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OnePlus 6T vs Honor View10: Which affordable flagship wins?

Alexandra Arici
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If you’re on the market for a premium phone, there are multiple options available on the market right now and you don’t even have to spend all your savings.

Instead of buying a Samsung Galaxy S9 or Pixel 3, consider maybe getting an affordable flagship. You’ll still get your top-notch specs and premium design, but the price in this case is much more wallet-friendly.

Perhaps the most notable player in this niche is OnePlus. The company recently released a new model, the OnePlus 6T which comes with a new kind of fingerprint-based authentication technology, a different style of notch and Android 9 Pie out of the box.

It’s hard to argue with the appeal of the OnePlus 6T, but as expected the company did raise the price for the phone a little bit.

But what if your budget is below $550? Thankfully, you still have options. For example, Honor’s View10 continues to be available in the US and between November 23 and 26, customers will be able to get it with a big discount.

So which one of these two affordable top-end smartphones would be a better match for you? Continue reading below to get an idea.

Notch vs no notch

The Honor View10 is a phone on the classic side of things. Yeah, it has a trendy 18:9 aspect ratio, but it’s 5.99-inch IPS FHD+ display is notchless, unlike most phones launching today.

What’s more, there’s also an old-school candy-shaped physical home button/fingerprint sensor living underneath the display.

So if you hate the notch, the Honor View10 could be the answer to your prayers. We should also note that the phone has a nice and sturdy metal construction. Albeit it’s nothing out of the ordinary, as the recipe has been tried and tested before. You get the integrated metal body and frame designed with rounded corners and antenna lines following the edges. Flashbacks to the OnePlus 5T.

As for the OnePlus 6T, it is a lot more modern when it comes to design. It features a new type of notch on top of the 6.41-inch display, a tiny one that’s waterdrop-shaped. In contrast to the Honor View10, the OnePlus 6T has glass on the front, as well as on the rear. The chassis is built of aluminum, with a finish that perfectly complements the color of the back glass.

The OnePlus 6T is the first OnePlus phone that comes equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor. The technology uses an optical sensor underneath the display that shines a green light in order to read your fingerprint in full detail. OnePlus claims the system can unlock your phone in 0.3 seconds.

The OnePlus 6T it’s not the first phone to take advantage of this kind of tech, but it’s certainly the first to become more widely available.

Performance and battery

OnePlus’ second flagship for 2018 takes comes equipped with the same Snapdragon 845 that fueled the OnePlus 6. You can either have it with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

As for the Honor View10, it’s based on a Kirin 970, which right can be considered a previous-gen flagship chip. The chipset currently fuels premium phones like the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro. But at IFA 2018, Huawei unveiled the next-gen Kirin 980, which can be found underneath the hood of the beastly Mate 20 series.

The Kirin 970 is the company’s first mobile chip featuring a neural processing unit (NPU), designed to perform the same AI computing tasks faster and use far less power in doing so.

Despite not being so new anymore, the Kirin 970 still does a great job at performing tasks, so you can be sure the Honor View10 will run without hiccups. Especially since it’s backed up by a hefty 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s also a possibility to expand further via the microSD card slot up to 256GB. The OnePlus 6T doesn’t have a microSD slot.

The Honor View10 is powered by a 3,750 mAh battery, while the OnePlus 6T has a 3,700 mAh one under the hood. With the capacity being very similar, we expect both phones to able to sustain a full day of use without much hassle. Although, the OnePlus 6T might perform a little better given the light OxygenOS on board.

Cameras

The OnePlus 6T does not bring any dramatic changes in the camera department. Although you do get a few new modes to take advantage of.

So you still get the dual 16MP+20MP camera of the OnePlus 6. But low light shots and HDR have been improved with the help of AI.

There’s a new Night Mode which soaks in plenty of light for improved shots in low-light conditions. Then, there’s HDR in auto mode where the camera can detect harsh lighting conditions and adjust colors, contrast and such. What’s more, OnePlus has also introduced Studio Lighting, a post-processing software that lets you modify brightness and tonality of faces when you shoot Portraits.

The OnePlus 6T also gets a 20MP selfie camera with portrait mode.

Moving on to the Honor View10, the phone benefits from the services of one 16MP RGB sensor paired with a monochrome 20MP one, that can take pretty great shots.

Honor has packed a series of AI shooting modes on board including scene detection, monochrome shooting, wide aperture mode shooting, and of course Portrait.

On the front, lives a 13MP selfie camera that won’t disappoint when it comes to taking self-portraits.

Software

The OnePlus 6T is among the few phones which launched with Android 9 Pie out of the box so far. Along with Google’s latest, comes the company’s own lightweight and highly customizable OxygenOS, which brings some new and yummy navigation gestures.

Other additions include the option to use the power button to call up the Google Assistant. What’s more, users can now change the phone’s entire theme, complete with icon packs and more.

As for the Honor 10View, it might have launched with Android 8.1 Oreo on board, but since then the phone received the Android 9 Pie update which brings Huawei’s EMUI 9.0 overlay with GPU Turbo 2.0, a travel assistant, a password vault and more.

Pricing and availability

The OnePlus 6T starts at $549.99 for the 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage version.

The Honor View10 is currently available for $479.00 on Amazon, but between November 23 and 26, you’ll be able to get the phone for only $349.99.

Verdict

The OnePlus 6T is indeed the newer and more appealing option, but the Honor View10 is still a very good phone. And at this price, it’s certainly a bargain.

However, if you’re budget is a little bit bigger, the OnePlus 6T is truly the most affordable, top-notch Android phone you can get right now. It has the latest specs, design and comes with new in-display fingerprint technology. And now you can get it in Purple too!

