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Is this the Pixel 3 Lite?

Alexandra Arici
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The Pixel smartphone line-up rose from the ashes of the popular Nexus family. But compared to its predecessors, the Pixels have always sported a high-end price tag.

Well, this might change in 2019. Russian tech publication, Rozetked who also leaked the Pixel 3 XL in full back in August, has now revealed a batch of images which allegedly show the real-life Pixel 3 Lite.

The blog claims that this is the device codenamed “Sargo” which we heard about this summer when references to it where discovered in a few code lines in Google’s ARCore software.

Possible specs for the Pixel 3 Lite

According to @Radness, the phone will supposedly arrive with a 5.56-inch LCD display with 2220 x 1080 resolution and will be powered by a mid-range Snapdragon 670 processor backed-up by 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. To quickly compare, the Pixel 3 features a 5.5-inch OLED display with 1080 x 2160 resolution and ships out with an powerful Snapdragon 845 under the hood.

The Pixel 3 Lite is also expected to feature a plastic back, which is not very surprising given that this is a budget device.

Other specs include a 2,195 mAh battery and interestingly enough the same 8MP and 12P front and rear cameras the current Pixel 3 is using.

But the best part is this: the affordable Pixel 3 will have a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is probably very good news for a lot of people.  If the leak is to be believed the phone will go on sale with a price tag between $400 and $500 sometimes in early 2019.

While Rozetked did indeed reveal the Pixel 3 XL two months before the phone went official, we should still take this leak with a grain of salt. If you look carefully, you can spot a C instead of a G on the back of the phone, which seems a bit fishy.

On top of that, remember how Google’s own Rick Osterloh firmly shut down rumors of a cheaper Pixel back in 2017 by saying that the “Pixel stays premium.” But even so, Google might have had a change of heart since then.

Would you be interested in a Pixel 3 Lite?

10 essential apps for Android to help you celebrate Thanksgiving

Alexandra Arici
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Ah, the holiday season is on our doorstep. With a few weeks to go until Thanksgiving, you should consider starting your prep ahead of time to ensure a stress-free celebration.

And to help you prepare and organize the festivities here are ten helpful Android apps you might want to download on your Android phone ASAP.

Ninja Turkey Thanksgiving

But first let’s start off with something lighter. Get in the mood to celebrate Thanksgiving with this fun and addictive game. You get to play as Ninja Turkey, the courageous bird who tries to escape being turned into a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

The game offers 30 challenging levels to play and includes dozens of missions to complete. Get into the fun and help Ninja Turkey face the dangers of Thanksgiving Day.

BigOven

Once the time for fun and games has passed, it’s time to get serious and start thinking about your Thanksgiving dinner. What dishes will you prepare? Should you try something new this year?

BigOven is here to help you answer these questions. Browse through the app’s 350,000 recipe database, set up grocery lists and plan your menu – all from your Android phone. Find the most delicious Thanksgiving recipes simply by using a search bar or by accessing the seasonal collections on your home screen.

What’s more, Big Oven also acts as a social network by allowing you to see what friends, family, and favorite bloggers are making.

Read more: Ring shares Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on its smart home products

Trello

Want to make sure you don’t forget anything this Thanksgiving? Download and install Trello to keep all your chores in-check. The app lets you create boards to organize everything you’re working on from cleaning the house to preparing the Thanksgiving meal.

Each main task you add contains three sub-boards which house the activities in your To Do list, those you’re currently handling (Doing), as well as the Completed ones. With a clean, modern-looking interface, Trello makes organizing your daily activities a breeze.

SnipSnap

Throwing an awesome Thanksgiving dinner can get pretty pricey. But coupon app, SnipSnap will help you find the best deals this holiday season. Even more, the application will even notify shoppers if they are in a store where a coupon is applicable. To use it, customers will only have to show their phone to the cashier. Easy breezy!

Hello Vino

Not sure which type of wine would go with the dishes your cooking this Thanksgiving? Then you might want to try out this app which is basically your personal wine assistant. Easily find wines to go with a certain type of meal/food or for a specific occasion with Hello Vino.

And as you go about the business of selecting your preferred wines, the app which uses artificial intelligence will learn your preferences and deliver personalized recommendations based on your activity.

Momondo

Spending Thanksgiving far away from home this year? Momondo helps you find, compare and book flights at the cheapest rates. The Price Calendar tool helps you find the best deals in your budgets by showcasing the average prices on different dates in an interactive calendar.

If you haven’t booked a ticket yet, it’s not too late. Just download the Momondo app from the Google Play Store.

Amazon

Want to make Thanksgiving your favorite holiday? Find out more about the origin of Thanksgiving and the traditions associated with it by doing a little bit of reading. You can get your reading material from Amazon, which features a large library of books, in digital as well as traditional format.

