Phones | Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/category/phones/ Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 145 years strong. Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:34:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/04/28/cropped-PSC3.png?auto=webp&width=32&height=32 Phones | Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/category/phones/ 32 32 The best portable chargers for 2023 https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-portable-chargers/ Fri, 29 Oct 2021 21:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=405334
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Don’t get caught with your power down. A portable charger can keep you up and running through all of life's emergencies.

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Best multipurpose Anker PowerCore 1000 is the best portable charger. Anker PowerCore Fusion 10,000
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The Anker PowerCore Fusion 10,000 combines the convenience of portable battery and outlet-based charger in a single package.

Best for travel Belkin Gaming Power Bank is the best portable charger. Belkin Gaming Power Bank with Stand
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Belkin’s gaming charger with a stand lets you power up your phone while watching media or playing games.

Best for laptops A Anker 747 laptop charger on a blue and white background Anker 747 Power Bank
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The Anker 747 Power Bank power bank pulls out all the stops with its massive charging capacity.

Keeping a portable charger in your car, bag, or pocket prepares you if an emergency arises as you’re running out of power. Say you’re stuck in a raging blizzard, your car in a snowbank on the highway, and you need a tow if you don’t want to stay where you are overnight. No problem, you can just call for roadside assistance, right? That isn’t the case if your phone happens to run out of power and you have no way to charge it back up again. It’s not the case unless you carry a portable power bank, that is. A battery pack to charge your phone, laptop, and other devices can make all the difference when your battery’s nearly dead and draining fast. The right power bank will let you top off all your essential gear to get your devices through the day (or longer). Fortunately, we’ve collected some of the best portable chargers available and sorted them into categories that should fit most people’s needs.

How we chose the best portable chargers

When choosing the best portable chargers, I relied on my years of experience covering the tech industry. I’ve used portable power banks to keep my phone and other devices charged while covering events, conducting interviews, and recording presentations. In addition to my personal and professional testing, we’ve parsed reviews from consumers and other publications to find chargers that have made a strong impression on their owners. 

The best portable chargers: Reviews & Recommendations

Our choices for the best portable chargers run the gamut from small pocket-sized batteries for extending your phone’s battery life to big, beefy chargers that can power a mobile office. Depending on what devices you carry around daily or while traveling, there are different power banks for everyone.

Best overall: OtterBox Performance Fast Charge Power Bank

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Why it made the cut: This speedy power bank allows for 3.6x faster charging compared to other portable chargers and can power two devices at once.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 6.26x 3.08 x .92 inches
  • Weight: 15.3 ounces
  • Battery capacity: 20,000 mAh
  • Ports: 2 (one USB-C, one USB-A)
  • Charging speed: 18W

Pros

  • Fast charging
  • Can charge two devices at once
  • Drop protection

Cons

  • Heavy compared to other portable chargers

Otterbox makes some of our favorite MagSafe accessories, so it’s no surprise we love its powerful wired charger as well. The OtterBox Performance Fast Charge Power Bank gives you 20,000 mAh of juice to recharge your tablets and phones. And, with a USB-A port and a fast-charging USB-C port, you can charge two devices at once, no matter what brand. It comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable, so you won’t have to get one on the go, but it works fabulously with others you may have around the house, as we did in the above photo. An LED power indicator shows you how much power you have left, and the power bank is designed for durability thanks to trusted drop protection. Although it’s a little chonky, we’d rather carry around a powerhouse than be left in the dark and uncharged.

Best multipurpose: Anker PowerCore Fusion 10,000

Why it made the cut: The Anker PowerCore Fusion 10,000 combines the convenience of a portable battery and outlet-based charger in a single package.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 4.72 x 3.23 x 1.39 inches
  • Weight: 10.1 ounces
  • Battery capacity: 10,000mAh
  • Ports: One USB-A, one USB-C
  • Charging speed: 20W

Pros

  • Convenient size
  • Doubles as a wall outlet and battery pack
  • Charges multiple devices

Cons

  • Can be awkward to plug into some sockets

As the best multipurpose portable charger, the Anker PowerCore Fusion 10,000 is especially convenient, even among power banks. It’s a fairly small portable charger with two ports and a 10,000mAh battery, but you can also plug it into an outlet and draw power from there. This is extremely convenient for travelers and rolls two devices into one well-crafted package. Its only downside is that it’s a little larger and heavier than a standard wall-based charger. The shape can also make it awkward to fit into some places, and the weight might cause it to fall out of a loose socket.

Best for travel: Belkin Gaming Power Bank with Stand

Why it made the cut: Belkin’s gaming charger with a stand lets you power up your phone while watching media or playing games.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 6.21 x 1.56 x 4.02 inches
  • Weight: 11.8 ounces
  • Battery capacity: 10,000mAh
  • Ports: One USB-A, one USB-C
  • Charging speed: 12W

Pros

  • Stand makes continuing to use the phone while charging more convenient
  • Stand is retractable

Cons

  • Fast charging is hit or miss

It seems like combining a portable charger and a stand would be a no-brainer, but surprisingly few companies have actually made them. Belkin’s Gaming Power Bank with Stand is the best portable charger for travel. It offers a retractable shelf with a lip that makes it easy to continue enjoying media or games on your phone as it charges. Unfortunately, its fast-charging seems to be hit-or-miss: Some users report speedy refueling, while others aren’t as impressed with how quickly their devices get juiced up. It’s a great charger when you have a few hours to kill and need to top off your phone’s power, but not the most efficient option.

Best with flashlight: superallure Solar Charging Power Bank

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Why it made the cut: This power bank is powered by the sun and can give you some extra light in the great outdoors if your flashlight decides to take a day off.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 7.48 x 4.92 x 1.42 inches
  • Weight: 1.15 pounds
  • Battery capacity: 43,800 mAh
  • Ports: USB-C, USB-A
  • Charging speed: 15W

Pros

  • Built-in chargers
  • Solar-powered
  • Built-in flashlight is bright

Cons

  • Heavy

Sometimes you don’t need solar generator-level power, but you still need a bit of juice while adventuring the in the great outdoors. This one is solar-powered, Qi wireless charging compatible, and has USB-A and USB-C cords built-in—that’s one less thing in your pack. You can maybe even leave the flashlight at home—this charger also has a built-in flashlight. An IP65 rating makes it dust-resistant, with a bit of waterproofing on top. Plus, it can power 3-5 complete phone charges. Reviews note that customer service is great, and the power bank gave peace of mind while traveling in remote settings.

Best with wireless charging: Mophie Charge Stream

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Why it made the cut: Ditch the cables entirely with this Qi-enabled wireless portable charger that works across Android and iPhone.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 2.72 x 0.63 x 5.19 inches
  • Weight: 8.5 ounces
  • Battery capacity: 6,040 mAh
  • Ports: USB-A, USB-C
  • Charging speed: 10W

Pros

  • Pass-through charging enabled
  • Can charge wirelessly or with a cable
  • Can charge two devices at once

Cons

  • Shows dirt easily

No cables? No problem, thanks to this wireless power bank from Mophie. You’ll be able to charge using the power of magnets as long as your device is Qi-enabled. Simply place your phone on the portable charger and push the button to begin wireless charging. You can get 48 extra hours of battery depending on what you’re charging, and a USB port allows you to charge another device while using wireless charging. Our only complaint? It tends to show dirt easily. Its powerful charging and wireless transcendence across brands make up for this.

Best large: Goal Zero Sherpa Wireless Portable AC Power Bank

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Why it made the cut: This large portable charger is like a mini generator in your pack.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 7.69 x 5.49 x 1.02 inches
  • Weight: 3.19 pounds
  • Battery capacity: 25,600 mAh
  • Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 1 AC port
  • Charging speed: 100W

Pros

  • Heavy-duty
  • Can charge laptops two times over
  • Solar generator power without the size

Cons

  • Expensive

We’ve reviewed Goal Zero’s Yeti 1000 Core generator in the past and gave it kudos for its durability and battery capacity. Goal Zero took both of those aspects and packed them into an ever smaller package with its Sherpa Wireless Portable power bank. It’s great if you need major power on the go without needing an entire solar generator. And you’ll get plenty of use out of it: this power bank can charge a smartphone 8 times; a tablet three times; a laptop two times; and a GoPro 18 times. It also supports wireless charging. Talk about a multi-hyphenate. Its aluminum unibody is durable, and it easily integrates with other Goal Zero products, like solar panels. It’s pricey, but we think it’s worth it if you’re looking for a tough portable charger that’s made to last.

Best for laptops: Anker 747 Power Bank

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Why it made the cut: This sleek laptop power bank can keep you powered in the coffee shop or library.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.23 x .95 inches
  • Weight: 26.4 ounces
  • Battery capacity: 26,600 mAh
  • Ports: Two USB-A, two USB-C
  • Charging speed: 87W

Pros

  • Recharges in 2.5 hours
  • High voltage protection
  • Can charge more than one device at the same time

Cons

  • No AC outlet

Those who leave their house to work in a coffee shop know the struggle of trying to find a precious outlet. Worry no longer, thanks to this portable laptop power bank from Anker, which can give your laptop enough juice while you wait for an outlet to open up. It’s built with Anker’s MultiProtect safety system, which combines temperature control and high-voltage protection for a safer charging experience. If you use up the portable charger’s power, fret not—it takes 2.5 hours to reach a full charge. Those who need an AC outlet to use their laptop charger, however, will be out of luck.

Best budget: INIU Portable Charger

Why it made the cut: The INIU portable charger is cheap and does a fine job powering your phone … plus it has a pawprint-shaped indicator light!

Specs

  • Dimensions: 5.2 x 2.7 x 0.5 inches
  • Weight: 7 ounces
  • Battery capacity: 10,000mAh
  • Ports: 2 USB-A, One USB-C
  • Charging speed: 15W

Pros

  • Has a built-in paw print indicator light
  • Extremely affordable
  • Cute LED logo

Cons

  • Reports of quality assurance issues

Sometimes you just need a product that does exactly what it’s supposed to for as little money as possible. The INIU Portable Charger is affordable and provides a 10,000mAh battery in a very slim form factor. Conveniently, it also has a built-in indicator light which can be a big help in a pinch, and its paw print makes looking at your power bank fun. Unfortunately, there are some reports of dead units, which means customers need to watch out for poor QA. Reports suggest that INIU customer service has done right by users who reported getting a nonfunctional unit, though, shipping out replacements quickly.

What to consider when buying the best portable chargers

Portable chargers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For many, they’re just random bricks that you plug stuff into, with little to differentiate between them. While they may look the same, there are aspects of a charger’s design that vary, which you should keep in mind when picking one out. 

How much power can it hold? Will it fit in my pocket or my backpack? Does it have the ports to charge all my devices or just my phones? If you know these things, you can buy the right portable charger for your needs:

How big is the battery?

Portable chargers are really just fancy plastic and a circuit board wrapped around a battery. The most important thing you need to know about any portable charger is how big that battery is. Portable chargers measure their power storage in Milliamp Hours (mAh), a unit of measurement that shows how much power a battery can hold. The number of charges it can provide will depend on the specific device, but it’s a good way to get a general sense. 

If you plan to keep a laptop going through your workday or charge many devices simultaneously, you will likely want the largest battery possible, which tends to range between 2,000mAh and 10,000mAh for most users, depending on the devices they cart around.  If you’re just looking to top off your phone to get through a busy day, you can probably get something smaller. More storage translates to a larger, more expensive charger, so that’s definitely good reason to go small if that’s all you need.

How much space does it take up?

As we said, more power means a bigger battery pack. It doesn’t matter how impressive a portable charger’s specs are if it’s a pain to carry around. Power banks range in size from slim and pocket-sized to whopping boxes as big as a book. They can get heavy, too. While it can be tempting to get the biggest, most powerful charger, you will make a better choice if you’re realistic about your needs.

What are you charging?

When you choose a portable charger, you’ll want to remember what you will be using it for. Most people tend to buy chargers to top off their best tablet, new iPhone, Bluetooth headphones, or noise-cancelling earbuds: As a result, most portable battery packs are made for that purpose. If you’re looking to charge something bigger, like a laptop, you should make sure to get a charger that has the right ports for the job. For larger devices, you will also need to make sure the charging rate is actually high enough to replenish your laptop’s battery.

How quickly can it charge your devices?

The second major consideration when buying a portable charger is how fast it charges. Different batteries can charge devices at different rates, depending on the device and the cable used to charge. In general, portable chargers tend to be slower than plugging a device into a wall, but some are faster than others. Check the maximum charging rate, measured in watts (W), to determine how quickly most devices will charge.  For a portable charger, 18 watts is considered a good charging speed. 27 watts is excellent.

Sometimes companies will show a battery’s voltage and amperage rather than a rate in Watts: In that case, multiply the two numbers to get the rate in watts. For example: If a charger serves 5 volts at 2 amps (5V/2A), its charging rate is 10W. (5 x 2 = 10).

How fast does the battery pack charge itself?

It’s also important to look at how long you need to juice each charger back up to full capacity. When you’re in a pinch and pressed for time, knowing you can fall back on a fast-charging portable device offers peace of mind. A good charging rate, for example, is anywhere from 3 hours (111.11 mAh/min) to 4 hours (111.48 mAh/minute), though there have been packs that have charged back up to 100% in just 20 minutes or so. The larger the battery bank, the longer it will need to charge, especially when you factor in larger capacities. This rate may differ from pack to pack if the charger can power other devices. 

FAQs

Q: How much does a portable charger cost?

A portable charger can cost between $20-$300, depending on size and features.

Q: Will portable chargers damage my phone?

The circuitry inside portable chargers is meant to prevent the device from overcharging, but shouldn’t have any influence on how your phone charges. Instead, each phone has its own charging system that should detect when there are issues with power delivery. If a power bank isn’t delivering enough power or has a fault, most recent phones will disable the charging circuit to prevent any damage and notify the user of the issue.

Q: How long does a portable charger last?

Since portable chargers are batteries, they will eventually degrade. Like other batteries, a power bank’s long-term health depends on many factors. What battery technology it’s using, how often it’s discharged and recharged, and the quality of the charging circuitry can affect a battery pack’s ability to draw power. Most should last a few years, even with frequent use. If your battery dies within two years, you should contact the manufacturer.

Q: Should a portable charger get hot?

When using a power bank, both the phone and the portable charger will heat up. Batteries use chemical reactions to store and discharge energy. Some of that energy is lost as waste heat. This is normal, so there’s no need to worry if your battery and/or phone feel warm when using a portable charger. However, neither a power bank nor a phone should ever get so hot that it makes you recoil. If you feel like either device is irregularly hot, disconnect them from all other devices and move away until you’re sure it’s safe to resume using them.

Q: How do I know if a portable charger is compatible with my device?

Most portable chargers have a USB-A or USB-C port to plug a cable into, connecting you phone to the power bank. As long as you have the correct cable, you’re good. However, compatibility matters when considering wireless chargers. There are two words you should look out for: Qi and MagSafe. Qi wireless charging is an interface standard that works for both Android and iPhone devices. MagSafe is similar, but proprietary to Apple devices specifically. Check for these words in the product description of your phone and the charger you’re looking for.

Final thoughts on the best portable chargers

Possessing the best portable charger can be a real lifesaver under the right circumstances. There isn’t that much to the tech, but there’s still a surprising amount of variation from device to device. It pays to learn their ins and outs to tell the difference, whether you need a slim power bank to get a quick jolt or something massive that can keep a laptop going for days. No matter what, we can all agree on one thing: Nobody likes having a battery die on them.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

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Power several devices with $38 off a two-pack of 6-in-1 charging cables https://www.popsci.com/sponsored-content/6-in-1-charging-cable-deal/ Sun, 21 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=541836
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Pick up these portable and versatile charging options for almost half off the usual price.

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For a limited time, a two-pack of the InCharge X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable is available for only $39.99 (reg. $78) with no coupon required. That’s approximately half off the price of a pair of products that are primed to instantly simplify your life.

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Tweak these settings for better-sounding phone calls https://www.popsci.com/diy/better-audio-phone-call/ Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=525422
Person holding phone to their ear in a phone call
There are several variables you can control to improve the quality of your phone calls. Zen Chung / Pexels

Summon all the help you can get to make your calls sound loud and clear.

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There are several variables you can control to improve the quality of your phone calls. Zen Chung / Pexels

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You’ve probably had to ask  “Can you hear me?” more than once while on a phone call. One of the most vexing frustrations of the modern age is that, despite the rapidly evolving technological landscape, we still have a hard time clearly getting words across during a voice conversation.

Fortunately, your phone is here to help. While your device can’t magically improve your connection, it can help you get more out of it and deploy a few tricks to ensure that you and the person on the other end of the line can hear each other properly.

Phone settings to improve the audio quality of your calls

With iOS 16.4, Apple introduced a new voice isolation feature for phone calls. The smart tech prioritizes the sounds coming from your mouth and automatically blocks out the ambient noise around you. When on a call, activate it by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Control Center, and then tapping Mic Mode and Voice Isolation.

This feature doesn’t just work in calls made through the Phone app: You can access and apply it in the same way if you’re making voice calls in FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or any other calling app on your device.

[Related: How to make voice calls from any device]

When it comes to properly hearing the person you’re speaking to, there’s a volume slider on the Control Center as well, which you can also access simply by using the buttons on the side of your iPhone. Switching to speakerphone might help: On the call screen, choose Audio then Speaker. If you’ve got other Apple devices like iPads or Macs on the same Wi-Fi network and logged into the same Apple ID, you’ll be able to switch to these too via the Audio option on the call screen—a bigger device might have better mics and speakers than your iPhone.

You can also boost call volume on Android via the buttons on the side of your phone, and switching to speakerphone is as easy as on iOS: just tap Speaker on the call screen. If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can also head to Settings, then Sounds and vibration, and Sound quality and effects to access two useful features: Dolby Atmos and Adapt sound. The former optimizes voice audio, while the latter tunes the sounds from the phone to your specific hearing abilities.

Pick the Adapt sound option, then tap Adapt sound for and make sure to select either Media and calls or Only calls to make sure you get the benefit on phone calls. Further down you can pick from one of the presets to better match your phone to your hearing—Under 30 years old, 30 to 60 years old, or Over 60 years old—or you can tap Test my hearing to create a customized profile through a series of tests your device runs through connected headphones.

Android has a similar feature to iOS’s Voice Isolation to reduce background noise on calls, but at the time of writing it’s only available with the latest Android 13 update and on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. To access it, head to the Sound & vibration section of Settings, and then tap Clear calling.

Audio quality doesn’t only depend on the settings or hardware on your phone. If cell reception in your area isn’t great, your call won’t sound crisp and could even drop out. If that’s the case, you can make calls over Wi-Fi instead, as long as your carrier supports it (most do). To turn it on on iOS go to Settings, select Phone, and then Wi-Fi Calling.  On Android, go to Settings and tap Network and Internet, Calls and SMS, and then the name of your carrier. Just make sure you’re already logged into whatever Wi-Fi network you want to use before placing the call.

Set up calling apps to improve audio quality in your calls

Most messaging apps can make voice calls now, and if you dig around in the settings for your favorite platform, you may find a few features to optimize the audio on it. We can’t cover every app here, but we can highlight a few.

Some apps have audio optimization on by default. For calls made through Zoom, for example, echo cancellation and background noise suppression are the standard: If you think the feature is interfering too much or the app is applying it too aggressively, you can disable it by going to Settings, Meetings, and turning on Use Original Sound.

Messaging apps often have data-saving features that can reduce the bandwidth audio calls use. If you’re in an area with a strong signal, you’ll want to turn off this option to maximize audio fidelity. However, if your phone has a spotty connection, turning these features on can help. They work exactly like lowering the quality of a YouTube video while on a bad Wi-Fi signal—you don’t get an HD image, but at least the footage doesn’t stop to buffer every 3 seconds.  When you turn on data-saving features, your phone will compress and optimize the audio to get it through entirely, albeit in a lower quality. This will allow you to hear more of the conversation instead of having the audio constantly break up, improving the overall quality of the call.

In WhatsApp, for example, tap the three dots (top right) and go to Settings (Android), or tap the Settings button at the bottom right of the screen (iOS). From there, choose Storage and data to find the Use less data for calls toggle switch. Meanwhile, on Signal, tap the three dots (top right) and then go to Settings, Data and storage, and Use less data for calls.

[Related: How to fix spotty cell service in your home]

Signal also has a call relay feature that protects your privacy by rerouting audio calls through Signal’s servers. This makes it harder for someone to tell where you’re calling from, but it also reduces call quality. It’s not on by default, but if you’ve turned it on for any reason, you can disable it by going to the Settings menu and tapping Privacy, and then Advanced.

Microsoft Teams has a noise suppression option that cuts out unwanted background noise from voice calls. Inside the mobile app, tap your avatar (top left), then choose Settings and Calling. You’ll see under the Noise suppression heading there are several options to pick from, depending on how aggressive you want the suppression to be.

As always, keeping your apps and your mobile operating systems up to date is important in terms of making sure you have the latest bug patches and audio optimizations, which often run in the background without you even noticing. To check for Android updates go to System and System update from Settings. Apple users can check for iOS updates by going to General and Software Update from Settings.

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Happy 50th birthday, cell phones https://www.popsci.com/technology/cellphone-fiftieth-anniversary/ Mon, 03 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=525020
Motorola DynaTAC cellphone resting on its side on table

The first cell phone call was made on April 3, 1973, by Motorola's Martin Cooper.

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Motorola DynaTAC cellphone resting on its side on table

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It might be hard to imagine a world without cell phones, but there was most definitely a time when they remained the stuff of science fiction. That is, until 50 years ago to the day, to be more exact. April 3 marks a half century of cell phones, albeit it took a little while for the technology powering Motorola engineer Martin Cooper’s DynaTAC cell phone to become a ubiquitous facet of everyday life.

Affectionately dubbed “the Brick,” the DynaTAC—short for Dynamic Total Area Coverage—contained 30 circuit boards, stood nine inches tall, and weighed 2.5 pounds. As Smithsonian Magazine notes in its own retrospective published Monday, the first truly mobile phone took approximately 10 hours to fully charge. Even then, conversations were capped at around 35 minutes before the Brick needed to refuel.

[Related: Your checklist for maximum smartphone security.]

It would take another decade for Motorola to release a commercial cell phone. Not many could afford it at a $3,500 price point (roughly $10,600 by today’s standards). Four decades on, and there are now more phones than humans, with 18 billion devices estimated in service by 2025.

Engineer Martin Cooper holds in his right hand a contemporary copy of the original cell phone he used to make the first cell phone call on April 3, 1973, in Del Mar, California on March 20, 2023. - The problem with mobile phones is that people look at them too much. At least, that's according to the man who invented them 50 years ago. Martin Cooper, an American engineer dubbed the "Father of the cell phone," says the neat little device we all have in our pockets has almost boundless potential and could one day even help conquer disease. But right now, we can be a little obssessed. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Martin Cooper with cell phones, old and new. CREDIT: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Of course, smartphones are now standard pocket accessories, and boast countless more features than Cooper’s original DynaTAC, but the “rudimentary” cell phone isn’t completely dead. In 2021, Pew Research Center estimated around 11 percent of US adults owned an old school cell phone, as opposed to a more advanced smartphone. In fact, there is at least some evidence to show that consumers might increasingly prefer a “dumb phone” alternative to the feeling of 24/7 connectivity and instant contact. At least one report indicates a growing percentage of Gen Z is playing around with retro cell phones that boast limited features.

[Related: Scientists turned a smartphone into an affordable microscope.]

After 50 years and billions of phone calls, it might still be difficult to beat the very first cell phone chat from Cooper himself. As Smithsonian Magazine also recounts in its look back, the engineer and inventor allegedly called up the lead cell phone engineer at Motorola’s rival, AT&T. “I’m calling you from a cell phone. But a real cell phone! Personal, hand-held, portable cell phone,” Cooper recounted of his improvised publicity stunt.

His competitor’s reported response? Stunned silence, along with allegations that the phone call never took place.

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The best DACs for 2023, as chosen by experts https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-dacs/ Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:00:08 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=431182
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Level-up your listening with the best digital audio converters.

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Best Overall Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M is the best overall. Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M
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Richly detailed sound and a plethora of inputs/outputs combine in the perfect preamp for a high-resolution listening station.

Best DAC/amp Combo iFi xDSD Gryphon is the best DAC/amp combo. iFi xDSD Gryphon
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Naturally outstanding sound, well-implemented analog enhancement modes, and plentiful wired and wireless connectivity make this a compact powerhouse.

Most Portable THX Onyx is the most portable. THX Onyx
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Excellent durability and portability let you get the most out of mobile streaming.

Few things in life can sweep you away and transport you to another time as music can, and few things can bring digital music to you with the transportive power of a good DAC, aka a digital-to-analog converter. The joy and nostalgia that music can bring are hard to overstate, but the feeling will be dulled if you’re relying on stock circuitry built into a basic laptop, tablet, or smartphone, etc. Taking full advantage of music’s expressive power means investing in the components that make it happen. If you’ve already got a good pair of headphones, you need an equally good signal chain, and a DAC is an integral part of that. A DAC’s sole responsibility is to convert the 1s and 0s output by your transport (typically a smartphone streaming music these days) into a signal that your headphones can play. Even though that sounds like a cut-and-dry task, how DACs accomplish this varies, as do the prices, form factors, and features they offer. The best DACs can enhance your listening experience, and we’ve collected the top choices right here to upgrade your listening fast.

How we chose the best DACs

Over my years of reviewing tech, I’ve extensively tested a wide array of audio equipment. I cut my teeth reviewing gaming headsets at MMORPG.com and quickly discovered a love for audio that progressed into a full-fledged love of hi-fi. In the seven years since that first review, I’ve graduated from gaming headsets with built-in components to desktop DACs and amps, portable hybrids that combine them both into one, and smartphone dongles that range from $10 to $200. I love diving deep into the world of headphones, and that begins with the gear driving that listening experience. 

To create this list, I drew upon multiple sources: user impressions, deep lists of specifications, and, of course, my own experience with several of the products collected. I also researched the pedigree of the different brands producing DACs today and the real-world experiences being shared in forums and Reddit threads. Together, these sources painted a clear picture of the best choices for different types of listeners chosen for this list.

The best DACs of 2023: Reviews & Recommendations

Now that you know what to look for when shopping for a new DAC, it’s time to choose the best fit for you. Sorting through the masses of different options, some from big brands and some from those that won’t be here in a year, can be confusing. We’ve collected the best choices in five key areas to help cut through the noise.

Best overall: Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M

Tony Ware

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Why it made the cut: The Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M is an outstanding, fully featured desktop DAC that’s feature-rich and premium without being exorbitant.

Specs

  • DAC: Dual ESS ES9028Q2M DACs
  • Included amplifier: Up to 300mW for headphones, 4.2 VRMS for speakers
  • Bit-depth/sample rate: 32-bit/768kHz
  • Format support: PCM, DSD, DoP, MQA
  • Bluetooth: Yes, 4.2

Pros

  • Dual DACs for balanced sound
  • Wired and wireless high-resolution listening
  • Wide format support
  • Plentiful connectivity options

Cons

  • Costs a premium 
  • No LDAC

Since its release in 2021, the DacMagic 200M from Cambridge Audio has been a frequent flier on “Best Of” lists due to its outstanding balance of sound, features, and connection options. It’s easy to see why it’s so beloved: With its combination of dual ESS ES9028Q2M DACs, built-in 300mW headphone amp, wired and wireless connectivity, and premium build quality, it’s the kind of device even a veteran audiophile could stay delighted with for years.

While the other DACs on this list content themselves with a single chip, the DacMagic 200M implements a pair of high-quality ESS chips to reduce crosstalk and improve separation between the two channels. The audio sent from the device is impeccably high-resolution with a maximum bitrate of 32-bit/768kHz and support for the PCM, DSD, and MQA formats. It even supports DoP, which stands for “DSD over PCM,” so it can accept DSD files over USB even if your USB port doesn’t know how to handle the data natively. Pair that with dual digital inputs (your choice of optical or coaxial for each), and USB audio-in, and you have a device that can accept audio from just about anywhere for under $500. 

When it comes to sending audio out, the DacMagic 200M has a whole different set of tricks up its sleeves, acting as a preamp perfect if you’re building a components system with a dedicated headphone amp or AV receiver. Turn it to the back and you’ll find RCA jacks and a pair of XLR ports to drive balanced and unbalanced speakers, making this stylish Lunar Grey aluminum enclosure a best desktop DAC aesthetically and functionally. A ground lift switch sits on the other side to eliminate any hum that might be coming from your home electrical system. You can even apply digital filters that fine-tune the already expansive 10Hz to 50kHz frequency response. But that’s not all: under the hood is a built-in headphone amplifier that can enhance the resolution of easily driven bass cannons (like the HiFiMAN HE-R9 pictured) or even fill in at the fringes for demanding, high-impedance headphones (like the richly textured Sennheiser HD 660S2) so you can get listening right away or integrate it into a larger setup. 

Wireless audio does feel like a bit of an afterthought, though. The DacMagic’s Bluetooth receiver only supports version 4.2, and we’re now seeing products sporting a whole version higher (up to Bluetooth 5.3) that offer better reliability and power efficiency. And though it’s great to see the DacMagic have a more-resolving signal than vanilla Bluetooth thanks to its aptX codec, it still falls short of the quality delivered by LDAC or aptX HD/Adaptive found on competing Bluetooth DACs. 

Best DAC/amp combo: iFi xDSD Gryphon

Tony Ware

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Why it made the cut: The iFi xDSD Gryphon is a hybrid that does it all, offering excellent wired and wireless connectivity, a built-in battery, and tons of rich, powerful sound.

Specs

  • DAC: Burr-Brown
  • Included amplifier: Up to 1000mW 
  • Bit-depth/sample rate: 32-bit/768kHz
  • Format support: PCM, DSD, DXD, MQA, DoP over S/PDIF
  • Bluetooth: Yes, 5.1

Pros

  • Outstanding sound quality, whether wired or wireless
  • Powerful built-in DAC with 3 selectable digital filters
  • Customizable sound with built-in XBass II and XSpace switches
  • Informative OLED screen

Cons

  • No track controls
  • Expensive
  • Larger for a portable

At first blush, the iFi xDSD Gryphon might seem expensive at around $600, but it’s hard to find another portable combo DAC/amp that’s quite as full-featured as this one without paying more. With a corrugated metal casing with an OLED display strip on top, outputs, and a control panel at one end and plastic-capped inputs at the other, the flask-sized Gryphon is distinctive aesthetically but truly extraordinary internally.

It features a high-quality 32-bit Burr-Brown chipset (the same one used in a multi-thousand-dollar flagship DAC/amp) with support for all manner of high-end audio, whether standard MP3s presented in HD or proprietary file types like DSD, DXD, or MQA for streaming hi-fi over TIDAL. The Gryphon outputs support balanced (4.4mm) and single-ended (3.5mm) headphones and earphones—no matter how you want to listen, this hybrid DAC is ready to offer a great experience. A Gryphon even holds the distinction of being one of our associate managing editor’s go-to components (pictured above with the equally compact, amply immersive Sennheiser IE 600 and an ASUS ROG Phone—a sweet streaming suite for a personal audio enthusiast).

The magic of the Gryphon lies in its versatility. When fully charged, you can cut the cord and use it for up to 8 hours on the go with Bluetooth streaming over SBC, AAC for iOS, and up to 96kHz using LDAC, LHDC/HWA, or aptX HD/Adaptive on Android devices. Or you plug it in via USB, Coax, or Optical and ensure that no audio bit gets adulterated by wireless compression. Once you’re listening, you can enhance bass and/or upper midrange presence, as well as soundstage, with iFi’s innovative XBass II and XSpace analog enhancements. Connected to your PC over USB-C, it will act as an external soundcard, eliminating the need for a dedicated desk setup—perfect with headphones and, when the Gryphon is accepting a digital source, ports on the back can even be used to feed an external amp or powered monitors. 

The tremendous 1000mW @ 32 ohms of power on offer over its balanced DAC connection also means the Gryphon can drive even very demanding headphones. The single-ended connection is much more limited at 320mW but is still enough to drive the vast majority of cans available today. If you’re a fan of sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs), don’t worry, because the Gryphon also offers an iEMatch mode (assignable to either output) to prevent hiss from invading your favorite tracks, while maintaining dynamics. As for the tonality, the Gryphon emphasizes not emphasizing any one thing. It respects the symmetry between impact and imaging, staying as articulate as it is energetic. Its sound-shaping features can fatten up the speedy, textured bass, but not to the detriment of organic midrange expression and shimmering treble details. 

Despite checking nearly every box an audiophile could request, there are still a few missing features here. Track controls are completely absent, so you’ll still reach for your smartphone to play or pause. I would have also liked to have seen some belt clip or travel case included because the device is about the same size as a modern smartphone and roughly twice as thick. If you’re carrying anything else in your pocket, the Gryphon isn’t likely to fit. All that said, this DAC-amp combo has set a high standard for transportable hi-fi.

Regarding DACs, iFi offers something for every scenario and budget. Got a smartdevice or laptop with USB-C ports and want a plug-in-play improvement of your audio output? The iFi GO link is a $59 dongle housing an ES9219 USB DAC and S-BAL 3.5mm headphone jack that supports 32-bit/384kHz/DSD256/MQA (and it comes with a Lightning adapter for iPhones). It’s not high-powered, but it is hi-res.

Best USB: Questyle M15

Chris Coke

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Why it made the cut: The Questyle M15 looks as good as it sounds and has power to spare.

Specs

  • DAC: ES9281AC
  • Included amplifier: 1.895 Vrms (single-ended), 2.624 Vrms (balanced)
  • Bit-depth/sample rate: 32-bit/384kHz
  • Format support: PCM, DSD, MQA
  • Bluetooth: No

Pros

  • Rich, warm sound
  • Very quiet, low background noise and distortion
  • Unique, eye-catching look
  • Very pocketable and easy to carry

Cons

  • Costly
  • Glass panel seems prone to scratching
  • No volume rocker or track controls
  • Wired only

The Questyle M15 is far from the only USB DAC on our list—everything offers USB connectivity on our list—but it is the most unique pocket DAC on our list thanks to its see-through glass side panel. However, this is not a case of putting form over function—though it is a captivating machined aluminum case. Two colorful LEDs on the circuit board indicate gain level and active bitrate. And what the M15 offers up in aesthetics, it matches in sound quality. The M15 doesn’t come cheap at $249, and usually doesn’t go on sale for much less, but it offers power, portability, and outstanding quality that make it an audiophile favorite and an all-around compelling buy. Whether you’re looking to power sensitive IEMs or even moderately demanding headphones, the M15 is versatile enough to see you through.

The Questyle M15 is small but mighty. It uses the boutique amp designer’s signature CMA (Current Mode Amplifier) SiP modules to offer up 1.895 volts through its single-ended output and 2.624 volts through its 4.4mm balanced connection. While you’ll probably want to use it with IEMs on the go for their easy portability, a physical gain switch on the side offers up the extra juice you’ll need for more demanding over-ear headphones (though we recommend sticking with the high-powered balanced output for less sensitive gear). It supports high-res audio with its ESS ES9281AC DAC, a Sabre chip that supports 32-Bit/384kHz PCM, DSD256 decoding and TIDAL’s highest-quality MQA tracks. And, with short cords terminated in both USB-C and Lightning connectors, it plays nicely with Android or iOS—and it doesn’t draw power until it’s fed signal. This small touch makes a big difference when preserving precious smartphone battery life.

What really sets the M15 apart is how silent it is. There’s no hiss, no white noise hiding behind tracks, so when your music gets quiet, it’s truly noiseless. This black background allows the M15 to step out of the way and remove the barrier between you and your music. Exceptional dynamic range and a pleasant full-bodied warmth highlight the experience, carrying you from quiet refrains to bold crescendos with impressive ease.

Like most things in life, the M15 isn’t perfect. There’s no way around how expensive it is, and at this price, it would be nice to see value-adding features like Bluetooth support, app-based sound customization, or on-board track and volume controls. The glass side-panel, while gorgeous, also seems like a prime target for scratches if you keep anything else in your pocket. Still, if you’re looking for rich sound in a striking package, it’s a great fit.

Most portable: THX Onyx

Razer

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Why it made the cut: Tiny but powerful, the THX Onyx is an extra portable DAC with a great built-in amplifier.

Specs

  • DAC: ESS9281 PRO
  • Included amplifier: 180mW (THX AAA-78)
  • Bit-depth/sample rate: 32-bit/384kHz
  • Format support: PCM, DSD, MQA
  • Bluetooth: No

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality
  • Silent background noise
  • MQA Support
  • Extra durable for extended life

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Cable is less flexible than many competing dongles
  • No track controls

If the name sounds familiar, it should: This is the same THX that’s been blowing away movie theaters with bombastic cinema sound since George Lucas co-founded it in the ’80s. The THX Onyx is a portable DAC with a built-in 180mW amplifier and is the best choice for listening on the go. Not only does it provide crystal clear and highly detailed sound thanks to its ESS9281 PRO DAC module, but it also has a THX AAA amplifier that all but eradicates background noise and distortion. It’s exceptionally good, but at $199, it’s not cheap and offers no track controls, which is a bummer.

But what makes it the best choice for portability compared to the equally packable, recommendable Questyle M15 above? Outstanding durability and the ability to fold over on itself with an invisible magnet clasp. While many other dongle DACs use plastic and weak shielding on their wires, the Onyx’s DAC and USB jack are protected by sturdy aluminum housings. The cable is guarded by silky soft yet durable rubber to ward off fraying and broken wires (though this does make it a touch less flexible). This DAC is made to last the rigors of everyday life.

While it’s not the smallest portable DAC on the market, its ability to fold over on itself adds to its portability. A small magnet near the USB port connects to the DAC, allowing it to lay flat behind your phone. In a second, the Onyx’s 8-inch length turns into a 1.5-inch curl wire, making it exceptionally pocketable.

Best for gaming: Creative Sound Blaster X4

Creative

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Why it made the cut: Made for gaming, the Creative Sound Blaster X4 is packed with features that make for a stellar entertainment experience.

Specs

  • DAC: Undisclosed
  • Included amplifier: 1.3 – 2.9 VRMs
  • Bit-depth/sample rate: 24-bit/192kHz
  • Format support: PCM, Surround 7.1, Dolby Digital Live 
  • Bluetooth: No

Pros

  • Multi-platform support: PS5, PS4, Mobile, Windows, Mac
  • Virtual surround sound and other gaming-specific features
  • Mic support with built-in communication features
  • Plentiful software controls and onboard memory

Cons

  • Plastic construction
  • Lower resolution
  • Limited file format support 

The Creative Sound Blaster X4 is tailor-made for gaming. While other DACs might work, the X4’s plentiful connectivity, built-in presets, rich software suite, and onboard memory make it the go-to choice for gamers who want to level-up their listening experience for under $150. Best of all, it offers native support for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, and even macOS. 

Once taken out of its box, you’ll first notice its bold and easy-to-grab volume knob. The next thing you’ll notice is its sheer amount of inputs and outputs. As a gaming device, there are ports for both a headset and a microphone on the front edge. Around the back is a full set of surround sound speaker ports and line-in, optical line-out, and USB jacks. The X4 comes with several clickable presets to quickly tailor the sound for gaming, music, or movies without ever opening a piece of software.

But it would be best if you planned on using the software suite because that’s where you’ll be able to tap into the full suite of options. A 10-band EQ allows you to tailor the sound and save those to the device. You can also enable gaming-specific features like virtual surround sound, SXFI Battle Mode, and Scout Mode to enhance situational awareness, and even enhance the quality of your microphone with noise removal and a vocal equalizer.

The biggest downside to the Creative Sound Blaster X4 is that, since it leans so heavily into its gaming features, it falls short when it comes to resolution and file support. There is no MQA decoding for high-quality streaming over TIDAL, and quality is limited to 24-bit/192kHz. That’s enough for a great listening experience but definitely falls short of other options on this list. 

Best on a budget: JDS Labs Atom DAC+

JDS Labs

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Why it made the cut: This affordable DAC is a no-muss, no-fuss gateway to great audio on a budget.

Specs

  • DAC: ES9018K2M
  • Included amplifier: No 
  • Bit-depth/sample rate: 32-bit/384kHz
  • Format support: PCM, DSD
  • Bluetooth: No

Pros

  • Simple setup
  • Improves upon the popular Atom DAC
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Lacks added features
  • Plastic construction
  • Requires a separate amp

The JDS Labs Atom DAC+ is the successor to one of the company’s most popular products: the original Atom DAC. This time around, the company has changed DAC chips from AKM to ESS, but what really matters is that they’ve managed to fine-tune it to deliver less distortion, more clarity, and improved dynamic range. While the DAC+ doesn’t push any limits with its sample rate, it can deliver a clear, detailed sound on the cheap. 

Coming in at only $119, you have to expect some concessions. There’s no built-in amp, so this device is for conversion only. Buying a matched set with the Atom Amp+ adds another $99 but allows you to stack the devices into a veritable tower of power. Outputs are also limited to only a single pair of RCA jacks. The DAC+ does support TOSLINK-in for optical sound, standard USB Type-B for connecting to a computer, however, and includes an external power brick for clean, consistent power to keep it running smoothly.

Looking for something you can snag with Prime Shipping? Schiit Audio’s Modi 3+ is another great option that supports up to 24/192 resolutions through an ​​AK4490 delta-sigma DAC housed in a sturdy aluminum case with a toggle switch to select between Micro USB, Coax, and Optical inputs. Like the Atom DAC+, there’s no built-in amplifier. Still, Schiit also sells the Magni 3+ to accept the Modi’s output via RCA, and it’s identically sized for easy stacking and powerful enough to drive most headphones.

Things to consider before buying one of the best DACs

Choosing the best DAC can be confusing. Even as someone who has been in the hobby for several years, I still find myself researching the differences between different DACs and their features, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. There are a few key things to remember that can help any DAC shopper. Here are the most important points to consider before pulling the trigger.

Portable or desktop

Do you aim to listen at home or on the go? That should be the first question you ask before seriously shopping for a new DAC. Desktop DACs are often larger and require external power, either over USB or from a standard wall outlet. Portable DACs are much smaller and are made for travel. They sometimes include batteries to preserve the life of your smartphone and may even include a Bluetooth receiver for wireless listening. 

Though you’ll often pay more for the freedom they offer, portable DACs can usually connect to your PC as well, thanks to their USB connectivity. That doesn’t mean they’re exactly the same or the best fit for home listening, however. Since they’re made to be self-enclosed units, DACs like the Chord Mojo 2 and FiiO Q1 won’t integrate with larger audio systems as easily (or at all) and lack connections for dedicated speakers. If all you’re using are headphones and in-ear monitors, a good portable DAC can be a perfect choice, but if you have other audio equipment already, standalone options like the iFi Audio Zen DAC or AudioEngine D1 are a better fit.

What DAC chip does it use?

The job of any DAC is the same: to convert the digital output of a computer or smartdevice into an analog impulse that headphones and speakers can play. This processing is done through a small computer chip, and if you’ve ever plugged in a pair of monitors into a headphone jack, you’ve heard the results. But even though the end goal is the same, not all DACs are created equal or go about their conversion similarly. The first thing to know before hitting that “Buy Now” button is exactly what DAC chipset your device is actually using.

There are several major brands in the DAC world, but very few actually produce their own conversion chips. Instead, they utilize chipsets from other brands, like ESS, AKM, Cirrus-Logic, and Burr-Brown. Like any good tech brand, these companies scale their products to offer different features and match the calibers of DAC they may be implemented in. 

Some of them have better features, like support for boutique file formats or higher-resolution playback. Others offer less measurable noise and distortion (though whether you’ll actually hear the improvement isn’t a given). Many users report certain sound characteristics aligning with different DAC chipsets. ESS DACs, for example, are frequently described as being more resolving, which can mean sharper, more “exciting” treble. Conversely, AKM DACs are “warmer,” which typically means weightier bass with slightly less treble. Some people may love the operating system of their DAP (digital audio player) but aren’t as sold on the output of its headphone jack(s), so they might tether it to a DAC/AMP to enjoy a specific sound signature. It’s important to note that a DAC isn’t intended to color the sound to the noticeable degree of a tube amp, for example, but rather to remove anything taking away from the signal. So don’t expect huge flavor fluctuations between brands on identical settings.

While most DACs clearly label which chip they’re built around, deciphering the differences between chips isn’t always straightforward. It usually means taking a close look at feature and specification lists to determine whether they will make a real-world impact on your listening experience. On the technical side, you’ll need to look at specifications like bit-depth and sample rate. Others, like frequency response and signal-to-noise ratio, are also important to determine the sound’s scope and clarity. Before buying any DAC, it’s a good idea to type that particular chipset into Google and read some expert impressions about its performance and what real listeners like yourself are saying.

But specs aren’t all …

Connectivity and playback options

Two other important considerations when choosing a DAC are its connectivity and playback options. Connectivity refers to its inputs, outputs, and wireless connection options. Can it receive audio the way you’d like to send it: USB, optical, or coaxial? Once it receives that audio, how can it send it back out again? 

The output options are especially key. Depending on the model you’re interested in, you may find that its outputs are either too limited or too plentiful, which means you’re probably paying for features you don’t need. Suppose your amplifier or headphones use a balanced connection (circuitry common for high-end headphones, earphones, and amps pairing conductors that can deliver higher power and lower interference). In that case, it’s also important to double-check that your DAC supports that configuration so everything connects properly and takes full advantage of your equipment. (It is possible to damage incompatible equipment, so match accordingly.) 

Along with that, and directly related to the first consideration we discussed, you need to ensure that the DAC can support the file types and streaming services you would most like to use. Premium streaming service TIDAL’s Master Quality tracks may sound the best to your ears. Still, you’ll need a DAC that can properly decode those files because they use a format known as MQA, or Master Quality Authenticated—a form of compression that “folds” and “unfolds” audio at varying resolution levels to stream higher bitrates efficiently, and not all DACs can take full advantage of it. It can also be wise to think ahead about what you might like to listen to in the future. You might not listen to high-resolution DSD (Direct Stream Digital) files right now, but if you fall deeper into the hobby, you may want the option down the line. Planning ahead may cost a little more upfront but can save you a bundle from buying a whole new DAC in the future.  

Does it include a headphone amplifier?

Even the best DAC is useless without a dedicated amplifier or integrated AV receiver or other means to power the headphones or speakers connected to it. Some DACs, often called hybrids or combos, solve this problem by having an amp built-in. The Chord Hugo 2 is an ultra-high-end version of exactly such a device, but you don’t have to break the bank to find a quality all-in-one solution. Fiio’s E10K Olympus 2 is only $100 and can fulfill your DAC and amp needs in one tiny, affordable box. 

If you do choose a hybrid DAC, be sure to check its output power. Most modern headphones don’t require a lot of juice to drive, but some audiophile favorites and mixing headphones still do, like the Sennheiser HD650, HIFIMAN Sundara, or beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro. Because every headphone is different, it’s difficult to say exactly how much power you’ll need. We recommend putting your headphones through a power calculator to determine how many milliwatts and volts you’ll need for your preferred headphones. 

Price

Finally, we come to the price. The cost of audio gear can range widely, whereas one DAC might be $200, another might be $2,000, even when running similar chipsets. Does that second DAC really sound 10 times better than the first? Probably not (though it’s almost certainly an improvement). So much of the hi-fi hobby is about incremental gains and those margins only become thinner as the price scales up. Diminishing returns are a very real consideration for anyone in the audio hobby.

If you’re new to the world of DACs and amps, it’s wise to set yourself a reasonable budget and stick to it. Just because something is more expensive doesn’t mean it will sound better. This is especially true when you’re early in the hobby and may be unable to hear the difference between two DACs—even when others claim to. Research the options that meet your needs and budget and choose the best option among the bunch. 

FAQs

Q: Are DACs really worth it?

Absolutely, but don’t expect your listening experience to be completely different. The most noticeable upgrade many listeners experience is when switching from the built-in audio on their PC, for example, to an external DAC for the first time. This is because an external DAC physically separates its audio components from the rest of the computer, reducing or eliminating electrical interference that comes through and white noise, digital artifacts, and distortion through your headphones. The experience is often enhanced by the fact that dedicated DACs are almost always better and more feature-rich than the integrated chips built into motherboards. 

Beyond this point, DACs tend to offer incremental improvements. While there are differences in sound quality, usually these can be difficult to hear for less experienced listeners. Investing in the best DAC is first about investing in a dedicated audio solution. After that, it’s about allowing your headphones to play at their full potential across multiple file types and sources.

Q: Is an expensive DAC worth it?

Expensive DACs rely on premium components and boutique engineering to push the listening experience to its theoretical maximum. Premium DACs often tout distortion levels far below audible levels and include features like femtosecond clocks that keep the timing of its audio bits to the quadrillionth of a second. In short: much of the “quality” difference isn’t going to be something you can actually hear. 

That doesn’t mean pricier DACs have nothing to offer, however. More expensive DACs tend to include advanced features like full MQA decoding for TIDAL’s highest-quality Master tracks (cheaper DACs can be limited or not support MQA at all) or high-resolution DSD playback. They’ll typically offer more, and better, connectivity, which includes features like high-resolution wireless streaming. It’s not uncommon for expensive DACs to look the part of a prestige product either, allowing them to fit right into showpiece audio setups. 

Like any expensive hobby, however, these high-end items are best suited for people heavily invested in the hobby. Since audio quality improvements will be marginal or even imperceptible beyond the $100 to $200 level, it’s best to decide on the features you want first and choose a reasonable budget to attain them.

Q: Does a DAC make a difference with Spotify?

It can, but not as much as competing streaming services like Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer, or Amazon Music HD. This is because Spotify, even at its highest quality setting of 320kbps (MP3 quality), is still lossy. Compared to lossless streaming platforms, which deliver bitrates at or well-exceeding 1411kbps (16-bit, or CD quality), music streamed through Spotify has more compression and “loses” data, dropping quality below the level of a physical CD. Since the DAC is receiving compressed data, the result isn’t as impressive as from other lossless sources.

Just because you listen to Spotify doesn’t mean getting a DAC is a bad idea. If you’re listening through your computer’s built-in audio jack, you’re likely hearing subtle background noise that can degrade sound quality even further. In my own experience, I found that listening to Spotify through a dedicated amp/DAC hybrid made music sound clearer and more detailed. If you’re not noticing background noise, however, you’ll likely find upgrading your headphones provides a bigger improvement to sound quality overall.

Q: Do I need an amp if I have a DAC?

Yes, no, and maybe. A DAC is fundamentally intended solely to convert a digital signal to analog. Once rendered, that analog signal will need to be amplified in some manner to be heard through a speaker, whether that’s freestanding tranducers or the drivers in your headphones/earbuds. All but our budget pick includes an integrated amp, so if you buy one of those and have headphones that aren’t overly demanding, you’re golden. One and done. However, there are power-hungry headphones, and, in that case, you might need an external amp capable of feeding them enough current (or stepping up to a DAC/amp combo with kick, like the HiFiMAN EF400, among others). Or, perhaps, you just want a different flavor of sound, such as the sonic character of tubes. In that case, you also need to purchase a specific type of amplifier; just made sure your DAC and amp have compatible connections.

Final thoughts on the best DACs

Choosing a DAC can be a daunting task. There’s a lot to consider and many specs to sort through. At the end of the day, it’s one of the most fundamental upgrades you can make, right alongside buying new headphones and a new amplifier. Since DACs don’t always make as profound an impact on sound quality as other components, you don’t have to feel pressured to spend exorbitant amounts of cash—though they can reveal more layers as you move up the price tiers. Hi-fi is a hobby that can grow with you, and, like the very best of them, there’s always more to experience.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best DACs for 2023, as chosen by experts appeared first on Popular Science.

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Your checklist for maximum smartphone security https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/phone-security-protect-accounts/ Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://stg.popsci.com/uncategorized/phone-security-protect-accounts/
It's easy to take back control of your data with this smartphone security checklist.
Use this security checklist to make sure you're the only person accessing the data on your phone. Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

If you think someone might've been snooping on your phone, this is how to take back your privacy.

The post Your checklist for maximum smartphone security appeared first on Popular Science.

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It's easy to take back control of your data with this smartphone security checklist.
Use this security checklist to make sure you're the only person accessing the data on your phone. Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

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Everyone wants the data on their phone to stay private, and Android and iOS come with a variety of security features that will prevent other people from sneaking a peek.

If you suspect someone is snooping on you, there are some simple steps you can follow to secure your information, as well as a few warning signs to look out for to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.

How to keep your lock screen secure

Whether you use a PIN code or a biometric feature (like your face or fingerprint) your phone’s lock screen is the first barrier against unauthorized access.

You can customize lock screen security on Android by going to Settings, Security & privacy, Device lock, and then Screen lock. Meanwhile, from the Settings app on iOS, choose either Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Password depending on which biometric security method is built into your iPhone.

[Related: 7 secure messaging apps you should be using]

You should also make sure the screen on your device locks as soon as possible after you’ve stopped using it—otherwise, someone could surreptitiously swipe it while you’re not looking before the locking mechanism kicks in. On Android, open Settings, then go to Display and Screen timeout to set how quickly the screen should turn off—your options go from 15 seconds to 30 minutes. Over in iOS settings, pick Display & Brightness, then Auto-Lock. The shorter the time period you set here, the more secure your data is.

If you need to lend your phone to someone, but still worry about their unfettered access to your handset, know that you can lock people inside one particular app or prevent them from installing anything while you’re not looking. We’ve gone deeper into these features and other similar security options, for both Android and iOS.

How to avoid spyware on your phone

Thanks to the security protocols in place on Android and iOS, it’s actually quite difficult for spying software to get on your phone without your knowledge. To succeed, someone would need to physically access your phone and install a monitoring app, or trick you into clicking on a link, opening a dodgy email attachment, or downloading something from outside your operating system’s official app store. You should see a warning if you do any of these things by mistake, but because it’s easy to disregard those notifications, you should always be careful what you click on.

Android and iOS don’t allow apps to hide, so even if someone has gained access to your handset to install an app that’s keeping tabs on you, you’ll be able to see it. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, and then See all apps. If you see something you don’t recognize, tap the item on the list and choose Uninstall. Within iOS, just check the main apps list in Settings. As the device’s owner, you can uninstall anything you don’t recognize or trust—you won’t break your phone by removing apps, so don’t hesitate if there’s something you’re unsure about.

If you want to do a bit more detective work, you can check the permissions of any suspicious apps. These will show up when you tap through on the apps list from the screens just mentioned—on Android, tap on an app and go to Permissions; on iOS tap an app name from the main Settings page and check what it’s allowed to access. In terms of notifications, system settings, device monitoring, and other special permissions, Android gives apps slightly more leeway than iOS—you can check up on these by going to Settings and choosing Apps and Special app access.

If you think your phone might have been compromised in some way, make sure you back up all of your data and perform a full reset. This should remove shady apps, block unauthorized access, and put you back in control. From Android’s settings page, choose System, Reset options, and Erase all data (factory reset). On iOS, open Settings, then pick General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, and Reset.

Watch what you’re sharing

Apple and Google make it easy for you to share your location, photos, and calendars with other people. But this sort of sharing might have been enabled without your knowledge, or you may have switched it on in the past and now want to deactivate it.

If you’re on an iPhone, open the Settings app, tap your Apple ID or name at the top of the screen, open Find My, and see who can view your location at all times. You can revoke access for everyone by turning off the toggle switch next to Share My Location or remove individuals by touching their name followed by Stop Sharing My Location. You can audit shared photo albums from the Shared Albums section of the Albums tab in Photos, and shared calendars from the Calendars screen in the Calendar app. If you’re in a Family Sharing group that you no longer want to be a part of, open Settings, tap your Apple ID or name, and choose Leave Family.

[Related: How to securely store and share sensitive files]

Android handles location sharing with other people through Google Maps. Tap your avatar (top right), then Location sharing to check who can see your location and to stop them, if necessary. You can check your shared photo albums in Google Photos by tapping the Sharing tab at the bottom of the screen, but you’ll need to open up Google Calendar on the web to edit shared calendars. Hover over the name of a calendar on the left sidebar and click the three dots that appear, and on the emerging menu, select Settings and sharing to see who can view your schedule.

Google Families works in a similar way to Apple Family Sharing, with certain notes and calendars marked as accessible by everyone, though no one will be able to see any personal files unless the owner specifically shares them. If you want to leave a family group, open the Play Store app on Android, and tap your avatar (top left). Once you’re there, go to Settings, Family, and Manage family members. Then, in the top right, tap the three dots and Leave family group.

Protect your accounts

With so much of our digital lives now stored in the cloud, hacking these services is arguably an easier route into your data than physically accessing your phone. If your Apple or Google account gets compromised, your emails, photos, notes, calendars, and messages could all be vulnerable, and you wouldn’t necessarily know it.

The usual password rules apply: Don’t repeat credentials across multiple accounts and make sure they’re easy for you to remember while remaining impossible for anyone else to guess. This includes even those closest to you, so avoid names, birthdays, and pet names.

Two-step authentication (2FA) is available on most digital accounts, so switch it on wherever you can. For Apple accounts, visit this page and click Account Security; for Google accounts, click your avatar on any of the company’s services, go to Manage account, Security, and click on 2-Step Verification.

It’s a good idea to regularly check how many devices are logging in using your Google or Apple account credentials as well. On Android, open Settings and pick Google, Manage your Google account, and Security. Scroll down and under Your devices you’ll see a list of all the gadgets linked to your Google account. You can remove any of them by tapping on their name, followed by Sign out. On an iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top to see devices linked to your account—you can tap on one and then choose Remove from Account to revoke its access to your Apple account.

As long as you have 2FA set up, any unwelcome visitor should be blocked from signing straight back into your account, even if they know your password. But to be safe, if you discover some sort of unauthorized access, we’d still recommend changing your password. It’s also a good idea to do this regularly to make sure that only your devices have access to your data.

This story has been updated. It was originally published on January 21, 2021.

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Scientists turned a smartphone into an affordable microscope https://www.popsci.com/technology/fluorescence-microscope-smartphone-filter/ Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=518495
Stem cells seen through fluorescence microscope
The DIY version won't get you shots as good as this, but it's still pretty impressive. Deposit Photos

Fluorescence microscopes often run thousands of dollars, but researchers figured out a way to make a cost-effective alternative for K-12 education.

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Stem cells seen through fluorescence microscope
The DIY version won't get you shots as good as this, but it's still pretty impressive. Deposit Photos

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Fluorescence microscopes used to examine samples labeled by fluorescent stains or proteins are an invaluable resource across a variety of laboratories. Unfortunately, a decent one could set you back thousands of dollars, meaning the tools usually stay within well-funded research environments and academic settings. But a team from Minnesota’s Winona State University recently demonstrated that not only can you assemble a decent substitute using the average smartphone or tablet—it will only set you back between $30 and $50.

As detailed today via a proof-of-principle paper published in Scientific Reports, researchers have unveiled their “glowscope,” a small plexiglass and plywood frame clip-on attachment for phones and tablets. The tool utilizes a recreational LED flashlight alongside the device camera’s theater stage lighting filters to ostensibly build a fluorescence microscope accessory. In tests, specimens were illuminated using the LED light while a filter placed over the camera lens omitted certain light wavelengths to enable fluorescent light visualization.

[Related: How to build a solar microscope.]

In their demonstrations, the paper’s authors used their DIY glowscope to provide roughly five-fold magnification on live zebrafish embryos measuring just two-to-three millimeters long. With the embryos’ fluorescent protein expressions, they were able to observe zebrafish spinal cords, hindbrains, and cardiac tissue. From there, researchers were able to measure their subjects’ heart rates, and even the movements of individual heart chambers once they enhanced video clarity through preexisting free software.

Phones photo
Credit: Winona State University

Because of their easy assembly and low costs, researchers believe the glowscope could become an extremely useful asset to K-12 schools otherwise lacking the funds for high-tech science tools. Not only that, but the team argues laboratories could even assemble their own glowscopes to complement their existing fluorescence microscopy equipment, thus saving them money, as well.

[Related: Scientists made the highest-ever resolution microscope.]

“Providing students with opportunities to make their own observations, form models and predictions, acquire and interpret data, and use this to revise their models and understanding are common takeaways from life science education studies,” the team wrote in their paper. “Use of devices such as glowscopes… can support these goals of allowing students to learn about science by doing science. In this way, students will build their own understanding of concepts rather than try to absorb information delivered in lecture format.”

You don’t need to go back to junior high school or visit a well-funded laboratory to see a glowscope in action, either. The team even made all their instructions and materials available for readers to assemble their fluorescence microscope filters in the comfort of their own homes—zebrafish not included.

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Pick two OtterBox products and get 22% off with this angelic deal https://www.popsci.com/gear/otterbox-case-charger-bundle-sale/ Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:55:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=514747
An OtterBox case and MagSafe charger on a periwinkle background
Amanda Reed

If you're looking for a sign to upgrade your phone case, consider this deal from OtterBox as one.

The post Pick two OtterBox products and get 22% off with this angelic deal appeared first on Popular Science.

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An OtterBox case and MagSafe charger on a periwinkle background
Amanda Reed

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In numerology, angel numbers are a repeating sequence of numbers you can’t seem to get away from—if you glance at your phone or the clock and keep seeing the same time, the universe might be trying to tell you something. “Two” represents duality and reflection. If you’ve thought, “I need a new phone case and screen protector for my phone,” consider this “pick two products, get 22% off” deal from Otterbox your sign to click “add to cart” before it ends tomorrow.

3-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe $116.96 (Was $149.95) + iPhone 14 Pro Case for MagSafe Symmetry Series+ Antimicrobial $38.96 (Was $38.96)

OtterBox

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We think a wireless charger and a MagSafe-compliant case are the perfect combo to take advantage of this deal. And this Symmetry Series+ Antimicrobial case for the iPhone 14 and 3-in-1 charging station with MagSafe are the best of those respective things. The case is protective and durable while maintaining the iPhone’s sleek design. And, it’s made for MagSafe (like my personal, but currently not on sale, case, the Otterbox OtterGrip Symmetry Series). This means you won’t have to gamble with compliance upon purchase. The case’s antimicrobial properties also reduce germs to protect the phone’s integrity. Simply place it onto the 3-in-1 charging station to make the MagSafe magic happen. It can also charge your Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 simultaneously—talk about multihyphenate.

This sale ends this Friday, Feb. 24, so check out OtterBox’s other top sellers that qualify for the deal. Heads-up, this bundle deal is only available on the OtterBox site. However …

Here are other OtterBox products on sale on Amazon:

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A new smartphone chip could keep your cell signal alive in crowded places https://www.popsci.com/technology/smartphone-chip-interferences/ Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=513939
Two gloved hands opening a smartphone on a workbench
A new design could ease headaches caused by slow smartphones in crowded areas. Deposit Photos

Slow phones in a crowded zone could hopefully soon be a thing of the past.

The post A new smartphone chip could keep your cell signal alive in crowded places appeared first on Popular Science.

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Two gloved hands opening a smartphone on a workbench
A new design could ease headaches caused by slow smartphones in crowded areas. Deposit Photos

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You’re not imagining things—your phone often doesn’t work as well when stuck in a large crowd. More people means more competing signals and data requests, meaning phones eventually fail to connect with their networks and thus create a backlog of demand. This, in turns, slows down everyone’s speeds while also frequently draining device batteries faster than usual.

However, the days of grimacing at your phone while at a concert or basketball game may soon be behind you, however, thanks to a new development from a research team at MIT.

“Imagine you’re at a party with loud music and you want to listen to your own music using headphones. But the outside noise is so loud that you can’t hear your own music unless you turn on the noise cancellation feature, ” posits Soroush Araei, an MIT graduate student in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and lead author of the project’s paper showcased this week at the International Solid-States Circuits Conference

[Related: What happens after the 3G network dies?]

“Well, a similar thing happens with the wireless signals all around us,” he explains. “Devices like your iPhone need to detect signals from WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 5G radio, but these signals can interfere with each other. To detect all the signals, your device needs multiple bulky filters outside the chip, which can be expensive.”

These necessary bulky filters may be more accurate now. Araei’s team developed a new method to bring the filtering technology within the chip itself to cover a large spectrum of frequencies. The improved design could greatly reduce production costs, make devices smaller and more efficient, and potentially even improve battery life.

“In short, our research can make your devices work better with fewer dropped calls or poor connections caused by interference from other devices,” says Araei.

The team’s advances work using something called a “mixer-first architecture” to identify and block unwanted interferences without harming a phone’s performance. In this setup, a radio frequency signal is converted into a lower frequency as soon as it is received by a device. From there, the signal’s digital bits are extracted via an analog-to-digital converter.

As useful as that is, there’s still the issue of harmonic interference to solve, which refers to  signals possessing bandwidths that are multiples of a specific device’s operating frequency. A phone operating at 1 gigahertz (GHz), for example, has harmonic inferences caused by signals at 2, 3, 4(and so on) GHz. During the signal conversion, these harmonic interferences can be virtually indistinguishable from the actual intended frequency, and muck up the whole process.

[Related: AT&T just shut down its 3G network. Here’s how it could affect your car.]

MIT researchers combined the mixer-first architecture alongside other techniques such as capacitor stacking and charge sharing to block harmonic interference issues while not losing any of the desired information.

“People have used these techniques, charge sharing and capacitor stacking, separately before, but never together. We found that both techniques must be done simultaneously to get this benefit. Moreover, we have found out how to do this in a passive way within the mixer without using any additional hardware while maintaining signal integrity and keeping the costs down,” Araei also added.

To test out their new configurations, the team sent out a desired signal alongside harmonic interferences, then measured the novel chip’s abilities. The results were impressive—the upgraded device effectively blocked out the harmonics at a minimal loss of signal strength, while also being able to handle signals over 40 times more powerful than existing, state-of-the-art receivers. And all this from a piece of hardware that is far cheaper, smaller, and less production heavy than what’s currently available. Because it doesn’t require any additional hardware, the new architecture could also soon be manufactured easily at scale for future generations of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. 

The post A new smartphone chip could keep your cell signal alive in crowded places appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best MagSafe accessories of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-magsafe-accessories/ Thu, 30 Jun 2022 19:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=453602
Best MagSafe accessories sliced header
Stan Horaczek

There is a massive ecosystem of iPhone accessories, and MagSafe is the one ring that wants to rule them all.

The post The best MagSafe accessories of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best MagSafe accessories sliced header
Stan Horaczek

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Best overall Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 3-in-1 charging pad is the best overall MagSafe accessory. Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 3-in-1 Charging Pad
SEE IT

An Apple enthusiast’s simplest solution for charging all the essentials.

Best charger Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger is the best charger for MagSafe accessory. Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger
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Classy as it is convenient, this compact charger helps simplify packing.

Best battery OtterBox wireless 5K mAh power bank is the best battery. OtterBox wireless 5K mAh Power Bank
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Two-sided MagSafe compatibility adds versatility to this potent pint-sized battery backup.

If you’ve ever woken up and, groggily lumbering toward the bathroom, started the day by tripping over an iPhone charging cable, you know you felt no shame audibly cheering the first time you used a MagSafe accessory. MagSafe, Apple’s magnetic connector for electronic devices, started as an improvement for MacBook power cords in 2006. But it was with the introduction of the iPhone 12 in 2020 that the MagSafe name became synonymous with the much wider world of wireless power transfer and magnetic attachment products. Having a phone and a MagSafe-compatible charger saves you the problem of having the right cord with the right connector that’s the right length to be lined up just right; when that green circle lights up the iPhone screen, one less worry fills your mind. Not every MagSafe accessory involves power but they do all involve that feeling of security. Here’s our selection of the best MagSafe accessories to make sure your iPhone is fully charged and fastened when and where you need it to be.

How we chose the best MagSafe accessories

As gadget geeks and serial upgraders, many of us have a recent iPhone. And considering how many devices we regularly test, requiring us to keep track of yet another interconnect, being able to wrangle one less tangle is a godsend. This is why we are both fans and intimate friends with many MagSafe accessories. Combining this firsthand experience with peer recommendations, critical reviews, and user impressions, we put together a list of potential inclusions from top manufacturers—including Belkin, Mophie, OtterBox, and more—then narrowed down the dozens of options to these picks.

The best MagSafe accessories: Reviews & Recommendations

MagSafe is a quality-of-life improvement you didn’t know you needed, but once you have it, you don’t understand why you didn’t this whole time. Here are our top picks for some of the best MagSafe accessories, focusing on accessories that offer charging.

Best overall: Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 3-in-1 charging pad

Belkin

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Why it made the cut: This unassuming silicone-clad slab packs a sweet suite of Apple device chargers into a low-profile accessory.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 9.8 x 5 x 3.66 inches
  • Weight: 1.74 pounds
  • Power: Up to 15W MagSafe

Pros

  • Charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and wireless earbuds simultaneously
  • Full 15W MagSafe charging capability
  • Apple Watch Series 7 fast charge supported
  • Apple Watch can be charged flat or in Nightstand mode

Cons

  • Not the cheapest charging pad

Fans of maximized minimalism will love this Belkin 3-in-1 charging stand. It’s an Apple enthusiast’s simplest solution for charging all the essentials, with dedicated spots for a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, an Apple Watch, and wireless-compatible AirPods

Despite being a three-device dream, it’s an unassuming silicone-clad slab—available in Black or White with a soft-matte finish and subtle chrome accents—and it’s a lay-flat design that can be easily packed for on-the-go use. The MagSafe iPhone platform offers full 15W charging, with or without an official MagSafe case on your device (an included 40W adapter ensures the full output). While the Watch puck is adjustable, allowing any size Watch to be oriented as an alarm clock in Nightstand mode—and enabling fast charge for compatible Apple Watch Series 8 models. And the AirPods panel includes an LED indicator, so you know the wireless charging is active. 

Stable without being too hefty, the Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE PRO is the top third-party MagSafe charger and fills an important gap in Apple’s own offerings.

Best charging dock: Nomad Base One Max charger

Nomad

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Why it made the cut: Nomad’s Base One Max is a sturdy 2-in-1 Made for iPhone-certified charger made of metal, glass, and soft-touch rubber.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 7.44 x 3.54 x 1.8 inches
  • Weight: 2 pounds
  • Power: Up to 15W MagSafe, Requires 30W charging brick

Pros

  • Beautiful design
  • Weight keeps it anchored
  • Apple Watch charges in Nightstand Mode

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Doesn’t support Apple Watch 7 fast charge
  • Doesn’t come with a charging brick

Nomad’s Base One Max is a hefty 2-in-1 charger that emphasizes design and utility. Available in Carbide or Silver, it features a solid metal and glass design along with subtle soft-touch accents to keep your devices protected, and it looks and feels more like a centerpiece rather than just another accessory.

The integrated Apple Watch charger props up the wearable in Nightstand Mode, while the 15W MFi MagSafe pad provides a satisfying thunk every time you place your iPhone down to charge. The charging pad is also compatible with other Qi-enabled devices so that you can charge your AirPods in between Zoom meetings.

Although the Base One Max is heavy at 2 pounds, its weight allows it to stay anchored when you reach for your device, and the rubber base ensures it won’t move around. The Base One Max comes with a 6-foot braided USB-C cable, but you’ll have to supply your own charging brick. It also doesn’t support fast charge on the Apple Watch.

While the Base One Max is pricey and not as transportable as our best overall pick, its thoughtful, high-quality design makes it one of the most elegant MagSafe options for a designated iPhone charging station.

Best charger: Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger

ZAGG

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Why it made the cut: Simplify your packing without sacrificing anything with this elegant wireless charging solution.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 0.4 x 12.3 x 3.2 inches
  • Weight: 9.92 ounces
  • Power: 7.5W, 15W MagSafe

Pros

  • Compact yet complete charging suite
  • Sophisticated aesthetics
  • Apple Watch can be oriented in Nightstand mode

Cons

  • As pricy as a permanent pad, but not as solid

Classy as it is convenient, the Mophie 3-in-1 travel charger with MagSafe is an easily packable trifold charger that comes with all the accessories needed, all tucked within an elegant felt organizer. Inside this backpack, briefcase, or maybe even belt bag-friendly case, you’ll find three pockets for the charger, a 30W USB-C PD wall adapter, and an included 1m USB-C to USB-C cable.

Unfurl the heathered grey fabric-wrapped hub and three pads will be revealed, ​​with a dedicated cradle for AirPods, a magnetized disc for iPhone, and a magnetized puck for Apple Watch. This charger powers all three simultaneously from a single cable plugged into the Watch platform. Perfect for pleasurable jaunts and business trips alike, this stylish set-up starts your devices charging on contact, so you’ll be ready to touch base with all your contacts in the morning.    

Best car mount: Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE Magnetic Wireless Car Charger

Belkin

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Why it made the cut: This vent-mounted charger helps you steer without your iPhone sliding around and driving you crazy. 

Specs

  • Dimensions: 1.68 x 3.98 x 5.43 inches
  • Weight: 3.35 ounces
  • Power: Up to 10W

Pros

  • Easily mounted/removed on a vehicle air vent
  • Keeps phone secure, accessible, and charged during navigation

Cons

  • Requires you to run a cable from the console to charge
  • Placement might require some adjusting, based on vent blades

It may not quite be the jetpacks that the future promised, but having a MagSafe mount in the car definitely changed how I travel for the better. Securing my iPhone conveniently as fast, if not faster, than I fasten my own seatbelt, not having to fish out a charging cable, then detaching the phone just as expediently when I get to my destination is perhaps the greatest expression of MagSafe’s life-changing properties. 

Easily clamped to an air vent, the Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE magnetic wireless charging mount holds an iPhone firmly within sight even when traffic patterns shift abruptly. If you must keep an eye on a screen for navigation purposes (I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt you won’t play videos or other distractions while driving), it’s far better to situate your phone in an optimal place to the side of the steering column rather than have you fumbling for it with only one hand on the wheel. 

In addition to firmly holding the phone in place (in either vertical or horizontal orientation), the Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE can be plugged into (what was once) the cigarette lighter with the included 20W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 car power supply and charge your iPhone while driving. This helps compensate for energy-intensive programs like Waze and Google Maps keeping your display and GPS continually active. The road may be full of bumps, but at least your phone won’t flip or its battery dip with this convenient accessory.  

Best phone case: Otterbox OtterGrip Symmetry Series

Amanda Reed

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Why it made the cut: Enter the world of MagSafe without having to get rid of a phone grip.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 6.02 x 3.11 x .53 inches
  • Weight: 1.76 ounces
  • Power: N/A

Pros

  • Combines MagSafe compliance with easy grip
  • Durable
  • Doesn’t interfere with phone buttons

Cons

  • OtterGrip not a complete replacement for the PopSocket
  • More of a phone grip than a phone stand

Thanks to increasingly more content and the pixels needed to display it, smartphones have gotten bigger and bigger over the last decade. For people with the small, dainty hands of a 19th-century child working in a watch factory, phone grips like PopSockets provided a handle to prevent some accidental drops and smartphone pinky. However, these add-ons meant that anyone using one could never fully experience the convenience of MagSafe—an iPhone‘s back cover has to be easily accessible so that compatible accessories can sit flush and align their magnetic array. Sure, you can buy a PopSocket that attaches using MagSafe, but then you’re taking it on and off and potentially losing it. That changes with the Otterbox OtterGrip Symmetry Series case, originally announced in January 2023 at CES and now available. The OtterGrip gives you the best of both worlds, allowing you to have an integrated phone grip and use any of the MagSafe chargers, mounts, batteries, etc., you see on this page. Simply pull the grip away from the case to use it, and snap it back in place when you decide to place it on a wireless charger or car mount. The grip also rotates 360 degrees for ergonomics.

The OtterGrip is also incredibly durable without the chonk. Some may think “big, bulky case” when they hear the name OtterBox, but that’s no longer the, well, case. There’s a better “click” on the volume and lock buttons compared to my old Speck Gemshell case, which has a slim profile, all things considered. The OtterGrip is actually slimmer than the Speck Gemshell using a separate phone grip, with higher drop protection.

If you use a PopSocket-like grip for a phone stand, however, you might want to pass on the OtterGrip case—it’s hard to balance the phone and get it to stay in place without the grip snapping back into place. The OtterGrip isn’t a one-to-one replacement for the PopSocket in terms of feeling, and there is some getting used to the experience. But being able to use MagSafe and feel more secure when you’re holding your expensive pocket computer is worth the learning curve.

Best battery: OtterBox wireless 5K mAh power bank

OtterBox

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Why it made the cut: Two-sided MagSafe compatibility adds versatility to this potent pint-sized battery backup.

Specs

  • Dimensions: 6.69 x 4.25 x 0.39 inches
  • Weight: 6.5 ounces
  • Power: 5W Qi, 7.5W MagSafe

Pros

  • Magnets on both sides allow connections to a phone and mount simultaneously
  • Wireless input and wireless output
  • LED indicators for charge status/battery life

Cons

  • No magnetic stabilizing strip leaves the opportunity for the power bank to rotate 
  • Not the biggest capacity available in a wireless power bank

The Otterbox wireless 5K mAh power bank tops the battery category not only because of what it can hold and also how you can hold it. It doesn’t have the capacity of, say, Belkin’s equally recommendable BOOST↑CHARGE Wireless Charger 10K, but only holding half the charge means it also takes up less space—a huge plus for pocketability (though the battery has the potential to rotate/become unaligned if you’re power-walking with purpose). And 5K is enough to fully recharge any iPhone 13 once (or the iPhone 13 mini twice).

What really stands out with this power bank is that it has MagSafe on both sides, meaning you can attach it to a MagSafe charger with your iPhone simultaneously attached, topping off both in the process. I actually store one on a Satechi 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand so it’s primed and ready to easily peel off in case I’m leaving the house without my iPhone at 100%. And if I was without that convenient perch and succumbed to a cable, I could use the bidirectional USB-C port to charge the power bank, as well as to charge my phone.  

Things to consider before buying the best MagSafe accessories

If you have an iPhone 12, iPhone 13, or iPhone 14 of any size/sort, you can access MagSafe. And if you have a debit or credit card, you can access the MagSafe accessories presented here. But before you invest in new accouterments, you might have some questions. And that’s why we’re here.

So, how exactly does MagSafe work?