Funcl kicks off Indiegogo campaign with dirt cheap wireless earbuds

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Since the debut of Apple’s Airpod wireless earbuds we’ve seen a number of audio brands stepping into the space. A few years ago the trend was to transition away from wired to Bluetooth. Today, it’s all about cutting out any and all cords.

As the number of players offering truly wireless earbuds grow, consumers reap the benefits. Selection grows, prices drop, and we all win. One company to keep an eye on, Funcl, has thrown its proverbial hat in the ring, kicking off a new Indiegogo campaign.

Launched on Indiegogo today, the Funcl W1 and AI are quality earbuds with affordable price tags. They’ll ship in December and will run $19 and $54, respectively, under the Indiegogo campaign. Actually, if you click here, you can get the Funcl AI for $49!

We’ve received a pair of each of these earbuds and have been using them off and on over the last few weeks. Thus far they’ve proven to be excellent options, particularly for their price.

When it comes to the W1, it’s truly crazy to fathom that you can get this sort of experience for less than a steak. The AI is no slouch, either, and provides us lightweight, quality sound with solid battery life.

The two earbuds share a number of features in common, including Bluetooth 5.0 technology, touch controls, automatic on/off, and IPX5 waterproof and sweat-proof coating.

The Funcl W1 has a 150ms optimized latency which is slower than what you’d get from other, pricier options. The AirPods and Bose SoundSport Free have 100ms, for example, while the Jaybird Run have 60ms reponse.

As far as battery goes, you’ll get 4.5 hours of playtime per charge. The carrying case that comes with the earbuds houses its own battery and can provide a total of 18 hours of listening.

The Funcl AI deliver 6.5 hours of playback on a charger with the carrying case packing a total of 24 hours. Moreover, the latency is much lower at 60ms and the earbuds also support the Qualcomm aptX audio format.

Get Yours!

With a full month to go on the Indiegogo campaign there’s definitely time to get in line for the Funcl earbuds. We wouldn’t blame you for signing up as you’d be joining more than 4,400 others who have already funded the project to the tune of 3X over and growing. Pick either model in black or white and get ready to ring in the new year with some extra money in your pocket.

Save with AndroidGuys

If you’ve got your eye on the Funcl AI, we’ve got your back. The folks at Funcl have given us a promo price which takes an extra five bucks off of the earbuds, putting them at just $49. All you have to do is click this link! Hurry, there are only 50 pairs available under the promotion.

Best slim cases for the Samsung Galaxy S9

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The Samsung Galaxy S9 is one of the most popular smartphones of the year, and for good reason. The handset is gorgeous, sleek, and packs hardware that goes toe-to-toe with the best of ’em. It’s a flagship experience through and through, representing the best of Samsung and Android.

If you count yourself among the lucky group of people who own one of these devices, you’ll want to protect here. We’ve gathered up a collection of our favorites in the category of best slim cases for the Samsung Galaxy S9.

BodyGuardz Ace Fly

Thin and flexible doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unprotected. This case offers up a transparent TPU material that wraps your phone without adding unnecessary thickness. The clear shell lets you show off that interesting and unique color of the phone. The Ace Fly is designed in a way that absorbs and dissipates impact from drops, helping to keep that screen from cracking. $35 at BodyGuardz

Caseology Skyfall

An almost-nonexistent yet stylish way to protect your phone, you’ll get a clear case with a colored bumper. Not just any random hue, though; these specifically complement the phone’s color. Further, the bumper gives your beloved handset a military grade level of protection while the scratch-resistant finish adds a hint of sparkly luster. $15 at Caseology

Diztronic Full Matte TPU

A soft matte case that doesn’t make your phone feel overly thick or cumbersome, you can pick it up in black, dark blue, red, and teal. Although it covers the buttons on the side, they still get a nice, tactile response that you feel. It won’t slip and slid and it’s just thick enough to keep your screen from touching the table. Flip the phone over and enjoy a quiet meal. $10 at Amazon

Bear Motion Premium Shockproof Impact Resistant Back Cover

Snap one of these shells on for a low-profile experience that provides a natural skin texture. Offered in a variety of colors, it’s an inexpensive way to keep the back of your phone safe from scratches. The microfiber lining is about as gentle of a way you can find to hug your handset. $8 at Amazon

MNML

Your phone has curves, so why hide it behind something utilitarian and boring? Forget that ugly stuff that says nothing about your personality and go with a sleek and sophisticated case. Choose from seven different colors that all complement the phone, no matter which one you chose. Smudge-free, fingerprint-free, worry-free. $15 at MNML

Case-Mate Barely There

When you really want to show off your favorite phone you don’t obscure it with a boring, black case — especially when your device is lilac colored! This is one of the best slim cases for the Samsung Galaxy S9  and is incredibly thin yet provides anti-scratch technology. True to its name, it’s barely noticeable; however, you’ll want that impact-resistant layer there when the phone butts up against a tough surface. $25 at Case-Mate

Caseco Skin Shield

Made from TPU material, this option can be had in one half dozen colors, including pink, purple, and turquoise. The matte finish ensures your phone doesn’t go sliding out of your hand when you fumble for a call. What’s more, the raised lip allows for placing the device on its face or backside without fear of scratching the camera or display. $20 at Caseco

Peel Super Thin

You don’t want to walk around with an advertisement for a phone maker, do you? Far too often we end up doing just that. Go this route and you end up with a semi-transparent case that lets your Samsung branding show through. Just 0.35mm thin, you’ll hardly know it’s there. Choose from three colors to best suit your tastes. $25 at Peel

Toast

Add a real wood layer of protection to your phone with almost zero impact on the footprint. With a variety of unique wood finishes to choose from, and options to add designs or text, you’ll never see the same case again. Peel and adhere it to your handset and rest easy knowing that scratches and nicks won’t stand a chance. Plus, it looks cool as hell. $34 at Toast

VRS Single Fit

Easy on, easy off. The slim protective case stands up to scrapes as good as any and the brushed design looks better than most. There’s not much to the case, but that’s exactly what you want here. The reinforced edges and TPU skin are all you need to handle life’s little accidents. It just so happens that this case looks sweet, too. $20 at VRS Design

Conclusion

Do you have a particular brand that you like for protecting your phones? Is it one of the companies listed here? When it comes to slim cases for the Samsung Galaxy S9, which do you prefer?

