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Blu Pure View review

AndroidGuys
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Whereas the spring and early summer is when most phone companies introduce their flagship devices, others tend to deliver products along the rest of the spectrum. For every killer handset launched there are likely a dozen models in the entry level and mid-range.

Such it the case with the Pure View, Blu’s newest phone. With a standard retail price expected to be $199.99, it competes with the likes of the Moto G5 Plus and some of Nokia’s latest.

EDITOR NOTE: At launch the Blu Pure View comes with a steep $70 discount, putting it at just $129.99 for the phone.

Although it’s not exactly a successor to any other products, it definitely fits in Blu’s scheme of things. Similar to its other brethren of 2018, it’s an unlocked handset which works with either AT&T or T-Mobile’s networks as well as any of their respective MVNO brands.

For those of you living outside of the US, the globally unlocked device works with Orange, Vodafone, and other service providers. It is a dual-SIM phone meaning you can pull service from two carriers at once. Those who travel will also appreciate the peace of mind in allowing for a temporary SIM card.

First Impressions

Let’s get to it. What’s missing or wrong with the Pure View? Surely you can’t have a killer experience for just $200, right? Well, at first glance it’s not unlike the other Blu phones from the last few months. Does that mean it cuts corners? Yes. Does that mean it’s a good value for its money? Yep.

Getting into the box we find headphones, a microUSB charger, a silicon protective case, and a sticker. A screen protector is already installed so you don’t have to mess with bubbles or off-centered placement.

The headphones tell us we’ve got a 3.5mm headphone jack, a good sign. The microUSB charger signals Blu’s sticking with the older plug standard. Ehh. We’ve griped about this on other models from Blu and don’t like it in our flagships. It’s passable here if only because of the price point.

The phone feels solid, albeit a little on the heavier side of things. The metal housing and 5.7-inch design lead us to view it “dense”. Speaking of which, the very moment you touch the rear of the phone you are adding fingerprints and smudges. Yikes. The review unit we have is black and it really looks terrible in the wrong (or right) lighting.

The silicon protective case is nice in that it keeps you from scratching and scuffing the phone. It likely won’t withstand a drop any better than going without, but we appreciate the gesture.

Hardware

In terms of layout, it’s pretty much like any other model you’ve seen from the last year or so. The volume rocker and power button are on the right side of the display; there’s no knurling present on the power but they are spaced out well enough that you’re not accidentally powering off instead of turning volume down.

See Also: Blu Vivo XL3 review

The microUSB port, single speaker, and 3.5mm headphone jack are on the bottom of the phone while the SIM card slots/microSD card slot are at the very top. A slight departure from other Blu models, but nothing crazy like moving the charger to the top.

The dual-camera setup is off to the left of the earpiece while an indicator light blinks to the right of it. Around back you’ll locate the camera with the fingerprint sensor just below. It’s in a nice position and stands out, but we recommend feeling for it from the bottom up. In other words, start by swiping your finger lower and moving upwards. At least until you get the feel for it, otherwise you’ll put smears on the camera lens.

The phone feels like a nice blend of “premium” and “affordability”. It’s nothing overly sexy or sleek, but we’ve felt much more generic builds. In an era where a lot of companies are delivering unique colors, the black is a little uninspiring.

Key Specifications

  • Android v7.0 Nougat
  • Mediatek 6753 | 1.3GHz Quad Core Processor with Mali-T720
  • 32GB Internal Storage with microSD (up to 64GB)
  • 3GB RAM Memory
  • 5.7-inch 720 x 1,440 pixel display
  • 13-megapixel rear camera
  • Dual 8-megapixel front-facing cameras
  • 3,000mAh battery
  • Network:
    • 3G: 850/900/1700/1900/2100
    • 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/7/12/17/28

Build & Design

The Pure View comes with a 5.7-inch display which is pretty much what you’ll get in most mid-range phones of the day. With the 18:9 aspect ratio it feels slender and comfortable in hand. The resolution is just 720 x 1,449 pixels which counts as HD, but it’s lower than what most companies are doing at around the same price.

We don’t take much issue the resolution at this price point. Fortunately for us, screen resolution is an area where it’s hard for the average person to discern the differences in casual usage.

Reading text is fine for the most part, and images and video play as well as we’d like. Keeping in mind that a lot of content is streamed at lower resolutions by default, we’re content with it. Remember that many carriers will adjust video streams to “DVD quality” or 480 pixels. In other words that’s lower than what the screen offers.

Lower resolution displays keep the cost down, but also help to extend battery life. Do note that if you plan to use your phone in a VR headset, you will see the difference. At that distance and magnification you would certainly notice all the little dots – or lack thereof.

Camera

The Pure View offers up a 13-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture. On paper it should allow for a decent amount of light in and take  When it comes to indoor and low lighting conditions we found the phone really struggled. Taking pictures in dark rooms and using the flash produced a shocking amount of white and simply too much light.