MagSafe uses a series of internal magnets ringing an iPhone’s charging coil to snap securely to compatible accessories. This assures that any attachments are properly lined up, which is particularly valuable for optimized wireless charging. As for how magnets work in general, that is a tale of electrons spinning and atoms aligning and a miraculous mystery for another time. But when magnetized objects of opposite poles enter each other’s magnetic fields, they are as strongly attracted to each other as a long-time Apple fan is to hearing “… and one more thing.”

Do I need MagSafe accessories?

No. If you are a connoisseur of cables—each one personally, painstakingly labeled as to what it is for—then keep enjoying those curled-up keepsakes and a Jenga-like set of power bricks. USB-A to Lightning, USB-C to Lightning … you do you. Being hardwired to the wall will continue to work … for now (we have no insight into Apple’s plans to discontinue ports on iPhones). And if you always have or prefer to secure your phone in a dashboard-mounted vice while driving, don’t switch up what works for you. So, no, you don’t need MagSafe accessories. But if you’ve gotten tired of trying to find a convenient place to plug in a somehow always slightly too short cable, or finding out that the cable you desperately need to save you from an imminent power-down has a short in it, you definitely may want MagSafe accessories. And don’t even get me started as to how convenient a MagSafe car mount is … (OK, get me started but wait till we get to our top pick in that category, please.)

Do I need a MagSafe case for my iPhone?

To charge wirelessly, no, you don’t need a MagSafe case. But to attach additional accessories to your iPhone while it’s in the case, yes, you need a MagSafe case. Plus the MagSafe system in the case helps alleviate any concerns that it might fall off.

If I buy a MagSafe accessory, does it need to be “Made for MagSafe” to work?

No, though it can’t hurt. There are plenty of “MagSafe compatible” options with the magnetic ring that lets your iPhone snap to them with the precision needed to stay and/or charge properly. We even recommend some. But the “Made for MagSafe” badge does bring some benefits. It means that the device can support 15W charging (12W for iPhone mini models), rather than the 7.5W charging of “MagSafe compatible” alternatives (and more watts=faster charging). To get maximum output, however, be sure you have at least a 20W USB-C PD adapter for the charging pad. In addition, the near-field communication between “Made for MagSafe” charging devices means you get the undeniable satisfaction of seeing your iPhone’s screen light up with the curling green MagSafe animation that guarantees authenticity and efficiency. 

Can I charge anything other than my iPhone with a MagSafe pad?

Sure, you can place anything with Qi-enabled wireless charging on a MagSafe pad and the battery will fill. However, the device won’t snap into place so you won’t know if it’s set down correctly and there’s nothing to stop it from getting knocked off the pad accidentally. There are Android devices, and optional cases, that do have magnetic rings in them, which solves that problem, but Android devices don’t replicate the alert an official MagSafe charger gives when it comes into contact with an iPhone.

FAQs

Q: How much do MagSafe accessories cost?

MagSafe accessories can range from a $20 case to $150 charging pads, and they occupy all price points in between.

Q: Which iPhones have MagSafe?

Currently, the iPhones 12/12 Pro/12 Pro Max/12 mini, the iPhone 13/13 Pro/13 Pro Max/13 mini, and the iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro/14 Pro Max all feature MagSafe accessory compatibility. The iPhone SE, meanwhile, supports wireless charging but doesn’t have the MagSafe system, specifically.

Q: Does MagSafe weaken?

All magnets weaken, but not at a pace that will be measurable within the lifetime of your device.

Q: Is MagSafe magnetic?

The MagSafe array is very thin but is definitely strongly magnetic, though made in a way that means other magnets won’t stick to your phone. However, MagSafe accessories should be used with some caution by people with medical devices like pacemakers, as sensors in such devices might react to both magnets and the radio transmitter inherent in all smartphones. Avoid placing anything MagSafe directly on the skin and charge at a distance of at least six inches away, just to be sure. 

Final thoughts on the best MagSafe accessories

If you’re wired to go wireless and you’re an iPhone owner, MagSafe accessories are the best way to get your fill of features and battery capacity. Matching convenience with efficiency, the best MagSafe accessories are as attached to your pocket computer as you are and can help empower your adventures together.

The post The best MagSafe accessories of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Anker’s latest portable charger is on sale even before its release https://www.popsci.com/gear/anker-portable-charger-sale/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:15:29 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=510256
Anker power bank deals
Anker

Between Anker and Amazon, it’s easy to find a portable charger for cheap right now.

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Anker power bank deals
Anker

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Portable chargers are never out of season. Whether your phone is always running low on charge or it’s a particularly busy day and you need more juice for your last meeting, a portable charger makes a great safety blanket. They’re especially useful in the winter months, when batteries seem to drain even faster than usual. Anker’s portable batteries charge consistently, hold up to the worst of daily life, and fit easily into a purse, backpack, or even a pocket. 

Anker is currently offering sales on a large portion of their inventory. It has a wide range of chargers, from older models at cheaper prices with fewer functions, but also have many fancy new models with interesting innovations, like the MagGo battery that allows for wireless charging. 

Our top pick, however, has to be their upcoming release: the Anker 733 Power Bank, which features not just Anker’s signature sleek look and fast charging capabilities, but doubles as a regular wall outlet. If you’re at home, use it exactly like a normal wall charger, but grab it when you’re heading out to take advantage of the 10,000 mAh battery wherever and whenever you want. The 733 will retail for $100 at release, but a preorder will set you back just $70. 

More charging deals

There are, of course, more options available. Amazon has a good collection of portable chargers, and many of them are also on sale at the moment.

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Stay charged and connected with this all-in-one mobile solution—now on sale https://www.popsci.com/gear/wondercube-pro-charger-deal/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=510247
A WonderCube Pro plugged in to an iPhone.
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Carry all your phone's essentials in your pocket.

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A WonderCube Pro plugged in to an iPhone.
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Tired of lugging around various gadgets for your tech necessities? The WonderCube Pro: All-In-One Mobile Keyring is a multi-functional device that serves as a one-stop shop for all your mobile device needs. Best yet, it fits comfortably on your keychain, making it a convenient solution.

If you’re on the go regularly for work or for leisure, you’re probably tired of carrying around various cables for all your tech accessories. The WonderCube Pro brings eight smartphone essentials to your fingertips. One of its standout features is its universal connectivity, which allows it to work with all Android and Apple devices. The built-in cable, a 1-inch foldout flexible USB cord that extends up to 3 inches, makes it easy to charge your devices wherever you go while the gold-plated connectors (with USB outlet) ensure quick charge, saving you time and hassle.

The WonderCube Pro also doubles as a phone stand, thanks to its micro-suction cups plate that easily attaches and detaches on the phone’s back panel. The device also works perfectly as a USB flash drive (OTG for Android only), making it an ideal solution for quick file transfer and backup.

In case of an emergency, the WonderCube Pro can be a lifesaver. Simply grab a 9V battery and give your phone a significant boost of up to two to three hours of talk time. The built-in micro-SD card reader supports up to 128GB, making it easy to transfer and back up your files. It also includes a LED torch that can light up darkness whenever you need it. The combination of its eight functions—charge, phone stand, OTG USB, sync, emergency charger, flash memory reader, and LED torch—makes it a versatile device that can simplify your life on the go.

Various publications have praised WonderCube Pro’s various features, with Forbes calling it “Clean, minimalist, and timeless.” And CoolMaterial published, “WonderCube solves all of those issues, and more, in a one-cubic-inch package. On-the-go management just got a whole lot easier.”

The WonderCube Pro: All-In-One Mobile Keyring is now available for a price dropped to $79.95 for a 2-pack and $39.99 for a 1-pack. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for your mobile device needs, the WonderCube Pro is definitely worth considering.

Prices subject to change.

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Keep your smartphone powered up with this wireless charger, now 66% off https://www.popsci.com/sponsored-content/magsafe-wireless-charger-sale/ Mon, 30 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=508586
An iPhone with a MagSafe Charger attached.
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Compatible with iPhone 12 and newer + all Qi-enabled wireless devices.

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An iPhone with a MagSafe Charger attached.
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Are you tired of constantly worrying about your phone running out of battery at the most inconvenient times? Whether you’re watching the season finale of your favorite show or trying to order takeout at the end of a long night, it’s essential to have a backup plan for your mobile device. The Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone offers a hassle-free solution to charging your device quickly and efficiently.

The Speedy Mag Wireless Charger boasts a powerful battery that can quickly and effectively charge your iPhone 12 and newer, as well as all Qi-enabled wireless devices, including Androids. It also features a built-in magnet and metal plate that works seamlessly with the iPhone 12 and up, allowing for instant charging. Measuring 5 inches by 5 inches, the sleek and compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go, eliminating the need to bring pesky cables when traveling or working remotely.

Not only is it convenient, but it also offers built-in safeguards to keep your devices safe and prevent overcharging. Whether at home, at work, or on the road, you can trust that your devices are getting quality charging at lightning speeds without worrying about damage. Reviewed by verified buyers, The Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, making it an excellent gift for that tech-loving friend or family member. As Janet Travis reviews, “[I] love that I no longer have to worry about being out and about and my phone battery dying. I pop on this charger, and it keeps my phone charged.”

Normally priced at $119, you can now purchase the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone in black at an additional price-drop at only $39.99. That’s 66% off its original price. Streamline your charging experience today with this mighty power source. 

Prices subject to change.

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The best wireless phone chargers of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-wireless-phone-chargers/ Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=425962
Collage of the best wireless phone chargers

Get your phone juiced up without getting tangled up with the best wireless phone chargers.

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Collage of the best wireless phone chargers

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Best for iPhone Mophie wireless charger on a white background Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad
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 A 3-in-1 wireless charging pad especially equipped for Apple products.

Best for Samsung Samsung wireless charger on a white background Samsung Wireless Charger Trio
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A multi-device charging pad for the desk or the bedside.

Best budget Yootech wireless charger on a white background Yootech Wireless Charger
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An affordable pick that can power up any phone.

When Nikola Tesla successfully transmitted electricity through the air in the late 1800s, he dreamed of a wireless electrical grid. While that hasn’t happened, the “Tesla Coils” patented in 1897 helped enable wireless charging for your smartphones and other devices. The best wireless phone chargers have standardized Qi (pronounced “chee”) charging, which works by creating a magnetic field with the use of induction coils, modeled after Tesla’s design. Those coils act sort of like an antenna transmitting energy. Meanwhile, Qi-equipped devices have a built-in coil that is capable of capturing that energy, like a receiver, and turning it into useful power. If all that sounds complicated, we’re with you. Fortunately, finding the best wireless phone charger to meet your needs is much easier: just read on for our top picks!

How we selected the best wireless phone chargers

We compared over 50 wireless phone chargers and narrowed them down to these select few by comparing cost, wattage, compatibility, design, and user impressions. While all our picks have the end function of providing wireless power to your phone and devices, they vary in price point and form factor so you can find the right charger for you. From affordable car chargers to keep you powered on the go all the way to premium models perfect for bedside fueling or office work, you can outfit your space with the gadgets you need to keep fueled day-in and day-out. 

The best wireless phone chargers: Reviews & Recommendations

From the desk to the dashboard, here are the best wireless phone chargers for a power boost wherever you need it.  

Best overall: Anker PowerWave II Pad

Anker

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Why it made the cut: Anker is known for its reliable tech, and this pick is no different—it’s equipped with fast-charging capabilities and universal compatibility to suit any phone. 

Specs

  • Wattage: 15 W
  • Number of devices: 1
  • Dimensions: 3.54 x 3.54 x 0.55 inches

Pros

  • Anti-slip design
  • Smart charging based on your devices power needs
  • Universal compatibility

Cons

  • Can only charge one device at a time

No need to fumble with the charging pad or adjust your phone 20 times to produce power—the Anker makes refueling your device effortless with PowerWave tech and an antislip silicone ring to keep your phone secure. This pick is also equipped with Smart Charging, which seamlessly changes between 5W, 7.5W, 10W, and 15W modes depending on your unique device. No need to scour the specs to be sure it’ll suit your specific phone, as this automatic mode will do the heavy lifting for you. The PowerWave is also compatible with all Qi-enabled phones, so whether you’re camp Android or Apple it’ll charge regardless. 

Best for iPhones: Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad

Mophie

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Why it made the cut: For those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, this pick is optimized to charge multiple devices in one go. 

Specs

  • Wattage: 7.5W
  • Number of devices: 3
  • Dimensions: 10.2 x 5.51 x 2.6 inches

Pros

  • Nightstand-friendly design
  • Charges multiple devices at once
  • Optimal for Apple products

Cons

  • Not the fastest option available for iPhone 12 and newer

Apple users who want technology accessible from the nightstand should consider the Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad, which has space for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods and can even charge through a case that’s 3 millimeters thick. The Apple Watch holder is angled to best take advantage of Apple Nightstand Mode, which essentially lets the watch double as a nightstand alarm clock. The Mophie 3-in-1 delivers 7.5W of power via Qi charging technology, though it’s optimized for iPhone 11 and older, so iPhone 12 or 13 users may want to consider a wireless phone charger like the Apple MagSafe Charger for a faster boost. Mophie says its wireless charging pad, while designed for Apple products, does offer universal wireless charging that’s compatible with other Qi-charging devices. Prefer something more sculptural? This tree-like MagSafe-equipped Belkin 3-in-1 fast-charging solution lets you suspend an iPhone 12 or 13 plus an Apple Watch in any orientation. But if you’re not an iPhone customer, this Mophie Wireless Charging Pad may be better—plus it’ll fit an extra device.

Best for Samsung devices: Samsung Wireless Charger Trio

Samsung

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Why it made the cut: Fuel all your Samsung devices with this pick—outfitted with fast charging modes to refuel in a pinch. 

Specs

  • Wattage: 12W
  • Number of devices: 3
  • Dimensions: 2 x 4 x 10 inches

Pros

  • Fast charging capability
  • LED light to indicate charging
  • Seamless design

Cons

  • Not compatible with other brands

This Samsung Wireless Charger can hold up to three devices so you can power up all your products in one place. Plus, it’s designed with six coils so you can put your device nearly anywhere on the pad and it’ll charge, so you don’t have to worry about lining anything up. Nor do you have to work too hard to figure out how much juice you have, thanks to built-in LED lights that show your power level. The Samsung wireless charger works with devices from a variety of manufacturers, but with fast-charge compatible devices—like the Samsung Galaxy Note phones 10 and up—it’ll work even better, supplying up to 15W of power.  

Best stylish: Courant Catch:3 Essentials

Courant

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Why it made the cut: This wireless charging station and catch-all tray blends seamlessly into your decor. 

Specs

  • Wattage: 10W
  • Number of devices: 1
  • Dimensions: 11 x 8 x .6 inches

Pros

  • Compatible with Android and Apple
  • Weighted so it won’t slip
  • Comes in leather and linen options

Cons

  • Only charges one device at a time

Have you ever lost your wireless headphones only to discover that they’re uncharged once found? Solve both of those problems with one stylish product. This combo wireless charger and catch-all tray from Courant comes in either Italian leather or Belgian linen, which adds an elevated flair to your entryway or bedside table. However, this wireless charger isn’t just a pretty face. It’s smart too, thanks to Qi certification for 10W charging and a three-coil large charging area for easy, fast alignment. It’s Blue Angel certified, meaning you won’t have to worry about its impact on the environment. Although it can only charge one device wirelessly, it comes with an additional USB-A port to charge additional devices. If you’re looking for a design-forward, “looks more expensive than it is” wireless charger, the Courant Catch:3 Essentials is for you.

Best car charger: iOttie Wireless Car Charger 

iOttie

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Why it made the cut: This affordable pick can mount any type of phone with its auto-sensing mount system for easy, hands-free charging. 

Specs

  • Wattage: 10W
  • Number of devices: 1
  • Dimensions: 5.91 x 3.15 x 5.91 inches

Pros

  • Universal compatibility
  • Auto-sensing features
  • Adjustable pivot 

Cons

  • Only charges one device

When you’re driving, you don’t want to be fiddling with your phone. But if you’re out of power and rely on your phone’s GPS navigation in order to reach your destination, you have to recharge somehow. This wireless phone charger for car use features a proximity sensor that will open the arms to grab hold of your phone when it gets near. Then the Qi wireless charging system will supply up to 10W of power to an Android phone and up to 7.5W to iPhones. The suction cup mounting promises a secure hold to your windshield or dashboard, with two telescoping knobs enabling the perfect fit, and side buttons supplying a one-touch release of your device.

Best budget: Yootech Wireless Charger

Yootech

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Why it made the cut: With multiple charging modes to suit different devices, this affordable pick is versatile enough to suit any phone. 

Specs

  • Wattage: 10 W
  • Number of devices: 1
  • Dimensions: 3.19 x 3.59 x 4.48 inches

Pros

  • Multiple charging modes
  • Affordable cost
  • Multiple charging orientations

Cons

  • Can only charge one device at a time

For a third of the price of some of the other best wireless phone chargers on the market, this Yootech wireless charger presents a powerful option. The wireless charging stand will supply 7.5W to Apple devices, 10W to Samsung devices, and 5W to other Google phones and Qi-equipped picks. More than 11,000 raters on Amazon give this sleek, though somewhat basic-looking wireless charging stand an average rating of 4.6 stars.  

What to consider when buying the best wireless phone chargers

While you don’t have to be an electrical engineer to find the best wireless phone charger, here are some important factors to keep in mind.

What’s the wattage?

Most smartphones power up wirelessly at between 5 and 10 watts. However, some models, especially newer phones like the iPhone 13, can push the pace to 20 watts. When searching for the best wireless phone charger, the fastest charging speeds will come from finding Qi chargers that can match the capacity of your phone. So if your phone can charge at 10W, but your wireless charger can only reach 7.5W, you won’t reach top speed. It’s also important to note that some of the best wireless phone chargers work better with some devices than they do others. Smartphone brand can make a difference but so can model type, since newer phones tend to be equipped with faster charging capabilities.    

The ins and outs of ups and downs

Wireless phone chargers can lie flat or stand tall. They can also mount in your car. Wireless charging stands tend to work well if you want to be able to use your phone while it’s charging, while flat wireless chargers may give you the option of charging more devices at once. Some wireless charging pads include stands for smartwatches that stand in such a way that you can use your smartwatch as an alarm clock. You could also use your smartphone for a similar purpose with a wireless charging stand. A wireless phone charger for car use affixes to your windshield or dash and plugs into your car’s auxiliary power outlet or USB ports so you can power up from the road.  

Was it made for you?

Some wireless car chargers are made of wood, others recycled material, others marble. Some wireless chargers have fabric finishes or leather layering. Some wireless chargers are even invisible. There’s no doubt a charger to match your style. But most wireless chargers look more like the pieces of technology they are, featuring plastic casing over the coils. 

FAQs

Q: What is the fastest wireless phone charger? 

The fastest wireless phone charger depends, in part, on compatibility with a given device. For instance, Samsung wireless chargers offer fast-charging that delivers 15W of power, but that amount of power can only be delivered to select Samsung devices. Other manufacturers do the same thing. For instance, the iPhone 13 can accept fast-charging, but you’ll need a wireless phone charger that’s optimized for the model. Many of the best wireless phone chargers deliver roughly 10W of power, but some drop it to 5W. Many modern smartphones charge at between 5W and 10W, but the newest models, like the iPhone 13, push that capacity up to 20W.  

Q: Can I leave my phone on the wireless charger overnight? 

You can absolutely leave your phone on the wireless charger overnight. In fact, some models are designed specifically for the nightstand. Belkin explains its wireless phone chargers trickle a charge that sends just a small amount of current to the battery when it dips below 100% to keep the device fully powered at all times. That means it’s perfectly safe to leave your phone on the charger for a long, long time. 

Q: What happens if I plug in my phone and put it on a wireless charger? 

If you plug in your phone and put it on a wireless charger it’ll simply charge as normal through the wired connection, as if it were sitting on a counter rather than a wireless charging pad. Samsung answered this question last year. That means you can’t charge faster by using both methods, nor can you do any damage to your phone. 

Final thoughts on the best wireless phone chargers 

Perhaps someday Tesla’s wireless electrical grid will be possible. But, for now, he’s at least helped us to be able to power our smartphones without cords. The best wireless phone chargers will meet your phone’s full charging potential and provide a power boost when and where you want it. That concept isn’t exactly electromagnetism. 

The post The best wireless phone chargers of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Essential accessories for your new iPhone https://www.popsci.com/gear/essential-iphone-accessories/ Tue, 27 Dec 2022 22:15:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=502160
Essential iPhone Accessories
We found the essential iPhone accessories for anyone new to the device. Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Protect, power, and get even more out of that new pocket computer.

The post Essential accessories for your new iPhone appeared first on Popular Science.

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Essential iPhone Accessories
We found the essential iPhone accessories for anyone new to the device. Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

The iPhone is one of the most popular pocket-friendly computers on the planet, and while its functions are innumerable, accessories can help you get even more out of the device. The most basic accessories will prevent the handset from getting damaged accidentally. In contrast, others will improve the performance of its cameras or turn the device into a credible mobile podcast recorder. The options, however, may feel overwhelming for new iPhone owners, so we’ve put together this list of some essential iPhone accessories if you were recently gifted or upgraded to Apple’s signature smartphone.

Most of the accessories we’re recommending are compatible with any iPhone released in the past three to five years, but some—cases specifically—are designed for a specific model. We’ve chosen to highlight the iPhone 14 version of those accessories, though case and screen-protector manufacturers have the same offerings for multiple phone versions.

A case that gets better with age: Nomad Modern Leather Case

Nomad

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Choosing the right iPhone case will depend on your color, material, and size preferences, which is why we have an entire guide with over a dozen recommendations. That said, after testing several cases every year, I always end up gravitating back to Nomad’s Modern Leather Case. It’s luxe, but the case is protective and patinas over time, which means that small signs of wear actually make the case look better. I’ve dropped my iPhone screen side up from a height of 10 feet onto a stone surface, and the back and sides of my device showed no damage.

A durable screen protector: InvisibleShield Glass Elite VisionGuard Screen Protector

InvisibleShield

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A case will protect the back and sides of your iPhone, but a screen protector will prevent display damage. InvisibleShield’s Glass Elite VisionGuard Screen Protector is the one to get based on my tests. The accessory comes with a useful guide that prevents you from installing it incorrectly, which is handy if you’ve never used one before. In my experience, the Glass Elite doesn’t impact the performance of the iPhone’s touchscreen or its color accuracy. The material InvisibleShield uses does filter some blue light, though, which can make your iPhone more comfortable to look at in the dark. If you’re afraid of cracking your iPhone’s screen, this accessory will help put your mind at ease (it’s also far less expensive than a trip to the Genius Bar).

A battery pack: Anker 733 Power Bank

Anker

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Anker’s 733 is one of the best iPhone accessories we’ve tested because it has two functions. First, it’s a three-port 10,000mAh battery pack that can fully recharge your smartphone a couple of times, or extend the life of your tablet, portable game console, or laptop by a few hours. But the 733 has a built-in plug that can be connected directly to an outlet, at which point it turns into a three-port 65W power adapter, which can charge all of your devices while you’re at home. This double functionality helps Anker’s 733 Power Bank stand apart in a crowded category, especially because of its travel-friendly size.

A magnetic charger: Apple MagSafe Charger

Apple

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The iPhone 12 (released in late 2020) was the first Apple smartphone to support MagSafe. This magnetic connector system uses an array underneath the iPhone’s back plate to attach it to what is now a wide world of compatible wireless power transfer accessories, among other convenient add-ons. A MagSafe charger will refill an iPhone’s battery up to twice as fast as a standard Qi wireless charger (up to 15W) and will magnetically align with the back of your iPhone to create and maintain a solid connection. Apple’s MagSafe Charger gets our recommendation because it’s relatively inexpensive and has delivered rock-solid performance in our tests. If you want to jump from wired to wireless charging in 2023, this is the accessory to get.

A camera lens kit: Xenvo Pro Lens Kit

Xenvo

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The iPhone’s cameras are world-class, but smartphone photographers looking to up their game should check out Xenvo’s Pro Lens Kit. The accessory clips onto the top of the iPhone’s wide lens and allows you to screw on a macro or wide-angle lens to get shots that would be difficult (or impossible). The kit also has a clip-on light with three brightness settings to help you get better low-light photos.

An external microphone: Shure MV88 Portable iOS Microphone

Shure

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If you’re using your iPhone to record podcasts, or want ultra-high-quality audio to accompany your 4K video, Shure’s MV88 is the right accessory for the job. The miniature condenser microphone plugs directly into your iPhone’s Lightning port, so it never needs to be charged. You can use the MV88 to record audio in true stereo and monitor your recordings live by plugging headphones into its 3.5mm input. Shure bundles the microphone with a windscreen, which makes it a useful tool to use in the field, and a carrying case to keep it protected when it’s not in use.

A videography kit: Rode VideoMic Vlogger Kit

Rode

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The iPhone has been able to shoot sharp 4K video for years, but Rode’s Vlogger Kit can help you get even more out of its cameras. The kit comes with a microphone (with windshield), light cube (with colored film), phone mount, and a tabletop tripod that doubles as a grip. Using these tools makes a big difference in the audio and video quality of your recordings, especially if you shoot at night. A big part of the VideoMic Vlogger Kit’s appeal is its portability. Keeping all of these tools on you at all times makes it easy to set up and break down shoots in just a couple of minutes.

A travel charging kit: Mophie snap+ multi-device travel charger

Mophie

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If you want to stop carrying several charging cables with you while you travel, your best option is Mophie’s snap+ multi-device travel charger. The self-contained kit includes a charger with a MagSafe charging pad, Qi wireless charging pad, USB-A port, USB-C port, a USB-C cable, and a power adapter. The charger folds up and fits neatly inside a padded carrying case, with slots for its power adapter and cable. We’ve taken this kit traveling with us and couldn’t imagine getting on a flight or multi-day car trip without it.

A car mount: iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Dash & Windshield Universal Car Mount

iOttie

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Your eyes should stay on the road while driving, but that can be tough if you use your iPhone as a GPS. If that’s the case, we recommend this windshield car mount from iOttie. The One Touch 4 can be attached to any flat part of your dashboard or on its windshield. Its articulating arm allows you to position your iPhone at a safe, comfortable angle, and a holder will keep the device in place. In our experience, iOttie’s mounts are strong enough to keep a firm grip on an iPhone on bumpy terrain and can stay attached to your car for years without incident.

A car charger: Satechi 40W Dual USB-C PD Car Charger

Satechi

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If you’d like to charge your phone while you drive, Satechi’s Dual-USB-C charger is the accessory you need. The power adapter fits into your car’s cigarette lighter and can fast-charge two iPhones simultaneously. The second USB-C port can also charge a tablet, portable game device, or even a laptop.

Alternately, if you ride solo more often than not, you can buy a combination MagSafe car mount-charger. For example, the Belkin BoostCharge Pro secures to your vent—remember to close it if running the heat—and can deliver up to 15W fast-charging from your car lighter (adapter and cable included). It’s an easy one-handed motion to place or release the iPhone, and it stays fastened in either portrait or landscape mode for convenient navigation assistance, etc., while driving.

A durable charging cable: Amazon Basics Nylon Braided USB-C to Lightning Cable

Amazon Basics

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Apple includes a charging cable with the iPhone, but it’s been known to fray long before you need to upgrade your device. Amazon Basics’ USB-C to Lightning cable has a braided outer shell that can be bent or twisted without showing signs of wear. In fact, Amazon says you can bend this cable up to 4,000 times without it breaking.

Wireless earbuds: AirPods Pro 2

Apple

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The iPhone can be connected to any pair of Bluetooth headphones, but it was designed to work best with the AirPods Pro 2. Apple’s new earbuds will automatically pair to your iPhone the first time you open the lid to their battery case and auto-connect to it every time after that. When you listen to music or watch TV shows and movies with a Dolby Atmos mix on your iPhone, you can use the AirPods Pro 2 to listen in “Spatial Audio,” a headphone-friendly version of surround sound. You can even personalize your Spatial Audio experience on the iPhone by taking a picture of the shape of your ears. You’ll also be able to use the iPhone’s Find My app to locate your AirPods 2 if lost. Finally (and most importantly), we’ve found from first-hand experience that the AirPods 2 are a solid pair of true wireless earbuds, with excellent sound, surprisingly good active noise cancellation, and very good battery life.

A smart speaker: HomePod Mini

Apple

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Again, the iPhone can connect to any Bluetooth or AirPlay 2-enabled speaker, but the HomePod Mini was designed to work best with other Apple hardware through HomeKit. You can ask Siri on your iPhone to play music on your HomePod, and even “hand off” audio from the smartphone to the speaker by placing them near one another. The HomePod Mini sounds very good given its size—and even better if you pair two together to listen in true stereo. You can even send messages to the HomePod Mini from your phone to use the speaker like an intercom. If you want to pair your iPhone with a speaker fully integrated in Apple’s ecosystem, the HomePod Mini is the one to get.

The post Essential accessories for your new iPhone appeared first on Popular Science.

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The best satellite phones of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/story/reviews/best-satellite-phone/ Tue, 30 Mar 2021 13:28:14 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/story/?p=278707
best satellite phones sliced header
Tony Ware

Keep a means to communicate close in remote areas with a trustworthy satellite phone.

The post The best satellite phones of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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best satellite phones sliced header
Tony Ware

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Best overall A red and black Garmin-brand satellite communicator Garmin inReach Mini GPS
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This tough communicator is perfect for outdoor camping trips.

Best for international travel black satellite phone out of the box Inmarsat Isatphone 2.1 Satellite Phone
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Flat rate calling charges are included with this satellite phone, saving you money on your post-trip phone bill.

Best budget green and grey communicator ZOLEO Satellite Communicator
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This sub-$200 option includes Iridium satellite connection just like higher-end models.

Harnessing a satellite phone connection can provide you with communication anywhere on the globe. Using a satellite allows you to keep in touch with friends and family, whether you’re hiking in remote areas, sailing, flying, or just want to be prepared in case of a natural disaster. While cellphones and smartphones provide connections in major cities and towns, they’re dependent on terrestrial towers. In case of a natural disaster, cellphone networks can be overloaded or subject to structural damage. With one of the best satellite phones, your connection is dependent on satellites in space, so after a disaster or even if you’re just traveling to the far corners of the Earth, you’ll be able to stay connected. 

Satellite phones can be used for voice calls, text messaging, and even basic emails to keep in touch. They allow for emergency preparedness by issuing SOS distress signals, GPS locations, directions, and emergency weather alerts. Some sat phone packages come with a satellite-based Wi-Fi hub that will allow for your smartphone to work in locations that don’t have cellphone connections. Some satellite phone packages even allow for broadband access to the internet. To compare phones and figure out which is right for you, we’ve selected some of the best satellite phones on the market to keep you safe and connected.

How we chose the best satellite phones

When venturing off the beaten path, communication can mean the difference between smooth sailing and a rough misadventure. We looked at reviews, recommendations, consulted outdoor enthusiasts and experts, and conducted heavy research to find the best satellite phones—because there’s comfort in knowing you can always call home.

The best satellite phones: Reviews & Recommendations

From traversing craggy ledges and vast green hillsides to phoning home while traveling internationally, the best satellite phones can do it all. Here are our picks that will keep you in touch wherever you go.

Best overall: Garmin inReach Mini GPS

Garmin

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Why it made the cut: This satellite communicator is portable and packed with features, like interactive SOS calling, to ensure safety anywhere in the world.

Specs

  • Connectivity technology: Bluetooth, ANT+
  • Battery life: 50 hours in default tracking mode; 20 days in power-saving mode
  • Battery power: Internal rechargeable lithium battery
  • Dimensions: 2 x 1.3 x 3.9 inches

Pros

  • Portable
  • Fast access to SOS
  • Lots of battery power

Cons

  • Satellite subscription required for use

This handy mini GPS Garmin satellite phone is perfect for packing with your tent on outdoor camping trips. This satellite communicator allows you to send two-way text messages using the Iridium satellite network. It is compatible with other handheld devices and you have unlimited access to maps and aerial images through the Garmin Earthmate app to support your trip safely. Plus, it’s water-rated to IPX7 and impact-resistant, meaning it’s just as tough as your next uphill climb. Sending out an SOS message is easy thanks to 24/7 access to the GEOS emergency response team. A satellite subscription is required for use.

Best satellite messenger: Spot 3 Satellite GPS Messenger

Spot

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Why it made the cut: This simple messenger allows you to send pre-programmed messages and your GPS location to loved ones.

Specs

  • Connectivity technology: N/A
  • Battery life: 10 days
  • Battery power: 4 AAA batteries; rechargeable battery compatible
  • Dimensions: 3.43 x 2.56 x 1 inches

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • SOV capabilities
  • Spot Mapping app gives those at home peace of mind

Cons

  • Must pay for a year of activation

Stick to the basics and stay safe with this simple satellite GPS messenger. Connect with friends by sending coordinates and pre-programmed messages via satellite and stay safe in case of emergency with GPS locators and SOS signals. It also includes Save Our Vehicle (SOV) request capabilities and a track button to send and save your location. Those at home can look at your location and progress using the SPOT Mapping app. Be aware that you’ll need to pay for a year of activation in order to use this device. 

Best for international travel: Inmarsat Isatphone 2.1 Satellite Phone

Inmarsat

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Why it made the cut: Tons of battery life and dust, splash, and shock resistance mean this sat phone is reliable and tough.

Specs

  • Connectivity technology: Bluetooth
  • Battery life: eight hours of talk time; up to 160 hours on standby
  • Battery power: Lithium-ion
  • Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 4 inches

Pros

  • Easy to set up and activate
  • Comes unlocked for compatibility with multiple service providers
  • Lots of coverage area

Cons

  • Better for traveling than hiking
  • Typing on phone is tedious

The Isatphone is backed by the Inmarsat satellite network and is a good option for international travel. Additional features include GPS and SOS capabilities. Activate its included Bluetooth connection to use it hands-free. It’s preloaded with eight hours of talk time, up to 160 hours on standby, and comes with chargers, cables, and adapters. The phone is also dust, splash, and shock resistant, meaning you don’t have to worry about breaking it while out and about on your international adventure.

Best bundle: Iridium GO! Hiker Package

SatPhonesStore

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Why it made the cut: This bundle includes tons of adapters and a solar charger—no dead batteries here.

Specs

  • Connectivity technology: Bluetooth
  • Battery life: 5.5 hours of talk time; 15.5 hours of standby
  • Battery power: Lithium-ion
  • Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.2 x 1.25 inches

Pros

  • Lots of adapters
  • Prepaid SIM card included
  • Simple user interface

Cons

  • Expensive

This ready-to-use satellite communicator connects to the Iridium global satellite network, which includes 66 operating satellites. A prepaid SIM card with 1,000 minutes of talk time, a rechargeable lithium ion battery, travel and car chargers, international adapters, and even a solar panel are all included in the bundle. The Iridium GO! satellite communicator also connects to the Iridium GO! app to connect five separate devices sans wires. And, it’s dust-proof, shock-resistant, and jet-water resistant. Carry it in your travel backpack or mount it in a car.

Best budget: ZOLEO Satellite Communicator

ZOLEO

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Why it made the cut: This flexible device lets you connect to a satellite for less than $200—a steal compared to other satellite communicators.

Specs

  • Connectivity technology: Bluetooth
  • Battery life: 200 hours
  • Battery power: Lithium-ion
  • Dimensions: 3.58 x 2.6 x 1.06 inches

Pros

  • Flexibility in using satellite, WiFi, or cellular
  • Iridium satellite network access
  • Required monthly subscription is less than $100 for cellular, Wi-Fi, and SOS messaging

Cons

  • Monthly subscription required

Zoleo created a small rugged device with all the essentials for keeping you safe in remote locations. Highly rated by many outdoor editors, this device allows you to use the Iridium satellite network, WiFi, or cellular service, depending on what’s available. A monthly subscription is required with cost-level options, depending on your needs.

What to consider when buying the best satellite phones

While satellite phones won’t replace your smartphone for everyday use, they step in and offer communication solutions for use when cellphone service isn’t possible. Sat phones are designed for international travel—but always check the countries’ policies ahead of time: is access allowed while off-the-grid camping and hiking or for use on boats or on recreational aircraft? The best satellite phones are designed with off-the-grid use in mind and should be rugged, waterproof, and durable. 

While connections are possible in all remote locations, the ability to receive signals can be hindered by buildings, roofs, shelters, or heavy tree coverage. Many manufacturers have solved this issue and offer packages that are designed to include antennas to use on the outside of structures or buildings, vehicles, boats, or even in the cockpit of an airplane. 

Use case

If you want to stay safe and connected when setting out for off-the-grid outdoor adventures, you will need a small, lightweight satellite phone that’s set up to offer all the features you need to stay safe. The best satellite communicator for wilderness adventures will be rugged, waterproof, and allow for easy messaging as well as an SOS distress call in case of emergency. 

Choosing a satellite communicator made for outdoor adventures means you’ll also have access to useful extra features. Companies like Garmin offer top-of-the-line GPS support, extra maps, topographic information, and safety advice for all types of rough terrain. Better brands offer excellent customer support as well as handy online resources.

Messaging vs. calling

When you travel or go on outside adventures, it may not be necessary to have a fully loaded sat phone. Opting for a more basic satellite communication solution also means saving money. You’ve already got a smartphone—what you need is another layer of communication safety outside the cellphone zone. If you want to keep it simple, consider a satellite GPS messenger. These devices allow you to send messages to family and friends, letting them know you are safe, and also have important extra safety features like GPS location and SOS signals.

Text & voice calling bundles

The best satellite phone bundle will not only include a reliable, durable, easy-to-use phone, but it should also offer voice calling, text messaging, and email messaging. The best phones include a reliable large global network with 24/7 technical support. Packages should include all you need to use and get going without any additional purchases.

Helpful features to look for include different power adapters that allow for use in locations throughout the world. The best sat phone bundles also give you flexibility. You should be able to choose between a monthly plan or a prepaid SIM card—if you only will use the phone a few months out of the year, you’re not stuck with a large monthly payment. 

International travel

Sat phones are a smart solution when traveling outside your home country. (Be sure to check the policies of the country you’re visiting before bringing one: They’re illegal in some places.) The best satellite phone for international travel is easy to set up and comes with a prepaid SIM card. That gives you the peace of mind that you can use the phone quickly no matter where you are without worrying about cellphone carriers or reception. Look for phones that offer reliable voice and call connectivity, as well as emergency signals. International travel often takes you to places where you can’t be sure what to expect, and a sat phone offers safety and protection, along with the security of knowing that you won’t be unreachable.

Budget

If satellite phone cost is a factor, consider a more basic satellite communication device. Fully loaded satellite phones can set you back around $1,000, not to mention the extra cost for SIM cards or monthly service plans. Economical solutions keep communication basic but also require a monthly subscription for service. 

The best budget satellite communicator allows you to text and receive texts, and some even offer apps that allow your phone to access the satellite Wi-Fi network. Always look for added emergency features such as SOS alerts and GPS coordinates.

FAQs

Q: How much does a satellite phone cost?

Satellite phones and satellite communication devices range in price from $300 to over $1,000. In addition to hardware costs, you need a satellite provider to connect the phone for service and can purchase a monthly or prepaid plan from $100 to $5,000. Depending on your provider, voice calls range from $.0.15 to $2.00 a minute. Satellite calls between different satellite networks can be expensive. Review voice calls, text messaging, and incoming call costs with your selected provider.

Q: Are satellite phones illegal?

Satellite phones are not illegal in the United States but in some countries, like China and Cuba, they are. It’s important to research and contact the government of any country you may be visiting to check their policies for use. Satellite phones have restricted use in some countries (e.g., Russia, India), and you must get permission to use these devices or risk arrest. Legal restrictions are in place to curtail any possible illegal or terrorist activities that depend on signals that can bypass censorship and wiretapping. 

Q: Can I turn my phone into a satellite phone?

It is possible to use your smartphone as a satellite phone by purchasing a SatSleeve (Satellite Sleeve) and installing the SatSleeve App. The first time you use your SatSleeve, you have to set it up to connect via Bluetooth. Some satellite providers (like Iridium Go!) offer packages that include a satellite phone as well as a satellite phone hotspot that allows you to connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to a satellite-backed Wi-Fi hotspot. 

Final thoughts on the best satellite phones

The best satellite phones will allow you to roam around the globe and stay connected. With rugged, waterproof designs, these phones can follow you on any adventure by land, sea, or air. Connect with a prepaid SIM card, or with a monthly plan to keep safe and communicate no matter where you are. In case of emergency, sat phones will send SOS signals and GPS coordinates to make sure you return home safe. Compare phones, then get shopping!

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

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The best iPhone 14 cases of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-iphone-14-cases/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=495922
The best iPhone 14 cases

Make the most of your new device while protecting it from the inevitable drops.

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The best iPhone 14 cases

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Best rugged AUG's iPhone 14 Pro Max case is the best rugged option. UAG iPhone 14 Pro Max Case 
SEE IT

These military-inspired cases provide an impressive 16 feet of drop protection.

Best with wallet The Bellroy Mod Case and Wallet is the best iPhone 14 case with a wallet. Bellroy Mod Case + Wallet 
SEE IT

Carry your essentials in one sleek package with this magnetized case-and-wallet combo.

Best leather Mujjo makes the best leather cases for the iPhone 14. Mujjo Leather Case
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Made from vegetable-tanned leather, this case also provides protection for everyday use.

So you got yourself a fancy new iPhone 14. While you’re busy tweaking all the settings or framing your first shots to test the 12-megapixel and ultrawide cameras, you might just drop it by mistake. Fortunately, you can protect your investment with a durable case that will keep your new phone in good working order. In compiling our list of the best iPhone 14 cases, we’ve rounded up options in different styles and at various price points so you can find the best option whether you have an iPhone 14, a Plus, a Pro, or a Pro Max.

How we picked the best iPhone 14 cases

We’ve got multiple iPhone users on staff; our phones are currently intact. One of the reasons for that is we believe in cases. If we could, we’d have a case for when we’re changing cases because we change cases a lot to help us help you find the best ones. We combine this first-hand experience with peer recommendations and other real-world impressions, then we scour critical reviews and specs sheets to narrow down our list.

The best iPhone 14 cases: Reviews & Recommendations

We considered several factors when recommending the best iPhone 14 cases. A good phone case protects your phone without being overly bulky. We looked for options made from durable materials and prioritized options designed with recyclable materials. No matter how careful you are with your device, carrying it around with you all the time will probably result in a drop at some point. We looked for cases that provided up to 10 feet or more drop protection to safeguard your device. With the iPhone 12, Apple introduced MagSafe—a magnet array inside the phone that works with compatible accessories (battery packs, car mounts, etc.) to secure the phone and align it with charging coils (among other convenience features). We highlighted cases that work with this wireless technology.

Best overall: Nimble Disc Case

Nimble

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Why it made the cut: Nimble’s Disc Clear case shows off your phone, is designed to absorb impacts, and is made from recycled CDs and DVDs.

Specs

  • Materials: Recycled polycarbonate
  • Drop protection: Up to 10 feet
  • Magsafe? Yes

Pros

  • Drop protection up to 10 feet
  • Range of options for wireless charging
  • Can be recycled

Cons

  • Not rugged
  • Not waterproof

Nimble’s Clear Case is a, well, clear winner for best overall iPhone 14 case. These cases stand out for their beautiful design and the company’s sustainable practices. Made in part from polycarbonate from recycled CDs and DVDs, this case lets you showcase your phone with a slim, clear case. Nimble’s cases come with the company’s impact-absorbing FlexBand technology, which provides drop protection of up to 10 feet. They’re also MagSafe-compatible and come in plastic-free packaging. And the company will take 15 percent off your purchase if you send them any of your previous plastic cases to recycle.

Best with wallet: Bellroy Mod Case + Wallet

Bellroy

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Why it made the cut: The Bellroy Mod Case and Wallet allows you to combine the essentials in one sleek package with this case-and-wallet combo. 

Specs

  • Materials: Flex polymer, tanned leather, polyester microfiber lining  
  • Drop protection: Padded corners
  • MagSafe charging? Yes

Pros

  • Magnetic closure
  • Fits up to three cards
  • Comes in a range of colors and patterns

Cons

  • Doesn’t have strong drop protection

Take care of two essentials with the sleek Bellroy Mod Case and Wallet. This hard-shelled case is designed with two magnetic strips that will lock your wallet in place. The wallet opens with a magnetic trap door and holds three cards. This case is also MagSafe compatible. That said, its sleek profile doesn’t provide much drop protection, though it comes with a 3-year warranty.

Best leather: Mujjo Leather Case

Mujjo

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Why it made the cut: This beautiful case is an accessory you’ll want to show off that will only improve with time. 

Specs

  • Materials: Leather
  • Drop protection: Not provided
  • MagSafe? Yes

Pros

  • Made from vegetable-tanned leather
  • Available with a wallet
  • Slim design

Cons

  • Not waterproof
  • Not necessarily protective against falls

If you’re looking for an elegant way to showcase your phone, Mujillo’s Leather Case is an excellent option. The vegetable-tanned leather is supple yet provides ample protection for everyday use with its raised bezel. Despite its rustic look, this case is also MagSafe-compatible. It comes in tan, Monaco Blue, and black, or you can also get a version with an included wallet.

Best rugged: UAG iPhone 14 Pro Max Case

UAG

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Why it made the cut: Protect your extra-large phone from the elements with this rugged yet lightweight option from UAG.

Specs

  • Materials: Polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane
  • Drop protection: 16 feet 
  • MagSafe charging? No

Pros

  • Impressive drop protection 
  • Durability 
  • Slim design

Cons

  • Doesn’t work with MagSafe

Do you work outdoors or regularly adventure in the backcountry, but enjoy the extra screen real estate of the largest iPhone? If so, a rugged case from UAG is a good option to protect your phablet. Made of durable polycarbonate, this case comes with a raised screen and extra TPU on the corners to cushion your phone from drops. It provides extra traction and oversized buttons that are easy to find and use. With drop protection of up to 16 feet, this phone is military-grade. And it’s available in 10 colors (as well as options for other iPhone sizes/models).

Best waterproof: OtterBox FRĒ Series Waterproof Case

Otterbox

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Why it made the cut: This Otterbox case is made from recycled plastic and waterproof so that you can take your phone on aquatic adventures.

Specs

  • Materials: Polycarbonate
  • Drop protection: 130 drops from 4 feet
  • MagSafe? Yes

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • Slim design 
  • Works with MagSafe

Cons

  • Expensive

You don’t have to leave your new phone on the dock when heading out onto the water. Otterbox’s FRĒ Series Waterproof Case provides plenty of protection against the elements as it can be submerged up to 2 meters for one hour. It’s also partially made from recycled plastic. And it works with MagSafe devices for all-around functionality.

Best sustainable: Pela iPhone 14 ProMax Case

Pela

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Why it made the cut: Pela’s cases come in many beautiful colors, provide drop protection, and are compostable when you finish using them.

Specs

  • Materials: Compostable bioplastic elastomer and flaw straw
  • Drop protection: Up to 20 feet
  • MagSafe? Yes

Pros

  • Compostable
  • Works with MagSafe
  • Comes in eight colors

Cons

  • Expensive

The name Pela is synonymous with sustainability. The Canadian brand’s phone cases are handcrafted in their studio from a material called Flaxstic, which is made up of compostable bioplastic elastomer and flaw straw. That makes for a flexible case designed to wrap around your phone. That doesn’t mean this case is flimsy, though. It provides impressive drop protection of 20 feet, according to company testing. It’s also MagSafe-compatible and comes in eight colors. If you’re unhappy, the company also has a flexible return policy.

Best budget: Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 14 Case

Spigen

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Why it made the cut: The Spigen Ultra Hybrid shows off your phone while providing reliable protection at an affordable price.

Specs

  • Materials: Polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane
  • Drop protection: Military grade (26 drops from 4 feet)
  • MagSafe? No

Pros

  • Clear case showcases phone
  • Low cost
  • Rugged

Cons

  • Not recyclable

If you’re looking to economize after getting your new phone but still want reliable protection, the Spigen Ultra Hybrid is a good choice. The clear cases come in multiple trims, from Crystal Clear to Sierra Blue. That doesn’t mean this case is fragile, though. It comes with air-cushion drop protection that’s military-grade. And all for a budget-friendly price.

Also consider

If you’re looking for another durable option, the Zagg Denali Snap is designed with the mountains in mind. This rugged option incorporates the company’s D3O material, which is flexible and protects from shocks. It provides up to 16 feet of drop protection and is made partly from recycled materials. It also comes with an antimicrobial layer to discourage the growth of bacteria. Plus, it’s MagSafe-compatible. 

On the other hand, if sustainability is a top priority, the Bellroy Bio Phone Case for the iPhone 14 Max is slim, compostable, and comes in three matte colors: black, bluestone, and biscuit. It’s also less expensive than other options. 

Things to consider when picking the best iPhone 14 case

Now that you’re playing around with the iPhone’s new features, you’ll want to protect your new camera with a case that suits your needs. Here are some things to think about:

Your phone model: Whether you bought an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max, some companies have cases for only certain models, while others cover the whole new iOS lineup. Ensure you have the right one for your phone’s dimensions, camera array, etc.

Durability: Will you regularly be subjecting your phone to the elements? If you’re outdoorsy, your phone will need to survive significant drops and potentially land on rocks and other hard surfaces. Some cases come with bumpers for extra protection at the corners. In addition, it might need to withstand exposure to water. Don’t just trust marketing slogans, however. When it comes to drops, you can look for designations like ML-STD 810G-516.6 to know if the case passed a rigorous test. And when it comes to water- and dust-resistance, check the IP rating, which stands for “Ingress Protection” and is displayed as IPXX. The higher the numbers in the X spots, the better the status. Look for a minimum 5, preferably 6 to 8. 

Charging: All of the cases on this list work with wireless charging. But if MagSafe technology is a priority, keep in mind that not all of the new iPhone 14 cases are compatible. 

Sustainability: If you’re looking to go easier on the Earth even with a new purchase, cases made with recycled plastic, or compostable options like Pela’s iPhone 14 ProMax Case or the Bellroy Bio Phone Case, are good options.

Final thoughts on the best iPhone 14 cases

Dropping extra money on a case as you’re shelling out for an iPhone 14 may seem like overkill, but it won’t feel that way after your first drop. Just remember, you’re protecting an investment. Whether you’re looking for a modern case or wallet combo for everyday use or a rugged case that will protect your phone from the elements, our recommendations can help you make the most of your new phone.

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Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Viva la (hardware) evolution https://www.popsci.com/gear/google-pixel-7-pro-review/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=480595
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Google's Pixel 7 Pro is the search giant's latest flagship smartphone. Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Google’s latest Android smartphone isn’t a big leap forward, but the steps it takes make it worth a look.

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Google Pixel 7 Pro
Google's Pixel 7 Pro is the search giant's latest flagship smartphone. Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

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Google’s new Pixel 7 Pro is part of a new crop of gadgets that benefit from their boringness. The Nintendo Switch OLED is boring; Microsoft’s latest Surface Go is boring; even the iPhone 14 is boring. That may come off as harsh, but all it means is that Google, like those other tech giants, eschewed fancy-but-unnecessary changes to its hardware and software and focused on incremental improvements that prospective Pixel owners would appreciate.

This is Google’s flagship smartphone and it’s one of the few you should seriously consider upgrading to if you like the purest Android operating system experience. While other Android phones beat the Pixel 7 Pro in specific areas—the Asus ROG Phone 6 is better for gaming, the Galaxy S22 Ultra has a better camera system—Google’s smartphone offers one of the best all-around experiences. Even iPhone owners (myself included) would come away a little envious, even if it doesn’t push us to migrate.

Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

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Unlocking the Google Pixel Pro 7’s features

The toughest part about reviewing the Pixel 7 Pro was the lack of a single marquee feature. There’s no “Dynamic Island” like on the iPhone 14 Pro models, no totally new form factor like the upcoming Pixel tablet. Instead, at a first glance, the smartphone looks nearly identical to the one it’s replacing. The differences between them are subtle even when you take a long look under the surface. 

The Pixel 7 Pro offers the same 120Hz, 6.4-inch, 1440p screen as the Pixel 6 Pro and immediately feels good in the hand. It’s a little taller than the iPhone 14 Pro Max but 40 grams lighter, which made a bigger difference than I expected. When you’re reading a long article or holding your phone while watching a video, every gram counts. On the backside of the Pixel 7 Pro, you’ll find the raised camera “bar,” which extends from the left side of the device all the way across to the right. 

Google fully embraced the camera “bump” with last year’s Pixel 6 Pro, turning it into a distinctive feature of the smartphone’s design. I still pine for the days of smartphones with cameras that are flush to their case but, while I personally hope that they return in the far-off future, I know it’s not going to happen. So, it’s nice that Google turned its smartphone’s camera system into a signature part of its look. The Pixel 7 Pro has an edge-to-edge screen, with a hole punch-shaped cutout for the front-facing camera. The camera has a slightly lower megapixel count compared to last year’s model (10.8MP down from 11.1MP), but it can be used for more than just taking selfies. 

The Pixel 7 Pro supports facial recognition, which allows you to unlock the smartphone by looking at it and swiping up on its screen. This worked very quickly in my testing, even when trying it in areas with low light. Some earlier Pixel generations had this feature but it’s been absent for the past couple of years. If the idea of facial recognition makes you uneasy, the Pixel 7 Pro has an under-the-display fingerprint reader and the option to use a password. All three methods of unlocking the phone worked well, so feel free to mix and match.

Google Pixel7 Pro
Reading long-form stories on the go is easier because of the Pixel 7 Pro’s large, high-resolution display. Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

An arms race with Apple

Last year, Google introduced the Tensor chip, a custom-designed processor developed specifically for use in Pixel phones. The Pixel 7 Pro features the Tensor G2, which is slightly faster on paper but powerful and energy efficient in practice. The move from an off-the-shelf part to a bespoke one paid off as the Pixel 7 Pro runs Android 13 flawlessly. Tapping, scrolling, pinching, zooming, switching between apps all felt remarkably smooth, with not a dropped frame or second-long stutter to be found. The phone didn’t even run hot during a stress test that involved running video at maximum brightness for multiple hours. 

Google may have been playing catch up with Apple, a company that began designing the iPhone’s custom silicon over a decade ago, but the effort has paid off handsomely. Pixel 6 Pro owners may not notice a big year-over-year improvement if they decide to upgrade. Anyone coming from a smartphone that’s two or three years old, however, will pick up on the difference immediately when opening apps, taking pictures, or even adjusting system settings like the phone’s screen resolution or wallpaper. While I’ve only had the opportunity to check out a few Android devices in my career, this is certainly the cleanest (and, yes, most iPhone-like) experience yet.

The Tensor G2’s biggest on-paper improvement compared to Google’s last-generation chip is a 60% increase in its machine-learning capabilities. This enables some of the phone’s most helpful features, like parsing speech to show you a tappable menu while going through a phone tree and helping you find exactly which emoji to pick while dictating messages. These are tangible benefits—who remembers the last time a smartphone’s phone experience improved?

With all of this power under the hood, it’s disappointing that Google has promised that the Pixel 7 line of phones will get only three years of software updates and five years of security updates. That’s good for an Android phone but Apple’s newly released iOS 16 operating system runs on phones going back to 2017. As Google unifies its hardware and software ecosystems, it’s important that they prioritize longevity.

Mighty morphin’ mega pixels

One of the biggest reasons to get a new smartphone is camera improvements and the Pixel 7 Pro is no slouch. Its three-lens rear-facing camera system features a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 48MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP wide camera, which can all record 4K HDR (high dynamic range) video at up to 60 frames per second. The megapixel count on the cameras hasn’t changed in the past year, but the ultrawide camera has a wider field of view and the telephoto lens has a slightly narrower field of view. In the Pixel’s camera app, you can select between four predetermined focal lengths: .5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x, and frame your shot accordingly.

My tests—conducted indoors and outdoors in various lighting conditions—show that Google’s relentless investment in computational photography continues to pay off, especially in an era when it makes its own chips. There’s a lot of fancy processing work happening behind the scenes, so all I needed to do to get a great photo was framing my shot and hitting the shutter button. A visual guide showing whether I was shooting my photo off-angle helped a bit but I mostly let the smartphone do all the work. I would consider the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera to be restrained. It brightened up low-light photos without blowing them out or muddying details and did a good job at color-balancing shots with a lot of dynamic range. 

More often than not the Pixel 7 Pro’s photos didn’t need editing, especially if you’re primarily interested in posting quick snapshots to Instagram. I compared the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera directly to an iPhone 14 Pro Max under a challenging circumstance: a lit fire pit in a dark backyard from a distance of about two feet. Both phones were set to their 1X camera settings, and the results (below) speak for themselves.

iPhone vs Pixel fire photo comparison
iPhone 14 Pro Max (left) vs. Pixel 7 Pro (right) Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Smartphone photography has gotten a lot better over the past few years. Google is further leveraging the Tensor G2 to help you transform shots that almost turned out correctly into usable pictures through a feature called “UnBlur.” Tapping this button uses machine learning to digitally fix blurry photos, whether they were taken on the Pixel 7 Pro or not. This feature was hit-and-miss in my testing but, when it works, the before-and-after difference can be pretty significant. There are plenty of reasons for a blurry photo, from a shaky hand to an overactive subject, so it’s good to know your smartphone camera has your back in challenging situations outside of your control.

You can see the work of the Google Pixel 7’s UnBlur feature below; it’s not perfect, but the difference in usability is undeniable. Google has historically improved the quality of its machine-learning photography technology through software updates, so I expect UnBlur to get a lot better. This feature’s most impressive quality so far is the ability to apply it to any picture in your Google Photos library. UnBlur will be most effective when it’s applied to newer photos (specifically those taken on a Pixel 7 series device), but it can save older ones, too.

Google Pixel UnBlur
Original photo (left) vs. UnBlurred photo (right) Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

It just keeps going (and going and going) …

If you’re considering upgrading your smartphone because of its declining battery life, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Pixel 7 Pro. A full charge had no problems surviving a day of messaging, video watching, and social media browsing. I thought I’d put the battery through a stress test leaving a YouTube video playing continuously with the screen brightness at 100%—three hours later the phone said it still had over one day’s worth of juice left in the tank. 

Everybody’s workload is different and your mileage may vary if you’re recording hours of 4K video, editing it, and posting it on social media from your device. In those cases, it’s helpful to know that the Pixel 7 Pro supports 23W fast charging with a cable or on a wireless charger. The smartphone also supports reverse wireless charging, which means you can use it to top up other devices in a pinch.

Believe your eyes and ears

I mentioned the Pixel 7 Pro’s display specs earlier in this review but it’s worth noting just how good the screen is. Photos and videos look vibrant (without looking artificial) and text looks crisp. Google allows you to switch the smartphone’s display resolution between 1080P and 1440P depending on whether you’d like to see more information or want a slightly larger interface (bigger icons, larger text, etc.). In either case, the screen’s high refresh rate and immaculate color reproduction make a big difference, especially if you’re viewing high-resolution content. Even silly things, like the way an app icon pops against the phone’s background, stand out. It’s unfortunate that such a great screen was paired with such so-so speakers. 

When listening to audio in landscape mode, the Pixel 7 Pro will switch from mono to stereo, using its bottom speaker and receiver as the right and left channel respectively. Neither one is particularly good but the receiver is noticeably weaker than the phone’s speaker. This makes sense but is unfortunate given how well the iPhone sounds with this same general setup. The Pixel 7 Pro’s speakers stand out in a bad way even when watching videos or casually listening to podcasts in the background. If you want to seriously listen to music or watch streaming content on the Pixel 7 Pro, you should immediately pair them with good wireless earbuds or headphones (you can’t go wrong with the Bose QuietComfort II Earbuds or the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, to name just a couple options). The Pixel 7 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC (LC/HE), and aptX/aptX HD codecs (for the best sound experience, look for flagship gear supporting aptX HD, like the Focal Bathys).

Google Pixel 7 Pro Sceen
The Pixel 7 Pro’s power efficiency allows you to watch long videos without experiencing battery anxiety. Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

So, who should buy the Pixel 7 Pro?

If you’re in the market for a new Android phone, the Pixel 7 Pro should be on the shortlist for consideration. The overall quality of its hardware—especially the Tensor G2 processor, which you won’t find anywhere else—cannot be overstated. And it’s paired with Android 13, an operating system designed to run perfectly on Google’s hardware. It may not have the whiz-bang cool factor of Samsung’s foldables, or the familiarity (to many) of the iPhone, but Google has continued to prove itself as a top-tier smartphone maker. The company’s dedication is especially impressive given how little its hardware has sold relative to its main competition, though some new reports suggest that trend could be changing. 

The conventional wisdom when an iPhone owner wants to upgrade their device is “get the newest iPhone.” The Pixel 7 Pro makes a compelling case to become a similar recommendation to anyone on the Android side of the aisle, even if it’s a little boring. The Google Pixel 7 Pro comes in Hazel (olive green), Snow (white), and Obsidian (black), starting at $899 for a model equipped with 128GB of storage and going up to $1,099 for the maxed-out version with 512GB of storage. The smartphone is available now in all storage sizes and colors.

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Apple iPhone 14 comparison: How to pick your next upgrade https://www.popsci.com/gear/apple-iphone-14-comparison/ Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=473295
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max brightness comparison
Both phones next to each other show the difference in max brightness. Stan Horaczek

How to pick the right iOS smartphone for you.

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The iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max brightness comparison
Both phones next to each other show the difference in max brightness. Stan Horaczek

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Apple announced the newest set of iPhones, the iPhone 14 series, during its Sept. 7 “Far Out” announcement event. There are four phones this year, with two different sizes and two sets of specs. The standard 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and larger 6.7-inch iPhone Plus feature very modest upgrades this year. Most of the flashiest improvements, including an always-on display and the much-discussed “Dynamic Island” notifications UX, are exclusive to the more powerful and more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. If you’re planning to upgrade this year, we’ll walk you through the benefits of each model so you can figure out which iPhone 14 works for you.

The iPhones: iPhone 14, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max

Before we highlight the differences among Apple’s iPhone 14 models, there are a few new and exciting changes you’ll see across the whole line. All the new phones run iOS 16, the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, out of the box. If you’re new to the iPhone, or haven’t installed iOS 16 yet, it introduces a bunch of interesting new features, including the ability to customize your lock screen, edit sent messages, and enable haptic feedback for the keyboard. Apple’s new devices also support Emergency SOS calls, coming in November, which will enable satellite calls and texts to emergency services, even when cell service or Wi-Fi isn’t available.

The entire iPhone 14 series, along with the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, features new motion sensors that can detect when you’ve been in a car accident. The feature, called Crash Detection, works by measuring sudden speed shifts, cabin pressure changes, abrupt changes in direction, and extreme sound levels. If you get in an accident, your phone will automatically call 911 and notify emergency contacts after a few seconds.

On the camera front, the iPhone 14 series supports a new AI-enabled feature called the “Photonic Engine,” which improves color accuracy and overall picture quality in low-light scenes.

There are other similarities across the iPhone 14 series, like the switch from physical SIM cards to eSIM in the US, and the exact screen sizes (6.1-inch and 6.7-inch). Additionally, they all have upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3 for the most stable connection to the excellent new AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Here’s how each device breaks down, from the cheapest to the most expensive:

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus

Apple

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Starting at $799, the iPhone 14 is the most affordable model in Apple’s new smartphone lineup and the best option for more people. It features the A15 chipset, similar to one in last year’s iPhone 13 Pro, with a slightly improved thermal design that will keep the phone cool when playing games or watching videos. In addition to those core iPhone 14 upgrades, Emergency SOS via satellite, and Crash Detection, it offers an upgraded dual-camera system with a new “action mode” that makes your video footage look less shaky.

Compared to the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone 14 misses out on a few key features, including the more advanced 120Hz always-on display and upgraded triple-camera setup, which now features a 48MP sensor. These features are worth paying the extra money if you want the best camera experience and best display technology in an iPhone.

The iPhone 14 Plus is simply a larger version of the standard iPhone 14. It features a fairly massive 6.7-inch screen, but most of the internal components and performance should be identical. The Plus has one meaningful upgrade under the hood: battery life. Apple estimates the 14 Plus should get up to 26 hours of battery life on a single charge, versus 20 hours on a standard iPhone 14. 

Given how little has changed year-to-year, we only recommend the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus for people who need a new iPhone, either because their current phone is damaged or too old to update, and do not wish to pay a premium for the Pro or Pro Max. The extra battery life adds some appeal to iPhone 14 Plus, but the decision between the two ultimately comes down to what screen size you prefer.

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

Apple

SEE IT

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are the most powerful iPhones to date. Starting at $999, the iPhone 14 Pro features an upgraded triple-camera system and an always-on display, which can show you information at-a-glance without waking your device. It features Apple’s new A16 Bionic chipset, with a 6-core CPU that features two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, a triple-camera system with a 48MP main sensor, and a 120Hz refresh rate whether gaming or scrolling apps, emails, and feeds. 

Unlike other iPhones with Face ID—including the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus—the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feature a pill-shaped cutout, rather than a notch. Following in the footsteps of “hole-punch” selfie-cameras in recent Android phones, the notch replacement gives the Pro and Pro Max a sharp, distinctive look. 

The cutout also serves as the centerpiece for the phone’s new notification and quick-access feature, the “Dynamic Island,” which creates a reactive window around the cutout to show alerts, notifications, and ongoing background activities like Maps, Music, and more. It will also support “Live Activities,” a type of interactive push notification when it launches later this year.

As with the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, this year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max is effectively the same as the iPhone 14 Pro, but in a larger, 6.7-inch form factor. As with the 14 Plus, the 14 Pro Max offers a larger battery that Apple estimates should last 29 hours, versus the 23 hours you’ll get from an iPhone 14 Pro.

If you’re going to get an iPhone this year, we recommend going for the 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max. With a new chipset, the always-on display with the Dynamic Island, and some interesting innovations around the cameras, it is a far more worthy upgrade than the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.

What about an older iPhone?

While everyone is currently raving and reviewing the iPhone 14 lineup, there’s nothing stopping you from going back to less recent revisions of the iPhone, like last year’s iPhone 13 and even the iPhone 12. The last few years of iPhones all have a lot in common: They all run iOS 16, feature excellent camera systems, and offer a similarly high-end, polished experience. Meanwhile, they cost significantly less than they did at launch because they aren’t the newest option.

For the absolute best bargain, though, consider the 2022 iPhone SE. The budget-friendly iPhone, refreshed earlier this year, features a much older design: It has a home button with Touch ID, just one 12MP rear camera, and a relatively small 4.7-inch LCD screen. Despite the stripped-down, almost retro feature-set, it sports an A15 Bionic chipset, so apps will run smoothly. For under $500, the iPhone SE is an excellent phone and one of our favorites at that price point.

At this point, you really can’t go wrong with any of the older models mentioned above. Even the iPhone 12, which came out in 2020, will likely receive new updates from Apple for another 3-5 years. We generally recommend opting for newer phones and PCs to maximize their lifespans, but given the price differential between last year and this year, with only a small performance jump from the iPhone 13 to iPhone 14, there’s never been a better year to buy an older iPhone.

What size iPhone 14 should you get?

The iPhone 14 series comes in two sizes: 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches. Though it sounds small, you’ll see the difference in size when you look at them side-by-side and feel it in your hand when you pick them up. If you’d prefer something smaller, you can go with an iPhone SE, though you’ll miss out on a lot of features.

The easiest way to figure out which size is right for you is to go to your nearest Apple Store or big-box electronics retailer and pick them up. Remember that, in addition to larger displays, the larger iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max models have larger batteries and give you more space to browse the web, play games, and watch videos. However, you may prefer the small fit (and lower prices) of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. Go with what works best for you.

Is the always-on display worth it?

As we mentioned, one of the headlining features of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 4 Pro Max is an always-on display. With this feature, the screen reduces brightness and drops the phone’s refresh rate to 1Hz when it isn’t in use, so you can check your lock screen to see the time, temperature, and check other widgets quickly without touching the phone to wake it.

An always-on display can be helpful and encourage users to use their phone less because they can glance at their phone to see information rather than unlock it and open an app. However, the feature can impact your phone’s battery life ever so slightly and some reviews, like ours, have noted that Apple’s implementation feels clunky compared to Android counterparts.

One more thing to keep in mind: Having an always-on display on your phone may not be especially helpful If you already own an Apple Watch, since you’re already getting that information on your wrist. 

How good is the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera?

iPhone 14 Pro max
The cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max (pictured) have some nuanced, but meaningful upgrades over their predecessors. Stan Horaczek

If photography is your No. 1 concern when picking up a new phone, you should consider the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. This year’s flagship iPhones feature more significant changes than usual, resulting in higher-quality images and videos. One of the most notable changes is a 48MP main camera, the highest ever in an iPhone. This new sensor takes advantage of a process called “pixel binning,” which allows the software to create more detailed 12MP images by combining groups of four pixels into a single virtual pixel. You can also take full 48MP images if you shoot in RAW, giving you more flexibility to manipulate the images in your editing software of choice.

You can read more about the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max camera changes in our review. In short, the hardware and software changes are worthwhile and superior to the dual-camera system in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.

So, which iPhone 14 should you buy?

Compared to other previous models, we’d say it’s a very good time to buy a Pro-tier iPhone, and a good year to skip the standard iPhone. With a modified version of last year’s chips and only a couple of notable hardware features, the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus don’t necessarily warrant an upgrade unless you really need a new phone. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max offer some really exciting changes, big and small, such as an always-on display, Dynamic Island, and an upgraded set of cameras

There’s definitely an argument to go for the iPhone 14 over an older model. Features like Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection offer great infrastructure changes that are great to have, even if you never want to use them. That said, we wouldn’t blame anyone for buying a used iPhone 13 or 13 Pro to save a little money. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance of hardware, software features, and price that works best for your needs.

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All the ways iOS 16 lets you customize your iPhone lock screen https://www.popsci.com/diy/iphone-lock-screen-settings/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=469312
An iPhone on top of a Macbook laptop on a wooden table, with the iPhone displaying a spiral of crab emojis as part of the iOS 16 lock screen update.
Gaze into the crabyss. Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash; John Kennedy / Popular Science

Everything you can expect from Apple's new iPhone lock screen settings.

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An iPhone on top of a Macbook laptop on a wooden table, with the iPhone displaying a spiral of crab emojis as part of the iOS 16 lock screen update.
Gaze into the crabyss. Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash; John Kennedy / Popular Science

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on September 12, 2022.

Apple’s newest iPhone operating system, iOS 16, features a completely reimagined lock screen customization process. You can shuffle photos, change font style and color, add helpful widgets, and uh, turn your security screen into a dizzying vortex of crabs, if that’s your thing.

There’s a lot to dig into within the hefty update, but before you get bogged down in the details, take a few minutes to mess around with the lock screen settings. At the very least, a fresh new look for your handheld distraction box should add a little bit of excitement to your day.

If your phone doesn’t automatically download the update or prompt you to do so, get started by opening the settings app, tapping General, and selecting Software Update. You’ll have the option to download and install iOS 15.7 or Upgrade to iOS 16. Choose the latter to get the brand new lock screen customization features.

How to add a new lock screen in iOS 16

Once you install iOS 16, open the settings app and go to Wallpaper. Under the images of your current lock screen and home screen wallpapers, you’ll see Add New Wallpaper. Tap that to start building something new.

You can, of course, edit your two active screens from the main wallpaper settings page (via Customize under each one), but you won’t be able to change the background style. That means if it’s a photo, you won’t be able to have it display the weather, an absurd emoji pattern, or anything else—you’ll only be able to change the pic.

The only way to choose from all available styles is to add a new wallpaper. Plus, there are more efficient ways to edit all your lock and home screens, not just the most recent ones. We’ll get to that later.

What to expect from each style of iOS 16 wallpaper

The Add New Wallpaper menu offers a slew of options. You’ll see a list of all available styles at the top, but the page also contains a number of featured presets Apple thinks you might like. These include several custom designs, suggested photos from your phone, and color gradients, but they’re all variations on iOS 16’s main wallpaper styles, and you can do better. This is the DIY section, after all.

How to make a photo your wallpaper

Setting a photo as your phone’s background is a classic move, and it’s the first visible choice on iOS 16’s wallpaper creation screen. Tap Photos from the row at the top of the screen, and you’ll have the option to dig through All your photos or browse those Apple has grouped under tags like Featured, People, Nature, and Cities. (The People tag here and the People option on the main screen lead to the same place.) If you’ve painstakingly organized your phone’s photo library, toggle the switch at the top of the screen to Albums to dig through your well-curated catalog.

You can also use the search bar here to hunt down something specific, including words in images. That means if you enter “New York,” your iPhone’s Live Text feature will dredge up any photos of the “Welcome to New York” highway sign you may have taken, screenshots of text messages where you mention the state, and pics Apple knows you snapped within its borders.

[Related: Smartphone security starts with the lock screen. Here’s how to protect it.]

Once you’ve made your choice, you can edit your lock screen photo. Pinch the screen to crop it by zooming in and out, but know that you can’t make the image smaller than the screen. Don’t like how it looks? Tap the photos icon in the bottom left (a stylized rectangular portrait of mountains) to find another one.

With a pic in place, swipe to the left to choose from four filters: natural, black and white, duotone, and color wash. The first two are self-explanatory, and the latter pair cover the original image with different-colored tints.

Finally, tap the three dots in the bottom right to see if you can activate Depth Effect. This won’t be available with all photos, as it pulls whatever’s in the picture’s foreground out in front of the clock and any widgets you may have on your lock screen. Behold: depth. If the foreground selection will cover too much of your clock and/or widgets (maybe about 50 percent), you won’t be able to use this feature.

Set multiple photos as your wallpaper

New to iOS 16 is the ability to slap a rotating selection of images onto your lock or home screen. Tap Photo Shuffle from the options at the top of the main wallpaper customization menu to start. Find Shuffle Frequency in the middle of the page and tap on it to decide if you want the pictures to change On Tap, On Lock, Hourly, or Daily. The last two are self-explanatory, while On Tap will allow you to change the lock screen display any time you touch it, and On Lock will move to the next image whenever you lock your phone—even if you haven’t unlocked it.

From there, you have two choices: Use Featured Photos or Select Photos Manually. For full customization, pick the latter, and tap or drag to select multiple photos for your background. Hit Add in the top right corner of the screen to move on.

If you’d rather use Apple’s featured images from your photo library, tap People, Nature, Cities, and any other options to add or remove those groups of images. Touch Choose next to People, and you’ll be able to tap on thumbnails of people’s faces to decide which ones show up in the shuffle—hit Done to finish. When you’re ready, tap Use Featured Photos to continue.

Whether you used Apple’s selections or picked manually, the editing process is essentially the same as the one described above for a singular pic. Just tap the screen to move from photo to photo.

While editing, the three dots in the bottom right will let you set the shuffle frequency if you missed it on the first page or decided to change your mind. If you chose your own images, you’ll also have the option to enable Depth Effect, but not if you went with the featured pics. Instead, you’ll see Don’t Feature Photo—tap this to cut anything you don’t like.

The icon in the bottom left will be different depending on if you chose your images manually or not. If you did, it’s a grid of six rectangles—tap it to Add Photos to your rotation or Select the ones already there. Highlight one or more existing images, and you’ll see a trash can icon. You can touch that to remove any pics you’d rather not use. Run with Apple’s featured photos, and the icon will be a stack of rectangles with a sparkle icon on them. It will let you change the categories included in your shuffle.

Design a wallpaper out of emojis

Personally, I found this choice to be the most chaotic, but there’s a lot of room for customization. Tap Emoji from the main wallpaper creation menu, and you’ll be able to type up to six emojis that will display in a pattern on your lock and home screens. When you’re ready, tap above the emoji entry menu or hit the X in its top right corner to continue.

Swipe left to choose from six available patterns, from grids of various sizes to a hypnotic spiral. Tap the smiley face icon in the bottom left to change your emoji selection, or hit the three dots in the bottom right to adjust the background color.

Focus your wallpaper on the weather, outer space, or color

The Weather, Astronomy, and Color options are the most basic wallpaper options available, though that doesn’t mean they’re uninteresting. Tap Weather, for instance, and your wallpaper will be a slightly animated depiction of whatever the weather is where you are, but that’s it.

Astronomy is a little deeper, as you’ll be able to choose from Earth (a view of our planet suspended in space), Earth Detail (where about a quarter of the visible hemisphere fills most of the screen), the same two options for the moon, and Solar System (which shows all the planets and their orbits around the sun).

[Related: Why is Pluto no longer a planet?]

Color is fairly self-explanatory: You choose a color, adjust its hue with the slider at the bottom of the screen, and pick from one of six gradient options. If you don’t like the what it looks like, hit the colored circle in the bottom left to pick again.

How to edit the time on your lock screen

No matter which wallpaper style you chose, the clock will be the next-largest piece of your lock screen. You should customize that too—everything’s part of your new aesthetic. Tap the time and choose from one of eight fonts and countless colors, including making the digits opaque (the first color option on the left). You’ll only see 15 colored dots across the bottom of the screen, but if you’re not feeling any of them, the final one on the right will let you pick colors from a grid or spectrum, or plug in a specific color hex code to get exactly what you want.

Within the Font & Color menu, there’s a globe icon in the top left corner. Tap this, and you’ll be able to choose whether your clock displays Arabic numerals (the ones used everywhere in this article), Arabic Indic numerals (used in parts of the Arab world), or Devanagari numerals (used in northern Indian languages).

If you hate being reminded of the constant march of time, sorry, you can’t remove the clock. What you can do, however, is try to get the color to match the wallpaper so those anxiety-inducing digits disappear partially or completely.

Add widgets to your iPhone lock screen

There are two places you can place widgets on your iPhone’s lock screen: above and below the clock. The thin space at the top of your screen will likely display the date by default, but you can tap it to select another widget instead.

The main widget area is below the clock, and it will hold up to four (or none, if you really don’t want to obscure your lock screen photo). Just tap where it says Add Widgets, and you can choose from the options available. No matter how many you choose, they’ll stay centered in the space, and you can remove any you don’t like by tapping the minus icon at its top left corner. To reorder them, press and hold a widget until it grows a little under your finger, then drag it where you want it to go. One wrinkle: if you choose a widget that takes up two of the four spaces, it will always display on the left—you can’t move it. 

Most widget options will be available in both places, though you may see some exceptions. The battery widget, for example, can only go underneath the clock, where it will show how much juice is left in your phone or any connected devices.