Best wireless chargers for the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus

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The Galaxy S8 Plus is the bigger take on the 2017 flagship phone experience from Samsung and even today it’s among sexier devices on the market. It can still run with the best of ’em, and we love all of the nifty hardware. One feature we simply adore is wireless charging. Once you’ve used it, it’s hard to mess with cables ever again.

Here are some of the best Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus wireless chargers for home, work, and even on-the-go.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Standard Platter” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

These are the flat types of chargers you’ll find on desks and night stands; they often come in circular and rectangular shapes. Many of these offer variable output speeds so they’ll play nice with your friend’s iPhone, too.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

A trusted name in the tech space for decades now, Belkin still delivers the goods. This charger pumps out up to 10-watts for your Sony and LG phones, and can optimize to 9W for Samsung. The LED indicator let you know how things are going while the rubber ring holds the handset in place. The cable is five feet long so you can plug into the out-of-the-way outlets. Purchase for $45 from Amazon or $60 from Belkin.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger Pad” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

When it comes to smartphone popularity it’s Samsung’s pie and the rest of the players share pieces of it. If you want official accessories, this is the charger you go with for Samsung devices.

It’s about 1.4x times faster than conventional wireless tech, has a circular strip of rubber to prevent your handset from sliding around, and a bright LED to indicate charging. Offered in Black, Navy, and White to match your favorite phone. $25 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Yootech Wireless Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

When you don’t need anything fancy and don’t want to spend a ton of money, you look for something like this. Compatible with all Qi-enabled phones, it works at 5W, 7.5W, and 10W charging standards. You’ll need to use your charging adapter and cable if you go with the high speed stuff, but you already have the one that came in your phone’s box. Sleep easy knowing that the green light turns off after a few seconds so your room doesn’t glow all night. $15 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Dock Style” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

Prop your phone up at a convenient angle so you can quickly glance at your notifications. Ideal for your kitchen corner or end table in the family room.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Anker PowerWave Fast Wireless Charger Stand” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

As fast as you’ll need, plus some. We like this one for its 6-ft microUSB cable and 18-month warranty. Whether you need 5W, 7.5W, or 10W of juice, this wallet-friendly option brings the power. The twin charging coils make it so you can place your phone in landscape and portrait orientation without fumbling around for connection. Works through phone cases of 5mm, too! $30 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”TYLT VU Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

The VU charger features three coils inside, so feel free to put your handset on the cradle in portrait or landscape mode know it will charge. The LED under the lip of the stand turns green to indicate that it’s charging.

The bright, plastic charger comes in is available in blue, yellow and red, or you can opt for black if you’re in the mood for something traditional. The soft-touch finish and distinctive design give this charger a look that’s really unique and that’s why we’ve added it to this list. $30 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Corus 10W Fast Wireless Charger Stand” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Simple, compact, and a tad bit stylish, this stand doesn’t take up much room on your desk. The dual coils mean it’s as convenient to set your phone upright as it is to flip it on its side for watching Netflix. You’ll have to use your own charging adapter if you want to use the Quick Charge 2.0 or Quick Charge 3.0 technology, but doing so means much less down time. $20 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”On-the-Go Charging” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

For true wireless convenience you want something that goes with you, right? Whether it’s a library, coffee shop, or in an airport terminal, these wireless chargers have built-in batteries that allow for power-ups everywhere.

[vc_custom_heading text=”RAVPower 10400mAh Fast Wireless Charging Pad” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

With a generous 10,400mAh worth of power, this charger can double or triple the time you use your smartphone. And, because time is always of the essence, the power bank offers up to 10W fast charging. Out for dinner with friends or loved ones? Let them plug in through the USB port and get some of that recharge action, too. $50 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Fonesalesman QiStone+” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Yo dawg, we heard you like wireless charging so we put wireless charging in a wireless charger. Seriously, you can top this portable unit off by placing it on another wireless charger.

The 4,000mAh internal battery ensures your night doesn’t end early because you have to get home. What’s more, it’s portable enough to toss in a bag or backpack so feel free to stay out and keep the party going. While everyone else fights over the car adapter you can sit in the backseat with your own power source. $50 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”mophie Powerstation Wireless External Battery Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

From one of the first names in charging, this portable device delivers 6,040mAh of backup power. In other words, that’s 2-3 times that you don’t have to plug into the wall. Ideal for college students, frequent flying types, and people who simply hate dealing with cables. The four LED lights let you know how much you’ve got left in the tank while the two-year warranty tells you to sleep easy at night. $80 at mophie

[vc_custom_heading text=”Car Solutions” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