To be fair, we didn’t set out thinking the phone was going to handle very well in those conditions. It doesn’t take long to figure out what a camera’s limitations are and what you can (and can’t) get from it. Having spent plenty of time with other Blu phones, we have a pretty good idea where things will end up with the Pure View.

You’ll get the best results when you don’t rely on HDR or can when you can hold the phone very still. Still life, like food or scenery, come across nicely, especially if you tweak them through a filter.

Blu Pure View

Around front we have two cameras in the form of a pair of 8-megapixel shooters. One of them grabs wide angle images at 120 degrees so it’s perfect for group selfies or when you want to grab the background in your group shots.

There’s not a lot going on with the camera app itself and really leaves us wanting more. We dig minimalism and not being spoon-fed instructions, but this was rough.

You’ll get what you assume is six shooting modes for the rear with four modes for front-facing shots. With only icons to signal what they are, you get QR reader, HDR, panoramic, night, beauty, and automatic for the rear. Or, you can tap the arrow on the left side of the screen and nine filters. Here’s where you get sepia tone, negative, posterize, and other, similar settings. Why “filtered” wasn’t included among the modes is beyond us.

As expected, HDR pictures take longer to snap and process. We like to shoot as much as possible in HDR so it was hard for us to keep that off. Automatic modes delivers lower overall quality, including color accuracy and vibrancy.

For whatever reason, we found the camera struggled with adding white and brightness to images where it didn’t exist. Many of the pic we took ended up with more washed out and weird treatment of white. Using the flash really dials it up; it’s very stark and harsh when used in low light settings.

Given the cost of the Pure View, we were okay with the end results. Nothing we had popped out to where we were excited to share, but it’s decent enough for social media and quick sharing.

Much of what we do with our photos tends to live in the cloud or are viewed from mobile devices; tweak your pictures in an app, upload to social media, and that’s about it. If that sounds like you, the Pure View works respectably.

Software

One of things we’ve come to like from Blu is that its phones are pretty much untouched builds of Android. That’s the same here with the Pure View as it’s almost strictly Google apps with a small mix of apps sprinkled in. Other than that, and throughout the experience, it’s about the same look and feel that you get straight from Google.

In a departure from other Blu models, the first time you start up the Pure View you are greeted with a custom app interface. It’s here where you’ll have the so-called opportunity to install apps and games before going about the final setup.

It’s a small curated selection with decent titles (Snapchat, Netflix, Uber, Waze, Feedly, etc.) and you’re not forced to pick anything. We’re betting that one or two of the apps offered help to keep the cost down on the phone. Nevertheless, expect to see it upon the first few screens.

As for pre-loaded software, our review unit had Amazon, Prime Video, Sound Recorder, and Opera mixed with the full suite of Google apps and services. Google titles include Drive, Duo, Calendar, Gmail, Messages, Maps, Photos, YouTube, Play Music, Play Movies & TV, and the Play Store.

The View Plus runs Android 7.0 Nougat, which is technically two full versions behind what’s available today, if you count P beta. Most models released now run 8.0 Oreo out of the box, be it standard, Android One, or Android Go. It would have been nice to have here.

How much does that matter to the target demographic? Probably not as much as it does to fanboys, enthusiasts, and Android loyalists. Average users likely don’t know Android releases from one iteration to the next.

One feeling we often echo for low-cost devices, or those from Blu, is that you might want to consider the device “as is” when it comes to software. More specifically, you ought not look for Android updates. We’re left wondering why they went with 7.0 especially this late in the game and considering they’ve had 8.0 on other devices.

With that said, Android 7.0 still means much of the latest in protection from Google; the design principles and UI is largely on par with everything else. Sure, the stuff in 8.0 is more finely tuned and a little more customizable, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Moreover, it’s newer than what a lot of current Android users have today.

For what it’s worth, we noticed that this had the Android security patch dated from March 5, 2018. As long as security, malware, and other threats are dealt with in a timely or orderly fashion it shouldn’t prove to be much of an issue.

Performance

We’ve only had the review unit in our possession for about one week. With that said, we have not had the chance to truly put the phone through its paces. Specifically, we didn’t set this up as a daily driver or install the full set of apps and accounts that normally touch our phones.

We did install a handful of games and a couple of must-have apps that we like to keep close at hand. With about 8GB of the 32GB accounted for out of the box, you’ve got around 24GB of internal space to work with. Don’t forget the microSD card for media like photos and music as well as other apps

We’re generally used to having phones with 4GB of memory and higher end processors. How does that equate so far with the Pure View? It certainly gets the job done, particularly if your demands are minimal.

Hopping to and from emails, messaging, and various social media is no problem for this phone. Watching videos, casual gaming, browsing through Chrome, and doing the “everyday” was as expected.

Given the specifications, and our experiences with other Blu devices with similar hardware, we don’t see any issue for the target demographic. If you’re a heavy user, you won’t even look in this direction. If you’re new to smartphones, or are replacing something that’s a few years old, this is a great solution.