[Related: 4 tips to make your phone battery last longer]

You’ll also be able to fine-tune most widgets by tapping on them to choose from varying amounts of display options. The reminder widget, for example, will only show you the next thing you have due each day, while the weather widget offers a wide selection of data visualizations.

One note on this: it’s annoyingly difficult to customize widgets in the upper section. There, you can only adjust a widget immediately after putting it in place. If you do something else and come back, you won’t be able to tweak it. So if you’re wondering why your clock widget is stuck displaying the time in Cupertino, California, not, say, your parents’ hometown, you’ll have to choose another widget, tap elsewhere, touch the upper widget area again, choose the clock widget, and immediately tap it to pick a specific city. Gross.

Thankfully, this obnoxious workaround isn’t necessary in the main widget section under the time, where you can touch and customize any widget whenever you want. 

And if you’re wondering why your weather widget won’t work, it’s because you turned your location off in the weather app settings. To fix that, open the main iPhone settings app, go to Weather, Location, and select While Using the App or Widgets, Always, or While Using the App. With these options on, you can still turn Precise Location off for a little bit of privacy. Doing so means your weather app can only determine your approximate location (it was about four miles away from me).

Finally, hit the X or tap outside of the widget menu to set your selections.

Finalize your lock screen

When everything looks perfect, hit Add in the top right corner of your screen. To apply your fresh new lock screen to your home screen too, tap Set as Wallpaper Pair on the next screen. If you’d rather have all your app icons display on top of something else, choose Customize Home Screen to adjust the color or pick a new photo for what’s essentially your phone’s interior wallpaper.

If you told your phone to use a wallpaper pair but the home screen isn’t working, it may be inadvertently blurred. To fix this, go to the main wallpaper settings screen, tap Customize under your home screen, and hit Blur. This should solve the problem.

Edit your wallpaper from the lock screen

There are two ways to edit your wallpaper, but the most useful one is directly from your phone’s lock screen. To start, press the center of your lock screen to bring up the passcode entry keypad. If the keypad doesn’t show up and you have to swipe up to get to it, you’ll go to your home screen, not the wallpaper editing menu.

Do it right, though, and you’ll see a scrollable carousel of available wallpapers. Hit Customize to edit whichever one is front and center. You can also add a new wallpaper by going all the way right and selecting Add New or by tapping the blue plus icon in the bottom right.

To delete a wallpaper, find it in the carousel and swipe up. Then tap the trash can icon and hit Delete This Wallpaper. Easy.

Finally, you can assign each wallpaper to a specific Focus, a feature that arrived with iOS 15. Just tap Focus at the bottom of any wallpaper to choose the one you want. If you hit Focus Settings at the bottom of the screen, you’ll go to that page in the settings app, closing the wallpaper customization screen. You can also choose a Focus wallpaper by opening the settings app, selecting Focus, and tapping one of the Focuses to Choose its matching lock and home screen.

Phew, that’s all there is to say about the new iOS 16 lock screen settings and customization features. You may want to queue up all of these possibilities like outfits in a virtual closet, or you may just want to keep that cute photo of your partner or dog. Either way, at least now you know that a vaguely threatening spiral of crab emojis is also an option.

The post All the ways iOS 16 lets you customize your iPhone lock screen appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best VPNs for multiple devices in 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-vpn-for-multiple-devices/ Tue, 20 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=470664
Best VPNs for multiple devices
Dan Nelson / Unsplash

Protect yourself and all your high-tech toys with these top virtual private networks.

The post Best VPNs for multiple devices in 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best VPNs for multiple devices
Dan Nelson / Unsplash

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Best overall NordVPN is the best overall VPN NordVPN
SEE IT

NordVPN ranks among the best VPN providers across all desirable capabilities.

Best for unlimited devices Surfshark is the best for unlimited connections Surfshark
SEE IT

While it’s not the most well-known VPN provider, Surfshark is among the best in every meaningful category.

Best dedicated IP Cyberghost VPN is the best for dedicated IP Cyberghost
SEE IT

CyberGhost is one of the best VPN providers out there, and its advanced features are very handy.

From smartphones to tablets to laptops and everything internet-connected in between, most of us rely on multiple devices every single day—all the more reason we should rely on a VPN. To stay online all the time, you may wind up relying on public Wi-Fi or a connection through work or school, which often isn’t as secure as you might think. If you’re tired of worrying about trackers and hackers potentially sifting through your data, you should consider using a virtual private network, or VPN, to hide your online presence and make it harder for companies and bad actors to find your data. Some VPNs specialize in phones or PCs, but the best VPNs for multiple devices can protect your entire tech arsenal.

What is a VPN?

When you surf the internet, you transmit certain information about yourself to the sites you visit, including your location. A virtual private network (VPN) is an online service that hides your digital identity from online utilities like Google or Facebook that wish to collect and sell your data, as well as from hackers and scammers. A VPN acts like a mask that your computer puts on before it walks into a party. Websites can tell that you’re there and that you’re wearing a mask, but they can’t see any of the personal information that they normally would.

Each of the following VPNs encrypts the data that you send, and most of them have a “no-log” policy, which means that they do not keep any record of your activity. Some even allow you to mask your identity from the VPN server itself. While you might not care if a random person knows about your online shopping habits, you certainly don’t want them to know the password to your bank account. 

VPNs also let you set a virtual location, allowing you to appear as if you are browsing from another country. This allows you to look at the many international versions of sites like Netflix, which may offer different content to other parts of the world.

When it comes to finding a VPN that supports many devices, the good news is that most VPNs have apps that allow you to easily modify your phone or tablet’s internet connection. However, the quality of those apps does vary somewhat, as we’ll go over in the next few sections.

For more information on how VPNs work and how to set one up, please check out our full-length guide on how to use a VPN.

How we picked the best VPNs for multiple devices

As a professional tech writer for almost a decade, I’ve personally tested many of the most popular VPNs for friends and my own personal use, and I know how they perform. To make these recommendations, we consulted online guides, reviews, specs, and spoke to several information security experts. Thanks to this research, we know which VPNs are worth your hard-earned cash, and which ones are better left in the bowels of Google.

Things to consider when buying a VPN for multiple devices

Choosing a VPN to protect every device you own can seem intimidating at first, especially if you aren’t the kind of person who spends hours and hours online. However, the competing services really boil down to a few factors that will determine which provider is best for you. Since the best VPN deals are often a multiyear commitment, it’s important to consider the following questions before clicking the buy button.

Why do I need a VPN?

When you access the internet from your phone, tablet, or computer, you’re transmitting information about yourself, whether you like it or not. Most companies collect this information and track your activity across the internet to help them sell you products. Some bad actors will try and use it to target you for identity theft scams, such as phishing schemes. 

If you use public Wi-Fi often for work, you should keep in mind that most public Wi-Fi networks are not secure. Whether you’re relaxing in your dorm or enjoying a cup of coffee at your favorite cafe, public Wi-Fi often leaves you unprotected against scammers who want the password to your Amazon account. Using a VPN in these situations makes it much harder for people to grab your data, even when it may be vulnerable.

How many connections do you really need?

In a perfect world, a VPN would provide perfect protection to every single internet-enabled device you own. Realistically, most services won’t allow that. Even if they did, you probably don’t really need that level of protection.

When picking your VPN, take a moment and think about which devices need extra security. Laptops, desktops, tablets, and phones are the most vulnerable because they connect to an internet browser, as well as email phishing scams. Game consoles like a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch are far less likely to fall victim to malware. Most VPNs that work across many kinds of computers do put a cap on the number of devices you can protect. Most popular services will have plans that can go up to 5-10 devices, though some services offer plans to protect an unlimited number of devices.

If you want a subscription package that supports you and your entire family’s massive constellation of tech toys at the same time, you will only have a couple of options. Alternatively, if you just need to protect your three primary devices—a PC, a phone, and tablet, for example—you can safely go with any of our picks.

Killer apps

VPNs designed for multidevice use should offer a free app that you use to mask your tablet or phone activity. Not all of them are easy to navigate, but they allow you to protect your mobile devices before you log on, not after.

Speed and cost

Using a VPN will always make your internet at least a little bit slower. When you use a VPN, you’re forcing your information to make a couple of stops on the way between you and whatever website you’re looking at. Since you’re routing your browsing through another server, the sheer fact of that distance means that it’ll take a little longer to load your sites. 

The best VPNs will only slow you down the slightest bit. Others may slow it down quite a bit. This is one of a few reasons why it’s always worth it to pay for a well-known VPN rather than use a sketchy “free” alternative.

Reputation is everything

While many VPNs like to vaunt their latest and greatest technology as a must-have innovation, the truth is that most of the big VPNs offer extremely similar services for very similar prices. 

When you connect to a VPN, you’re giving that provider an inside look at your browsing habits. As such, we only picked VPNs that are well-known, reliable brand names that have proven their worth over the years. The usual VPNs might be a little more expensive than the new kids on the block, but using a no-name provider could theoretically be worse than using none at all.

Price

Most trustworthy VPN services charge between $10 and $15 per month to use their platforms. If you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, we highly recommend paying up-front for a year or two of service, as that will significantly reduce the cost of admission. In picking the best VPNs, we weighed the cost of the service heavily, as well as whether or not those premium prices resulted in more simultaneous connections.

The best VPNs for multiple devices: Reviews & Recommendations

Hopefully, you now feel comfortable poking around and picking a VPN to keep your daily browsing data safe. If you’re looking for a VPN that can cover all your fun electronic toys without much of a hassle, our recommendations are a great place to start.

Best overall: NordVPN

NordVPN

SEE IT

Why it made the cut: NordVPN delivers everything you would want from a VPN provider, including thousands of servers, six simultaneous connections, and ultra-reliable service.

Specs

  • Server count: Over 5,500 servers in 59 countries
  • Connection limit: Supports 6 device connections at once
  • Home country: Panama
  • Free/trial version: None
  • Standard plan price: $11.99 per month, $59.98 per year, or $126.96 every two years

Pros

  • Trusted brand name
  • Extremely reliable
  • Many, many servers
  • Fancy bells and whistles you actually want

Cons

  • Only six simultaneous connections
  • Fairly expensive

If you’re thinking about using a VPN, you’ve almost certainly heard of NordVPN, and that’s for good reason. Pound-for-pound, it’s arguably the best VPN provider on the market. Nord boasts thousands of servers in dozens of countries, as well as competitive speeds worldwide. NordVPN also offers dedicated IPs for an additional monthly fee, which is useful for users who want to hide the fact that they’re using a VPN at all.

Though the brand’s reputation took a hit after a 2018 server breach, it still remains one of the most trusted providers in the space. NordVPN’s mobile app is clean and intuitive, and it supports every device you have lying around the house. If you’re looking for more than just a basic VPN service, Nord also offers a data breach scanner, a password manager, and encrypted cloud storage for additional rates.

NordVPN plans support up to six simultaneous connections. That’s definitely enough for a well-connected person or an average household, but large families full of tech-heads may want to look at alternatives that can handle more bandwidth.

Best for unlimited connections: Surfshark

Surfshark

SEE IT

Specs

  • Server count: 3,200 servers in 95 countries
  • Connection limit: Unlimited
  • Home country: The Netherlands
  • Free/trial version: None
  • Standard plan price: $12.95 per month, $47.88 per year, or $59.76 for two years 

Pros

  • Unlimited connections on one account
  • Competitive speeds
  • Extremely good value

Cons

  • Less well-known than alternatives
  • No extra bells and whistles

Surfshark is the new kid on the VPN block, but don’t let that fool you. Though it makes our list for offering unlimited simultaneous connections—making it an extremely good option for large households full of technophiles—it’s a very strong service across the board. Its $60, two-year subscription is one of the best deals you’ll find in the space, and Surfshark is consistently ranked high among the fastest VPN services out there. Its mobile app is also quite snazzy.

Surfshark’s major downside is its server network, which is significantly smaller than its well-known competition. That said, 3,000+ servers is nothing to sneeze at. Meanwhile, the ability to access servers in 95 countries gives you far more masking options than most providers. Surfshark is arguably the best deal in VPN-land and is definitely the best choice for users with more than six devices.

Best for dedicated IP: CyberGhost

Cyberghost

SEE IT

Specs

  • Server count: 7,900 servers in 91 countries
  • Connection limit: Supports 7 device connections at once
  • Home country: Romania
  • Free/trial version: None
  • Price: $12.99 per month, $51.48 per year, or $78 every two years

Pros

  • More servers than almost any VPN
  • Seven simultaneous connections
  • Easy setup for advanced features

Cons

  • Visually underwhelming
  • No independent security audits since 2012

Some VPN users prefer to pay their provider a little extra for a dedicated IP address in order to fool websites into thinking that they aren’t using a VPN at all. If you don’t pay for a dedicated IP, your traffic will show up as a different IP every time you connect and many websites have filters for popular VPN server IPs. If you want to hide the fact that you’re hiding your info, we recommend CyberGhost, a fully featured VPN provider with all the bells and whistles you need to take control of your cybersecurity.

CyberGhost’s dedicated IP service costs about $4 a month, which is not insignificant. This service ensures that you will always show the same unique IP address when you’re using CyberGhost, which will likely be enough to fool streaming services like Netflix into unblocking you. No more Captchas when casually Googling, either. However, there is a small catch: CyberGhost will issue a unique access token that you use to log into your unique IP. The company keeps no record of this token, but that means you have to keep track of it yourself. If you lose it, you’ll have to purchase another subscription to get another dedicated IP.

Even if you don’t want a dedicated IP—or you’re afraid you’ll lose the token—CyberGhost is an extremely competitive VPN provider. It’s one of the fastest VPNs out there according to speed tests, and its plans are significantly less expensive than some of its competitors.

Best app: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

SEE IT

Specs

  • Server count: Over 3,000 servers in 94 countries
  • Connection limit: Supports 5 device connections at once
  • Home country: British Virgin Islands
  • Free/trial version: None
  • Standard plan price: $12.95 per month, or $99.95 per year

Pros

  • Best app UI and usability
  • Very reliable
  • Trusted name

Cons

  • Only five connections at once
  • Expensive

NordVPN and ExpressVPN are effectively the Coke and Pepsi of the VPN world. Like its counterpart, ExpressVPN is a well-established brand that gives you everything you expect from a premium VPN, including fast speeds, a widespread network, and a variety of extra services that you tack on.

ExpressVPN’s key advantage for those of us with a lot of gear is its excellent mobile app. It’s visually appealing, works on every platform, and makes tweaking your settings easy. ExpressVPN’s speeds have also tested well over the years. However, it does not offer some of the popular extras that Nord users might like, such as dedicated IP services. 

Express offers only five simultaneous connections, which is significantly less than some of our other picks. However, if you tend to stick with only two or three devices, ExpressVPN is a premium provider that covers the basics quite well for everyday people who don’t want to be burdened with overly technical details.

Best for families: Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

SEE IT

Specs

  • Server count: Over 28,000 servers in 84 countries
  • Connection limit: Supports 10 device connections at once
  • Home country: United States
  • Free/trial version: None
  • Standard plan price: $12.00 per month, $90 per year, or $56 for two years

Pros

  • 10 simultaneous connections
  • Ridiculous server count
  • Good UI
  • Very reasonable price

Cons

  • Not the fastest
  • Doesn’t stand out in any category

Private Internet Access is one of the most popular VPNs out there thanks to its compelling price point and feature set. For one thing, PIA boasts a truly absurd server count—over 28,000 worldwide—as well as a simultaneous connection cap that’s more than double some of its competitors. PIA is also regularly discounted for price points that you rarely see in the VPN space, making it a good option for families who want to make every dollar count.

While PIA is certainly a good VPN, it doesn’t necessarily excel in any particular way. Its dedicated IP services aren’t as well-regarded as CyberGhost and NordVPN. Its speed doesn’t compete with many of the major platforms, either. It has standard VPN features like split tunneling, a killswitch, and optional antivirus software, but nothing that sets it apart. 

All in all, Private Internet Access is an extremely respectable VPN that doesn’t quite have the brand recognition of its bigger competitors. However, it’s a reliable alternative that costs less than most of our other picks and will protect a lot of devices simultaneously.

Best budget: ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN

SEE IT

Specs

  • Server count: Over 1,700 servers in 63 countries (premium)
  • Connection limit: Supports 10 device connections at once (premium)
  • Home country: Switzerland
  • Free/trial version: Yes, speed-capped
  • Standard plan price: $10.52 per month, $75.69 per year, or $126.10 every two years (billed in Euro)

Pros

  • A decent free tier that actually works
  • Supports 10 simultaneous connections
  • Easy to upgrade to premium

Cons

  • Limited feature-set
  • Premium is expensive for what it is

You can’t go very far online without being bombarded with ads for free VPN services these days. While most of these services are unreliable, data-capped, or possibly even scams, ProtonVPN is the real deal. It offers a free tier that can actually serve as a decent VPN in a pinch. It doesn’t have a data cap, so you don’t have to tediously count every megabyte you transmit to use it.

As you might expect, ProtonVPN’s free plan is quite limited compared to its premium competitors. You can only choose from three servers, it’s limited to one device at a time, and Proton blocks popular VPN use cases like torrenting and streaming. As such, if you really want a VPN that supports multiple devices, you’ll need to shell out for its premium services.

The good news is that ProtonVPN makes it very easy to upgrade from its free plan to a paid option. It offers 10 simultaneous connections, which is more than enough for even large households. However, it does falter when compared to other premium competitors like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It also lacks premium features that power users might expect, such as support for dedicated IP addresses.

The truth is that there is no good free option if you want to use a VPN across many devices. ProtonVPN gives the closest thing: A free taste of its services before you invest.

FAQs

Q: How many devices can use one VPN?

Generally speaking, the number of devices you can use on one VPN account is determined by the VPN provider itself. Most VPN providers have a cap of between 5-10 devices allowed on a single account simultaneously, though some allow an unlimited number.

Q: Do I need a separate VPN for each device?

No. All of the VPN services on our list allow you to protect at least five devices with a single account.

Q: Can the police track a VPN?

In most circumstances, neither law enforcement nor private companies can track live VPN traffic—this is why people use them. However, if you commit a crime and a law enforcement agency requests data from the VPN provider, some providers may give the data that they request. Some VPN providers have a strict “no logs” policy, which means they don’t store any information on their users. In that situation, the VPN service wouldn’t have any information to give law enforcement, even if they were legally compelled to do so.

Final thoughts on the best VPNs for multiple devices

Whether you command a fleet of devices or simply want to protect your laptop and your phone, it makes sense to sign up for a VPN service to protect gear on unsecured networks. While our VPN picks vary in price, number of connections, and advanced features, the bottom line is that they all keep your private information safe.

The post Best VPNs for multiple devices in 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max review: Welcome to the Dynamic Island https://www.popsci.com/gear/iphone-14-pro-max-review/ Wed, 14 Sep 2022 13:03:49 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=469697
iPhone 14 Pro max
The flagship iPhone makes some noticeable changes. Stan Horaczek

Apple's flagship iPhones get upgraded camera hardware, a new chip, and a clever replacement for the notch.

The post Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max review: Welcome to the Dynamic Island appeared first on Popular Science.

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iPhone 14 Pro max
The flagship iPhone makes some noticeable changes. Stan Horaczek

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

I leave my smartphone sitting face down on my desk most of the day. I hear it vibrate. I pick it up and it shows me my notifications. I didn’t realize quite how ingrained this whole process is in my psyche before I started testing the iPhone 14 Pro Max and its always-on screen display. Now my phone sits face-up so I can see those tantalizing notifications without having to lift the device. I like it.

I’ve been living with Apple’s flagship iPhone as my main device for roughly a week now. And while its new features don’t profoundly shift the overall experience, it feels like a different phone in many small, but impactful ways. Some of that comes from iOS 16, the new iPhone operating system, but the device itself offers a few hardware tweaks that ripple throughout the entire iPhone experience. So far, I like them. And combined with a substantial leap in camera hardware, Apple’s flagship phones offer a bigger upgrade than you might expect based on what you can see on a feature list or spec sheet.

Stan Horaczek

SEE IT

Welcome to the Dynamic Island

The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s overall shape and industrial design haven’t changed much since the iPhone 12 ushered in a return to flat edges and glass faces. Apple has, however, made a big change to the sensor array found at the top of the screen. Instead of a notch that fades into the screen’s bezel, the front-facing camera and Face ID sensor now reside on a thin, pill-shaped area called the “Dynamic Island.”

While the overly dramatic name inspires hard eye rolls, it’s more than an aesthetic update to the previous models’ notch (which I will now call the “Lazy Peninsula”). The Island can display app-specific information that you can expand and interact with by pressing and holding on the Island. 

For instance, if you’re listening to music on Apple Music or Spotify, the Island will display a tiny thumbnail of the album art and a small moving icon to let you know that music is currently playing. If you tap and hold the Island, a set of basic audio controls expand out from it. 

That space also displays information about other typical activities. You’ll see the little unlocking icon every time Face ID works. That’s where you’ll see the connection notification when your AirPods sync with the device. The space doesn’t feel wasted the way it did with the notch. 

Making the Island useful prevents it from feeling like an eyesore. I find the Island hard to ignore. That thin band of screen between the Dynamic Island and the bezel makes the black space more noticeable. It has only been a week with the device and I’m sure it’ll fade from my attention over time. For now, I still see it even when it’s not providing mildly useful information. 

Always on

The iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max brightness comparison
Both phones next to each other (with the 14 Pro on the left and the 13 Pro on the right) show the difference in max brightness. Stan Horaczek

As I mentioned earlier, the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max offer an always-on screen similar to what you’ll find on an Apple Watch. Even if you’re not touching the phone, a quick glance at the device will reveal all of the notifications piling up at the bottom of the display. Apple claims it can enable this feature by dropping the screen’s refresh rate all the way down to 1Hz, which means the screen only updates once every second as opposed to the typical 60Hz or 120Hz modes. 

As with other always-on phone screens, I find myself picking up the device less often. With previous iPhones, I was prone to picking up my phone to see what kind of notifications were waiting for me. Then, because I’m already holding the phone, I might as well just check my apps. Then it’s 20 minutes later and I’ve accidentally watched 13 TikToks about how to go hunting for rare action figures at Target stores in my area. It’s easier to avoid distractions when I can let the phone lie. 

On the downside, iOS 16 and the always-on screen have tricked me into thinking my phone was ringing on several occasions. The notifications stack near the bottom of the lock screen where the “swipe to answer” slider would have previously shown up. 

Again, it has only been a week, so I may slide back into my same habits after a while, but only time will tell. For now, I’m opening my phone less, which I consider a plus. 

Refresh and so clean

The screen’s always-on nature isn’t the only screen upgrade present in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. When you pick between the two, you’re essentially deciding between a 6.1-inch screen on the Pro or a 6.7-inch screen on the Max. I prefer the larger Max model because I figure a flagship should be a flagship, and if I’m going to watch YouTube videos reviewing obscure Russian camera lenses until 2 a.m., I want to do it on the biggest screen possible. 

Both the Pro and the Pro Max offer up to 120Hz refresh rates, which I consider one of the most tangible reasons to upgrade over a standard iPhone 14 or 14 Plus (though you could also get it in the 13 Pro and Pro Max). Smooth scrolling spoils eyeballs for paltry 60Hz devices with their jutter-laden on-screen motion. Games that support 120 fps also look great. Psychedelic rhythm racer Thumper looks impressive even with tons of wild colors, shiny surfaces, and inexplicable tentacles waving all over the screen. 

Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, the 14 Pro and Pro Max offer higher overall brightness. Apple says it’s more than twice as bright, with a maximum output of 2,000 nits, which is the same as its Studio Display. I compared the 13 Pro Max directly to the 14 Pro Max and found that the newer phone is, in fact, brighter. It’s not a huge difference, however, at least under normal settings. It does improve visibility in bright settings, though, so you’ll reap the benefits if you spend a lot of time staring at your phone outdoors.

A16 Bionic chip

iPhone 14 Pro Max
I tested the phone a lot with Lightroom Mobile, including on this large film scan. Stan Horaczek

A brand new chip typically makes for a great marquee selling point when companies announce a new phone. With the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, Apple has introduced its new A16 Bionic chip, while the A15 Bionic has moved down into the standard iPhone 14 models.

New smartphone chips always promise faster performance than their predecessors. You can likely easily find in-depth benchmarks online to tell you exactly how much faster the new chip really is but those numbers hardly ever translate directly into your real-life experience. I edit video and huge raw photo files on my iPhone 13 Pro Max without issue. Unless you’re really pushing the iPhone hard with elaborate games, computing power likely hasn’t been an issue for you. 

In terms of real-world performance, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feel snappy and didn’t stutter even under heavy tasks. I tried editing some 8K video shot with the phone and used Adobe Lightroom to process a few of the phone’s native 48-megapixel raw files. The processes were quick and lag-free. The new chip does provide some advantages that you may not even notice, however, like upgraded image processing, which powers Apple’s revamped HDR process. 

I’m not worried about the A16 Bionic’s ability to handle any commercial app I can throw at it. At least not yet during my testing.

Camera upgrades

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max
The camera arrays of the iPhone 14 Pro Max (top) and the iPhone 13 Pro Max (bottom) look similar. Stan Horaczek

Hardware updates in new camera phone models make it tough to get excited. Companies typically make the lenses a little brighter and the sensors a little bigger to help their overall performance. The software updates and the image-processing upgrades usually make a more tangible difference on overall image quality. For the first time in a while, that isn’t the case. With the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, the hardware matters.

We’ll start with the lenses because they’re simpler. You still get three individual camera modules with their own lenses, but the focal lengths have changed a bit. The 48MP main camera is now slightly wider-angle than previous models. If you’re familiar with lens focal lengths, it’s now a 24mm equivalent compared to a roughly 28mm equivalent before. The ultra-wide camera stays around 13mm, as it was before, and the telephoto is still around 77mm, so not much has changed there. 

The sensor, however, looks much different. It now relies on a feature called pixel binning to create highly detailed 12-megapixel images with a brand new 48-megapixel sensor. This isn’t a new concept. In fact, Nokia first brought it to smartphones a full decade ago with its Pure View devices and it often shows up in modern Android phones. It’s popular for good reason. By essentially combining groups of four pixels into larger photon receptacles, the sensor collects light more effectively. That’s especially handy in low-light situations.

This new sensor structure fundamentally changes the way the iPhone’s camera works, at least behind the scenes. When you press the 2x zoom button, the camera can now simply crop into the high-res sensor and deliver a full-resolution final image without having to rely on computational photography to fill in details that might otherwise get lost. 

If you want to shoot in raw, you can also now get a full 48-megapixel image out of the iPhone. That’s useful if you’re the type of photographer who edits images later. 

Camera performance

iPhone 14 Pro max sample image
Look! Shadows! Stan Horaczek

I’m working on a much more in-depth camera-specific review for our sibling publication, PopPhoto.com, because of the considerable hardware change. For now, I can say that the 14 Pro and Pro Max introduce some tangible differences when it comes to camera performance. 

Moving to a slightly wider lens on the main camera may not feel like much of a shift, but I find it fairly noticeable. It can fit more of the subject in the frame now, which is good for capturing sweeping landscapes without introducing the distortion that comes with the main camera, or group photos in tight spaces. The overall image quality has also noticeably improved. I typically use the high-contrast picture style in the camera menu because I think the default style typically washes out black areas and shadows too much. I found that the 14 Pro and Pro Max handle that noticeably better, at least in my early testing. 

That wider viewing angle comes with some quirks, though. Try to get close to a subject and you’ll likely find that the phone switches into its dedicated macro mode before you get as close as you wanted. Because the macro mode relies on the ultra-wide camera, you don’t get the full image quality you wanted out of the main camera. Switching focal lengths also fundamentally changes the field of view, so the background will suddenly look farther away from your subject and you’ll notice some perspective distortion. I quickly turned off auto macro mode because I found the switching very annoying. 

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14 angle of view
The iPhone 13 Pro Max image (left) appears slightly more zoomed in than the iPhone 14 Pro max image (right). Stan Horaczek

Overall image quality, however, has improved in both photos and videos. The main camera captures tons of fine detail—in fact, sometimes it’s a little too much. The edges of objects can start to look a little crunchy. Still, it’s better than I’ve seen on some other high-end smartphones. 

Images shot in dark settings also seem improved simply because they’re more likely to let shadows look like dark shadows. 

I admittedly haven’t shot many videos with the 14 Pro or Pro Max just yet, but it looks solid in my early impressions. The new Action Mode provides impressively smooth footage while walking or riding in a vehicle. I considered the iPhone 13 Pro one of the very best smartphone cameras for video before and that hasn’t changed in this generation. 

The cool stuff I can’t test

Apple announced a few very interesting new features that I can’t really test. The new Car Crash Detection feature relies on a series of built-in sensors (which includes everything from the microphone to the barometer) to sense when you’ve been in a wreck so it can notify emergency services and your chosen emergency contacts. Apple has a solid track record with its Fall Detection feature, so I’m inclined to believe the Car Crash Detection will work as well. I hope I never find out. 

The new SOS feature allows the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max to communicate with emergency services via a satellite connection that will work in many places typical cell service can’t reach. It’s a very clever system that relays text-based messages to rescuers using an aggressive compression technology that minimizes required bandwidth to cut down on transmission times. 

These are both very cool and novel features, and I hope they work in case I need them someday. 

The rest of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max experience

I have been using the Pro Max for about a week and I find that the always-on screen really doesn’t have much of an effect on overall battery life. I typically finish the work day with more than a third of my battery life left—half if I didn’t use the device all that much. That’s still plenty of juice to go to the gym, watch a bunch of random videos, fall asleep without putting my phone on the charger, and waking up to a device that’s not even in the red yet. That’s one of the benefits of carrying a giant phone. Overall, it’s extremely similar to the iPhone 13 Pro Max under regular usage.

It’s worth pointing out that all of the iPhone 14 models have ditched the SIM card tray and now rely solely on Embedded Sim cards, or eSIMs, in the US. This made my activation process a little more involved as my T-Mobile service needed a nudge from the company before I could get it working on this device. If you’re used to simply swapping SIMs into your new phone without having to do much in the way of logging into your account or talking to customer service, there might be a hiccup. 

So, who should buy the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max?

Once again, the highest-end iPhone is the best iPhone. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise at this point. If you’re already using an iPhone 11 or later, there probably isn’t quite enough here in terms of features to make it worth rushing out and dropping at least $999 on a new 14 Pro or Pro Max. If you’re coming from an older device, though, this is likely the move if you can stomach the cost because it’s going to offer you the most future-proof performance.

If you’re trying to decide between the Pro and the Pro max, just get the screen size you prefer. The Pro Max offers a battery advantage due to its sheer size, but the hardware is basically identical otherwise. There’s no difference in camera hardware like there was in earlier models.

It seems likely that the new quad-pixel camera will eventually trickle down into lower models and Apple will refine it over time. More and more apps will likely support integration for the Dynamic Island, which older phones won’t be able to take advantage of. That will leave you on your own smartphone version of a lonely island. Nobody wants that.

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Apple introduces iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Ultra, and more https://www.popsci.com/gear/apple-iphone-14-far-out-news/ Wed, 07 Sep 2022 23:15:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=468422
iPhone 14 News
Apple

iPhones, and Watches, and AirPods, oh my!

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iPhone 14 News
Apple

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Apple’s end-of-summer events generally bring exciting announcements and this year’s “Far Out” presentation was filled with exciting new gear, including four new iPhone 14 devices, three new Apple Watches, and an updated take on the AirPods Pro. That includes an all-new version of the phone, the iPhone 14 Plus, which offers standard iPhone performance in a 6.7-inch “Pro Max” form factor, and the Apple Watch Ultra, a rugged and powerful flagship sport watch. We’ll walk through all the gadgets Apple announced Sept. 7 and let you know what’s new and exciting about Apple’s next wave of tech.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus

iPhone 14 News
The Apple iPhone 14 line features four phones, including the iPhone 14 (left) new iPhone 14 Plus (right). Apple

If you’re not interested in Apple’s more expensive iPhone Pro lineup, the company also introduced the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, the latter of which is a new addition. These devices offer an excellent suite of features but are available at a more comfortable price for most people. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus come with the same A15 Bionic chipset that was in the iPhone 13 and will be available for $799 and $899, respectively. Pre-orders begin Sept. 9. The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 will be available in stores Sept. 16 and the 6.7-inch Plus arrives Oct. 7.

Like last year’s iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus features a dual-camera setup. The primary camera features a 12MP sensor and f/1.5 aperture with sensor-base stabilization. Apple claims the new camera system offers a 49 percent improvement in low-light performance over the prior model thanks to a “Photonic Engine,” so users should enjoy excellent pictures at night. There’s also a new 12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera with autofocus features, so, theoretically, you won’t encounter any out-of-focus selfies. The iPhone 14 also supports improved video stabilization features, including an “Action mode” for smooth-looking video with fewer shakes and vibrations.

While the outward appearance is unchanged, both devices feature an updated internal design for better thermal performance. This will allow users to watch movies and play games for longer. Speaking of marathon Netflix sessions, Apple said the iPhone 14 Plus model offers the best battery life of any iPhone in its lineup. If you’re the type of person who is frequently away from an outlet, the 14 Plus could be very appealing. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus also support the new Crash Detection feature, which utilizes a new dual-core accelerometer to detect if you’ve been in a severe car crash. They also support Emergency SOS via Satellite, allowing users to connect to emergency services even when off the grid.

iPhone 4 Pro and 14 Pro Max

iPhone 14 News
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are Apple’s new flagships. Apple

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max bring a conventional suite of upgrades, including improved performance, a more advanced camera system, and better battery life. What you’ll notice, though, is that the display now features a pill-shaped cutout for the selfie camera, rather than the infamous top-center notch, and the introduction of an always-on display, so you can quickly check the time and notifications without any tapping. Apple said the iPhone 14 Pro would start at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,099. They’ll be available to pre-order Sept. 9 and in stores Sept. 16.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will offer 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR displays, sizes unchanged from last year. Apple is cleverly embracing the new pill-shaped cutout with a feature known as “Dynamic Island.” Notifications, apps, and alerts will adapt and move around the pill-shaped cutout, so the pill feels like it’s a part of the screen … aesthetically, at least.

Like the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max display technology supports a 1Hz refresh rate, enabling the new always-on display feature. The always-on display will work with the lock screen widgets introduced with iOS 16, so users can quickly glance at information like calendar events, weather, and reminders without waking up the iPhone 14 Pro’s display. When the display does wake up, users can enjoy 120Hz ProMotion technology and a peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits, or 2000 nits outdoors.

On the inside, Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip improves the phone’s power efficiency, display performance, and the upgraded triple-camera system. It features a six-core CPU with two high-performance and four-efficiency cores, allowing photographers to capture 48MP images in ProRAW, which allows for greater editing possibilities. 

For most photos, however, the new quad-pixel sensor will capture 12MP pictures through a process called “pixel binning,” which lets Apple maximize detail and light capture. The flash can also adapt to the camera system’s different focal lengths. On the video side, Apple said its Cinematic Mode supports 4K at 30 frames per second (fps) and 4K at 24 fps. It also offers new stabilization features that make the footage look as though you were using a gimbal.

Other features available in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max include Crash Detection, which can assist when it detects you were in a crash, and Emergency SOS via Satellite, so you can communicate when out of the range of carrier coverage. While the design of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max isn’t a significant departure from what we’ve seen these last few years, the new pill-shaped cutout, always-on display, and improved camera system may prompt plenty of upgrades.

Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra

iPhone 14 News
Apple announced three new watches, including the Apple Watch Series 8 and a revised Apple Watch SE. Apple

Apple announced a whole wave of Apple Watches, including a new standard model, the Apple Watch Series 8; a redesigned version of its budget watch, Apple Watch SE; and an all-new high-end sport watch aimed at athletes and adventurers, the Apple Watch Ultra.

The Apple Watch Series 8 features a largely unchanged design but includes new sensors that will enable new health and safety features. First, a pair of sensors measuring skin temperature will allow for improved menstrual cycle tracking and automated retrospective ovulation estimates, which can be helpful for family planning. In watchOS 9, the Cycle Tracking features will alert users to any deviations, such as irregular, infrequent, or prolonged periods.

The Series 8 also supports Apple’s new Crash Detection feature. If you’re involved in a severe car crash, your device will check in with you and dial emergency services if you’re unresponsive. The Series 8 also supports a Low Power Mode, offering users up to 36 hours of battery life. This new mode will temporarily disable or limit select sensors and features, such as the always-on display and workout autostart.

The Apple Watch Series 8 will be available for $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the cellular model. You can pre-order the Series 8 today and it will launch in stores Sept. 16. The Apple Watch SE, which features the same dual-core processor found in the Series 8 but lacks the more advanced features like the always-on display, starts at $249 and can also be pre-ordered today and will launch Sept. 16.

Apple Watch Ultra
The Apple Watch Ultra is a bigger, more durable smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra, an all-new design, is built for intense fitness training and outdoor activities like climbing, hiking, and scuba diving. The more rugged model features an extra-large 49mm titanium case, a redesigned Digital Crown, and an “Action button,” which you can customize for various activities. The Watch Ultra’s display features sapphire crystal for durability and supports 2000 nits of brightness when outdoors. Notably, the Watch Ultra’s buttons have been designed to work with users who wear gloves.

The Watch Ultra has all the features of the Series 8 but also includes three built-in microphones and is twice as water resistant as other Apple Watch models. The more rugged wearable comes standard with cellular capabilities and can get up to 36 hours on a single charge—enough for any extreme athletes participating in grueling endurance sports. It also features an extended battery life of 60 hours when using Apple’s new Low Power Mode (which will be enabled in a software update later in the fall).

The Watch Ultra also supports L1 and L5 GPS frequencies, ensuring your coordinates are as precise as possible. This is necessary for a new trackback feature to help users retrace their steps if they get lost on a hiking trip. If you get lost and need assistance, the Watch Ultra has an 86-decibel siren so others nearby can better locate you. If you’re into water sports, the Watch Ultra is certified to EN 13319 for scuba divers, with a diving depth of up to 131 feet.

Three new bands are available for the Watch Ultra—Alpine, Trail, and Ocean—and they cater to the different environments they’re named after. The Watch Ultra will be available for $799 when it launches Sept. 23.

AirPods Pro 2

iPhone 14 news
The AirPods Pro 2 feature enhanced active noise-canceling, capacitive controls, and more. Apple

The AirPods Pro 2 sticks with a design introduced by the original model but can cancel twice as much noise. This is thanks to a new H2 chip, which also supports an improved Adaptive Transparency mode that will dynamically reduce heavy noise while walking around a loud city. The latest truly wireless earbuds include a new low-distortion audio driver and a custom amplifier for richer bass and crystal-clear sound.

The AirPods Pro 2 also supports new touch gestures, including the ability to adjust the volume with swipes on the stems. That will reduce the friction when using the earbuds because you will no longer have to take out your phone to turn up your favorite song. The AirPods Pro 2 features six hours of listening time on a single charge, a 33 percent increase over the original AirPods Pro. The charging case, which now has a built-in speaker (for Find My/status purposes) and a new loop on the side for a lanyard, allows for 30 hours of listening time, an increase of six hours.

The AirPods Pro 2 will be available to order for $249 Sept. 9 and launch Sept. 23.

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Apple’s two big new safety features, explained https://www.popsci.com/technology/apple-announces-car-crash-detection-and-emergency-satellite-communication/ Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:31:36 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=468348
Smartwatches photo
courtesy Apple

Car crash detection and a way to communicate via satellite in an emergency are part of the latest tech out of Cupertino.

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Smartwatches photo
courtesy Apple

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Apple held its annual iPhone extravaganza today, and among the debut of gadgets like the iPhone 14 and the chunky, extreme-sports-focused Apple Watch Ultra are two new services focused on safety. One of them, car crash detection, involves both gadgets, and the other, enabling emergency satellite communication, is iPhone-specific. 

Here’s a look at what to expect from the two new services. 

Car crash detection

Apple has previously rolled out two features tied to its wearable device that detect if you’ve taken a spill: a form of everyday fall-detection (in 2018) and then, last year, a workout-focused version of the same. 

A new service, announced today, aims to notice that you’ve been in a car accident and then call for help. 

Ron Huang, the company’s vice president for sensing and connectivity, said that the feature employs new sensors in the Apple Watch as well as machine learning. While the company’s watches already have gyroscopes and accelerometers in them, Huang said that new versions of these sensors help detect the forces present in a car accident. That new accelerometer, he said, can notice as much as 256 Gs of acceleration, “allowing it to detect the extreme impacts of a crash.” 

For context, one G—that stands for gravity—is what you feel pulling you straight down towards the Earth at any given moment, and fighter pilots endure as much as nine or more Gs while conducting maneuvers in which they bank hard or accelerate quickly. In a car accident, the Gs the watch are detecting likely stem from forces involved in actions like the rapid stop. 

[Related: A new AT&T update could make 911 calls more effective]

Huang also said that the onboard barometer, microphone, and GPS chip help with the detection process as well, and that machine learning helped tie everything together. The barometer is involved to measure pressure-related changes due to an airbag’s deployment, a promotional video during the event explained. 

The company’s latest phones also offer an identical service, said Kaiann Drance, the company’s vice president for iPhone product marketing, meaning that you do not need to buy the newest watch to get car crash detection. 

The announcement comes at a grim time for road safety in the United States, as almost 43,000 people died in car accidents in 2021, an increase of more than 10 percent over the year before. (Pedestrians are an especially vulnerable group.) But of course, difficult problems like national road safety are unlikely to be solved with something like a gadget. 

Satellite communications

The second safety feature the company announced is baked into the new iPhones specifically, and involves giving someone like an injured mountaineer a way to ask for help via satellite when they are out of cell service range. 

Apple is calling the new feature “Emergency SOS via Satellite,” and it works by instructing the lost hiker to point their phone at a far away, quick-moving communications satellite. To make this feature work, engineers had to tackle the bandwidth challenges that come with this form of communication. 

“To connect to these satellites, you need to be outside, with a clear view of the sky,” said Ashley Williams, the company’s manager for satellite modeling and simulation. “And the bandwidth is so limited that even sending a text message is a technical challenge.” (So, no Netflix via sat.) 

[Related: What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter]

Other factors that allow this whole system to work are a “custom short text compression algorithm,” Williams said, as well as a specific screen interface for reporting what the problem is, like by hitting the “Lost or Trapped” option. Helping to handle any cries for help will be a ground network that also includes “relay centers staffed with highly trained emergency specialists ready to get your text and call an emergency service provider on your behalf,” she said, which are involved if the emergency center cannot deal with a text message exchange on its own. 

The satellite communication service will not come with any extra cost—for the first two years after you purchase an iPhone 14. After that, the sky’s the limit. The SOS service debuts in November, only in Canada and the United States. 

Watch the entire event, below.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review: Powerful vibes https://www.popsci.com/gear/samsung-galaxy-z-flip4-review/ Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=465406
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
In its fourth iteration, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 updates the most folding phone line in many ways. Mike Epstein

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is all about flip-phone nostalgia.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
In its fourth iteration, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 updates the most folding phone line in many ways. Mike Epstein

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According to Samsung and market research firm Omidia, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G was the most popular phone with a foldable display in 2021. It’s easy to see why: The homage to the pre-smart flip phone, the Z Flip line is a perfect blend of inspiring, aspiring technology and something that evokes a time and experience many of us remember fondly. It’s new and familiar.

Samsung’s sequel, the Galaxy Z Flip4, is a new and improved version of that winning formula. It has a better processor and upgraded cameras. There are new ways to take advantage of the small cover screen that allows for quick actions when the phone is closed. Like its larger counterpart, the Samsung Z Fold4, it’s made with more durable materials and features a redesigned hinge. These are all good things, and they more-or-less justify the Flip4’s flagship-level price tag. Despite that, I couldn’t shake the nagging thought that the folding element of the Flip4 was largely unnecessary. It’s a capable phone, but the only real argument for it over a Galaxy S22, a new iPhone 13 Pro, or other top Android phone is a nostalgic longing for those neo-classical flip-phone vibes.

Mike Epstein

SEE IT

What is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4?

The Galaxy Z Flip4 is the more affordable of Samsung’s two-model “Galaxy Z” line of phones with foldable displays. The Z Flip4 folds vertically, recreating the flip-phone form factor that was popular just before the original iPhone ushered in the smartphone era. That means it’s a thick, but altogether compact 2.83 x 3.34 x 0.67 inches (WHD) when it’s in your pocket. It extends out to a lanky 2.83 x 6.50 0.27 inches (WHD) when you open it up to reveal its 6.7-inch 2640 x 1080 pixel Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. Despite the crease in the middle—an inevitability in folding phones at this point—the display looks bold and sharp, and scrolls smoothly at 120Hz.

The Fold4 is roughly the same size and shape as its predecessor but Samsung has made a few tweaks to its design, including Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ for the cover display and a more durable aluminum frame. Samsung shaved off a little bezel, too, to augment the size of the screen. The biggest change—a slimmer hinge—delivers a smooth, but slow opening action. The Flip4 doesn’t actually “flip” open, which is probably for the best, but it does add a couple of long seconds to the process of opening the phone, which may be an annoyance if you want to quickly check an app.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
The Flip4’s cover screen can do more than the Flip3’s but isn’t as useful as it could be. Mike Epstein

To minimize this hassle, the Flip4 has a 1.9-inch 512 x 260p Super AMOLED cover screen, which you can set to always-on so it shows you the time and your battery status, allows you to check your notifications, and make some quick responses to texts. Effectively, it gives you the same level of quick engagement that you get from a high-end smartwatch. The external display is helpful in some situations but often doesn’t do quite enough to compensate for the added time of unflipping your phone. The screen is small, so you’ll have to bring it up to your face to see anything other than the time, at which point you may as well open up the phone.

The first thing I noticed about the phone, though, was its height. Opened up, it’s slightly narrower than the Samsung S22, and nearly ¾ of an inch taller. It’s nice when scrolling web pages and social apps because it displays so much content at once, but also means many streaming apps will scale down videos rather than stretch them to an ultra-wide format. That long, narrow shape also makes the phone feel a little unwieldy in your hand. I occasionally found myself sliding up and down the chassis like I’m playing a guitar solo when trying to tap icons near the top of the screen. It also doesn’t help that, at 6.6 ounces, it’s heavier than it looks.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
You can see that, when placed side by side, the unfolded Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 (left) is quite a bit taller than the Galaxy S22 (right). Mike Epstein

Out of context, these are relatively minor problems that you can overlook as the price you pay for having a phone with a bendable display. Even though this is the fourth Galaxy Z Flip and folding displays are slowly becoming more common, chances are that this feels like new and spectacular technology for most people. It’s really cool to unfurl the phone and see that there’s a screen in there. It’s even cooler when you bend the phone and see the image bend with it.

However, taking a longer view, you don’t really get much out of the Flip’s brand of bending. It’s smaller in your pocket or bag, true, but thick and heavy enough when folded that I don’t see too many people taking that as an upgrade over the now standard 5- or 6-inch phone. It will fit in smaller jeans pockets, for example, but will also stretch them out. To me, at least, you’re taking on the compromises of a folding phone, including the weight, the crease in the screen, and potential susceptibility to mechanical issues, almost entirely for the spectacle of the fold and the aesthetic of the flip-phone form factor.

How the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4’s design beats the Flip3

Setting aside the debate over the Z Flip line’s general utility, the Flip4 offers some very strong upgrades over the Z Flip3 5G. Under the hood, it features the newest Qualcomm chipset, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and, in benchmarking apps like Geekbench 5 and 3DMark’s Wild Life test for gaming performance, it bested the Samsung Galaxy S22 and kept pace with the larger Fold4, which has the same processor. Even with the same 8GB of RAM, you’ll notice the jump to a flagship-caliber chip when playing games or editing photos and video. That extra power also ensures a smooth transition between fully open and half-open “flex” mode, which enables a de facto dual-screen mode for some apps, including the camera.

Galaxy Z Flip4 cameras

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
Bending the Flip4 into Flex mode creates some fun opportunities when you’re taking photos or video. Mike Epstein

The cameras have also gotten a glow up. You have the same basic camera setup—a 12MP wide lens and 12MP ultra-wide lens on the back, and 10MP hole-punch selfie cam on the inner screen—but the wide angle lens is brighter and has larger pixels, which allows it to capture more light. It also brings in a host of new AI processing features, such as Samsung’s low-light “nightography” and improved AI stabilization, which play an increasingly central role in determining how smartphone photos look. 

The Flip4 still lacks a third tele-photo camera, though, so its camera stack ultimately falls short of what you’ll get on any of the Galaxy S22 phones or the Fold4. All things considered, though, my photos looked very sharp and detailed. It suffers a more acute version of the color oversaturation issues I found with the Fold4, though it’s a minor issue that only professional photographers and phone reviewers will actually see.

The biggest improvement to the camera, though, is for selfies. By tapping the power button twice, you can use the rear cameras to take selfie photos or video while the phone is closed, using the cover screen as a viewfinder. It’s a very convenient, but flawed way to take a photo: The cover screen doesn’t show you the full photo, so it can be tricky to get the perfect shot.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
You can take selfies using the rear cameras and the cover screen, but it can be tricky to line up the perfect shot. Mike Epstein

Like previous Z Flips, the Flip4 also gives you some fun options for shooting photos and video by using the camera app in Flex mode, which initiates a dual-screen layout where half the phone acts as the viewfinder and the other shows settings. This allows you to easily place the phone on a table to set up time-delayed shots, or angle the phone so you better see what you’re shooting. If you’re taking a video, you can hold the phone sideways like a camcorder, too, which is fun if you remember camcorders.

App support

Given that Flex mode is the main technical benefit of making the Flip4 foldable, I wish it were more helpful. A decent number of popular apps support it, including the Google app suite, the Samsung app suite, Facebook, Instagram, and even some games like Diablo Immortal. In most cases, though, that usually means support for dual-app multitasking, where one app is on the top half of the screen and a second one is on the bottom. The Flip4’s multitasking feature is very helpful at times: The ability to clearly and easily splitscreen apps makes it easier to move information over from a webpage to a google doc or use the calculator while you’re writing something in the notes app. Still, I wish more apps supported bespoke layouts or modes like the camera, which really make the Fold feel like an asset when you’re using the phone.

Battery performance

Last, but not least, it’s worth noting that the Galaxy Z Flip4 has a moderately larger 3700mAh battery, versus the 3300mAh in the Z Flip3 5G. In my experience that will get you through a full day of intermittent use, but won’t last overnight. The good news is it also supports up to 25W fast charging, so it goes from dead to 50 percent in 30 minutes with a compatible charger.

So, who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4?

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Review
While it isn’t as useful as it is on the Fold4, using two apps at once, splitscreen, works well on the Flip4. Mike Epstein

With computing power that approaches that of a flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is a strong high-end smartphone that is, ironically, held back by its signature feature. The feel of flipping it doesn’t feel quite right to me, which matters if I’m trying to conjure the memory of misspent youth. More importantly, I don’t really need a shorter phone to fit in my pocket. I only see the tradeoffs when I use the Flip4, not the nostalgia or the magic of the folding display. I accept and, honestly, encourage people who see things in a different light to go play with one in a store.

If you try it out and fall in love, Samsung has made some big strides in Flip4, meeting or beating what you get from the S22 series in many respects. With that kind of power under the hood, its $999.99 starting price tag doesn’t feel like an insurmountable early adopter tax, which remains a disqualifying issue for the Galaxy Fold4. It isn’t without its problems: The cover screen needs to be more useful. The rear cameras are not as powerful or well-equipped as the rest of the Samsung phone Galaxy. The hinge and inner screen’s inherent sensitivity to dust makes it more fragile than the average phone. (And, personally, I would like to see Samsung pay some app developers to experiment with unique Flex mode integrations.) Still, the novelty of a folding screen and owning a flip phone in 2022 may blend to create just the right shade of rose-colored glasses and let you feel nothing but love for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 review: Powerful vibes appeared first on Popular Science.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review: A step closer https://www.popsci.com/gear/samsung-galaxy-z-fold4-review/ Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=464821
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
With a foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 opens up to reveal a bold and beautiful 7.6-inch screen. Mike Epstein

An upgrade, not a revelation.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review: A step closer appeared first on Popular Science.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
With a foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 opens up to reveal a bold and beautiful 7.6-inch screen. Mike Epstein

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For most of us, myself included, the folding display technology at the heart of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold4 is the stuff of wonders. Despite the fact that this is the fourth Galaxy Fold, and there are several other devices with foldable screens that you can touch and use, it is truly wild to crack open your phone and see the tablet-esque 7.6-inch inner screen open. It’s important to keep in mind that folding screens are, conceptually, still new and a bit magical. The Fold4, launched Aug. 26, is largely defined by design tweaks and improved components that improve its flagship-tier performance, though not always in ways that the average person will care about. And yet, unless you are one of the few upgrading from an older Fold, using one will likely feel entirely new and exciting.

But, like the previous models, that experience comes with a few tradeoffs versus a conventional phone. Having a very large screen that’s genuinely pocketable feels great when you’re scrolling at home or sitting on a train, but it’s thicker, more delicate, and a little bit awkward compared to the standard smartphone design. Samsung has taken measures to mitigate those issues in the Fold4, especially around durability. The result is powerful and appealing, but not necessarily a big enough change to make the folding handset a viable choice for the average phone fan.

Mike Epstein

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What is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4?

The Galaxy Z Fold4 retains the book-style folding form factor that its predecessors popularized. When you pull it out of your pocket, it’s a thick, tall, and skinny riff on the conventional smartphone, measuring 2.64 x 6.11 x 0.62 inches (WHD) with a 6.2-inch 2316 x 904p Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen. You can open the phone from the right side, like a book, revealing the larger 7.6-inch 2176 x 1812p Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. At 5.12 x 6.11 x 0.25 inches unfolded, the Fold4 demands two hands to handle the larger “tablet” mode comfortably, so it’s really reserved for when you can give it your full attention.

Using the Fold when closed feels more or less like your standard smartphone, though the form factor is definitely less than ideal. The external screen makes most apps look scrunched together. Text in apps like Twitter and Facebook is small, so it can be harder to casually look at apps at a glance. It’s fine when you need to bang out a quick text or take a call, but you wouldn’t want to spend time using it this way.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
Spotify is one of the better-looking apps when the Fold4 is closed. Mike Epstein

Of course, when you have time, you’ll open up the phone and use the larger screen, which greatly enhances watching, playing, and doing anything where you give the phone your full attention. I’ve never been one to watch a movie or TV on my phone, but the screen fills your field of vision to the point where you can watch videos comfortably without bringing the screen in close. Games, especially those with small text like League of Legends: Wild Rift or Teamfight Tactics, look better and are easier to navigate. (If nothing else, the Fold4 feels more like a “gaming phone” than anything else I’ve tried.)

It also offers the best version of app multitasking on a phone. You can open and simultaneously run up to three apps across the 21.6:18 inner screen. I find it works best keeping it to two so nothing gets too small, but it feels much better to move information between two apps you can see than to copy something, close an app, then open another and paste, as you would on most phones. Sometimes you’re transferring info from a Google doc to a spreadsheet. Other times you’re adding something to your calendar based on a note or a text that Android doesn’t recognize as a potential calendar event. As streamlined as our phones are, we all still do these little manual data transfers from time to time and it feels better on the Fold, once you get the hang of split-screening apps using the “Multi-Window” tab on the right side of the screen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
Looking at two apps on the Fold4, side-by-side. Mike Epstein

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4’s design and features

To optimize its strengths, and overcome a few of its weaknesses, the Fold4 features a few structural design tweaks. The phone is just under 3mm shorter than the Galaxy Z Fold3, and 2mm wider when unfolded, which goes a surprisingly long way to make holding the phone more comfortable, especially in “tablet” form. Its smaller bezels get out of the screen’s way, allowing it to loom large in the shorter, wider phone.

The unconventional form factors of both screens still present their own issues, though. Since neither display fits the conventional dimensions of a smartphone or a tablet, you’ll find many apps feature crunched display text, plus large black bars around widescreen videos and other apps not optimized specifically for the Fold. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Netflix and games look sharp and beautiful on the large unfolded screen (or the cover screen, if you choose), but it sometimes minimizes the benefits of having a maximal screen.

In fairness, though, Samsung is steadily getting more and more developers to create Fold-native versions of their apps, including the Google suite, the Microsoft Office suite, Spotify, Facebook, and more. Most recently, they’ve added Twitch, YouTube, and Microsoft Teams.

So durable, but not durable enough

To combat the general perception that the Fold is fragile, Samsung has taken steps to make it more durable. It features a reinforced frame and a cover display made from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. It also features a redesigned hinge, which allows for a smoother opening. Samsung also claims that the new hinge makes the “crease” in the middle of the display disruptive, but it’s still very noticeable in most apps.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
Even with a new hinge design, the mid-display crease returns on the Fold4. Mike Epstein

While those changes may have reinforced the phone against drops, the phone still feels more delicate than a Galaxy S22 or an iPhone 13. The hinge opens smoothly, but slowly—you cannot whip it open the way you can with a laptop or an old-school flip phone. As a result, I was still afraid of opening it forcefully and snapping the phone in half, even if that wasn’t a real possibility. Also, the phone remains susceptible to dust—it features an IPX8 water resistance rating, but no dry particle resistance—so there you do need to be somewhat mindful of where and how you handle it. (Also, at 9.6 ounces, it drops like a rock. So … don’t drop it.)

Processor gains

One of the Galaxy Z Fold4’s largest improvements is its new and improved Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. While it’s only half-step over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Galaxy S22 line, it has seemingly delivered a larger-than-average performance boost, at least on paper. In benchmarks like Geekbench 5 for CPU and general processor performance, the Fold4 outperformed the Galaxy S22 and S21 Ultra by a small but notable margin. It beat out Samsung’s other foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip4, which has the same chipset. It also outdid the standard Galaxy phones in 3DMark’s Wild Life tests for GPU performance and was neck and neck with the Flip4. 

All things being equal, the Fold4 offers best-in-class speed for an Android phone. You may notice it in games, which should feel snappy and look sharp, or when taking and editing either high-resolution photos and video. It also ensures smooth scrolling in 120Hz without flickering, and seamless transitions when using two apps in split screen mode apps, or bending the inner screen into the half-folded “flex” mode.

Camera bump

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
The rear camera stack may be the biggest single upgrade on the Fold4. Mike Epstein

The camera is the centerpiece of most smartphones, and the Fold4 is the first folding model where the hardware feels like it’s in lock-step with the standard Galaxy phones. Its primary back cameras match the S22 and S22 Plus—a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP Ultra-wide camera, and 10MP tele-photo camera. That’s a notable step up over the 12/12/12MP lenses on the Fold3 5G. It also offers up to 30x digital zoom and 3x optical zoom, the latter of which is an upgrade over the S22.

For video, the Fold4 can record in 8K at up to 24 frames per second (fps), or in 4K at up to 60fps. The Fold3 couldn’t record in 8K, so you are getting a fidelity bump, albeit a largely unnecessary one. (I don’t own any 8K devices, do you?)

Of course, the actual performance of these cameras increasingly comes down to the AI that magically blends multiple pictures together behind the scenes. Again, the Fold4 receives an upgrade that enables parity with the S22, including Samsung’s new “nightography” for low-light photos. As someone who’s very critical of photos, but only an okay photographer, I found the Fold4 makes it very easy to take the best possible photo in any given situation, though I would say that some colors appear a bit oversaturated in very bright settings. That shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone familiar with Samsung’s camera systems.

It’s also worth pointing out that the folding screen is especially useful when shooting photos and video. In “flex” mode, with the screen half-folded, the viewfinder appears on the upper, vertical half of the screen and the buttons appear on the lower half. This makes it much easier to take a clear photo while raising your phone high or lowering it without bending down, since you can still see what you’re shooting.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
Flex mode and the camera app are a perfect pair when you want to capture the groovy hue(s) of a lava lamp. Mike Epstein

In addition to the primary rear cameras, the Fold4 has two selfie cameras, a 10MP camera on the cover screen and a 4MP under the unfolded display. These cameras are largely unchanged from the Fold3: Both are fine, but a far cry from the excellent rear cameras. That said, Samsung has made it so the under-display camera successfully fades into the display when games and apps don’t use it. It’s a nice quality-of-life improvement, though a small camera dot doesn’t feel like a huge impediment in a tech world full of camera notches.

Battery life and other features

For all of its many improvements, some aspects of the Fold4 are identical to the Fold3. It features a 4400mAh battery that will get you through a day of intermittent use, though you will burn through it much faster playing a game on the big screen for an extended time, maybe 4-5 hours. It still can handle up to 25W fast-charging, which can juice up your phone from dead to 50 percent in 30 minutes. It also supports the latest networking standards—5G from your carrier and Wi-Fi 6E on a home network.

Aside from battery life, which can always improve, these are top-of-the-line specs. We would expect nothing less from the only phone that costs more than a Galaxy S22 Ultra.

So, who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Review
If you watch a lot of Netflix on your phone, the Fold4 is a good choice. Mike Epstein

Though it’s the best version of the Galaxy Fold yet, the Galaxy Z Fold4 still feels like a device reserved for tinkerers, early adopters, and those who are willing to pay more for an exciting, if sometimes flawed experience. Its streamlined design looks more svelte and feels better in your hand. In many ways, it is more durable. It offers smoother performance and much-improved cameras. These are all great things, and they allow the Fold4 to retain its place as the premiere folding phone (even if the Z Flip series is more popular).

Despite the positives, two things hold the Fold4 back: First, even with its enhancements, many aspects of the Fold4 feel more delicate than another phone. In some cases, those fears may be imagined, like snapping the hinge. Others, like concerns about getting dust in the phone or breaking the inner screen, are not, though. Real or not, anxiety over breaking the phone adds some real baggage to the experience.

That perceived fragility is only enhanced by the Fold4’s sky-high price. With a starting launch price of $1,799.99 for an unlocked phone, it’s considerably more expensive than a Galaxy S22 Ultra, a Pixel 6 pro, or an iPhone 13 Pro Max. At that price, I expect a special phone that excels in ways others do not and delivers superior performance without any compromises. The Fold4 nails the first part, but falters on the second. One of these days, the Fold will either fix those issues or drop to a low enough price that it can become a practical recommendation. It isn’t ready today, but Samsung is one step closer.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review: A step closer appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best phones under $500 of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-phones-under-500/ Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=464529
Best phones under $500 sliced header
Tony Ware

Budget phones are better than ever.

The post Best phones under $500 of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best phones under $500 sliced header
Tony Ware

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Best overall iPhone SE (3rd Generation) is the best overall phone under $500. iPhone SE (3rd Generation)
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This value phone has very modern guts.

Best camera Google Pixel 6A is the best camera phone under $500. Google Pixel 6a
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Google’s AI imaging tech still reigns.

Best display Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the best display phone under $500. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
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The fast refresh rate makes the display feel premium.

While $1,000 flagship phones are fun to geek out over, there are currently several excellent phones under $500 worth checking out. These devices are excellent for first-time buyers or anyone who wants to play games, make video calls, and download apps without spending tons of cash. Importantly, they offer years of software support, so you’ll get the latest features and security enhancements, which can extend the life of your device. You may miss out on some of the latest cutting-edge advancements found in premium models, like wireless charging and high refresh rate displays, but the best phones under $500 can often compete with alternatives that cost hundreds of dollars more.

How we picked the best phones under $500

I’ve written about technology for over a decade for sites like TechnoBuffalo, XDA Developers, and Popular Science. During that time, I’ve reviewed dozens of smartphones, from the Nexus 6P to the recently introduced OnePlus 10 Pro. To select our picks, I drew on my experience writing about smartphones, consulted trusted sources and professional reviewers, and researched the most popular models available. As phones have become more affordable, I’ve begun to prefer mid-range options because they meet my needs and are often hundreds of dollars cheaper than flagship models. 

Things to look for in the best phones under $500

The fact is that you don’t need to spend over $1,000 to get a good smartphone because affordable smartphones are better than ever and often offer a similar experience to premium models. As our list highlights, several good mid-range options offer excellent performance, long-lasting battery life, and impressive designs. If you’re searching for the most powerful flagships, you should check out our picks for the best Android phones available. Otherwise, here’s what to look out for when choosing the best phone under $500.

Performance

Like in a computer, your phone’s central processing unit, or CPU, is a critical component necessary to run applications and perform various tasks, from browsing the web to making video calls. Phones at this price generally offer a mix of high and mid-range specs. It’s not difficult to find an affordable device with a flagship processor that’s only a few months old, while other phones might feature a processor specifically for mid-range devices.

For example, Google has put its custom Tensor chip, which enables powerful AI-driven features, in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6a. The former was released last October and the latter became available in July this year. Generally, Qualcomm and MediaTek make mid-range processors, but some companies produce custom-made silicon for their devices, including Google, Apple, and Samsung.

The amount of random access memory, or RAM, is also key to your device’s performance and provides applications with a place to temporarily store data and quickly access it again. Phones at this price typically have 6GB of RAM, give or take, which is enough to comfortably move between different tasks, including messaging, browsing social media, and watching videos. 

Display

You’ll spend lots of time staring at your phone’s display, so this is one area in which you don’t want to skimp. Most phones available today, regardless of price, feature screens between 5 inches and 6 inches but the resolution and pixel density will vary. Typically, more affordable devices feature lower resolution—Full HD (1080p) or HD (720p)—liquid crystal displays (LCD). Some options on our list feature OLED displays, a technology where a light-emitting diode (LED) independently backlights each pixel.

A higher pixel density, measured in pixels per inch (PPI), translates to a sharper image. The higher the PPI, the sharper the image and the more difficult it is to distinguish individual pixels at an average viewing distance (about arm’s length). Meanwhile, a phone’s display refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), refers to how many times your display updates what’s on the screen each second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother and more fluid the animations will look. Displays that support a refresh rate of 120Hz are generally reserved for flagship devices but there are some rare exceptions in the mid-range market. A screen that supports a refresh rate of 60Hz or 90Hz is more common in the $500 range.

Software support

Software support for mid-range devices has historically been abysmal. But, in recent years, companies have done much better to support these devices with new (and timely) software updates. These updates are essential to your device’s long-term performance because they introduce new features, software optimizations, and plug security holes. At the very least, you should look out for a device that offers two years of major software updates and three years of security updates. Often, a company will continue to provide security support even after ceasing software support.

Carrier support

If you’re buying a device unlocked, make sure it has support for all major U.S. carriers. Generally, you should be able to pop your carrier’s SIM card into your new phone and start receiving texts, phone calls, and data. Retailers typically state what major U.S. carriers a phone supports, so it should be clear before you make your purchase. If you subscribe to Verizon, make sure the device you buy works with the carrier or says it’s CDMA-capable. Unlocked devices generally work without issue on AT&T and T-Mobile, which are GSM carriers (and the standard for most carriers worldwide).

The best phones under $500: Reviews & Recommendations

It can be difficult to discern a phone’s quality based on specs alone, especially when many offer the same components. Our list of the best phones under $500 will help you parse the details and find the model that works best for you. Not everyone’s needs are the same, so we’ve broken it down into different criteria. Whether you’re looking for a device for gaming or taking high-quality photos, we’ve got you covered.

Best overall: iPhone SE (3rd Generation)

Apple

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The iPhone SE offers flagship performance for a fraction of the price.

Specs

  • Display: 4.7-inch, 1334 x 750, LCD, 60Hz, 326 ppi
  • Processor: A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Battery: 2018mAh
  • Camera: 12MP f/1.8, OIS
  • Software: iOS 15; planned upgrade to iOS 16
  • Support: Apple generally provides four years or more of major OS and security updates
  • 5G: Yes, sub-6GHz

Pros

  • Powerful processor
  • Wireless charging
  • Excellent camera

Cons

  • Outdated design

Although it features a legacy design and a smaller 4.7-inch display, Apple’s iPhone SE offers the best balance of performance, features, and software support. Notably, it comes equipped with the same A15 processor as Apple’s latest iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, which feature custom silicon with a 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU. The device also includes wireless charging, Touch ID, and IP67 waterproofing. 

The iPhone SE offers all-day battery life and a 12MP wide camera with optical image stabilization and support for portrait mode and 4K video recording. Apple generally provides several years (five years or more) of major iOS updates to its devices, so even though the iPhone SE’s design looks old, its software will keep it feeling fresh. Plus, if you’re still clinging to the Touch ID home button instead of Face ID, this is your only hope.

Best camera: Google Pixel 6A

Google

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Why it made the cut: With Google’s Tensor chip, the Pixel 6A offers a camera that operates at a flagship level.

Specs

  • Display: 6.1-inch, 1080 x 2400, OLED, 60Hz, 429 ppi
  • Processor: Google Tensor Titan M2
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Battery: 4410mAh
  • Camera: 12MP f/1.7, OIS; 12MP f/2.2
  • Software: Android 12
  • Support: Five years of security updates. Google hasn’t said how many OS updates it will receive, but the Pixel 6 has been promised three.
  • 5G: Yes, sub-6GHz

Pros

  • Fantastic display
  • Excellent software support
  • Flagship-level camera

Cons

  • Slower fingerprint sensor

Google has earned a reputation for offering excellent mobile cameras, and the Pixel 6A is no exception. The device features a dual camera setup: a 12MP main camera carried over from the Pixel 5A and a 12MP ultra-wide camera borrowed from the Pixel 6. This setup benefits greatly from the Pixel 6A’s Tensor chip, a custom piece of silicon designed by Google. The processor enables advanced AI and machine learning features like Face Unblur, providing users with better portrait images in low-light conditions. The Tensor chip also supports HDR during video recording at 4K/60 frames per second. The Pixel 6A’s camera setup doesn’t quite match last year’s Pixel 6 or 6 Pro but, for the price, it still offers plenty of Google magic.

Best display: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Samsung

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Why it made the cut: The Galaxy A53 5G’s 6.5 looks fantastic, particularly when watching videos and playing games.

Specs

  • Display: 6.5-inch, 1080 x 2400, Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 405 ppi
  • Processor: Exynos 1280
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Battery: 5000mAh
  • Camera: 64MP f/1.8, OIS; 12MP f/2.2; 5MP f/2.4 (macro); 5MP f/2.4 (depth)
  • Software: Android 12
  • Support: Four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates.
  • 5G: Yes, sub-6GHz

Pros

  • Excellent battery life
  • Beautiful display
  • Powerful camera setup

Cons

  • Software can get bogged down by bloatware

Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G feels like a device that should cost way more than it does. It features a triple camera setup headlined by a 64MP main camera, a powerful Exynos processor, and excellent battery life. But the main standout is its 6.5-inch 1080p OLED display, which provides rich contrast and vibrant colors. It also supports a refresh rate of 120Hz, so animations look smoother than they do on devices with lower refresh rates. The display looks fantastic when performing daily tasks but shines when playing bright, colorful content like videos and games. 

Other features offered by the Galaxy A53 5G include IP67 dust and water resistance and an in-display fingerprint scanner. Samsung has also promised four years of Android OS version updates and five years of security updates, which means you’ll be admiring the device’s OLED display for a long time.

Best gaming: iPhone 11

Apple

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Why it made the cut: The iPhone 11 features a powerful processor, excellent display, and long battery life, making it a great choice for mobile gaming.

Specs

  • Display: 6.1-inch, 1792 x 828, LCD, 60Hz, 326 ppi
  • Processor: A13 Bionic
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Battery: 3110mAh
  • Camera: 12MP f/1.8, OIS; 12MP f/2.4
  • Software: iOS 15; planned upgrade to iOS 16
  • Support: Apple generally provides four years or more of software and security updates
  • 5G: No

Pros

  • Excellent battery life
  • Great camera setup
  • Powerful performance

Cons

  • Device is a few years old
  • 64GB of storage can fill up quick

The iPhone 11 may seem like an odd choice given its age—it came out in 2019—but its A13 Bionic processor, with its hex-core CPU and 4-core GPU, still holds up. Not only does it perform well for everyday tasks like browsing the web, editing photos, and making video calls, but it handles the most intensive mobile games with aplomb—and the 6.1-inch display is nice and big for media. 

Whether you play Minecraft, PUBG Mobile, or Diablo Immortal, the iPhone 11 continues to keep up with demanding apps and processes years after its release. You also get wireless charging, IP68 dust and water resistance, and an excellent camera system. Apple is known for providing older devices with several years of software support, so despite the iPhone 11’s age, it should provide users with a few more years of important updates. The only major downside is that the standard iPhone 11 only has 64GB of storage, which could quickly fill up with games.

Best budget: OnePlus Nord N20 5G

OnePlus

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The OnePlus Nord N20 5G features an excellent screen and great performance at an affordable price.

Specs

  • Display: 6.43, 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 60Hz, 409 ppi
  • Processor: Snapdragon 695 5G
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB, microSD expandable
  • Battery: 4500mAh
  • Camera: 64MP f/1.8; 2MP f/2.4 (macro); 2MP f/2.4 (depth)
  • Software: Android 11
  • Support: One major OS update and three years of security updates
  • 5G: Yes, sub-6GHz

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Fantastic display
  • Excellent performance

Cons

  • Limited software support

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G is a sub-$300 phone that punches above its weight. It features a 6.4-inch 1080p OLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, and 6GB of RAM, making it more than capable of handling a heavy workload. It also offers a fingerprint scanner under the display and a 64MP camera, which doesn’t produce the best pictures we’ve seen, but it’s great for a phone at this price. The Nord N20 5G also supports 33W fast charging so that it can be charged from 0 to 30 percent in just 20 minutes. While the device supports 5G, it doesn’t work on Verizon and is limited to 4G on AT&T. If you’re on T-Mobile, however, you should have no issues.

FAQs

Q: Do flagship phones last longer?

A modern device that’s well cared for should last three to five years. As outlined above, some flagship and mid-range phones share the same specs, so they will likely offer a similar lifespan. However, because flagship phones generally offer more RAM than mid-range options, the former may experience a slower decline in performance over time. The performance gap may not be apparent initially, but it could become more noticeable after a few years: Apps may be slower to load, and you could run into issues with multitasking. These issues could prompt those who own a mid-range phone to upgrade earlier than someone who owns a flagship device.

Hardware aside, you’ll have to factor software support into the life of the phone. Once a manufacturer stops offering essential software updates for a device, it’s time to transition off of it, even if the phone still works.

Q: What type of phone is the most popular?

Statistically, Android phones have the largest user base globally—and by a wide margin. A big part of that is due to the wider variety of Android options. Several companies—Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and many others—offer Android devices that cover a range of prices. By comparison, Apple’s iPhone has a smaller market share.

Q: What is the difference between iOS and Android?

The short answer is Android is more open and flexible, while iOS is restrictive and tightly controlled. But the two platforms are similar in many ways and generally offer access to the same apps and perform the same functions. Additionally, both have borrowed liberally from one another and, after more than 10 years of updates, aren’t nearly as different as they once were. The platform you choose ultimately comes down to your personal preference. If you’re having trouble deciding which platform is right for you, this explainer offers a more thorough breakdown.

Q: Do I need to get a 5G phone?

Most modern flagship and mid-range devices feature support for 5G, so it’s more or less unavoidable at this point. There are pros and cons to owning a 5G device. The maximum download speeds can be blazing fast—up to 1GB per second—and 5G networks offer more bandwidth, so there can be less congestion in crowded areas. However, 5G coverage remains sparse around the U.S., and 5G radios can drain your device’s battery more rapidly. 

If you get a device with 5G, you’ll also need to find an area with 5G coverage and have a data plan that supports the network. If you wind up purchasing a device that doesn’t support 5G, you don’t need to worry. For more information about 5G, you can check out our coverage.

Final thoughts on the best phones under $500

The progress of technology has allowed mid-range devices to close the gap on more expensive flagship models, making it easier to get a good smartphone without spending a fortune. You may miss out on features like higher refresh rates and more advanced cameras. Still, you will find one of the best phones under $500 has excellent performance, features, and software support—and that’s money well spent. 

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Apple finally extends home repairs to (some) MacBook owners https://www.popsci.com/technology/apple-right-to-repair-mac/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 13:20:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=464252
Overhead shot of person repairing iPad on desk
It's been a long time coming, Apple. Deposit Photos

Of course, the 'right to repair' comes with a cost.

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Overhead shot of person repairing iPad on desk
It's been a long time coming, Apple. Deposit Photos

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Apple only recently started offering support for at-home product repairs, albeit with many a caveat, but yesterday marked a notable expansion in available services for consumers—in theory. Apple’s Self Service Repair Store now encompasses all MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops utilizing the M1 chip, although the website portal is down at the time of writing this. It’s frustrating, but not exactly surprising—this is a major industry shift that both consumers and regulators have urged for years, so demand will be understandably high upon launch.

Once the site is back up and running, however, Apple promised in a statement yesterday that Self Service Repair for M1 Air and Pro models will offer over a dozen different fixes for parts like the display, trackpad, top case with battery, and “more to come.”

[Related: The Apple self-service repair shop just opened for business]

Of course, the “right to repair” comes with a cost. Customers hoping to mend their Apple laptops themselves are required to purchase proprietary company parts at a hefty premium, as well as rent an official “repair kit” at $49 for one week’s usage if they don’t want to buy the necessary tools themselves. As Gizmodo notes, the price tag is the same as Apple’s two-part, 79-pound behemoth iPhone kit, although the company promises MacBook kits are “significantly different.”

With individual tools such as a torque driver costing $80 on top whatever the replacement parts run you, it’s clear Apple still much prefers its customers to take their devices to a certified repair location. “For the vast majority of customers who do not have experience repairing electronic devices, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair,” the company goes out of its way to say in the official press release, before extolling all the new and existing licensed repair sites and technicians.

Changes in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act alongside an executive order signed by President Biden last year have pushed companies like Apple, alongside Google and Samsung, to finally offer home repair options for their millions of customers, but it’s already obvious that moving towards making the choice far more affordable and accessible for everyone is going to be quite the challenge. Still, the expansion is a notable step forward for the industry, once that site is back up and running, of course.