Why waste an opportunity to turn that daily commute into a convenient and flexible way of recharging? These are devices that hold your phone in place and provide a wireless charge.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Vansky 2-in-1 Wireless Car Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Suction this one to your dashboard or snap in the attachment and place it on your air vent for true convenience. With up to 10W of charging you’ll be sure to get the most efficient charge possible, even on short little trips to the grocery store. The clamp arm automatically locks your phone into place; touch the metal or press the button to release the device when you’re at your destination. $40 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”iOttie Easy One Touch Car Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Stick it to your dashboard or invert the head and mount it to your windshield. It’s your car, do what you want. The telescopic arm extends from around 5-inches out to 8.3-inches and pivots on a 225 degree arc so there’s no reason you can’t have your phone exactly where you want and how you want it. The plug itself has a USB port so you can share your power source with another rider. That’s twice as nice! $50 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”BESTHING Wireless Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

The gravity design makes dropping your phone into place about as easy at it gets. Simply set it down and watch as the arms come in to hug the handset into place. Prefer the air vent over the dashboard placement? No problem! We’re also fans of the large coil that connects to our battery; the smart technology allows for 5W, 7.5W, and 10W speeds. $33 at Amazon.

How to set up a Guest account on your Android phone

Alexandra Arici
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0

Most of us love to show off our new phones in front of our friends or family. But we’re a bit more reluctant when it comes to borrowing our gadgets.

After all, we all have messages, images or video who we don’t want other people to see. Once you hand over your phone to a friend or family member, who knows where their fingers might go!

Fortunately, there is a simple solution you can use to solve this problem. It’s called Guest Mode.

What is Guest Mode?

Guest Mode has been around ever since Android 5.0 and is a handy tool for keeping your personal info hidden when you have to share your device. Using this mode, a guest will be able to access all of the default apps, but won’t be able to see any other data.

Basically, you’ll be handing over a device that looks like it’s been restored to factory settings. And with a few taps, you’ll quickly be able to get your universe back.

How to set up a Guest account on your phone

The steps vary depending on which phone you own. For the purpose of this tutorial, we used a OnePlus 6.

  1. From the home screen, swipe down to unhide the notification panel and expand the menu.
  2. Tap on the subtle icon of a human head (look for it next to the pencil icon and gear icon).
  3. Simply tap on the Guest account option to switch to Guest Mode.
  4. Or you can tap the blue “Add user” button instead. This allows a secondary user to set up their own space on your device. The process is similar to the one when you’re setting up a new device. You’ll be asked to sign in with a Google account, add your fingerprint and such. However, the phone’s owner is allowed to uninstall any apps the secondary user might have installed or even remove the space.
  5. In both cases, switching to the secondary account will take a few seconds.

When your friend or family member is done, you can easily switch to your own account or simply delete the account. Here’s how.

How to switch back to the main account

  1. From the home screen, swipe down to unhide the notification panel and expand the menu.
  2. Tap on the subtle icon of a human head (look for it next to the pencil icon and gear icon).
  3. Tap on your account to switch over.

Had enough of your guest? Delete their account with a few simple steps.

How to delete a Guest/New account

  1. From the home screen, swipe down to unhide the notification panel and expand the menu.
  2. Tap on the subtle icon of a human head (look for it next to the pencil icon and gear icon).
  3. Tap on Settings at the bottom.
  4. Find the Guest account you want to delete.
  5. Tap the Gear Icon next to it.
  6. Tap Remove user.

Here in Settings, there are a few other options you can take a look at. For example, the OnePlus 6 allows you to Add users from the lock screen. Simply toggle the option on if you want to do that.

You also have the option to allow the Guest accounts to make phone calls and send SMS from your device.

Now if you own a Samsung phone, adding a Guest account might be a little bit different.

  1. From the home screen, swipe down to show the notification panel.
  2. Tap on the Gear icon to open Settings.
  3. Scroll down until you find Users & accounts
  4. Tap on Guest to create a new user.

While Guest Mode is a pretty useful thing to have, there’s nothing that could stop a curious friend from accessing your own Account if they wanted to.

Fortunately, some phones like the OnePlus 6 have additional privacy features like Hidden Space. On the Galaxy Note 9, it’s called Secure Folder.

Swipe left from the App drawer and you will have access to a personal space where you can add the apps you want to hide from view.

Yes indeed, not all phones have this option, but if yours does, you might as well take advantage of it. But even if you’re Android doesn’t offer such a tool, there are plenty of apps you can download from the Play Store that let you do just that. A good example is Gallery Vault.

Google Assistant gains new tricks and features ahead of holidays

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Google is adding a host of new features to its AI-powered Google Assistant, making the experience more interactive and smarter than ever. Aimed at improving the experience at home, it makes the Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Hub more compelling gift ideas as the holidays approach.

Family members will now be able to reply to broadcasts, making it more of a two-way conversation, of sorts. Until now, it has been a strictly one-way means of communication — a broadcast. Once rolled out, those who receive a broadcast can send a message back which is transcribed and arrives in the form of a notification.

Cooking a holiday dinner, or any meal for that matter, gets easier with recommended recipes on information cards. These will be populated based on previously searched recipes and will update regularly based on season and time of day. Users who find something interesting can favorite and more easily return to them later.

Alarms become more exciting and informative now with Google Assistant adding content around brands such as LEGO and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These new alarms will include jokes, music, and other signature messages.

Read Along gets a punch-up with sound effects and music being added to select books. Moreover, Google Assistant can read any one of 25 family-friendly titles upon command.

Podcast listeners now have more control over playback with the ability to speed up a show. Simply say something like, “Hey Google, play at twice the speed” and your podcast will do that.

Rounding things out, Google brings routines to the clock app on your Android phones. After dismissing an alarm, for instance, Assistant can begin with a routine such as reading news, providing weather, or turning on pre-set lights. In a related note, Assistant can turn on “do not disturb” mode across all devices with a single command.