Conclusion

As we see with pretty much everything Blu does, the Pure View balances affordability and performance. It comes with an attractive price tag, has the hot new aspect ratio, and a decent set of hardware.

On the other hand, there are a few questionable choices. Why no USB Type C or Android 8.0? What’s with that setup screen that asks us to install apps right out of the gate? Why no other color besides black? Small stuff on their own, yes, but they do add up.

We’ve got no problem recommending the Pure View, especially in its early days where it’s discounted by $70. We don’t know how long that price will last, but it is expected to go up to $199.99. Obviously we like it much better at $129.99; perhaps $169.99 might be a better long-term sticker.

If you’re in the market for an unlocked phone, or have a tighter budget to work with, consider the Blu Pure View. Moreover, if you’re looking to pick up something for a young teen on AT&T, T-Mobile, or their prepaid networks, this is a decent starting place.

Saturday Savings: Tech and Gear on sale this weekend

Andrew Myrick
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Every week, we see a slew of new discounts and sales and various tech and gear. This week is no different and we have quite a few options.

On the tech-side of things, there are some deals on Motorola handsets and fitness trackers. When it comes to accessories, you can save on headphones, a smart scale, and more.

Save on new Tech

Moto G6 – $249.99 $234.99

The Moto G6 has been available for a few weeks now. The handset marks yet another great iteration of the “G” lineup from Motorola in the mid-range market.

The device sports a 5.7-inch FHD display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. We also have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, along with a 3,000mAh battery.

Normally, the Moto G6 is priced at just $249.99, but you can save a few bucks. For a limited time, you can hit the button below and get it for $234.99.

Buy the Motorola Moto G6

Save on Accessories

Eufy BodySense Smart Scale – $39.99 $28.99 w/code EUFYS789

We’re now in the summer, which means beaches, warm weather, and a lot of fun. This also means that folks are going to be hitting the gym to help get thoes “beach bods”.

There are a bunch of new fitness-based accessories that have been hitting the market. This includes smart scales, including the Eufy BodySense Smart Scale.

The BodySense Smart Scale is currently on sale for just $28.99, down from its retail price of $39.99. However, you’ll need to use coupon code EUFYS789 at checkout.

Buy the Eufy BodySense Smart Scale!

 

Weekend Recommender: Plantronics, MyQ, Silk, and more

AndroidGuys
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With but a few weeks to go until it’s officially summer things are definitely starting to heat up. We’re finding ourselves outside, grilling, attending graduation parties, and hanging by the pool on a regular basis.

As we tend to do around here, we’ve gathered up some items we’d like to share with you. These items include products, apps, and other stuff that the staff has curated which we feel merit your attention. Some make things easier on us but others are for fun. Take a look through this short list and you might find your next favorite thing!

Don’t Miss: How to improve call quality on your Android

Father’s Day is coming up soon so don’t put off buying him something until it’s too late!

Plantronics BackBeat FIT

When you’re out there busting your ass off to prepare for a half-marathon, the last thing you want to worry about is getting back to charge your headphones. No, you want something that will last as long as you do, even if that means going eight hours.

That’s exactly what these headphones are made for – the active type who needs more than just something for music. They’re built to handle water (IP57 rated) without worry, and the nano-coating on top will withstand sweat, too.

Designed to be worn around the back of the head, these comfortably slide over the ear where they fit secure and snug. The open eartip lets you get into your music and workout but still allows for monitoring ambient sounds from the environment.

Each pair of Plantronics BackBeat FIT comes with unlimited access to 12 PEAR Personal Coach App workouts and a 6-month membership to PEAR+, which means interactive audio coaching from popular trainers and athletes. Grab a pair from Plantronics for $160.

Silk Wallet Slayer Phone Cases

Are you a member of the dying breed of people who still carries around cash? You might like to check out the case selection from Silk, makers of “Smartish Products”.

We were sent the Q Card case for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, but the company also makes designs for other models, including iPhone. Snug, and tightly stitched together, these cases are a mix of fashion and function.

With room for cash or up to three credit cards, the back pocket lets you keep the wallet or purse home for the night. The texture on the edges make it easy to grab your phone in a pinch but also prevents slipping when using with one hand. Oh, and you can use any credit card as a kickstand; turn the phone on its side and snap the card in!

Should you drop your phone with one of these cases on you can breath easier knowing there’s some hidden stuff at work. Indeed, there are corner pockets of air designed to help cushion a blow. Purchase yours for around $25 from Silk.

MyQ Smart Garage Hub

In the off chance you haven’t heard yet, we’ll let you know: connected and smart homes are awesome. On the down side, it can be pretty expensive to outfit an entire house with new bulbs or Wi-Fi devices.

Start simple. Start with somewhere you find yourself nearly every day. The Smart Garage Hub is an excellent device for people looking to smarten up their house.

Setup couldn’t be any easier; one piece goes on the garage door and the other goes next to the controls on the wall. Before you know it you’ll be able to control the garage door from your phone. Best of all, it works with nearly all garage door openers made since 1993.