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Samsung announces new Galaxy Z folding phones, Galaxy Watch5 Pro, and more https://www.popsci.com/gear/samsung-unpacked-2022-galaxy-z-fold/ Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=461312
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 News
Samsung

Samsung “unpacked” the Galaxy Z Fold4, Z Flip4, Watch5, Watch5 Pro, and Buds2 Pro on its latest livestream.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 News
Samsung

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Samsung’s summer Unpacked event brings exciting announcements every August and this year’s presentation didn’t disappoint. The company unveiled new versions of its two high-end foldable phones—the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4—which have been fine-tuned with slimmer bezels, smaller hinges, and more seamless display creases. It also revealed two versions of its next smartwatch—the Galaxy Watch5 and the first-ever Galaxy Watch5 Pro, which features a tough titanium case and sapphire crystal display. Last, but not least, an upgraded version of Samsung’s earbuds, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, features some subtle design tweaks and support for high-fidelity audio.

Galaxy Z Fold4

Samsung Galaxy Fold4
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 has a wider screen and a much-improved set of cameras. Samsung

With each passing year, Samsung’s Z Fold series further establishes itself as the company’s premier foldable. Samsung refines the Z Fold4’s signature tablet-esque 7.6-inch AMOLED 2X folding screen with a slightly wider inner display, a more subtle hinge with less of a crease, and a less-intrusive under-display camera. Samsung has also taken great pains to make the Z Fold4 more durable than its predecessors, as the line’s integrity has always been a concern. This year’s model features IPX8 water resistance for the first time and a newly optimized layer structure on the main display for enhanced shock absorption. 

Under the hood, the Z Fold4 is powered by a Snapdragon+ Gen 1 processor, has 12GB of RAM, and offers 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. The device continues to provide a triple-camera setup, but there are some welcome updates this year.

Its rear cameras receive a major boost, sporting the same trio as the Samsung Galaxy S22—a 12MP ultra-wide, a 50MP wide, and a 10MP telephoto camera, the latter of which offers 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom. It will also feature a 10MP wide camera on the front, just like Z Fold3.

Samsung Galaxy Fold4 2
According to Samsung, the central display crease and the under-display camera won’t be as noticeable on the Fold4. Samsung

Samsung has also made some software changes that make the Z Fold4 a more effective multitasker. The taskbar has been redesigned in OneUI 4.1.1, providing users easy access to their favorite and recently used apps. Speaking of software, the Z Fold4 is the first device to ship with Android 12L, a version of Android for large screen and foldable devices.

Last, but not least, the Fold4 now has touchpad controls in “flex mode,” when the Fold4 is partially folded. It should, if nothing else, make it easier to use the half-screen as a viewfinder when taking selfies.

The Galaxy Z Fold4 will be available Aug. 26 for $1,799 in graygreen, phantom black, and beige. Samsung is also offering the device in burgundy exclusively on its website.

Galaxy Z Flip4

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
According to Samsung, the Z Flip series is the world’s most popular folding phone line. Samsung

Samsung also introduced an updated Galaxy Z Flip, which the company said is the most popular foldable in the world. (Practically speaking, that simply means it’s more popular than the Z Fold.) This year’s model, the Galaxy Z Flip4 improves the clamshell design with a tougher frame, refined hinge, and slimmer display bezels compared to previous generations. Samsung also said the display is stronger, so users will encounter fewer unexpected cracks from everyday use.

Improved durability is welcome but that isn’t the only change. Samsung has enhanced the cover screen so users can more efficiently reply to messages and make calls. New widgets are also being made available, further establishing the cover screen as a core part of the Z Flip experience. The concept of the cover screen has always been exciting and it looks like Samsung is getting closer to making it a reliable quick-glance solution in more situations.

Like last year’s model, the Galaxy Z Flip4 launches with a 6.7-inch OLED display that features a 22:9 aspect ratio and supports 120Hz ProMotion technology. The display also features a 10MP selfie camera with a familiar hole punch design.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 News
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 cover screen will let you make calls and reply quickly to text messages. Samsung

The Z Flip4 is powered by a Snapdragon+ Gen 1 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options. The device also comes with a 3700mAh battery that can charge to 50% in just half an hour, and it’s water-resistant, so it can survive getting wet if caught in a downpour. Like last year, the Z Flip 4 features a dual-camera setup, with a brighter 12MP wide lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. 

Samsung said the cameras now offer larger pixels, better image stabilization, and enhanced processing for better low-light performance. Tracking for video has also been improved, so moving subjects stay in focus without much intervention from the user.

The Galaxy Z Flip4 will cost $999 when it launches Aug. 26 and is available in bora purple, graphite, pink gold, and blue. Samsung is also offering bespoke editions that will allow users to pick from a set of colors for the front, back, and frame.

Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro

Samsung Z Fold4 News
The many faces of the Samsung Galaxy Watch5. Samsung

Samsung historically releases a standard Galaxy Watch and a more robust, expensive “classic” version with a larger frame. This year, the company is shaking things up by introducing the Galaxy Watch5 and a more rugged, outdoor-minded Galaxy Watch5 Pro.

The Galaxy Watch5 comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes and will be available in both Bluetooth and LTE. Both feature sapphire crystal glass and curved rear glass, which Samsung said offers better contact with a user’s wrist, enabling more accurate biometrics, including advanced sleep coaching, body composition analysis, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, and a new skin temperature detection feature, which could tell users when they have a fever. The Watch5 also features IP68 water and dust resistance and runs Wear OS powered by Samsung’s customizations.

The 40mm Watch5 features a 1.19-inch display and 284mAh battery, and the 44mm Watch5 includes a 1.36-inch display and 410mAh battery. Otherwise, the two devices offer the same features and support 20mm band sizes. The Galaxy Watch5 starts at $279 for the 40mm and 44mm versions with Bluetooth and the price goes up for both models to $329 if you want LTE. Curiously, the small version is available in silver, graphite, and pink gold, while the larger model comes in sapphire, silver, and graphite.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 News
The Galaxy Watch5 Pro is a larger, more durable smartwatch for sports and the outdoors. Samsung

The only totally new product in the announcement, Galaxy Watch5 Pro is a larger smartwatch made for people who spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. It features a harder titanium case and a sapphire crystal display, making it better prepared to handle whatever outdoor adventure you have planned. 

The Galaxy Watch5 Pro comes in a single, extra-large 45mm case size. Like the Watch5, it offers advanced health and sleep tracking features. It includes a larger 1.36-inch display and a 590mAh battery, giving it enough juice to last a day away from outlets. The Galaxy Watch5 Pro will start at $499 and comes in black and gray titanium.

On the software side, both the Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro will have eight new watch faces and support Samsung’s Smart Switch feature, which allows you to quickly transfer contacts and other data from an old Galaxy Watch.

Galaxy Buds2 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 News
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro offer high-fidelity sounds and a more comfortable design than its predecessors. Samsung

Last year, Samsung released the Galaxy Buds2, and this year Samsung follows the “Pro” earbuds trend with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. These true wireless earbuds feature improved active noise cancellation, allowing users to tone down even the loudest ambient noise, and an auto voice detect feature, which can turn down your music and let outside noise in after you start speaking.

Since the Buds2 already offered active noise cancellation, the distinction between the Buds2 and Buds2 Pro is a little more subtle, focusing on a smaller design and improved fidelity. Samsung said this year’s Pro model is 15% smaller than the Buds2, providing users with a more comfortable fit. The updated design also helps reduce pressure inside your ear because, as Samsung explained, air flows more effectively through the device. The more ergonomic design also prevents rotation, so you can comfortably lay down without them moving around.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro offers higher-quality audio in the right conditions, thanks to new 10mm drivers with support for 24-bit audio. The higher bit depth provides audio with a higher dynamic range and reduced noise, resulting in a cleaner sound. It also offers multi-channel Dolby Atmos support for virtual surround sound in certain streaming apps. The Buds2 Pro also features IPX7 water resistance.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro will be available Aug. 26 for $229 (up from $200 for the original Buds Pro).

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Get a free $50 Amazon gift card when you buy a new Google Pixel 6a https://www.popsci.com/gear/google-6a-amazon-sale/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 20:45:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=460260
Audio photo
Amanda Reed

A new school year means a chance to get new tech … this deal makes it even easier to save.

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Audio photo
Amanda Reed

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Shopping for back-to-school looks a little different as we age. The excitement over a new backpack and lunchbox emblazoned with our favorite cartoon characters evolves into getting pumped for new notebooks and pens to write down our hopes and dreams. Of course, maybe you prefer to encrypt your deepest darkest feelings, and that’s where a smartphone comes in. Amazon can help make that a reality with a hype deal during an already hype-worthy time by giving a free $50 Amazon gift card with a purchase of a new Google Pixel 6a for $449. The Pixel 6a costs $436.52 on its own, making the extra $12 a worthwhile investment. 

Google

SEE IT

The Google Pixel 6a, released at the end of July, is the first Pixel with Google Tensor, the first chip designed by Google for the Pixel line. This Android 5G phone features an all-day battery for Instagram-ing between classes and for hours of library scrolling when you should be studying—though it’s as good for researching a topic as it is journalling or procrastinating. The 12-megapixel camera includes presets like Motion and Portrait Modes that allow you to take a perfect picture regardless of circumstances. We’re keen on the Magic Eraser feature, which lets you remove unwanted objects (aka “randos,” as you youth call them) with just a few taps. If you’re worried about carrier compatibility, fear not: this phone comes unlocked. 

A new phone for school means you’ll also need some headphones, especially ones with noise-cancelling capabilities for living with roommates or studying on the loudest floor in the library. For an over-the-ear option, check out the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, which are on sale for $299 and received a glowing review from us. If you’re an earbuds person, the Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds are on sale for $199 and feature the same effective noise cancellation as Bose’s over-the-ear headphones.

No school shopping is complete without upgrading to a new laptop. This certified refurbished Acer Chromebook 315, selling for $129.99 compared to the $279 retail price, gives you the new laptop feel without the new laptop price. 

Don’t wait to snag these deals—they could sell out like a textbook required for an intro-level 200-person lecture-style class. 

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Save $200 when you reserve the newest gen of Samsung Galaxy gear https://www.popsci.com/gear/samsung-galaxy-reserve-deal/ Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:45:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=457362
The last gen of Samsung tech on a white and blue background
Looking to explore a new Galaxy? Reserve the next generation of this Samsung tech now. Amanda Reed

Pre-order Samsung's new smartphone, earbuds, and watch before they're even announced.

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The last gen of Samsung tech on a white and blue background
Looking to explore a new Galaxy? Reserve the next generation of this Samsung tech now. Amanda Reed

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The latest generation of Samsung Galaxy smartphone, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds are coming in the next few weeks. And, you get a $200 Samsung credit if you reserve all three. We have seen this kind of deal from Samsung before and, for a die-hard Galaxy user, it can be very appealing. 

Although it’s unclear exactly what the newest Samsung Galaxy tech will offer, we’re big fans of the current models for their aesthetics, multitasking capabilities, and more. The preorder page teases “A new way to selfie” and “the next small thing is coming,”  all of which will most likely be unveiled at the company’s Galaxy Unpacked event August 10.

Expect $100 of Samsung credit by reserving the next Galaxy smartphone, $50 by reserving the next Galaxy Watch, and $30 for the next pair of Galaxy Buds if you don’t want to reserve all three. Samsung is also advertising a “commitment-free” reservation—most likely the choice of not having to buy if you’d like to get some more wear out of your current Samsung devices. 

You’ll also unlock the highest online trade-in values for your current Samsung devices and get access to exclusive colors only available on Samsung.com. While it’s certainly unusual to preorder devices before they’re even announced, it could make sense for dedicated Samsung fans. Supply chain issues have made availability uncertain and this is a way to get in early. Plus, if you’re already planning on buying the latest and greatest once it drops, you might as well save some money in the process.   

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Syncing Google and Apple calendars is less annoying now https://www.popsci.com/diy/sync-apple-calendar-with-google/ Wed, 13 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=455999
Two people sitting at a wooden table in an office space, with one of them writing in a paper calendar, and the other looking at a phone while working on a laptop.
Getting calendars to match up can be tricky no matter the medium. Sarah Elizabeth / Unsplash

Some weirdness remains between Google's and Apple's scheduling apps, but like, not as much.

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Two people sitting at a wooden table in an office space, with one of them writing in a paper calendar, and the other looking at a phone while working on a laptop.
Getting calendars to match up can be tricky no matter the medium. Sarah Elizabeth / Unsplash

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Trying to figure out how to sync your Google and Apple calendars used to be an excruciating process. You’d have to make your iCloud calendar public, grab its URL, paste it into Google’s app, change “webcal” to “http,” and a whole bunch of other nonsense. It was like trying to manage a playdate between two cranky preschoolers who have just been introduced to the concept of sharing.

These days, it’s much easier to get Google Calendar and the iOS, iPadOS, and macOS calendar apps to play nicely. The link between the two companies’ scheduling services has matured, though it’s not flawless. There’s still a bit of arbitrary chaos lingering in their relationship.

How to sync Google Calendar and Apple’s Calendar app

On an iPhone or iPad, open your Settings app, tap Calendar, and hit Accounts. If you’ve already linked your Google account to your phone, you can skip to the next paragraph. If you haven’t, tap Add Account and select Google from the list. Then hit Continue when your phone says it wants access to Google. Choose an account from the list that appears or tap Use another account to sign into one that isn’t there. You’ll see another alert that iOS wants to access that Google account—read it and choose Allow to proceed.

Now, on Settings > Calendar > Accounts, you’ll see a Gmail entry, as well as what data it’s syncing. If you see Calendars there, you’re all set. If you don’t, tap Gmail and activate the toggle switch next to Calendars (it’ll turn green).

[Related: 5 Google Calendar tricks to ensure you never miss a date]

The steps are similar from a macOS computer: open the Calendar app, click Calendar in the menu bar, and choose Add Account. Pick Google from the list and you’re off to the races.

Check your sync settings

Once you’ve paired your Google and Apple calendars, you’ll need to make sure you know how the data is flowing between them.

From the accounts page in the Calendar settings on an iPhone or iPad, tap Fetch New Data. You can’t push updates from your Google account to your Calendar app, but you can tell iOS to fetch them. Your options are automatically, manually, hourly, and every 30 or 15 minutes. Whatever you choose, Apple will grab new data from your Google calendar in the background whenever your phone has enough power and internet connection.

The process is a little easier on a computer: click Calendar in the menu bar, choose Preferences, then Accounts, and select your Google account. Finally, choose an option from the dropdown menu next to Refresh Calendars. If you choose manual refresh, that option is under the View tab in the menu bar. This, however, only syncs one way—from Google to Apple. If you want to go the other way, make sure that when you create an event on your macOS calendar, you use the calendar selection menu (a dropdown menu next to a colored square in the top right corner of the new event dialog box) to select your Google calendar. That’s a taste of the lingering arbitrary chaos we mentioned earlier.

What you need to know about linking Google and Apple Calendars

Now that you’ve got chaos on your mind’s metaphorical tongue, let’s dig in so you know what to expect when you start using the apps in tandem. If you add or edit an event on your iPhone’s Calendar app, it will almost immediately appear on your Google calendar (if you have good power and connection). Make a change on Google Calendar, and it might take five to 15 minutes to show up on iOS.

To edit your calendar on an iPhone or iPad, open the Calendar app, tap Calendars at the bottom of the screen, and hit the info button (an “i” in a circle) next to the one you want to tweak. This, to be fair, is standard and not chaotic at all.

But because the apps are made by two different companies, you may discover strange bugs. For one, we found that if we made an all-day event in the Calendar app, then changed the time in Google Calendar, it inexplicably appeared as four hours earlier than the time we’d chosen. We confirmed our time zones were correct, but asked the apps to always choose New York time—just to be sure. The edited events subsequently appeared nine hours too early. Re-editing the time always fixed the problem, but we haven’t yet figured out a better way. We’ll just have to wait until the Google-Apple relationship completely matures.

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iPhone users can also embrace Google and Microsoft apps. Here’s how. https://www.popsci.com/microsoft-google-apps-on-iphone/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:23:43 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/microsoft-google-apps-on-iphone/
A hand holding an iPhone with Google Maps navigation active on the screen, as the person stands in the middle of a curvy forest road that's wet from rain and has fallen leaves along its edges.
Please don't stand in the middle of the road, though. Tamas Tuzes-Katai / Unsplash

Your guide to a new software ecosystem.

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A hand holding an iPhone with Google Maps navigation active on the screen, as the person stands in the middle of a curvy forest road that's wet from rain and has fallen leaves along its edges.
Please don't stand in the middle of the road, though. Tamas Tuzes-Katai / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on January 15, 2018.

Just because you prefer the curved aesthetics of the iPhone doesn’t mean you want to go all-in on the Apple software ecosystem. After all, Google and Microsoft make iOS apps that are just as good as Apple’s defaults.

While some apps will require a few extra steps to replace the built-in versions, you can make the switch relatively easily, especially if you already use Google or Microsoft for your email and other cloud services. And although you can always go back to the Apple versions, you may find you simply don’t want to.

How to switch to Microsoft apps

If your computer runs Windows, you own a Surface laptop or tablet, or you simply like Microsoft products, you’ll probably enjoy the company’s iOS apps.

Email, calendar, and contacts

Start with your email client by downloading Outlook for iOS. In addition to email, it can handle your calendars and contacts, and works with both Microsoft and non-Microsoft (like, say, Apple) user accounts. To import any emails, calendars, or contacts into the app, enter your email address when the app prompts you. If you want to add more, tap the menu button in the top left, then the settings button (the cog icon), choose Add account, and then hit Add Email Account.

Calls and messaging

Skype for iOS can take care of all your video calling, voice calling, and messaging needs. However, Apple’s mobile platform doesn’t allow any app to take over SMS duties, so you’re stuck with its Messages app. Still, the Skype app has a clean look and a comprehensive set of features that includes group chats and group video calls. Your only problem might be getting your friends to use it.

Cloud storage

You can also replace Apple’s cloud storage program, iCloud, with Microsoft’s OneDrive. When you install the app for iOS, it will sync files between your phone and any computer—Windows or macOS—that has the OneDrive desktop client installed. OneDrive also backs up all the photos and videos on your phone, though you will have to pay for storage space if you’ve got a lot of files. Prices start at $2 a month.

Digital assistant

When you press and hold your iPhone’s Home or side button, Siri is the digital assistant that will launch. You used to be able to install Microsoft’s Cortana on iOS and launch it manually, but the company has discontinued its AI’s mobile apps.

Office suite

For your work needs, you’ll need to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Swap Apple’s free Pages, Numbers, and KeyNote apps for, respectively, Microsoft’s free Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps.

If you’ve already created documents in the Apple apps, you’ll need to convert them to a format that Microsoft’s versions can understand. To do so, open a file, then tap the menu button (three dots in the top right), choose Export, and pick the appropriate Microsoft format (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint). You can also choose how to export the file, either sending it via email or saving it to your iPhone’s local storage.

Web browser

If you install the Microsoft Edge web browser on your iPhone, you’ll be able to sync bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and more with an Edge browser you use on a Windows PC. To set Edge as your default browser, go to your Settings app, tap Edge, choose Default Browser App, and make sure the check mark is next to Edge, not Safari. So when you tap on links in other apps, such as Facebook, they’ll automatically open in Safari instead of Edge.

Maps

Your iPhone should be fairly well Microsoft-ized by now, but for the finishing touch, install Microsoft Bing Search, which acts as a stripped-down web browser. We prefer Edge for navigating the internet, but the Bing app includes a basic map-search feature. That’s as close as you’ll get to replacing Apple Maps with a Microsoft product, though, because there’s no Bing Maps app for iOS.

How to switch to Google apps

If you’ve decided to take the Google route rather than the Microsoft one, start with its signature feature: the Google search app. In addition to searching the internet and Google Maps, it provides a feed of news and other information that Google curates based on your previous activity, such as your Chrome browsing history. For a more natural, conversational approach to Google search, install the Google Assistant as well.

Email and contacts

Next, install Gmail for iOS. You can pick up your Gmail activity right where you left off on any of your other devices. Alternatively, connect Gmail to your Apple email address: Tap your avatar in the top right, then Add another account, and choose iCloud from the list.

Calls and messaging

Again, Apple won’t let you replace Messages as the default SMS app. But you can still manually use Google apps for the same purposes. Try Duo for video calling, and Google Chat for messaging, phone calls, and video chats. While Google Chat remains the most comprehensive option, Google continues to add new features to Duo, making it a great alternative to FaceTime.

Cloud storage

To back up your data, look no further than Google Drive, which will sync all your files with computers, other mobile devices, and your Google cloud locker. For larger files, specifically your iPhone photos and videos, Google Photos makes backing up a breeze. When you first install the app, it’ll ask if you want to back up photos and videos. Keep in mind that everything you save on Google Photos also eats away at the free 15GB of storage space you get from the big G when you sign up. If you need more room, you can pay Google for extra space in the cloud, which starts at prices of $3 a month.

Office suite

Google has its own office apps for iOS, in the form of Docs, Sheets, and Slides. They interface seamlessly with the web versions, so you can keep creating and editing from anywhere.

If you’ve already created documents in the equivalent iOS apps, you may need to reformat them to open them with Google’s apps. Launch the appropriate Apple app—Pages, Numbers, or Keynote—and then open the file you want to transfer. Next, tap the menu button (three dots in the top right), choose Export, and select Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Once you’ve exported the file, the appropriate Google app will be able to open it up.

Web browser

Google Chrome for iOS isn’t as full-featured as it is on non-Apple products, but you can download it and set it as your default browser: go to your Settings app, tap Chrome, choose Default Browser App, and make sure the check mark is next to Chrome, not Safari. Sign into the web browser with your Google account (it should prompt you to do so when you first open the app), and Chrome will carry over all of your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and other data from your computer. You can also make sure Gmail links open in Chrome: Open Gmail, tap the menu button (three lines), select Settings, hit Default apps, and check under the Browser heading to ensure the check mark is next to Chrome (tap Chrome’s icon if it’s not).

Maps

Google offers some types of iOS apps that Microsoft doesn’t. For example, you can rely on Google Maps to get from A to B quickly and safely and find places of note nearby. If you use the app online or on an Android device, you know you’ll also get features such as live traffic updates and a list of favorite “starred” locations. If you need live directions, try it in full-screen turn-by-turn navigation mode.

Music and video players

Finally, there’s YouTube Music and Google Play Movies & TV, which can effectively replace everything that iTunes and Apple Music usually do on an iPhone. They let you stream music, films, and television shows and even download content for offline access. What you can’t do is purchase new content right from iOS, so if you’re buying or renting something new, you’ll need to pay up on a computer or other device before the content shows up on your iPhone.

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Celebrate Nomad’s 10th birthday with 30 percent off its entire site https://www.popsci.com/gear/nomad-anniversary-deal/ Thu, 07 Jul 2022 16:45:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=454840
Smartwatches photo

Need stylish Apple device accessories or other tech travel/charging goods? Consider this sweet anniversary deal a gift to yourself.

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It’s traditional for those celebrating their 10th anniversary to give their partner a gift involving tin or aluminum. And while sleek metals do play a part in many of the brand’s products, modern lifestyle gear designers Nomad has opted to give you the gift of overall savings with 30 percent off its entire site in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Nomad first entered the phone accessories scene in 2012 with the ChargeCard, a charger the size of a credit card for iPhone 5. You simply had to find a USB port and plug in the compact charger to get juice on-the-go. Although it seems like a silly idea now—there are USB ports lining bar counters and built into nightstands—it was a bit revolutionary in the post-aughts, with the burgeoning company raising more than $150,000 on Kickstarter to bring the charger to life.

Nomad has continued to keep up with technology trends and now sells MagSafe accessories for iPhone, including one of our favorite charging docks, the Base One Max, on sale for $104.95.

Nomad

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The Base One Max provides up to 15W of fast-charging speed—provided you have a 30W charging brick—to power your post-iPhone 8 model iPhone, AirPods, or Series 4, 5, 6, or 7 Apple Watch at the same time. It also can charge any Qi wireless charging-compatible devices. The iPhone-certified MagSafe platform is made of metal and glass and features a soft-touch, anti-slip rubber base for peace of mind against accidental slips. Those who love haptics and tactility will enjoy the satisfying “thunk” that happens when your iPhone 12 or 13 snaps into place to charge. To quote ourselves, “it looks and feels more like a centerpiece rather than just another accessory.” If MagSafe charging isn’t your jam, we’re partial to Nomad’s AirTag accessories and leather Modern Band for the Apple Watch. 

The sale excludes Paperlike, OrbitKey, Chipolo, Popl, and Moment products featured on the site. If you want genuine Nomad Goods, however, don’t put off your journey to celebratory savings—this deal ends July 15. 

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Switching from iPhone to Android has never been easier https://www.popsci.com/switch-iphone-to-android/ Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/switch-iphone-to-android/
A hand holding A Google Pixel phone.
Sure, iPhones are nice. But have you seen the Pixel?. Daniel Romero / Unsplash

Whether you're using the new Switch to Android app or not, we've got the deets.

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A hand holding A Google Pixel phone.
Sure, iPhones are nice. But have you seen the Pixel?. Daniel Romero / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on July 23, 2018.

Maybe after seeing how much you’ll have to splurge for one of the new iPhone 13s, you’ve decided to jump into the welcoming arms of Android. As of today, that process will be much simpler for many first-time Androiders.

Earlier this year, Google launched a Switch to Android app for people leaving Apple’s ecosystem behind, but it only worked with Pixel phones. Now, the app will work with any phone running Android 12, though the journey still has its quirks.

And if you don’t have a phone that works with this app, you want to run a more manual transfer, or you find you can’t copy some data, you’ll need to carefully extricate yourself from iOS. We can help guide you through some of those hoops too—it’s all after the first section below.

How to use the Switch to Android app

Google’s Switch to Android app is unlisted, so you won’t be able to find it by searching the iOS App Store. You can, however, find it by searching with your phone’s browser, or by clicking this direct link. Once you’ve downloaded it onto your soon-to-be-dearly-departed iPhone, the app will walk you through the data transfer process.

First, you’ll need to connect the two devices—new and old—with an iPhone cable. If you don’t have one, you can also use WiFi, but you will need a steady connection. Once they’re linked up, you can choose which data you want to transfer and go from there. You can copy over contacts, photos, messages, apps, wallpaper, music, and other settings and data.

Most free apps will move to your new phone via the cable, but purchased apps may not. If you’re having trouble transferring an app, contact its developer to see what they suggest for users who are moving to a new device. Your existing subscriptions will still work, and they’ll be managed as they were on your iPhone—by either the app developer or iTunes, Android says.

One key point is to make sure you turn off iMessages before you put your SIM card in your new Android. All your existing iMessages will transfer as part of the data swap, but new iMessages might not get through if you don’t go to Settings on your iPhone, open Messages, and turn off the toggle switch next to iMessage. To be safe, you should also visit Settings > FaceTime and turn off the FaceTime toggle switch as well, delinking your mobile number from Apple’s main communication services. If you forget, you can do the job remotely at this web page.

If you’re at all worried about losing data this way, don’t be. Even if something goes wrong during the transfer process, the stuff that ends up on your Android phone is a copy—everything will remain on your iPhone until you wipe it clean.

How to switch from iPhone to Android without the app

No matter the reason you’re not using the Switch to Android app, this is the part of the story for you. Heck, it’s probably worth scanning even if you use the app, just to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Transfer Google or Microsoft apps

Switching over will be a lot easier if you already use Google and Microsoft apps on your iPhone. In fact, the same goes for any cloud-based apps, including Netflix and Spotify. Because they store everything online, these apps make it very straightforward to jump between devices and across platforms.

If you lean on Google programs, your new Android device should come with these apps already installed. All you’ll have to do is log in, and your data—your archived Gmail emails, your Google Maps history, your Google Chat messages—will appear.

[Related: 5 uses for Google Maps beyond navigation]

Even if you’re not all-in on Google, Microsoft makes top-quality apps for both iOS and Android. If you rely on Outlook and Office on your iPhone, go ahead and install the same apps on your Android device, log in, and enjoy.

In general, if you plan to switch frequently between Android and iOS devices, stick to platform-agnostic apps that work similarly on both operating systems. They’ll make the process extremely easy. However, if your iPhone relies heavily on Apple’s own apps, the swap will require a substantial amount of work, because Apple doesn’t make many of its programs available on Android. Read on for more information on dealing with this issue.

Move text messages and email

To keep track of your past chats, you’ll want to bring your iMessage and email conversations with you. That’s only partially possible.

The sad fact is, unless you use the Switch to Android app, you cannot transfer your iMessage conversations directly from iOS to Android. Apple doesn’t make an Android version of its Messages app, nor does it allow any other developers to access it, so you’re out of luck. Mac users can check iMessages from their computers, but others won’t be able to access the app after jumping to Android.

So before you leave, make sure to de-link your mobile number from iMessage—assuming you’re taking it with you to your new phone. Go to Settings > Messages and toggle off the iMessage switch. Then visit Settings > FaceTime and turn off the FaceTime toggle switch as well. This removes the association between your phone number and Apple’s proprietary services, which will prevent you from having any problems receiving messages or calls on your new Android handset. If you forget to do this step before you get rid of your iPhone, don’t worry—perform the task remotely at this web page.

Luckily, you can bring any Apple emails stored in iCloud—you just need to import them into Android’s Gmail app. Open Gmail on your new phone, tap the Menu button on the top left, scroll down to Settings, and select Add account > Other. Then enter your iCloud username and password. If your Apple account uses two-step authentication, you’ll first need to create a Gmail-specific password: Go to your AppleID account manager, make sure you’re on the Sign-in and Security page, click App-Specific Passwords, and hit Generate an app-specific password. Now you can either keep using your iCloud email address within the Gmail app, or treat those old messages as an archive and switch to a Gmail address.

Move contacts, calendars, photos, and home videos

It’s relatively easy to transfer some of the items you store in iCloud—such as your contacts, calendars, photos, and videos—to Google’s servers. But you need to start this process before you ditch your iPhone.

First, download the Google Drive for iOS app to your old device. Open it and sign in with your Google account credentials. Next, tap the menu button (three lines) in the top left, followed by Settings and then Backup. Now you’ll see a list of items, including Contacts, Calendar events, and Photos & videos. Select all the entries you want to transfer to your new Android phone.

Next, tap Start Backup and copies of your iPhone data will move to Google Contacts, Google Calendar, and Google Photos. Now you’ll be able to access your files when you sign into your Google account on your new Android phone.

A quick note on photos and videos: These files will transfer to Google Photos, which will count against your cloud storage quota. Google Drive gives you a total of 15GB of free storage space, shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. The latter can really eat up your quota, so if you end up needing more room, you can pay to upgrade. Prices start at $19.99 a year for 100GB.

Move music, movies, and TV shows

Apple Music is one of the few apps Apple makes that actually work on Android. If you subscribe to the service, you can take all your playlists and songs with you on your leap to Android, including files you’ve uploaded from your iTunes account. However, you will have to pay a subscription fee starting at $5.99 to keep using the app.

That said, not all of us choose Apple Music. If you prefer a different app and still want to transfer your MP3s to an Android device, you can do so using a computer with YouTube Music. Open your computer’s web browser, head to YouTube Music’s web portal, click your avatar in the top right portion of the page, and choose Upload music. Now drag tracks from your local storage into your browser window. Your files will sync to the cloud, and you’ll be able to stream or download them through the YouTube Music app on your new Android device.

Movies and TV shows are more complicated, because Apple doesn’t make an iTunes video player for Android. You can watch your existing iTunes videos on other devices, such as a Mac, Apple TV, or iPad, but not on an Android phone or tablet. However, any videos you obtained from non-iTunes sources should be just fine. Streaming apps—like Plex, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and of course Google TV or Google Play Movies & TV—will all work seamlessly across Android and iOS. Just log into your account on your new device and you’ll be good to go.

Move documents and other files

Now that you’ve tackled most of your files, all that’s left to move are documents and other strays. Your method for shifting them to Android will depend on the iOS app where you store them.

For example, cloud-storage programs Google Drive and Dropbox work seamlessly across Android and iOS. We’d recommend you download one of these options to your old phone, use it to save your iPhone files, and then log into the same app on your new device.

[Related: How to save any file to your phone so you have it when you need it]

What about files saved to Apple’s office suite? You won’t find Pages, Numbers, or Keynote apps available for the Android platform. So, if you have files created in these apps, you’ll need to export them in a common format. Open a file with the appropriate app, tap the menu button (three dots) in the top right of the screen, and pick Export. Choose either a PDF or Microsoft Office format (both will work fine with the Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft Office apps for Android), and select a save location. If you’ve installed Google Drive or Dropbox on your iPhone, go ahead and save it there.

That’s just about all you need to transfer. After all, your cloud-based apps, including social media, will work exactly the same as soon as you log into them on your new device. Go forth and leave Apple behind!

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Best hotspot plans of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-hotspot-plans/ Wed, 29 Jun 2022 15:15:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=453045
Wi-Fi logo on a phone Best hotspot plans feature image
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If you need mobile internet, you have tons of options. We can help you sort out the best hotspot plans for you.

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Best overall T-Mobile Magenta MAX T-Mobile Magenta MAX
SEE IT

This is a no-brainer for current T-mobile subscribers.

Best no-contract Straight Talk Wireless Straight Talk Wireless
SEE IT

It has some drawbacks, but you can surf contract-free.

Best 5G speed Verizon Pro Verizon Pro
SEE IT

It’s costly, but this plan offers excellent speeds.

The Internet is a basic requirement for existence at this point, but choosing the right hotspot plan can be difficult. But, using public Wi-Fi has its own set of risks, especially if it’s free. Considering you are likely carrying a 5G-capable internet device in your pocket, why not make your own hotspot? And for that, you need the best hotspot plan.

There are more than 500 million public hotspots in the world but more than 7 billion smartphones, and many phones offer tethering options that turn them into makeshift hotpots. Sometimes the best, however, is not necessarily the phone in your pocket. Rather, the best might require a hotspot device to connect, offered by numerous carriers and third-party vendors. We tend to take the internet for granted at this point in its evolution but not all of us are connected all the time. Sometimes we need some 5G or 4G LTE help to get on the web. Especially if we are holed up with too many family members at a remote cabin in Michigan where the Wi-Fi is akin to two soup cans with string. 

A mobile hotspot plan offers you the ability to connect to the internet securely. It’s your own personal ISP. While that’s not necessarily true, as all hotspot plans are through a major (or minor) carrier, it’s your connection that works just for you from wherever. If you travel for work, you probably could use a reliable connectivity source. If you like having the internet out in the woods where there is no Wi-Fi but somehow a 5G signal, a hotspot is your choice. The best hotspot plans ensure you’ll never have to go camping without access to online Mario Kart sessions ever again.

How we picked the best hotspot plans

Choosing a hot spot plan is different than buying a gadget. There are more variables involved that you have to consider. For instance, your current cellular carrier may offer a substantial discount for hot spot usage, which can seriously skew the numbers. In order to choose the best hot spot plans, we considered the specific needs of various people from casual browsers to serious power users. We relied on a combination of personal experience, editorial reviews, user feedback, company reputation, and spec comparisons. 

We included most of the major carriers, as well as some of the smaller names in the space who offer more niche plans. If you already have an account with a major cellular carrier, we suggest starting there. 

Things to consider before buying a hotspot plan

While you can just go out and buy a hotspot and get your internet, there are some factors to consider before buying. When it comes to a hotspot, the differences between services offered come down to the things you’d expect: price, network, plan details, and so on. Before buying a hotspot plan, you’ll at least want to consider how much data you might be using. Keep your expectations realistic. Even the best hotspot plans can’t typically handle long Netflix marathons.

Carrier

All the major carriers offer hotspot plans. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T each sell devices and plans. Aside from that, minor carriers like U.S. Cellular, Cricket, and Straight Talk Wireless offer hotspot plans. Then there are virtual carriers that usually piggyback off of the major carriers. Visible is a solid example of one of those carriers. Considering all this, you’ll generally want to dance with the one that brought you. That is, if you already use one of these carriers for your main smartphone, that’s likely your best bet.

Price

Prices can be all over the place for hotspot plans. Either there is a flat monthly fee or a per GB usage fee. This shouldn’t be the factor that totally influences your decision, as each pricing stage offers something different. Some of the pay-per-GB plans, for instance, are great for international travel. Verizon offers a discount on hotspot plans if you already have a Verizon phone. You can expect to pay on average around $40-$60 a month for most hotspot plans. This is cheaper than most ISP monthly costs.

Data plan

Most hotspot plans do not offer unlimited data. If you are expecting your phone carrier, with whom you may have unlimited data, to have a hotspot plan without a data cap you may be disappointed. Regardless, most hotspot data plans offer enough GB of data to cover whatever you are working on. Pay attention to what is offered by your current phone carrier, you may get a good deal on hotspot data plans. Additionally, check what happens when you exceed your data cap. Does it cut off? Are there additional charges or slower speeds? Each carrier handles overages a bit differently and it can get very costly if you’re not careful.

Network size

Unlike the standard internet delivered through Wi-Fi, the signal coming through hotspots uses cellular signals. The best you can hope for is a good 5G signal if you are in a 5G area. More often than not you’ll get 4G LTE or, at worst, 3G. So you’ll want to check if the carrier supporting the hotspot is loaded with 5G towers. All the major carriers are expanding their 5G networks and it’s debatable who has the widest coverage. You’ll want to check coverage maps in relation to where you are going to need a hotspot in order to determine the largest, best network. 

Cell or mobile

Do you want to use your cellular device as a hotspot or do you want to purchase a dedicated hotspot device? That’s the question you’ll have to answer before choosing a hotspot plan. If you have very little to do besides uploading a few files from your work laptop here and there, or answering some email, your smartphone should do the trick. If you are planning on sitting down and pumping out Powerpoint presentations for eight hours from a lawn chair on the beach, then you might want a dedicated device.

The best hotspot plans: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall: T-Mobile Magenta MAX

t-mobile

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Why it made the cut: The top hotspot plan on most lists, the T-Mobile Magenta MAX plan is a phone plan with a hotspot plan built in. 

Specs

  • 40 GB Premium data cap
  • Smartphone hotspot
  • 5G Unlimited data

Pros

  • Plenty of data
  • One plan for phone and hotspot
  • Large 5G network

Cons

  • 5G speeds can be slow
  • Price is on the high end

If you already have T-Mobile or are thinking of switching, the $85 T-Mobile Magenta MAX plan is for you. The bonus with this plan is not just that it offers you a hotspot without another device but that it’s an unlimited data plan. The catch is that after you use 40 GB of hotspot data, it reverts to 3G speeds for whatever you use after (per month). 

As long as you have a limited amount of devices connected to your hotspot (say, like one or two) then even 3G speeds can give you up to 3 Mbps. That’s not terrible for doing basic tasks. While the plan is meant to be used through your phone, you can still use a hotspot device instead. Depending on the model phone you have, this might be a good tack to take. Some models get mighty hot when pulling double duty. Regardless, the T-Mobile Magenta MAX plan offers you a hotspot option without necessarily having to buy another device. 

Best no-contract: Straight Talk Wireless

Straight Talk

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Why it made the cut: Of all the ancillary carriers out there, Straight Talk offers one of the more compatible hotspot plans.

Specs:

  • No contract
  • Starts at $15/month
  • 4G LTE data

Pros: 

  • Good download/upload speeds
  • No contract, no cancel fee
  • GB pricing better the more you purchase

Cons

  • No 5G service
  • Limited network size

Straight Talk Wireless is known for its pay-as-you-go plans. If you don’t want a contract then this is the hotspot plan you are looking for. Plans range from $15/month for 2 GB of data to $75/month for 20 GB of data. Either plan delivers a moderate 31.1 Mbps download and 15.6 Mbps upload speeds. That’s not too shabby and comparable to some basic Wi-Fi services. The catch is that it’s all delivered across a 4G LTE network, likely piggybacking off a larger carrier’s tower. 

With a Straight Talk Wireless hotspot device, you can connect up to 10 devices at a time. This is probably the way to go here, as with 4G LTE you probably don’t want to burden your phone with being the community hotspot. The no-contract deal is a handy thing to have (or not have), especially when you only need to use a hotspot for a limited time. Straight Talk Wireless isn’t the only carrier out there to offer a no-contract hotspot plan, but it has some of the best plan options. 

Best 5G speed: Verizon Pro

Verizon

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Why it made the cut: The Verizon Pro is another hotspot plan from another major carrier. It makes sense if you already use Verizon.

Specs

  • 100 GB of Premium data
  • 5G/4G LTE speeds
  • Smartphone hotspot

Pros: 

  • Discount with a phone plan
  • 5G millimeter-wave compatibility

Cons:

  • 100GB is all you get

With the Verizon Pro hotspot plan, once you go over 100 GB of data, you get whacked down to a meager 600 Kbps. That’s weak sauce but at least there are no extra charges for going over. The Verizon Pro plan offers a $30 discount down to $60 if you already have a Verizon phone plan. That’s not too shabby for 100 GB of data. Verizon has one of the fastest 5G networks out there, utilizing the millimeter-wave 5G in limited areas, mid-band 5G in others. Like the other major carriers, Verizon is working on expanding that network. 

If you use a hotspot a lot, then you’ll want a plan that takes advantage of those 5G speeds where available. While with this plan you can use your smartphone as a hotspot, Verizon’s Jetpack device has long been a reliable hotspot. Many businesses use the Jetpack for connectivity, which means its been field-tested plenty. You know what you are getting with Verizon, and the Verizon Pro hotspot plan takes full advantage of the growing 5G service network.

Best international: Solis Global Pay-Per-GB

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Why it made the cut: The Solis Global Pay-Per-GB hotspot plan can be used almost anywhere around the world.

Specs

  • 1 GB data cap
  • $12/GB
  • International use

Pros

  • Easy pricing
  • Network in 135+ countries
  • No contracts

Cons 

  • Speeds dependent on geography
  • Have to purchase 1 GB at a time

With the Solis Global Pay-Per-GB Subscription, getting internet access from anywhere in the world is a relatively simple process. It should be noted that there are two ways to get the internet when you are traveling out of the country. The first is to buy a phone in your host country, with a new SIM. The second is to bring an international hotspot. There is a third option, but if you use your phone for the internet outside of the country, your phone bill would make Elon Musk do a spit take. 

If you aren’t sure how much data you are going to use, and need a fairly cheap option then this is it. At $12 a GB of data using the Solis Lite hotspot, you know what you are getting. Need another gigabyte? That’ll be another $12. There is no bulk pricing plan; it’s just the single plan. Of course, if you do use the Solis Global Pay-Per-GB Subscription hotspot plan, then you are at the speed whims of your host country’s cell towers. This is solid as a backup plan if you get into a real jam overseas.

Best for streaming: AT&T 100 GB Plan

att

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Why it made the cut: The AT&T 100 GB plan is one of several hotspot plans offered by AT&T, one of the major carriers.

Specs 

  • 100 GB Data
  • 5G/4G LTE Speeds
  • Unlimited data options

Pros 

  • Unlimited plan comes with Hulu & HBO Max
  • Works with Netgear hotspot devices
  • 100 GB for $55

Cons 

  • Plan has to be ordered in store
  • Works best for existing customers

If you are an existing customer with AT&T then you really don’t need to shop around. The AT&T 100 GB hotspot plan is one of several prepaid and postpaid hotspot plans offered by AT&T. If that’s too much data, there is a 25 GB plan for $50 per month or a 40 GB plan for $75. If it’s not enough data, there is a postpaid $75 per month unlimited plan that allocates 15 GB for hotspots, while the $85 unlimited elite plan allocates 40 GB. The unlimited plans are phone plans, while the prepaid plans are best for mobile hotspots or tablets.

The best hotspot plan is the 100 GB plan for $55 a month. Comparable to the Verizon Pro hotspot plan, that’s a good deal for 100 GB. This is a good amount of data if you are planning on spending your hotspot time streaming movies. While only the unlimited plans come with Hulu and HBO Max, you probably already subscribe to those. Speeds vary as AT&T is still working on expanding its 5G network, but you’ll at least get 4G LTE in most areas.

FAQs

Q: Does a hotspot work without Wi-Fi?

Yes. That’s the entire point of a hotspot. A hotspot, unlike a Wi-Fi device, uses cellular connectivity, not a home network, to deliver the internet. Instead of connecting to an ISP running cable into your home, it connects to a cellular carrier. This makes hotspots ideal for connecting your devices to the internet on the go. Hotspots are then reliant on the speed of the connected cellular carrier. While some speeds can get up to 5G, most of the time you’ll at least see 4G LTE speeds.

Q: Can I use a hotspot for home internet?

Technically, you can. However, using a hotspot for home internet can be kind of limiting in its ability to handle large bandwidth events such as multiple device streaming. If you live alone and have very little to do on the internet and don’t mind mediocre download and upload speeds, then a hotspot for your home internet can be a money saver. Generally, hotspots are used as temporary or necessary internet connectivity solutions, not as long-term static solutions. 

Q: What happens if I use all my hotspot data?

This varies by your hotspot plan. Some plans offer more data at an additional cost, while other plans throttle your speed after the initial data has been used up. Other plans offer pay-as-you-go options, using incremental chunks of data. Check this carefully when you purchase a hotspot plan, as there is nothing stopping carriers from implementing outlandish fees if you exceed your data caps. 

Q: Can I use a hotspot for Zoom?

Yes. While the connection might not be perfect, Zoom also isn’t perfect so it’s a wash. If you have a good 5G connection with your hotspot, then video conferencing isn’t off the table. If you drop down to a 3G connection in a bad signal area, then you might want to stick to voice calls. There is little difference between using a laptop through a hotspot or just using your phone for Zoom calls.

Q: How good is hotspot Wi-Fi?

Hotspot Wi-Fi is generally limited to a shorter range than traditional Wi-Fi. Most hotspot devices run Wi-Fi 6 to allow for greater device connectivity. These two factors make hotspot Wi-Fi the best option for portability. It’s all about being able to connect on the go, so hotspot devices aren’t built to act as standard Wi-Fi routers.

Q: Which is better, a hotspot or home Wi-Fi?

Neither is better, neither is worse. Each serves a different purpose. When you can’t take your home Wi-Fi network with you, you take a hotspot. Both provide connectivity to the internet. A hotspot device creates its own Wi-Fi network through a cellular signal, while your home Wi-Fi distributes its signal off of a hard line to the ISP.

Final thoughts on the best hotspot plans

One of the hardest things about shopping for the best hotspot plan is deciding whether or not you want to switch carriers. Chances are, you are going to stick with whatever carrier you already use and piggyback a hotspot plan onto your existing phone plan. This is the easiest solution. If you do find yourself in the market for a new phone carrier, or plan to use a hotspot enough that it could stand to have its own dedicated line, then shopping around can’t hurt. The best hotspot plan is the one that works best for your needs—whether those be price, data, speed, or some combination—and there is a plan somewhere that will work perfectly. 

The post Best hotspot plans of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to grab and move multiple iPhone apps at once https://www.popsci.com/diy/select-move-multiple-apps-iphone/ Tue, 28 Jun 2022 01:17:12 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=452806
Two black-haired women, from the back, using their iPhones with each other.
Now that you know how to do this, show a friend. Jason Goodman / Unsplash

Today's the day you learn to stop moving iPhone apps around one by one.

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Two black-haired women, from the back, using their iPhones with each other.
Now that you know how to do this, show a friend. Jason Goodman / Unsplash

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There’s an iconic scene in Braveheart where William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, repeatedly orders his army of Scots to “hold… hold… hold!” in the face of an English cavalry charge, and I want you to keep that in mind for the next few minutes as I talk about iPhones.

Now, the stakes—literally—are not as high today as they were when Wallace’s infantry raised sharpened wooden poles at the last moment, obliterating the rushing horsemen. But those three words will truly help you as I walk through how to select and move multiple apps at once on your iPhone’s home screen.

How to select and move multiple apps at once on iOS

Anyone who’s reorganized their iPhone screens knows this first step: press and hold the app you want to move. Keep holding—don’t let go. Ignore the dialog box that appears, asking you if you want to edit your home screen. Keep holding. Don’t waver when all the app icons start to jiggle. Keep. Holding. This is where the fun begins.

Now, using any finger other than the one keeping pressure on that first app you touched, start tapping the icons you want to move. They’ll start to stack up, along with a number that shows how many apps you’ve grouped together. When you’ve grabbed everything you want, just drag the pile to another part of the home page, a folder, or another home page entirely, and let go. The apps will fall into place right there, in the order you selected them.

That’s all there is to it, but there are some foibles that can make the process a little awkward if you’re using it for the first time.

Seriously, don’t let go

I emphasized Wallace’s words above for a reason: let go of the first app you pressed down on—at any point—and you’ll have to restart the process. If you stop holding when the dialog box popped up, you’ll be stuck there and will have to tap elsewhere on the screen to close it. Don’t bother choosing Edit Home Screen—you won’t be able to stack the apps no matter how hard you try. If you release when the icons start vibrating, you’ll lose the ability to start a pile. Hit Done in the top right to begin again. And if you lift your finger before the app stack gets where you want it to go, they’ll all drop right where they are.

Move the app stack to an empty part of the screen

Before you start grouping apps, slide the first one to an empty part of the screen. Not only will this eliminate the need for dexterous digit gymnastics, but it will help you avoid accidentally creating an app folder as the unselected apps slide left. If they slide under your stalwart fingertip, iOS will think you’re trying to create a folder and open one up. If that happens, just drag your app hoard away from the folder window and it’ll disappear.

[Related: Your iPhone’s home screen can hold more than just apps]

You can stack apps that are in folders

If you want to pull an app out of a folder and stick it in your ever-growing pile, just use your tapping finger to open the folder and touch the icon you want. Tap outside the folder to close it when you’re done. You can’t, however, stack folders.

Tap strategically, if you want

Some people are happy to let apps fall where they may, building an iPhone organizational scheme that only makes sense to them. Others strategize. If you’re in the latter group, and have a plan for how you want your apps to end up, all you have to do is make sure you long-press on the first one first, then tap them in the order you want them listed. So if you want to keep your home screen in alphabetical order, for example, tap App Store, then Bumble, Chrome, and so on until you’ve got everything under your finger. Sterling work, friend.

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Smartphone security starts with the lock screen. Here’s how to protect it. https://www.popsci.com/protect-smartphone-lock-screen/ Wed, 15 Jul 2020 16:11:13 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/protect-smartphone-lock-screen/
A locked iPhone displaying its lock screen.
This screen is supposed to keep prying eyes out—but you might need to tweak some settings to really hide your stuff. David Nield

Make sure you're not revealing more than you need to.

The post Smartphone security starts with the lock screen. Here’s how to protect it. appeared first on Popular Science.

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A locked iPhone displaying its lock screen.
This screen is supposed to keep prying eyes out—but you might need to tweak some settings to really hide your stuff. David Nield

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on July 15, 2020.

Your phone’s lock screen can reveal more personal information than you think. Sure it generally blocks access to your banking apps, email accounts, and social media profiles, but Google and Apple have made it so you can still access some of your phone’s main features without knowing the password.

Adjusting those lock screen settings is relatively simple on both iOS and Android, but balance is key. As important as it is to create a barrier between the outside world and the personal information on your phone, having some shortcuts on the lock screen is convenient, and it’s a good place to leave clues about who you are in case you lose your device.

Lock screen settings for iOS

By default, Apple lets you launch its smart assistant straight from the lock screen with a “Hey Siri” command. That’s fine if you want to check the weather or look something up on Wikipedia without unlocking your phone, but it won’t answer most personal questions about messages, emails, and other private stuff until you’ve passed through security.

There is, however, an exception.

You (or anyone else) can ask Siri, “What’s my name?” and the locked phone will show its owner’s name. Presumably, Apple leaves this option open so if someone picks up your phone, they can try to get it back to you. If you’d prefer to protect this information and stop Siri from answering any questions at all until the phone is unlocked, head to the Siri & Search menu in Settings and toggle off the switch by Allow Siri When Locked.

Even without Siri, you can give strangers who find your phone a chance to return it. Head to the Health app that comes as part of iOS, tap your user avatar (top right), then Medical ID, and Edit. There, you can choose someone in your address book as an emergency contact and add some information about yourself (like your allergies and age). To make this available on the lock screen to other people in an emergency, make sure the Show When Locked option at the bottom is set to Enabled.

[Related: Here’s your checklist for maximum smartphone security]

Anyone can launch a phone’s camera from the lock screen, too, with just a swipe to the left. It’s not possible to go back through old photos, but someone could take new pictures. The only way to prevent this is to disable the camera completely, via Screen Time in Settings: Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then turn the toggle switch on and disable the camera from the Allowed Apps list. Doing so, however, means you won’t be able to use the camera at all until you enable it again, so it’s not a great solution.

There are a few more settings to be aware of, which you’ll find under the Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) menu in Settings. From there you can enable or disable lock screen access to the Today View (which includes news summaries and weather reports), notifications, Siri, Apple Wallet, smart home control, and the Reply with Message and Return Missed Calls features. Those last two are particularly important, as enabling them could let anyone instantly reply to a message or call someone back without unlocking your iPhone.

Lock screen settings for Android

The options are pretty similar over on Google-powered phones, but with so many versions of Android around, it’s not as easy to provide definitive instructions. The following tips apply to the latest stock version of Android 12, and if you have something different, you should be able to adapt them to your own phone without too much trouble.

By default, the Android lock screen doesn’t let you access any kind of private information unless it’s on your emergency information card (more on that later). While you can launch the Google Assistant, it won’t provide any answers until you unlock your phone with a PIN code, fingerprint, face scan, or whatever other method you’ve set up. Android will let you get past your lock screen with voice alone, but it must be your voice. To enable this ability, go to Apps in Settings and tap Assistant, Say “Hey Google,” and Hey Google to set up voice match.

You can launch the camera from the lock screen without any verification by simply double-pressing the power button, though, as with iOS, you won’t be able to enter the photo and video library. To make sure quick camera access is enabled, go to System, Gestures, and Quickly open camera from the settings page.

One way you can tweak your lock screen privacy is by limiting how much information notifications show before you unlock your phone. If you don’t want anyone to see potentially revealing details, go to Settings, choose Notifications. Use the Sensitive notifications toggle switch to determine whether or not personal information (such as the content of text messages) shows up on the lock screen, and the Notifications on lock screen setting to choose whether or not notifications display at all. You can also disable notifications on an app-by-app basis from the main Apps screen.

Finally, Android has a way to leave some contact information on the lock screen for those who might find your phone and want to return it. Launch the built-in Safety app (download it here if you don’t have it already), and follow the prompts to add an emergency contact or two and any medical information you feel is pertinent. Other people will be able to call these contacts and view this information without unlocking your phone, which could save your life in an emergency.

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How to make voice calls from any device https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/phone-calls-from-any-device/ Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:18:40 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/phone-calls-from-any-device/
A person talking on a phone.
Ah yes, the sound of another person's voice. Chris Fuller / Unsplash

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, everything's a phone.

The post How to make voice calls from any device appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person talking on a phone.
Ah yes, the sound of another person's voice. Chris Fuller / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on June 22, 2020.

Although you may prefer texting, phone calls remain incredibly useful. This is especially true if you’re trying to reach someone without a textable number—like a doctor’s office—or would prefer to hash out a customer service issue with a human instead of a chatbot. Or maybe you just want to hear a friend or family member’s voice.

With a plethora of devices at your disposal, you don’t even have to change the gadget you’re currently using to place a call and talk to whoever you want. Actually, you don’t even have to have a device in your hands to do it. 

From your phone

Yes, that pocketable device you use to take photos, text your friends and listen to music can also make phone calls—who knew? Just in case you’ve never opened it, the app you want is called Phone on both Android and iOS devices.

In both major mobile operating systems, the Phone apps have a Favorites tab where you can add frequently contacted friends and family you contact for easy access. Just tap Add (Android) or the plus icon (iOS) to pick someone out of your contact list and put them in this exclusive club. On Android, these favorites will also appear when you long-press the Phone app icon.

Android being Android, Google’s OS allows you to add shortcuts for any contact to the home screen. Long press on a blank area of the Android home screen, then choose Widgets and Direct dial under Contacts. Drag the widget into place, pick your contact, and you’ve got a one-tap link to place a call to that person.

Using a voice command is another option: Say “Hey Google, call…” or “Hey Siri, call…” followed by the name of a contact to connect to their line. You will, however, need to ensure that your phone’s assistant is automatically listening for commands. From Android’s settings, go to Apps, Assistant, and then Say “Hey Google”. From the iOS Settings, go to Siri & Search and then Listen for “Hey Siri”. Alternatively, you can activate the assistant with a long press on the side button (on iOS), or a swipe up from the bottom corner of the home screen (on Android).

A whole host of other apps will place audio calls for you too. Take your pick from Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, FaceTime (iOS only), or Google Duo You might find the social app you use most often has a phone call feature you never knew about.

From your computer

A laptop open on a wooden table with a large video call on the screen.
Video calls are one option, but you can always keep it old school by turning your camera off. Chris Montgomery / Unsplash

If you’re using a Mac and an iPhone, you can easily use your computer to make calls from the same Apple ID you use on mobile—just open the macOS FaceTime app and sign in. From there, click FaceTime, then Preferences to configure how your devices will work together. As long as your devices are on the same WiFi network, you can have calls ring on your Mac and your iPhone at the same time, for example.

You can have a similar sort of synchronicity if you have a Windows computer and an Android phone. Launch the Your Phone app on Windows (search for it in the taskbar) and follow the instructions to connect your devices. You’ll then be able to make and take calls through your phone from the Windows desktop.

If you’re using Android with macOS, or an iPhone with Windows, you can’t as yet set up anything quite so interconnected. But you can still place calls on some of the apps mentioned above. Skype, for example, is a great option for making calls—you can ring other computers and mobiles for free, and reach actual landlines and cell phone numbers for a small fee.

[Related: Get a second phone number without buying a whole new line]

Facebook Messenger on the web is another alternative, allowing you to call anyone in your contacts via audio or video. Just search for the person you want to speak to using the box on the left, then click the phone icon or video camera icon on the right. Note that this places calls to the Messenger app on your contact’s phone or computer, rather than calling their mobile number directly.

We’ve already mentioned Google Duo as a mobile app, but you can also fire it up on the web from your computer. To call someone, click on their name, followed by Voice call. The person you’re calling will need to have Google Duo installed on their phone, but the call itself will be free.

KeKu, meanwhile, is a similar service to Skype. It works through any web browser, and while it’ll set you back $10 a month, this includes unlimited calls to landlines and cellphones in the US. International calls can be placed as well, for a small additional fee.

From your smart speaker

An Amazon Echo on top of a stack of books.
Calling someone on your smart speaker allows you to multitask. Now there’s no excuse not to call your mom. Andres Urena / Unsplash

For the ultimate convenience, you can make calls through your smart speaker while reclining on the couch or cooking your evening meal. To set this up on Amazon Echo speakers, you’ll need to open the Alexa app for Android or iOS on your phone, then open the Communicate tab.

Work through the steps to set up calling from your Echo—you’ll need to verify your cell number, give Amazon permission to sync your contacts, and confirm the name you want to appear on the recipient’s device when you ring up.

With that done, it’s just a question of saying “Alexa, call…” followed by the name of the person you want to speak to. You can call landlines and cell phones in the US for free, and you can specify “mobile” or “home phone” if needed in the voice command. You can also list a series of digits to call rather than saying a name.

If you’re using Google Nest smart speakers, you’ll first need to open the Google Home app for Android or iOS. Tap your avatar (top right), then choose Manage your Google account, People & sharing, and Contact info from your devices. Make sure you’re syncing the contacts from your phone.

Back on the front page of the Google Home app, tap Settings, then Voice and Video calls, and Mobile calling. Here you can decide whether the people you’re calling can see your mobile number or not—if you don’t have your number showing, the person at the other end will see “private” or “anonymous.”

After that’s done, you can call from any speaker that’s registered in the Google Home app. Just say “Hey Google, call…” followed by a name from your contacts. Depending on whether you assigned these labels in the contact card or not, you can also specify where to reach the person you want to talk to by specifying “mobile” or “home.” As with Echo devices, calls to landline and cell numbers in the US are free.

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How to juggle multiple accounts within individual smartphone apps https://www.popsci.com/use-multiple-accounts-on-one-phone/ Tue, 06 Aug 2019 20:01:14 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/use-multiple-accounts-on-one-phone/
A hand with magenta painted nails reaches out from the darkness to tap on a phone lying on a shiny black table.
Why settle for one account when you can have more?. Rob Hampson / Unsplash

Don't get burned by your burners.

The post How to juggle multiple accounts within individual smartphone apps appeared first on Popular Science.

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A hand with magenta painted nails reaches out from the darkness to tap on a phone lying on a shiny black table.
Why settle for one account when you can have more?. Rob Hampson / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on August 8, 2019.

There are all sorts of reasons why you might be running two accounts on your favorite apps. Maybe one is for everyone you know, and one is just for a select group of friends—like a “finsta.” Or maybe you want to keep your personal and work lives separate, or volunteered to help run your softball team’s Facebook page.

It’s much less likely that you carry two phones with you, so it’s good to know how to manage multiple accounts within one app from a single device. Not every app lets you do this, but some do, and the process varies. If your favorite one doesn’t allow multiple accounts, there are workarounds, so you can pick the best route for you—it’s easier than you think.

Use in-app features

A hand holding a phone that has Instagram on its screen.
It might be hard for other people to find your finsta, but it shouldn’t be hard for you. Erik Lucatero / Unsplash

Instagram, for example, plays well with multiple accounts and lets you manage up to five from the same device. To add a new account, open the profile tab, tap the profile name in the top left, hit Add account, and select Create new account to start fresh or Log into existing account to link one that’s already out there.

Once you’ve added more accounts, switching between them is as easy as tapping the profile name and choosing an account from the dropdown list. You can also just double tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner of your screen. All your posts, feeds and stories are kept separate between each account.

[Related: The simplest ways to post to all your social media accounts at once]

Twitter also makes multiple-account management easy. Tap your avatar, then the arrow (Android) or icon that looks like two overlapping squares with a human silhouette inside the top one (iOS) next to it. A menu will appear, and you can choose between Create a new account or Add an existing account. You can switch between each one by tapping the same icon and selecting which one you want to use.

The Facebook app only lets you jump between your main account and the pages you run, but Facebook Messenger supports multiple accounts. Tap your avatar (top left), then Switch account, and you’ll be able to log into a different account or switch to one you’ve already added. Choose Add account or Create new account to link a fresh one.

Email clients are built with multiple accounts in mind, so if all you want to do is check messages from multiple addresses, your favorite email app should have you covered. In Gmail, for example, tap on your avatar (top right) to switch between accounts or add a new one to the list.

If the app you’re using has an account-switching option of its own, this is the best way to go. If not, there are other options.

Use your phone’s OS

Android actually gives you the option to add multiple Google accounts at the system level, though what you end up with inside each of the company’s apps varies. From Settings, tap Google, then the arrow next to your current account, and choose Add another account. When you’ve added a second Google account in Android, all the company’s apps can latch onto it automatically.

On Gmail, you can switch accounts by tapping the avatar icon and choosing from the emerging list. The inbox view will automatically change. Google Calendar, meanwhile, will show you all events from linked accounts on the same calendar—tap the menu button (three lines, top left) to choose which calendars are visible and which aren’t. If you have a cluttered schedule, go to Settings to change color labels, so you can easily see which events belong to which calendar. On YouTube, tap the avatar icon (top right) to switch between accounts and the playlists, recommendations, and viewing history associated with each one.

There’s another option in Android, which is to set up two completely different user profiles and link them to separate Google accounts—a bit like having separate logins for different members of the family on a communal laptop. In this case, the two profiles are kept completely separate, so each has its own apps, settings, layouts, home screen wallpaper, etc.

To add a second Google account, open Settings and pick System, followed by Multiple users. You’ll be able to switch accounts by tapping your avatar on the Quick Settings screen (swipe down from the top of your home screen with two fingers to open it).

This might sound like the perfect way to balance your work and personal lives, for example, but it may be overkill if you just want to jump between two Instagram accounts. After all, running multiple users on Android has a high price in terms of system resources—you might find your phone is more sluggish and the battery drains faster. You can always give this method a trial run if you think it might work for you, and reverse it if it doesn’t.

Apple, on the other hand, only lets you have one Apple ID per device, syncing everything from messages to music. But you can still manage multiple Google accounts in Google’s own apps, as we’ve already described—just head to Gmail for iOS, tap your avatar (top right), then choose Add another account. Once added, it’ll become available in Google’s other apps on iOS, too.

Some custom versions of Android go further. A lot of Samsung’s handheld devices have a feature called Dual Messenger, which lets you run more than one instance of Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Skype, Viber, and Telegram at a time. Activate it from Settings by choosing Advanced features and Dual Messenger, then just enable the apps you want to use two accounts with.

The Dual Messenger list only shows installed apps, so you’ll need to actually get them on your phone first. After that, the duplicates of your chosen apps will show up with a small chain icon on your home screen and let you log in with a separate account when you open them.

[Related: 10 hidden tricks to try on your Android phone]

The OxygenOS that OnePlus builds on top of Android offers a similar feature called Parallel Apps, as long as you’re using a OnePlus 3 from 2015 or a newer phone. You can find it by choosing Utilities, then Parallel Apps, from Settings. The feature supports apps including Snapchat, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, and WhatsApp, and they all appear on the Parallel Apps list if you’ve got them installed. As on Samsung devices, cloned versions of your chosen apps will subsequently appear in your app drawer, ready for you to log in with another account. Not all apps support this feature natively, but the internet has found workarounds to make it compatible with any app.

Use third-party tools

The Parallel Space app interface.
Parallel Space lets you run cloned versions of many Android apps. Parallel Space

If the app you want to use multiple accounts with doesn’t include an account-switcher of its own, and you can’t find the functionality you need in your phone’s operating system, you can enlist the help of a third-party app to get separate accounts running in tandem.

One of the best in the business is Parallel Space for Android (free or $2 without ads). Once you’ve got the app installed, just choose which of your apps you want cloned, and Parallel Space will take care of the rest—it’s as easy as that.

The cloned apps run inside Parallel Space, though, so you’ll have to go into it to access the duplicates. This kind of cloning can take its toll on your phone’s performance and battery life, but you may consider the trade-off worth it—the hit you’ll take will vary depending on your device.

App Cloner is an even better option for Android, because it makes a genuine duplicate of any app you want cloned. But there’s a caveat—it’s been booted from the Google Play Store for unspecified policy violations. So if you want to install it, you’ll have to do so by going directly to the app’s homepage in your mobile browser.

Installing apps from outside the Google Play Store isn’t something we’d usually recommend, but App Cloner has hundreds of thousands of satisfied users. You can read the full story of its Play Store expulsion and come to your own conclusions—but if you do decide to install it, you do so at your own risk. The app is free to use, but extra features like the ability to clone more apps and improved notification options are available for a $1.50 upgrade.

Your options are more limited in iOS, just because of the tighter control Apple exerts over apps. Cloning apps require some pretty root-level interactions with a phone’s operating system, and that’s just not possible if you’re using an iPhone.

One app that can help, though, is Friendly Social Browser (free or $2 without ads), which covers Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, and a few other apps.

It’s essentially just a wrapper that makes the websites look like apps, but it works reasonably well. You’ll simply have two web pages open and will be logged into a different account on each one. Just keep in mind that Facebook’s mobile browser version has limitations that other forms, such as the desktop browser and the Facebook app, don’t have. Those differences will prevent you from using some features or tweaking particular settings from your phone. The Friendly app is available on Android as well.

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What the EU’s ruling on USB-C chargers could mean for devices everywhere https://www.popsci.com/technology/eu-makes-usb-c-mandatory-gadgets/ Wed, 08 Jun 2022 19:03:44 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=448903
a lightning and usb-c cable
A USB-C connector, left, and an Apple Lightning connector. Deposit Photos

The decision is about more than just smartphones. Here's how it could affect the gadget landscape.

The post What the EU’s ruling on USB-C chargers could mean for devices everywhere appeared first on Popular Science.

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a lightning and usb-c cable
A USB-C connector, left, and an Apple Lightning connector. Deposit Photos

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The European Union has just decreed that all new smartphones and other similar electronic devices sold within its 27 member countries must have a USB-C charging port by fall of 2024. This is to allow customers to be able to charge all their devices with the one charger type, and so effectively bans Apple’s Lightning port on any new models released beginning in that time frame. Although the ruling only applies in the EU, it’s likely to affect devices globally. 

While this decision is being portrayed as the EU regulating smartphones, the new ruling covers a much wider range of “small and medium-sized portable electronic devices.” Any cell phone, tablet, e-reader, earbuds, digital camera, headphones, headset, handheld video game console, or portable speaker that has a rechargeable battery that’s charged over a wire (rather than, say, a dedicated charging dock or wirelessly) will have to have a USB-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. The ruling also applies to laptops, though manufacturers have an additional 40 months to meet the requirements. 

Technically, Apple doesn’t have to remove the Lightning port from forthcoming iPhones—it just has to add a USB-C port to any that are released after 2024. However, the chance that the design-focused company will choose to add a second port to its sleek smartphone is basically zero. A more likely option that has been touted for a while is that Apple will go fully wireless with the iPhone. If it’s not charged over a cable, it doesn’t need a USB-C port. 

[Related: The EU wants everyone to use USB-C chargers—including Apple]

Bloomberg reported recently that Apple has been testing USB-C iPhones, though similar rumors have also been floating around for a few years. It’s worth noting that the iPhone is an outlier in Apple’s lineup: the iPads Pro, Air, and Mini, MacBooks Air and Pro, and even some Beats headphones are all charged over USB-C. (Apple boasts of its versatility on the iPad Mini marketing page!) Apple even had a hand in designing USB-C as part of the USB Implementers Forum, so it isn’t as if the company has entirely avoided the connector. Now, the EU is just forcing it to fully embrace it.

The EU has a patchy history of regulation in this area. In 2009, it similarly tried to force manufacturers to use the Micro-USB connector. However, because of the way the law was written, Apple was able to meet the requirements by offering a Micro-USB-to-30-pin adapter for around $15. There’s no such loop hole on offer this time. 

Fortunately, the law will only apply to new products brought to market after the law goes into effect. This will likely be useful to Apple considering how they handle the previous year’s models: It discounts them and sells them as its mid-tier and entry-level options. Right now, you can buy the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro (released in 2021), the iPhone 12 (released in 2020), and the iPhone 11 (released in 2019). If we presume the first iPhone released under this law will be the iPhone 16 (assuming that’s indeed what it’s called), the iPhone 15 and 14 can still be sold with Lightning ports.

The EU is playing this as a big win for consumers. Alex Agius Saliba, the EU Parliament’s rapporteur, said: “Today we have made the common charger a reality in Europe! European consumers were frustrated long [sic] with multiple chargers piling up with every new device.” Unfortunately, in reality, the situation could be less clear cut. 

USB-C standards are widely regarded as a “total mess.” Although all devices use the same ports, they don’t always allow for the same power or data transfer speeds. In terms of those data transfer speeds, some USB-C cables offer 5 Gbps while others offer 20 Gbps. The only way to tell the difference is to check the packaging and see what the so-called SuperSpeed USB rating is. Similarly, different USB-C wall plugs have different wattages. The 10W plug for a smartphone might technically connect to a 16” MacBook Pro (which ships with a 140W charger), but it often can’t provide enough power to keep the battery charged while it’s in use. 

The EU has also declared that “the charging speed is also harmonized for devices that support fast charging, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger.” The reality may be that instead of having a drawer filled with different chargers, many consumers will end up with a drawer filled with similar looking chargers—and devices that never charge as fast as they could. 

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Everything you need to know about the new Apple M2 laptops and WWDC 2022 https://www.popsci.com/gear/apple-wwdc-2022-news/ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=448446
Apple WWDC 2022 News
Apple

Here are all the new features coming to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac this fall.

The post Everything you need to know about the new Apple M2 laptops and WWDC 2022 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Apple WWDC 2022 News
Apple

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At its WWDC 2022 keynote presentation on Monday, June 6, Apple unveiled its next-generation M2 chipset, which will power a new wave of Mac laptops and desktops. The new chip promises performance improvements over the M1, Apple’s original first-party processor, which we’ll get to see in a redesigned MacBook Air and an updated version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro coming in July. 

As expected, hardware was a secondary concern at WWDC, as Apple also announced the new versions of its various operating systems for its many devices. Coming this fall, the various software updates included iOS 16 for iPhones, macOS Ventura, iPad OS 16, and watchOS 9. Though there’s plenty of overlap, each system will have distinctive new features, including customization features for the iPhone lock screen, revamped multitasking on iPads, and more robust health tracking in Apple Watch. It was an action-packed event. Here’s a quick rundown of the highlights.

M2 Apple Silicon

Laptops photo
The Apple M2 chip will power the next wave of Mac computers.

Apple unveils next-generation M series chip

In the realm of “new stuff,” Apple’s M2 chip made its debut, promising some big performance gains over the current M1 Macs and even bigger ones over older Intel-based Macs. The new M2 chip is constructed using a second-generation 5-nanometer process, and consists of over 20 billion transistors—25-percent more than the original M1. The additional transistors result in an 18-percent faster CPU, 35 percent faster GPU, and a 40-percent faster Neural Engine.

Like the M1, the M2 is an 8-core processor with four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. It features 50 percent more memory bandwidth than the M1 and up to 24GB of fast unified memory.

The M2 gets an even bigger bump in the graphics department. The new 10-core GPU is bigger than the 8-core design of the M1. That allows it to hit 25-percent higher graphics performance benchmarks than an M1 at the same power level, and up to 35-percent higher performance at max power. The M2 also introduces an updated media engine that supports 8K H.264 and HEVC video, allowing you to play multiple streams of 4K and 8K video.

Presumably, we’ll see M2 make its way into all of Apple’s computers (and some iPads) over the next few years. The new wave begins in July, when Apple launches the first two M2 laptops, including the newly designed MacBook Air, which ditches the line’s signature tapered “wedge” design for the first time since the original Air launched in 2008.

Laptops photo

MacBook Air gets a big redesign

The 2022 MacBook Air is the signature machine showcasing the M2 chip at launch. As with every Air, the new is set to deliver outstanding performance in a svelte package, albeit a more evenly shaped one. The new MacBook Air is 11.3mm thick, weighs 2.7 pounds, and features an all-aluminum unibody enclosure. According to Apple, that’s a 20-percent reduction in “overall volume” from the current M1 MacBook Air. With a smaller body, it should be no surprise that the port situation remains essentialist, with the same two Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm audio jack with support for high-impedance headphones. That means no HDMI port or SD card reader, so you’ll have to rely on a USB hub for additional connectivity.

That said, the new Air will feature a slightly larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display—up from 13.3 inches on the M1 Air—with a notably enhanced top brightness of 500 nits. Like the newer MacBook Pro, the new MacBook Air features a display notch, which makes room for a long-awaited 1080p FaceTime HD camera. The MacBook Air will be available in four colors, including Midnight and Starlight, and will feature the same MagSafe that was reintroduced on the MacBook Pro.

Laptops photo

There’s also a “new” 13-inch MacBook Pro 

Speaking of the MacBook Pro, Apple will also bring the M2 to the entry-level 13-inch form factor, which offers a big performance bump, but not the extra ports and improvements found in last year’s outstanding M1 Pro and M1 Max redesigns. (Touch Bar fans, this one’s for you.)

While the design remains the same, users will see an improvement in performance when using graphic-intensive apps thanks to its active cooling system. For example, editing RAW images in Affinity Photo can be up to 40-percent faster thanks to the M2’s 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The 13-inch MacBook Pro also promises up to 20 hours of battery life for video playback.

Those looking for a redesign can find it in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which feature more powerful specs (and heftier prices) in addition to M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. By keeping the 13-inch MacBook Pro around, Apple is offering a much more affordable entry into the pro category, while continuing to ditch Intel for its in-house silicon.

The MacBook Air with M2 chip will start at $1,199, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 will start at $1,299. Apple didn’t reveal an exact launch for the MacBook Air but did say it’ll be available in July.

iOS 16

WWDC 2022 News
The iPhone lock screen is getting a huge glow up in iOS 16.

Apple brings widgets and customization to the lock screen

In iOS 16, Apple has redesigned the lock screen to bring you more information at a glance. You will be able to customize what you can see before unlocking your phone beyond setting a photo, adding widgets like your calendar, the current forecast, and Apple-Watch-style activity rings. You’ll also be able to change the font and color of the time, and add filters to the entire lock screen for some added style. Apple said you can create multiple lock screens, which you swipe through, similar to changing watch faces on Apple Watch. A new Photo Shuffle feature will let you choose a set of photos that will automatically change throughout the day.

You’ll also see a “Live Activities” feature on the lock screen, which effectively combines a widget and a notification for frequently updating events. For example, if you’re a sports fan, a notification for a game you’re following will update your lock screen and bring you the latest score and other relevant updates. Developers can create custom Live Activities, so you can check the status of a delivery or shipment without leaving your lock screen.

WWDC 2022 News
You will now be able to edit text in Messages, even after sending it.

Messages will get an edit function

Messages are also getting a few new user-requested features. You’ll be able to edit messages, cancel texts with an “undo send” feature, and mark them as unread. The edit function will allow you to edit typos, while undo will let you unsend a message after sending for up to 15 minutes after sending a given message. These additions give you a lot more editing power and should make texting feel a little more like using chat apps, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

WWDC 2022 News
Apple’s new vision for CarPlay includes deep integration into the vehicles’ systems.

Apple Wallet, CarPlay, and more

There are a ton of miscellaneous new features coming to iOS 16, including changes to Focus, a shared photo library for shared iCloud accounts, SharePlay for Messages, and Live Text support in videos. 

Apple Wallet will add a “pay later” function that will allow users to break up Apple Pay purchases into four installments over a set period without interest charges. Once you place an order, Apple Wallet will help you track your orders so that you can receive detailed information throughout your package’s journey to your doorstep.

Finally, CarPlay will get its most significant update yet, setting the stage for deep integrations with dashboard systems in new cars. You’ll be able to perform actions like changing the temperature, controlling the radio, and seeing deeper vehicle data, including your current speed, fuel level, and fuel economy. Though iOS 16 will include some of this CarPlay functionality, Apple said automakers like Ford, Volvo, and Jaguar won’t announce new vehicles that support the system until late 2023.

watchOS 9

WWDC 2022 News
WatchOS adds new watch faces as well as deeper tracking for exercise and sleep.