Google says these features will roll out slowly to Google Home speakers, smart displays, and Android phones over the coming weeks.

Best wireless chargers for the Samsung Galaxy S8

AndroidGuys
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Even though it’s more than a year old, the Galaxy S8  is still one of our favorite phones in late 2018. There’s a reason for that. Well, actually there are more than a few. Nevertheless, one of them is wireless charging. We’ve come to really appreciate the flexibility and peace of mind that comes with cutting the cord. Are you using it on your phone?

Here are some of the best Samsung Galaxy S8 wireless chargers for home, work, and even on-the-go.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Standard Platter” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

These are the flat types of chargers you’ll find on desks and night stands; they often come in circular and rectangular shapes. Many of these offer variable output speeds so they’ll play nice with your friend’s iPhone, too.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

A trusted name in the tech space for decades now, Belkin still delivers the goods. This charger pumps out up to 10-watts for your Sony and LG phones, and can optimize to 9W for Samsung. The LED indicator let you know how things are going while the rubber ring holds the handset in place. The cable is five feet long so you can plug into the out-of-the-way outlets. Purchase for $45 from Amazon or $60 from Belkin.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charger Pad” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

When it comes to smartphone popularity it’s Samsung’s pie and the rest of the players share pieces of it. If you want official accessories, this is the charger you go with for Samsung devices.

It’s about 1.4x times faster than conventional wireless tech, has a circular strip of rubber to prevent your handset from sliding around, and a bright LED to indicate charging. Offered in Black, Navy, and White to match your favorite phone. $25 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Yootech Wireless Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

When you don’t need anything fancy and don’t want to spend a ton of money, you look for something like this. Compatible with all Qi-enabled phones, it works at 5W, 7.5W, and 10W charging standards. You’ll need to use your charging adapter and cable if you go with the high speed stuff, but you already have the one that came in your phone’s box. Sleep easy knowing that the green light turns off after a few seconds so your room doesn’t glow all night. $15 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Dock Style” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

Prop your phone up at a convenient angle so you can quickly glance at your notifications. Ideal for your kitchen corner or end table in the family room.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Anker PowerWave Fast Wireless Charger Stand” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

As fast as you’ll need, plus some. We like this one for its 6-ft microUSB cable and 18-month warranty. Whether you need 5W, 7.5W, or 10W of juice, this wallet-friendly option brings the power. The twin charging coils make it so you can place your phone in landscape and portrait orientation without fumbling around for connection. Works through phone cases of 5mm, too! $30 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”TYLT VU Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

The VU charger features three coils inside, so feel free to put your handset on the cradle in portrait or landscape mode know it will charge. The LED under the lip of the stand turns green to indicate that it’s charging.

The bright, plastic charger comes in is available in blue, yellow and red, or you can opt for black if you’re in the mood for something traditional. The soft-touch finish and distinctive design give this charger a look that’s really unique and that’s why we’ve added it to this list. $30 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Corus 10W Fast Wireless Charger Stand” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Simple, compact, and a tad bit stylish, this stand doesn’t take up much room on your desk. The dual coils mean it’s as convenient to set your phone upright as it is to flip it on its side for watching Netflix. You’ll have to use your own charging adapter if you want to use the Quick Charge 2.0 or Quick Charge 3.0 technology, but doing so means much less down time. $20 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”On-the-Go Charging” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

For true wireless convenience you want something that goes with you, right? Whether it’s a library, coffee shop, or in an airport terminal, these wireless chargers have built-in batteries that allow for power-ups everywhere.

[vc_custom_heading text=”RAVPower 10400mAh Fast Wireless Charging Pad” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

With a generous 10,400mAh worth of power, this charger can double or triple the time you use your smartphone. And, because time is always of the essence, the power bank offers up to 10W fast charging. Out for dinner with friends or loved ones? Let them plug in through the USB port and get some of that recharge action, too. $50 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”Fonesalesman QiStone+” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Yo dawg, we heard you like wireless charging so we put wireless charging in a wireless charger. Seriously, you can top this portable unit off by placing it on another wireless charger.

The 4,000mAh internal battery ensures your night doesn’t end early because you have to get home. What’s more, it’s portable enough to toss in a bag or backpack so feel free to stay out and keep the party going. While everyone else fights over the car adapter you can sit in the backseat with your own power source. $50 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”mophie Powerstation Wireless External Battery Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

From one of the first names in charging, this portable device delivers 6,040mAh of backup power. In other words, that’s 2-3 times that you don’t have to plug into the wall. Ideal for college students, frequent flying types, and people who simply hate dealing with cables. The four LED lights let you know how much you’ve got left in the tank while the two-year warranty tells you to sleep easy at night. $80 at mophie

[vc_custom_heading text=”Car Solutions” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23191919″ google_fonts=”font_family:Oswald%3A300%2Cregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]

Why waste an opportunity to turn that daily commute into a convenient and flexible way of recharging? These are devices that hold your phone in place and provide a wireless charge.

[vc_custom_heading text=”Vansky 2-in-1 Wireless Car Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Suction this one to your dashboard or snap in the attachment and place it on your air vent for true convenience. With up to 10W of charging you’ll be sure to get the most efficient charge possible, even on short little trips to the grocery store. The clamp arm automatically locks your phone into place; touch the metal or press the button to release the device when you’re at your destination. $40 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”iOttie Easy One Touch Car Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

Stick it to your dashboard or invert the head and mount it to your windshield. It’s your car, do what you want. The telescopic arm extends from around 5-inches out to 8.3-inches and pivots on a 225 degree arc so there’s no reason you can’t have your phone exactly where you want and how you want it. The plug itself has a USB port so you can share your power source with another rider. That’s twice as nice! $50 at Amazon

[vc_custom_heading text=”BESTHING Wireless Charger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]

The gravity design makes dropping your phone into place about as easy at it gets. Simply set it down and watch as the arms come in to hug the handset into place. Prefer the air vent over the dashboard placement? No problem! We’re also fans of the large coil that connects to our battery; the smart technology allows for 5W, 7.5W, and 10W speeds. $33 at Amazon.