There’s nothing like being able to check on the status of your garage door from pretty much anywhere. Moreover, it’s empowering and really quite cool to be able to open the door to let a delivery driver drop something off or close the door after an absent-minded child leaves.

Automation and smarts are taken up another level thanks to support for devices and platforms such as Nest, Xfinity & Wink. Buy one for around $80 from Chamberlain.

Choetech Fast Wireless Charger

Priced at just $17.99 through Amazon, it’s among the less expensive wireless chargers you might find on the market. Don’t let that fool you, though, this is a solid unit that’s backed by a 30-day return policy and a 18-month warrant. Moreover, you also get lifetime technical support should that ever present itself.

The platter itself has a panda bear’s face printed on it with five non-slip sticky spots. These bite your phone nicely and ensure it isn’t accidentally pushed off or slid into a weird angle. As for the overall footprint, this one takes up about as much space as a coaster you’d place a drink on. Read our full review!

UE MEGABLAST

The MEGABLAST comes in several color combinations, including Graphite, Blue Steel, Merlot, and Blizzard. Our review unit, the Blizzard variety, looks fantastic with its stunning white plastic and darker grill.

The grill looks (and feels) like a black and white mesh that gives the speaker a little bit of visual flair without being too flashy. But, if you want flashy, you may want to check out the Blue Steel or Merlot colors because they’re definitely head turners.

Even though you wouldn’t look at the MEGABLAST and put it in the same category as an Amazon Echo, it can do all of the same things. It can control your smart home appliances, remind you how to spell onomatopoeia, or check the weather for tomorrow.

If you have $249 in your pocket and you’re looking for a fantastic speaker, it’s easy to recommend the MEGABLAST. This is one of, if not the, best sounding speakers we’ve ever heard. Read our full review!

Five Android OEMs you’ve never heard of before

Alexandra Arici
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Everyone knows the big players in tech, but we tend to forget the world is a lot larger than that. There’s a plethora of little-known, upstart mobile-manufacturers out there selling phones that are giving the major players a run for their money.

So for those wondering whether there’s life beyond Apple and Samsung, here’s a refreshing break from the norm. In this article, we’re going to highlight a series of Android OEMs that are making great phones but remain virtually unknown. And we’re going to start with a British brand.

Wileyfox 

The UK isn’t known for its phone makers, but smartphone brand Wileyfox has tried to change that since its inception in 2015. The company specialized in providing affordable products without compromising on quality and managed to establish itself on the market. This was partly achieved, because Wileyfox was one of the first adopters of the Cyanogen mobile operating system, with the Wileyfox Storm and Swift. But the upward trend didn’t last for long, unfortunately.

When Cyanogen collapsed in 2016 due to licensing issues, a period of turbulence began for Wileyfox. In February 2018, the company was forced to enter administration. Luckily, not long after the announcement, it was reported that another British smartphone maker called STK struck a deal with Wileyfox Group to sell devices on various markets including the UK and Europe.

Wileyfox Spark X

Along with the sale rights, the new brand owners will also provide customer support, after-sale care, and other services. New Wileyfox smartphones are currently being developed, but the company has also re-stocked older models such as the popular Swift 2 Plus, Swift 2X and Spark X on its official website. STK also has plans to upgrade the Swift 2 series to Android 8.1 Oreo.

Wileyfox Swift 2 Plus

While we don’t know much about the upcoming phones, the prospect of new hardware from Wileyfox is definitely exciting. Over the years the company had a mix of success and failure with its smartphone range. But it’s its commitment to offering well-built, 4G-capable devices at affordable price points that saved it from demise.

Visit Wileyfox’s official website

Doogee

Doogee is a smartphone maker hailing from China that was established back in 2013. Since then the company has managed to squeeze itself into an odd assortment of markets including Hungary, Czech Republic and Algeria.

The company started out by selling budget phones like the X series, which might seem unimpressive enough. But over the years Doogee has evolved into a company that is striving to provide some real innovation in the smartphone space.

This was plainly obvious at MWC 2018, where Doogee showcased its upcoming projects. The company unveiled the Doogee V (V stands for Victory), an iPhone X lookalike complete with a notch on top, which is nothing new in the Android space.

Doogee V

But what caught the eye of people present at the event was the series of futuristic phones, the company promised will launch “soon”.

For example, the Mix 3 will have a 98% screen-to-body ratio, pressure sensitive “force touch” kind of screen technology and an in-display fingerprint sensor. What’s more, the phone has a rear camera that flips take selfies. That sounds pretty tantalizing.

But that’s not all, the company is apparently also prepping a flexible phone with a curved foldable screen, a modular rugged phone and a transparent handset. All these products were tagged as “coming soon”. It’s already May, so Doogee obviously needs more time to work on these unique handsets.