Apple Watch adds new health features

Apple also unveiled watchOS 9, which adds four new watch faces, workout updates, and deeper integration with Apple Fitness+. If you’re a runner, watchOS 9 will introduce more insights into how efficiently you run. For example, you’ll be able to track your stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation, giving you valuable data whether you’re a casual runner or training for a marathon. 

Apple will also add an FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation (AFib) history feature, which will provide those who have been diagnosed with AFib with deeper insights into their condition. The hope is that this information will allow people to make lifestyle changes that can potentially improve their condition.

WatchOS 9 will also add deeper sleep insights. By tapping into Apple Watch’s accelerometer and heart rate sensor, the wearable will detect when you’re in REM, Core, or Deep sleep—metrics that better help you understand your sleep quality.

Perhaps the most significant addition in watchOS 9 is the ability to manage and track your medications, vitamins, and supplements. The feature will allow you to create a medications list, set up schedules and reminders, and view information about your medication in the Health app. You can also receive an alert if there are potential critical interactions with medications you’re already taking.

iPadOS 16

WWDC 2022 News
With Stage Manager, iPadOS 16 will enable a more laptop-like workflow on tablets.

The iPad introduces multitasking upgrades (and a weather app)

The most significant feature coming to iPadOS is called Stage Manager (also available in macOS Ventura), which organizes apps and windows into a pane on the left side of the display. By default, the apps and windows are arranged in order of recency, but you can also group apps together to quickly access them, like if you need Safari and Notes to plan for a meal. You can now open apps as overlapping windows and resize them, bringing them more in line with the conventional macOS experience.

Stage Manager also brings full external display support in up to 6K resolution and will allow users to run four apps on their iPad Pro, as well as four apps on the external display. These features are only available on iPad Pro and 2022 iPad Air with an M1 chip.

WWDC 2022 News
Freeform, a new app, is a scalable collaborative whiteboard for project planning.

Collaborate with the new FreeForm app

Additionally, iPadOS 16 will introduce Freeform, a collaboration app that offers a scalable whiteboard, so there are no limits on the page size or layout. You’ll be able to see the updates people have made and even hop on FaceTime to discuss ideas. The new Freeform app brings to mind Figma’s FigJam app, which offers a similar collaboration tool.

Other additions coming to iPadOS 16 include Apple’s Weather app and “Reference Mode,” a color calibration tool for creatives that allows the iPad Pro and Liquid Retina XDR display to match the color requirements in workflows like review and approve, color grading, and compositing. This will ensure that photo and video editors get consistent, color-accurate edits across their projects, making the iPad Pro an even more powerful tool for creatives.

macOS Ventura

WWDC 2022 News
Continuity Camera, a new feature in macOS Ventura, lets you use your iPhone as a webcam. Apple

Expanded continuity comes to Mac

Ventura, the next big update for macOS, offers one of the most exciting features of the day. Continuity Camera will allow users to turn their iPhone into a webcam. Macs will automatically recognize your iPhone when it’s nearby and use it for video conferencing. You’ll be able to take advantage of modern iPhone camera features like Center Stage, which automatically adjusts the camera’s framing to center on you, and the background-blurring Portrait mode.

Ventura also brings updates to some of Apple’s core apps, including Safari. In Ventura, you’ll be able to share tab groups with friends and family and start a FaceTime call right from the page you’re browsing. Meanwhile, Mail is introducing more robust search features and the ability to schedule emails and undo send for up to 10 seconds after hitting send.

WWDC 2022 News
Spotlight will present you with more information than ever without ever opening your web browser.

Spotlight gets more powerful

Finally, Apple has updated Spotlight to bring more information to searches. In addition to launching apps, you can type in a musical artist and get information about who they are, when they were born, where they’re from, etc. You can also set timers, create a new document, and run a shortcut from Spotlight.

Final thoughts on WWDC 2022

We rarely expect major hardware announcements at WWDC, so color us pleasantly surprised that we got to hear about some new Macs at WWDC 2022. Of course, these are all just promises until we take the time to test the M2 Macs later this summer. And, of course, we’re looking forward to checking out all the new features coming to Apple’s various devices as roll out in beta ahead of their wide launch in the fall.

The post Everything you need to know about the new Apple M2 laptops and WWDC 2022 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Forget your wallet: It’s time to start paying for everything with your phone. https://www.popsci.com/pay-with-your-smartphone/ Tue, 24 May 2022 12:00:04 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/pay-with-your-smartphone/
Person paying with phone
Tapping your phone will make even the biggest purchases seem harmless. Clay Banks / Unsplash

Money is just a concept.

The post Forget your wallet: It’s time to start paying for everything with your phone. appeared first on Popular Science.

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Person paying with phone
Tapping your phone will make even the biggest purchases seem harmless. Clay Banks / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally posted on September 2, 2020.

Most of us leave the house carrying three essentials: keys, wallet, and smartphone. But over the past few years, more and more people have chosen to simplify this classic trio further. And no, we’re not talking about phone cases that also hold cash—however useful.

Your smartphone can save your financial details and use them to make secure, instant, contactless payments in a lot of stores. It may feel vaguely futuristic, but you can easily see how your life becomes just a bit simpler by waving your mobile at checkout.

If you want to get an upgrade from old cash and cards but you’re unfamiliar with app-based payments, know that it’s safe and easier to get set up than you might think. In fact, you probably have most of what you’ll need already installed on your phone.

Mobile payments 101

Having one less thing to carry around seems great, but some people insist on sticking to good ol’ money because of security concerns. This is why it’s important to understand how app-based payment platforms work and how they can actually protect your money even better than a card.

[Related: The 7 best apps for sending money]

If someone steals your credit card, they would be able to use it freely both online and in physical stores, while all you’re left to do is notify your bank. But it’s not possible to do the same with your smartphone. If someone stole your phone, the robber would still need your passcode, fingerprint, or face to complete a payment, so if your phone is locked, so is your money.

The technology behind app-based payment platforms is called Near Field Communication. It is an industry standard and both Google and Apple use it for their own services. Whenever you wave your phone on a payment terminal, you’re not actually sharing your card details, as most people think, but using NFC to simply confirm your device is authorized to make a payment on your behalf using an encrypted code. This means your phone will safely store your card details and it won’t share them with any third parties.

Setting up mobile payment on your iPhone

Mobile payment
Use your face to unlock your iPhone and pay for that amazing new look. Blake Wisz / Unsplash

Apple Pay first saw the light of day in October 2014. Now it comes pre-installed on all of Apple’s mobile hardware, including the Apple Watch and the iPhone. You can use this platform to pay for purchases online, within apps, and in physical stores—any outlet that supports contactless payments will accept Apple Pay.

To set up Apple Pay on an iPhone, open Settings, then choose Wallet & Apple Pay. From here, you can link your credit or debit cards to the phone’s payment system. It also lets you add new cards and edit the details from existing ones.

To add the same card or cards to your Apple Watch, use the Watch app. Go to the My Watch tab and tap on the Wallet & Apple Pay option. This will give your wearable the same power as your actual card, which means you’ll be able to pay with your smartwatch even when your iPhone isn’t nearby.

Once you enter your card details, you’re ready to pay for goods. To do this in a physical store, you can use any contactless terminal. At checkout, unlock your phone with a passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID, and tap your Apple device on the terminal to pay.

Setting up mobile payment on your Android phone

Google Pay
Some places like New York City have made phone payments widely available in public transportation turnstiles. Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

Google presented Google Pay back in September 2015, a year after Apple’s payment system launched. Both platforms work in a similar way—its primary purpose is to let you quickly pay at physical stores, but the tech has also found its way to apps and online shopping. Google Pay works on phones and tablets, as well as WearOS watches.

You can manage all of your cards and other payment information through the Google Pay app on your phone, and if you have already registered cards for in-app payments, for example, then you can easily add these to Google Pay. If you’re using a WearOS watch, you’ll need to install the Google Pay app on your phone, then use the watch interface to select one of the cards you’ve set up.

As with Apple Pay, your device must be unlocked to use Google Pay. If you’re using a smartwatch, you won’t need to draw your pattern or put your fingerprint in the sensor with every payment, but if you take your watch off, then you will need to reauthorize the connection by unlocking your phone.

Google Pay should also work with any terminal or checkout that supports contactless payments. In the store, make sure your phone is unlocked, tap it against the terminal for a few seconds, and wait for the green light. Again, just like Apple Pay, the system will send an authorized token rather than your actual card details.

Despite the name, Samsung Pay works on any modern Android phone, but this availability doesn’t translate to smartwatches, as the system only runs on the brand’s own Galaxy line. To set it up, download the Samsung Pay app and add your cards. When it’s time to pay, simply unlock your phone using your method of choice (fingerprint, face, or PIN), and then hold your device against the terminal to use your card.

Samsung Pay has one big advantage over its competitors—it works with newer contactless terminals and also those that use the old magnetic stripe technology. In the latter case, however, you’ll require extra in-phone hardware, so only newer Samsung devices will be able to do the trick

Other payment apps

Cash App

Cash app

The beauty of Cash app is that you can send money to anyone with an email address.

We’ve covered your options if you want to use your phone in a physical store. But what if you just want to pay back your friend for dinner, or settle the cable bill with your roommates? In this case, you’ve still got plenty of app options. Like with Apple, Google, or Samsung Pay, you will need to link these apps to a real bank account or card but the process is usually the same and pretty painless.

PayPal (Android, iOS) is the best-known and probably the longest-running mobile payment option out there, and its mobile app has caught up to its desktop site in terms of ease of use and functionality. If you link a bank account, or debit or credit card to your PayPal, or accumulate a PayPal balance, you can pay other users for free.

[Related: 4 apps to safely transfer money internationally]

In the world of payment apps, Cash App (Android, iOS) is a strong contender, looking to significantly improve the way we all send money to each other. Perhaps its best feature is that the person you’re paying doesn’t need their own Cash App account—you can use the app to pay anyone whose email address you know. The platform also lets you link debit cards for free but adds a 3 percent charge for linked credit cards.

For an even smoother experience than either PayPal or Cash App, try Venmo (Android, iOS), which PayPal actually owns. This socially-connected option is built more like a messaging app than a payments tool, and even includes an option for splitting a bill. Payments to other Venmo users are free from a linked bank account, major bank debit cards, or a Venmo balance. Otherwise, you face a 3 percent charge for credit cards.

The post Forget your wallet: It’s time to start paying for everything with your phone. appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

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Best mobile hotspots of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-mobile-hotspots/ Mon, 23 May 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=444819
best mobile hotspots sliced header
Stan Horaczek

No strings to hold you down.

The post Best mobile hotspots of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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best mobile hotspots sliced header
Stan Horaczek

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Best T-Mobile hotspot Inseego MiFi M2000 is the best mobile hotspot. Inseego 5G MiFi M2000
SEE IT

Inseego and T-Mobile have struck a great balance between cutting edge features and price.

Best AT&T hotspot Netgear Nighthawk M5 (MR5200) is the best mobile hotspot. Netgear Nighthawk M5 (MR5200)
SEE IT

Netgear’s Nighthawk M5 offers top performance at a premium price.

Best Verizon hotspot Inseego Jetpack is the best mobile hotspot. Jetpack MiFi 8800L
SEE IT

Inseego’s Jetpack for Verizon is a dependable workhorse on the most extensive existing network.

Smartphones allow us to keep the internet in our pockets wherever we go, but sometimes that isn’t enough. Lots of phones can serve as a mobile hotspot in a pinch, delivering Wi-Fi to other nearby devices; however, your phone’s antenna and battery are finite. A dedicated mobile hotspot can serve mobile internet to a whole collection of connected devices via Wi-Fi, keeping you truly connected wherever you get service.

With more people working from home, untethered to a desk, a mobile hotspot really extends what “remote” can mean. Smartphone service providers are expanding their 5G networks all the time, meaning you’ll barely even be compromising the home wireless internet speeds you’re used to. We’re here to help you find the best mobile hotspot, no matter your network or needs.

How we picked the best mobile hotspots

More than most hardware categories, mobile hotspots neatly sort themselves into categories because they are tied to particular service providers and their networks. For most of us, that contractual link to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and others narrows down our choices.

Among those options, we simply selected the current top-tier hotspots available, with all the cutting-edge features to make sure you’re getting the best possible experience. We made sure our selections were well-reviewed by customers and professionals alike from manufacturers with proven track records.

Things to consider before buying the best mobile hotspots

Mobile hotspots are pretty straightforward devices. They’re small bricks of plastic with an antenna that connects to a mobile broadband network, and a router that passes that signal along to other devices in its network. If you’ve purchased a Wi-Fi router and a smartphone, you should be familiar with the details. Consider your intended usage: When do you see yourself using a hotspot? How many devices do you intend to connect? How long do you hope to use it without being able to plug it into an outlet and charge it? Where do you intend to go?

Another thing to keep in mind: It is not enough to purchase a mobile hotspot—you also need to activate and connect it to a compatible mobile network. Assuming you already have a cell service contract at a major carrier, we recommend sticking with whatever network you are already on. You can buy an affiliated device and add it to your account through your provider. This will almost certainly be less expensive than opening up a new account with a different service.

5G or LTE—that is the question

5G is the latest and fastest cellular network standard but still isn’t as widespread as older 4G LTE networks. Since the newest devices all support previous standards, we recommend getting a 5G-capable hotspot, regardless of its current availability near you. Ultimately, these are just the newest and best-performing hotspots, even on the older 4G LTE networks.

If you won’t be anywhere near cities, however, and speed doesn’t matter to you as much as saving money, going back for an LTE-only capable hotspot can be a good way to save upfront on the hotspot and still get the most range possible. To get a precise understanding of local coverage options, check out the FCC’s LTE coverage map. You can also see the current state of each provider’s 5G network directly from the AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon websites.

One notable difference we found among 5G hotspots was whether or not they support millimeter-wave signals, a portion of the 5G frequency spectrum that supports higher data throughput, which should translate to faster loading. There’s a catch, though—mmWave only works over short distances and is very easily blocked by physical objects, like walls. That means it will make the most noticeable difference outdoors and within close range (on the order of hundreds of feet) of a tower. Only Verizon and Inseego’s 5G router currently supports it right now, which makes sense since Verizon has also invested the most in building out its mmWave network by quite a wide margin.

C-Band, another potential component of 5G, adds substantial data bandwidth to the signal. The US has lagged behind the rest of the world in integrating C-Band into its 5G networks, but carriers have promised to expand C-Band support in cities in the near future. Only one hotspot currently available from Netgear supports C-Band as of spring, 2022.

Hi-fi Wi-Fi

Mobile hotspots have two key components: the cellular antenna, which receives the wireless signal from a carrier network, and the wireless antenna that broadcasts that signal to nearby devices. Fortunately, Wi-Fi has now caught up with mobile and simplified their formerly too-technical standard names (e.g., 802.11ac) into much more consumer-friendly generation numbers. Wi-Fi 6, the latest standard, offers a jump in overall upload and download bandwidth. It specifically improves a router’s ability to serve multiple devices at once, which is very helpful when you tether a computer, phone, and tablet to one network all at once. New Wi-Fi 6-enabled hotspots have more than double the connection limits of previous iterations.

The best mobile hotspots: Reviews & Recommendations

If you’re looking to put the internet in your pocket with the best mobile hotspot, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve simplified your choice, picking the best hotspots for each of the major carriers, plus a few extra options that may serve you better internationally.

Best T-Mobile hotspot: Inseego MiFi M2000

SIMBROS

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: Inseego’s MiFi M2000 hotspot offers the best value of any 5G hotspot from T-Mobile right now.

Specs

  • Mobile: 5G, 4G LTE
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 – 2.4GHz and 5GHz
  • Connections: 30 devices
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Battery: 5050mAh, up to 24 hours claimed

Pros

  • 5G, Wi-Fi 6
  • Most extensive 5G network
  • Least expensive 5G hotspot

Cons

  • No mmWave antenna

As of May 2022, T-Mobile has the most extensive 5G rollout of any major US carrier. As it is the first and only officially supported 5G hotspot, the Inseego MiFi M2000 is automatically the most widely effective 5G mobile hotspot right now. It has support for the newest networking standards—namely 5G and Wi-Fi 6—and solid performance across the board. Functionally, it’s very similar to Inseego’s Verizon hotspot, though it lacks support for millimeter-wave signals. That said, T-Mobile has a more limited mmWave rollout than other networks anyway, so it isn’t a huge loss, and dropping the feature keeps its cost down.

Best AT&T hotspot: Netgear Nighthawk M5 (MR5200)

NETGEAR

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Netgear Nighthawk M5 is the most flexible 5G hotspot on the market.

Specs

  • Mobile: 5G, 4G LTE
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 – 2.4GHz and 5GHz
  • Connections: 32 devices
  • Ports: USB-C, ethernet
  • Battery: 5040mAh, up to 13 hours claimed

Pros

  • 5G, Wi-Fi 6
  • Works unlocked
  • First C-band hotspot

Cons

  • Expensive
  • No mmWave antenna

The Netgear Nighthawk M5 is the most expensive option on our list but also packs the most features and flexibility. It supports the current standard, 5G and Wi-Fi 6, of course, but also has other bells and whistles. It is, for example, the only 5G option on our list with an Ethernet port for more flexible tethering and network extension options. Although it lacks mmWave support, it is the first mobile hotspot to support C-Band. 

As an added bonus, the Nighthawk works unlocked with any of the three major US networks, though pairs best with T-Mobile and AT&T, which could be great if you’re planning to change networks in the near future.

Best Verizon hotspot: Inseego Jetpack MiFi 8800L

Generic

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: If you don’t need 5G where you’re going, then the Jetpack is the last generation’s standout.

Specs

  • Mobile: 4G LTE
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5 – 2.4GHz and 5GHz
  • Connections: 15 devices
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Battery: 4400mAh, up to 24 hours claimed

Pros

  • Most extensive LTE network
  • Compact
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • No 5G

5G may get all the marketing hype, but it still provides limited coverage. Even when you can find it, not all 5G works equally well. The standout hotspot of the previous generation is the Inseego Jetpack MiFi 8800L, paired with Verizon, which is still consistently rated to have the most extensive and consistent network coverage in the US, particularly outside of metro areas. As an added bonus, the Jetpack is more compact and gets battery life than many newer models because it doesn’t have the additional antennas needed for 5G and Wi-Fi 6 support.

Best Verizon 5G hotspot: Inseego MiFi M2100

Inseego

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Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: Just like our T-Mobile Pick, the Inseego MiFi M2100 is a solid 5G, Wi-Fi 6 hotspot.

Specs

  • Mobile: 5G, 4G LTE
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 – 2.4GHz and 5GHz
  • Connections: 30 devices
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Battery: 3500mAh, up to 24 hours claimed

Pros

  • 5G, Wi-Fi 6
  • mmWave support

Cons

  • Underwhelming battery life

Inseego’s Verizon-exclusive M2100 is very similar to its T-Mobile counterpart, the M2000. Most of what we said about our top pick for T-Mobile users applies here as well. It’s a solid performer that supports the latest standards. There’s one key difference, though: Verizon’s version supports mmWave signals, whereas T-Mobile’s doesn’t. In exchange, though, it features a smaller battery (though it can be easily swapped out). Otherwise, it’s the current best option for accessing Verizon’s 5G network.

Best budget unlocked hotspot: KuWFi 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot Unlocked

KuWFi

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: KuWFi offers excellent unlocked 4G speeds for a rock bottom price.

Specs

  • Mobile: 4G LTE
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5 – 2.4GHz and 5GHz
  • Connections: 10 devices
  • Ports: Ethernet, USB 3.0
  • Battery: 2400mAh, up to 8 hours claimed

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Small
  • Unlocked

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance outside North America

At just $50, you’d be hard pressed to find a cheaper mobile hotspot than this KuWFi model that delivers fast 4G LTE performance. At a slim 6 ounces, it will easily fit in your pocket, and delivers solid Wi-Fi 5 performance on most networks. Some customer reviews complain about it not working with some sim cards outside the US, Canada, and Mexico, where it is specified to mostly work, but customer service seems reasonably responsive. Even with limited international utility and older network standards, it’s a rock-bottom price for a mobile hotspot.

Best hotspot for international travel: Skyroam Solis Lite

Skyroam

SEE IT

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Skyroam Solis Lite is a simple, powerful, and flexible mobile router built specifically for international travel.

Specs

  • Mobile: 4G LTE
  • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 4 – 2.4GHz
  • Connections: 10 devices
  • Ports: USB-C
  • Battery: 4700mAh, up to 16 hours

Pros

  • Long battery life
  • Compact
  • Flexible plans

Cons

  • App required for operation
  • Only Wi-Fi 4

Most of our picks are tied directly to US cellular carriers, but Skyroam’s Solis Lite is designed to provide internet to the whole world–or at least over 130 countries. It uses a virtual sim card, rather than a physical one, so it can slip chameleon-like between available networks wherever you go. It only supports Wi-Fi 4 with 2.4GHz, which means slower speeds, but also very long battery life. In fact, the Solis Lite doubles as an effective portable charger, which is perfect for travel. Skyroam offers a flexible range of data plans from daily up to monthly subscriptions so you only need to pay for the time that you’re actually using it.

FAQs

Q: Is a hotspot better than Wi-Fi?

Technically hotspots are Wi-Fi since they broadcast a wireless internet connection. To answer the implied question—whether a hotspot is better than a conventional router connected to a home broadband network—it depends, but not for most people in the US. Under ideal conditions, a wired router should offer greater bandwidth and higher speeds than a wireless hotspot. In practice, it varies widely depending on your local internet service provider and smartphone carrier networks. In places where cell coverage is better than cable internet, wireless hotspots can be a great replacement for a conventional router.

Q: How much does a mobile hotspot cost?

Budget hotspots can cost as little as $50, though most new devices purchased through the carriers cost several hundred dollars.

Once you buy the device, you will have to pay for data every month. Prices vary between networks, but the least expensive we could find was T-Mobile offering $10 per month for 2 GB of data before throttling.

Q: Do I have to use one of the big three carriers for mobile hotspot service?

While using one of the big three carriers can often be the path of least resistance, unlocked hotspots will typically work with a wide range of sim cards, including those from MVNO (mobile virtual network operators) carriers like Visible. Alternatively, companies like Skyroam in our list will offer their own direct plans, doing the work of connecting to carriers for you.

Final thoughts on the best mobile hotspots

Mobile internet providers all over the world are in the process of spreading 5G services all over the world, which makes this the best time ever to consider the benefits of a mobile hotspot. In the US, your options are likely limited by the carrier, which isn’t ideal, but it may make choosing your device a bit easier. Free yourself from wired internet and embrace the nomadic life with a wireless mobile hotspot.

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Save $250 on the Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Samsung Early Memorial Day Sale https://www.popsci.com/reviews/samsung-early-memorial-day-sale/ Fri, 20 May 2022 13:45:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=444608
Samsung Galaxy S22 News
With a squared off look and a built-in S Pen holster, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a more professional vibe than the S22 and S22 Plus. Samsung

The pools may not be open yet, but these deals are splashy.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 News
With a squared off look and a built-in S Pen holster, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a more professional vibe than the S22 and S22 Plus. Samsung

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We’ve written about how the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is one of Samsung’s biggest phones—with a 1440 x 3088p 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, we mean this literally. But it’s also kind of a big deal if you’re looking for an Android flagship with a stylus-focused design. And if you’ve been holding off on upgrading your phone or phablet, now is the time that big deal is an even bigger deal: the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is up to $250 off, with up to $625 available for trade-in credit as part of its Samsung Early Memorial Day SaleThis deal only lasts through May 22, however, so act fast.

Samsung

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The Galaxy S22 Ultra packs a lot in its slim slab: a “built-in” Samsung S Pen stylus; a 108MP ultrawide back camera that allows you to record in 8K/24fps video, accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide lens, 10MP telephoto lens, and dual 10MP under-camera lenses; plus a 40MP front camera. And, filming is smooth and clear no matter the time of day with Auto Focus Video Stabilization and Night Mode. You have plenty of space for all those Oscar-worthy shots and apps thanks to the 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options. Add the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watch, and you have yourself a sick synced suite of Samsung items

Getting a Galaxy S22 Ultra from $279.99 with eligible trade-in isn’t the only stand-out special. Samsung’s other mobile offerings are also on sale, in case you’re looking for a different phone that suits … or, rather, flips your fancy. The Z Flip3 is on sale from $199.99 with eligible trade-in, with $50 instant Samsung credit and $50 in Google Play Credit, with up to $800 in enhanced trade-in. The Z Fold3 is on sale from $699.99 with eligible trade-in. Additionally, you get $200 instantly and a $100 Google Play Credit, plus up to $1,100 for enhanced trade-in. But, again, act now.

Samsung is offering plenty of deals to celebrate the unofficial start to the summer season. So hop on these deals before you hop in the hot tub (just leave your shiny new toys somewhere safe). 

Looking for other phones, tablets, and accessories? Check out these additional Samsung products on sale: 

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From the archives: When 1970s cellular technology made ‘traveling telephones’ more accessible https://www.popsci.com/technology/cellular-technology-emergence/ Thu, 05 May 2022 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=439359
An illustration from the January 1978 issue of Popular Science from an article about mobile phones.
"Traveling telephone –new technology expands mobile/portable service" by John Mason, January 1978. Popular Science

In the January 1978 issue of Popular Science, we explored the latest innovations in wireless services and their implications for the future.

The post From the archives: When 1970s cellular technology made ‘traveling telephones’ more accessible appeared first on Popular Science.

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An illustration from the January 1978 issue of Popular Science from an article about mobile phones.
"Traveling telephone –new technology expands mobile/portable service" by John Mason, January 1978. Popular Science

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To mark our 150th year, we’re revisiting the Popular Science stories (both hits and misses) that helped define scientific progress, understanding, and innovation—with an added hint of modern context. Explore the entire From the Archives series and check out all our anniversary coverage here.

Until Heinrich Hertz discovered radio waves in 1887, the vast and invisible electromagnetic spectrum was a silent wilderness, punctuated by nature’s static bursts. But Hertz set in motion a new era that would quickly fill that void with low-end radio waves, mid-range microwaves, and high-end gamma rays (medical imaging). Despite the breadth of the wireless spectrum, a small slice (roughly 500 MHz–3.5 GHz) has been staked out like no other: As Popular Science reported in January 1978, it turns out to be the optimal range to propagate signals to and from mobile devices, like traveling telephones. 

Scarcity has driven mobile network innovation ever since the first frequencies were set aside by the FCC in the 1940s. Even as the size of mobile phones shrank from crate-sized in the 1950s and ‘60s to brick-sized in the ‘70s, the pinch was less phone form factor than it was inefficient use of spectrum. Until the late ‘70s, each new mobile phone that went live in a city required its own dedicated frequency, the way a local radio station requires its own channel. As John Mason reported, “because radio channels are so limited, there are long waiting lists in most cities for mobile-phone service.” 

In 1974, to address pent-up demand, the FCC released more spectrum but insisted that companies find a better way to use it. As Mason explains with geeky precision, cellular technology got its name from its design, deploying short-range transmission towers to divide large regions, like cities, into honeycomb-shaped cells, enabling frequency reuse. More than any other technology, cellular (first conceived in 1948 but not computationally practical until the 1970s) paved the way for the mobile era. 

Since the ‘70s, the FCC has continued to release spectrum. A mere fraction of the mobile-device slice sold for more than $20 billion in a November 2021 auction (the 3.45 GHz band). Cell networks continue to aim higher on the spectrum, shrinking cells to overcome propagation limitations and deliver more data. Today’s 5G technology will be capable of reaching all the way to 40 GHz to achieve blazing data-delivery speeds.

“Traveling Telephone–new technology expands mobile/portable service” (John Mason, January 1978)

There’s a button labeled SND on Motorola’s futuristic-looking Pulsar II radiotelephone. I pushed it, and a number stored in its microcomputer memory began stepping, digit by digit, across the red LED handset display. This amazing car telephone not only remembers 10 often-used phone numbers, but calls any of them at the press of one button.

Earlier, at Motorola’s Communications Group plant outside Chicago, I had picked up a portable Dynatac (Dynamic adaptive total area coverage) phone, tapped out a number on its Touch-Tone keypad, and called my New York office. Electronic gear at the plant patched my call directly into the phone network. A mobile/portable telephone operator wasn’t needed. Advanced mobile and portable telephones are already in use throughout the country. Motorola markets its $890 Pulsar II (less transceiver) for 150- and 450-MHz systems; its Dynatac portables aren’t available yet, although other compact portable phones are sold and leased.

But while fancy hardware for on-the-go telephone calls is readily available, the radio frequencies needed to carry today’s heavy volume of mobile/portable calls are not available. Because radio channels are so limited, there are long waiting lists in most cities for mobile phone service.

One cure for this congestion, according to communications experts I’ve talked with, is a blend of the latest in computer and RF technology and the concept of radiotelephone cells and frequency reuse. The two phones I used are examples of this new technology.

The concept is simple. A conventional mobile phone system uses one high powered central transmitter and a sensitive receiver serving all mobile units in the area. Thus a single frequency can be used by only one mobile unit at a time. In a cellular arrangement, the high-powered central transmitter/receiver is not used. Instead, many smaller transmitter/receivers that each cover only a few square miles are installed. Now, a given frequency can be used simultaneously by mobile units in several different areas or “cells” without interfering with each other. The result: A lot more calls can be placed on a given frequency band, and a lot of those people on the waiting list for portable phones can get service.

While the system is simple in principle, it is enormously complicated in practice. How do you decide which mobile unit gets which frequency at which time? And how do you make sure that two adjacent cells aren’t using the same frequency simultaneously—a situation that could possibly cause interference? The answer is a complicated system of computer control. While details vary from system to system and even within systems—more about that later—here’s how one typical setup might operate.

In the system now planned by Motorola for the Washington-Baltimore area, the entire region would be broken into five hexagonal cells, each with an 11-mile radius (see diagram).

The base antenna serving some hexagonal cells has six V-shaped sector transmit-and-receive antennas, breaking each of these areas into six smaller cells.

What happens when you’re driving around and somebody calls your number? “The system first has to locate a mobile unit in order to assign a proper channel in the proper cell,” says Motorola group product manager Andrew Daskalakis.

Pinpointing and monitoring your location is accomplished with computers nine will ultimately be used in the Washington-Baltimore developmental system.

Computer in your trunk

For an incoming call, computer data on special signaling channels are beamed over all cell transmitters. A powerful microcomputer built into the bread-box-size transceiver in your car trunk recognizes your mobile code. Your computer then transmits a signal that instantly tells a base-station computer what cell you’re in.

Next, to determine how far you are from the cell antenna, the main computer sends a six-kHz tone to your mobile. This tone triggers a transponder that retransmits the tone back to the base-station receiver. By comparing phase differences between the transmitted and received tone, the distance from the base to your car is computed.

Using this distance information, and the strength of your computer’s signal, the base computer can crank the power output of your mobile transmitter up or down. “It takes care of the portable-in-the-high-building problem, and the mobile-on-a-high hill problem,” says Daskalakis. Traveling telephones at those elevations can transmit much farther than normal, interfering with other cells.

The inaudible chit chat between computers—redundantly coded to prevent errors from static or fading—takes only a split second. Your mobile is automatically tuned to a voice channel. Once you’re “linked up,” the main computer actuates the “ringer” in your mobile.

After you answer your call, and while you’re driving, the main computer periodically scans your mobile to monitor your location. If you move to where another cell transceiver would provide better reception, the base computer switches you instantly. A similar “handshake” between computers occurs just before the dial tone when you place a call.

The system just described would go into operation in stages. In less heavily populated areas, a less complicated system would be adequate. There, the receiver section of the base station would use multiple antennas to split the cell into six pie-shaped sectors. These high-gain receive antennas can pick up signals from low-power (one watt) portable telephones. But a single omnidirectional transmit antenna could cover the whole cell. Another cellular system is now beginning experimental operation in Chicago. It is operated by Illinois Bell, and, while the principles are the same, it differs somewhat in operating details from the Motorola system. The Chicago system, for example, will initially have 10 cells, each with an eight-mile radius from its central transmitter. Cell coverage will blanket a 2100-square-mile region in Chicago.

This eight-mile cell system, however, is less sophisticated than the setup originally proposed by American Telephone & Telegraph Co. That system, presented in 1971 to the FCC, specified four-mile radius cells, with directional antennas at alternate corners of each hexagonal cell (see diagram). With four-mile cells, frequency reuse would be possible in cells 18 miles apart.

In the system being built, frequency reuse is only possible in two cells, about 48 miles apart. Conventional mobile systems usually have a reuse distance greater than 100 miles.

“We’re authorized to serve 2500 customers,” says James Troe of Bell Laboratories’ telephone service trial department, which is setting up the new system. “We’re sizing the system and channel capacity to accommodate that level,” he said, to explain why AT&T is building a less costly system.

Smaller cells would come later to meet growing demand. Companies can expand cellular systems to serve tens or hundreds of thousands—simply by adding more transmitters, shrinking cell sizes, and reusing the frequencies more often.

While the Illinois Bell system is basically compatible with the Washington-Baltimore setup, there are some differences. A Motorola Dynatac portable, for example, would not function adequately in the initial Chicago system, which lacks sectorized high-gain receive antennas, although a Dynatac car telephone would.

The drive to develop systems that use scarce radio-spectrum space efficiently goes back to 1968, when the FCC began considering what to do about the tremendous demand for mobile telephone service and the lack of frequency space to satisfy that demand. At that time, mobile phones operated in the 35-, 150-, 450-MHz bands.

In 1974, after extensive hearings and delays the FCC set aside a slice of UHF frequencies from 806 MHz to 947 MHz Parts of this so-called 900-MHz band were allocated for private land mobile companies, public service use, and utilities such as telephone companies and Radio Common Carriers (RCC’s) that now operate phone and pocket pager service [PS, July ’77] in the conventional 35-, 150-, and 450-MHz frequency bands.

When the FCC allocated part of the 900-MHz band for mobile telephone use, it also specified that companies interested in using the band would have to design systems to meet growing service demands.

But though the basic decision was made in 1974 and the equipment is ready, no such system is at present operational (the Chicago system is now under limited test, but is not yet available for use by the public). One principal factor blocking final authorization: The 700 small RCC’s that operate a lot of the country’s radiotelephone and paging service don’t want the competition. Almost anybody can go into business and serve a local area as long as he needs only one central transmit and receive location. But the new systems, which would require many base stations plus complex computer control networks, would cost more than most RCC’s could afford. Thus the RCC’s have been protesting vigorously at FCC hearings, filing court cases, and otherwise obstructing movement.

Bell is now operating in Chicago under an experimental license. Motorola, which has signed a contract with a Baltimore RCC, American Radio Telephone Service, has received FCC approval to go ahead and build its proposed Washington-Baltimore system.

Meanwhile, some experts—and some RCC’s—are arguing that cells aren’t really the most efficient way to expand traveling-telephone service. They recommend several alternative concepts-such as the use of digitized voice signals.

Other technologies

A consortium of three RCC’s has filed an application to try this technique in the Washington, D.C. area. This application, of course, is competing before the FCC with the Motorola application. The RCC noncellular concept, which was developed on paper by Harris Corp., requires one extremely powerful (375 kw) transmitter site. Voice signals would be digitized and beamed out as bursts of pulses in packets; each packet is coded for separate mobiles.

Yet another concept known as spread-spectrum is receiving attention among communications experts. Used extensively by the military, spread-spectrum signals are highly immune to jamming and interception. Imagine that each FM station spread its signal across the entire FM band from 88 MHz to108 MHz. Each station, however, would encode its output so that a special filter in your FM set could decode its signal.

For mobile telephone communications, recently developed semiconductor and electronic filter technologies might make it possible for everyone in the country to have a unique spread-spectrum decoding circuit for a traveling phone.

While you can expect to hear about various technologies for mobile systems in coming years, AT&T executive vice-president Thomas Nurnberger thinks expansion of the Chicago cellular system concept “will make it possible in the future for virtually anyone on the move to have a telephone in cars or temporary locations.” Nurnberger cites the boom in CB radios as evidence of a pent-up national need for two-way communication that AT&T thinks can be satisfied with cellular technology.

Phones photo
January 1787 cover of Popular Science featuring a cover article on mobile phone technology, waterless toilets, and microelectronics.

Some text has been edited to match contemporary standards and style.

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OnePlus 10 Pro review: Same great flavor https://www.popsci.com/reviews/oneplus-10-pro-review/ Thu, 31 Mar 2022 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=434823
OnePlus 10 Pro Review
Brandon Russell

The OnePlus 10 Pro offers a beautiful display, premium design, and a feature-rich camera. But is that enough for a flagship phone?

The post OnePlus 10 Pro review: Same great flavor appeared first on Popular Science.

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OnePlus 10 Pro Review
Brandon Russell

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The OnePlus 10 Pro is here to remind you that flagship phones don’t have to cost a fortune. Coming off last year’s excellent OnePlus 9 Pro, the 10 Pro includes a beefier 5,000mAh battery, improved haptics, and a triple-camera setup developed in concert with Swedish camera brand Hasselblad. Its hardware design—a combo of glass and aluminum—feels every bit as elegant as other high-end smartphones. These features come together to create a high-quality experience that makes the OnePlus 10 Pro a great all-around Android device, especially given its sub-$1,000 price point.

Brandon Russell

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What is the OnePlus 10 Pro smartphone?

We really liked the design, display, and camera on last year’s OnePlus flagship, and the OnePlus 10 Pro builds on that strong foundation. The 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display looks near perfect, at least to my eyes, thanks to features like dual-color calibration, which calibrates colors to two levels of brightness (100 nits and 500 nits), and a 120Hz refresh rate. The OnePlus 10 Pro brings even more camera features to the table, too. Its new ultra-wide lens offers a 150-degree field of view, and a RAW+ mode, which combines computational photography elements with more image editing flexibility.

The OnePlus 10 Pro includes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which you’ll find in a lot of top Android devices in 2022, alongside 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. OnePlus plans to release an upgraded version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage at a later date. On the software side, the device features OxygenOS 12.1 based on Android 12, which doesn’t feel bloated and is endlessly customizable.

These specs, along with the software and updated features, position the OnePlus 10 Pro as a competitor to devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra and Google Pixel 6 Pro.

Design & display

Last year’s OnePlus 9 Pro introduced a new design philosophy that seamlessly merged an aluminum frame with its rear glass panel and that’s carried over to the OnePlus 10 Pro. It’s a familiar, but gorgeous design with fit and finish worthy of its lofty competition. The aluminum frame gives it a pleasing sturdiness at 0.44 pounds, and the front and rear glass feature subtle curves that make the device comfortable to hold. It’s exactly what you want in a high-end device.

Historically, OnePlus Pro phones have been quite tall—the 10 Pro is 6.4 × 2.9 × 0.3 inches. Where past models felt top-heavy and awkward, though, this year’s model achieves a new sense of balance by aligning the weight distribution more to the center. As a result, the device nestles comfortably in your hand when you hold it.

On the left side of the phone is a volume rocker. The right side has a wake/power button and OnePlus’s famed three-stage ringer switch, which allows users to easily toggle between a ringer, vibration, and fully silent. It’s a very subtle, but helpful design tweak that I wish more phone-makers would adopt.

Speaking of vibration,  the OnePlus 10 has substantially stronger haptics. One of the criticisms aimed at the OnePlus 9 Pro was its weak vibration, which made it difficult to feel notifications buzzing. The 10 Pro’s new haptic motors are substantially stronger—”40 percent,” per OnePlus—and quieter. The changes are welcome and I never missed a notification while using the device.

OnePlus 10 Pro Review
The OnePlus 10 Pro has display- and camera-related features to make image editing and production easier for photographers. Brandon Russell

The 6.7-inch, 3216 x 1440p screen looks immaculate thanks to its 525 pixel-per-inch density. You won’t notice individual pixels with your naked eyes (unless you’re Superman). It also features an upgraded LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) display technology that reduces power consumption and supports a dynamic refresh rate. The phone can adjust the screen’s frame rate between 1-120Hz, depending on what you’re looking at.

To enhance the screen’s color accuracy, the screen features dual color calibration, which means its display has been calibrated for two brightness levels: 100 nits and 500 nits. OnePlus claims this produces more accurate colors when looking at the phone with the brightness set low. This is potentially a useful feature for photographers and creatives using the phone to edit images and video, but hard to judge for laymen. I keep auto-brightness on at all times and, to my eyes, colors look accurate and natural no matter the brightness of the display.

Performance

The OnePlus 10 Pro features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, Qualcomm’s latest and greatest processor for Android phones. With 8GB of RAM, it has plenty of power for common tasks like watching videos, editing photos, or playing games. Having used the OnePlus 10 Pro for the past few weeks, I didn’t encounter a single slowdown. My daily usage is fairly tame: Checking Instagram, watching YouTube, web browsing, and some light photo editing. If that sounds like an average day for you, the OnePlus 10 Pro should more than meet your needs. I did put it through its paces a little more by watching a couple of episodes of Gilmore Girls on Netflix and editing photos, and the OnePlus 10 Pro didn’t break a sweat.

For gaming specifically, the 10 Pro has a “HyperBoost Gaming Engine,” software optimizations designed to reduce frame rate fluctuation and increase the syncing speed between the processor and display. These features are only supported by a handful of mobile titles, including PUBG Mobile, League of Legends: Wild Rift, and Genshin Impact. I booted into a few rounds of PUBG Mobile and while the device’s extra gaming features didn’t ensure a win, they did provide for a smooth, enjoyable experience. After all, this is Qualcomm’s top-end chip, so we wouldn’t expect any current app to tax it beyond its limits.

Battery life

The OnePlus 10 Pro features a 5,000mAh battery, an upgrade from the 4,5000mAH in the 9 Pro. The battery gave me more than enough juice to get through a couple of days of moderate use on a single charge. The device supports 65W Supervooc wired charging, Oppo’s proprietary charging technology, which can fully revive the battery from 1% to 100% in just 34 minutes. That’s fast, and means I can charge up by the time I watch an episode of the aforementioned Gilmore Girls and endure the rest of the day. In a pinch, fast charging is a lifesaver. It also supports ultra-fast 50W Airvooc wireless charging, which will take you from 1% to 100% in 47 minutes.

Software

While the internal specs are a big reason the OnePlus 10 Pro feels so nimble on its feet, OnePlus’s Oxygen operating system also plays its part. The device includes OxygenOS 12.1, based on Android 12, and it’s one of the cleaner manufacturer-based launchers I’ve used. It features several customization options—from changing screen transitions to grid layout. The software also includes handy additions requested by the community, such as different dark mode settings (enhanced, medium, and gentle). Overall, the OnePlus software is clean, unobtrusive, and light, making it easy to take advantage of the customization at the heart of Android.

The OnePlus 10 Pro’s camera

OnePlus 10 Pro Review
Thanks to a partnership with Hasselblad, the OnePlus 10 Pro’s cameras are its centerpiece. Brandon Russell

This is the 2nd year that OnePlus teamed up with Hasselblad to deliver a powerful camera. Like the 9 Pro, the OnePlus 10 Pro again offers a triple camera setup—the primary, telephoto, and ultra-wide—that’s capable of shooting in full 10-bit color. This allows the camera to take advantage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and offers 25% more color coverage than the sRGB color gamut found in other smartphones. OnePlus claims these features blend to exhibit more pleasing colors and reduced color banding, so there will be smoother transitions between colors in images.

The main camera features a 48MP Sony IMX789 sensor with a f/1.8 aperture and 23mm equivalent focal length. It also offers both optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization. The ultra-wide camera has a 50MP sensor with a field of view of 150 degrees, while the telephoto camera features 3.3x optical zoom and an 8MP sensor with a f/2.4 aperture and support for optical image stabilization. This is the top of the line as far as smartphone cameras are concerned and on a par with other flagships on the market.

Last year, we came away impressed with the 9 Pro’s main camera, particularly its ability to capture natural color and tone reproduction. The 10 Pro’s main sensor remains impressive for all the same reasons, but only feels like a small step up year-to-year. Color and tone reproduction are still excellent and nothing looks overly processed.

The new ultra-wide camera captures photos with a 110-degree field of view by default, but you can switch it to a 150-degree field of view for capturing more of the scene. If you’re taking landscape photos, a wider lens is always more fun to use. The custom lens handles the distortion caused by the wide FOV well, but the images aren’t particularly sharp. The colors don’t look quite as accurate compared to the main sensor, but the difference isn’t drastic. It also supports a  digital “fisheye” mode that replicates the look of a distorted fisheye lens. It’s fun to make photos that look like old skate videos from the ’90s, but it is a bit of a bummer that it only works for images, not video.

Imaging features

The OnePlus 10 Pro also brings its Hasselblad Pro mode to all three rear cameras, which allows users to adjust settings, including ISO and white balance. You can also capture images in up to 12-bit RAW (DNG format) with a new feature called RAW+, which retains the OnePlus 10 Pro’s computational photography elements, such as dynamic range and noise reduction, while still providing users with plenty of post-processing control.

OnePlus 10 Pro Review
The OnePlus 10 Pro offers a bunch of digital camera filters and features, including a fisheye mode. Brandon Russell

If you’re the type of person who enjoys editing RAW images, my guess is you already own a digital camera system that can take far better images than any smartphone. That’s not to say I don’t think that having access to RAW images on a mobile device isn’t ever useful, but I’d be curious to see how many people actually take advantage of these features, or even know they exist.

What about video?

The OnePlus 10 Pro’s main sensor can record in 4K at up to 120 fps and in 8K at 24 fps. There are also some slow-motion modes, including 480 fps if you don’t mind shooting in 720p. I always appreciate features that allow me to slow down real life, and shooting at 480 fps is a lot of fun in situations, like when your dopey dog is trying to catch a water balloon. A 32MP sensor on the front of the phone offers a 27% wider field of view compared to last year’s OnePlus 9 series. I like when a front-facing camera is a little wider because it means I can get more of the scene on the rare occasion where I take a selfie.

The 10 Pro also adds more specific camera calibration to video with “Movie Mode,” which lets users adjust settings like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. You can record in a LOG format without a pre-set picture profile, allowing you to color grade your footage in post-production. It’s nice to be given control over what footage looks like, and means the 10 Pro gives you the same kind of power offered by a more expensive digital camera. 

Finally, the OnePlus 10 Pro camera system supports a portrait mode, dual-view video, focus peaking, cat & dog face focus, video nightscape, and an XPan mode. The latter mode carries on the heritage of Hasselblad’s legendary XPan 35mm camera and allows users to capture panoramic images. It’s a nice touch for those who are familiar with Hasselblad’s history and it’s a useful way to quickly take a panorama.

So, who should buy the OnePlus 10 Pro?

OnePlus 10 Pro Review
The OnePlus 10 Pro has a lot to offer, even if it lacks a killer new innovation. Brandon Russell

The OnePlus community will find a lot to like about the OnePlus 10 Pro. With a luxurious design, sharp display, and better battery life, it nails the fundamentals of a great Android phone. The camera system is also excellent, though maybe not a huge upgrade over last year’s model.

That said, none of its many incremental upgrades make a dramatic impression. If you own a OnePlus 9 Pro, or you’re a longtime Samsung Galaxy fan, there’s not quite enough here to demand you upgrade this year. Still, the OnePlus 10 Pro brings a lot to the table at a price that’s competitive with comparable smartphones. If you’re already on the market for an Android, it stands up with the Galaxy S22 as an early contender for the best phone of the year. OnePlus continues its thoughtful approach to software, which has always felt clean and light compared to the competition. And, at $899, it remains one of the most affordable flagship phones around.

When can I buy the OnePlus 10 Pro?

The OnePlus 10 Pro is available for pre-order now for $899 through oneplus.com and will be available at Amazon, Best Buy, and T-Mobile beginning April 14.

The post OnePlus 10 Pro review: Same great flavor appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best iPhone 13 cases in 2023 https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-iphone-13-cases/ Tue, 05 Oct 2021 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=398227
The best iPhone 13 cases for every need

Glow up, protect, or make your iPhone 13 even more functional with a case that’s packed with personality and style.

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The best iPhone 13 cases for every need

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Best overall casetify best iphone 13 cases Casetify Custom Phone Case
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Customize the protection level and color to make a case that’s protective and personal.

Best leather The Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case is the best iPhone 13 case in leather. Mujjo Leather Case
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Vegetables tanned, full-grain leather gets better with age while this wallet/case combo protects and organizes.

Best value The Spigen Ultra Hybrid is one of the best iPhone 13 cases for value. Spigen Ultra Hybrid
SEE IT

Slim styling doesn’t give way to a drop or two in a case that lets the phone shine through.

The new iPhone 13 is an investment worth protecting with the best iPhone 13 cases. These containers combine quality materials with designs that protect the phone (and its killer camera upgrade) from falls, water, and anything else you throw at it. It doesn’t hurt if they look good and add functionality, too. 

The latest iPhone upgrade can wear cases with innovative stands or glass screen protectors, but there are also options that keep things sleek and sophisticated. From refined leather to practical silicone, there are cases to fit different lifestyles, habits, and personalities. 

How we picked the best iPhone 13 cases

Protection was the first and foremost thing on our minds as we looked at the best iPhone 13 cases. Brands that offer drop test results provide a good idea of what kind of wear and tear the case can take. We also evaluated compatibility. Wireless charging is a convenience many people don’t want to give up. The iPhone 13 also offers Apple’s MagSafe technology that the wrong case could nullify unless you take the case off. Durability, as in how long will the case last, mattered, too.

One of the last things we considered but still factored into the final decision was appearance. A bulky phone brick isn’t most people’s favorite option. At the same time, not everyone wants a clear iPhone case. We included a little something for everyone, from the minimalist to the adventurer and the innovation-seeker. Here are the best iPhone 13 cases you can find. 

The best iPhone 13 cases: Reviews and recommendations

Best iPhone 13 case overall: Casetify Custom Phone Case

Casetify

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Why It Made The Cut: Casetify lets you customize the drop protection level, color, and text on the case while keeping the case compatible with wireless charging and MagSafe, making it our top overall pick.  

Specs: 

  • Weight: Varies by protection level
  • Materials: Made of 65 percent recycled, plant-based materials
  • Compatibility: Wireless charging, MagSafe (certain options)

Pros:

  • Customize protection level
  • Up to 9.8-feet drop protection (based on protection level)
  • Antimicrobial coating
  • Reinforced corners, lifted camera ring, raised bezel

Cons 

  • Long shipping times

Casetify cases enjoy a strong reputation for quality, and the iPhone 13 cases live up to that reputation. The customization is what sets this case apart. You can choose from a lightweight basic design to a heavy-duty MagSafe compatible design. The price changes depending on the chosen options. But with any of them, you can also choose the color and a monogrammed message on the case. 

This custom iPhone 13 case is made of 65 percent recycled materials and has an antimicrobial coating. Depending on the options chosen, it can withstand anywhere from a 6.6 to a 9.8-foot drop. Some of the options have reinforced edges, though all have lifted camera rings to offer more protection. Some of the options are MagSafe compatible, while all of them allow wireless charging.

Best leather iPhone case: Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case

Why It Made The Cut: This leather iPhone case made the cut for the quality of the leather and the sophisticated wallet design that’s both functional and sleek. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: NA
  • Materials: Leather
  • Compatibility: Corded charging only

Pros:

  • Full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather
  • Holds 3 cards
  • Covers buttons yet retains responsiveness
  • Raised camera edge

Cons:

  • Doesn’t allow for wireless charging or MagSafe

The Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case makes a sophisticated tool look even more high class. It’s one of the best iPhone 13 Pro cases and iPhone wallet cases on the market. A full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather wraps around the phone, including the side buttons. The buttons retain responsiveness yet still get protected. While this is a wallet, it’s subtle about holding cards. There’s room for two or three. Just enough for an ID and a couple of cards for emergency use, cutting down on bulk. 

The only downside with this iPhone 13 case is that the thickness, especially if it holds cards, doesn’t allow for wireless charging. 

Best heavy-duty: Raptic iPhone 13 Case – SHIELD

Raptic

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Why It Made The Cut: The Raptic case gets high marks for the quality of the protective materials, lightweight, and wireless/charging compatibility. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: 1.5 ounces
  • Materials: TPU, anodized aluminum, polycarbonate back panel
  • Compatibility: MagSafe, wireless charging

Pros:

  • 10-foot drop protection
  • Retains wireless charging and MagSafe despite protective design
  • Shock-absorbing rubber bubble pockets

Cons: 

  • Utilitarian appearance

The Raptic iPhone 13 Case – SHIELD takes protection to a new level. A sturdy aluminum frame lined with bubbled rubber gives the case shape and absorbs shock. The clear polycarbonate back still lets you see the phone but protects it from drops, too. A raised lip around the screen keeps it from hitting the ground when landing on a flat surface. Despite all of that protection, this model allows wireless charging and is MagSafe.

The Raptic case isn’t the sleekest design, though it’s not bulky. It does come in a few colors to glam up an otherwise utilitarian appearance. 

Best iPhone 13 case with screen protector: Caseology Stratum

Why It Made The Cut: The Stratum covers every side of the phone yet maintains the responsiveness of the screen, earning it the best iPhone 13 case with a screen protector. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: NA
  • Materials: Glass, TPU 
  • Compatibility: wireless charging, MagSafe

Pros:

  • Glass screen protector maintains screen responsiveness
  • Shock-absorbing corner reinforcement
  • Raised camera lip

Cons:

  • Lack of color options

Caseology cases are another brand that enjoys a good reputation. The Stratum fits within their line of highly-protective, low-key cases. This model could be the best iPhone 13 Pro Max case or the best for the iPhone 13 Mini. It’s made for them all and offers the same protection and features for each. 

That protection includes a built-in glass screen protector that maintains the functionality of the touchscreen. Once in place, the case protects the entire phone, including corners reinforced with AirSpace Technology. TPU grip on the sides and a sandstone texture help users keep ahold of their favorite high-tech tool. The only downside is that it’s not offered in any other colors.

Best clear iPhone case: Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips

Why It Made The Cut: The Presidio has impressive drop protection and all-around grip, making it a stand-out pick for those who have a hard time keeping hold of their phone. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: 2.89 ounces
  • Materials: NA
  • Compatibility: wireless charging, MagSafe

Pros:

  • 13-foot drop protection
  • Extra grip on sides and back
  • Antibacterial coating
  • Slim styling

Cons: 

  • None

Speck iPhone cases often feature slim styling, and the Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips fits right in with their sleek designs. This clear iPhone case features grips built directly into the edges and back of the phone to keep a secure hold. It’s reinforced at the edges and can withstand a 13-foot drop. A Microban coating resists bacteria, too. 

We’re hard-pressed to find anything wrong with this case unless you’re not really into clear cases. In which case, it comes in other colors.

Best iPhone 13 case with stand: Moft Case, Stand, & Wallet Set

Why It Made The Cut: The Moft gets high praise for the versatile design that includes floating, horizontal, and vertical stand options, which is why it gets our vote for best stand. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: NA
  • Materials: NA
  • Compatibility: wireless charging, MagSafe

Pros:

  • Versatile magnetic stand options
  • Holds credit cards
  • Can hold the phone while it charges

Cons: 

  • Could potentially misplace the stand

Product Description

The Moft Case, Stand, & Wallet Set is an innovative design for those who like to keep their phone minimal. The iPhone 13 case offers shock protection and a beveled edge in front and around the camera. 

But it’s what’s going on in the back that made us take notice. It features a removable magnetic stand that also holds a few credit cards. The stand attaches using MagSafe-like technology. In fact, it’s MagSafe compatible. You can even charge the phone while it’s on the stand. 

The stand reconfigures based on how you need to use it. It can sit horizontally, vertically, or let the phone float. When it’s not in use, it folds down into a slim profile. There’s not a lot we don’t like about this case, except there’s potential to lose the stand if you misplace it.

 Best case with MagSafe: Otterbox Pro Defender Series Pro XT Case

Why It Made The Cut: The Otterbox case makes the cut because it offers incredible protection yet remains MagSafe (and wireless) compatible. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: NA
  • Materials: polycarbonate, rubber, 50 percent recycled plastic
  • Compatibility: MagSafe, wireless charging

Pros:

  • Tough polycarbonate shell
  • Sleek design despite heavy protection
  • Includes port covers

Cons:

Otterbox cases are known for their durability and rugged toughness. The Otterbox Pro Defender Series Pro XT Case fits right in but protects without adding unnecessary bulk. A tough polycarbonate shell absorbs shock, but it’s also compatible with MagSafe technology and wireless charging devices.  

Covers over the ports keep dirt and dust out but don’t limit your ability to access them. Otterbox also adds an antimicrobial layer for added germ protection. The downside is that this isn’t the best iPhone 13 Mini case because it’s only available for the iPhone 13 Pro.

Best value: Spigen Ultra Hybrid

Why It Made The Cut: The Spigen case offers a slim design with adequate drop protection that comes at an affordable price. 

Specs: 

  • Weight: 1.06 ounces
  • Materials: thermoplastic polyurethane
  • Compatibility: MagSafe, wireless charging

Pros:

  • Slim styling
  • Beveled edges
  • Affordable price

Cons: 

  • Only comes in clear or clear colors

This clear iPhone 13 case should make minimalists’ hearts pitter-patter. The Spigen case keeps things basic but protective. Made of thermoplastic polyurethane, it can absorb falls but doesn’t add bulk. 

In fact, this model’s slim styling almost looks like there’s no case at all. Yet, it still has beveled edges to protect the screen and camera and comes at an affordable price. The Spigen is also compatible with wireless charging and MagSafe. There’s not a whole to not like about this case unless you don’t like clear cases.

Things to Consider Before Buying an iPhone 13 Case

Drop protection

You’ll want to look for the best iPhone 13 case that offers good drop protection, especially at the corners. Some brands display their drop test results. In which case, look for a case that offers at least five to six feet of drop protection. Drop protection typically means the case has reinforced edges with heavier-duty or thicker materials at this weak point.

The case should have a lip or beveled edge to protect the screen and camera if the phone gets dropped. We prefer a blend of drop protection without too much bulk. Always keep in mind that a case can’t possibly protect a phone from every possible scenario. 

Coverage

The more of the phone the case covers, the more of the phone it protects. Of course, you need the camera to be out and available, but otherwise, there’s no need for the back of the phone to show at all. Cases with a closed bottom and top edges protect ports from dust and water, too.

Wireless or Charging Interference

Some cases can limit the phone’s ability to connect to wireless services. Most of the time, they interfere with wireless charging, MagSafe systems, and Qi. They shouldn’t 

nterfere with Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, or cellular at all. Watch out for wallet cases. 

Thick cases can be a problem because the more distance there is between the charger and the phone, the more likely there is to be interference. Finally, the case should also allow normal functioning of the phone. The case design should not limit your ability to swipe across or up and down the screen.

MagSafe

Apple’s MagSafe system came out with the iPhone 12, and it’s in the 13, too. This technology helps hold the phone in place and offers faster charging with Apple’s MagSafe chargers and accessories. Some of the best iPhone 13 cases have built-in MagSafe support while others don’t. Thin cases may still allow MagSafe to work even if they’re not specifically designed for use with MagSafe devices.

FAQs

Q: Will an iPhone 13 case fit an iPhone12?

Unfortunately, an iPhone 13 case will not fit an iPhone 12 and vice versa. While some of the iPhone 12’s and 13’s are the same size, their button layouts are slightly different.

Q: Are the Apple cases protective?

Apple cases are protective, and they have MagSafe. However, are they the most protective or functional option out there—no. Many brands offer cases with more impact protection and feature things like camera covers, stands, and wallets that add functionality to everyday use.

Q: Are iPhone 12 and 13 the same size?

The iPhone 12 and 13 are the same size. However, their button layout is a little different. If you try to use an iPhone 12 case on an iPhone 13, the button covers won’t line up, and the case won’t fit. 

Final thoughts on the best iPhone 13 cases

The Casetify Custom Phone Case gets the top spot because of the customizable options, including different protection levels. You can choose extra protection and get a little more bulk or take a little less protection, so it’s easier to fit in a pocket. You also get color and monogramming options that don’t come with many other cases. Dollar for dollar, you get the protection you want in a look that’s unique to your case. Get only the best iPhone 13 cases, here!

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Apple iPhone SE (2022) review https://www.popsci.com/reviews/iphone-se-review/ Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:10:10 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=430966
iPhone SE with camera on the screen
Apple isn't specific about the "all new" camera, but it does seem to improve upon previous versions. Stan Horaczek

Apple put its most recent smartphone chip and 5G into a smaller, more affordable device the iPhone SE that should be viable for years.

The post Apple iPhone SE (2022) review appeared first on Popular Science.

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iPhone SE with camera on the screen
Apple isn't specific about the "all new" camera, but it does seem to improve upon previous versions. Stan Horaczek

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

At a press event held March 8, 2022, Apple announced the next generation of Apple iPhone SE. From a design standpoint, it keeps the same 4.7-inch screen, home button design, and price range as its 2020 predecessor. Now, however, Apple’s entry-level iPhone totes 5G compatibility and the same A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 13 lineup. I have spent a few days with the new iPhone SE and had the chance to compare it to Apple’s current flagship, as well as an original iPhone 8. We’ll update this first-look review after spending more time with the new iPhone SE but, as of now, it’s a solid entry point into the iPhone lineup or upgrade for people still clinging to years-old devices. It also may be a viable way to downsize for people looking to declutter their pockets and attention spans. 

What is the iPhone SE?

Stan Horaczek

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The car world has a practice it calls restomodding. It involves upgrading classic cars with modern engines and electronics while keeping them looking totally stock from the outside. Apple has taken a similar approach with the iPhone SE. Pick up an SE from 2020 or the latest model we’re reviewing here and you’d be totally forgiven for thinking it’s an iPhone 8. The SE has the same rounded edges as the 2017 budget iPhone, the same 4.7-inch screen, and a Touch ID home button. 

Inside, however, things are much different. The 2022 SE comes toting Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, which is a huge leap from the chip inside the iPhone 8 and a two-generation jump from the A13 Bionic found in the 2020 iPhone SE. You’ll feel that jump much more from an older chip since the A13 is still very capable.

Unlike the 2020 version, the new iPhone SE supports 5G sub-6GHz, which is the most common flavor of 5G. It lacks mmWave compatibility, however, so if you’re hoping for blazing fast ultra-wideband support, you’re out of luck. That 5G compatibility also tacks on an extra $30 to the price, bringing the 2022 SE price up to $429, up from $399 for the 2020 model. 

Who should buy the iPhone SE?

If you’re considering a new iPhone SE, you’re likely either looking to downsize from a massive current-gen device or step up from an iPhone that’s getting old. I spent a few days with the SE as my main device and compared it against some current and older iPhones, including my regular iPhone 13 Pro Max and my son’s aging iPhone 8. 

Switching from a bigger iPhone

iPhone 13 Pro Max next to the iPhone SE
The iPhone 13 Pro Max (left) feels huge compared to the iPhone SE (right). Stan Horaczek

If you’re used to a screen larger than 6 inches, the SE’s 4.7-inch display will absolutely feel tiny and sometimes cramped—at least while you get used to it. After a few days, though, it became the norm. Scaling down for a little while actually helped me realize how preposterously large the 6.7-inch 13 Pro Max really is. 

Switching back to Touch ID for logging in is simple, but breaking the swipe-up habit and going back to the home button for navigation took a little longer to get the muscle memory back. 

If you’re used to a higher-end iPhone, you may miss some of the other creature comforts that come with the pricier, more feature-rich models. The SE charges wirelessly but doesn’t have the magnets in the back of the device that would allow it to snap easily onto a MagSafe charger. 

While the iPhone SE’s camera has improved over the previous version in terms of the overall image and video quality, the lack of night mode makes a considerable difference when it comes to media shot in very low light. When the lights get really low, the SE feels a little outdated. 

When it comes to battery life, the new SE will likely last you all day unless you’re pushing it really hard, but you’ll definitely have to charge it every night. Fall asleep without it on the charger and you’ll wake up to a dead battery where you might not on an iPhone 13 or bigger. 

If you can get past differences like that, however, the SE is a very capable device. I edited some raw photos in Lightroom CC, did some Apple Arcade gaming, and scrolled through a bunch of TikToks while waiting for car service and it was all just fine. It wasn’t as luxurious as a big flagship phone, but it also doesn’t feel like the massive downgrade I expected. Plus, it gave my pinky a much-needed rest from holding a giant device.

Upgrading from an older iPhone

There are still plenty of iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 devices out there in the world performing just fine. As the compatibility limit starts creeping up on them, though, people will be looking to upgrade to something with a longer shelf life. Apple currently supports devices back to the iPhone 6S, which goes all the way back to 2015, so the new SE will likely have software support for a long time to come. 

From a usability standpoint, the SE really does feel like using an iPhone 8 with a turbo booster on it. You’ll notice a difference more with resource-intensive activities like gaming and media creation, but everything feels snappier in general on the SE. My son’s beat-up iPhone 8 doesn’t come close to lasting him a full day on a single charge anymore, which is likely the case for many older iPhone devices out there, so this more efficient performance will likely be a huge boon in that regard. 

The camera is also substantially better than it was on iPhones even just a few generations ago. Apple’s newest flavors of HDR and other computational photography features have made big leaps of late, which means you’ll enjoy drastically better image quality overall, even if that doesn’t apply to situations with extremely low light. 

If you’re already used to a phone without a huge screen, Face ID, or MagSafe, you won’t miss them. You will, however, notice the better battery life, faster performance, and hundreds of dollars you save. 

Because Apple upgraded the glass on the front and back of the new SE, it should also be more durable, though I haven’t had a chance to test that because I haven’t dropped it—yet. 

iPhone SE vs. iPhone 13 Mini

If you’re in the market for a small phone, then you may be curious how the SE differs from the Mini and I can say that they’re very different devices. The Mini offers all of those extra features like Face ID, MagSafe, Night Mode, and more because it’s a full-fledged iPhone 13. It immediately feels more advanced from a usage standpoint, which helps justify the roughly $300 price difference between the two. 

Weirdly, the Mini’s 5.4-inch screen still makes it feel considerably larger than the 4.7-inch SE, so if you’re looking for something truly pocket-friendly, the form factor advantages found in the SE might outweigh those bells and whistles that come with the 13 Mini.

Some final thoughts about the iPhone SE

Some of us are too far gone to forgo the world of gigantic phones and go back to a 4.7-inch screen like the iPhone SE’s. But, at $429 before any discounts apply, the SE represents an important entry point into Apple’s smartphone lineup. Tougher glass and a standard design make it more durable during its lifespan and easier to repair and recycle once it’s damaged. The new processor and continued software updates mean it will likely be a phone that could last five or more years before it needs replacing as long as you can resist the lure of fancy new features. 

Personally, I would love to see a bigger, slightly dummer iPhone along the lines of an SE Plus version. I had an iPhone 8 Plus for some time and liked the form factor a lot. A cheaper 5.5-inch phone with guts fast enough to do everyday tasks and some light content creation would make a ton of sense from a consumer standpoint. Maybe we’ll see something like that in the future.

Ultimately, the Apple iPhone SE isn’t flashy, but it will do everything you need an iPhone to do while saving some cash—and maybe your pinky—along the way. 

The post Apple iPhone SE (2022) review appeared first on Popular Science.

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How to back up your iPhone https://www.popsci.com/reviews/how-to-back-up-your-iphone/ Thu, 24 Feb 2022 21:03:09 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=426321
A picture of an iPhone 13 Pro Max on the settings screen for iCloud backup
If you pay for extra storage, iCloud is a simple way to backup your device. Stan Horaczek

Whether it's to a local drive or the cloud, learning how to back up your iPhone could save you a big headache.

The post How to back up your iPhone appeared first on Popular Science.

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A picture of an iPhone 13 Pro Max on the settings screen for iCloud backup
If you pay for extra storage, iCloud is a simple way to backup your device. Stan Horaczek

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Your iPhone is home not just to all your favorite apps, but also to important and irreplaceable data and personalized settings. Should your phone ever stop working properly or even go missing, you want to be able to restore all your apps, data, and settings, either to the same phone or to a different one. And you want that process to be as quick and easy as possible. That’s why backing up your iPhone periodically is crucial.

The process of learning how to back up your iPhone is fairly straightforward, However, you can choose from a few different backup methods, such as backing up to iCloud or to your computer and backing up manually or automatically. Here’s how it all works:

Want to protect your phone as well as your data? Check out our list of the best iPhone 13 cases for 2022.

iCloud vs local backup

First, let’s go over the different ways to back up your data along with the pros and cons of each. Backed-up iPhone data can live on a hard drive or on the web. Both have their advantages and drawbacks, but a mixture of both will provide you with the most secure system.

Backing up to iCloud

Choosing iCloud stores your backup in Apple’s cloud-based service. With this method, you run the backup directly from your phone, so you can do this at home or on the go. As your backup is saved in the cloud, you’re also able to restore it from any computer. On the downside, Apple limits the amount of free iCloud storage to only 5GB. If your phone needs more space for backups (and it likely will), you’ll have to shell out money for a paid iCloud subscription—50GB of storage for $0.99 cents a month, 200GB for $2.99 a month, or 2TB for $9.99 a month.

Backing up your phone to iCloud includes the following data and files:

  • App data
  • Apple Watch backups
  • Device settings
  • Home screen and app organization
  • iMessage texts, SMS messages, and MMS messages
  • Photos and videos
  • Purchase history from Apple services, such as your music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books.
  • Ringtones
  • Visual Voicemail password (requires the SIM card in use during the backup)

An iCloud backup excludes the following items:

  • Data already being synced and stored in iCloud, including Contacts, Calendars, Notes,  Photos, iMessages, SMS and MMS messages, Voice Memos, and Health data.
  • Data stored in other cloud services, such as Gmail email.
  • Apple Mail data.
  • Apple Pay information and settings.
  • Face ID or Touch ID settings.
  • iCloud Music Library and App Store content.

Backing up locally

Choosing a local backup stores the backed-up data on your computer’s hard drive. As such, storage shouldn’t be an issue as long as you have enough disk space. You run the local backup from iTunes in Windows or from Finder on a Mac. But you risk losing the backup should your PC ever crash or become inaccessible. Backing up to your computer includes almost all your phone’s data and settings. It excludes the following items:

  • Content from the iTunes and App Stores.
  • PDFs downloaded directly via Apple Books.
  • Content synced from Finder or iTunes, such as imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos.
  • Data already stored in iCloud.
  • Face ID or Touch ID settings.
  • Apple Pay information and settings.
  • Apple Mail data.
  • Activity, Health, and Keychain data (if the backup is not password protected).

Of course, you can run separate backups using iCloud and your local computer. You may want to rely on an iCloud backup if you’re traveling or away from your computer. You might then supplement the iCloud backup with a local backup whenever you’re in front of your PC.

Manual vs automatic backup

Whether you use iTunes, Finder, or your iPhone directly, you can run a backup manually or set it to run automatically. The two aren’t exclusive, as you can create an automatic backup and still run a manual one when needed, for example, before you make any major changes on your phone. Once set, an automatic backup revs up when your iPhone is connected to a power source, is using Wi-Fi or cellular, and is locked.

Using a password

Securing your backups with a password not only protects the data but allows you to back up certain types of information that normally would be excluded. A password-protected, or encrypted backup, includes saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, your website browsing history, health data, and call history. Backups to iCloud are automatically encrypted. To encrypt a local backup to your computer, you’ll have to create and apply a password. All local backups are then encrypted from that point on.

Back up in Windows with iTunes

If you use iTunes on a Windows computer, you can kick off the backup from the program. Fire up iTunes and connect your phone to your PC via USB. Click the icon for your phone at the upper left section of the screen. Make sure the Summary screen is selected under Settings and check out the section for Backups. To manually back up your phone to your computer, click the button for Back Up Now. After the process is complete, the status under Latest Backups shows the date and time of the backup.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

To set up an automatic and local backup from iTunes, select This Computer in the Automatically Back Up section. The next time your iPhone is connected and locked, and you open iTunes, the backup will occur automatically. The Latest Backups section shows the date and time of the last backup.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

If you wish to encrypt a local backup to your computer, check the box for Encrypt local backup. Type and then retype a password to secure the backup. Click the button for Set Password. You can now manually back up your phone or allow the automatic process to occur. Either way, the backup will be encrypted.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

Beyond checking the status of your local backups in the Latest Backups section, you can review them under iTunes Preferences. Click the Edit menu, select Preferences, and then click the heading for Devices. This screen displays each backup. A lock icon indicates that the backup was encrypted. Hover your mouse over a specific backup to see all the details on it.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

Back up on your Mac with Finder

With the introduction of macOS Catalina in 2019, Apple replaced iTunes with dedicated apps for specific content, such as Apple Music, Apple Books, and Apple Podcasts. Those of you still running an older version of macOS can use iTunes to back up your iPhone just as on a Windows PC. But if your Mac has macOS Catalina or higher, you instead use Finder for your phone backups. The process in Finder is almost the same as in iTunes.

Connect your iPhone to your Mac. Click the Go menu and select Home. On the left side of the Finder window, your phone should be listed under Locations where you click on it. Look for the Backups section in the General screen. 

To run a manual backup to your computer, click the Back Up Now button. To set up an automatic backup, choose the option for this Mac. Click Apply and the back-up will run anytime your iPhone is connected and locked. To protect a local backup, check the box for Encrypt Local Backup. Enter and re-enter a password and then click the Set Password button. Perform a manual back-up or allow an automatic one to run.

Screenshot manual back up on computer
Lance Whitney

To view a history of the backups on your Mac, click the Manage Backups button.

Screenshot of device backups
Lance Whitney

Back up to iCloud from your iPhone

You don’t even need your computer or iTunes or Finder to back up your iPhone to iCloud as you can do it directly from the phone itself. And you’d use this method to back up your phone manually or automatically. On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap your name at the top. From your Apple ID screen, tap the setting for iCloud.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

First, this screen shows you how much space is used up in iCloud so you can determine if you need to upgrade to a paid subscription. If you’re running low on space, tap the option for Manage Storage. At the next screen, tap the option for Change Storage Plan. Now choose the plan you want to purchase.

Screenshot how iCloud Storage
Lance Whitney

Return to the previous iCloud screen and tap the setting for iCloud Backup. Turn on the switch for iCloud Backup. Your phone will now be backed up automatically when the phone is connected to power and locked. If you want the backup to run even over a cellular connection, turn on the switch for Back Up Over Cellular. To perform a manual backup at any time, tap the option for Back Up Now.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

Restore your phone

Now, let’s say your phone isn’t working right and you want to recover it from a backup, or you’ve had to jump ship to a different phone and need to restore all your data and settings. The process will vary depending on how and where you backed up your phone and its current state.

If your iPhone is still accessible, connect it to your computer. Open iTunes in Windows or Finder on a Mac. Click the icon or entry for your phone. Click the button for Restore Backup. You’ll be prompted to turn off Find My if you haven’t already done so. From the popup window, select the most recent backup and click Restore. Enter a password for a local encrypted backup. Your iPhone is then restored from the backup.

Screenshot how to restore your phone
Lance Whitney

If your iPhone isn’t accessible or you want to restore your backup to a new phone, at some point in the setup process you’ll see a screen named Apps & Data asking how you want to restore your apps and data to the phone. To restore from an online backup, choose the option for Restore from iCloud Backup. Sign into your iCloud account with your Apple ID and password. A verification code is then sent to one of your other devices, such as an iPad or Mac. You’re asked which backup you want to restore. Choose the latest one. Allow the iCloud restore to run.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

To restore from a local backup instead, make sure your phone is connected to your computer and choose the option for Restore from Mac or PC. In iTunes in Windows or Finder on a Mac, select the option for Restore from this backup and choose the most recent backup. Click Continue. Type the password for an encrypted backup. Wait for your phone to be restored from the backup.

Screenshot how to backup your iPhone process
Lance Whitney

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Apple announces new iPhone SE 3 and iPad Air 5 https://www.popsci.com/reviews/iphone-se3-ipad-air-5-news/ Tue, 08 Mar 2022 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=429413
Apple iPhone SE 3 and iPad Air 5
Apple

Apple’s latest updates take its more affordable mobile devices to new heights.

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Apple iPhone SE 3 and iPad Air 5
Apple

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Apple announced updates for two of its more affordable mobile devices at its “Peek Performance” event held Tuesday, March 8, introducing a new, fifth-generation iPad Air with its M1 processor inside and a third-generation iPhone SE that adds support for 5G. Both devices are available for preorder beginning Friday, March 11, and will be released on March 18.

iPad Air nips at the 11-inch iPad Pro’s heels

Phones photo
The new iPad Air features Apple’s M1 chipset. Apple

The iPad Air with an M1 chip takes a step closer toward competing with Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro. The new tablet now offers comparable performance, support for 5G connectivity, USB-C with up to 10Gbps data transfer speeds, and an improved 12MP front-facing camera that can track subjects as they move around a space.

Apple claims the M1 processor’s 8-core GPU brings 2x faster graphics performance to the new iPad Air compared to the 2020 model. That means you can more easily play graphic-intensive games, edit multiple streams of 4K video, and experience more realistic augmented reality. You also get the same support for Apple Pencil 2 and Apple’s lineup of keyboard cases, including the Magic Keyboard. Apple mentioned the new iPad Air will support the new release of iMovie, which is set to release next month.

Apple said the iPad Air’s 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display has a peak brightness of 500 nits and HDR support. However, it doesn’t appear to include ProMotion, a display feature that offers an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz. The feature is available on iPad Pro and iPhone 13 Pro models and provides users with a more fluid and responsive experience when swiping through content and menus.

Just like the 2020 iPad Air, the new version lacks Face ID for logging into the device. The new iPad Air still features a power button that includes Touch ID. Face ID has become such a prominent part of Apple’s high-end device lineup, so it’s not entirely surprising it hasn’t come to the iPad Air. Still, the new Air finds an impressive balance between power, design, and price, and sits just below Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro at a price that makes it more accessible.

The new iPad Air starts at $599 with 64GB of storage and is available in space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and blue. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model starts at $749, while the new iPad Air with 256GB of storage with Wi-Fi also starts at $749, rising to $899 if you want 5G. 

iPhone SE adds 5G and A15 processor

Apple iPhone SE3
The 4.7-inch iPhone SE adds 5G support, among other modern features. Apple

Apple has also introduced an updated iPhone SE that adds support for sub-6GHz 5G and the same A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 13 series. It will be available for $429 with 64GB, which is an increase over the previous model’s starting price of $399.