T-Mobile adds low-cost REVVL 2, REVVL 2 Plus to phone lineup

AndroidGuys
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T-Mobile has added successors to its REVVL and REVVL Plus smartphones, tapping the duo for release on November 16. Unsurprisingly, they’ll debut as the REVVL 2 and REVVL 2 PLUS.

As carrier-branded versions of the Alcatel 3 and Alcatel 7, the pair of phones give users entry-level hardware with Android 8 Oreo. The two handsets are what first-time smartphone owners might be interested in checking out.

Both phones feature displays with 18:9 aspect ratios, fingerprint sensors, facial recognition, and mirror black finishes. Moreover, each has 32GB of internal storage and support T-Mobile’s Band 66 and Band 71 LTE. Further, the tandem are backed by two-year warranties.

The T-Mobile REVVL 2 is the smaller of the two handsets and comes with a 5.5-inch display and a 13-megapixel rear camera. Around front is an 8-megapixel camera and inside is a 3,000mAh battery to power the phone. A quad-core 1.5GHz processor is complemented by 2GB RAM.

The bigger REVVL 2 Plus packs a 6-inch screen with a dual-camera (12-megapixel and 2-megapixel) configuration on the rear. The front offers up an 8-megapixel shooter but internally we find a 4,000mAh power source. As far as performance goes, this one has a more robust octa-core 2.5GHz processor with 3GB RAM.

REVVL 2

  • Camera: 13MP RFC/8MP FFC
  • Battery: 3,000 mAh
  • Color: Mirror Black
  • OS: Android O
  • Screen: 5.5” HD (1440×720) 18:9 display
  • RAM: 2GB
  • ROM: 32GB and expandable to 128GB
  • Bands: LTE CAT 4, LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 66 & 71
  • Security: Face recognition & fingerprint sensor
  • Water/Dust Resistance: IP52
  • Impact/Shock Resistance: IK02
  • Dimensions: 147.1 x 68.8 x 8.5 mm
  • Chipset: MediaTek MT6739
  • Processor: 1.5 GHz Quad-Core

REVVL 2 Plus

  • Camera: 12MP + 2 MP RFC/8MP FFC
  • Battery: 4,000 mAh
  • Color: Mirror Black
  • OS: Android O
  • Screen: 6.0” FHD + (2160×1080) 18:9 display
  • RAM: 3GB
  • ROM: 32GB and expandable to 128GB
  • Bands: LTE CAT 6, LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 66 & 71
  • Security: Face recognition & fingerprint sensor
  • Water/Dust Resistance: IP52
  • Impact/Shock Resistance: IK02
  • Dimensions: 162 x 74.9 x 8.65 mm
  • Chipset: MediaTek MT6739
  • Processor: 2.5 GHz Octa-Core

Price and Availability

It isn’t immediately clear what the everyday price of each phone will be but both will be offered with discounts when they go on sale November 16. For a limited time customers can get the REVVL 2 for free and REVVL 2 Plus for $84 when adding a line of service.

If you’re in the market for a T-Mobile phone and aren’t sure which one is right for you, be sure to check out our list of best phones.

Lenovo Smart Display review

AndroidGuys
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Google Assistant is awesome. It’s everywhere we go, knows just about everything, and helps us keep track of our lives. We use it in our phone multiple times a day and our homes are starting to fill up with Assistant-powered smart speakers and connected devices.

If you thought talking to Google was really cool, wait until you’ve interacted with it visually. That’s the basic premise of the Lenovo Smart Display, one of the first products of its type to hit the market which is powered by Google Assistant.

Available in 8-inch and 10-inch configurations, the slate is everything your kitchen or home office ever needed. Well, that might be just a slight exaggeration. Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine a future without something like this in every room.

What is the Lenovo Smart Display?

The Lenovo Smart Display runs a different, but increasingly interesting operating system in Android Things. It’s not the full-blown Android experience that you get with a phone or tablet; it doesn’t have any apps or access to the Google Play Store. In essence, it’s a canvas that compliments your lifestyle using anything and everything possible from your Google account.

When not in use, the Smart Display defaults to a digital picture frame or clock. Walk into a room and you’ll see it cycling through a Google Photos album or simply offering up the current time. Prompt it with “Hey Google” or “Okay Google” and it gets down to business.

Think of all of the things you do with Google Assistant today. Whether it’s asking for the weather forecast, a glimpse into your day, or querying Search for some random statistic, you’re tapping into it quite often. If you’re like us, we’re using more with each passing week.

Once you have the ability to literally see what Google knows, it changes the game. Now, instead of hearing how tall a particular building is, you get a picture and a readout of the stats, too.

If you ask for a timer on your phone, you get a countdown that can run in the background. If you ask to watch a video, your phone hands you off to YouTube. Music? Here’s that playlist with album artwork on Google Play Music. How about a recipe? Ask Google how to make a raspberry Danish and your phone pulls up neatly organized results with easy-to-read ingredients and directions.

The Lenovo Smart Display takes all of that stuff you get on your phone and reconfigures it for the kitchen. Or home office. Or bedroom. It works no matter where you put it, and it works in so many facets of our lives.