Doogee Mix 2

Indeed, Doogee is promising quite a lot here and to be realistic, some of these models will probably never see the light of day, but you at least we have to give them some kudos for trying. We don’t see many other companies making such bold moves in public, do we?

In case you’re wondering about what kind of phones Doogee is currently offering, well they have a series of Xiaomi Mi MIX clones also titled Mix. There’s also a line of rugged phones with corky designs, including the super cheap S30 which sells for $129.99.

Visit Doogee’s official website

Bluboo

In a similar vein as Doogee, Bluboo is another relatively obscure Chinese brand that’s trying to stand out from the crowd through innovation.

For example, at the MWC 2018 tradeshow in Barcelona, Bluboo showed a smartphone which proposed an original idea about how to implement a full-screen design with a rotary camera.

The yet-to-be-released S2 uses a main camera that rotates and can be used as a front camera for selfie-shooting. Users can dislodge the shooter thanks to a special accessory that comes in different shapes and colors for a unique look.

Born in 2016, Bluboo had already attracted some attention by releasing some good looking clones. For example, the Bluboo S8 is a pretty great replication of the Galaxy S8. Featuring a tall, “Infinity Display”, a dual-camera setup and a unique rear pattern, the S8 sold for a lot less than the phone it was trying to copy.

Like Doogee and UMIDIGI (which we’re going to talk in a few), Bluboo seeks to offer phones with solid specs at low prices. The company offers a variety of other models. For example, it has the S3 which packs a large 8,500 mAh battery. The S1, on the other hand, looks quite reminiscent of the bezel-less Xiaomi Mi MIX 2, which every Chinese phone manufacturer is trying to copy these days.

Bluboo S3

The Bluboo D5 Pro is also a tri-bezel-less phone. But unlike the S1 it does not have a physical home button. The product is available only for $129.99 from places like Gearbest.

Visit Bluboo’s official website

UMIDIGI

Based in Shenzhen, where are the smartphone magic happens, UMIDIGI has been making affordable handsets since 2012. Yet for a relatively small mobile manufacturer, UMIDIGI has always tried to be among the top players when it comes to innovation and being first to implement a certain feature.

According to its own website, UMIDIGI was behind the world’s first Android 4.0 smartphone which launched in July 2012. It also unveiled the world’s thinnest dual-SIM smartphone in November 2014. In 2016 the company unleashed the first Helio X27 deca-core smartphone.

In 2017, the smartphone maker went through a rebrand going from the original UMI to UMIDIGI and proceeded to significantly up its game. Since it was founded six years ago, UMIDIGI has firmly believed that high-quality phones don’t have to be expensive.

Presently, UMIDIGI is focusing on premium products that bring the latest technology to customers with reasonable price.

UMIDIGI Z2/Z2 Pro

For example, the company will soon start selling the Z2 series which takes inspiration from Huawei’s P20 series. The Z2 and Z2 Pro both come with gorgeous designs. They will go on sale in a new Gradient Twilight and Phantom color options. They also include a notch, dual-cameras and Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The UMIDIGI Z2 will be available for $299.99.

But UMIDIGI is also selling more affordable phones. Like the A1 Pro which just launched in a stunning new Silver color. The entry-level phone comes with a modern 18:9 aspect ratio display and 3GB of RAM. Other specs include a dual-camera setup and Android 8.1 Oreo.

UMIDIGI A1 Pro

UMIDIGI’s portfolio also includes models with the design inspired by the Galaxy S9 series like the S2. Or by the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 like the Crystal.

Visit UMIDIGI’s official website

RealMe

While you might not have heard of Doogee, Bluboo or UMIDIGI you might have seen Oppo’s name being thrown around. Last year, Oppo was declared the biggest smartphone company in China, while major brands like Apple and Xiaomi were left trailing behind.

Billionaire Duan Yong Ping owns the company. It has made its name by selling cheaper phones in rural China and Southeast Asia.

Bu earlier this year, the Chinese phone maker committed itself to a more aggressive global expansion going forward. It announced its intention to significantly expand its international footprint over the course of 2018. India is one of the key markets targeted by the tech giant, where Oppo recently introduced the RealMe sub-brand.

Having tens of millions of feature phone owners who are looking to upgrade, India is a rich expansion medium for Oppo.

RealMe 1

RealMe is Oppo’s answer to Xiaomi’s Redmi series of budget devices. Armed with a unique design, impressive specs and very competitive price, the RealMe 1 just went on sale this week.

The phone comes with MediaTek’s new Helio P60 chipset which takes advantage of a dual-core AI processor for AI features. The octa-core chip is clocked at 2.0 GHz and includes a Mali-G72 MP3 GPU.

Other specs include a 6-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio and FullHD+ resolution and a 13-megapixel / 8-megapixel camera combo. Oppo also throws in 3GB/4GB or 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. The phone sells only online.

A new crop of informed mobile phone buyers has emerged who are no longer obsessed with big brands such as Apple or Samsung. These customers would rather buy a more affordable phone with nice specs, than investing a fortune on a big brand and get tied to it for 2 years.