The iPhone SE’s design remains unchanged, featuring a 4.7-inch display and Touch ID home button. It also retains the single 12MP camera on the back, although Apple said it’s gaining some software-based improvements like Deep Fusion to draw out more detail in images and HDR 4 to make your photos look punchier while maintaining skin tones.

One of the iPhone SE’s biggest weaknesses was its battery life, and Apple claims we’ll see improvements thanks to the A15 Bionic chip. Speaking of battery, the iPhone SE still supports Qi wireless charging, though it lacks MagSafe functionality. Other specs include an IP67 rating for water resistance and the “toughest glass in a smartphone on the front and back,” which can also be found on the back of the iPhone 13 series.

The new iPhone SE starts at $429 for the 64GB version and is available in midnight, starlight, and Product Red. You can also find the device with 128GB and 256GB of storage. 

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OnePlus 9 Pro: Everything you need to know about this new flagship Android phone https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/oneplus-9-pro-smartphone-camera/ Tue, 23 Mar 2021 19:25:38 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/story/?p=278373
A close-up of the OnePlus 9 Pro cameras on white background.
The 9 Pro cameras have some help in the color department from Hasselblad. OnePlus

The high-end line brings more powerful computing hardware, an improved screen, and camera upgrades courtesy of Hasselblad.

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A close-up of the OnePlus 9 Pro cameras on white background.
The 9 Pro cameras have some help in the color department from Hasselblad. OnePlus

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It takes a lot for a smartphone camera to stand out when it comes to performance at the moment. Today, OnePlus announced its new 9 Pro and 9 flagship smartphones with a focus on a revamped camera system. Here are the key things you need to know about the company’s new top-end phones. We’ll start with the OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hasselblad Cameras

OnePlus spent a considerable amount of time during its launch event talking about its new camera partnership with iconic Swedish camera maker Hasselblad. Right now, Hasselblad hasn’t developed any of the actual camera hardware, but OnePlus says it helped with fine-tuning the color performance as well as the menu system. 

From a hardware perspective, the main camera on the 9 Pro uses a relatively large 48-megapixel Sony sensor set behind a wide-angle f/1.8 lens. That lens provides a wider field of view than a typical smartphone camera. It can capture 12-bit raw images, compared to 10-bits in the previous version, which means more colors in your photos if you’re willing to go through the extra steps of processing a raw photo once you capture it. 

OnePlus seems to have put even more focus onto the super-wide angle camera, which has the largest super-wise sensor around and employs a “free form” lens in order to combat distortion at the edges of the frame. By changing the shape of the glass elements inside the lens itself, the company claims to have solved the issue in which images at the edge of the frame appear to bow outward because of the optical quality of the lens. 

Phones photo

It’s worth noting, however, that the lens still has an extremely wide field of view, which means you’ll have to get very close to subjects in order to fill the frame. That causes another kind of distortion called perspective distortion, which fancy lens elements won’t fix. So, don’t plan on any close-up portraits with the super-wide without things getting weird. 

From a video standpoint, the camera can capture 8K video, as well as 4K at 120 fps. It also offers a new HDR video mode, which attempts to merge long and short exposures simultaneously to keep detail in the shadows while preventing skies from blowing out. 

There is a 3.3x telephoto camera that can translate into 30x digital zoom, but that gives cameras like the Samsung Galaxy S21 an edge with its built-in, periscope-style zoom lens. 

On paper, OnePlus has given its flagship camera enough firepower to compete at this high level. We’ll have to see what it can do with all that hardware during our full review.  

Computing hardware on the 9 Pro

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip handles the heavy computational lifting, which is what you’d expect in an Android flagship at this point. It also promises native 5G support thanks to an integrated X60 modem. The RAM has also gotten a boost from LPDDR4X up to LPDDR5, which promises a 1.5x performance bump. In short, the OnePlus 9 Pro should be able to easily handle whatever Android app you throw at it. 

Warp Charging

With its new Warp Charge 65T tech, OnePlus claims just 15 minutes of charging will give the device enough juice for a full day of typical usage. It will go from 1 percent all the way up to full in just 29 minutes. Wireless charging is similarly speedy. It can pull a full charge in just 43 minutes. 

To accomplish these quick charging times, OnePlus split the 4,500 mAh of battery power into two cells that charge simultaneously. The company claims this offers thermal advantages to allow it to charge faster for longer periods of time without damaging the batteries. 

Screen on the 9 Pro

The Pro’s main display is a 6.7-inch, 3216 x 1440 screen. It can run at 120 Hz for smooth motion, but it can scale all the way down to 1 Hz to save battery when the usage allows. When a static image remains on the screen, the image doesn’t have to refresh nearly as often to give the impression of fluid movement, so the lower refresh rate doesn’t affect the overall experience while saving considerable energy. 

OnePlus has improved the response time when it comes to recognizing a person’s touch. It can sync at up to 360 Hz, which translates into snappier responses during games. 

The display also checks most of the other essential boxes, including 1,300 nits of peak brightness, HDR10+ compatibility, and an ambient light sensor that allows it to change its color temperature on the fly to match your surroundings. 

What about the OnePlus 9?

If you don’t want to opt for the Pro version, you’ll still get most of the same features with the 9. It has a 6.5-inch screen with a 2,400 x 1,080 resolution, which is smaller and lower-res than its fancier sibling. 

With the stock edition of the 9, you lose the telephoto camera. 

Look for a full review of the 9 Pro in the coming weeks.

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Best Android phones of 2023 https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-android-phones/ Thu, 04 Nov 2021 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=406182
Best Android Phones
Mike Epstein

There are many Android phones in the world, but these are the very best Android phones.

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Best Android Phones
Mike Epstein

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Best Value Android Phone OnePlus 9 Pro is the best Android Phone. OnePlus 9 Pro
SEE IT

The OnePlus 9 Pro is a powerful flagship Android phone that’s just barely outmatched by the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but with a prettier design and more affordable price.

The best Android phone Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best Android Phone Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
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The Galaxy S21 Ultra is packed with the latest smartphone technology, including five cameras, a high-refresh-rate screen, and one of the strongest smartphone processors available.

Best Android phone for photography Google Pixel 6 Pro is the best Android phone. Google Pixel 6 Pro
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Google’s Pixel 6 Pro features the best smartphone camera on the market, with excellent hardware specs and unique machine learning photo features thanks to Google’s new Tensor chip.

There are a lot of Android phones out there. The wide variety of devices and manufacturers bringing new ideas to the platform is a huge selling point for die-hard fans, but also a huge barrier to entry for people who just want a new phone that works well. You can find good Android devices for as little as $200, or as much as $2,000. Some are better for photography. Others are mobile gaming powerhouses. Android itself even changes from manufacturer to manufacturer. It can be overwhelming to newcomers and long-term Android fans alike. Luckily, our guide for the best Android phones has all the info you need to sort through the crowded marketplace to find your next device.

How we picked the best Android phones

We selected our picks for the best Android phones based on our experience with many of these phones, as well as trusted sources and professional reviewers. Since there are so many Android devices on the market, each with its own hardware and features, we made sure to select a variety of devices at various price points and unique use cases that we’re confident will match your specific needs in a smartphone.

What to consider when buying a new Android phone

If this is your first time shopping for a new Android phone, you’ve probably noticed just how many options there are. Not only are there several Android phone manufacturers, but each company may have multiple smartphone lines, each of which comes in multiple models that differ in size, power, and features. It’s overwhelming, but spotting the right phone for you will be easier if you keep a few essential factors in mind during your search.

Display

The first thing most people examine when picking a new phone is the part they stare at most of the time, the screen. Many immediately look at the phone’s size, but the technology that determines how sharp and bright it looks is far more sophisticated (and important). This includes the screen’s resolution, which measures how many pixels are in the display, and pixel density, or how close those pixels are on screen. A higher pixel density, measured in pixels per inch (or PPI), translates to a sharper, more detailed image. A 7-inch screen with a 1080p resolution will look grainier than a 5-inch screen running in 4K.

In addition, a phone display’s refresh rate, measured in Hz, determines the number of times a screen “draws” a screen per second. A phone with a higher refresh rate (aka frame rate) allows for smoother animations in videos, apps, and even menus. High refresh rates are especially important for mobile gaming.

Size

While the size of the screen isn’t a measure of picture quality, the overall form factor of your smartphone is still important. Android devices come in many sizes and, in some cases, shapes. Right now, 6-6.5 inches tall and 2.5-3 inches wide are common measurements for a modern phone, and most of our picks fall within that range. These should fit in the hands of most adults, and probably in your pocket. 

Size isn’t just about usability, however. For better and for worse, a larger phone often comes paired with superior specs. The Samsung S21, for example, is smaller and less powerful than the S21 Ultra. The same goes for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, and so on. Bigger isn’t always better; the Pixel 5a was bigger than the Pixel 5, despite being the weaker phone. However, in general, bigger phones tend to have more powerful hardware and/or better battery life.

Cameras

It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t have a camera in our pockets. Every smartphone has a camera, but there’s a lot of variation in camera quality. For some devices, photography is a major focus; for others, it’s merely a formality. 

Sussing out a phone’s camera quality will be tough unless you already have a strong background in photography. In general, the best camera phones will at least have a main camera, a telephoto camera, and a wide-angle (or ultra-wide angle) camera on its rear-facing array, and at least one or two selfie-cameras above the screen. 

However, smartphone camera specs can be deceiving. More cameras and larger megapixel counts might seem better, but the truth is much more complicated. Other factors, such as sensor size, pixel size, whether a camera uses optical or digital zoom, and your phone’s settings will affect the final picture quality. And perhaps even more important than hardware specs—at least when it comes to high-end flagship devices—is camera software. 

For example, Google’s Pixel devices are frequently heralded by critics as the best smartphones for photography, but it’s easy to imagine a general user seeing the Pixel 6’s three-camera array as “inferior” to the four-camera setups with high megapixel counts on the OnePlus Pro and Samsung S21 Ultra. In practice, however, the Pixel 6’s camera’s hardware and software result in the best phone photography currently available. 

The best way to judge a smartphone’s camera quality is to test the phone hands-on before you buy. If you can’t, be sure to look for reviews that provide photo comparisons for reference.

The processor

It’s easy to forget sometimes, but a smartphone is a computer. Modern phones are packed with powerful components that let them run apps, games, take pictures, and every other function you can think of instantly, without any friction. To run so smoothly, phones require a powerful system on a chip (SoC) with the core processing components of your phone, including its CPU and GPU. 

Newer and more powerful SoC chipsets will naturally result in faster performance. Currently, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and 888 Ultra are the top-of-the-line chipsets found in many flagship Android phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S21. With the Pixel 6 line, Google started building its own custom Tensor chips like how Apple creates custom chipsets for each version of the iPhone. While not quite as powerful as Qualcomm’s high-end SoCs, Google’s Tensor chips enable AI-driven features that are exclusive to Pixel 6 devices.

Memory

The processor isn’t solely responsible for your phone’s performance. Memory, or RAM, dictates how many tasks a phone can do at once. (Which is important, because it’s almost always doing many things at the same time.) Though cloud services allow you to offload lots of files, having enough internal storage for your apps, photos, media files (like songs and podcasts), is also important.

5G connectivity

It’s likely you’ve seen 5G, short for fifth-generation cellular broadband, touted as a massive step up for your mobile download and streaming speeds. It’s true! That said, actually connecting to and using 5G is still a mess in some parts of the country. Mobile ISPs are expanding 5G service, though, and more smartphones are 5G compatible than ever.

Confusingly, there are actually two types of 5G: the “true” millimeter wave 5G, and “low band” 5G. Both are faster than the 4G LTE networks, but mmwave is where the true benefits lie, enabling download speeds that markedly outpace both 4G LTE and low band 5G connections. Unfortunately, mmwave’s rollout is slower than low-band 5G and not all phones advertised as 5G actually support mmWave. If 5G is important to you, make sure you check for 5G coverage in your area and check which type of 5G a phone uses before buying. 

Android version

Like we said, even Android itself varies from phone to phone. Many Android phones run plain-old Android out of the box, but some use modified versions of the OS—such as the OneUI on Samsung devices, OnePlus’ OxygenOS, and ASUS’ ZenUI—that look and run slightly different from the standard, “stock” Android experience created by Google. 

Custom variants tend to add manufacturer- or model-specific features and apps, like the Samsung Messages app or the ASUS ROG Phone’s gaming-focused widgets—but these modifications are mostly superficial. OneUI, OxygenOS, and ZenUI are still Android, so you won’t have any trouble downloading apps, and deciding whether they’re “good” or “bad” is a matter of taste. 

However, there is one objective downside to these custom Android variants: you won’t get major Android system updates immediately at launch. The monthly security patches still roll out on time, but you may have to wait months before you get major upgrades and revisions like Android 12, which was only available on a very small number of devices at launch.

If you want the pure Google Android experience, the company’s Pixel devices are built around the stock Android experience and get the latest core features, system updates, and beta invites before other Android devices. If you want to get Android 12—and, eventually, Android 13—as quickly as possible, a Pixel phone is your best option.

Best Android phones: Reviews & Recommendations

Even if you know what you want from your next smartphone, it’s hard to grok a phone’s quality based on spec lists alone, and even harder to parse the differences between models with seemingly identical components. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best Android phones currently available. 

We used the criteria outlined above to find the best Android phones overall, plus the best options for specific uses like photography and gaming, the best folding phone, and the best 5G phone at an affordable price point to give a range of devices we think are worth your time. Or, at the very least give you a good place to start your search.

Best Android phone overall: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Why it made the cut: The Galaxy S21 Ultra is packed with the latest smartphone technology, including five cameras, a high-refresh-rate screen, and one of the strongest smartphone processors available. 

Specs

  • Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED (3200 x 1400 px resolution; 10 to 120 Hz variable refresh rate)
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
  • RAM options: 12GB, 16GB
  • Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh
  • Charging: 25W fast charging wired; 15W wireless charging
  • Cameras: Front: 40MP (ƒ/2.2);  Rear: 108MP main (ƒ/1.8); 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 10MP telephoto (3x zoom, ƒ/2.4), 10MP telephoto (10x zoom, ƒ/4.9).
  • Size: 2.97 x 0.35 x 6.5 inches (WDH); 8.08 ounces
  • Android OS version: Android 11 (OneUI 3.1)

Pros 

  • Big AMOLED display with dynamic refresh rate
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888 CPU
  • Good battery life on a single charge
  • Multi-lens rear camera with two telephoto lenses

Cons 

  • Wall charger and other important accessories sold separately
  • No Micro SD card

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra is the company’s strongest flagship yet and our pick for best Android phone overall. It’s an incredibly expensive phone, starting at $1,200, but its features and performance are worth that sky-high price.

Videos, apps, and games look great on the S21 Ultra’s 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, and an optional dynamic refresh rate setting shifts from the standard 60Hz mode up to as high as 120Hz, or as low as 10Hz, depending on what’s on the display. 

The Galaxy S21 Ultra also has a  sharp, versatile camera, featuring two separate telephoto lenses (one 3x optical zoom and the other 10x), and helpful shooting modes to get the perfect shot. Qualcomm’s current-best chipset, the Snapdragon 888, powers these features, and is strong enough to handle demanding apps, games, and general multitasking. 

Battery life, another smartphone pillar, also shines. You can expect about a day’s worth of use on a single charge and it juices up quickly over wired or wireless charging. Performance will fluctuate depending on how often the screen uses the higher refresh rate modes, but only slightly, and you can lock the screen to 60Hz if it’s an issue. Charging does present a small issue, though: The Galaxy S21 Ultra ships with a USB 3.0 cable, but you need to buy a wall charger separately (unless you own a compatible one from a previous Android device). 

Speaking of extra accessories, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the first Galaxy S phone to support the S Pen stylus, but it doesn’t come with the phone, and you need a specific case if you want to store the stylus on the S21 Ultra. And unlike many previous Galaxy devices, the S21 Ultra does not have a MicroSD slot for expandable storage, so you’re locked into the onboard space for the model you buy.

Even with minor quibbles like the lack of an SD card slot and having to buy one or two necessary accessories, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most well-rounded flagship Android phone, making it the best choice for most people.

Best value Android phone: OnePlus 9 Pro

Why it made the cut: The OnePlus 9 Pro is a powerful flagship Android phone that’s just barely outmatched by the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but with a prettier design and more affordable price.

Specs

  • Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED (3168 x 1440 px resolution; 1-120 Hz variable refresh rate)
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Battery: 4500 mAh
  • Charging: 65W fast charging wired; 50W fast charging wireless
  • Cameras: Front: 16MP (ƒ/2.4) Rear: 48MP lens (ƒ/1.8), 50MP ultrawide lens (ƒ/2.2), 8MP 3x optical telephoto lens (ƒ/2.4), 2MP monochrome lens
  • Size: 6.4 x 2.9 x 0.34 inches (HWD); 6.9 ounces
  • Android OS version: Android 11 (Oxygen OS 11)

Pros

  • Amazing high refresh rate AMOLED display
  • Snapdragon 888 CPU is fast
  • Fast charging in wired and wireless charging modes
  • Wall charger included with the phone
  • Excellent design

Cons 

  • Some lackluster camera features
  • Only one memory/storage option

The $1,000 OnePlus 9 Pro is probably the best-looking phone on this list, being the best value Android phone is its real draw. In many ways, it matches the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in specs and performance, thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, but with a $1,000 starting price. That’s still very expensive, but also substantially less than Samsung’s top phone.

Like the S21 Ultra, it sports an AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The screen is a smidge smaller, at 6.7 inches, but it’s just as vibrant. 

Camera performance is also good, but this is one area where the OnePlus 9 Pro lags behind its main competitor, largely due to its underwhelming software feature like the nighttime photography mode. It also has a slightly smaller battery than the S21 Ultra at 4,500 mAh, but its super-fast charging speeds make up for it. Plus, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wall charger actually ships in the box. A small win, sure, but a noteworthy inclusion since other manufacturers only supply wall chargers as separate purchases.

The phone only comes in a single configuration with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, but those numbers are plenty for most users, and the model’s overall performance often outpaces other flagship devices with similar specs, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra. 

Like other OnePlus handsets, the OnePlus 9 Pro runs OxygenOS—OnePlus’ unique version of Android. OxygenOS still has the same core functionality as other Android devices, but it looks and feels different from the stock Android experience. It’s less of an alteration than Samsung’s OneUI, but like other modified versions of Android, major updates (like the recent Android 12) will take longer to show up for OxygenOS.

Best Android phone for photography: Pixel 6 Pro

Why it made the cut: Google’s Pixel 6 Pro features the best smartphone camera on the market, with excellent hardware specs and unique machine learning photo features thanks to Google’s new Tensor chip.

Specs

  • Display: 6.71 inch LTPO AMOLED (1440 x 3120 px resolution; 10-120 Hz variable refresh rate)
  • Processor: Google Tensor
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 128GB, 246GB, 512GB
  • Battery: 5000 mAh
  • Charging: 30W fast charging wired; 25W fast charging wireless
  • Cameras: Front: 11.1 MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2) Rear: 50 MP wide (ƒ/1.9); 48 MP 4x zoom telephoto (ƒ/3.5); 12 MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)
  • Size: 6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 inches (HWD); 7.41 ounces
  • Android OS version: Android 12

Pros 

  • Amazing camera quality and features
  • An excellent high-refresh rate OLED screen
  • IP68 water resistance
  • Unique features thanks to Google’d tensor chip

Cons 

  • Smaller battery compared to other flagship phones
  • Tensor chip isn’t as fast as other top-shelf SoCs

The Pixel 6 Pro is Google’s most powerful smartphone to date. While not as fast as the Snapdragon 888 chip that powers many of the other devices on this list, Google’s new proprietary Tensor chip enables several features unique to the new Pixel 6 line, including on-device speech translation and—most importantly—impressive software-enhanced photography. 

As the best Android phone for photography, the Pixel 6 Pro is equipped with three rear-facing cameras and two front-facing selfie cameras, all of which take advantage of Google’s AI-driven shooting modes and post-processing enhancements. A standout feature is the “Magic Eraser” tool, which lets you erase background objects and tiny details from your photos, and the Tensor chip’s machine learning algorithm accurately fills in the blanks based on the image data. It also records some of the best 4K video you’ll see from a smartphone, with real-time HDR and up to 60 fps. Photos and videos will look great on the phone, too, thanks to its bright, 6.71-inch OLED with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz.

It’s also the only device on our list that ships with Android 12 preinstalled.

As with Samsung’s devices, the Pixel 6 Pro’s 30W wall charger is sold separately. Older Pixel wall chargers should work, but if you don’t have one, plan to buy one separately. Even when you factor in the price of a wall charger, the Pixel 6 Pro is still a relatively affordable flagship phone and does some amazing things no other device can.

Best folding Android phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

Why it made the cut: Samsung needed a few iterations to get the folding smartphone design right, but the Galaxy Z Fold3 may be the first to really be worth the money. 

Specs

  • Display: Folding screen: 7.6 inch folding AMOLED (1786 x 2208 px resolution; 120Hz refresh rate); Cover display: 6.2 inch AMOLED (832 x 2268 px resolution; 120Hz refresh rate)
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB, 512GB
  • Battery: 4,400 mAh
  • Charging: 25W fast charging wired; 11W fast charging wireless
  • Cameras: Front: 12 MP wide-angle (ƒ/1.8); 12 MP telephoto (ƒ/2.4); 12 MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2) Rear: 10 MP wide-angle (ƒ/2.2)  Inner: 4 MP (ƒ/1.8)
  • Size: 6.2 x 2.6 x 0.56 inches (HWD, Folded), 6.2 x 5 x 0.25 inches (HWD, Unfolded); 9.56 ounces
  • Android OS version: Android 11

Pros 

  • Fantastic folding 120Hz display
  • Better durability than previous folding phone attempts
  • Great high-end hardware specs
  • A new multitasking bar for better usability

Cons 

  • One of the most expensive Android phones
  • No wall charger included

Samsung has finally made good on the promise of the best folding Android phone with the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. Its seamless 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED folding display is big and bright, while the refreshed hinge design and the sturdy chassis solve many of the durability concerns of past folding devices, and folds seamlessly with no gaps. 

The Z Fold3 also has a second, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED screen on the outside of the chassis, which displays key info when the main screen is folded. While thinner than most smartphone screens, the exterior display looks good and works well when you need to operate the phone without unfolding it.

The Z Fold3 has similar hardware specs to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Of course, powering multiple high-refresh-rate displays means Z Fold3’s performance is comparatively slower and battery life is shorter than the S21 Ultra’s, but it’s still a strong phone.

When unfolded, the Z Fold3 is almost as large as a tablet, so Samsung wisely added a new multitasking bar to the display used for quickly swapping between open apps, similar to the Windows taskbar or Mac OS app bar, that makes it easier to use. It also supports the Samsung S Pen stylus for writing and drawing in apps that support it, and navigating the OneUI interface.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy it separately, adding an extra charge on top of the extremely steep $1,700 base price for those who want to use the accessory.

Best Android phone for gaming: Asus ROG Phone 5

Why it made the cut: ASUS’s latest gaming-focused Android device has the processing power and 5G connectivity necessary to play the latest games, and an unbeatable 144Hz screen to make them look great.

Specs

  • Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED (2448 x 1080 resolution; 60 – 144 Hz refresh rate) 
  • Processor: Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 8GB, 12GB, 16GB
  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB 
  • Battery: 6000 mAh
  • Charging: 65W fast charging wired
  • Camera: Front: 24MP (ƒ/2.45) Rear: 64MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.8), 13MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4), 5MP macro (ƒ/2.0)
  • Size: 6.1 x 2.7 x 0.36 inches (HWD); 8.39 ounces
  • Android OS version: Android 11 (ZenUI)

Pros 

  • Incredible gaming and app performance
  • 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED screen 
  • Large, fast-charging battery.
  • Integrated DAC and dual front-facing speakers.

Cons 

  • Poor camera quality
  • Doesn’t support wireless charging

Smartphone games run the gamut from pocket-sized puzzle games you play on bus rides, to hardcore gaming experiences on par with (or identical to) the games played on PC and home console. Whatever you’re playing, it takes a lot of power (and a lot of mobile data) to keep up with the demands of modern games, but as the best Android phone for gaming, the ASUS’ ROG Phone 5 is up to the task. That’s not all too surprising; ASUS’ Republic of Gamers, or “ROG,” brand is a top gaming PC manufacturer, so it makes sense it’s gaming-focused smartphone has the hardware to run games like Genshin Impact or PUBG locally with excellent fidelity, or stream Stadia, Xbox Cloud Streaming, and GeForce Now games over WiFi or 5G data. 

Inside the phone’s stylish chassis is a swathe of high-end hardware perfect for games, including a Snapdragon 888 chipset, two 3000 mAh batteries (for a total of 6000 mAh battery life), and up to 12 GB of LDDR5 RAM and 256 GBs of data storage. The phone’s 6.78-inch AMOLED panel has a whopping 144Hz refresh rate, which makes games look smooth and keeps input lag to a minimum. It also has plenty of high-end, gaming-friendly features including two USB-C ports, an integrated headphone DAC, two front-facing speakers, and preinstalled gaming apps. At the same time, ASUS clearly cut corners in some non-gaming areas, including a lackluster camera. That said, it’s unbeatable for gaming and app performance.

Best budget Android phone: Pixel 5a

Why it made the cut: The Pixel 5a isn’t the newest Android device, but its powerful camera, 5G connectivity, and the promise of feature updates for years to come feel like a steal at $450.

Specs

  • Display: 6.43-inch OLED (2400 x 1080 px resolution, 60Hz)
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Battery: 4680 mAh
  • Charging: 18W fast charging wired
  • Cameras: Front: 8MP (ƒ/2.0) Rear: 12.2MP (ƒ/1.7), 16MP (ƒ/2.2) ultrawide
  • Size: 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 inches (HWD); 6.5 ounces
  • Android OS version: Android 11 (upgradable to Android 12)

Pros

  • Incredible photo quality
  • Larger screen than the Pixel 5
  • Includes 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Purest Android OS experience

Cons 

  • Not as powerful as flagship phones
  • No wireless charging option

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro might be Google’s newest Android phones, but don’t count out last year’s models just yet. The Pixel 5a is a worthy pick for best budget Android phone and anyone trying to upgrade to a 5G phone without spending a thousand bucks or more. At just $450, the Pixel 5a offers respectable (if outdated) mid-range specs, 5G network support, and camera technology second only to the Pixel 6 and its Tensor chip. It can also upgrade to Android 12 right out of the box, giving you immediate access to features that may take months to arrive on non-Pixel devices. Google also supports older devices for years after launch, routinely adding new features and fixing bugs, and the Pixel 5a still has several years of updates ahead of it.

To be fair, and some other sub-$500 options best the Pixel 5a in a few key points. One of its closest rivals, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, is just $50 more expensive and features an eye-catching 6.5-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel compared to the Pixel 5a’s 6.34-inch 60Hz OLED. Sure, the 5a’s processor is better, but it’s not a massive leap; it really is the camera that makes this the best sub-$500 5G Android device. It takes better photos than almost every other phone on this list—except, of course, the Pixel 6 Pro—and at less than half the price. 

FAQs

Q: Which Android phone sold the most?

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the all-time highest-selling Android phone, at 80 million units worldwide. Samsung’s Galaxy phones are routinely among the best-selling phones and the Galaxy A51, A21S, A01, and A11 were among the best-selling Android phones in 2020. 

Q: Which smartphone will last the longest?

Of the current Android phone crop, the Moto G Power’s battery will last the longest on a single charge—often several hours longer than the most powerful flagship phones. Unfortunately, it’s a sub-par device otherwise, with weak specs and lagging Android update support, but it only costs between $200 and $250 depending on the mod

Q: Which Android phone is better than the iPhone?

Deciding if an Android phone is better than the iPhone is ultimately a matter of preference. The Android and iOS experiences differ quite a bit. Android is the more open and flexible option, while iOS is more restrictive but more secure and better curated. Both operating systems have unique software features the other does not.

That said, each year’s Android flagship phones find ways to outperform Apple’s latest phones in specific ways. When the Galaxy S21 Ultra and OnePlus 9 Pro launched earlier this year, they had arguably better screens than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, with higher refresh rates and max brightness, and better benchmark scores from respected sources. Right now, the Pixel 6 Pro has arguably the best smartphone camera stack of any phone, including the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Final thoughts about the best Android phones

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best smartphone you can buy in 2021. It’s expensive, sure, but it excels in every category. If it’s just outside your budget, the OnePlus 9 Pro is almost as good in every way. Its camera isn’t as good as the S21 Ultra’s, but its battery charges faster, and it’s a great-looking device. For those who want the best photographs possible, the Pixel 6 Pro is your best option—though the Pixel 5a is pretty good, too, and more affordable. 

There are always tradeoffs for picking one device over another. We can confidently say that all of these phones have qualities that make them one of the best Android phones and worthy of your consideration…at least until someone comes along and makes something better.

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The iPhone 12 Pro Max might be worth it—for the camera alone https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/iphone-12-pro-max-camera-review/ Mon, 09 Nov 2020 21:08:35 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/iphone-12-pro-max-camera-review/
iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
This scene has great light, but the 12 Pro Max provided more pleasing contrast than previous iPhone version. With the 11 Pro Max, I would expect this to wash out a little, but the 12 handled it nicely. Stan Horaczek

The bigger sensor and improved lens make a difference.

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iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
This scene has great light, but the 12 Pro Max provided more pleasing contrast than previous iPhone version. With the 11 Pro Max, I would expect this to wash out a little, but the 12 handled it nicely. Stan Horaczek

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Roughly three years ago, when Apple announced the iPhone 8 Plus, it was a big milestone for smartphone cameras. Apple turned on its HDR feature—which merges several photos into a single final image—by default. Since then, Apple and pretty much every other smartphone camera manufacturer has been refining their software and algorithmic photography techniques to squeeze every last bit out of hardware that—in the grand scheme of things—hasn’t changed all that much.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
This scene has both very dark and very bright areas. I was impressed that the camera kept the yellow leaves in the top right corner from blowing out while pulling up the detail in the building in the background. I like the way this looks a lot. Stan Horaczek

When Apple introduced the iPhone 12 Pro Max, however, camera nerds like myself took notice. The company promised to grow the main imaging sensor by 47 percent while keeping the same resolution. That means bigger pixels, which typically translates into less ugly digital noise in low-light situations and, generally, less reliance on features like Night Mode. The Pro Max also promises a new lens with a wider f/1.6 aperture to let in more light and an image stabilization system that moves the sensor instead of glass lens elements to combat blurry photos stemming from shaky hands. The telephoto lens now reaches even longer to give a true 2.5x optical zoom. These some considerable hardware shifts from the previous generation. But what do they mean for real-world situations?

In short: The iPhone Pro Max is best overall smartphone camera I’ve used. But, before you make the jump and expect great images and video, there are a few important things to consider.

The wide-angle camera

At the heart of the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera module, the main wide-angle camera handles the bulk of the video and photography duties. This is where you get the larger sensor. If you’re expecting it to look profoundly different than your current iPhone 11 or an iPhone 12, you’ll be disappointed, but there are some key differences, some of which you’ll likely notice in day-to-day use.

First, the larger sensor and wider f/1.6 aperture (smaller f-numbers indicate bigger physical lens openings for letting in light) do have an effect on the depth of field you can expect to see in your photos. You’re not going to suddenly have DSLR-grade bokeh (the background blur that’s typically associated with fast aperture lenses), but you will probably notice more blur in the background of your photos. It’s especially pronounced when your subject is very close to the camera.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
Look at the leaves to the left and behind the subject to notice the blur. Shot with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Stan Horaczek
iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
Those same leaves aren’t as blurry with the iPhone 12 Pro. Stan Horaczek

Blurry backgrounds are appealing because they allow you to set your subject apart from the background, but very small sensors (like those found in smartphones) have a hard time creating this effect. Compare the bokeh in these two shots above, one from the 12 Pro Max and one from the 12 Pro. Clearly, the Pro Max has more blur, which is what you’d expect. For an up-close shot like this, it’s appealing.

In other circumstances, it gets a little more complicated. Just because a camera creates more bokeh, doesn’t mean it’s beautiful blur. In these shots below, you’ll notice that the trees in the background are, in fact, blurrier with the 12 Pro Max, but the leaf pattern looks a bit harsh and crunchy. I suspect this is happening for one of a few reasons. For one, Apple developed a new seven-element lens to help maintain edge-to-edge image sharpness on the larger sensor, so it could be a product of the lens design itself. Apple is also applying its Deep Fusion technology to each image, which emphasizes contrast in areas of fine detail. That’s great for things like sweaters or other situations where you’d want to pull out lots of details, but it can look harsh in some situations.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
The iPhone 12 Pro Max show blurrier trees in the background. Stan Horaczek
iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
The trees in the background aren’t as blurry with the 12 Pro. Stan Horaczek

I suspect Deep Fusion is also responsible for what I’d consider a bit of over sharpening on the hair in this photo. Despite how it sounds, “over sharpening” isn’t necessarily bad. It can translate into an image looking “crisp” when viewed small. But, zoom in and you’ll start noticing artifacts that aren’t very appealing.

All of that said, I think the slightly shallower depth of field is a win for the new larger sensor and I do think there’s a noticeable upgrade from the 12 Pro to the 12 Pro Max, let alone over the previous generations.

In typical shooting conditions, I noticed a difference in overall image quality between shooting in JPEG and HEIC formats. I preferred the look of the HEICs because they had more contrast and the shadows were slightly darker.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
The out-of-focus leaves in the background are sufficiently blurry, but also slightly crunchy. Stan Horaczek

When shooting outdoors—or even indoors with a view of the outdoors—the iPhone still goes to really great lengths to prevent skies from blowing out and getting too bright. In this shot of a tree, you can see that the bright blue seems to have the luminance dropped and the saturation cranked. It’s a bit much for me, but then again, I’ve never minded a slightly blown sky. I know I’m in the minority there.

When it comes to low-light photography, the comparisons are similarly complicated. Apple’s Night Mode tech showed up in the iPhone 11; it allows the camera to take much longer exposures and crunch them together with shorter captures to make a final image that’s properly exposed but not blurry from a shaking camera. It works for making dramatic pictures, but I also think the effect is too much in some circumstances. The colors get unrealistic and you lose a true sense of what a dark scene feels like.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
Night Mode hadn’t kicked in here, which made for a more natural image. Stan Horaczek

Because the 12 Pro Max captures more light and handles it more effectively, it’s not as quick to jump to night mode and instead more often gives you a more traditional picture. I prefer this because a single exposure is more conducive to capturing moving subjects (even if you get a little natural motion blur) and you don’t have to worry about holding the camera as still during the capture process. I also think the non-Night-Mode shots just look more natural in many cases. I will give Apple credit for making the night mode look—with saturated colors and amplified illumination—less pronounced.

Ultimately, Apple promised that the 12 Pro Max is better in low-light and it delivered on the promise. If you’re the type to edit your photos before posting or sharing them, this will be a bigger deal since I found the Night Mode shots particularly difficult to edit to my taste.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
This is a super-contrasty situation. With a dedicated camera (I typically shoot a Canon R5), I would underexpose by more than a stop to keep the sky in check and then pull up the shadows in post. It would be a better-looking image, but would also require a lot more work. Stan Horaczek

Lidar focusing

Like the iPad Pro, Apple equipped the 12 Pro Max with a Lidar sensor that helps the camera focus in low-light situations. It’s hard to tell when it actually kicks in because the camera uses scene recognition tech to switch between contrast AF, phase detection AF, and Lidar depending on what makes the most sense for the shooting situation.

In short: it will still hunt a bit in low-light situations, but it will totally fail to focus less than a phone without it.

The portrait camera

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
Deep Fusion on the telephoto camera works well in shots with a lot of fine detail. Stan Horaczek

Apple’s built-in telephoto camera didn’t get a bigger sensor like the wide-angle, but it did get a new lens. It offers a field of view that’s roughly equivalent to a 65mm lens on a full-frame sensor like you’d find in many pro-grade cameras. That’s up from the 56mm equivalent found in the 12 Pro and previous iPhones. You may read other reviews in which authors are keen to remind you that true “portrait lenses” tend to start around 85mm in focal length, but I think 65mm makes more sense in this context. It’s only 5mm away from 70mm, which is the longest setting on the zoom lens used by many professional photographers (including myself) to shoot portraits all the time.

The extra zoom is nice, but it also complicates things when it comes to image quality. Whether you know it or not, clicking the 2.5x or 2x “zoom” button in your camera app doesn’t always switch over to the telephoto lens. Sometimes, it simply uses “digital zoom” to crop into the image and enhance it via software to make up for the lost resolution. So, in this shot of some sculptures at night, for instance, I clicked 2.5x zoom to get closer to the faceless heads. It was too dark for the f/2.2 telephoto lens and its smaller sensor to make a good-looking image, so it defaulted back to a cropped-in image from the wide-angle camera. Because it zooms to 2.5x instead of just 2x like the Pro, the image quality can actually look slightly muddier with the Pro Max.

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
The iPhone 12 Pro telephoto camera kicked in for the zoom here rather than reverting to the main camera. Stan Horaczek
iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
The iPhone 12 Pro Max camera went back to the wide-angle lens and cropped into the image to make up the zoom. Stan Horaczek

This low-light picture of a shopping cart is another good example of an image that was shot at 2.5x, but came from the main camera’s sensor. The fine details of the cart itself look pretty muddy due to the enlargement.

Ultimately, however, these are nitpicks. In normal circumstances, the 2.5x telephoto is great and using it in medium to bright light turns out great results. Just be aware of what camera you’re actually using.

Ultra-wide and selfie cameras

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
This Night Mode shot in HEIC with the 12 Pro Max main camera is dramatic and appealing, though, maybe not entirely realistic. Stan Horaczek
iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
Here’s the same scene with the super-wide lens. Stan Horaczek

Personally, I don’t get a ton of use out of either of these cameras and they also have changed drastically from before. The selfie camera now has Night Mode and Deep Fusion, which makes selfies look more detailed than before, but it’s not a world of difference.

The super-wide camera now has night mode, which does make a big difference when compared to the iPhone 11. You can still expect a lot of distortion around the edges of your photos (very typical of lenses this wide) and skewed perspectives as an expected cost of cramming more information into the frame.

Image stabilization

In addition to the new sensor, Apple also mounted the chip in a moving mount that makes up to 5,000 micro-adjustments per second in order to counteract your shaking hands. From a photography perspective, I didn’t notice a ton of difference with the new system. I was already pretty impressed with how the IS worked in the iPhone, so you can expect that it will still be good.

When it comes to video, the stabilization stands out. It reminds me a lot of the GoPro Hypersmooth tech, which makes even vigorous motion seem tame. Walking around, shake is kept to a minimum, but some objects in the scene seem to slightly wobble a bit as you move.

Video quality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_esHm89za8o//

This is the first iPhone generation that shoots natively in HDR, which is a big step in terms of image quality, but also creates some compatibility quirks that will work themselves out over the next couple months. I’ve been shooting at maximum quality during my testing and I’ve generally been impressed with the overall look of the HDR footage. I have noticed some slightly odd flickering in some of the videos, however. I noticed it primarily in this indoor video posted below, but some other reviewers have seen it outside in nice light as well. Here are some samples to check out. I’ll be shooting more with it in the coming weeks, but I’ll also be following the dedicated cinema bloggers who have a better handle on the motion aspects of the camera than I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3o6ZOviNRc//

Handling

A phone’s size typically doesn’t play too much into a camera-oriented review, but the 12 Pro Max really is massive. Holding it in one hand isn’t the simplest task, though, the squared sides are much easier to grip than the rounded edges on the 11 Pro Max. Honestly, I’m at the point where I’d like a case with an honest-to-goodness grip on it for holding the phone steady and correctly aligned.

Who should buy it?

iPhone 12 Pro Max sample images
There’s a lot of detail and very nice tones in the sky when shooting with the wide-angle camera. Stan Horaczek

If you want the best smartphone camera available at the moment, I think this is it. The bigger sensor makes a difference—albeit a subtle one—and the overall image quality difference will be noticeable if you’re coming from an older generation.

Personally, I’m looking forward to Apple’s upcoming Pro Raw image format, which promises more control over some of the automated imaging systems it applies to photos. I’d love to see what bokeh looks like with Deep Fusion toned down or turned off. I’d love to be able to tweak the extent to which the blue skies are burned-in (a darkroom photography term that basically means “darkened”) when shooting outdoors.

The 65mm telephoto lens is a genuine upgrade for shooting portraits and zooming in general, even if it can’t quite match the optical zoom skills of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20. I’ve still been impressed with what Google has done in its Pixel phones with almost no change in hardware, but Apple’s jump to a bigger sensor is a differentiator.

Whether it’s worth spending the extra money for you specifically will have to be a personal decision. If you notice subtle-but-real improvements in image quality, then it will be worth it. Once the new raw image format enters iOS, I expect that the 12 Pro Max will be even more flexible and appealing to people who like to edit and finish their images before sharing.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review: Still the multitasking champion https://www.popsci.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-z-fold2-review/ Sat, 17 Jul 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=380613
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 unfolded
That screen really is spacious when it's open. Stan Horaczek

Underneath the hype, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a clever multitasking machine that's fun to use.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 unfolded
That screen really is spacious when it's open. Stan Horaczek

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For the terminally online, gadget-obsessed among us, folding phones aren’t an entirely novel concept anymore. The recent months I’ve spent with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 have reminded me, however, that these flapping devices still occupy a specific space in the overall smartphone world. No fewer than three people asked to check it out during my 90-minute wait at the tire shop. No one is impressed with the iPhone 12 Pro max I also carry around. 

Now the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has been on the market for roughly 10 months and we’re presumably inching toward the introduction of its successor. That also means that we’ve had some time to really experience what life with a folding phone is like. In short, it’s kinda great. And it feels like there’s a ton of potential. 

What is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
The closed screen is tall and skinny. Stan Horaczek

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 occupies the top spot as the flagship in Samsung’s folding phone offerings. It sits above the smaller Z Flip series. When it’s closed, the Z Flip 2 offers a 6.2-inch screen, which sounds normal enough, but it has a very tall 25:9 aspect ratio. It can handle all of your normal smartphone tasks from checking notifications, texting, and even browsing through apps if you don’t mind peering into the internet through a tall-skinny window. 

Flip open the main screen on this phone-tablet hybrid and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 presents a 7.2-inch display with a decidedly squared-off aspect ratio (it’s 22.5:18 if you’re looking for the official numbers). That interior screen isn’t just bigger—it also introduces a 120 Hz refresh rate feature that makes scrolling much smoother and more responsive. 

Galaxy Z Fold 2 buttons
A power button and a volume rocker sit on the right side of the device. Stan Horaczek

The computing guts put up impressive numbers, too. A Snapdragon 865 Plus processor sits at its heart. The device also comes packing 12 GB RAM and 256 GB super-fast storage. Samsung built this to show off top-tier tech and it didn’t skimp. That contributes to the expensive $1,799 price tag, but the device wouldn’t make sense if it wasn’t screaming fast. 

Performance

As the burly spec sheet suggests, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 can handle anything you’d expect a flagship smartphone to do and more. Because the screen is built for possible multitasking, it comes toting ample RAM. 

With the screen folded open in tablet mode, it has no problem running a browser window next to my email. I ran high-end games, HD streaming services, video calls, and everything else on the device and it didn’t hiccup. That’s as it should be. 

About those screens

Galaxy Z Fold 2 half-folded
Multitasking is great. Stan Horaczek

With the device flipped open, you’ll find yourself staring at a 7.6-inch display. It’s bright and its 2,208 x 1,768 resolution is plenty to make everything look sharp and detailed. And, because the device has all that power under the hood, the operating system moves quickly and smoothly, even when there’s a lot happening on the screen. 

The squarish form factor takes some getting used to. When you’re multitasking, it makes sense. Two tall, skinny windows next to each other work just fine. When you’re looking at one app, however, it can get slightly weird. You may end up looking at Instagram in a letterboxed window with a ton of wasted space on the sides. The square format is also slightly weird for watching content. A full-screen YouTube video on the 7.6-inch screen only appears slightly bigger than it does on the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max display. Put the video at the top of the display, however, and you still have plenty of room underneath to do other tasks. It took a little time for me to really internalize how Samsung intends people to use that extra screen space for multitasking instead of simply making content bigger.

The external screen received a huge upgrade from the first Galaxy Z Fold. The 6.2-inch screen is tall and skinny, but it’s bright and high-res. At 2,260 x 816, it very nearly matches the pixel density you’ll get on the inside display. The outer screen only refreshes at 60 Hz instead of the smooth 120 Hz you’ll find on the 7.6-inch display. And that tall, skinny form-factor really isn’t ideal for extended use. But, it’s usable, especially if you’re precise about your typing. 

What about the hinge and screen durability?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 hinge and bottom
There’s still room for crud to jam between the screens in your pocket. Don’t put any coins in there. Stan Horaczek

The very first Galaxy Z Fold had some durability issues with the screen and hinge, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a much different beast. Samsung mobile added more cams to the hinge, as well as a built-in brush that redirects crud from the mechanism before it can get in and do any damage. 

I’ve been folding and unfolding the phone for months now and it still feels right enough to be secure but not so tight that it’s annoying to open. It also doesn’t creak or crunch as it moves, which is more than I can say for my own body at this point. 

As for the main screen, it now includes a layer of ultra-thin, flexible glass as part of its substrate sandwich. The surface you tap on is still plastic. It’s a screen protector that’s meant to take abuse from coins in your pocket or uncut fingernails as you tap vigorously on your favorite Android game. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 spine
The hinge has gotten some extra attention in the second version. Stan Horaczek

The main screen has certainly picked up some nicks and scratches over time, but it definitely hasn’t failed and it still looks excellent. The outer coating does pick up more fingerprints than a typical smartphone screen, so I’ve gotten accustomed to regularly wiping it off before it gets too gnarly. 

I don’t really notice the seam down the middle of the main screen anymore unless light hits it from a steep angle. It has gotten more pronounced over time, but it’s still totally fine. I thought it would stick out to my eyes a lot more than it ever actually did. Typically, if I notice the indentation, I can slightly change the screen’s orientation and that’s enough to make the hinge nearly disappear.

Software

Most smartphones are pretty self-explanatory. Things change as operating systems update, but they work in relatively similar systems. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has a bit of a learning curve. I spent my first few days with the device using it as a transforming version of a typical smartphone. I used one app at a time and it felt awkward. Multitasking is essential if you’re going to make the most out of the device. 

Samsung’s custom dock is extremely handy. It sits along the side of the screen and allows you to drag apps (via their icons) to different parts of the display. You can also set up handy software shortcuts such as saving app pairs that you can open together. Once you get into this kind of customization, the whole device makes a lot more sense from a usability standpoint. Going back to a single screen takes a little bit of an adjustment when you’re used to flinging all your stuff all over a huge display. 

The system isn’t perfect yet, however. Sometimes things won’t show up where you expect them to. Or, if you have an awkward layout, you may run into some very clunky situations. I accidentally put my picture-in-picture YouTube window in front of my search results, for instance, which took a moment to process before I realized why I couldn’t see what I was looking for. 

Utilizing the fold

While it’s easy to hold the phone flat most of the time, I found myself slightly bending the phone like a paperback book just because it made it feel slightly more balanced. It didn’t affect the viewing angle of the screen nearly as much as you might think. 

The sturdy hinge allows for the device to sit partially open on a table like a tiny little touchscreen laptop. While I’m glad the phone can do this because it seems like it could be useful down the road, I didn’t find myself taking advantage of it very much—or at all, rally—during my time with it. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 cameras

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 cameras
The camera array should look familiar to Samsung users. Stan Horaczek

Snoop around the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and you’ll find a total of five different cameras strewn about the device. Each display has its own 10-megapixel selfie camera peeking through a small hole near the top of the device. The main camera array on the back has a trio of 12-megapixel cameras differentiated by their lenses. You’ll find an ultra-wide, a standard wide-angle, and a telephoto. 

I won’t dive too deeply into the cameras here because they don’t really do much to stand out from what you’d expect. The main cameras provide solid—if a little over-saturated—colors and even exposures. The lenses are sharp and the images are relatively detailed. They look like pictures and videos that come from a high-end (though not flagship) Samsung smartphone. You can say the same about the selfie cameras as well. 

If you’re looking for truly top-end image quality, you’d be better off spending your cash on something like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which seriously ups the ante when it comes to camera features like optical zoom. 

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 compared to iPhone 12 Pro Max
The iPhone 12 Pro Max (left) compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (right). Stan Horaczek

At $1,799, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was actually somehow cheaper than the first-generation device. Still, it’s a luxury item aimed at business types with corporate cash and the need for maximum multitasking, or early adopters who want the coolest new device regardless of its practicality. 

With some distance from the initial hype, however, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has had a chance to prove itself as a viable product with real-world utility. From a productivity standpoint, it really is hard to beat its ability to handle several tasks at once. And while the first Z Fold’s screen felt like a liability, I don’t have an issue trusting the design on the Z Fold 2. I’m not particularly gentle on phones and this one has survived without issue. 

The device still lacks a few features that would make it even more usable. The current generation isn’t compatible with Samsung’s S Pen stylus. All that screen real estate bags for handwriting and drawing features like you’ll get with the Galaxy Note S21. Perhaps in the next version. The software still has some bugs to work out as well. As foldable screens get more and more support, I expect things to get even smoother than they are now. 

If you do take the leap into the Galaxy Z Fold 2, you’ll probably like it a lot, even once its novelty wears off. It might even get you hooked on all that room to multitask. Email on one screen seems so boring now without YouTube to spruce it up.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review: Still the multitasking champion appeared first on Popular Science.

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Your smartphone is gross. Learn how to clean it properly. https://www.popsci.com/clean-your-smartphone-properly/ Mon, 14 Oct 2019 16:45:57 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/clean-your-smartphone-properly/
a man using his phone on the New York City subway, while other passengers also use their phones
Imagine rubbing your face on the subway rails. Yeah, you're doing that. KE ATLAS/Unsplash

Everything you’ve touched is now on your face. Think about it.

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a man using his phone on the New York City subway, while other passengers also use their phones
Imagine rubbing your face on the subway rails. Yeah, you're doing that. KE ATLAS/Unsplash

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You can’t see it with the naked eye, but your smartphone is likely to be crawling with bacteria—perhaps even more so than your toilet seat. That’s a lot of dangerous microbes floating around, and yes, it is gross.

In this age of global travel and trade, it’s more important than ever to cut down on possible routes of infection and to stop bacteria and viruses spreading from person to person. Part of that means making sure your phone isn’t transmitting anything more than data.

And besides the potential health risks of a dirty phone, the gunk and dust gathering in your phone’s ports or around the buttons can make it harder to use. There’s also the simple aesthetic annoyance of looking at a screen that’s covered in fingerprints and other oily smudges that are part of life with a smartphone.

In short, you’ve got plenty of reasons to regularly give your phone a thorough clean. Not just during a pandemic, either—we should be thinking about keeping our phones bacteria-free all the time, says microbiologist Paul Turner, a professor at Yale University.

After all, we touch our phones all the time and many of us are relatively lax about cleaning them. “It sets the stage for plausible concern,” Turner says. “People could be handling phones and picking up any bacteria or virus that can attach to a surface and survive for a period of time.”

Take SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, for example: Scientists are still scrambling to get solid evidence, but early research suggests that it can survive on plastic or stainless steel surfaces for two or three days. That means you could be washing your hands perfectly well, but immediately picking the virus up again as soon as you reach for your phone.

You could be doing everything right (like washing your hands and staying away from people), but if there’s a contaminated surface in your home or your pocket, you could expose yourself to the virus anyway, Turner says.

One mitigating factor is that usually we’re the only ones who touch our devices, so your smartphone isn’t as potentially infectious as a doorknob in an office, for example. That said, Turner hopes increased awareness of viruses will get everyone to start periodically cleaning their devices—he recommends wiping down a smartphone around every three days.

“People are not widely cleaning their phones, and yet it only takes a few seconds,” he says. “There’s a lot of bacteria and viruses that can hang out for several days on the surface and that could make you sick.”

Cleaning your phone

iphone on a paper towel
You can use products you already have around. Paper towels, alcohol, and cotton swabs can come in handy. David Nield

With most phones now at least water resistant—if not waterproof—and designed to take a few knocks, cleaning your phone isn’t difficult, and it’s unlikely you’ll end up with an overpriced paperweight. But it’s still a good idea to leave most of your normal cleaning products and any abrasive materials in the cupboards.

First, fully power down your handset and remove any accessories, like charging cables or headphones. If you use a case, take that off too, so you’ll have full access to all sides of your phone.

Next, you’ll need a soft, lint-free cloth. Apple recommends a lens cloth for the job, but anything similar that won’t scratch or damage your phone (like microfiber), will do.

Dampen the cloth with a little water and wipe down the front and the back of your handset, using steady, circular motions to lift off the accumulated dirt. It’s a good idea to keep one end of your cloth dry or have a separate dry cloth at hand to remove excess moisture. This is especially important near ports and buttons, where water might interfere with your phone’s normal operation.

If your phone is fully IP68 rated for waterproofing (check the specs if you’re not sure), feel free to dunk your phone in a bowl of clean water for a minute or two. You can then dab off the moisture with a cloth, cleaning it at the same time.

smartphone between two white towels
If you’re annoyed by your oily fingerprints all over your phone, you’re not going to like lint sticking to your screen. Prevent that by using a microfiber cloth. David Nield

For more persistent marks and dirt, you can use some gentle face or baby wipes, or a little bit of household hand soap. If you do opt for cleaning wipes, use them sparingly and make sure they’re approved for use on electrical devices. If not, Turner says a little soap, water, and a cloth will do just fine.

Soap and water is also the preferred method of fighting any viruses that may be stuck to your phone. Hand sanitizers are popular, but experts generally believe they’re less effective, Turner says.

Some experts also recommend mixing a half-and-half solution of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol at around 60-70 percent) and water. Wet your cleaning cloth rather than your phone to get rid of any stubborn bacteria. As long as you use these substances in small amounts and avoid harsh chemicals, you’re not going to damage your device.

In fact, Apple recently updated its guidelines to suggest that in addition to water, it’s safe to use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes and Clorox disinfectant wipes on iPhones, as long as you keep moisture away from the ports.

Once you’ve dealt with the exterior, use cotton swabs and a few sharp, well-aimed puffs of air from your mouth to get dust and particles out of your phone’s ports. Avoid cans of compressed air though, as the pressure can interfere with the insides of your phone.

If your charging cable hasn’t been juicing up your phone as quickly as it normally does, a build-up of gunk around the main port might be one reason why. Again, your microfiber cloth can come in handy here—you can use the tip of it to tease out any accumulated dirt or dust, or wrap part of it around something small and thin (like a toothpick) for the job.

two cotton swabs laying on an iphone
Cotton swabs can help you get the gunk out of ports, speakers, and all the nooks and crannies at the border of your screen. David Nield

These are general tips, but we’d encourage you to look online for any instructions specific to your phone. Your device’s manufacturer might have some particular tips that don’t apply more broadly, or certain warnings about what not to do.

When you’ve finished the cleaning process, leave your phone alone until any remaining moisture has had a chance to dry off naturally. Only then should you turn it on again and reattach cases and accessories. Putting it on a paper towel can help.

For an even more comprehensive solution, you can treat your phone to an ultraviolet light bath—a cleaning technique that science shows can help blast certain types of bacteria off of your handset. You can pick up a PhoneSoap UV Cell Phone Sanitizer, and it’ll charge your phone while it’s cleaning it. There are still questions about how effective these UV lights are, but if you can afford the extra investment, it’s a helpful additional way to keep your phone clean.

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Save up to 30% off OtterBox rugged smartphone cases and accessories https://www.popsci.com/reviews/otterbox-cases-deal/ Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:55:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=428052
OtterBox deals post header image
Tony Ware

If you're investing in great tech, you should invest in great tech protection. But hurry, deals end March 4.

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OtterBox deals post header image
Tony Ware

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Many of us are just about to break free from winter’s icy grasp, which means more time spent outside. That also means more opportunities for our smartphones to take a tumble during a hike or outdoor workout. And while smartphones are a lot tougher than they once were, a burly case can mean the difference between an unscathed device and a few months of scrolling social media through a cracked screen that cuts your thumb every time you dole out a like. That’s where OtterBox’s current sales come in. Through March 4, you can save up to 30% on some of the most popular—and most robust—cases, screen protectors, and other accessories. 

Here are some of the most popular products you might want to check out before the prices go back up:

iPhone 13 Pro Max Defender Series Pro XT Case with MagSafe $60 (Was $75)

OtterBox

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This is a slimmed-down version of one of OtterBox’s most popular cases. The lower profile stays truer to your phone’s typical shape, which makes it more pocket friendly. Plus, it’s compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories, so you can charge your device wirelessly while keeping it nestled into its protective shell.

Apple Watch Series 6/SE/5/4 44mm EXO EDGE Case $24 (Was $30)

OtterBox

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The Apple Watch can take a beating, but a scratch on the case or the face can be a real annoyance or distraction. This solid bumper surrounds the watch face and prevents it from hitting the ground, even if you drop it face down. It doesn’t add much bulk and comes in an array of colors in case you regret going with that Rose Gold Apple Watch.

Charging Pad for MagSafe $24 (Was $30)

OtterBox

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The first-party Apple MagSafe charger will cost you $40, but this OtterBox version is currently on sale for just over half of that. It sits at the end of a 6-foot cord and delivers a 7.5W charge to compatible iPhones.

iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th gen/4th gen/3rd gen) Defender Series Case $104 (Was $130)

OtterBox

SEE IT

The iPad Pro’s massive, beautiful screen is its main draw. It’s also a liability. One drop and that swanky display can become a crack-laden catastrophe. This burly case works with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, versions 3.0 through the current 5.0. It envelops the entire device, including the screen, and has port covers to prevent grime and moisture from finding their way in. An integrated stand props up the iPad for watching content, which is convenient on a plane or pretty much anywhere you want to plop down and watch a couple of episodes of “The Righteous Gemstones.”

You can see all of the sale items on the OtterBox site, or you can scroll down to see some of the more exciting products.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Alpha Glass Screen Protector $32 (Was $40)

iPhone 13 Pro Max Otter + Pop Symmetry Series Antimicrobial Case $52 (Was $65)

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Otter + Pop Symmetry Series Case $48 (Was $60)

iPhone 13 Commuter Series Antimicrobial Case $36 (Was $44)

iPhone 13 Pro Max Strada Series Case $56 (Was $70)

iPhone 13 Pro Defender Series Case $52 (Was $65)

The post Save up to 30% off OtterBox rugged smartphone cases and accessories appeared first on Popular Science.

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Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S22 phones https://www.popsci.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-s22-news/ Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:01:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=423956
Samsung Galaxy S22 News
Samsung announced three new phones, the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra gets a Note-style makeover and more deets about Android's biggest new phones.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 News
Samsung announced three new phones, the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Samsung

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Samsung announced three Galaxy S22 smartphones, the next generation of its immensely popular Android phone line, during its Galaxy Unpacked live stream, held Wednesday, Feb. 9. As in past years, the S22 line will include three different devices: the standard 6.1-inch Galaxy S22, the larger 6.6-inch Galaxy S22 Plus, and the extra-large 6.8-inch Galaxy S22 Ultra. This year, Samsung has lumped the S22 and S22 Plus together as a single phone in two sizes, which hasn’t changed all that much compared to the Galaxy S21 line. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, on the other hand, has received an aesthetic and philosophical overhaul. The S22 Ultra, always the largest and most powerful Galaxy, has now evolved into a stylus-focused design, similar to Samsung’s now-defunct Galaxy Note. According to Samsung, the S22 is a “best of both worlds” situation where you get the control of the Note and the superior cameras of a Galaxy flagship.

As far as new features go, you’ll mostly see a bevy of small changes across the line, many of which stem from software upgrades as much as hardware. While they may not be the most revolutionary phones we’ve ever seen, there are always a few cool features worth examining.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra straightens up

Samsung

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To distinguish it from the other, more conventional S22 phones, the S22 Ultra features a square design with rounded sides. Its hard corners create a thin oval shape, which kind of looks like a battery pack in the right light. It features a 1440 x 3088p 6.8-inch AMOLED 2X display, which can output at up to 120Hz. You’ll also notice that, while there are the camera lenses on the back create sizable lips, the S22 Ultra ditches the squared-off metallic camera bump panel on the S21 and other S22 models

The S22 and S22 Plus look much more like last year’s models. The S22 and S22 Plus also feature AMOLED 2X displays, but only reach a 1080 x 2340 resolution, albeit at the same dynamic framerate, which tops out at 120Hz. It features a monotone camera bump, similar to the recently released Samsung S21 FE. 

That said, all of the devices still have a lot in common. All three feature an “under-display” pinhole camera hole-punched at top-center. They’re all made from “Armor Aluminum” and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ for enhanced durability. Though you wouldn’t mistake the Galaxy S22 Ultra for a standard S22 or an S22 Plus, it hasn’t deviated so far afield that it looks like a different phone.

S-Pen inside

The Galaxy Ultra S22 now comes with a “built-in” Samsung S Pen stylus, complete with a holster slot at the bottom of the phone. (You can use an S Pen with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but it is an optional accessory.) While the S Pen is a known quantity, the S22 Ultra will feature enhanced support for the Pen, including dramatically reduced input latency. The phone uses an “improved” coordinate prediction algorithm, which can anticipate the direction of your pen strokes to process them faster, enabling smoother writing and drawing. Samsung also improved the handwriting-to-text recognition software, making it more likely it will be able to translate sloppy handwriting (like mine).

The S22 and S22 Plus are not compatible with the S Pen, so if you like the idea of handwriting notes on web pages and doodling on your phone, you will need to get the Ultra.

Camera growth in fits and spurts

Cameras are always the central feature of the Galaxy S—and all modern smartphones, really. This year, the S22 and S22 Plus get a major pixel bump in their primary, wide-angle cameras, as well as enhanced sensors across the line that should make the S22 especially good at night shooting.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra features a very similar set of cameras as the S21, but with a few added tricks. It has four cameras on the back, a 108MP wide-angle lens, 12MP ultrawide lens, 10MP telephoto lens, and dual 10MP under-camera lenses. The rear cameras can shoot video in 8K at 24fps or in 4K at 60fps. The pinhole camera on the front is 40MP, capable of shooting in 4K at 60fps. If you look at the camera bump, it kind of looks like there are five cameras: That extra circle is actually a laser auto-focus sensor, which helps the phone do some of the multicamera photography tricks that help even novice photographers get sharp photos.

These lenses are identical to the S21 Ultra at a glance but feature a 23-percent-larger sensor, which allows them to shoot much better photos and video in low-light situations. (Samsung calls it “nightography.”)

On the S22 and S22 Plus, you have a 50MP wide-angle lens, 12MP ultra-wide lens, single 10MP telephoto lens on the back, and a 10MP front camera. That’s a big jump compared to the 12MP wide-angle camera. As we mentioned, that’s a really large jump for the primary lens on the S22, which will hopefully lead to sharper photos, even if it still doesn’t quite compete with the tremendous number of pixels used in the Ultra’s images.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

Samsung

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Beyond that, the phone features a few software-enabled camera tricks that further enhance photos and video, especially for casual photographers, thanks to a new and improved version of the Galaxy’s AI-enabling Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which Samsung claims is twice as fast as one in the S21 series. Building on the Pixel binning in the S21, the S22 Ultra features nona-binning, which can enhance a photo’s resolution by processing pixels in larger composite groups. Samsung claims that, by synthesizing images taken from the different cameras, you will achieve brighter, sharper photos.

The cameras also feature a new auto-focus feature, which will adjust the camera to center around as many as 10 subject faces. As with tech we’ve seen in smart screens and other devices, the camera will use its zoom and wide field-of-view to automatically adjust follow a subject when recording video. “Auto Framerate” adjusts the framerate of a video, optimizing it for the lighting conditions in the video. There are also “Super Steady System” and “Super HDR” features, which smooth out shaky video and further brighten photos, respectively.

For expert photographers, Samsung has a new photography app, Expert RAW, which allows you to make more detailed edits directly after shooting. As per the name, S22 Ultra can also save 16bit RAW files with the app, allowing for pro-level post-camera editing.

Universal Specs

All three Galaxy S22 phones feature a new, more powerful 4nm ARM microprocessor, which Samsung claims to be the fastest chip used in a Galaxy device. As on the S21, this includes Samsung Knox Vault, a dedicated security chip to store encrypted personal information and password. They also reportedly feature fast-charging batteries—3700mAh for the S22, 4500mAh for the Plus, and 5000mAh for the Ultra—which can charge from 0 to 50 percent in less than 20 minutes. Connectivity is another exciting wrinkle: The S22 Plus and Ultra will feature Wi-Fi 6E support, allowing for ultra-high speeds at home for those who have access. The S22 will support Wi-Fi 6. And, of course, all three continue to support 5G mobile broadband so you’ll get the fastest speeds possible from your wireless carrier.

When can I get the Samsung Galaxy S22?

Samsung

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The Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra are all available for preorder starting today. The Samsung S22 comes in two models with different amounts of memory and storage, starting at $799.99 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus comes in the same two configurations, starting at $999.99 for 8GB and 128GB of storage. Both models come in four colors: White, Black, Pink, and Forest Green.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes in four variations, starting at $1,199.99 for a model with 8GB and 128GB of storage. (Crucially, the three more expensive models all feature 12GB of RAM, in addition to extra storage.) The Ultra comes in four similar colors: White, Black, Green, and a very pink-looking Burgundy.

All of the phones will ship to preorder buyers and hit stores on February 25. Prior to the announcement, rumors suggest that the phones will be very difficult to acquire at launch due to supply chain issues, so give up if you have trouble finding one on launch day.

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How to get a lost phone back to its owner https://www.popsci.com/return-lost-phone/ Fri, 21 Jan 2022 19:15:08 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/return-lost-phone/
iPhone in the grass
Somewhere someone is panicking. Why don't you make their day?. Saketh Garuda / Unsplash

Do your good deed for the day.

The post How to get a lost phone back to its owner appeared first on Popular Science.

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iPhone in the grass
Somewhere someone is panicking. Why don't you make their day?. Saketh Garuda / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on January 26, 2018. 

If you’ve ever misplaced your smartphone, you know how hard it can be to retrieve a lost device. So when you find a deserted device, you should return it as soon as possible.

However, most people lock their phone screens for security, so you can’t simply fire up the Contacts app and start calling the owner’s friends and family. Unless they printed their name and address in big letters on the back of the device, you’ll have to rely on other methods to restore the lost phone. Here are some tips we came up with, including a few from this Reddit thread.

Check the area

Don your detective hat and look around the area where you found the phone. Is a wallet or a coat, which could carry some contact details, nearby? Also look at the case, if there is one, because it might contain a business card, a credit card, an inscription, or another clue that will help you identify the device’s owner.

[Related: How to find a lost phone]

While you’re examining the area, do you see anyone looking around forlornly for their missing device? Observing the people around you is the quickest way to restore the phone, and it also ensures that you don’t accidentally steal somebody’s device while their back is turned! The owner also might come rushing back to the area in search of their phone, so hang around for a little while if you have time.

Keep the phone on

Before you start toying around with the lock screen, make sure to keep the phone switched on and the battery charged. You should leave it on because its owner will likely find another handset and call their own number as soon as they can. This way, you can pick up right away and arrange a meeting.

Of course, it’s impossible to keep a phone on if it dies. While you may not find the charger next to the lost phone, you can use your own cables, or those of a friend, to juice up the handset. You’ll need a Lightning connector charger for iPhones and a microUSB or USB-C charger for Android devices. If you don’t have a compatible charger lying around somewhere, go on and buy another—it’s cheap, and the original owner will probably reimburse you.

Study the lock screen carefully

If the lost phone’s owner has saved emergency contact details in their device, you can access these friends from the lock screen. On an iOS device, swipe up from the bottom or press the Home button to open the passcode screen, tap the Emergency link in the lower-left corner, and choose Medical ID. If you’ve picked up an Android phone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, tap Emergency call and then View emergency Information. If you see an emergency contact listed, get in touch with them to find out whose phone you’ve found.

While you’re at it, you should probably add emergency contacts to your own phone’s lock screen—just in case. On an iPhone, go to the Settings app, tap the Health app entry, touch Medical ID, and then Edit. On Android, you can go to the Personal Safety app, tap the cog icon in the upper left corner of the screen, and set up your emergency contacts.

Ask a digital assistant

By default, both iOS and Android let you access their digital assistants—Siri and Google Assistant, respectively—right from the lock screen (unless the phone owner has disabled the feature).

To pull up the assistant on an iPhone without a Home button, press and hold the power button. For iPhones with a Home button (typically older models), press and hold the Home button instead). On Android, swipe up from one of the bottom corners of the lock screen.

Once you’ve accessed Siri or Google Assistant, try saying “Call mom,” “Call home,” or another command that might access one of the phone’s owner’s contacts. Siri also has a trick that Google Assistant doesn’t: Ask “Whose phone is this?” to bring up contact details for the owner, if they’ve provided them.

Take a photo

At this point, you’ve exhausted the options for reaching a phone’s owner through his or her contacts. Now it’s time to get creative. For example, this person might have some kind of photo and video backup system in place. This means all pictures and movies shot on the phone will sync to the cloud—and to the owner’s other devices.

You can usually access a smartphone’s camera from its lock screen: On iOS, swipe left; on Android, double press the power button. To use this to your advantage, snap an image of your personal contact details. If the photo syncs to the phone owner’s backup system, they can easily reach out to you.

Set a reminder

In a similar vein, you can use Siri or Google Assistant to set a reminder that the phone’s owner will be able to see from another device. On iOS, press and hold the power button (or the Home button if there is one); on Android, swipe up from one of the bottom corners of the screen. When the assistant app appears, say, “Set a reminder for 2 p.m. every day to call…” and then state your name and number.

If the owner of the phone is signed into their Apple or Google account on any other devices, they should have access to their reminders there. In that case, they’ll see the note you’ve left pop up at 2 p.m. (or whatever time you choose) every day. After that, it’s up to them to get in touch.

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iPhone 11 cases for people with butterfingers https://www.popsci.com/iphone-11-cases-protect-and-grip/ Fri, 27 Sep 2019 18:19:44 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/iphone-11-cases-protect-and-grip/
Phones photo

Protective cases designed to prevent slippage.

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Phones photo

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Nobody’s perfect. Blame it on Mercury in retrograde or your last margarita, but most folks have dropped their phones at one point or another. Sometimes we get lucky and our phones come away without a scratch, but other times the slip can set you back hundreds of bucks. For a gadget as important and expensive to replace as your smartphone, you’ll want a case that not only keeps your device protected, but also makes your phone less likely to leave your hand in the first place. Don’t let gravity get the better of you—here are some great grippy cases to get you started on your search.

Amazon

SEE IT

This case has a replaceable band in the back to help you clutch your phone, plus a protective case to protect your device from impact. It is also extremely slim, and can be wirelessly charged through. You can choose from a few fun case and band designs, mixing and matching as you please.

Amazon

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OtterBox is known for making the toughest cases out there, and the Defender series is no exception. It has a hard shell on the inside and a softer rubbery exterior for grip and comfort. This case has port covers to keep dirt, dust, and moisture from getting into charger ports and speakers. You can control volume through buttons on the exterior of the case. The belt holster also functions as a kickstand for hands-free use. It’s difficult to break a phone that’s in an OtterBox.

Amazon

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This LeYi case is specifically designed for the iPhone 11 and is non-slip, shockproof, and scratch-resistant. It comes with a tempered glass screen protector to doubly defend your screen from cracking. It also features a magnetic metal kickstand that rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to watch videos hands-free. Despite its strong protective layer, the case is not clunky and provides easy access to the charger port. For a surprisingly low price, this attractive case is a great option, though it is unfortunately not compatible with wireless chargers.

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The best Black Friday phone deals: iPhones, Samsung, Google Pixel 6 and more https://www.popsci.com/story/reviews/black-friday-phone-deals/ Sun, 21 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/black-friday-phone-deals/
person holding an iphone
These Black Friday phone savings are just a click away. Nathana Rebouças via Unsplash

We’re calling it now—this year’s Black Friday phone deals are not to be missed! Don’t miss your chance to save on electronics from some of the top name brands.

The post The best Black Friday phone deals: iPhones, Samsung, Google Pixel 6 and more appeared first on Popular Science.

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person holding an iphone
These Black Friday phone savings are just a click away. Nathana Rebouças via Unsplash

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In 2020, the average American spent roughly four hours per day on their smartphones. Of course, people weren’t going as many places during the height of the pandemic. But, even with things picking back up, these magical little windows to the internet still hold huge chunks of our lives. You don’t want to skimp on your smartphone, but high-end models can climb well over $1,000 and beyond, especially if you want something exotic like a folding phone. Luckily, like most other things, smartphones get cheaper when Black Friday rolls around.

Unfortunately, buying a smartphone isn’t quite as simple as rolling up to Best Buy and plunking down a couple hundred bucks for a big screen TV. This list singles out some of the best smartphone deals you’ll find this holiday shopping season. Just don’t hesitate if you see something you want. Everybody wants a phone and everyone likes to save money, so these deals can go fast.

The Best Buy Black Friday deals on electronics, appliances, and more

Shop Target’s Black Friday sale for gear, gadgets, and gifts

The best Black Friday Walmart deals

Shop Amazon holiday deals for great savings anytime

Great Black Friday deal we love

The Best Black Friday phone and accessory deals 2021

The best Samsung smartphone Black Friday deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Unlocked $849 (Was $999)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G Unlocked $1,399 (Was $1,799)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Unlocked 256 GB $899 (Was $849)

The best Motorola smartphone Black Friday deals

Motorola Moto G Power Unlocked $179 (Was $249)

Motorola One 5G Ace $299 (Was $399)

Motorola Moto 5G Stylus $229 (Was $299)

Motorola Edge $599 (Was $699)

Motorola Moto Razr 5G $799 (Was $1,399)

The best Black Friday smartphone deals for seniors

Lively Jitterbug Flip2 $29 (Was $99)

Lively Jitterbug Smart3 smartphone $75 (Was $150)

The best Google Pixel smartphone Black Friday deals

Google Pixel 6 $499 (Was $599)

The best OnePlus smartphone Black Friday deals

OnePlus Nord N200 $200 (Was $239)

OnePlus 9 Pro 5G $799 (Was $1,069)

OnePlus 9 $599 (Was $729)

The best smartphone accessory Black Friday deals

Anker Power Wave wireless charging stand $15 (Was $18)

Belkin MagSafe 2-in-1 wireless charger $79 (Was $99)

A note about smartphone activation

Before going to drop some cash on a smartphone deal, know that some will require activation on the spot when you purchase in order to get the reduced price. Also make sure to get a phone that’s compatible with your smartphone plan since devices that are locked to a specific provider won’t work on another company’s plans. Doing a little bit of prep before making a purchase could solve you a lot of hassle.

When is Black Friday 2021?

Black Friday 2021 happens on Nov. 26. That said, the actual date isn’t nearly as important as it used to be. Black Friday is now more of a month-long deal and sale party, so keep an eye out for discounts coming from every direction from the moment Halloween ends until the bitter end of Cyber Monday.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday’s historical meaning traces back roughly half a century when it referred to a day full of heavy traffic and also the day in which businesses in the US started turning a profit for the year. It refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Most of that is irrelevant now, though, and Black Friday has become shorthand for the shopping frenzy that happens between the end of October and the beginning of December.

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Apple is opening an online repair shop with original iPhone parts https://www.popsci.com/technology/apple-self-service-repair-program/ Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:30:53 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=409519
iphone repair
Customers can repair their own iPhones now. Joel Rohland / Unsplash

Apple’s Self Service Repair program will let customers purchase commonly repaired parts for certain iPhones and Macs starting next year.

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iphone repair
Customers can repair their own iPhones now. Joel Rohland / Unsplash

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Apple is going to start allowing everyday customers to repair their own devices, if they choose, with genuine Apple parts and tools. This new capability is available as part of Apple’s new Self Service Repair program, which the company announced on Wednesday. The move marks a striking evolution from the company’s previous attitude on the issue.

The program, which is expected to roll out early next year starting in the US, will first be in effect across the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, and promises to later include Mac computers that pack M1 chips. Apple said that the initial phase will focus on the parts that are most commonly in need of repair, such as the device’s display, battery, and camera. Additional repair features could become available later in 2023.

Here’s how it’s going to work for people interested in being handy with their phones: After reading the Repair Manual, customers can place an order for the Apple parts and tools through the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store, which will sell more than 200 individual parts and tools related to the most frequent types of repairs on the latest iPhone models.

“Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices,” Apple said in a press release. “For the vast majority of customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair.”

[Related: Apple just made it easier to get your old iPhone fixed]

Just over two years ago, Apple granted access to their parts, tools, and manuals to independent repair shops, which was in addition to their already-existing Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) network.

However, the repair shop and website iFixit notes that Apple’s new program could come with caveats. For example, the Independent Repair Provider program has certain restrictions on software repair in which it doesn’t allow a provider to replace a broken part with one taken from another Apple device—only with one purchased from the parts shop. 

[Related: Microsoft is making it easier for customers to repair devices. Will other companies follow?]

“By controlling the parts marketplace, Apple can also decide when devices go obsolete,” iFixit’s Elizabeth Chamberlain wrote. Despite this, “having public information on Apple’s preferred approach to fixing its hardware with free repair manuals is a priceless win.” That’s because Apple has notoriously designed their devices to be hard to repair, and volleyed against past efforts to make fixing an iPhone easier

Chamberlain also referred to the move as “a remarkable concession to our collective competency.”