This isn’t simply taking the same results and actions and expanding them to a larger display. No, Google does an excellent job of taking advantage of a bigger, portrait orientation.

Design

We’ve already talked quite a bit about what the Smart Display can and does do. Let’s back up and discuss how it’s designed as well as how it looks, and sounds.

First, and foremost, it takes up a fair amount of space. It’s not the same as a 10-inch tablet as there’s a speaker grille to the left with a curved, angular back with bamboo finish. It’s a unique design that lets the Smart Display sit in both landscape and portrait orientation.

There are rubber feet on the bottom and left end, meaning it is meant to fit your environment. That’s physically, at least. For not the software does not allow for any portrait stuff just yet.

In a crowded kitchen, on a smaller nightstand, or on a cluttered desk the portrait mode would work best. With that said, if there’s room for it, the landscape looks awesome and it compliments pretty much any decor.

The 10-watt speaker, and two passive tweeters are fairly nice, but it’s not what you want to use for really diving into music or starting a party. It gets loud enough, sure, but it doesn’t have the range you get from other Bluetooth speakers.

We’ve enjoyed playing music, casting YouTube TV, and other audiovisual media if, for no other reason, than to have an extra place to consume content. If you’re using the Smart Display for recipes, timers, alarms, and other daily needs, the sound experience is great. The same goes for taking in a podcast. You can easily fill a room with a respectable sound.

Unlike the Google Home Hub, the Lenovo Smart Display houses a front-facing camera. Don’t be alarmed, though, as you can slide a shutter over it to block it out. This was the sort of peace of mind we hoped for as we moved the device to the bedroom for a few days. Similarly, there is an option to toggle the microphones, too. Rest easy knowing Google isn’t listening to you talking in your sleep.

The two microphones do an excellent job of recognizing voices, particularly those you’ve set up with Google Assistant. As you may already know, it behaves differently when different people use it.

Google replies with specifics when you ask your phone how your day looks or to remind you of upcoming appointments. But, that doesn’t mean your spouse can’t pick up the phone to use it for other, broad purposes. That’s the same situation with the Smart Display.

Setup

Setup is surprisingly easy. If you’ve ever used a Google Home or Google Home Mini, you know what it’s like. In essence, you use the Google Home app and follow a few steps as the device is found and registered on your network.

We’ve moved it from home to the office and found it really simple to set up. The only thing we’d caution is to go into the settings and have the device “forget” the current Wi-Fi network before taking it to another location. Once off the registered network you’ll not be able to communicate between phone and device.

Once you’re up and running, you are able to tap into Google Assistant right away. Ask Google whatever questions you have, direct it to play a video, or look up a recipe. This is where the fun begins.

Usage and Features

Having a display for Google Assistant is pretty damn cool. If you’ve ever asked to broadcast “it’s dinner time”, you know it’s accompanied by a dinner bell. Here, you get visual representations, too. So, when mom tells you to come downstairs to eat, and you’ve got your headphones on, your Smart Display will show fun, attention-getting animations.

When used for recipes, for instance, you get sharp, large text with a standardized format and photos. Tap the button to get going and you’ll get prompts to preheat the oven with a nice large readout of 350 degrees.

We found that we’ve significantly increased our usage of Google Assistant in the time we’ve spent with the Smart Display. Instead of setting reminders on our phone or putting in a cooking timer on the oven we simply said, “Hey Google, set a timer for 15 minutes”. Doing so gives us large clock which counts down until zero when it rings and flashes an image.

While much of what we do with the Smart Display is done via voice, the screen does reply nicely to touch. What’s more, navigation is intuitive hassle-free.

Swipe from the left and you find it acts like a “back” button. If you’re listening to a podcast, you can swipe back to the home screen or ambient screen saver. Swipe up from the bottom and you can adjust volume and brightness.

You won’t find very many screens to go through, which we found to be refreshing. Too much stuff tends to feel like clutter and leads to a confusing experience. It takes all of a few minutes to figure out how things work here and what you’ll see.

The Google Home app gives you control over what you get to see. Let’s say you don’t want to see your personal photos splashed across the screen or show your calendar appointments. That’s all really easy to change and you’re never stuck with any particular settings.

One thing we’d like to see in Google Home is the ability to add merge more than one account. It would be nice to see both our personal and work calendar but that’s not a shortcoming of the device.

Making and receiving calls via Google Duo is pretty interesting, and is probably the most compelling reason for the service yet. We could imagine having these throughout the home or office so it makes sense that contacts can reach us as easily as they would through a phone.

Thinking more broadly, it doesn’t seem a stretch to consider an update which allows room-to-room calls or video chat from one office to another. The more we outfit our homes with smart displays with cameras, the more helpful they become. A mom can ask to see a baby’s room regardless of where she is in the house. A co-worker can go over the TPS report with management without leaving the cubicle.

We love using the Smart Display as a screen for casting our apps. Whether that’s from our phones with YouTube TV in the kitchen, or Google Play Music from a web browser in the living room, it’s a seamless experience.

It might only be 10-inches, and sound really small, but catching up on the news is awesome when putting dishes away. Forget about pausing live TV or recorded shows because you have to hang up laundry. Cast to your Smart Display and make sure you catch that touchdown drive.

Conclusion

The Smart Display might be manufactured by Lenovo but it is Google through and through — and that’s awesome. We use its services for search, Chrome, Gmail, calendar appointments, YouTube, and much, much more. This is a piece of hardware that ties many of those things together, and it does it in a uniform and interesting experience.