It is this crop of young buyers that phone brands like Oppo and now RealMe wish to target. And so they have positioned their products accordingly.

Gear Up: myCharge portable chargers are perfect for Pokemon Go hunts

AndroidGuys
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Take a moment to think about how many devices you use which require charging on a regular basis. Be it a phone, tablet, wearable, or even a Nintendo Switch, you’ve got something that needs an occasional, or daily charging. What happens if you’re out and about and don’t have access to a wall or auto adapter? Reach for a myCharge portable charger, that’s what.

SEE ALSO: Choetech Fast Wireless Charger review

We’ve long been a fan of myCharge portable charging solutions, having had the privilege of reviewing them over the years. The 2018 selection is no different; it’s bigger capacities, faster charging, and smaller footprints. Not only that, but myCharge has a few recent tricks, too.

For your consideration

Our team has spent a few weeks using a number of myCharge portable charger options, each of which speaks to a different type of user. Here’s a couple that we’re more than happy to recommend.

AdventureMax | $49.99

adventuremax
The myCharge Adventure Max (left), features a carabiner clip for convenience.

The sort of charger you’ll want to pack for a weekend of camping or a day at the beach, the AdventureMax offers up 10,500mAh of juice. More than enough to charge your phone a few times over, it has two USB ports. So, throw your Bluetooth speaker on there and charge the handset at the same time.  The carabiner clip lets you fasten to your backpack or belt loop so it’s always within reach.

HubPlus C | $79.99

hubplus c
The HubPlus C features internal microUSB and Type C cords.

Although this isn’t a new product line, this marks the first time we’re seeing it feature a USB Type-C port. In fact, it’s got a built-in cord for convenience. This is great news for those of you with a recent flagship phone like the Pixel 2 or Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Don’t need the new plug? Pull out the microUSB cord instead and charge up pretty much everything else.

At 6700mAh, there’s enough power to get multiple phones charged up multiple times. There are four light indicators to tell you how much is left in the tank so you’re not surprised when it gets depleted. Once it is, though, simply plug the entire unit directly into the wall via its wall prongs.

AdventureUltra | $129.99

mycharge adventureultra
The AdventureUltra let you charge up to four devices at once, including laptops.

If you need even more peace of mind, opt for the AdventureUltra. Not only do you get 13,400mAh of battery life, but you get a host of ports, too. Included are two USB ports, a USB Type-C port, and an AC port (45 watts). Now you’re talking about four devices at once, including anything that would normally plug into the wall. Read our full review.

Output by Port

  • USB-C Port: 3.0A
  • USB-A Port #1: 2.4A
  • USB-A Port #2: 2.4A
  • Total Shared: 3.4A
  • AC Port: 45W

Keep an eye on exactly how much power is left inside of the myCharge portable charger with a full display. Moreover, you have the ability to power the outlets on and off. And, thanks to the pass through charging, you can charge the power bank and any devices plugged in at the same time.

BlitzWolf’s 60W Soundbar is just $70 on Amazon with code (Promoted)

Guest Blogger
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While a soundbar is typically used for your TV rather than your phone, I often use mine one to blast music when I’m doing chores around the house. BlitzWolf’s Soundbar is a 60W beast that’ll do that job admirably.

In addition to an HDMI port, it’s also got your standard USB, Coax, Aux and Optical inputs, making it a breeze to insert into any audio setup. It should be noted, though that there are no RCA (Red and White) inputs, meaning it won’t be quite as simple to connect to legacy devices.

BlitzWolf Soundbar Specs & Value

At 36″, this soundbar is no dainty flower. That’s a full 6″ longer than Amazon’s solution, and plenty more power (36W vs. 60W). BlitzWolf’s soundbar pounds sound out hard with six full-range speakers and two bass diaphragms to create an immersive experience. Bluetooth 4 makes it incredibly easy to connect to the bar wirelessly, perfect for starting up a song right when it tickles your fancy.

On the software end of things, BlitzWolf has paid some attention to detail by adding sound profiles; specially tuned equalizer settings for various types of programming you might watch on your TV. This includes News (focusing on voices), Sports (focusing on depth of sound), Music (obvious), and Movie (enhanced bass) modes.

At $99, the BlitzWolf soundbar is a tad more expensive than the AmazonBasics one, but specs-wise, it appears to be worth it. With the coupon code 30GYJ7XC making it just $70, though, there’s no contest – BlitzWolf takes the cake. Buy one today!

Editor Note: This article is a paid or sponsored publication. AndroidGuys has vetted the links at the time of publication; however, the articles should not be considered a blanket endorsement for the products or services highlighted herein. In some instances AndroidGuys may receive a small percentage of revenue derived from purchases through affiliate links. Money generated here is used to help pay for the site and/or staff. AndroidGuys does not endorse the products listed here.

Instagram now lets you share Stories you were mentioned in

Alexandra Arici
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Instagram this week announced a new feature that allows users to easily reshare Stories that mention them.