Apple is not the only big tech company expanding its right to repair options. Microsoft last month agreed to supply access to parts and information needed for repairs, joining the leagues of Dell, HP and Motorola, which have started to make their devices more repairable. Additionally, the Right to Repair legislation along with proposals in President Biden’s July 9 executive order could make tech companies more likely to start rolling out these types of offerings.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro smartphone review: Android’s homegrown hero https://www.popsci.com/reviews/google-pixel-6-pro/ Mon, 25 Oct 2021 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=405088
Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Pixel 6 Pro feels like a flagship device. Stan Horaczek

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is one of the best Android phones around and it comes at a surprising price.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Pixel 6 Pro feels like a flagship device. Stan Horaczek

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Google wants you to know that it has developed some extremely powerful artificial intelligence technologies. During the announcement event for its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones (which are currently up for pre-order), the company plainly claimed that off-the-shelf smartphone components weren’t powerful enough to handle the algorithmic AI feats it hoped to achieve. So, the company built its own custom system on a chip called Tensor with technology from semiconductor design company ARM. 

As with Apple and its chiips, Google’s new chip strategy isn’t about brute force power, but rather maximizing efficiency across internal systems to make much better use of the hardware. By tightly linking the CPU, GPU, the image signal processor, the machine learning engine, and the rest of the systems, Google believes it can create a system that runs fast and more efficiently while enabling AI features that were previously out of reach. At least in the case of the Pixel 6 Pro, Google has found a home for its lofty AI aspirations.

Google Pixel 6 Pro specs

With a custom chip onboard, it’s hard to directly compare the Pixel 6 Pro’s specs to its competition since the actual numbers don’t necessarily directly translate into performance. The Tensor chip has a total of 8 CPU cores, two of which are built for performance, two of which are considered mid-range cores, and four that fall into the “high-efficiency” category. The GPU has a total of 20 cores. You’ll find that same chip in the base-level Pixel 6, but the Pixel 6 Pro gets a bump up to 12 GB RAM as part of its premium price. 

Generally speaking, this proved plenty of computing firepower to handle all of the typical tasks I tried with the Pixel 6 Pro without stutters. Direct speed comparisons to Apple’s A-series processors and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 5G have been somewhat inconclusive in their results but, from a real-world perspective, Google’s in-house chip seems plenty burly to handle whatever Android task you ask of it. I edited video, tweaked some raw files in Lightroom Mobile, and played a little bit too much “Magic: The Gathering Arena” all without having to worry about stutters or issues of any kind, really.

The Pixel 6 Pro screen

Google Pixel 6 Pro
The camera bar looks better than individual lenses, but cracking that glass covering could affect all of your cameras instead of just one. Stan Horaczek

The 6.7-inch OLED screen offers a 1,440 x 3,120 resolution, which gives it a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. That makes it bigger than the 6.4-inch Pixel 6 screen, but size isn’t its only advantage. The stock Pixel 6 display tops out at a refresh rate of 90 Hz, while the Pixel 6 Pro can up to 120 Hz for smooth motion. It can also drop that refresh rate considerably when the onscreen image is mostly static in an effort to save battery. It makes the screen feel responsive and look pleasant.

I like the overall look that the Pixel 6 Pro’s screen offers. It’s easily bright enough to use outdoors in direct sun and the colors stay punchy and vibrant, even with the brightness cranked to its maximum setting. I typically kept the brightness set around 50 percent for typical use. When it comes to color, the display skews a little cooler than the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 to which I compared it. 

Under the screen

Nestled at the top of the Pixel 6 Pro’s display, you’ll find a small hole through which the improved front-facing camera peeks. Honestly, I’ve never loved the pinhole strategy for selfie cameras since I find it more intrusive than a notch at the edge of the screen. That’s a personal preference, though, and it functionally disappears after you use it for a day or two and get used to the placement. 

On the opposite end of the display, you’ll find a fingerprint reader that doesn’t require a hole. It does, however, light up rather bright when you put your thumb on it. It’s enough to make your thumb glow red while it’s reading your print. If you don’t cover the whole sensor area, it leaks fairly bright light around the edges of your finger, even if the overall screen brightness is turned way down. 

The Google Pixel 6 Pro cameras

Google Pixel 6 Pro
The camera options have grown since the last version to include new modes. Stan Horaczek

The Pixel 6 Pro’s cameras really give Google a chance to show off the AI advantages its new chip offers. I have always been mostly impressed with the Pixel cameras in past generations, even if the Pixel 4 did have a problem with light banding when shooting in most artificial light. Google has achieved impressive results with relatively underwhelming camera hardware thanks to its computational photography chops.

The Pixel 6 Pro offers some upgraded sensors and lenses to help provide better raw image material. The 50-megapixel main sensor has grown since the last generation, allowing it to pull in more light. Like the stock Pixel 6, the Pro also offers a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera that isn’t quite as wide as what you get on an iPhone 13. 

The Pro differentiates itself from the stock model with the 48-megapixel telephoto camera. The sensor sits inside the device, perpendicular to the main display. The lens rests in a vertical orientation and sees out through a small glass panel in the camera bar like a periscope. The telephoto camera has a much slower aperture than its wide-angle counterparts (it only opens to f/3.5, compared to f/1.85 on the main camera and f/2.2 on the ultra-wide). On paper, none of this is particularly impressive. Most flagship smartphones offer faster lenses and often larger sensors but that has been the case with the Pixel phones for generations.

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera performance

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
This is a good example of the Pixel 6 Pro’s overall look. It maintains a ton of detail, but the lifted shadows still shout “look at all of this HDR!” Stan Horaczek

Enter Google’s imaging AI. Right off the bat, the still image quality feels very familiar. The HDR tech makes scenes look vibrant, but doesn’t crank up the contrast or the saturation as much as the iPhone and it’s a lot less than the Samsung cameras. 

I still generally like the look of the images that come straight out of the Pixel 6 Pro camera system. Despite the aggressive HDR efforts to increase the dynamic range, the contrast still feels relatively natural. That said, it still has that smartphone look in which the blacks appear slightly lifted and the sharpening can make objects look downright crispy around the edges. 

Switch the camera over to raw capture and you get an impressively accurate overall reproduction of a scene, but it can feel flat for people who are used to all of the post-processing that the phone typically applies when you shoot a typical photo. 

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
Again, deeper shadows would work well here, but the colors aren’t too far off from reality. Stan Horaczek

Like most other smartphone camera systems, the Pixel 6 Pro accentuates high-frequency details, which means areas of the image with lots of little details will appear very sharp. This works great to make landscapes and indoor scenes look sharp and detailed, but isn’t always flattering on faces with lots of texture or beards like mine. 

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
Shot with the 2X zoom, you can see how well the camera manages to pick out and sharpen fine details. Stan Horaczek

Right out of the camera, though, the Pixel photos are still my favorite when comparing the major players. At this point, though, the differences are relatively small, and personal taste plays a big part in which one you prefer.

Capturing motion in photos with the Pixel 6 Pro

Every time you take a picture, the camera is doing considerable work to try and recognize what’s happening in the scene and adjust its performance accordingly. For example, if the camera detects a face, it will automatically prepare to shoot with both the main camera and the super-wide camera. Capturing images with both cameras simultaneously enables features like Face Unblur, which will sharpen a subject’s face in a photo that would otherwise be entirely blurry due to motion. 

Capturing motion is actually an overarching theme for the Pixel 6 cameras. There’s a “motion” tab in the available camera settings and it houses some of the most promising examples of Google’s computation photography skills. 

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
The long exposure mode offers both a converted and standard image. This is the photo without the long exposure effect applied. Stan Horaczek
Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
This is the same scene with the long exposure effect in place. You can see it worked on the ride as well as the people. Stan Horaczek

The new Long Exposure beta replicates a familiar photographic effect that’s typically achieved by leaving the camera’s shutter open for a (relatively) long period of time and letting motion in the scene to create smooth trails of blur. True long exposures don’t typically work well on smartphone sensors because the readout is too slow and the top-down capture creates distortion. 

Long-exposure apps get around this by taking a number of exposures in rapid succession, then combining them together into one image to create the illusion of motion. Google uses a similar method in the Pixel 6 Pro, but it’s using AI to interpolate the data between the frames and create a much smoother and more convincing motion effect. 

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
Another example before the long exposure blur was applied. Stan Horaczek
Google Pixel 6 Pro camera sample
And here is the same shot with the blur applied. Pretty impressive. Stan Horaczek

The long-exposure results are impressive, even if they’re imperfect. I shot some long exposures during the day, which is tough to do with a traditional camera because long shutter speeds typically let in too much light. With the AI method, that’s not a problem. You don’t get much control over how much motion blur appears in the photo, so results vary. And sometimes the interpolation doesn’t get it just right and blur trails look a little wacky. However, it shows a lot of promise and I’d use this feature semi-regularly as it is. 

Shooting video with the Pixel 6 Pro

The Pixel’s video chops have always lagged behind its still photography skills. Google chalks this up to available hardware’s inability to apply the same kind of AI magic to moving images that it can with stills. The Tensor chip appears to have made big strides in this arena, too.

Now, the Pixel can apply its HDR tech to video, even when you’re shooting high-res 4K footage at up to 60 fps. As a result, the video looks a lot more like what you’d expect from the Pixel’s still-image quality. The images are sharp—especially in high-frequency details—and the dynamic range is rather impressive. 

If you’re looking for the absolute top video-image quality, I still give that title to the iPhone Pro series, but I think the vast majority of users will be more than satisfied with the Pixel 6 Pro’s AI-enhanced video output. 

Holdover Pixel users may also notice that the AI processing has made the camera much more heat efficient when it comes to recording high-res video. I shot for more than 15 minutes at maximum settings without a hint of heat issues, which wouldn’t have been the case with the previous Pixels. 

Pixel 6 translation skills

Voice represents another area in which the Tensor chip provides some distinct AI advantages. The Pixel 6 processes language in more natural ways that use less power thanks to the system’s structure. 

I tried the real-time translation features with a friend speaking Japanese (they also speak English, so could confirm the accuracy of what was said) and the speed and efficiency with which the device can translate is truly impressive. We tried the same thing over a video call and the tech worked impressively well there, too. 

This kind of thing requires tons of computational work and the Tensor chip handles it without hesitating or even substantially draining the battery. Because of the new chip, the device can handle a lot of this functionality directly on the device without the need to involve the cloud, which is good for both efficiency and security. 

The overall Pixel 6 Pro experience 

Starting at $899, the Pixel 6 Pro feels like it’s punching a bit above its weight. When it comes to camera quality and features, it would serve the vast majority of users just as well as top-end iPhone or Samsung Galaxy devices. That is, of course, unless you’re looking for very specific features like the iPhone’s advanced video capture or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s mega-zoom. 

In my time with it so far, the Pixel 6 Pro has done everything I’ve wanted it to do. The battery easily lasts a full day, even when I’m using it a lot in the name of testing. The fast-charging feature is also extremely handy and exclusive to the Pixel 6 Pro. 

It’s also just an attractive-looking device. The Pro offers three color combinations with blocks of color separated by the black camera bar. I personally prefer the look of the bar rather than the individual lenses, but some people will certainly disagree.

Who should buy the Pixel 6 Pro

The Pixel 6 Pro spec sheet was encouraging after the announcement. Past models have typically compromised in some form or another, but Google clearly has a lot of faith in the 6 Pro as a real flagship device. It’s not heavy on superlatives, but the all-around package is very satisfying. I’ll update this review down the road once I’ve had more time to explore all the nuances that invariably pop up when using a device for hours a day but, for now, the Pixel 6 Pro looks like it was worth all that effort Google put into it. 

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The Google Pixel 6 brings a new chip and lofty, AI-powered promises https://www.popsci.com/reviews/google-pixel-6-pro-smartphone-specs/ Tue, 19 Oct 2021 21:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=404297
Google Pixel 6 Pro design
A closer look at the back of the Pixel 6 Pro. Google

The new Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones promise big camera upgrades and clever automations to handle complex tasks.

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Google Pixel 6 Pro design
A closer look at the back of the Pixel 6 Pro. Google

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Information about the Google Pixel 6, Google’s flagship Android phone, has been trickling out for months via official and not-so-official channels. However, the company held a virtual event Tuesday, Oct. 19, to reveal all the details about its newest top-end devices. The Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro are up for preorder, promising some impressive new features thanks to hardware and software upgrades. 

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro options

Google Pixel 6
Google has a really specific vision for the design. Google

The Pixel 6 line spans two phones: the standard Google Pixel 6 and the more advanced Pixel 6 Pro. The former offers a 6.4-inch OLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. The Pixel 6 Pro steps up to a 6.7-inch display with a dynamic refresh rate that can go as high as 120 Hz for smooth motion, or as low as 10 Hz to save battery when looking at static images. 

Flip the phones over and you’ll find that the devices have a much different look than the previous version, or really any other modern smartphone. Google clearly put considerable thought into its two-tone colorways, one of which it described as “juicy” during the presentation. Each phone sports blocks of vibrant colors split up by the camera bar, which contains two cameras in the base Pixel 6 and three in the Pro model. 

The new Google Tensor chip

With most flagship Android phones, you’d expect to find a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip inside handling most of the computing tasks. Right now, the Snapdragon 888 is a common option that shows up in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. For the Pixel 6, Google debuted its new system on a chip that it calls Tensor. It’s a custom bit of hardware specifically designed for Google devices, much like Apple does with its M1 silicon

During the announcement presentation, Google didn’t pull punches about its reasoning for building its own chip. More than once, the company said that off-the-shelf hardware simply couldn’t provide the sheer power required to support the company’s demanding AI tasks like advanced image processing needed for 4K 60p HDR video or real-time translation and transcription happening on the device itself with no need for the cloud. 

The same Tensor chip resides in both the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, though the Pro offers an upgrade to 12 GB RAM to make it even speedier. The onboard CPU offers eight cores, while the GPU has a total of 20 cores in order to handle graphics-intensive games. 

What can that AI do?

Google Pixel 6
Orange is in right now when it comes to gadgets. Google

With oodles of AI-processing power on the device, Google has been able to ramp up some of the features it has been refining for years now. For instance, the real-time translation and transcription services happen directly on the chip. As a result, the Google Pixel 6 can facilitate almost real-time conversations. The announcement event illustrated this with a Marie Kondo interview that included both Japanese and English speaking. 

The translation tech goes beyond in-person interactions, too. Google pointed out that it will allow users to accomplish things like watching livestreams in different languages with native subtitles that the phone can churn out with very little delay.

The built-in AI system can also help users bypass automated phone trees when calling businesses. The Pixel 6 can translate automated menu options into text so you don’t have to remember which number to push. It can then listen for a real human to pick up once you’re on-hold so you don’t have to pay attention the whole time. It sounds handy. 

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro camera features

Google Pixel 6 Pro folding lens inside
A look inside the folding lens found on the telephoto camera inside the Pixel 6 Pro Google

After losing ground with the Pixel 4 and 5, Google hopes redesigned hardware and AI upgrades can put it among the best once again. Both Pixel 6 models offer a redesigned 50-megapixel main camera. It has a larger sensor and faster aperture (f/1.85 if you’re counting) than the previous iteration. The 12-megapixel super-wide camera also appears on both versions of the phone. 

Upgrading to the Pixel 6 Pro adds a third camera to the mix. It’s a 4x optical zoom that uses folded optics and a perpendicularly mounted sensor to extend its reach. Google’s digital zoom feature now extends out to 20X. 

Imaging and AI

In addition to the hardware upgrades to the imaging ecosystem, Google’s added some software tweaks. The Real Tone technology draws from a drastically expanded database of skin tones in order to make the Pixel 6 camera better at rendering people of color in a variety of settings. That’s an area in which many cameras (even those not attached to smartphones) have struggled in the past. 

The new Face Unblur mode senses when a moving person might show up blurry in a frame and captures simultaneous photos with both the wide and ultra-wide cameras. The Pixel 6 can then merge the two in an effort to keep the sense of motion in the image while keeping the face sharp. 

I’m interested to see what the real world results from the camera look like since the litany of AI features makes the hardware specs roughly useless when it comes to predicting overall image quality and performance.

‘Quick tap to Snap’

While it’s not necessarily a camera feature, the upcoming Snap integration does represent a rather interesting development for Google Pixel 6. The new Quick Tap to Snap feature allows users to tap the back of the Pixel 6 twice in order to jump directly into the Snap camera. There have been workarounds for tasks like this in the past, and you could create shortcuts. But, this is a direct relationship that also extends to other Snap features like faster real-time translation. 

The rest of the features

Google Pixel 6
The phones can lay face down because of the Gorilla Glass Victus screens. Google

Scroll through the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro spec lists and they read like high-end Android phones. Both support WiFi 6E, which has just started to become relevant in the real world. They both have Bluetooth 5.2 and respectable battery capacities. It’s difficult to really pinpoint one area in which the Pixel 6 line is truly lacking compared to its other high-end counterparts. 

How to preorder Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones

Google has already started selling both the Pixel and the Pixel 6 Pro and the prices are surprising. The Google Pixel 6 starts at $599, while the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $899. That continues Google’s typical efforts to provide high-performance phones for cheaper prices. Look for a full review in the coming weeks.

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How to protect your smartphone privacy https://www.popsci.com/protect-your-smartphone-privacy/ Sun, 24 Oct 2021 14:15:17 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/protect-your-smartphone-privacy/
A person holding a smartphone with a crossed-out image of a person's silhouette on it.
No mysterious, shady strangers allowed. Markus Winkler / Unsplash

Prevent Google and Apple from tracking you.

The post How to protect your smartphone privacy appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person holding a smartphone with a crossed-out image of a person's silhouette on it.
No mysterious, shady strangers allowed. Markus Winkler / Unsplash

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This story has been updated. It was originally published on April 19, 2017.

You’ve beefed up the security for your online accounts, so you feel confident sticking your smartphone in your pocket and heading out the door. But many consumers don’t realize that the software in their phones can track their every move. Whether you have an iOS or Android device, Apple and Google can collect data about how you use it: the places you go, the apps you run, the search queries you type into the web browser, and so on. You can read detailed privacy policies for both Apple and Google online.

Although this sounds unnecessarily invasive, the companies use a lot of your data in helpful ways. For example, Apple relies on crash reports from apps to fix bugs in its software, while Google keeps tabs on your location so it can tell you how long the drive home will be. Are you comfortable with your phone reporting its location if it means you can find it when it gets lost? If your desire for privacy outweighs these benefits, you can decide how much you trust these companies with your data and how much information you’re prepared to share with them. Whatever you choose, it’s important to be aware of what you’re sharing, and how you can limit it if you want to.

Privacy on iOS versus Android

Apple's privacy policy in a web browser.
You should read the privacy policy for every app or service you get. David Nield

Apple tends to limit its data collection to fewer locations than Google does. A lot of personalized data, like the stuff Siri knows about you, stays locked on your device and never goes back to Apple’s servers. Apple also keeps less personal information on its users. This anonymized data allows the company to learn about its users’ habits without storing complete profiles on individuals themselves.

Google would say that the extra data it collects, from what you’ve watched on YouTube to your home address, helps customize its services and apps for users, with better personalization and programs that recognize you across all devices. We’ll let you decide on that.

No matter which system you use, your phone’s privacy settings will allow you to specify the data Apple or Google can collect about your behavior. Here’s how to pick and choose which information you’re willing to share—or not.

Important iOS privacy settings

On an iPhone, the Privacy menu within the Settings app is the obvious place to start. Tap Location Services, then System Services to change how Apple can use your location and how it can’t. Tap Significant Locations, for example, and you’ll be able to use a toggle switch to decide whether iOS keeps records of places you visit often. You may have to enter your passcode to proceed. Apple uses this data to provide location-related features in Calendar, Maps, and other Apple apps. From the same screen, you can wipe the location history your iPhone has built up: tap Clear History, then Clear History again on the popup menu.

The location-use menu includes dozens of switches, from My Find iPhone to Routing & Traffic. It’s your call which ones you’re comfortable enabling. You can also switch location monitoring on or off for individual apps, whether they’re Apple-made or not, from the main Location Services menu.

In addition to your location, Apple gathers information on your phone’s hardware and software performance. Head back to the Privacy screen, tap Analytics & Improvements, and you can control how much of this anonymized data Apple sends back to base and to developers.

[Related: How to turn on Apple Mail Privacy Protection]

You can also control whether Apple will use your information in order to try to serve up more relevant advertisements. Tap Apple Advertising, then toggle off Personalized Ads to turn off targeted ads on iOS.

All of these settings come with explanatory notes you can read through if you want to know more about why the data is collected and how it’s used. It’s worth reading up on the issues to help you strike a balance between privacy and convenience. Remember that stopping ad tracking won’t necessarily reduce the number of ads you see, but it will increase the chances that they won’t interest you.

Outside of the Privacy menu, you can customize apps individually. To clear everything that Siri knows about you, for instance, go to Siri & Search in settings, tap Siri & Dictation History, and choose Delete Siri & Dictation History. Confirm your choice on the popup menu that appears. If you open the Safari menu in Settings, you can turn off suggestions based on sites you’ve visited in the past, and stop Safari from showing frequently visited sites as well.

Remember that a lot of apps and websites will be collecting data on you even if Apple isn’t, and you’ll need to configure these app settings separately. That includes apps from Google, if you have installed them on your iPhone. Open up Google Maps for iOS, tap your avatar, then Settings, and you can prevent Google from tracking where your iPhone is going (the Personal content menu) and the places you’ve been to in Maps (the Maps history menu).

Much of what you do on your iPhone, like your text messaging history, isn’t monitored or tracked by Apple. Apple is also less interested than Google in building a profile of you for its advertisers. So, as far as privacy on iOS goes, you should focus on locations and past searches. Just be aware that when you stop this data from being tracked, you won’t get the convenient features that go along with the monitoring.

Privacy settings on Google’s Android

The Location setting on an Android phone.
You can easily switch off location tracking for your Android phone. David Nield

As we mentioned earlier, compared with Apple, Google’s apps typically collect more data about you across more platforms. To be fair, Google also gives you an intuitive and straightforward interface for managing all this data.

Swipe down from the top of your Android device’s screen, then press and hold Location to determine whether or not your phone knows where you are at all times, as well as grant or deny apps have access to that information. Another option, Location History, lets you stop location data from being sent back to Google (so that it will be synced across all your devices and the web). Find it by going to Timeline, then Settings, and then Location History.

To manage the data logged by Android and other Google services, choose Google from the Settings app, then open the Google Settings app. From there, you can either work through the Privacy Checkup offered by Google, or manually configure the different types of activity: location tracking, web search logging, voice commands you’ve used on Android, and more.

[Related: How to share your location without broadcasting it to strangers]

Under Manage your Google Account, you can view and delete information in several categories, and stop this information from being logged in the future. To clear your “OK Google” voice searches, for example, choose Data & privacy, then Web & App Activity. Turn the Include audio recordings option off, and no future voice searches will be saved. The other activity sections, including location and web searches, work in the same way.

As with Apple’s services, you’ll need to decide where you want to draw the line. Tracking what you’ve looked for on the web and asked Google about in the past will help the search engine serve up more relevant answers in the future (or at least that’s Google’s promise). Google follows Apple in giving you lots of background information about each option and each type of data as you work your way through the menu.

Farther down the Data & privacy screen is an option for Ad Settings. If you tap on this, you can choose whether the ads you see are personalized, and even give Google some clues about the topics you’re interested in, based on everything you’ve done with Google apps and Android in the past.

Remember that Google collects data from plenty of sources, including Android TV boxes and the Google Nest Hub you might have set up in the living room. If you want to manage the data collected from all these places, head to your Google account page on the web.

As on Apple devices, it’s a good idea to check on what individual apps are logging about you, outside of Google’s own software. You can do this via each app’s respective privacy policies. If you see something you’re not comfortable with, uninstall the app in question, or modify its permissions via the Apps & notifications section Settings.

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20 quick ways to dial up your smartphone game https://www.popsci.com/quick-smartphone-tips/ Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/quick-smartphone-tips/
A person standing outside wearing a blue winter coat and a gray knit hat while smiling and looking at their phone.
These tips should make using your phone a more pleasant experience. Meghan Schiereck / Unsplash

Give your device a minute of your time.

The post 20 quick ways to dial up your smartphone game appeared first on Popular Science.

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A person standing outside wearing a blue winter coat and a gray knit hat while smiling and looking at their phone.
These tips should make using your phone a more pleasant experience. Meghan Schiereck / Unsplash

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

This story has been updated. It was originally published on October 19, 2019.

While we might pull out and check our smartphones dozens (or hundreds) of times a day, we’re more likely to be checking social media feeds than tweaking settings that might improve our experience.

Take the time to make your life better and easier with these handy hints for Android and iOS. Each will only take about a minute, and you can do them while waiting for your train, during some downtime at lunch, or whenever you’ve got a spare moment. By the time you’ve worked through them all, you’ll find your phone more personalized, more efficient, and more fun to use.

1. Clear out old photos

If you’re using Google Photos (on Android or iOS) or iCloud Photos (on iOS) to back up your pictures and videos to the cloud, you can clear the local copies off your phone and free up some serious storage space. In Google Photos, tap your profile picture (top right), then choose Free up space.

For iCloud Photos, open the Settings app, tap your name at the top of the screen, select iCloud, then Photos, and turn on the toggle switch next to iCloud Photos. Your phone will only delete local copies if it knows you’ve already got backups in the cloud.

2. Tidy up your home screens

Android and iOS manage home screen icons quite differently: iOS sticks to regimented rows and columns, while Android gives you much more freedom. However, you can tidy up your sprawl of icons on both operating systems by dragging them into folders.

Just press and hold on an icon, then drag it on top of another to create a folder. (On iOS, a menu will appear and you’ll have to select Edit Home Screen before you can move anything, though you can also press and hold on an empty area of the screen to unlock the ability to move things around.) Tap to open the folder and you can rename it whatever you like—maybe Social, Productivity, or Games. Your home screens should now be easier to navigate.

3. Prioritize your widgets

Widgets give you helpful at-a-glance information and instant access to various apps—you can get the weather forecast, traffic conditions, or the search bar for a specific app, for example. On Android, you can tap and hold on a blank part of the home screen, then choose Widgets to see the widgets available from your apps.

It’s slightly different in iOS, where you can add widgets to your home screen or the Today View (one swipe right from the home screen). From the home screen, press and hold on a blank area, then tap the plus icon in the top left corner to choose widgets. From the Today View, scroll to the bottom of the list and tap Edit to select the shortcuts and panels you’ll have access to.

4. Access key features faster

Both Android and iOS let you pull up panels packed with icons for phone features you might use regularly, like the flashlight or airplane mode. On Android, this panel is called Quick Settings, and on iOS it’s the Control Center.

[Related: 24 iPhone settings that feel like secrets]

These shortcuts can be really handy, but you don’t have to settle for the default selection and layout. On Android, open the Quick Settings drawer with a three-finger drag down from the top of the screen, then tap the pencil icon (bottom left) to start customizing. On iOS, open Settings, then go to Control Center to make edits—tap the plus and minus icons to add or remove controls and drag the three lines to the right of each feature to rearrange them.

5. Type to your digital assistant

The iPhone settings that will let you type to Siri.
Ask Siri whatever you want without shouting it to the world. David Nield

If you’re in a library or at a bus stop, you don’t necessarily want to ask questions out loud to Siri and the Google Assistant, but you can opt to type them instead. This is actually pretty simple on Android: from your home screen, tap the colored dots at the bottom, then the keyboard icon. If you type something to the Google Assistant, it will automatically respond quietly.

Siri requires a bit more configuration. From Settings go to Accessibility, Siri, and turn on Type to Siri. If you don’t want Siri to audibly speak back, choose the option below to only allow voice feedback With Silent Mode off or Only with “Hey Siri”.

6. Quiet noisy notifications

If an app is distracting you more than you’d like, you don’t have to put up with it. If you know where to look for them, both Android and iOS have evolved to have some fairly advanced notification management features.

Those of you on Android will need to head to Settings, choose Apps & notifications, and tap on a particular app to adjust its notification settings. On iOS, head to Settings, then touch Notifications. Pick an app from the list to change the way it notifies you, or to turn alerts off for it altogether.

7. Get some peace at night

Speaking of muting notifications, you can set up a Do Not Disturb window for your bedtime, which means no vibrating phones or loud alerts will wake you up in the middle of the night. Notifications will still come through, but they will do so silently.

On Android, head to Settings, then Sound & vibration, and Do Not Disturb. On iOS, from Settings pick Focus, followed by Do Not Disturb. In both cases you can set specific times for Do Not Disturb to enable and disable itself. You can also allow calls and notifications from specific contacts if you think they might need to reach you in an emergency.

8. Use your smartphone responsibly

Android and iOS both let you set timers on specific apps to help you use them responsibly and get some kind of balance between your phone and your real life. These timers are easy to override, but you might find them to be helpful aids to your (often weak) willpower.

If you’re using Android, pick Digital Wellbeing & parental controls from Settings, then tap Dashboard, and tap the hourglass next to each app to set a daily limit on it. On iOS, open Settings and select Screen Time, then tap App Limits to start setting restrictions.

9. Recognize people by their ringtone

Think quickly—your phone is ringing from the other side of the room; do you get up from that amazingly comfortable position on your couch and make the effort to know who it is? Or do you let it ring? You won’t have to leave the comfort of your couch ever again. It’s possible to assign unique ringtones and text alerts to specific contacts on your phone, so you’ll know without looking whether the person trying to reach you is someone you want to speak to or not.

[Related: How to make a custom ringtone on Android and iOS]

On Android, you can manage this from the Contacts app by tapping on a contact, then tapping the menu button (three dots, top right), and choosing Set ringtone. To set custom text message sounds, you’ll actually need to go to the Messages app, open a conversation, then tap the menu button, Details, and Notifications. On iOS, open Contacts, then choose a contact and select Edit. Next, scroll down to Ringtone and Text Tone to make changes.

10. Get your phone to flash

If your phone tends to get lost in the dark depths of your bag or backpack, it can be useful to have its rear camera flash light up when you get a call or a text. This is quite easy to do on iOS. From Settings, pick Accessibility, Audio/Visual, and LED Flash for Alerts.

It’s a bit more complicated on Android, though. Some Android phones, like Samsung and LG handsets, have the option in Settings—go to Accessibility and Hearing to find it. Other Android phones don’t, but a free app such as Flash Alerts will do the job for you.

11. Speed up your typing

How to register macros on an Android phone.
Why type a complete sentence when your smartphone can do it for you? David Nield

If there are phrases you always find yourself saying and typing—”see you soon” or “I’m on my way!”—you can set text macros on your phone. Once you do, just type in two or three letters, and your phone will expand them to a full phrase.

If you’re an Android user, open Settings and select System, Languages & input, Advanced, and Personal dictionary. On iOS, you’ll need to go to Settings and pick General, Keyboard, and Text Replacement.

12. Use the keyboard with one hand

On the topic of keyboards, you can use your phone more easily with one hand by switching to the aptly named one-handed mode. This is particularly helpful if you’re trying to wrestle with a phone that has a large screen.

With the Android Gboard keyboard on screen, press and hold on the comma, then drag up and to the right to the one-handed mode icon. Use the arrow icon to switch sides, and the expand icon to return the keyboard to normal. With the iOS keyboard, press and hold on the globe icon and then pick the left or right option. When you’re done, the arrow icon will take you back to the normal mode.

13. Take photos while you’re filming video

Have you ever wanted to take a snapshot of a moment while you’re recording a video? Maybe you want a thumbnail to illustrate the video later when you upload to the web, or you just see something framed in a cool way and want to capture it.

[Related: Your phone’s camera does so much more than take pictures]

Android will do this for you automatically. Record your video, and when you’re finished, open it by tapping the gallery icon on the right side of the shutter button. The video’s timeline will appear under it, and you’ll notice a handful of dots over it. Tap the dots to see the selected frames Android chose for you, and if you like them, tap Export HDR shot to save it as a photo. 

On iOS, when you’re recording video in the default camera app, you’ll see a white shutter button to the left of the big red video recording one—tap it to take a picture.

14. Link to websites from the home screen

If there are websites you’re always opening up (maybe your favorite news or sports site), you can pin shortcuts to these websites onto your phone’s home screen. This will make opening the site as simple as launching an app.

In Chrome for Android, you can do this by tapping the menu button (three dots, top right) and choosing Add to Home screen. In Safari on iOS, you’ll need to tap the share button (an arrow coming out of a box), then pick Add to Home Screen.

15. Mirror your phone screen

The iOS Control Center with Screen Mirroring and other tools.
What an even bigger screen? Have your phone screen displayed on your Apple TV. David Nield

Sometimes it can be handy to get your phone screen up on a big screen. Both Android and iOS can do this, but they use different platforms.

On Android, open Quick Settings with a three-finger drag down from the top of the screen, then swipe left and choose Screen Cast—you can then mirror the display to any Chromecast device. On iOS, open Control Center by dragging down from the top right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom if your phone has a Home button) and tapping Screen Mirroring (two overlapping rectangles)—here you can use any AirPlay-enabled device, such as an Apple TV.

16. Switch to a dark theme

The latest versions of Android (Android 11) and iOS (iOS 15) include system-wide dark modes you can use if you want to give your eyes a rest, or if you think the darker mode looks cooler than the lighter one.

If you’re on Android 11, go to Settings, then tap on Accessibility and Dark theme. Meanwhile, on iOS 15, you’ll need to head to Display & Brightness in Settings and then select Dark.

17. Get your battery to last longer

Both Android and iOS have battery management modes that kick in when the battery is low. They restrict the number of apps that can run in the background, reduce the number of times apps can check for updates, and apply various other tweaks that’ll make your battery last longer. What you might not know is that you don’t have to wait until your phone is dying on you—can activate these modes manually.

[Related: Extend your phone’s battery life with these 4 easy steps]

You can start limiting battery use whenever you like, even if your battery is at 75 percent. On Android, head to Settings, then Battery and Battery Saver. On iOS, open up Settings, then choose Battery and toggle on Low Power Mode.

18. Make text easier to read

If you’re struggling to read the text that shows up on your phone screen, don’t worry—your phone includes a setting to boost the text size across all of your apps and the mobile operating system itself.

If you’re an Android user, open Settings, then head to Display, Advanced, and Font size. If you’re on iOS, you’ll need to go to Settings, then pick Accessibility, Display & Text Size, and Larger Text. As you make adjustments, they’ll be previewed on screen.

19. Don’t let your phone disrupt your sleep

Both Android and iOS include options to reduce the amount of blue light your phone display emits. Blue light has been associated with blocking the melatonin chemical that helps regulate our sleep, so the more you expose yourself to it, the worse you’ll sleep.

It’s a good idea to turn your screen a warmer shade late at night to prevent this. On Android, drag down with three fingers from the top of the screen, then tap the Night Light button on the Quick Settings panel. On iOS, open Settings, then tap Display & Brightness and Night Shift.

20. In case of emergency

Finally, make sure your phone’s emergency details are up to date—these could come in handy in the unfortunate event you’re injured and someone needs to know who to call. These details include information such as your name, blood type, food allergies, age, emergency contacts, and whether or not you’re an organ donor.

With Android, open Settings, then pick About phone and Emergency information. On iOS, you’ll need to open up the Health app, tap your avatar in the top right corner, then tap Medical ID. You can also choose to make this data accessible from the lock screen of your phone, so anyone can see it.

The post 20 quick ways to dial up your smartphone game appeared first on Popular Science.

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Even the iPhone 13 may not escape the chip shortage https://www.popsci.com/technology/apple-iphone-13-chip-shortage/ Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:09:25 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=402666
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 may face supply crunch due to global chip shortages. Howard Bouchevereau / Unsplash

According to a report from Bloomberg News, supply issues with chip components from Broadcom and Texas Instruments may be holding up manufacturing.

The post Even the iPhone 13 may not escape the chip shortage appeared first on Popular Science.

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iPhone 13
iPhone 13 may face supply crunch due to global chip shortages. Howard Bouchevereau / Unsplash

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On Tuesday, Bloomberg News reported that Apple might be making 10 million fewer iPhone 13s in 2021 than it had originally planned, due to chip shortages. 

Apple had been banking on producing 90 million new iPhones from October to December of this year, according to Bloomberg, but the company told its manufacturing partners that the new total will be lower as the companies that make chip components—such as Broadcom and Texas Instruments—come up short in their supply deliveries. (Texas Instruments provides Apple with display parts and Broadcom supplies wireless components.) 

Different types of chips that perform a variety of functions are housed in the iPhone’s logic board, which interconnects the circuitry underlying the various components and helps them coordinate with one another. TechCrunch once referred to a logic board as “a club sandwich of chips.” 

Broadcom relies on contract chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build its products, as it has no factories of its own. And while Texas Instruments does produce some parts internally, it also relies on external manufacturers, Bloomberg says. 

Apple directly uses Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to build the A-series processors (the phone’s central processing units) that it designs. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, had in fact warned the public in July about the escalating effects that the chip shortage would have on sales of iPhones and tablets. During an earnings call, he said that the supply crunches Apple expects aren’t in its custom chips or processors, but in the “legacy nodes,” which are manufactured through older equipment and support functions related to displays or audio, according to CNBC.

The Verge notes that “while the primary A15 Bionic SoC [system on a chip] on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro is manufactured by TSMC [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company], there are plenty of other chip-based components inside the phone that come from other sources.” A blog post from iFixit broke down the iPhone 13 logic board in detail, showing who supplies what parts. One component of the chip in short supply for the latest iPhones helps power the OLED display, Bloomberg says. Apple’s new 5G iPhones, including the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 12, all have OLED displays. 

The iPhone is not the only product facing tight availability. Apparently, other products such as the Apple Watch Series 7 have also been impacted.

[Related: Understanding the global chip shortage, a big crisis involving tiny components]

Globally, chip production is currently mainly run out of Taiwan and Korea. In 2020, only 12 percent of chips were made in America, James Lewis, senior vice president and director of CSIS’s Strategic Technologies Program, told Popular Science earlier this summer. President Biden’s infrastructure bill from earlier this year had proposed investing $50 billion for chip manufacturing and research

As demand for new consumer electronics outpace the capacity to produce these chips (especially with factories closing and port activities bottlenecking due to COVID), experts say that consumers will likely see delays and price hikes for products that require chips or semiconductors. 

[Related: Why a record number of container ships are backed up off the coast of California]

Apple said that supply chain management and building a supply buffer helped them avoid problems in meeting demand earlier this year, Reuters reported. But Apple is currently competing against other industries for chip-making capacity in older factories.

Now Apple, along with various other industries that need microchips or semiconductors in their products, seems to be feeling the rippling effects of the global chip shortage

“In the last 2 days shipment times on many iPhone Pro/Pro Max in the US went from October 22 to November 19 (as of today) speaking to the delays in the supply chain,” Daniel Ives and John Katsingris noted in a Wedbush analyst report on Oct 12. “It’s just a timing issue of iPhone units shipping to customers with supply chain constraints rampant across Asia,” and it “ultimately speaks to a stronger demand trajectory than the Street had been anticipating with the supply chain constraints now needing to reduce builds given component shortages.” 

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Your iPhone already tracks your steps. What if it tracked your mood, too? https://www.popsci.com/technology/apple-interested-in-monitoring-depression-using-iphones/ Sat, 25 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=398621
In the future, your smartphone might play a role in suggesting that your mood is low.
In the future, your smartphone might play a role in suggesting that your mood is low. Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash

A recent report suggests Apple is interested in using its smartphone to notice signs of depression.

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In the future, your smartphone might play a role in suggesting that your mood is low.
In the future, your smartphone might play a role in suggesting that your mood is low. Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash

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Apple is reportedly working with UCLA to develop new technology that uses facial recognition and other behavioral tracking tools to detect depression in iPhone users, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article.

By using information most smartphones already have access to, like your typing behavior and activity patterns, Apple seems to be imagining a world where your phone could warn you that your mood’s been bleak.

“I certainly don’t imagine that we can diagnose any mental health condition simply by using passive sensing technology,” says Dr. Mitch Prinstein, chief science officer of the American Psychological Association, “but I do think that we can create an opportunity for people to become aware of significant risk factors, and increase awareness about conditions people might not even realize they’re suffering from.”

Here’s what to know about Apple’s potential foray into the world of mood tracking. 

What would a future where this tech is used look like?

The technology would use data from the phone’s camera, video and audio sensors to make these mood assessments, according to the Wall Street Journal. If you have an Apple Watch, the system would also be able to use data about your sleeping habits, exercise routines, and vital signs. People’s facial expressions, as well as how they speak and type, including how often there are typos in their texts, could help phones analyze user moods.

Apple has already implemented a number of well-known health-tracking features, and also offers a Research app for optional investigations such as the Apple Hearing Study. Apple’s current healthcare tracking tools automatically count steps, for example, and users can also track their menstrual cycles, keep track of their immunizations, and analyze other health markers that can be sent in a report to your doctor. And of course, health is a major focus point of the Apple Watch.

But trying to detect mental illness takes this type of analysis a step further, and Prinstein says that’s actually a good thing. “So many primary school children receive screenings for hearing, vision, and are taught during school time how to appropriately brush their teeth,” says Prinstein. “I think it’s long past time that we are thinking about how to build in emotional and behavioral health prevention opportunities in exactly the same way.”

[Related: ​​Apple has a new plan to curb child pornography. Here’s why it’s controversial.]

Our phones won’t be able to diagnose us with conditions like depression, says Prinstein, but they could hypothetically alert us if we’ve been texting our contacts less, or moving less, by using our geolocation and information about our texting frequency. The tech could also provide valuable data points to share with a doctor. Prinstein compares it to the way a friend might be able to notice changes in your behavior, but notes that “the phone would be able to do so with ubiquitous presence and probably far more reliably.”

What are the potential dangers?

Given how alarming it could be to get an alert on your phone saying you might be depressed, Prinstein says “it will be very important for psychologists to be involved in thinking about ways to create resources, alerts and information that can be supportive without causing undue distress or alarm.” 

Access to mental healthcare is still limited for many Americans, so living in a world where your phone can warn you about risk factors isn’t helpful when that world is still one where you cannot afford to seek treatment. “I hope policymakers are recognizing that there’s a window of opportunity here with the changes in technology,” says Prinstein. “We have spent too long providing funding and resources only for those who are already experiencing a crisis. Here, we can build psychological fluoride into the water.”

But while Prinstein is positive about the new technology, defenders of electronic privacy are voicing their concerns. This new tech would presumably use algorithms to analyze emotions. And recent studies have shown that emotion-detection software is susceptible to racial bias and is often inaccurate. One 2019 study analyzing all the research in the field came to the conclusion that there is little basis for accurately assessing people’s emotions with this technology. 

Even so, the value of emotion-detection software, which is used to vet job candidates and observe students in classrooms, is predicted to hit $37 billion by 2026.

What possible effects could this have?

Prinstein hopes this will spur government agencies into action. “I believe that private companies like Apple have recognized a very dire need for us to address mental health in a way that’s different from what we’re doing now,” says Prinstein. “I hope that the public sector will quickly follow in the private sector’s lead.”

Critics, like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, say this will further expand Apple’s reach and allow it to surveil its customers in ways they haven’t agreed to.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is passionate about the company’s work in the health field. “If you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind?’ It will be about health,” he said in 2019.

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OnePlus 9 Pro review: A true flagship Android device https://www.popsci.com/reviews/oneplus-9-pro-review/ Thu, 29 Jul 2021 20:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=383890
OnePlus 9 Pro main screen
The pinhole camera still annoys me. Stan Horaczek

The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a beautiful screen, improved camera performance, and absurdly fast charging.

The post OnePlus 9 Pro review: A true flagship Android device appeared first on Popular Science.

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OnePlus 9 Pro main screen
The pinhole camera still annoys me. Stan Horaczek

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Here in 2021, it’s difficult for flagship Android phones to stand out based on specs alone. Most top manufacturers rely on similar hardware. Look inside the OnePlus 9 Pro and you’ll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. That matches the chip you’ll find in its biggest competition, the Samung Galaxy S21. And while these phones aren’t exactly breaking molds with every new version, they do provide more choice when it comes to high-end Android devices, and that’s always a good thing. 

In short, the OnePlus 9 Pro smartphone is easily one of the best overall Android devices on the market. It’s not perfect, but it is pretty great. But, is it right for you?

Stan Horaczek

SEE IT

What is the OnePlus 9 Pro smartphone?

Pick up the OnePlus 9 Pro and it feels familiar. It’s 2.89 inches wide, 6.4 inches tall, and roughly a third of an inch thick. That can be hard to picture, but it’s slightly narrower than the OnePlus 8 Pro that came before it and the Samsung Galaxy S21. 

As the “Pro” suggests in its name, this is the very top of the OnePlus heap. Its primary brag over the rest of the lineup consists of an upgraded camera that the company claims to have developed with iconic Swedish camera maker, Hasselblad. 

The base model OnePlus 9 Pro comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. You can spend an extra $100 or so to get 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. If you plan to use this phone for several years, that seems like a worthy upgrade to me. 

The display

OnePlus 9 Pro iPhone 12 pro max comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro screen (left) is skinnier than the iPhone 12 Pro Max screen (right). Stan Horaczek

The screen measures 6.7 inches and offers a 3,216 x 1440 resolution. It’s a little skinnier than I’m used to, but I actually prefer that. Even though I have fairly solid thumb reach, I found the slightly skinny OnePlus 9 Pro less harrowing to use one-handed than some of its thicker competition. 

Its 525 PPI is plenty dense, so you’ll never notice individual pixels with your naked eyes unless you’re some kind of superhero whose powers include nitpicking smartphone displays. The OnePlus screen also boasts a variable refresh rate. It can go from the smooth-scrolling 120 Hz down to just 1 Hz to save battery. That feature comes from the inclusion of a technology called low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, which Samsung first started using in its Note series smartphones last year. You won’t find this tech inside the regular OnePlus 9, so only the Pro version enjoys the performance and battery advantages it offers.

Overall, the screen is bright, easy to read under a variety of conditions, and provides smooth motion in just about every situation. I still don’t really like the front-facing camera poking through a hole in the display, but that’s certainly not unique to the OnePlus and I also seem to be in the minority with my griping.

Speeds and performance

As stated above, the OnePlus 9 Pro relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which also appears in the Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone. Combined with 8 GB or 12 GB RAM, it has more than enough power for any task you plan on doing with an Android phone. Check the Geekbench benchmarking charts and you’ll find that the OnePlus 9 Pro is among the fastest devices available at the moment, even if the iPhone 12 Pro models beat it when it comes to pure speed. 

Benchmark numbers rarely translate directly into the real world, however. I used the OnePlus 9 Pro as my daily driver phone for several weeks and put it through a number of resource-intensive activities. It handled video editing in Adobe’s Premiere Rush app as well as several hours (oops) of Magic: Arena among other graphics-heavy titles. In every case, the OnePlus 9 Pro handled the loads just fine. That’s what you’d expect and the phone delivered. 

Part of that speedy performance comes from OnePlus’s ability to resist cramming its devices full of bloatware. It runs Android 11, but also employs OnePlus’s own OxygenOS, which adds some smart tweaks to the system. 

For instance, you can keep two versions of the same app installed in case you want to access the platform with two accounts without constantly having to switch profiles or sign in and out. That’s surprisingly handy, which is more than I can say for most features that come piled on top of the vanilla Android experience. 

What about the OnePlus 9 Pro camera?

OnePlus 9 Pro camera modules
Stan Horaczek

This is where flagship smartphones have it out these days. OnePlus tapped iconic camera maker Hasselblad to help out with its smartphone cameras as part of a deal that it says will last years. This is supposedly just the first step. 

Don’t get too excited if you’re a camera nerd. Hasselblad didn’t build the hardware that’s in the OnePlus device. Instead, the Swedish camera manufacturer helped OnePlus with the color science that went into the overall camera system. 

The OnePlus 9 Pro offers three main cameras. The main module sports a 48-megapixel capture behind a wide-angle, f/1.8 lens with optical image stabilization. The super-wide camera sports a 50-megapixel resolution and a fixed f/2.2 aperture. The telephoto camera rounds out the hardware with a smaller 12-megapixel resolution and a fixed f/2.4 aperture. While those megapixel counts are definitely high, the lenses offer some familiar focal lengths, so you can expect a relatively similar experience to other flagship devices like the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21.

Overall image quality

When it comes to overall imaging performance, I found the OnePlus 9 Pro impressive. Whether it’s due to the Hasselblad involvement or not, I liked the relatively natural color and tone reproduction the main camera offers. It provides a result that’s closer to what I’d expect from a dedicated camera without the overly ambitious color enhancements Samsung typically applies. It also doesn’t fall into the trap of overdoing it with HDR-like the iPhone camera sometimes does. 

I was particularly impressed with the super-wide lens. OnePlus did a really solid job toning down the typical distortion that usually appears around the edges of a super-wide frame. Because it uses an unusually large sensor, the image quality is also above average. If you’re particularly interested in the super-wide-angle views, the 9 Pro is worth strong consideration. 

Zooming, however, is another story. When it comes to reach, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the champ. It has a true optical zoom lens that handily beats most other devices around. The OnePlus 9 Pro isn’t bad, it’s just not close to the Samsung GOAT this time around. 

Other imaging features

In addition to the typical camera sensors, OnePlus included a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor it can use to help make more authentic black-and-white images. It’s good at what it does, but black-and-white conversions have gotten very good–especially with editing presets–that I wouldn’t expect to use it very often. 

The 9 Pro shoots up to 8K video, but again, I don’t find all that resolution particularly useful. Shooting 4K at up to 120 fps is intriguing, however. High-res, slow-motion footage tends to look really cool if you have enough light for it. You can get even slower, too. Dial the resolution down to 720p and you can go all the way up to 480 fps. That’s 16x slower than real life. Pretty much everything that happens quickly looks cool when recorded at that speed. 

The OnePlus 9 Pro’s super-fast charging

The OnePlus 9 Pro charges so quickly that it’s almost funny. The phone ships with a 65T Warp Charge unit that promises to take the phone from totally dead to 100 percent in just over a half-hour. I tried it and in less than 40 minutes, the phone went from zero to 100 percent. It only took 7 minutes for it to hit 20 percent. It’s bonkers. 

You can only achieve those speeds with the dedicated charger, though. Switch to a third-party plug and you’re handcuffed down to a familiar 18 watts. 

If you’re willing to shell out some extra cash, you can also get super-fast wireless charging. The $70 Warp Charge 50 Wireless Charger can take a 9 Pro device from zero to 100 percent in well under an hour without having to plug it in. It will certainly generate some heat in the process, but that’s seriously fast. 

That fast charging makes up for the fact that the battery itself isn’t huge. I had no problem getting a full day and night of use, but I still felt better putting the phone on the charger every night. 

Who should buy the OnePlus 9 Pro

If you’re in the market for a flagship Android phone, then the OnePlus 9 Pro should be in contention. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy 21, you’ll get a similarly beautiful screen, fast performance, and extremely capable cameras that excel in most situations. Samsung still has the edge in a few spots, particularly when it comes to the built-in zoom lens and compatibility with the company’s S Pen stylus. But, OnePlus has a cleaner version of Android, and that borderline bananas charging speed. 

While there’s very little to complain about here, it’s important to remember that we’re talking about a phone that will cost you roughly $1,000. As always, it’s worth really analyzing whether those features and spec bumps are worth spending the extra cash over something like the much cheaper Nord 2 when it hits the US.

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The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is a dream for serious mobile gamers https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/lenovo-legion-duel-gaming-smartphone/ Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/story/?p=281926
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 buttons
Extra buttons make the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 feel like a controller during gaming. Lenovo

This powerful device includes two cooling fans and a super-fast touchscreen.

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Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 buttons
Extra buttons make the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 feel like a controller during gaming. Lenovo

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Unless you’re spending hours per day playing PUBG Mobile on your smartphone, a gaming phone is probably overkill for you. If that’s your thing, however, then over-the-top performance is the point. The new Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 promises everything a gamer could want except for a heap of RGB lighting.

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 specs

Its spec list includes several superlatives in its class. The Legion Phone Duel 2  uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which you’ll find in most flagship Android phones this year. It has a 6.92-inch AMOLED display that supports HDR 10+. In addition to its burly size, the screen also boasts a 144 Hz refresh rate, which means it can provide even smoother motion than the high-end 120 Hz phones during fast gaming action. 

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 cooling fans
A closer look at the cooling fans inside the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2. Lenovo

The screen is fast in another way, too. While it refreshes the picture on-screen up to 144 times per second, it can detect a user’s touch at up to 720 Hz. High-end phones like the OnePlus 9 Pro, for instance, pair a 120 Hz refresh rate with a 240 Hz sample rate. So, the Lenovo is, at least in theory, much quicker to register a user’s finger. That kind of thing can make a noticeable difference in an intense game. 

In addition to the screen, there are also eight buttons and keys around the device to make the phone feel more like using a controller. Here’s how those break down: Four shoulder buttons are on the top of the device (when you’re holding it horizontally, which most games require). There are two capacitive keys on the back, one on either side of the hump in the middle of the device. The final two buttons are force-touch areas of the display itself on the front of the device. Pressing on them with various levels of pressure can register commands. 

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2
The selfie camera pops up from the side of the phone to work when it’s in horizontal position Lenovo

[Related: Small tweaks to make gaming better on your phone]

Because Lenovo expects people to hold the phone horizontally most of the time, the camera bump on the back of the device actually protrudes from the middle rather than staying off to one end. That way both hands get exactly the same feel for holding the phone. The processor and computing hardware also live under that bump and away from your fingers to keep your hands cool. 

Built-in cooling

A diagram of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 cooling system
This diagram shoes the full cooling system inside the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 Lenovo

Each end of the phone has its own cooling fan to siphon heat away from the processor, and the battery is split into two pieces. It offers a total of 5,500 mAh of power. In order to prevent a camera notch from cutting into the display, Lenovo built a pop-up selfie camera into the front of the device. When you’re not using it, the camera actually retracts down into the side of the phone. That’s another feature that we saw back with the OnePlus 7 Pro, but that camera came out of the top of the device for a more familiar layout. OnePlus also nixed that feature for subsequent versions in its Pro line. 

Availability

Right now, Lenovo’s beastly Legion Phone Duel 2 is only slated for immediate release in China and then later in Europe and other parts of Asia. We don’t have US release information yet, but that’s not unusual for a phone like this. Demand for high-end Android devices made for gaming hasn’t really hit the US heavily—at least not yet. 

If you’re eager to get the burliest gaming phone around instead of waiting for Lenovo to bring this stateside, you do have options. The Asus Rog 5 phone isn’t officially for sale in the US at the moment, but it’s easy enough to get a European version if you’re eager for one. That will get you a 144 Hz screen and a super-long battery life. Plus, a company called Red Magic is also offering pre-orders for a Snapdragon 888-powered phone with a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen that goes all the way up to 165 Hz.

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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra smartphone has an extra screen specifically to help with selfies https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/xiaomi-mi-11-ultra-smartphone/ Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:53:06 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/story/?p=280158
xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra in a weird block land
You can store it in your weird cube land. Xiaomi

A tiny 1.1-inch display can make a big difference when framing your shot.

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xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra in a weird block land
You can store it in your weird cube land. Xiaomi

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When it comes to most photographic situations, the cameras on the back of your smartphone vastly outperform those on the front. But when taking selfies, of course, people typically avoid those cameras and use the front-facing one instead. Frustratingly, all those extra megapixels, better lenses, and fancy AI-based shooting modes don’t mean much if you can’t see what you’re taking a picture of. But the new Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra smartphone has a solution to that problem. The company has added an extra AMOLED display to its already robust camera bump on the back of the device. 

That extra screen isn’t very big. It’s a 1.1-inch, wide-format display with a resolution of just 126 x 294. That sounds paltry, but it’s plenty to give people a rudimentary idea of what their picture will look like when shooting a selfie. It can also display notifications and other info like remaining battery life, time, and temperature. 

A powerful camera bump for the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

The rest of the gear enveloped by the camera bump is similarly impressive. The main 50-megapixel wide-angle camera has an f/1.95 lens sitting in front of Samsung’s latest high-end sensor. That chip, called the ISOCELL GN2, employs a split pixel tech typically found in more advanced mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. Because each pixel is split, they receive light from subtly different angles. The camera can use that position data to quickly focus on objects in the camera’s field of view to make the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra well-equipped to capture stunning photos.

That sensor is also relatively large, which means the pixels themselves are bigger. That makes them better at capturing light, which is the point of a camera in the first place. 

In addition to the main module, the Mi 11 Ultra also sports a super-wide, 48-megapixel camera and a 5x optical zoom lens that can reach all the way out to 120X if you don’t mind bringing “digital zoom” into the mix. All three rear-facing cameras also promise 8K video, which is nifty, but still impractical at the moment.

There is a front-facing camera, of course, for video chats. It’s a fairly standard 20-megapixel camera that peeks through a hole in the main display. 

The rest of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra specs

This is a flagship device, so it offers a suite of mostly high-end features. The main 6.8-inch display offers a 3,200 x 1,440 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming and scrolling. The touch sampling rate refreshes at 480 Hz, which means it will recognize your finger’s presence and movements with serious accuracy and responsiveness in most cases. 

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 processor handles the computing tasks with help from 12GB RAM. The 5,000mAh battery fast charges at 67X and also allows reverse wireless charging at up to 10W. So, if your pal’s device dies when you’re not near a charger, you can offer them some juice by simply putting your phones together back-to-back.

Release details

There’s no information about a US release of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra at the moment, but it is available in China for around $1,000 for the flagship model. The European version will go on sale in the coming weeks for 1,199 euro. 

If you don’t want to hop into an imported phone, it seems likely that Samsung will integrate this new camera chip into some of its devices coming later this year.

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Apple AirTag: 8 common questions answered https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/apple-airtag-faq/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:01:31 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/story/?p=284394
Apple AirTag on keys with the red leather key ring
The red leather key ring is a nice touch. Stan Horaczek

Digging into some frequently asked questions about Apple AirTag including how to get the battery out.

The post Apple AirTag: 8 common questions answered appeared first on Popular Science.

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Apple AirTag on keys with the red leather key ring
The red leather key ring is a nice touch. Stan Horaczek

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This week, Apple finally announced AirTag. These button-sized trackers rely on the company’s Find My network to keep tabs on just about anything. I’ve had a handful of them for the past 24 hours, so don’t consider this a full review, but I can answer some of the most common questions I’ve seen online. Here’s a list of things you may be wondering.

What does the package look like?

Apple AirTag Packaging compared to an iPhone box
The box on the right contains the new iPhone 12 in Purple. Stan Horaczek

Apple sells single trackers for $29 and four-packs for $99. The packages sport a rather minimal design with an actual-size picture of the AirTag on the outside. The package sizes make them look like they could house a really classy vape and its refills, respectively. They feel perfectly suited for Apple to market them as “stocking stuffers” when the holiday shopping bacchanal commences later this year. 

Does AirTag have a hole in it for a clip?

Nope. You can stick it in the pocket of a jacket or a bag. But, if you want to attach it with a clip or carabiner, you’re going to need to buy an accessory. I’m currently trying out the $29 Loop, the $39 Leather Loop, and the $35 Leather Key Ring.

Various companies have already announced AirTag accessories, including some from long-time Apple pal, Belkin. Moment has announced some simple, low-profile mounts that attach an AirTag to your computer or tablet without too much fuss.

Are they easy to set up?

As soon as you peel off the protective plastic layer, the AirTag beeps and goes into pairing mode. Bring it close enough to a compatible iPhone and it will pop up a familiar pairing module like the one for the Apple Watch or AirPods. 

The phone will ask you if you want to associate the AirTag with your device, and once you agree, it asks you to choose a name for it. There’s a predetermined list of objects to choose from. It’s full of boring practical stuff like “keys” and “backpack.” I recommend something that seems funny now, but will become very annoying and frustrating down the road when you need to use the service. Try something like “cherished sled from my childhood” or “Secret emergency stash of Aunt Annie’s pretzels gift cards.”

What can you do with AirTag once it’s up and running?

Clicking into the Find My app will give you several options. You can play a sound from the tag so you can track it down that way. You can also use the Find feature, which relies on the most recent iPhone’s built-in chip to give you a hyper-accurate location. Once activated, Find mode literally guides you to your AirTag with on-screen directions and haptic feedback. 

Will AirTags work with my ancient iPhone that I refuse to upgrade?

It depends on how ancient we’re talking. You’ll need iOS 14.5 to get the AirTags working, which means anything older than an iPhone 6S is out of luck. Those phones have stopped getting important updates and it’s probably time to upgrade anyway. 

What kind of battery does AirTag require and how the heck do you get the compartment open?

AirTag isn’t rechargeable. Rather, it relies on a CR2023 button battery. Believe it or not, you can find them at most department stores in the battery department. Amazon sells six-packs for $9, which is pretty cheap when you consider Apple says each one will last a year. 

To replace the battery, set the AirTag down on a table with the white side facing down. Use two fingers to push down on the shiny side, then turn slightly and the back comes off. I had to look up a YouTube video on how to do it because I didn’t see instructions in the packaging. Maybe I lost the instructions in a fit of irony.

Is AirTag waterproof?

Apple AirTags have achieved IP67 toughness ratings, which means it should be able to survive at least 30 minutes submerged in up to 3 feet of water. I hucked mine in a full bathtub and it seemed to work just fine. Then I got in the bath, lit a candle, and wrote some of this article because it’s wrong to waste water (or opportunities for self-care). 

Do the shiny AirTag surfaces collect scratches and fingerprints?

Yes. I expect AirTags to get a nice patina as it gets destroyed by the keys in my pocket over time. 

When is the full review coming?

I’m going to live with AirTag for a while to see what it’s like in the real world. I had previously bad experiences with some other similar products from other companies. They often just didn’t work when I needed them. I have higher hopes for Apple’s effort. 

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Here’s what’s coming in iOS 15: SharePlay, FaceTime, Focus modes, LiveText, and more https://www.popsci.com/reviews/here-is-what-is-coming-in-ios-15/ Wed, 21 Jul 2021 17:30:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=381667
iOS 15 updates
The latest iPhone beta offers lots of new features to try. Apple

Safari, multitasking, maps, and more get an overhaul in the new iOS 15 beta.

The post Here’s what’s coming in iOS 15: SharePlay, FaceTime, Focus modes, LiveText, and more appeared first on Popular Science.

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iOS 15 updates
The latest iPhone beta offers lots of new features to try. Apple

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The public beta of iOS 15 is in the wild and we’ve taken a closer look at some of the new features that are set to launch officially in the fall. The update comes with a few major upgrades to your favorite Apple apps, as well as many totally new features. It’s been almost a year, and a pandemic, since iOS 14 debuted and clearly the company has been hard at work. From a more natural way to FaceTime to the redesign of Weather, iOS 15 will affect the way you use all your devices across the Apple ecosystem. The decision to update can be confusing, so here’s what’s coming in iOS 15 to help prepare you before you take the plunge.

First things first: Who can upgrade?

With the introduction of the public beta program, anyone with compatible hardware can test-drive the latest iOS (as well as iPad OS and macOS) from the Cupertino kingpin. Just remember that early versions of new operating systems can come with instabilities, incompatibilities, and bugs that might disrupt daily use. We strongly recommend starting off with a spare device. If you are a fearless features explorer without an extra device on hand, make sure to create a backup of any important information you don’t want to risk damaging and then proceed to your iOS download. 

Before jumping into all the bells and whistles that come with this new iOS, it’s important to understand what hardware can support the Apple software update. If you’re already running iOS 14, you’re ready to start testing. The new iOS 15 beta support includes every device back to the iPhone 6S. Devices with the A12 Bionic Chip, however, get access to more advanced features. Those devices include the iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, 11 series (including 11 Pro and Pro Max), 12 series (including the 12 mini, Pro, and Pro Max), or iPhone SE 2020. Those devices can take advantage of iOS 15 features such as Spatial Audio, interactive maps, and Live Text, which will let you highlight and copy the text in photos. 

With an XR or later, you’ll be able to press down on the camera button for QuickTake video with zoom in and out shortcuts. With an XS or later, you’ll be able to store virtual car, hotel, and home keys in the Wallet. Naturally, any 5G enhancements will only work with iPhone 12 models, the only devices equipped with 5G connectivity. 

iPadOS 15 promises some ample app and feature crossovers and is compatible with most existing models, including the fifth-generation iPad, first-generation iPad Pro, third-generation iPad Air, and iPad mini 4. 

The big iOS updates: FaceTime and SharePlay 

What's coming in iOS 15 is updated facetime
It has been a while since FaceTime got a refresh. Apple

Perhaps the flashiest upgrade in the cornucopia of features brought to us by this new iOS update comes in the form of the Apple FaceTime facelift. Apple’s video chat feature debuted back in 2010, alongside the iPhone 4, as a WiFi-only app with a cellular version released in 2012. The following decade brought minimal changes. Aside from the introduction of audio-only FaceTime in 2013 and the addition of group video in 2018, the basic form and function of the app have remained the same. That changes with iOS 15. 

The biggest change to the video chat app is the introduction of SharePlay, which you’ll also find in the new iPad and Mac software. SharePlay lets you play additional audio or video during a FaceTime call, syncing playback and allowing all parties to have the same viewing experience, regardless of location. You’ll be able to watch major sporting events, stream the TV season premieres, and listen to the latest album releases together. You’ll never have to synchronize pushing play across time zones again. While there are other, perhaps pandemic-inspired, apps that share similar features, the integration of SharePlay within FaceTime itself is significant. 

It’s important to note that SharePlay will only work if all members on the call are Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscribers, or if each party has rented/purchased media through iTunes. It has been suggested, however, that the success of SharePlay could encourage streaming services—like Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu—to incorporate the feature down the line.  

When you watch an episode via SharePlay, you’ll be able to control the size and scale of each window on your own device without affecting the viewing experience of others. You can also toggle back and forth between watching your friend’s reaction and tapping back onto the “big” screen to focus on the media. While SharePlay does automatically drop the volume of whatever you’re playing when someone jumps in with a comment or a conversation breaks out, you won’t be able to individually adjust the audio. When you turn up the volume on whatever you’re streaming, you’ll also be turning on the FaceTime call volume.  

The feature does, however, support Spatial Audio. Spatial Audio officially hit the scene in June 2021 and provides the digitally generated impression of three-dimensional sound. Previously, you could only experience Spatial Audio in music mixed with Dolby Atmos, but the new upgrade means as long as you have a pair of AirPods Pro or Max and a compatible device, you can listen to songs streaming from Spotify, movie soundtracks, and more through the new and improved “Spatialize Stereo” pipeline. This also means that during FaceTime calls, you’ll hear the speaker’s voice rendered from the section of the screen where their window is. 

Additional new FaceTime features and upgrades include the ability to screen share, blur your background, trigger grid view, and even access FaceTime via the web browser on Windows or Android devices using shareable links.  

Brand new iOS 15 features: Focus and LiveText 

What's coming in iOS 15 is focus mode
Focus mode can help you hone in on a task with fewer distractions. Apple

The new, customizable Focus feature is designed to eliminate distractions and allow users to concentrate on specific tasks. Focus has been likened to Do Not Disturb, in that its primary function is to mute possible disturbances; however, the possibilities and preferences are far greater with this new feature. 

Instead of silencing all notifications when you’re not using your phone, Focus lets you pick and choose what to keep out when. You can set up specific modes for individual activities—like work, social time, or sleep—and include a subset of notification types that you’d like to turn off during that time. It will even allow you to assign customized home screens to each mode, displaying only the apps you need. You can also block certain contacts while allowing messages from essential personnel to come through. 

For example, you can disappear all social networking apps during the workday while keeping Slack or Gmail up and running. When the workday is over, silence those apps and allow yourself to focus on friends and family. Regardless of which mode you’ve triggered, other iOS 15 users will be able to see when you’ve triggered Focus, so you won’t need to explain unanswered texts. 

What's coming in iOS 15 is a better camera
The camera can recognize your handwriting if it’s not too messy. Apple

Our other favorite new features are LiveText and Visual Look Up. LiveText lets you take a photo or screenshot and then isolate and copy any included text, which you can then transfer to Notes or pin in an email or text message. At this point, Live Text works very well with printed pages, but it will certainly do its best with handwritten notes, too (though the quality of your handwriting plays a role in its efficacy). LiveText also means you can call phone numbers directly from an image, simply press and hold the number and a menu will pop up with options to FaceTime, call, or text. 

Visual Lookup is a tool that analyzes your photos and uses Siri Knowledge to gather information about the subject. All you need to do is tap the “Info” icon at the bottom of the screen to pull up Visual Lookup search results. Curious about what kind of plant has popped up in your garden? Wondering what local book store carries a copy of a cool graphic novel you spotted in a friend’s apartment? Want to know more about the history of a painting hanging up on your wall? Visual Lookup will have the answers…most of the time. This feature is still new and definitely suffers from frequent cases of mistaken identity, but its future is bright. Still, Apple is already playing catch-up to Google in this arena.

Not so tiny and definitely mighty redesigns: Safari and Maps

Alongside brand new features and updated functions, iOS 15 brings a number of aesthetic overhauls to your favorite apps. 

Apple’s native browser Safari has gotten a major visual overhaul. With iOS 15, you’ll find the browser’s URL bar at the bottom of the screen, which makes searching for and navigating multiple pages easier to do with one hand. As you scroll, the tab bar will disappear, popping up again with a quick tap. While this change seems small, it may take a minute to correct the muscle memory that pushes you to reach for the top of your phone. 

This version of Safari will also introduce a grid view, so you can see an overview of all open tabs, a major improvement over the obscured stacked tabs we see now. This addition accompanies a new grouped tabs feature, that will also be found in the new macOS Monterey. Like Google Chrome’s “Group Tab” function, this feature allows you to group related tabs together and save them for future browsing—an action that Group Tab currently doesn’t allow without an extension. 

To start a new tab group, you can swipe up from the search bar and create an empty group or compile all currently open tabs. When you want to add a tab, you can press and hold the pages’ search bar, triggering a pop-up menu, where you can select “Move to Tab Group” and place the tab accordingly. To switch between groups, press and hold on the currently viewed group, and select from other existing groups in the pop-up menu. You can also swipe left or right on the tab bar to jump back and forth between open tabs. As of the latest beta released prior to publication, jumping between grouped tabs only requires you to swipe right or left. 

Safari isn’t the only app to get a new and improved look. While I am a loyal Google Maps user, the new Apple Maps update may convert me. Anyone with an iPhone XR or later can take advantage of an interactive globe, including a view of Earth from space and detailed imaging of mountain ranges, forests, and oceans. 

A new 3D driving view displays lanes, roads, and buildings from the driver’s perspective for a much more practical upgrade. If you live in—or plan to visit—London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York, you can make use of more detailed 3D views of each impressive city. Public transit riders will be able to find nearby stations more easily, follow detailed directions regarding route and stops, and save their frequently used lines. When walking, you’ll be able to hold your iPhone up and Maps will analyze your surroundings to deliver comprehensive walking directions that you can follow using augmented reality. That could mean more turning around in embarrassing circles trying to figure out whether or not you’re facing West. 

Anything big coming for my iPad? 

The rollout of iOS 15, macOS Monterey, and iPadOS 15 are, of course, intrinsically linked. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention one of the larger updates to impact both iPhones and iPads: updated multitasking. The iPad’s larger screen makes multitasking much simpler than on a phone, so iPadOS gets the bulk of the benefit. A multitasking icon, consisting of three dots that live at the top of your display, makes it easier to trigger Split View and Slide Over modes. A new menu offers a new “shelf” that shows all the open windows for any distinct app. Apps can be dragged and dropped to create new split or full screen combos and the aforementioned icon will light up to let you know which app in the split-screen you’re focusing on. While these new functions aren’t earth-shattering, they may help users organize their screens efficiently, though remark upon the distance Apple still needs to go in order to truly make multitasking user-friendly. 

The rest of the best extras

As mentioned, iOS 15 is jam-packed with updates, upgrades, and new features big and small. Describing in detail each and every addition would be a masterful feat, one that would take far too long to read. So here are the other additions we think are worth mentioning: 

Weather now sports an updated design, with more detailed, moving backgrounds that reflect outdoor conditions. It also includes a full-screen weather map that mimics the background of the nightly news weather report. Colored bar charts couched in the vertical forecast to tell you about temperature range. 

Notes now includes user-created hashtags, so you can categorize each note. Other features follow Google Docs with the ability to see the recent edit history of a shared note and to tag other members within the note itself to alert them to changes or tasks. 

Health now features a sharing tab so family members and caregivers can stay abreast of a loved one’s stats. You’ll also be able to use the new Trends function to dive deeper into your habits and make what the company calls “meaningful changes.” 

Alongside LiveText and Visual Lookup, the Memories feature in Photos will begin incorporating songs from Apple Music to your collections. While Memories is not my favorite iPhone feature (too many sudden reminders of pictures I keep meaning to delete), the idea of creating a virtual photo album with a custom soundtrack, adjustable filters, and more controlled playback is certainly enticing. 

Overall, iOS 15 promises some interesting new inventions, upgrades, and Apple-specific apps that are catching up to, and perhaps surpassing already released programs from other tech giants. If you just can’t wait for the fall to try out these new features, and/or you want your voice to be heard via Apple’s Feedback and Bug Reporting platform, test-driving the beta version of iOS 15 might be the (share)play. 

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Best iPhone cases for protection and style https://www.popsci.com/story/reviews/best-iphone-cases/ Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:59:00 +0000 https://stg.popsci.com/uncategorized/best-iphone-cases/
iphone 12 in one of the best iphone cases, glasses, pens, airpods, and hard drive on a wooden surface
Make sure you keep your phone covered and looking good. Cristofer Jeschke via Unsplash

Optimal cases are durable, but streamlined enough to fit in a purse or pocket without adding too much extra bulk. Here are our picks, plus five features to look for.

The post Best iPhone cases for protection and style appeared first on Popular Science.

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iphone 12 in one of the best iphone cases, glasses, pens, airpods, and hard drive on a wooden surface
Make sure you keep your phone covered and looking good. Cristofer Jeschke via Unsplash

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There’s a honeymoon period in iPhone ownership, carefree and nonchalant, where you don’t have a worry in the world. And then there’s the period after you crack its screen for the first time, or drop it in the sink, or leave it on the roof of your car. After that incident, you’re never the same again; you won’t leave your phone unprotected for even a second.

The best iPhone cases don’t need to be a bulky impediment to regular phone use. Instead, they should enhance your experience and become part of your daily routine. It’s a relationship you’ll cherish, one that will bring you back to those honeymoon days when you weren’t constantly living in fear of dropping your phone.

Our handy guide will give you five points to consider when buying a case for your iPhone 12, so whether you’re focused on functionality, protection from the harshest conditions, or pure style, we’ll help you find the right case.

Features to consider when shopping for the best iPhone cases

Consider these five major points when shopping for the best iPhone cases and you’ll rest easy knowing your phone is protected while enjoying your enhanced iPhone experience. Note to editor: Include keyword with anchor text linking to related Camden article.

Go minimalist with a transparent iPhone case

For some, the biggest deterrent to buying a case is that you essentially shove your sleek and gorgeous iPhone under ugly plastic, never to see it again. Get past that hangup with a transparent iPhone case that allows you to see the classic logo with the finish you went out of your way to select. Transparent iPhone cases generally provide great protection without hindering usability.

You’ll want to make sure your transparent case meets drop-test standards. It’s also important that it’s protected from scratches and smudges; otherwise, you’ll be seeing more of your fingerprints and evidence of every mishap rather than your phone. If you use wireless charging devices, double-check to make sure the case will not interfere.

Best transparent iPhone case: Speck Products GemShell

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Your phone won’t be able to hide from you with this clear case for iPhone 12. Its screen will remain uncracked and pristine, thanks to double-layer, drop-tested protection and Microban technology, which keeps it from collecting dust. The case is thin enough to allow for wireless charging.

Leather iPhone cases are sleek and fashion-forward

Leather iPhone cases are a great way to give your phone a sophisticated swagger with increased functionality. A good leather case can feel like your favorite wallet while replacing it, thanks to built-in cardholders for your ID and credit cards. Leather cases aren’t as bulky as large plastic cases and are generally easier to grip. However, many of them interfere with wireless charging and don’t guarantee the same amount of protection as hard-shell cases.

Best Leather iPhone Case: Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case

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This Mujjo leather phone case strikes a handsome profile with its leather and microfiber design. Beveled edges protect against front-facing drops. A card pocket stores up to three IDs or credit cards for added convenience, so you can leave your wallet at home. This leather iPhone case is more about style and useability than it is about protection, but we’ve dropped our phone a number of times with this case on and haven’t had any issues. If you’re looking for a serious and sophisticated fashion upgrade, this is your best bet.

Waterproof iPhone cases can give you extra peace of mind

Whether you’re an adventurous content creator who wants to capture all of your dives for your subscribers, or a parent who is looking after little ones at the beach, a waterproof iPhone case is a pretty worthwhile investment. To get the most out of your money, you’ll need to make sure a prospective case can hold up to your planned usage. Check to see how long the case promises to protect your phone while underwater as well as how deep you can take it. You’ll also want to see if the case allows for wireless charging and how much drop protection it offers.

Best Waterproof iPhone Case: Diverbox for iPhone 12 Waterproof Case

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Waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof, this iPhone case promises to protect your phone in a number of ways. A built-in screen protector keeps it safe from water and scratches while delivering a sensitive touch response. The waterproof phone case’s lightweight materials make it easy to carry and do not interfere with wireless charging.

Look for smart designs

Phone cases have a range of pretty neat features—some practical and some stylish. Sometimes both things come together to produce a hyper-useful product that changes the way you think about a phone case. Smartish has two such designs; one, the Gripzilla, features indentations on its rugged design to mimic the indentation that would be made by human fingers. It allows for greater stability while holding your device while preventing slips and drops. The second Smartish design is our featured product in this category (see below). Other cases hide multiple stands to make watching Netflix or Facetiming with the family easier. Some high-minded designs incorporate hand-crafted pillow casing that makes your phone feel more like designer furniture or—dare we say it—a designer handbag. Speaking of handbags…

Best iPhone case design: Smartish iPhone 12 Pro Max Crossbody Case

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While the leather case replaces the wallet, this Smartish case replaces the purse. Smartish advertises that the case fits up to give cards. Straps allow you to carry the case around your shoulder or dangle it from your hand. It also features lip gloss loops for, you know, lip gloss. It does not allow for wireless charging, but the way Smartish describes that drawback should make you forgive that. “NOT compatible with Wireless or MagSafe Chargers. She too thicc,” reads their product copy.