Suggested read: The Thanksgiving Ceremony – New Traditions for America’s Family Feast

Thanksgiving Greeting Cards

As the name suggests, this app lets you send fun and colorful Thanksgiving greeting cards to friends, family, and acquaintances. Easily share your cards with friends on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and more.

Autumn Wallpapers HD 2017

Get yourself in the mood for Thanksgiving by setting seasonal wallpapers on your Android phone. Bring the autumn feeling to your device by installing the Autumn Wallpapers HD 2017 app which houses a pretty extensive collection of beautifully shot autumnal images.

Black Friday 2017

You can take advantage of the free days to get ready for Black Friday which comes immediately after Thanksgiving with this app. Black Friday 2017 brings you the best deals on electronics and tech accessories from top retailers like Walmart, Best Buy or Target at your fingertips. Search deals by store or category and get notifications on the latest news and sale events.

Check out these great products from Relay Go, Jabra, Creative Labs, Ecoflow, and Funcl

AndroidGuys
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Whether it’s a gift for a friend or a treat to yourself, November is a wonderful time to purchase tech gadgets. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and a six-week season of shopping make it hard to not spend money.

Before you go off blindly buying something you’ve never heard of just because it’s on sale, do a little homework. Ask around, check reviews, and turn to others for help. That’s where we come in; this is our platform for sharing our opinions on tech and other items worth buying.

Relay Go

Keeping track of your kids is always a bit of struggle. You want to give them the freedom to let them play, but you want to make sure they’re safe. There are options out there like getting a kid’s smartwatch that can track them or giving them an old phone, but most options come with some pretty serious downsides.

That’s where the Relay Go comes into play. Relay Go is best described as a cute walkie-talkie that runs on a mobile network so you can use it pretty much anywhere. The small, puck-like devices have a large button in the middle surrounded by a speaker grill. Pressing the button broadcasts your voice to all of the other devices in your network. We’ve been using two devices so my daughter and I can talk back and forth. But, you can also use the mobile app if you’d like, too. The app also allows you to track where the Relay Go is on a map, which makes locating your kid pretty easy.

I’m pretty impressed at how durable the Relay Go is. It’s made out of a hard plastic-like material that stands up to some abuse. Both our units have been dropped multiple times, including on concrete, and have no noticeable scratches.

The devices connect to both cellular networks and WiFi networks seamlessly so you’ll never have to mess with connection settings. This is truly a setup and go solution. We love how easy it is to get going and communicate with your child. You can grab the Relay Go from the company’s website.

Jabra Elite 65T Active

Jabra is one of the most respected names in audio devices because it simply makes fantastic products for a decent price. We’ve previously taken a look at the Elite 65T, Halo, Eclipse, and more.

Now, the company is back with a new offering, the Elite 65T Active. As you may gather, the truly wireless earbuds are a lot like the Elite 65T, but are more focused on those who want to go hard at the gym.

With a snug fit and an IP56 rating, these are the perfect gym earbuds. You have the ability to completely block out the world or use Jabra’s passthrough technology which allows some of the sound from the outside world through the earbuds. I’ve found the feature really useful when I’m listening to music and someone needs my attention. Now I don’t have to bother with taking my earbuds out and putting them back in when I’m done.

Battery life is another stand out here. The Elite 65T Active are rated for five hours of usage with an extra two charges in the carrying case. The case also features rapid charging with gives you up to 1.5 hours of usage in 15 minutes of charging. I’ve found that I get more like 6 to 6.5 hours of usage at lower volumes, which is class-leading.

If you’d like to pick up the Jabra Elite 65T Active, you can find them at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart (refurbished).

Creative Stage Air

Creative, like Jabra, is a gigantic name in audio. The company is known for its high-quality speakers, DACs, amps and more. Now its hitting the market with a brand new type of speaker, a super budget sound bar.

Sound bars have been gaining popularity in the last few years. No longer do you have to mess with a million long cables and a receiver to get excellent sound from your TV. The Creative Stage Air looks to dominate the budget end of that market.

The Stage Air is small. At only about a foot long and around a pound in weight, it’s super portable. Why would you want a portable soundbar? Well, it has Bluetooth too so you can use it as a portable Bluetooth speaker or connect it to your television through the Aux port. It also has a USB port so you can play MP3s directly from the soundbar from a flash drive. Pretty nifty.

SEE ALSO

So, how does it sound? Well, you’re not getting going to get amazing audio here, but we do think it punches above its weight. At only $40, this thing is super cheap but provides a decent audio experience.

You’re not going to get deep rumbling bass or a huge sound stage, but you shouldn’t expect that from a $40 soundbar either. We think this is perfect for something like a child’s room, your dorm room, or adding some extra umph to your computer audio setup. You can get the Creative Stage Air at Creative’s website and Amazon.