The Facebook-owned company introduced the resharing feature within its app last month, and now the tool is getting an upgrade.

Now the latest update to the app brings the ability to reshare any Stories that mention you. Until now, when someone mentioned you in a Story, you received a notification via Direct Messages that alerted you that you got tagged.

If you wanted to share that with your followers, you were forced to screenshot the message and repost it manually. Well, that’s no longer the case now.

The new feature is available in version 48 of Instagram

Following the update, you’ll still get a notification in Direct Messages, but a new “Add This to Your Story” button will be available to allow you to share the mention with just a tap.

Obviously, you can resize and rotate the content, as well as add (extra) stickers, GIFs and even text on top of it. What’ more, the name of the user who mentioned you in the first place will be shown below.

However, keep in mind that the feature is compatible only with public accounts. This means that if a friend with a private account mentions you, you won’t be able to Share the Story as it is meant for a private audience.

The new tool becomes available once you update Instagram to the latest version 48. You can get it from the Google Play Store.

In related news, it looks like Instagram is gearing up to take on Snapchat Discover directly. According to rumors circulating online, the company is preparing to unveil a dedicated space featuring scripted shows, music videos and more.

And the best part is that the new feature won’t be apparently limited to influencers or professionals. Instagram is looking to open it up to everyone using the app!

Samsung launches the Galaxy J3 (2018) and Galaxy J7 (2018) in the US

Alexandra Arici
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Samsung this week unveiled a pair of new mid-range phones. The two devices that come to replace last year’s Galaxy J3 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017) will go on sale in the US starting early June.

While the Korean company says the new J3 (2018) and J7 (2018) come with stunning displays, great cameras and great long-lasting batteries, in-depth details about the two handsets are quite scarce.

We’re told the Galaxy J3 features a 5-inch HD display that’s perfect for watching movies and TV shows. While the Galaxy J7 takes advantage of a larger 5.5-inch display, which is probably AMOLED, given that last year’s model had one of those.

The phones will go on sale later this month

Samsung also shared some details about the cameras. The lower-end model packs an 8-megapixel (f/1.9) rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel (f/2.2) front-facing camera. It’s nothing to write home about, but hopefully, you’ll be able to take a few decent shots.

The J7 (2018) includes a superior 13-megapixel (f/1.7) camera on the rear and a 13-megapixel (f/1.9) selfie-shooter on the front. Samsung notes that both are engineered for low-light environments in order to produce decent results when shooting in restaurants or at concerts.

Finally, both smartphones come with Samsung Knox on board for enhanced security. The feature helps users keep personal and professional data separate. Essentially, you get the benefits of using a “work phone” without the need of carrying around an additional device.

Samsung doesn’t mention anything about the processor, RAM or storage. The press release does, however, indicate the two phones will come with microSD card slot. Last year’s Galaxy J7 bundled an Exynos 7870 octa-core processor together with 3GB of RAM and 16GB. If this year, the Galaxy J7 (2018) will bring 4GB of RAM and more storage, it remains to be seen.

The phones should hit retail shelves soon and we’ll let you know when that happens.

Verizon announces BOGO deal on top Android phones for Father’s Day

Alexandra Arici
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AT&T recently announced a BOGO deal on the LG V35 ThinQ for Father’s Day. But if you think your dad would prefer LG’s notchy flagship instead, you might want to turn your attention to Verizon.

For a limited time, you’ll be able to pick up one of these top Android phones and get one for free.

Verizon’s BOGO deal includes:

  • LG G7 ThinQ
  • Samsung Galaxy S9
  • Google Pixel 2
  • Moto Z2 Force

The LG G7 ThinQ is the most recent flagship, launching only a few weeks ago.  In contrast, the Moto Z2 Force will get a refresh soon.

Note that in order to take advantage of the deal, you’ll have to buy both smartphones with a new line of service. The amount of device credit you get back for the second device will depend on which manufacturer you’re buying from. So if you’re buying the Galaxy S9 you’ll receive $799, but if you’re ordering the Pixel 2 you’ll get back $649.

LG G7 ThinQ

The credit will be applied as a bill credit to your account over the course of 24 months, which means you’ll be stuck at Verizon for two years.

Alternatively, you can buy other flagship phones and get a discount towards the purchase of a second phone. For example, if you choose the Galaxy S9 Plus you’ll get $799.99 off either the Galaxy S9 Plus or the regular Galaxy S9. The Pixel 2 XL, Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30 are also included in this part of the promotion.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Verizon’s BOGO deal for Father’s Day also extends to some iPhone models. So for a limited time, you can buy the iPhone 8, iPhone 8+ or iPhone X and get $699 off the second iPhone 8, 8+ or X.

In case you’re still undecided about what to get the big guy this year, we also have a tech gift guide for Father’s Day that might give you an idea or two.