We would love to see how this works in portrait mode and hope that an update is not far away. Upright could change things quite a bit and force us to reconsider how and where we use it.

We’ve already increased our Google Assistant use with just one of these devices. A second one, or one in another location such as work, feels like the next move.

Although Google Home and Google Assistant have been around a few years, we’re just starting to kick things into gear. Devices like the Lenovo Smart Display make us giddy with anticipation over where we might be a year or two down the road.

As of the time of publication we were not able to use the Home Hub features or add the Smart Display to a group. Both of these issues will be resolved in an update which should arrive in the coming weeks.

Availability

You can purchase the Lenovo Smart Display in 8-inch and 10-inch options for $179.99 and $249.99, respectively. It’s available at lenovo.com as well as through retailers like Best Buy, Office Depot, and Newegg.

Best SMS alternatives for Android Messages

Andrew Allen
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The Android Messages app from Google is a great resource to stay in touch with all the folks you care about via SMS. However, it may not be for everyone. Maybe you don’t care for the new Material Theme. Or you just want to venture out and try new things. Either way, we’ve put together a short list of SMS apps that might be worth an install.

Pulse

Pulse SMS is one of our favorite apps by the great dev team at Klinker Apps. They’ve been at it for quite some time and you may remember the first attempt at SMS with EvolveSMS. Pulse updates that effort with a Material-inspired UI and some slick features.

There are many offerings with Pulse and we’ll try to hit the high points. You’ll password protected, private conversations for those super secret texts. The app also has full GIF support, inline web previews, custom color schemes, and even delayed sending of messages.

And those are just the free options available to anyone with Pulse. If you want to take it a step further, you can opt into a few paid options to add things like automatic backups and desktop sync. The desktop sync offers a great way, and head to head competitor to Android Messages, to text while on a standard PC or tablet. The paid tiers are $0.99 per month, $1.99 per quarter, or $5.99 per year. If you can spare $10.99 you can just get a lifetime subscription and get it over with.

Check out Pulse free on the Google Play Store.

Textra

Textra is an old favorite. I feel like the SMS app has been around forever now and it’s still a solid offering to handle your texts. Textra big push is customizations. You can tweak the interface and settings to really be a text app specifically configured for you.

Notable mentions of these custom options are over 180 theme combinations, GIFs, and 21 different text sizes. Almost every detail can be altered to your taste. Want a specific bubble color for each contact? Check. Want that same contact to have their own notification sound or vibrate? That’s there as well.

While Textra doesn’t have a desktop solution, it has made sure it’s compatible with services that cover this space like Pushbullet and MightyText. This is a nice touch to make sure the bigger screens are covered for texting without the need of your phone even though Textra doesn’t offer it in-house.

Textra is free via the Play Store with ads or a one-time in-app $2.99 purchase to remove them.

Handcent

Handcent might be one of the first apps that can claim to be an alternative to the defaults on Android. The app launched way back in 2010 and has literally been adding features ever since. As you’d expect, it’s a lot of additions. Its chocked full of customizations much like the other on this list.

Chat bubble colors, LED color, vibration pattern, and ringtones can all be changed via the settings of Handcent. It also has group chats and an encrypted private mode outside of normal texts. Wrap all this in a Material design and you have a solid SMS option.

Handcent takes that same framework to your other devices as well via Handcent Anywhere. This allows you to continue your conversations via PC, Mac, or tablets. This is handled through a web app aw.handcent.com via your favorite browser.

Handcent can be had for free via the Google Play Store with pro options being added by in-app purchases.

Signal

Ever wonder who’s really “listening” and want to add some privacy to all your text messages? Well, Signal offers just that. The SMS newcomer is security focused on end-to-end encryption.

This can include your SMS as well as newer chatting over IP like Whatsapp and Hangouts. The app also allows for groups chats and uses your existing number at login instead of PIN sign-in. Phones calls are present as well when you need them.

What about the desktop? While tablets are not currently supported, Signal does offer web-based and native desktop solutions for pretty much any operating system. PC, Mac, Chrome OS, and Linux are all available.

Signal is free via the Google Play Store.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook is not one we always think of for texting. The company’s Messenger app has a pretty loyal following for IP-based chats, but it can also do standard SMS. Facebook added this optional feature a few years back and many find it the all-in-one solution for all their messaging needs wrapped in a single app.

While the company doesn’t offer SMS for desktop, you can use the webchat options as well as the other bells and whistles from internet messaging. You get video calls, emojis/stickers, group chats, and even mobile-to-mobile payments.

Facebook Messenger is free via the Play Store.

Mood Messenger

Mood Messenger is another great looking SMS app to add to this list. The design of the app seems clean, but the real draw is customization. Much like the others, Mood Messenger wants to allow the user a multitude of options to tweak the interface.

With these options, you’ll find chat bubbles, individual ringtones and lights, custom fonts, and over 100 themes. Another nice addition is type indicators that let you know when your contacts are working on a response. Mood also allows for private messaging with full encrypt and the ability to hide the entire chat behind a password key.

Mood Messenger is free to download from Google Play Store.

Chomp SMS

Lastly, we have Chomp SMS. If you can’t tell, there’s a trend with all these apps…user freedom. Chomp prides itself on not being boring and letting you change almost everything about their experience while sending messages. While it includes all the “standard” stuff of most alternatives, it does offer a few that stand out.

You can schedule texts to contacts and Chomp can even pull information from your calendar to wish someone a happy birthday. Another nice addition is being able to pin contacts to the top of your conversation list. It also doesn’t have a desktop solution, but does play nice with 3rd party apps like Pushbullet to fill this gap.

Chomp is available from the Play Store.

 

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