remains unmatched.

Price

The OnePlus 6T is available in the follow configurations:

  • 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage (Mirror Black) – $549.99
  • 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage (Mirror Black) – $579.99
  • 8GB of RAM +128GB of storage (Midnight Black) – $579.99
  • 8GB of RAM +256GB of storage (Midnight Black) – $629.99
  • 10GB of RAM +256GB of storage (McLaren Edition) – $699.99

All these versions are available via the company’s official website. But for the first time ever, OnePlus has teamed up with one of the top four US carriers to sell the phone. So customers in the US can get the device via T-Mobile too. The Magenta carrier is offering the 8GB of RAM + 128GB of storage version which costs $579.99 outright.

Alternatively, T-Mobile also has a deal going on which lets you save $580 via bill credits when you buy an OnePlus 6T (on a monthly payment plan) with an eligible trade-in and you add a line

Conclusion

OnePlus has produced yet another great phone, and as always the starting price is comfortably lower than for any other flagship on the market.

Yes, the 3.5mm headphone jack is gone, there’s still no wireless charging, and the phone is a bit bulkier than its predecessor, but the OnePlus 6T gives you the chance to try out a novel technology. It’s also a powerhouse and comes with a slightly altered design (new waterdrop-type notch).

But if you’re coming from an OnePlus 6, upgrading to an OnePlus 6T doesn’t really make sense given that they mostly have the same hardware. Especially since OnePlus 6 was also updated to Android Pie and also got the new camera modes that made a debut on the 6T.

However, if you’re currently on an OnePlus 5T or lower, the OnePlus 6T does bring a lot in terms of improvements. Even if you’re trying to decide if you should get a Galaxy S9 or a Pixel 3, the OnePlus 6T is still a great option to consider, for many reasons. Price being chief among them.

Indeed, the OnePlus 6T might not have the advanced camera of the Pixel 3, or a microSD card slot/headphone jack like the Galaxy S9, but it nails it perfectly in other departments. Like software or power. The main takeaway here being, if you’re looking for the best value flagship right now, look no further than the OnePlus 6T.

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