TreVolo S review: Strangest but most popular speaker in the house

AndroidGuys
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If you picture “Bluetooth speaker” in your brain, you are almost certain to conjure up a very plain black or very very dark gray brick, with a perforated front and near-invisible control buttons. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of these clone-like bricks in the market. Heck, I have at least three of them in the house as I type this. But, I’ve been given the opportunity to try out a speaker from BenQ; the treVolo S.

If you’re familiar with BenQ, you know their wheelhouse is high-quality projectors and displays. Seems that BenQ wanted to put their unique spin on a speaker….and boy did they ever! The treVolo S is a very high-quality electrostatic speaker… easily the most unique in the market- and honestly, the most popular speaker in our house. It’s not cheap, but as you’ll find, every part of this speaker sings quality. It currently retails for $199 (link to the Amazon listing here).

Body & Design

Starting with looks, the treVolo S is unlike any speaker before it. The highs and mid-range are provided by impossibly-looking thin “wings”, which fold out from the main body for listening. These super-thin speakers are not built like traditional cone speakers but are in fact, electrostatic speakers.

Electrostatic technology makes this speaker unique.

OK, so what on earth is an electrostatic speaker??? This was my question exactly, and if you have even a little bit of nerd blood in you, it’s actually pretty cool science. Instead of the traditional magnet-driven vibrating cone, electrostatic speakers are comprised of a very thin membrane sandwiched between two plates. For audio, electrical current is passed through this membrane, causing the vibrations.

The woofer section in the main center body is comprised of two 12W woofers (each driven by a dedicated amplifier). The front woofer grilles stand out with bold large-perf faces rimmed with a very handsome copper trim. On the sides the body has more integral perforations for passive bass sound.

Controls are (thankfully) large circular buttons with the familiar icons. There is one extra button on top, titled MODE. This button is to enable what BenQ calls “3D Audio”, cranking up the spacial aura of the sound. BenQ’s goal here is to make the audio more multi-directional, and for the most part it works; more on this farther below. The backside has a microUSB charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Controls are simple and easy to figure out.

The wife and kiddos just love the looks of the speaker. The kiddos argue who gets to use it, mostly because of the novel aesthetic. My wife (Hi Lisa!) thinks it’s the most handsome speaker available, and requests it front-and-center in our kitchen/entertaining area (a statement that’s never been previously made in this house). It’s replaced the aging Big Jambox as the ‘main’ house speaker. I can’t argue that point, either; it’s a conversation-starter but not in a weird “what is that?!” way.

Audio Experience

As I stated before, the Trevolo S is uber-popular at our house, and in my opinion is simply the best Bluetooth speaker experience I’ve ever had. It’s mainly a story of quality over quantity here.

Backside of the speaker.

While most other speakers are carrying on about their volume and super-duper bass output, the Trevolo S focuses on audio quality. The electrostatic speakers make much less distortion than traditional speakers. So much so I’ve kinda fallen for the audio delivered by this speaker. It’s a bit hard to explain, but while most speakers have a boom-y sound effect, the sound profile of the Trevolo S is just so much much more clear. Actually, clear doesn’t cut it- transparent is more like it. There is almost zero hum, buzz, for fuzz coming through — just extremely clean, pure music.

Playing tunes while working around the house, I physically stopped to listen closer more than once. Familiar songs came through on another level, almost like when you hear a band live for the first time.

I know I’m gushing a bit, but let me be clear here that these are uncompensated words of mine, here. The treVolo S is my favorite Bluetooth speaker; one truly deserving of its elevated price point.

What Could Be Better

Now, every speaker is a compromise. And the treVolo S doesn’t escape this truism. While a lot of music types truly shine on this speaker, more bass-heavy genres (hard rock, metal, hip-hop) will suffer a bit here. There just isn’t enough output to match the loud hard-hitting music.

As for volume, two 12W woofers it has, but when you crank it up, the audio quantity starts to flatten out pretty fast. This speaker is best used for normal-level listening habits.

treVolo S: Not exactly a party animal.

Physically, while certainly pretty, The treVolo S is not best used as a portable sound unit. The fold-able electrostatic wings infer portability, but they are not robust enough to be used for this purpose (my opinion here). Also, the tall, skinny profile of this speaker makes for a top-heavy thing….so much so that I keep it up high in the house for fear of tipping incidents. It certainly doesn’t seem like it would take a whole lot to topple it.

While it offers multi-speaker stereo mode (dedicated left & right channel function) and party mode (multi-speaker broadcasting), and while these are great features, most of us just aren’t going to be shelling out for multiple units of this speaker, so it’s fairly moot.

Conclusion

I can’t recommend it as a portable/traveling companion, but this is perfectly okay as I don’t think BenQ is fooling anyone here. This speaker belongs front-and-center on your shelf, table, or bedroom dresser.

Other than that, and the higher-than-normal price for a Bluetooth speaker, I have nothing but positive things to say about the BenQ treVolo S. Between its beautiful looks, solid construction, ease of use, and top-notch audio experience, it will appeal to most if not all of your household for daily use.

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