Ecoflow River Rapid

Battery life in phones still sucks – that’s all there is to it. Sure, there are some standout phones out there that can last all day with heavy use, but most phones just can’t. Between power-hungry processors, high-resolution displays, and demanding games, batteries just can’t keep up.

So, we’re forced to lug around huge heavy batteries or go scurrying for a power outlet any time we can. Or, you can just grab an Ecoflow River Rapid and avoid all that nonsense.

The River Rapid is a super tiny battery that packs in 5,000 mAh. That’s enough juice to charge up almost any phone with a little more left over to top off. There are batteries with more capacity, but none that match the Rapid’s size. It’s just over three inches long, and a hair over an inch long and deep. It’s super small compared to other batteries out there.

And there’s a pretty good reason why Rapid is in its name. It offers two ports- one USB C 18W Power Delivery port and one 18W Quick Charge 3.0 port. This thing will charge up your phone in a snap. It also recharges quickly, supporting up to 12W input as well.

This is my new favorite battery and I take it everywhere when I’m running low on battery life. You can grab one for yourself from Ecoflow’s website.

Funcl W1 Wireless Earbuds

Recently launched on Indiegogo, the Funcl W1 are quality earbuds with an affordable price tag — just $19.

The earbuds pair via Bluetooth 5.0, and feature 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. Learn more at Indiegogo and purchase yours for $19.

Enable Google Assistant on most Chromebooks

Andrew Allen
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Google Assistant is a huge part of the company’s current portfolio of services. So are Chromebooks. However, for now, the Pixelbook is the only Chromebook with access to Assistant on Chrome OS. Fortunately, the latest Google Canary builds show that a fix for other Chromebooks is around the corner.

What’s it do?

This tweak will allow for older Chromebooks other than the Google Pixelbook to have access to Google Assistant. We do offer a word of advice on the following instructions to always take in account that this requires two things we do not recommend for average users: manual enabling Chrome flags and updating to the Chrome Canary testing channel.

How to turn it on?

Again this is two-fold and we’ll start with changing your Chromebook to the Canary channel.

  • Hit the key combination of CTRL+ALT+T to enter the built-in command line for Chrome OS.
  • Type this command without the quotations: “live_in_a_coal_mine”.
  • Hit “y” for yes when prompted.
  • Once the command completes, open the Settings app.
  • Click hamburger menu in the top left and select “About Chrome OS”.
  • Click “Check for Updates”.
  • Chromebook will then update and ask you to restart.

Welcome to the dark side of Chrome OS and you should now be running the Canary builds.

Part Deuce

Now we are ready for the second step of this tutorial of enabling the Assistant flag in Chrome’s hidden menu.

  • Paste this URL into the browser address bar: chrome://flags/#enable-native-google-assistant
  • Change the setting to “Enabled”.
  • Restart your Chromebook.

You should now have Google Assistant on your Chromebook. Again, we don’t condone some of the steps here for a stable Chrome OS experience. We honestly don’t even know what’s powering this version of Assistant. The Pixelbook is running a modified version of the Android app, but enablement via the flags page suggests this option may be a web variant.

Verizon’s latest is the rugged Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2

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Verizon Wireless this week announced the availability of the Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2, a ruggedized smartphone aimed at construction and public safety workers.

Priced $444, or $18.50 per month for 24 months, the phone is housed in a hard rubber exterior and meets the mil-spec 810G rating. In other words, it can withstand drops, shock, vibration, radiation, extreme temperatures, sleet, rain, and high elevations.

Additionally, the DuraForce Pro 2 has an IP68 rating for protection against water; it can withstand submersion in up to five feet of water for up to 30 minutes. According to Kyocera, the phone can be used around harmful vapors without worry of sparking a fire.

SEE ALSO

Running Android 8.0 Oreo, the phone features a 5-inch HD (1920 x 1080) display protected by scratch-proof Sapphire Shield. Internally we find the DuraForce Pro 2 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage. A microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 512GB worth of added space.

The rear has a 13-megapixel camera with wide 135-degree field of view, underwater mode, slow motion, and other options. Around front is a 5-megapixel sensor as well as powerful speakers that produce up to 106dB of sounds.

The DuraForce Pro 2 has four noise-cancelling mics to ensure that push-to-talk (PTT) calls, music, speakerphone, and other audio is well received. Rounding out the hardware is a programmable key for launching select apps as well as a 3,240mAh battery with fast and wireless charging capability. The fingerprint reader is located in the power button on the side of the phone.

The Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 is only available online at Verizon’s website.

