Technology and Computing
While plenty of smartphones are on sale for Amazon’s Prime Day event, many of you are likely looking for a steal. If so, the Google Pixel 6a is only $249, making it nearly a must-buy for those on a budget. This matches its previous low and is a great price for an excellent phone. Sure, you could spend a little more on the new Pixel 7a that Google recently released, but the Pixel 6a is still a quality device that’s…
The Pixel Fold is finally arriving on customers’ doorsteps. But Samsung is swooping in with a distraction—the next Samsung Unpacked event kicks off on July 26th (about a month earlier than usual), and naturally, this year’s tagline is “Join the Flip Side.” Note: Samsung Unpacked begins July 26th at 7 AM ET (4 AM PT). You can livestream the event from the Samsung newsroom or Samsung YouTube channel. As you can probably guess, Samsung is expected to debut the Galaxy Z…
This week Google started rolling out one of the last Android 13 updates for those with a Pixel 4a through the latest Pixel 7 Pro or Pixel Fold. Of course, we’re talking about the latest July Android 13 security update. That’s not a bad thing, either, as it fixes many issues and will likely prepare devices for the next version of Android. Yes, your next software upgrade in August or September should be Android 14. The update rolling out this…
After a decade-long wait, Fairphone is finally selling one of its user-repairable products in the United States. But the details are a little bit strange—the Murena Fairphone 4 uses a non-standard operating system, it only works well on T-Mobile’s network, and it’s expensive. The Fairphone 4 originally debuted on the European market in 2021. It isn’t the most powerful or flashy smartphone, but it’s incredibly sustainable and repairable. Most of its components, including its cameras, battery, and display, can be…
If you’re waiting for the latest and greatest from Google and don’t want the Pixel Fold, it’s time to get excited about the upcoming Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Both phones will build off the success of the Pixel 7, which earned our Editor’s Choice Award, and we know plenty about them already. The first big Google Pixel 8 Pro rumors emerged in November, shortly after the Pixel 7 release, suggesting upgrades to a Tensor 3 processor and…
We don’t expect the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to introduce any major upgrades—it will be very similar to its predecessor. However, new hands-on images show that Galaxy Z Fold 5 may use a “waterdrop” hinge, which will significantly reduce the size of its screen gap and potentially reduce screen creasing. In a now-deleted Twitter post, AhmedQwaider888 shared three images of the purported Galaxy Z Fold 5. These images focus on the phone’s screen gap, which is nearly nonexistent. If these…
Later this year, Apple will launch the iPhone 15 lineup and make an absurd amount of money. But when you finally buy the iPhone 15 Pro and pull it out of the box, you may notice something strange—rumor has it that this phone will weigh a lot less than its predecessor. A new report from Patently Apple states that the iPhone 15 Pro will use a titanium alloy frame, rather than the stainless steel frame used in previous models. We’ve heard…
While folding phones are getting more durable and usable with each release, fixing one yourself is still a daunting task. And while Samsung limits repairs to professionals, Google’s new Pixel Fold supports DIY repairs thanks to its partnership with iFixit, a first for a folding phone. Yes, if you invest in the expensive and fancy Pixel Fold and something happens to break, you can source replacement parts and repair guides from iFixit. The repair company started working with Google in…
For less than $100, the best Google Pixel 7a cases provide added protection and peace of mind. And if you do decide to resell or swap your Pixel, it’ll still be in mint condition, improving its resale value. Thankfully, there’s a case for every scenario, whether you want an official Google case, a clear case, shockproof protection, or 360 degrees of cover. What to Look For in a Protective Case Protective cases come in different shapes and sizes, providing different…
This month’s Pixel Feature Drop introduces bug fixes and emoji wallpapers. But it’s also responsible for a few new problems—some Pixel users report excessive heat and battery drain after installing this update, while others are experiencing random cellular dropouts. Complaints about the June update are plastered all over the r/GooglePixel subreddit. Users say that their Pixel 6 or Pixel 7 smartphone now needs to be charged multiple times a day. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of this issue,…
We’ve all pocket-dialed someone at one time or another, but a safety feature on Android devices makes it easier than ever to call 911 by mistake. In fact, this has become such a serious problem that emergency services across the globe have issued alerts around the Emergency SOS feature. Google released Emergency SOS with the update to Android 12, billing it as a safety feature that makes it easier to get help when you need it. All you need to…
Most credit cards and smartphones now support contactless payments. And while this new payment method is convenient, it always comes with a bit of guesswork—you need to hold your phone or card in just the right spot. Thankfully, this should change within the next few years. The NFC Forum just published a new “technology roadmap,” which includes several planned improvements for the NFC standard. As you may know, NFC (Near-Field Communication) is responsible for tap-to-pay services, local file sharing, Nintendo’s…