Turn older heaters or AC units into a smart home product with Sensibo Sky

Matt Adams
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The trend toward smart home products is a welcome one in my book. Here at AndroidGuys, we’ve reviewed a ton of products that make things a little easier, like Hunter fans, Deebot robot vacuums, and Nest x Yale smart locks. These products are all designed to be smart right out of the box.

But, if you’re not in the market for something new and just want to make your legacy products smart, there aren’t a ton of options. I had been on the lookout for a new AC system for my ductless master bedroom but man, those prices are staggering.

Then, I came across Sensibo Sky. After a quick chat with Sensibo’s team, I was able to secure a review unit to test out and I’ve been pleasantly surprised ever since.

First off, let’s talk a little bit more about Sensibo Sky actually is and what it’s supposed to do.

The Sky is a little box that picks up on infrared signals. This allows it to simulate those signals and control your AC or heating unit. We have a window AC unit in our bedroom that I tested it on and if you’d like to find out if your system works, you can check out the supported devices list here.

Sensibo also has a first-class app to make your life even easier. It comes in Android, iOS and web flavors and works cross-platform. It makes setting up your Sensibo Sky incredibly easy– I was up and going in less than five minutes.

The app allows you to control your heat or AC system right from your phone. You can set up geofencing areas so your unit kicks on as soon as you enter the area, schedules, and temperature alerts so if the temp drops or rises above a certain limit, it knows to kick on. All in all, the app is fantastic and one of the best parts of this experience.

But, just because there’s an app doesn’t mean you can’t keep using your remote if you’d like. We continued to use the remote at night so we didn’t have to stare at a bright phone screen or talk to Google Assistant at three in the morning when we wanted the air to kick back on.

Google Assistant, Alexa and IFTTT are all supported out of the box. I am in the habit of talking to Assistant to adjust our Nest thermostat anyway so this was pretty easy for me to pick up. If you’re new to this or have something else, Sensibo has you covered. The open API the company uses allows integration for other platforms like SmartThings. This allows users a ton of flexibility, no matter what platform they’re currently tied to.

Going back to the Sky itself, I am impressed by the device. It doesn’t have the most amazing build quality in the world, but it doesn’t need it. This is a set it and forget it device. The hard plastic is more than enough to get the job done. If you’re moving, take care of the Sky, but in everyday use, it’s completely fine. Although, I do wish I had the white version since all of my walls are white.

And why does that matter? Because you can mount the Sensibo Sky just about anywhere. On the back of the unit you’ll find some adhesive tape you can strip away to mount on the wall. There’s also a hook mount that allows it to set on a hook or nail coming out of your wall.

It receives power through the micro USB port at the bottom of the device. Normally I’d give a company crap for not using USB type C this long after its introduction, but it’s really not needed here. We all have micro USB cables laying around and Sensibo even includes on in the box. And, I really love that it takes cables like this instead of tying up a wall outlet with a big brick. I have a USB power strip next to my bed and can easily just plug right into that. It’s super convenient.

If there’s a negative here, it might be its price. The unit retails for $149 which isn’t a king’s ransom, but I feel is a little high. If you’re able to get it closer to that $100 mark, I feel it’s an instant buy. Luckily for you, Sensibo is running a Black Friday deal where you can pick it up for just $89. You can grab it from Sensibo’s website or Amazon.

Withings intros water-resistant Pulse HR with 20-day battery

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Withings is back. Fresh off of getting out from under the Nokia umbrella, the digital health company is getting back to basics. This week sees the brand adding the Pulse HR to its roster.

A successor to its first-ever tracker, the Withings Pulse, the Pulse HR features a heart rate monitor, connected GPS capabilities, and a 20-day battery.

In an age of smartwatches and wearables with large faces, the Pulse HR is a traditional fitness tracker. It’s a modern take on your early-gen activity trackers and features a black polycarbonate surface with stainless steel casing. The black silicon wristband can be exchange for a different color to complement style and personal preference.

SEE ALSO

As far as features go, the Pulse HR offers time, date, heart rate, calories, progress towards goals, workout info, and phone notifications. There are more than 30 activities that can be tracked, including boxing, yoga and everything in between; more than 10 of them are automatically tracked.

Water resistant up to 50 meters, the wearable houses a connected GPS so you can pair to a phone and track pace, distance, and elevation. This is perfect for runs and bike rides, especially those that take place in the midst of a downpour.

In terms of phone notifications, the Pulse HR will alert wearers to calls, texts, emails, events, and an array of other apps. Paired via Bluetooth through the Health Mate app, the data can be connected to Google Fit, Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and others.

The Pulse HR is available for pre-order now with shipments expected to start in early December. Pre-order yours for $129.95 on Amazon. Additional wristbands are slated to arrive in January.

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

AndroidGuys
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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?

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