Give your phone extra protection with a rugged case

If protecting your iPhone at all costs is your mission, style, and usability be damned, you need to consider higher-grade protection. You’ll want to make sure the case meets military drop standards or exceeds them.

These larger, thick plastic cases tend to have room for other features like belt clips and viewing stands. Some of these cases also offer shock and water protection. They all tend to interfere with wireless charging due to their prominent shell.

Another thing to watch for is whether the case comes with a built-in screen protector. Many of them do, but some brands require a separate purchase.

Best rugged iPhone case: OtterBox DEFENDER SERIES SCREENLESS Edition Case

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The OtterBox Defender is an old standby that has gotten us through many scrapes with a functioning phone when only the worst outcome seemed possible. While the Defender does not have as much flair as some other rugged cases, it has proven useful time and time again. Its sliding outer case features a belt clip that keeps it from jumping out of your pants pocket and also functions as a stand. Otter promises that it passes four times as many military drop tests as required. It also protects against dust and dirt. It does not come with a screen protector and is not compatible with wireless charging.

Best iPhone cases on a budget: What you can get for under $15

Some protection is always better than none. But in many iPhone cases, budget protection gets the job done just as well as pricier brands. If protection trumps concerns about functionality, storage, and design, you should not feel like you’re missing out by going with a budget case. However, it’s worth checking to see if the case meets military drop-test rates and provides adequate screen protection.

Best cheap iPhone case: Spigen Liquid Air Armor Designed for iPhone 12 Case

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This Spigen iPhone case offers bang for your buck with military-grade drop protection and “Air Cushion” shock protection. Its thin, ridged, matte case prevents slips and drops while allowing for wireless charging. This is a very decent case no matter how much you’re paying for it. But for under $15, it’s unbeatable.

FAQs

Q: What is the best iPhone case to protect your phone from dropping?

Our experience has shown us that Otterbox Defender series cases are absolute beasts. We’ve witnessed them protect against some of the worst possible situations, including drops, being thrown, and even being driven over. That’s not to say they will produce the same result every time but it’s a good indicator that they do exactly what they are supposed to. These cases go through 24 different tests at a length of 238 hours of total testing, so it’s a pretty good bet that they are getting the results you want.

Q: Does the iPhone 12 need a case?

Yes, much was made of the iPhone 12′s Ceramic Shield screen that is infused with nano-ceramic crystals. No, that does not mean it will not break and no, that does not mean the rest of the phone is impervious to drops, scratches, and all other manners of misfortune. You’ll still need a case unless you’re ready to pony up hundreds of dollars every time you have a mishap. Yes, even if you like the feel of the phone. Even if you think it’s not cool to use a case. We’ll be Mom and Dad here and tell you that you absolutely need a case.

A final word on shopping for the best iPhone cases

Before buying your iPhone case, identify what exactly your priorities are. Do you want to protect your phone at all costs? Are you more carefree and interested in devising various ways to carry it? Or do you simply want to put it into your pocket without taking up too much space? Once you’ve done that it’s time to check the stats and features—drop-protection rates, built-in proofing, and designs that make your phone easier to handle. You don’t have to spend a bundle on the best iPhone cases. But if you do, make sure you end up with something ultra-protective that fits your personality.

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How a new executive order might help your phone last longer https://www.popsci.com/environment/executive-order-right-to-repair/ Mon, 19 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=380194
stack of apple devices
Many modern devices could be repaired, but are instead thrown away. Gabriel Freytez/Pexels

Expanding access to parts and repair information could help make our devices more sustainable

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stack of apple devices
Many modern devices could be repaired, but are instead thrown away. Gabriel Freytez/Pexels

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Chad Johnson owns NH iPhone Repair, a phone repair business with six locations in New Hampshire. His employees fix cracked screens, aging batteries, and broken charging ports on mostly Apple and Samsung products. “Our goal is not just to save people money, but to extend the life of these devices and reduce the amount of e-waste that’s going into landfills every single day,” he says.

But the tech giants that produce those devices are making it hard for businesses like Johnson’s to repair people’s broken gadgets. Major phone manufacturers often restrict independent shops’ access to parts, diagnostic tools, and software information needed to perform fixes. Johnson says that it’s impossible to fix some features, like Face ID and the cameras in newer iPhones, because of software locks and serialized parts. Customers instead have to take their devices back to manufacturers, often facing steep prices for repairs. Difficulty getting repairs is one reason why so many phones wind up in the trash as part of the nearly three million tons of e-waste Americans throw away every year.

So-called Right to Repair activists think President Biden’s July 9 executive order is a start towards making devices last longer. The order is aimed at reducing the power of monopolies in the technology, agriculture, and airline sectors. Within the text are directives for agencies like the Federal Trade Commission to use their rulemaking abilities to address “unfair anticompetitive restrictions on third-party repair or self-repair of items.” In a fact sheet, the Administration specifically calls on the FTC to hold cell phone manufacturers accountable for “making repairs more costly and time-consuming, such as by restricting the distribution of parts, diagnostics, and repair tools” for independent shops.

Right now, cell phone manufacturers often don’t provide original parts or diagnostic information to repair shops. Software information is also guarded. Right to Repair advocates point to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 as a major enabler to these restrictions—companies have used the legislation to protect software information under copyright law. 

[Related: What Biden’s big executive order means for the internet, air travel, and more]

On top of that, other forces further reinforce the strikingly short life of phones and other devices. One is planned obsolescence, where manufacturers purposefully design devices to not last as long as they theoretically could. Then, there are cultural phenomena like “conspicuous consumption”—your neighbor gets a flashy new car, so you feel like you need to keep up by upgrading your own vehicle. 

And all those sleek phones that become irrelevant after a year have to be disposed of somehow. Large volumes of e-waste are sent to lower-income countries, where informal recycling operations take apart the waste to recover valuable metals, and in the process expose people—oftentimes, children—to toxic substances. The volume of e-waste is growing, too; it went up 21 percent from 2014 to 2019. 

Safer operating conditions are important, but still can’t address all the waste. Nathan Proctor, who leads the Right to Repair campaign for the advocacy organization U.S. PIRG, estimates only about a quarter of materials are recovered at electronic recycling facilities. It’s hard to reuse all the materials that go into phones today because modern circuit boards use tiny quantities of elements like rhodium that are difficult to extract.

The greatest environmental impacts from phones, however, come from their production stage. According to a report by Apple, 83 percent of the lifetime carbon emissions from the iPhone 12 come from its production. And that’s just the carbon impact. Mining the minerals needed for our phones, tablets, and TVs has brought terrifying levels of pollution to cities like Baotou in Inner Mongolia. 

These are clearly massive issues spanning global supply chains. But even slightly expanding the ability to perform repairs could reap substantial environmental benefits. “If Americans held on to their cell phones one year longer on average,” says Proctor, “it would be like taking 636,000 cars off the road every year, in terms of climate benefit.” 

Unsurprisingly, the big companies that stand to lose profits are unhappy about the repair movement. In the past, Apple has lobbied against repair legislation by arguing that people could get injured trying to fix their phones, despite the fact that thousands of independent shops and individuals already operate on their devices with few reports of injuries. 

Meanwhile, ethically-minded phone owners are in a tough spot, with few alternatives beyond the major manufacturers. Some startups like Fairphone are working to offer better options; the company’s phones are built to last and be easy to repair (so far, their products are only built for European networks, though). However, with momentum building in Congress and the White House, and with more than 25 states considering Right to Repair legislation, we might start to see improvements—saving us money and carbon emissions all at once. 

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Everything You Need to Know About Near Field Communication https://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2011-02/near-field-communication-helping-your-smartphone-replace-your-wallet-2010/ Tue, 01 Mar 2011 21:00:28 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/gadgets-article-2011-02-near-field-communication-helping-your-smartphone-replace-your-wallet-2010/
Phones photo

NFC is likely to pop up in your next smartphone (or maybe the one after that), and you'll use it for much more than just mobile payments

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Smartphone makers, wireless carriers, and credit card companies have all proclaimed their love for near field communication over the last week. And we share their enthusiasm: NFC has a lot of exciting potential. Soon enough, we’ll be able to make payments, unlock our houses, stop worrying about our cumbersome Wi-Fi passwords, and hop on the subway without a transit pass, all from our phones. Here’s how.

What Is NFC?

NFC is a short-range, low-power communications protocol between two devices. One device, the initiator, uses magnetic induction to create a radio-wave field that the target can detect and access, allowing small amounts of data to be transferred wirelessly over a relatively short distance (in NFC’s case, the distance must be less than 4 inches). If that sounds a lot like RFID, the tech used by, for example, wireless toll-collection devices like EZ-Pass and FasTrak, it’s probably because NFC is pretty much an evolved form of RFID. The difference is that RFID is a one-way street: Your EZ-Pass transmitter beams your $4.25 toll to the tollbooth’s receiver, and that’s the extent of the transaction. But, crucially, NFC is two-way, allowing your NFC-enabled gadget to both send and receive information.

Compared to other wireless protocols like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, NFC is exceedingly slow, with a maximum data transfer speed of 0.424 Mbps, less than a quarter that of Bluetooth. But NFC has several key advantages over Bluetooth: It consumes a mere 15 mA of power (practically nothing for today’s jumbo smartphone batteries), it has the possibility for greater security (more on that in a bit), and it forgoes the involved “pairing” process of Bluetooth entirely. Bluetooth needs to be configured; NFC is completely effort-free, requiring nothing more than a tap.

What Can You Do With NFC?

The three main concepts that the NFC Forum, the main association of companies promoting NFC, is pushing are “sharing, pairing, and transaction.”

Transaction is the most obvious of the three, and the one we’ll probably start seeing first. A smartphone with an NFC chip could very easily be configured to work as a credit or debit card. Just tap your phone against an NFC-enabled payment terminal, and bam, money spent, consumerism upheld, everyone’s happy. But that’s really only the start of what NFC can do in terms of transaction.

The other contents in your wallet aren’t safe from NFC takeover, either, which is sure to enrage the formerly bulletproof wallet industry. NFC could work well for public transit passes, library cards, hotel room keycards, and office building passcards. Even government-issued IDs like driver’s licenses and passports can be replaced or augmented with NFC, though the security concerns there could push such applications further into the future. But the point is, it’s all possible, and relatively easy. Even keys could someday become a relic of the past, replaced by the tap of a phone to a lock.

“Sharing” is a little bit trickier, due to the limitations of the tech. Mostly, it’ll be used much like QR codes–(the square barcode-like tags scannable by your cellphone camera–are used now, just without the need to open an app and take a picture. An active NFC-enabled device like a smartphone can interact either with another active NFC device or with a passive tag. That tag is basically just a little chip that’s embedded with some kind of data to transfer–maybe it’s in a printed ad, and provides a URL for more information. Those passive tags don’t require power, either, instead relying on the RF field created by your phone, so you can just tap your phone to the tag and have a little bit of data–often a URL–beamed to your phone.

Debbie Arnold of the NFC Forum says “the concept of tag-reading is really exciting to me,” as those passive, unpowered tags are very cheap and could be embedded in all kinds of places. Tap your phone against a tag on an appliance to get its warranty info, or on a pack of cigarettes to get some horrifying government-sponsored images of smokers’ lungs. You know, for fun.

With its sub-0.5-Mbps speeds, you won’t be beaming high-def video with your smartphone, so sharing of files will be limited to smaller items like photos, documents, and URLs (which, in our cloud-connected environment, is often all you need). But say you do want to send a fairly large file like a video. NFC can come in handy there too–as a bridge to a more intensive wireless protocol.

Which is where the “pairing” concept comes into play. Tap your phone to another phone to instantly configure a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, without the need for passwords. Or tap your phone against your new router, and never again have to worry about that tiny scrap of paper with your deliberately complex Wi-Fi password that you could’ve sworn your roommate taped to the freezer. Or tap one phone to another to instantly exchange contact information, even when there’s no available 3G connection.

Google Nexus S

Google Nexus S

Google’s Nexus S, made by Samsung, is the first NFC-compatible smartphone in the U.S.

Why Are Gadget-Makers, Bankers, Merchants, and Wireless Carriers So Gung-Ho About It?

NFC has some pretty amazing possibilities, but the reason every company from Google to Visa to McDonald’s to T-Mobile is singing its praises has nothing to do with your ability to remember your router’s password. In their eyes, NFC is always bracketed by dollar signs, with thoughts of direct advertising and real-time customer data causing their brains’ mouths to mind-water (it’s a serious condition). Pay for a purchase with your NFC-enabled phone, get a coupon. Tap your phone to an NFC-enabled movie poster, get a special offer for a 1PM Tuesday showing of Gnomeo and Juliet: The Squeakquel (this will be in the near future, obviously). Use NFC’s mobile payment capabilities, and you’re likely to get coupons, promos, samples, or other various digital perks beamed back to you in response.

But that doesn’t explain why the business types are quivering in their business suits about NFC. The answer: It’s all about advertising.

When Google’s soon-to-be-ex-CEO Eric Schmidt recently took the stage at Mobile World Congress, he was barely able to contain his excitement. Google, let us recall, is in the business of ads and customer data. When you make an NFC purchase, your phone isn’t just transmitting your bank numbers for payment. It can also transmit your buying habits and demographic information. That sounds terrifying, but for the most part that kind of information is already out there and being used every time you buy an app, or anything from Amazon, or search for a product on Google. NFC just has the potential to make that data available instantly and in real time, which is exceedingly valuable to marketers and retailers and other people who care that you prefer Five Guys to Shake Shack. And instead of coupons, you might get beamed advertising instead–intensely targeted ads tailored to your latest purchase.

Of course, it’s unlikely that your personal data would be given to merchants without your knowledge — at least by Google, which has a history of providing opt-out options for advertising like that. But if would certainly be possible.

Why Now?

At MWC, Schmidt said that “NFC has been around for a long time, but everything has just started to come together,” which is mostly true. Magnetic induction for data transfer has been around for quite a few years, and mobile payments via magnetic induction have even become the de facto standard in Japan. The Mobile FeliCa (Felicity Card) has been in wide use in Japan, packaged into handsets from DoCoMo and Sony, but according to Debbie Arnold, spokesperson from the NFC Forum, systems like Mobile FeliCa “were more of a precursor to NFC.” Mobile FeliCa is a one-way transfer card, a simpler form of RFID, that requires no power. “Nobody wanted to put up a product until NFC was ready,” says Arnold, and it appears that it’s ready now.

In late 2010, the NFC Forum finalized its first wave of technical specifications, as well as announcing its certification process for devices. Debbie Arnold notes that the program “gives manufacturers a means of confirming that their devices comply with NFC Forum specifications, and helps to ensure interoperability.” It was only last year that tests and pilots were undertaken, which in turn led the banks, mobile carriers, and hardware manufacturers to jump on board and start really putting the web of NFC together.

What About Infrastructure?

It’s generally assumed that the introduction of NFC into smartphones will require a massive infrastructure overhaul, but that may not be the case. NFC, as an evolved form of RFID, is actually compatible with existing RFID terminals, which are distributed by companies like Visa and MasterCard and are present in businesses from the international (McDonald’s) to the local (my childhood sandwich purveyor, Wawa). For your bog-standard wireless payment, no fancy new hardware will be necessary.

Phones photo

NFC’s N-Mark

Of course, those businesses that want to take advantage of NFC’s more ad-friendly two-way abilities will need to install new NFC-powered point-of-sale devices. If McDonald’s wants to know how many chicken nuggets you typically eat at a meal, they’ll have to install a two-way NFC terminal. But the companies that really want that kind of data are typically not your mom-and-pop corner store, and are more likely to pony up for an NFC upgrade. The mom-and-pop store can still step up to a cheaper RFID reader, which works in the same system. You’ll be able to find NFC-enabled devices by looking for the “N-Mark,” pictured left, which alerts you that NFC-ing can be commenced.

In terms of phone hardware, you can expect to see NFC in the next generation of smartphones–basically, the ones after the ones that are about to hit the market. Google built some pretty elaborate NFC capabilities into the latest release of Android (version 2.3 Gingerbread), and the NFC Forum counts such high-profile companies as Sony, Nokia, LG, Motorola, Qualcomm, and RIM (BlackBerry) among their principal members. In the last week alone, we’ve gotten major commitments from Google, RIM, and Visa, with more surely to come. At the moment, only Google’s Nexus S has an NFC chip (and that’s fairly useless at the moment), but future Android, BlackBerry, and probably iOS devices will boast NFC abilities: rumors of an NFC-capable iPhone 5 have recently begun to surface.

According to a very recent leak, BlackBerry is partnering with Bank of America to offer NFC retrofitting as soon as this spring, and their solution is pretty clever: Instead of waiting for a new phone, BoA will simply provide an NFC-enabled replacement battery door for a few BlackBerry models, accompanied by a software update that will allow mobile purchases. That won’t work for the iPhone and a few Android devices which lack replaceable battery doors (or, um, replaceable batteries), but an NFC-enabled phone case could accomplish the same feat.

Is This, Well, Safe?

Ah, security. NFC is inherently worrisome in that it promotes the transmission of very sensitive data through the air, like magic, and that data could theoretically be snatched. The NFC protocol itself has surprisingly few actual safeguards against data snatching–and the protections the NFC Forum does highlight are simply logical extensions of the physical nature of the protocol. For example, that 4-inch transmission zone would theoretically make it a challenge to steal data wholesale without a crafty plan. There’s also the ability to simply turn NFC off when you’re not using it, which could stem some piracy, if you remember to do it each time. But that’s not really enough; it’s like declaring a wallet generally safe just because it’s difficult for a pickpocket to get close enough to snatch it undetected.

The NFC standard leaves any kind of advanced protection, like encryption or password protection, up to whoever uses it. You’ll have to trust your bank to encrypt your bank info, you’ll have to trust Google, Apple, or RIM to encrypt your account info, you’ll have to trust your digital locksmith to encrypt your new space-age virtual house key, and so forth. It’s relatively easy for any of these companies to embed encryption or a password, but they still have to do it. According to Debbie Arnold of the NFC Forum, “Applications may also provide their own security appropriate to the application,” like encryption and password protection, and that “these security requirements can be tailored to the particular application.”

That being said, point-of-sale security, using the ISO 14443 protocol, is already a standard, being used by the major credit card companies with RFID tech, and NFC won’t change that. More advanced security like encryption, newly available for NFC, is to avoid eavesdropping, which the NFC Forum says is up to the developers. The NFC Forum’s third-party solution isn’t entirely satisfying–we’d much rather see an encryption standard embedded in the tech from the start.

Destruction of the signal is actually much more likely than eavesdropping, provided there’s adequate software encryption being used. An RFID jammer can also ruin an NFC chip’s ability to communicate, and there’s no real way to counter such an attack. Of course, there’s no real reason to jam a signal other than immensely irritating prankery.

I spoke to the Federal Reserve to find out about NFC’s inclusion in the Truth in Lending Act, a piece of legislation that protects customers from having to pay bills of more than $50 that result from a stolen or otherwise unauthorized card. Though NFC is not specifically mentioned in the legislation (understandably so, given its newness), the Fed representative I spoke to noted that there are a few clauses to which NFC could be applied without much of a stretch. “I don’t see why it wouldn’t be covered under the Electronic Funds Transfer regulation,” the rep told me. “It’s still going to be an electronic transfer, and other wireless tech like magnetic transfers are already covered.” Those “magnetic transfers” are referring to the RFID chips inside certain credit cards, already in use–and since NFC is essentially an evolved (and still magnetic) version of RFID, it seems a no-brainer that NFC would also be covered.

Will It Succeed?

NFC has tons of potential, and with backing from banks, hardware makers, and retail shops, it’ll likely be widespread before long. Whether it’s embraced smoothly will depend in large part on the implementation–Android’s NFC functionality, from the brief glances we’ve seen, look kind of obtuse and complex, and NFC needs to be super simple for the public to understand and use it. But if it’s done right, the days of crammed wallets and forgotten passwords may be coming to a close.

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iPhone 4S Review: Apple’s Restraint https://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2011-10/iphone-4s-review-apples-restraint/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:13:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/gadgets-article-2011-10-iphone-4s-review-apples-restraint/
Phones photo

It wasn't the full redesign some were expecting, but the iPhone 4S improves on its predecessor in small, meaningful ways

The post iPhone 4S Review: Apple’s Restraint appeared first on Popular Science.

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People wanted an iPhone 5. A top-secret new phone to deliver previously unknown pleasures, and to cast the 16-month-old iPhone 4 into the rubbish heap of planned obsolescence.

But the news on October 4, coming just a day before Steve Jobs’s death, was a reminder that not every Apple announcement blows off the roof. So here’s the 4S–faster, Sprint-ier, with a better camera to see the world, and Siri, the voice-recognition assistant to better listen to it. And the proverbial question: is it worth an upgrade?

Like the iPad 2, the iPhone took a class-leader and subtly but smartly improved it, without breaking any moulds. In this case, there were literally no moulds broken: the iPhone 4S, save for a few variations in its aluminum antenna to improve the iPhone 4 “death grip,” is physically identical externally.

But unlike the iPad, which is the undisputed tablet leader, the iPhone has some competition in the very-nice-smartphone market, most of them running Android and, more recently, a few of them running Windows Phone. So while the decision becomes a bit more complex, it’s tough to find a smartphone package as powerful, elegant and self-contained as an iPhone 4S. But do not despair, iPhone 4 owners: much of the new magic is bottled in the iOS 5 update.

WHAT’S NEW

As usual, the iPhone 4S’s processor gets a bump from the iPhone 4’s A4 to what Apple calls the A5–the same processor family found in the iPad 2. The camera, now at eight megapixels up from five, shoots 1080p video and has an improved lens and sensor. And then there’s Siri, a voice-recognition software assistant that Apple says can only run with the 4S’s stronger processor.

WHAT’S GOOD

Everything new is good. Compared with running a fresh install of iOS 5 on an iPhone 4, the A5 processor boosts performance across the whole operating system. It doesn’t blow the A4 chip out of the water, but in a touch interface, even small gains in responsiveness as you swipe and tap from screen to screen make a huge difference in your perception of speed.

I can also verify the camera improvements are legit. Noise levels in low light are still not as good as my S90 point and shoot, of course, but they’re significantly better than the iPhone 4, which was already pretty adept in low light. In many more well-lit situations, image quality is actually getting pretty close to a high-quality point and shoot when you’re looking at the photos on-screen. Colors are natural, tap-to-focus works, and with iOS 5’s lock-screen camera button and the option to use one of the volume buttons for shutter release, the iPhone 4S is a pretty solid camera that you always have with you. That’s great. (Our friends at Popular Photography will be publishing a more technical test very soon).

And then there’s Siri. Early reviews were swept head over heels with her, but she and I have had a bumpier start. Siri misunderstands what I’m saying fairly often–I don’t know if it’s because I still have a hard time speaking naturally to my phone, because it’s what I think she wants? Maybe it’s because I’ve never in my life had a personal assistant, and I’m just not quite comfortable with the social norms of such a luxury, and she can hear that in my voice. Or maybe we just weren’t meant to be?

When we do click, the effect is undeniably pretty magical (which is why this is filed under “What’s Good”). I’ve especially enjoyed talking to Siri through the headset microphone while walking–squeeze the button, ask “are there any Radio Shacks nearby” (I needed a camera battery!), and if all is understood, the results are ready in your pocket when you pause at the next crosswalk. That’s pretty nice. I can imagine the effect is even more satisfying for drivers.

Some of Siri's more on-point suggestions

Some of Siri’s more on-point suggestions

I work in a tough neighborhood for good bars, but she did her best. Some interesting things are possible with Wolfram Alpha as a data source.

But generally speaking, I don’t use voice control that often. This first week, my brain often says “Hey, let’s play with this new thing Siri” when I need to look something up, but I can already feel the novelty wearing off–I’m more comfortable with touch. Whether voice control becomes a long-term thing for you is, like all relationships, a personal matter.

Otherwise, everything that was great about the iPhone 4 remains great here: the design (antenna problems have been improved, says Apple), the overall feel of the thing in your hand and in your life. To me the 4S’s build is unique in small ways: When this phone buzzes, it reveals an interesting internal texture–like there’s soft wood inside. It feels good. That might classify as the most wishy-washy statement you’ll read in a gadget review today, but that such a thing registered to me as an improvement, or at least a change, shows how personal the relationship we have with our phones has become.

iOS 5

This gets a separate category, since you can enjoy the new iOS5 software upgrade on the iPhone 4 and 3GS as well. The architectural changes that come with the upgrade well overshadow the 4S’s hardware improvements. Wireless iTunes syncing is a god-send–you no longer have to plug in a USB cable to transfer music. Similarly divine is using iCloud to manage purchased apps and other iTunes content, which keeps all downloads automatically in sync between my computer and phone. In short, your iThing no longer requires a computer—that’s a big deal.

How well iOS5 will continue to run on your iPhone 4 is the question, but until it slows down, you’ve got yourself a brand new phone.

WHAT’S BAD

Fighting the urge to upgrade your iPhone 4, which you should. The improvements here are nice, but, unless you’re incredibly unhappy with the camera, or you want to kick a bad texting-while-driving habit with Siri (she’ll help you change!), you can probably find better things to do with your money. Sorry, who am I to tell you that? But if it were me, I’d wait for the real iPhone 5. If you have a 3GS, it’s probably close to two years old, and probably struggling to keep up with iOS 5. And you’re still looking at a pixel-y non-Retina display. I’d say it’s time to upgrade.

I’m not going to tell you Android people you need to switch, because again, that’s your business. But I’ve yet to use an Android phone that’s as well-designed, as complete, and as effortless as my iPhone.

Update: Battery issues seem to be rearing their head. See note.

THE PRICE

$200 for 16GB, $300 for 32GB, and $400 for 64GB. Comes with your choice of two-year indenture to AT&T, Verizon, and now Sprint.

THE VERDICT

The iPhone 4S is Apple smartly restraining themselves. Rather than push into a new mobile form factor every year, the pattern now is to introduce a new form factor, then improve upon it with the next release. Which means something that was already great just gets better.

If you have an iPhone 4, gnash your teeth and wait. If you don’t, this is a buy.

UPDATE, Oct. 29: In the days following the publishing of this review, I started to notice some battery life issues. They started subtly, but are now more noticeable: By the end of a day, starting with a full charge with only moderate usage, my batter is about dead. With the iPhone 4, I could make it two days on a single charge pretty easily. And judging by this support thread, I’m not alone. We’ll keep an eye on it, and see if a software update can fix.

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Best wireless phone charger to help you stay connected https://www.popsci.com/gear/best-wireless-phone-charger/ Thu, 17 Jun 2021 15:41:14 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=372415
A black smartphone and a black watch standing over a rectangular shape wireless charger over a wooden table.
IPhone, Apple Watch getting charged with wireless charger. Melvin Thambi, Unsplash

Charge your device quickly by simply placing your phone onto a little pad.

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A black smartphone and a black watch standing over a rectangular shape wireless charger over a wooden table.
IPhone, Apple Watch getting charged with wireless charger. Melvin Thambi, Unsplash

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Wireless chargers are a new-ish trend, at least for iPhones and other Apple devices. The idea is tempting and futuristic: Just plop your gadget down on a little pad and it’ll charge up, no need to mess with cables at all. Of course, there is, in fact, a cable—it’s just going from an outlet to the charging pad, rather than to your phone. And generally, you can’t use your phone while it’s charging wirelessly.

But for many of us, that doesn’t really matter. Wireless charging pads are a perfect fit for the bedside table, so you can just toss your phone there at night and wake up to a charged device. And, thankfully, the technology has improved to the point where they’re now pretty quick at charging, and totally affordable to boot. Here’s how to pick the best option for you.

  • AC Adapter. Wireless charging is a fun new way to charge your phone, though it isn’t exactly wireless. Instead, you have a little pad or stand, which plugs into a wall outlet, and you can just plop your phone (or watch, or tablet, sometimes) onto the pad or stand to charge it. Many wireless chargers, though, don’t come with an AC adapter, so make sure you either have an extra high-powered one, or grab one alongside the charger.
  • Standards for Charging. There are two main standards for wireless charging: Qi, which is a general standard used by everyone, and MagSafe, which is Apple-specific. If your phone (or earbuds, or whatever) supports wireless charging, a Qi charging pad will work—even for iPhones and AirPods. MagSafe uses magnets to more precisely align the iPhone 12 line of phones on the charging pad; it’s often more expensive, but it can charge those gadgets faster than Qi can.
  • Energy Use. While it’s pretty cool to plop your phone down without plugging it in and get power, there are drawbacks. Wireless chargers, especially the Qi ones, use around 47 percent more power than regular wired chargers, so if you’re concerned about energy use, these are much less efficient than an old-fashioned cable. You also can’t really use a phone while it’s on a wireless charger; it pretty much has to stay put.

Our Picks for the Best Wireless Phone Charger on Amazon

Best Overall: Anker Wireless Chargers Bundle

Anker

SEE IT

Runner Up: Seneo 3-in-1 Wireless Charger

iSeneo

SEE IT

Best for Pixel Users: Google Pixel Stand Fast Wireless Charger

Google

SEE IT

Budget Pick: Yootech Wireless Charger

yootech

SEE IT

Popular Science is here to help you choose among the most popular products on Amazon, and hidden gems our experts think are worth checking out.

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Your Android phone may soon be able to start your car https://www.popsci.com/technology/android-12-digital-car-key/ Tue, 01 Jun 2021 15:00:32 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=369004
Phones photo
Photo by Roland Denes on Unsplash

The feature comes with Android 12. (BMW not included.)

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Phones photo
Photo by Roland Denes on Unsplash

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Your smartphone already boasts a myriad of useful everyday features, and pretty soon it may also replace your car’s key fob. That’s thanks to ongoing collaborations between smartphone manufacturers and automakers.

The latest company to hop on board is Google. During the company’s virtual I/O developer’s conference last month, Google announced the inclusion of an all-new digital car key which will be built-in to its upcoming Android 12 smartphone operating system.

As the name might imply, the new Android feature creates a digital copy of a car’s key that is stored directly on a cell phone. The digital key can then be used to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle it’s programmed for—just like a physical key fob.

Google says phones with both Near-Field Communication (NFC) and Ultra Wideband (UWB) radios will be able to use the digital car key feature. NFC-equipped phones will require drivers to bring their phones within tapping distance of the car in order to unlock or start their vehicle, as the NFC protocol is more passive in design.

Phones with more modern Ultra Wideband chips will benefit the most. These devices can remain in the driver’s pocket and unlock the vehicle once the two come within proximity of one another.

[Related: Major changes are coming in Android 12. Here’s how to try them early.]

Ultra-wideband works by sending billions of low-power pulses across a wide frequency. The car’s receivers (called anchors) pick up the pulses transmitted by the phone and then translate them into usable data. By using multiple antennas and measuring the time it takes for the pulses to transmit between the device and the car, the system can determine the precise location of the phone relative to the vehicle. The technology is so precise that in theory, it could be possible for the car to recognize when a driver points their phone directly at its door to signal an unlocking gesture—this is similar to how file sharing works with Apple’s newest U1 Ultra Wideband chip.

Apple's option.
Apple’s option. BMW

Android’s option follows Apple’s

Speaking of Apple, the iPhone-maker unveiled a similar feature in 2020, aptly named CarKey. The feature works by creating a new virtual key in the iPhone’s Wallet app for any supported car. Typically, these keys can be synced to the iPhone using a manufacturer’s app, an email, or even directly from the car’s infotainment screen. Once in the iPhone’s Wallet, the key is also available to sync to the Apple Watch should you choose to go phoneless that day.

If the iPhone’s battery is drained and the phone enters power reserve, the user can employ “express mode”—this is when they press the phone’s power button and the battery icon is displayed, indicating that a charge is needed to power on the device. Behind the scenes, the iPhone temporarily powers up its NFC controller using the reserve battery power and will allow the digital key to be used.

Both Android 12 and iOS supports key sharing, so if a family member or friend needs to borrow a car, giving them the key is as simple as sending a copy of the digital key directly to their supported phone.

Android's option.
Android’s option. Google

You’ll need a Bimmer for now 

Here’s the catch: the roster of supported vehicles is still pretty slim. BMW was the first automaker to pair with Apple thanks to its shared involvement with the Connected Car Consortium; it has planned to enable digital keys across its lineup. Likewise, it will be the first automaker to work with Google to implement digital keys within the Android ecosystem. Google says it is currently working with other car brands to expand this offering across the industry.

Other automakers like Tesla, Hyundai, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and others have their own proprietary versions of digital keys. For example, Tesla’s technology works by connecting to the car via a proximity-based bluetooth connection, or over the cellular network from afar. Hyundai’s key uses the phone’s NFC-radio (meaning that it’s currently Android-exclusive) and Lincoln uses a platform-agnostic Bluetooth low-energy connection.

While this technology may be in its infancy, expect to see more of it in the future. Tech giant Samsung announced earlier this year that it was working to bring other automakers onboard with digital keys—Audi, Ford, and Genesis to name a few.

For now, Google says that it will be enabling its digital car key platform on select Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones equipped with ultra-wideband tech baked-in. More phones are expected to support the feature as automakers integrate support for digital keys and future phones become equipped with UWB.

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Major changes are coming in Android 12. Here’s how to try them early. https://www.popsci.com/gear/major-changes-are-coming-in-android-12-heres-how-to-try-them-early/ Mon, 24 May 2021 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/?p=366384
Android devices showing off the new look for Android 12
The Android 12 OS will look more stylish than its predecessor. Google

When Android 12 hits later this year, it will offer a substantial redesign and several privacy upgrades.

The post Major changes are coming in Android 12. Here’s how to try them early. appeared first on Popular Science.

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Android devices showing off the new look for Android 12
The Android 12 OS will look more stylish than its predecessor. Google

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This week, Google held its all-virtual I/O developers’ conference. It’s one of the company’s biggest events of the year and it typically offers a look at some interesting new products in the hopper. This year, Google offered up a look at its upcoming Android 12 mobile operating system. Final release is still months away—or more, depending on when various phone manufacturers decide to make the leap to the latest version. But, here’s an early glimpse at some of the new features coming down the line. If you’re particularly compelled by the new additions, you can even install the first Android 12 public beta. Just make sure you and your device are really ready for it. 

New features in Android 12

Google hasn’t totally blown up Android on a fundamental level. It has added some notable new features, especially when it comes to design and security. Here’s a top-level overview of some of the new stuff you can expect when Android 12 hits this fall. 

Android 12’s new design: Material U

Just a quick glance at the huge new clock on the Android 12 lockscreen suggests things have changed from a design standpoint. Google has implemented a new overarching design approach it calls “Material U.” 

Generally speaking, many of the familiar buttons, controls, and notifications have gotten bigger and bubblier. The volume slider is a good example—it looks massive compared to Android 11’s skinny ball-on-a-stick design. (Apparently the slider may shrink before the final Android 12 release.)The same goes for the quick settings, which now occupy huge buttons rather than smaller tiles. 

When it comes to colors, Android 12 tries to take cues from the user’s decisions. When you set a new wallpaper image, the OS will analyze the colors within it and suggest an overall theme with hues that complement the image. You can override its suggestions, of course, but you can see the system striving to give users a sense of visual continuity. 

The power button now summons Google Assistant

If you have an iPhone, you know that holding the power button will bring up Siri. In Android 11, however, that same action brought up a specific menu with debatable utility. In Android 12, however (at least on Pixel phones), holding down the power button will simply summon Google Assistant so you can interact via voice. As a person who switches back and forth between Android and iPhone semi-regularly, I’m glad to see this. Whether it’s a plus for you, however, will depend on your preference. 

Smoother animations

Since manufacturers have started pushing up refresh rates on phone screens, the battle for superior smoothness has been heating up. While a faster refreshing screen can make navigating through an operating system smoother, it only works if the device has the computing power to handle the operations. In Android 12, Google says it has drastically reduced the amount of resources taken up by basic system processes, which should cut down on resource bottlenecks and make for more fluid on-screen motion. Even if you don’t notice  jitter and lag that much on a daily basis, you will probably notice when it’s gone if Google’s plan works out. Things should feel snappier overall.

Android 12’s privacy upgrades

Look in the top right corner of an Android 12 screen and you’ll find indicators that show up when an app is accessing your location, microphone, or camera. It’s similar to the iPhone’s tiny dot notification that expresses the same idea.

While the indicator is handy for monitoring privacy in real-time, a new security dashboard allows users to go back and review which apps have accessed the camera, mic, and location. 

A new menu option can turn the camera and microphone off completely, so if an app tries to access it, it will get a black image and silence. 

In terms of location tracking, Android 12 offers a new Approximate Location, which will give apps an idea of where you are without specifically pinpointing you down to a GPS coordinate. That way, you can get general neighborhood information without giving up granular info about your location.

If you’re hoping for something like Apple’s new “do not track” feature, which requires apps to get users’ explicit permission before collecting data for advertising, you’re out of luck. After all, Google is a massive player in the online advertising space and that kind of change could have a profound effect on that company. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the company make at least some efforts to keep up with Apple in that regard some time this year.

Download the Android 12 Beta

If you’re already excited about Android 12, the first public beta is already available. It will only work on specific devices from Google (obviously), OnePlus, Asus, Oppo, and a few others. If you’re a Samsung user, you’re out of luck. None of that should be surprising at this point, though. 

This is a very early beta, which means you definitely shouldn’t install it on a device you regularly rely on. It will be buggy and missing features that will make your life inconvenient. Google Pixel devices will also handle the beta better than others. For instance, OnePlus devices will lose access to face and fingerprint unlock in the first beta, which is very inconvenient. All of that will be figured out before the public Gold release later this year, but for now, this is only for adventurous Android users. Consider yourself warned.

When does Android 12 come out?

If you have a current Google Pixel phone, you’ll be able to get Android 12 in the fall. That’s a very typical release schedule for new Android versions. If you’re using equipment from other manufacturers, then it will be arriving sometime after that. While we’re still a far cry from Android devices all getting software updates simultaneously, Google claims that the process is speeding up. According to the company, manufacturers have moved their devices to the latest release 30 percent faster than in previous years.. Slow and steady gets you the new Android features. 

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How to prevent those annoying texting typos https://www.popsci.com/prevent-texting-typos/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:26:30 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/prevent-texting-typos/
touching phone
Don't hit the wrong key. tatsianama via Depositphotos

Type faster and more accurately.

The post How to prevent those annoying texting typos appeared first on Popular Science.

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touching phone
Don't hit the wrong key. tatsianama via Depositphotos

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Scroll back through your texting history, and you’ll see a series of errors that make your messages look like ransom notes. Misspelled words, random spaces, and hilarious autocorrect mistakes are so common that you can find whole websites devoted to them. Here’s how to prevent these keyboard betrayals—and type a little faster in the process.

Why you make so many phone typos

Phones have small screens, and we have big thumbs. This makes us inherently more prone to mistakes when we’re poking at a phone keyboard with our sausage fingers. It’s “a completely different experience than typing on a computer,” says Angana Ghosh, Product Manager for Google’s Gboard. “There’s smaller real estate on a phone screen.”

Why can’t the keyboard compensate for our shortcomings? The problem is, developers would have to cater to your typing style, which varies wildly from person to person. “There’s a difference in how people hold their phones (single handed versus double handed),” Ghosh says, “and there’s a multitude of ways to type—single-finger tappers, two-thumb tappers, gesture typers, prediction takers.” This not only makes it hard for us to type accurately, but makes it hard to create a good mobile keyboard.

Some would even argue that our standard QWERTY keyboard is inherently inefficient, both on mobile and desktop. “Historically, the keyboard layout has been selected for its ratio between efficiency and efforts required by the user,” says Olivier Plante, CEO of the company behind the popular Fleksy keyboard. “In the near future, we see the introduction of a new layout adapted to digital interfaces and gesture-based typing,” he says.

Although several companies have introduced radically different keyboard paradigms, such as the gesture-based 8pen, they haven’t really caught on. Even “swipe” typing on standard QWERTY layouts, which is available on many of the most popular smartphone keyboards, hasn’t become ubiquitous. Not many people want to learn to type from scratch—even if it would make them more efficient in the long run— we stick with the keyboard layouts we know.

Thankfully, plenty of keyboard makers have gone the extra mile to make up for the inadequacies of touch screen typing. But to take advantage, you might need to install a new keyboard.

Choose a new layout

In order to cut down on errors, you want a keyboard with lots of settings that you can tweak to suit your typing style. This usually requires a third-party keyboard from your phone’s app store.

Android phones let you customize your keyboard a bit more than iPhones do. But you can find specialized layouts for both systems. Here are a few we recommend.

  1. Gboard (for iOS and Android): Technically, Gboard is the default keyboard on Google’s Android phones, but on the iPhone and heavily modified Android devices (like Samsung’s Galaxy line), it requires a third-party download. Gboard offers glide typing, emoji suggestions, voice input (through Google’s incredibly powerful voice recognition), and a number of settings to customize the layout for fewer mistakes. However, the Android version offers significantly more settings than the iOS one.
  2. SwiftKey (for iOS and Android): SwiftKey is, first and foremost, all about text prediction. While most keyboards offer a bar along the top that suggests the word it thinks you’re trying to write, SwiftKey’s biggest goal is to make those suggestions as accurate as possible. Not only does it learn from what you type on your phone, but you can also connect it to your Google or Microsoft accounts so it can study your emails, text messages, and other writing. It also offers glide typing, and on Android, its layout is extremely customizable.
  3. Fleksy (for iOS and Android): If SwiftKey sounds a little too invasive for you, take a look at Fleksy. It does all of its processing on your phone, without sending any of your data to Fleksy’s servers. Unfortunately, its auto-prediction feature isn’t nearly as good, and it doesn’t have an option for glide typing. However, on iOS, it’s the most customizable of the three, thanks to the way it uses extensions to tweak its layout. Customization of the Android version of Fleksy is on par with the other keyboards.

Those keyboards should be a good starting point, but if none of them suit you, feel free to poke around your app store and see what’s available.

Install and enable the third-party keyboard

Once you’ve downloaded a new keyboard, you’ll need to enable it from your phone’s settings—which takes many more taps than you’d expect.

If you’re using an iPhone, head to Settings > General > Keyboards > Keyboards and tap “Add New Keyboard.” To enable some of its features, you may also need to tap on that keyboard in the resulting list and toggle “Allow Full Access”. The next time you enter an app and want to start typing, you should be able to switch between keyboards by tapping and holding the globe or emoji icon in the bottom-right corner.

On Android, head to Settings > System > Languages & Input > Virtual Keyboard and tap “Manage Keyboards,” then toggle on your new download. Enter an app and pull up your keyboard, and you can switch between options by tapping the small keyboard icon in the bottom-right corner of your phone’s screen (in the navigation bar). However, these instructions may vary depending on your model of Android phone.

Customize your keys for easier typing

If you’re using one of our recommended keyboards on Android or Fleksy on iOS, you’ll find quite a few customization options in that keyboard’s settings. This isn’t just about colors and GIFs, either—many of these tweaks allow you to change the size, shape, and layout of the keyboard to make typing easier.

In particular, look through the settings to make some of the following adjustments.

  • Resize the keyboard. You may be able to shift the keyboard to the left or right of the screen for easier one-handed typing, or split it down the middle for easier two-handed typing. Some apps also let you make the keyboard bigger or smaller altogether—and as Ghosh says, “Bigger is better!” Larger keys provide easier targets for your clumsy thumbs.
  • Add a number row. If you type numbers often, you can add a number row along the top. This will make your keyboard take up more of your screen, but it will also let you access numbers without having to tap or tap-and-hold an extra key.
  • Enable gestures. Some keyboards offer more gestures than others, but in general, this setting lets you delete words by swiping left, capitalize letters by swiping up or swiping from the Shift key, and take advantage of other shortcuts.
  • Swipe to type. Sometimes called “glide typing” or “gesture typing,” this allows you to type by swiping your finger between the keys. Once you get the hang of it, it can actually be faster than tap-typing.
  • Check out the themes. Themes aren’t just for fun colors and patterns. Some also add an outline to the key borders, which might help you aim better when trying to hit a key.
  • Add words to your dictionary. Constantly using non-standard words like “homeskillet” and “awesomesauce”? You can add those words to your personal dictionary so your keyboard won’t constantly “correct” you. Some options, such as Gboard, will also let you add your contacts’ names to your keyboard with the flick of a switch.
  • Sync your dictionary. Many keyboards allow you to sync a personal dictionary drawn from your Google, Microsoft, or other account. Doing so will cause far fewer autocorrect errors, particularly if you have multiple devices or just got a new phone. If you enable this this in SwiftKey, you can also give the keyboard access to your email and text messages, allowing it to learn more information more quickly.
  • Opt out of snippet sharing. By default, Gboard and SwiftKey share anonymized snippets of your typing with their servers to make their predictions better for everyone. If you’d prefer to turn this off, you can do so in the keyboard’s settings. It won’t change your experience much, though you may suffer a guilty feeling from knowing that you’re contributing less to the keyboard’s overall improvement. Or not.

Dig around your keyboard’s settings and see what other features it offers. You might find that your biggest annoyances are actually fixable, leading to an easier, more accurate typing experience.

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How To Use the New iOS 10 Lock Screen and Widgets https://www.popsci.com/how-to-use-new-ios-10-lock-screen-and-widgets/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 15:39:52 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/how-to-use-new-ios-10-lock-screen-and-widgets/
Phones photo

More features, but less slide...

The post How To Use the New iOS 10 Lock Screen and Widgets appeared first on Popular Science.

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Phones photo

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Here’s our guide on how to use the new lock screen for the iPhone and iPad in iOS 10. For our complete guide to using iOS 10, head over here.

The new lock screen removes the ‘slide-to-unlock’ option

We’ll start where you do: unlocking your phone. Apple has done away with the famous “slide to unlock” function. Now, you have to either press the home button and enter a passcode, or use Touch ID to get in. While this may be annoying for some people who prefer sliding, it forces you to have additional security on your device, which is ultimately a good thing for protecting your data.

How to get the home button to work the same way as before

If you don’t like pressing the home button to unlock your iPhone or iPad, you can return it to the way it used to be. Just go to the “Settings” app, tap “General,” tap “Accessibility,” tap “Home Button,” and tap “Rest Finger to Open.” (H/T: Drew_Duh).

…And, new Lock Screen widgets show more information

While you’re on the lock screen, if you swipe to the left, you’ll end up in the camera app. If you swipe to your right, you’ll see a whole bunch of new widgets. You can customize the order of the widgets, too, so you can have your music ready, or the weather readily available at the flick of a finger.

The widgets display

The widgets display

I’ve organized my widgets to what I use most, and you can customize yours from an edit option at the bottom

Older versions of iOS offered widgets in the “Notifications” window you pulled down from the top of the phone. But now Apple has expanded the amount of information these widgets can show, so they now can include things like live video and animations.

To add widgets or change their order, scroll to the bottom of the widgets screen and tap “Edit.” This will pull up a list of apps that offer widgets. You can add new ones by scrolling to the bottom of the Edit screen, where it says “More Widgets”. Then, tap the green “+” button to add the ones you want.

Widgets edit menu in iOS 10

Add widgets in iOS 10

Look for the green “+”.

To delete widgets you don’t like, scroll back up to the top tap the red “-” button. To re-arrange the order they show up in, look to the right of a widget name and tap and hold the hamburger menu (three little horizontal lines). This lets you drag the widget up and down.

Widgets menu in iOS 10

Delete widgets in iOS 10

To delete widgets, look for the red +-“.

More support for 3D Touch

Another new addition to this screen is support for Apple’s “3D Touch” system. Depending on how hard you press on an app or notification, you can access a menu of different options.

You can still tap to open an app, but putting a little more pressure on an app makes menus pop up so that you can use some of the major functions from the home screen or the widget menu. You can also use the hard press to Peek and Pop, meaning you can peek into messages or emails, or you can pop open an app on top of your current app without having to close that out.

MacRumors has a great, comprehensive list of apps that have 3D Touch functions, and you can find that here.

Read our full guide to using iOS 10

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How to Use the New iMessage Features in iOS 10 https://www.popsci.com/how-to-use-new-imessage-features-in-ios-10/ Mon, 07 Jan 2019 21:31:16 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/how-to-use-new-imessage-features-in-ios-10/
Apple's iMessage is getting extended links, automatic emoji, and better picture-sharing options in iOS 10.
Apple's iMessage just saw its biggest update yet. Screenshot

Stickers, games, digital touch, new emoji, and more...

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Apple's iMessage is getting extended links, automatic emoji, and better picture-sharing options in iOS 10.
Apple's iMessage just saw its biggest update yet. Screenshot

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Here’s our guide on how to use the new iMessages app for the iPhone and iPad in iOS 10. For our complete guide to iOS 10, head over here.

iMessage, Apple’s default messaging app — the green one with the word bubble labeled “Messages” on your home screen— has a ton of new updates in iOS 10.

You access many of the new functions by engaging with the commands directly above the keyboard in the messaging app. It allows you to share music from Apple Music, send stickers and games, send drawings, and even send everyone’s favorite method of communication: animated GIFs. But bear in mind, if you want your recipients to see the new features, they need to have iOS 10 downloaded and installed on their iPhone or iPad as well.

Link previews

Now, whenever you paste a link to an article in iMessage, it will show a preview image and the name of the source website. Even more impressive: If you send a friend a YouTube clip or another video link, they can actually watch it directly within iMessage, without having to redirect to Safari or the YouTube App.

Web previews in iMessage

You can now see web previews in iMessage

Here’s what they look like.

You can share links from anywhere on the internet to your iMessage recipients by going to Safari, tapping the top of the address bar, and holding down on the web address to pull up the “Copy” option. Then go back to iMessage and paste the address. Or, look for the little box with the arrow coming out of it, and tap that to pull up the Share Sheet, and tap “Message” from there.

Drawing directly in iMessage

If you have iMessage open and have already downloaded iOS 10, when turn your iPhone or iPad sideways, it will show a new option: a drawing keyboard!

Apple's new drawing keyboard in iMessage on iOS 10

Apple’s new drawing keyboard in iMessage on iOS 10

With iOS 10 installed on your iPhone or iPad, open iMessage (the “Messages” app), turn your device horizontally, and you should see this drawing space appear. Simply drag your finger over the white area to draw or write in your own handwriting.
Note how the emoji don't have a blue background in iOS 10

Note how the emoji don’t have a blue background in iOS 10

They stand on their own now in iMessage.

How to play games inside iMessage

You can now play games within iMessage on iOS 10

You can now play games within iMessage on iOS 10

If you tap the App Store button (the one highlighted in blue in this image), you can find games that can be played within iMessage itself.
How to invite people to play games in iMessage for iOS 10

How to invite people to play games in iMessage for iOS 10

Once you’ve downloaded an iMessage game from the App Store, you can tap it inside iMessage to launch it. Then, the game will prompt you to send an invitation to whoever you’re messaging, asking them to play with you. For example, in this Tic-Tac Toe game, you get to make your first move on the board, then the game prompts you to send an invitation to your recipient.

How to send reactions

Press and hold on a message to react to it. Apple gives you a list of six different reactions: a heart, a thumbs up, a thumbs down, a “Ha Ha” laugh, a pair of exclamation points, and a question mark.

iMessage has a new way to respond, now: reactions

iMessage has a new way to respond, now: reactions

Here’s what they look like.

Here’s how to send stickers

Stickers are a new edition that Apple teased You can download sticker packages (some for free, like the PBS Kids and Mario sets seen above) from the App Store, and they will automatically sync into your messages. Tap on the button that has the App Store logo, and you can see everything you’ve downloaded by swiping through the navigation panel.

Tap this button to get started

Tap this button to get started

It will pull up a list of options, including the App Store, where you can search for stickers.
You can now send 'stickers' in iMessage on iOS 10 as well

Use the heart to send “Digital Touches” in iOS 10

Now, you can also use something called Digital Touch to send simple animations to your friends, and these drawings disappear after two minutes. You access these from pressing the button that looks like a heart with two fingers on it, and you can draw away!

Animations

The final, most overboard addition to iMessage comes in the form of sending animations. By holding down the blue arrow, you can send messages with various effects that change either how your message appears or displays background effects in the chat. It’s important to note that these do not work on any of the iPhone 5’s.

Look for the blue up arrow to send animations

Look for the blue up arrow to send animations

Tap and hold to pull up the list of options.
An example animation frame in iMessage.

Here’s what animations look like

An example still frame of an animation in iMessage. This one is supposed to be confetti.

Read our full guide to using iOS 10

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24 iPhone settings that feel like secrets https://www.popsci.com/hidden-iphone-settings/ Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:44:20 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/hidden-iphone-settings/
An unlocked iPhone X on a faded blue-green surface.
With these iPhone settings tips in your brain, you just might feel unstoppable. William Hook/Unsplash

Dig deeper into iOS.

The post 24 iPhone settings that feel like secrets appeared first on Popular Science.

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An unlocked iPhone X on a faded blue-green surface.
With these iPhone settings tips in your brain, you just might feel unstoppable. William Hook/Unsplash

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Part of the appeal of the iPhone is its simplicity—you can grab it right out of the box and starting setting it up without reading any instructions. However, behind that simple, intuitive interface, you’ll find dozens of lesser-known settings and options. Here are 24 you can use to customize your iOS experience.

1. See notifications at a glance

If you’re using an iPhone 6s or later, you can take advantage of the Raise to Wake feature. Once you enable it, simply lift your handset to view notifications. Although the lock screen will light up and display new alerts, the phone will remain locked and secure. To set it up, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, and activate the Raise to Wake option.

2. Prioritize certain downloads

Updating a ton of apps at once? You can tell your iPhone which downloads it should complete first, a particularly useful ability when you’re setting up a new phone. On the home screen, find the app you want to put at the front of the line and apply a firm 3D Touch press. Then pick Prioritize Download from the list of options.

3. Change the flashlight intensity

While your iPhone’s built-in flashlight can be incredibly useful, not every situation calls for a powerful beam. Luckily, you can enable a slider that lets you change the brightness of the light. To bring up the Control Center, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or on an iPhone X, swipe down from the top right corner). Then do a firm 3D Touch press on the flashlight icon.

4. Enable QR code scanning

If you like scanning QR codes—the black-and-white squares that look like tiny, jumbled chess boards—to launch websites or apps, you’re in luck: iOS lets you turn the iPhone camera into a QR scanner. From Settings, tap Camera and toggle the Scan QR Codes switch on. Now you can use the Camera app as normal, but when it pans over QR codes, it will automatically scan them.

5. Delete unused apps

You can free up space on your phone by getting rid of the apps that you rarely or never use. In fact, your iPhone can do this for you. In the Settings app, tap General, choose iPhone Storage, and then enable the Offload Unused Apps option. If you regret losing one of these apps, you can always reinstall it.

6. Jump to the correct camera mode

Nobody wants to miss an important shot because they were scrolling through various modes inside the camera app. Instead, when you catch sight of something you need to photograph or film in a hurry, apply a firm 3D Touch to the Camera icon rather than tapping it lightly. Then you’ll be able to choose a camera mode like Selfie or Slo-mo directly from the home screen. This will speed up your snapping, although Apple doesn’t make all the camera modes available as shortcuts.

7. Stop web trackers

Through embedded ads, advertisers can track you across multiple websites. But the latest version of Safari for iOS 11 lets you prevent this activity, limiting sites’ ability to monitor your browsing behavior. To enable this feature, open the Settings app, tap Safari, and turn on the Prevent Cross-Site Tracking option. While you’re in this Safari menu, you can also block pop-up ads.

8. Find emoji faster

Instead of sorting through rows and rows of emoji to find the perfect reaction, you can turn your words into images. Open Messages, type out a line of text, and tap the emoji button to the left of the spacebar. All of the words that can be replaced with emojis will then turn orange. To swap a word for its brighter pictorial representation, just tap on a highlighted word and the emoji will drop in. If that orange word can match multiple emojis, you get to choose your favorite one.

9. Search through Safari tabs

When you have a lot of open tabs but need to find one in particular, this feature comes in handy—but it isn’t available when your iPhone is in its usual portrait mode. To access this search option, you have to open Safari, rotate your phone to put it in landscape mode, and then hit the tabs button (it looks like two squares). Now you’ll see a Search Tabs box that isn’t normally visible.

10. Loop your Live Photos

By default, iPhones save little moments of animation from before and after a picture is actually taken, putting them together to create a Live Photo. To edit one of these Live Photos, open it in the iOS Photos app and swipe up on it. You’ll see a variety of different effects you can add—including Loop, an option that will instantly transform your Live Photo into a short, repeating video clip.

11. Identify contacts more easily

Set custom ringtones and vibration patterns for the most important people in your life, and you’ll always know who’s calling. To create these specialized alerts, open Contacts, tap any person on the list, and choose Edit. In addition to selecting an immediately identifiable ringtone, you can tap out a unique vibration pattern.

12. Change video resolution

Videos at the highest resolution and most detailed frame rate look great on a 4K screen—but they also take up a lot of storage space. When you’re filming short clips of your friends, you can still get high quality video, while saving a lot of memory, by recording at a lower resolution. Head to Settings, then Camera, then Record Video to reduce the default resolution.

13. Abandon weak Wi-Fi networks

When you’re on the go, your iPhone can automatically connect to public Wi-Fi. But some spotty networks will actually be less reliable than your phone’s data connection. So if you have a decent data plan and strong LTE connectivity, tell your device to ditch weak Wi-Fi in favor of more reliable mobile data. In the Settings app, tap Cellular and turn the Wi-Fi Assist toggle switch on.

14. Sort through files

In the iOS Files app, you can arrange your files in different ways—but the app doesn’t make it immediately obvious how to do so. Simply drag down somewhere on the screen, and a menu will appear. It lets you sort files by name, date, size, or tags. The same menu also lets you create new folders and switch between list and thumbnail views.

15. Fall asleep to music

If you like to doze off to your favorite playlist, but don’t want it to play all night long, iOS will let you stop the music after a set amount of time. Open the Clock app and hit the Timer tab. From here, select When Timer Ends. Rather than choosing to play a ringtone at that point, opt to Stop Playing instead. Finally, set the duration of the timer and tap Start. Now, any music or podcasts you start will come to a halt when the timer ends.

16. Respond to calls with custom messages

When you’re too busy to pick up the phone, iOS lets you send a preset SMS response rather than answering. In fact, you can edit these preset options to say anything you want. Open Settings, head to Phone, and tap Respond with Text to add and edit potential messages.

17. Secure your notes

Although it’s convenient to keep extremely private information—such as passwords or ID numbers—in your iPhone’s Notes app, you don’t want anyone else to be able to access this information. So protect these notes with a password. In Settings, go to Notes, followed by Password. Here, you can set a code or a Touch ID lock. Inside the Notes app, lock a specific note by dragging it to the left in the list, tapping the lock icon, and entering your password.

18. Limit location tracking

Certain apps, such as mapping or ride-sharing services, must know your location in order to work properly. But that doesn’t mean they need to track where you are at all times. So iOS lets you ensure apps will only access your location when they absolutely need it. To do so, open the Settings app and tap Privacy, then Location Services. Select any app and change Always to While Using the App.

19. Disable read receipts

Thanks to read receipts, the other person in your Messages conversation will know when you’ve seen their note (though the feature only works for iMessage rather than regular SMS). To prevent Joe from noticing that you’ve seen his text, but are deliberately ignoring it, you can disable read receipts for selected conversations. Simply tap the (i) icon at the top of the conversation and turn off the Send Read Receipts option.

20. Send more emphatic messages

Another setting that works exclusively in iMessage-only chats: You can change a message’s “loudness,” or the size and boldness of its text. Once you’ve typed your communication into the Messages app, tap and hold the blue send icon on the right. Then drag it up or down to change the weight of the outgoing text.

21. Type instructions to Siri

In a very loud or very quiet setting, you might prefer not to speak your Siri commands aloud. So type them instead. In Settings, tap General, then Accessibility, then Siri. Now turn on the Type to Siri option. Now, when you hold down the Home button (or the Power button on the iPhone X) to call up Siri, you can speak or type your instructions.

22. Make notifications less distracting

Constant notifications can sap your attention span until it’s impossible to get anything done. You can make these alerts less distracting by removing the preview snippets that come with them and tempt you to immediately check your phone. As an added bonus, changing this setting will protect your notifications from snoops who look at your lock screen. To remove the previews, open Settings and tap Notifications, then Show Previews, and finally Never.

23. Send money through Messages

Apple has tightly integrated its Apple Pay service into all aspects of iOS, including the Messages app. Whenever you type a dollar amount into a chat, it will automatically appear underlined. Tap on this underlined number, and Apple Pay will send that amount of money from your account to the other participant in your conversation. However, before it officially transfers, you do get the chance to double-check and verify the amount.

24. Get bigger, bolder text

You don’t have to settle for the iPhone’s default text size and shape. If you open Settings and then tap Display & Brightness, you can use the Text Size and Bold Text options to change the on-screen typography. Not every app will comply with your choices, but all of Apple’s native apps and all of the iOS settings screens will.

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2019 was a transition period for smartphones https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/2019-year-review-smartphones/ Fri, 27 Dec 2019 15:26:43 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/2019-year-review-smartphones/
Google's Pixel 4 has a square camera array like the iPhone 11 Pro.
2019 was the year of the square camera array. Stan Horaczek

You’re not alone if you didn’t want to upgrade your mobile device this year.

The post 2019 was a transition period for smartphones appeared first on Popular Science.

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Google's Pixel 4 has a square camera array like the iPhone 11 Pro.
2019 was the year of the square camera array. Stan Horaczek

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In the first part of 2019, it seemed like people were starting to catch on to the fact that smartphones don’t require an upgrade every year. According to the International Data Corporation, smartphone sales fell year-over-year in the first quarter of 2019, continuing a downward trend from the last quarter of 2018. By the end of the third quarter, the segment had rallied some—even Apple got a boost in part because of its increased efforts to sell refurbished phones through its direct channels.

But, for users like you and me, the sales aren’t the important part of the story. We want shiny new devices that offer impressive new features that can justify the annoying task of switching devices. And while some big changes are coming down the road in 2020, this past year felt like the beginning of a transition.

5G started to pop up

This year, every major smartphone carrier in the U.S. flipped the switch on some kind of 5G network. Performance, coverage, and even the simple definition of what “5G” actually means varies widely at the moment, but it’s out there. And 5G-compatible devices made their debut this year as well.

There’s still no 5G iPhone, but Samsung hopped into the high-speed data waters with 5G versions of its Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus devices. As networks expand next year, we expect 5G connectivity to work its way down the product lines as the promise of super-fast connections lures users into trading up their devices.

Right now, it’s still rather unlikely that it’s worth buying a 5G phone unless you live and stay smack in the middle of a 5G network area, but that will likely change in 2020.

Folding phones kinda happened

You probably didn’t buy a folding phone this year. In fact, I’ll bet you the dessert from my Lunchables that you don’t even know anyone who bought a folding phone this year (and it’s a Reese’s cup, so you know I’m serious). Samsung’s Galaxy Fold was, however, one of the biggest mobile device stories of the year.

Just before its slated release, reviewers found that the Galaxy Fold was prone to breaking for a number of reasons. The outer screen layer peeled off, dust got under the display itself, and it just generally didn’t seem ready for the masses. Samsung did officially release a sturdier version of the device later in the year—and reportedly sold a million of the $2,000 gadgets—but the stumble did its damage.

Many of the other folding devices we expected to hit the market this year never even really materialized. And Microsoft announced its plan for a folding phone that avoids the flexible screen completely, instead opting for a pair of displays with a seam in the middle.

Surprisingly enough, the reborn Motorola Razr provided the brightest spot in the folding phone world. It’s still not ready to take on the other flagship devices on the market, but it showed that Motorola actually understood that the value of a folding phone isn’t going from big to even bigger, but rather from small (when folded) to reasonably sized when splayed out.

The camera wars continued on

Picture and video prowess remains one of the main battlefields on which smartphone manufacturers can differentiate themselves from their competition. This year, both Apple and Google made considerable leaps in their smartphone camera technology.

The new iPhone 11 Pro sports a three-camera array that includes a standard wide-angle lens, the familiar telephoto portrait lens, and a new super-wide lens, which added a whole extra dimension to its capabilities. Apple also introduced its Deep Fusion photo tech, which emphasizes fine details across the image. You may have heard it referred to as “sweater mode” because all of the sample photos involved people wearing extremely detailed sweaters.

Having tried all of the major players this year, I personally recommend the iPhone 11 Pro if you really care about taking pictures with your phone. The Samsung’s images always look overly saturated (a look some people love) and the Pixel 4 had an odd shadow striping issue in certain conditions that I couldn’t help but notice. Still, in 2019, just about every flagship-level photo had a great camera and if you can’t take a good photo with them, it probably has more to do with your skills as a photographer than the gear itself.

What’s coming in 2020?

We’ll likely get some glances at new folding devices at CES 2020 in January, but the majority of the new announcements will roll out across the entire year. We expect lots of 5G devices to hit the market and the service providers to expand their 5G networks into new cities. The FCC and service providers seem to insist on making 5G some kind of “race,” which means every time there’s even a slight advancement in coverage or speeds, you can expect companies to shout it from the tops of their revamped cell towers.

It also seems likely that we’re going to get more folding phones. It seems some companies backed off in the backlash to the original Galaxy Fold debacle, but that won’t stop them forever. Huawei and LG already have plans for folding devices and Samsung may even show off more folding tech it plans to release later this year.

Whatever happens, you’ll probably be just fine keeping your current phone for another year unless it’s really falling apart.

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Samsung’s 100x zooming smartphone camera requires a fancy lens and impossibly steady hands https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/samsung-galaxy-s20-ultra-camera-zoom/ Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:37:27 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/samsung-galaxy-s20-ultra-camera-zoom/
Samsung galaxy S20 phone camera zoom lens.
Samsung uses clever tech to cram a big zoom lens into its skinny Galaxy S20 phone. Samsung

Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 Ultra promises massive reach, but good luck holding it steady.

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Samsung galaxy S20 phone camera zoom lens.
Samsung uses clever tech to cram a big zoom lens into its skinny Galaxy S20 phone. Samsung

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Yesterday, Samsung threw a big party on the west coast to debut its new smartphones. The flashy Galaxy Z Fold with its flexible glass screen stole most of the spotlight, but the company also announced new flagship phones. The Galaxy S20 comes in three versions, all of which have fancy new 120 Hz refresh rate screens and even 5G connectivity. Of those, the S20 Ultra boasts the burliest camera in the bunch. The wide-angle lens funnels light into a 108-megapixel sensor, while the built-in telephoto lens promises the equivalent of a 100x zoom. That’s an impressive number, but it comes with a few caveats.

The term “zoom” has taken on two different meanings in the digital camera era. The traditional version of zooming involves physically moving around glass elements within the lens itself to change the appearance of light hitting the sensor. This is an uncommon feature in smartphones because it requires physical space, but it has shown up in some models like the Huawei P30 Pro and the Oppo Reno. Like those phones, the S20 Ultra uses a clever periscopic system that mounts the lens vertically inside the phone’s body, then uses refraction to bend incoming light to give the sensor a view of the outside world.

There are 100x optical zoom lenses out in the world—some even go beyond that. But, physics requires those lenses to occupy enormous amounts of space. Consider a Canon Digisuper 100 lens used for high-end TV broadcasts like you see during sporting events. It measures two feet long, 10 inches tall, and weighs roughly 52 pounds. It also costs close to $200,000 because of the amount of electronics and glass inside to achieve the desired effect. That’s not very practical for a phone.

The zoom lens inside the Galaxy S20 Ultra only actually optically zooms 4x using the lens itself. From there, it ventures into the complicated world of “digital zoom.”

Galaxy S20 Ultra Zoom demo.
This screen capture from yesterday’s Unpacked event shows what 30x zoom can do. Samsung

Zooming beyond the range of a camera’s lens used to be relatively simple. Companies simply cropped in on the image like you’d do in Photoshop, or just by pinching and zooming with your fingers on an image in your camera roll. The resolution of the final image dropped, the image quality suffered, and you typically ended with a worse image than if you had just cropped it in post.

Eventually, digital zoom began to improve. Cropping in on the pixels made them more apparent and left photos looking noisy and grainy. A technique called pixel binning, however, allows manufacturers to group clusters of pixels together and have them act as a single unit, capturing more light and producing a final product with lower resolution, but higher overall fidelity.

Artificial intelligence also now plays a pivotal role in digital zoom. Cameras capture several images every time you press the button to snap a photo and they can use some of that extra data to help overcome the inherent downfalls involved with pushing a camera sensor past its natural abilities.

In the S20 Ultra’s case, the camera module has a ton of extra data to work with. The sensor behind the zoom lens checks in at 48 megapixels and the main camera has that beefy 108-megapixel chip tucked inside. In order to help optimize performance when zooming, the phone pulls info from both those cameras to try and capture as much detail as possible.

Still, that 100x number is pushing the limits. Even during Samsung’s on-stage demo, it was clear that there’s a considerable loss of sharpness and detail when you try to stretch out that far. Yes, it gives you a point of view that’s otherwise impossible with other smartphone cameras—and the vast majority of dedicated cameras—but taking advantage of all that range will be tricky for users.

Samsung 100x smartphone camera zoom.
This screen grab gives you an idea of how much image degradation you can expect when you zoom all the way to 100x. Samsung

When you zoom in on a subject, you’re narrowing your field of view. As you move toward the telephoto end of things, it becomes increasingly more difficult to capture an image without camera shake blurring into the picture. Internal vibration reduction systems use both physical movements within the lens and digital compensation to prevent motion blur, but they can only do so much.

With the 100x lens’s field of view approximating what you’d get from a telescope, hand-holding that long of a lens is nearly impossible. Even on a tripod, the simple vibrations from pressing the button to take the picture would likely be enough to shake the camera and cause some blur. If Samsung introduces this 100x zoom feature on the next version of the Galaxy Note, the remote camera activation capabilities baked into the S Pen stylus will come in handy for taking a picture without having to actually tap the screen.

https://youtu.be/auXC5YoQMZs?t=2122

The zoom lenses almost always have smaller apertures than the non-zooming (or prime) lenses, which requires longer exposures and introduces even more potential for blur. In the S20 Ultra’s case, the telephoto camera has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 which loosely means that it’s only letting in about a quarter of the light compared to the f/1.8 main camera lets through. That makes the sensor and the AI-powered multi-shot modes work a lot harder.

So, while you probably won’t want to use the 100x zoom very often, this is a big jump in terms of mainstream smartphone camera technology. Zoom has typically been a shortcoming for smartphones, but if these periscopic lenses catch on, we can reasonably expect the technology to improve rather quickly. Until then, maybe pick up a tripod with a smartphone adapter before you go out zooming.

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How to make the most of the iPhone 11’s ultra-wide camera lens https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/tips-iphone-ultra-wide-camera-lens-photography/ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 18:53:58 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/tips-iphone-ultra-wide-camera-lens-photography/
Ultra-wide angle landscape example.
This shot wasn't possible with the regular iPhone lens, but the extra-wide view lets everything fit in the frame. Stan Horazek

The super-wide lens has a dramatic look, but it can get old quickly if you’re not careful.

The post How to make the most of the iPhone 11’s ultra-wide camera lens appeared first on Popular Science.

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Ultra-wide angle landscape example.
This shot wasn't possible with the regular iPhone lens, but the extra-wide view lets everything fit in the frame. Stan Horazek

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For photographers, it’s easy to get too excited about a new piece of gear. Once you shell out cash for a fancy new lens, you want to use it all the time, whether it’s appropriate or not. Recently, Apple attached a new super-wide-angle lens to its iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. It offers a new perspective with a dramatic look you couldn’t quite get with the typical wide-angle or telephoto lenses from previous versions. And while it’s tempting to dive headfirst into that super-wide world, it’s easy to overdo it. Here are some tips for using it effectively.

Choose the right subjects

Some scenes look amazing with a super-wide-angle lens. Landscapes, for instance, look so much grander when you can fit more of them into the frame. The same goes for crowded interior scenes with lots of details.

There are some situations, however, where the super-wide falters. If straight lines are important in the photo, the distortion around the edges of the picture may ruin the effect unless you’re willing to spend time correcting it later in software.

iPhone camera distortion example.
These lines are straight in real life and show the camera’s distortion at the edges. Stan Horaczek

People are also notoriously difficult to photograph with a super-wide—at least if you’re hoping to make it flattering. When capturing a person, it’s best to keep them near the middle of the frame. Don’t get too close, either, or the lens will distort their features in unnatural ways.

As a rule of thumb, the ultra-wide is good if you want to fit more information into the scene than you can capture with the standard lens and you can’t simply back up. Every once in awhile, it’s fine to go wide just because the effect makes a boring scene look more interesting, but doing it too much will deaden its impact over time.

When you go to switch to the ultra-wide, ask yourself why you’re doing it. If there’s no clear answer, maybe it’s not the right call.

Pay attention to your edges

Super wide plant store example.
The wide version of this photo makes the space look larger and shows more of the items in the frame. Stan Horazek
Regular lens example plant store.
Taken from the same spot with the regular lens, this image makes the space feel smaller to the viewer. Stan Horazek

Switching to the ultra-wide lens will allow you to get more information into a single photo, and that can work to your advantage if you’re thinking about it. Taking a photo of a large group in a small room without leaving anyone out? That’s great. Adding an ugly red minivan to your otherwise beautiful landscape photo? It can be enough to ruin a photo.

Before you press the button to take the picture, do a quick scan of the entire photo and look for objects that might distract from the actual subject. Things like pops of vibrant color, glaring highlights, and written words can attract a viewer’s eye to the background and distract them.

If something isn’t adding to your photo, it’s hurting it, and you should keep it out of the frame.

Look for leading lines

Leading lines perspective.
Leading lines help this scene and guide the viewer’s eye to the person, even though they’re very small. Stan Horazek

With so much going on in each picture, it’s important to guide a viewer’s eye to your actual subject, especially if they’re relatively small. Lines cutting across the picture look jarring and make the scene read in a disjointed way. That’s fine if it’s your intention, but it’s distracting if it’s not.

Scenes like hallways or staircases can really lend themselves to this. Any time lines converge in a frame, you would ideally like them to point toward the most important object in the picture.

Don’t expect it to look as good as the main camera


From a technical standpoint, the iPhone’s ultra-wide lens has a smaller sensor and a lens that lets in less light (because of its smaller aperture). You won’t notice much of a performance difference in good light, but once things get dark, you’ll likely notice considerably more grainy noise in photos taken with the ultra-wide. You also won’t have access to some of the iPhone’s fancy camera features like Night Mode or Deep Fusion.

Watch out for flare

Lens flare example
Lens flare doesn’t always look cool like in Star Trek movies. Stan Horazek

When light hits the edge of a lens, it has a tendency to create flare, which creates weird optical objects in the picture and throws a haze across the frame. This effect works well for some shooters like lifestyle portrait photographers who enjoy the dreamy nature of it, or J.J. Abrams, whose name has become nearly synonymous with the effect. Most of the time, however, it looks bad and the iPhone’s ultra-wide lens is prone to it.

If you find yourself experiencing flare, you might be able to use your hand or some other object to shade the area around the lens. Preventing light from hitting the edges of the glass can fix it immediately, which is why pro camera lenses often employ hoods around the front element. If that doesn’t work, you can shift your perspective and try to get any super-bright objects out of the frame entirely. If none of that works, just embrace it and chalk it up to art.

Don’t force dead space

Rule of thirds example.
This unedited photo (I would bring up the shadows in the bottom part of the image to finish it) shows an example of when the rule of thirds makes sense. Without the person at the bottom of the frame, the boring water would take up too much space. Stan Horaczek

Start any photography book, tutorial, or class and you’ll almost certainly encounter the rule of thirds. It’s a compositional guideline that demands photographers do their best to split their pictures up into three pieces to make them feel “balanced.” It’s a good thing to know, but it’s also a great way to devote a third of any given picture to boring, non-essential details in pursuit of adherence to a rule.

Consider a beach scene with an incredible sky full of clouds above. The rule of thirds suggests you should make a third of the image boring sand instead of filling the frame with the interesting part that is the sky.

Balance is important, but the ultra-wide’s dramatic perspective gives you room to experiment and find the composition with the most impact, even if it won’t comply with a general “rule.”

Use perspective correction

Uncorrected buildings.
The buildings lean over because of the perspective. Stan Horazek
Perspective correction.
Perspective correction straightens out the buildings. Stan Horazek

While distortion comes with the ultra-wide territory, you don’t have to live with it as is. Adobe’s Lightroom Mobile offers a tool called Upright, which adds automatic perspective correction to photos. It can help straighten out buildings that appear angled because of the lens’s warping effect. It doesn’t always work, but it’s usually a good start and it allows you to make your own tweaks if the auto function doesn’t get it right.

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T-Mobile and Sprint may be cleared to merge, but users are left with unclear signals https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/tmobile-sprint-merger-samsung-phones/ Sat, 15 Feb 2020 08:00:01 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/tmobile-sprint-merger-samsung-phones/
Sprint 5G Tower.
Sprint's 5G towers showed up for this year's Super Bowl. Sprint

Recapping the week’s biggest tech stories.

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Sprint 5G Tower.
Sprint's 5G towers showed up for this year's Super Bowl. Sprint

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It’s only fitting that T-Mobile and Sprint would get final judge’s approval for their massive merger during the week of Valentine’s Day. While that telecom romance is clearly the big story of the week, it wasn’t the only thing happening in the world of tech. Here are a few highlights from the past week—we’ll get to the romantic comedy (or is it actually a horror story in the making?) about the two cellular carriers down below.

Samsung announced new smartphones

At its Unpacked event in San Francisco earlier this week, Samsung finally pushed the big, red launch button to propel its new Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy S20 smartphones into the world. You can see a full recap of the announcement here and take a closer look at the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s massive 100x “zoom” function here.

MWC and CP+ got canceled

The annual Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona typically acts as a launch pad for new smartphones and smartphone-adjacent products from a litany of companies. This year, however, the coronavirus outbreak caused just about every major firm to back out. As a result, it’s officially canceled this year. The CP+ expo in Japan—one of the world’s biggest photo industry trade shows—suffered a similar fate.

The new Motorola Razr opened to sad reviews

Hopes were high when Motorola announced it was bringing back the Razr. Between its iconic pedigree and its promising folding screen tech, it made early adopters drool. Unfortunately, the product’s actual foray into the real world didn’t go so well. Reviewers complained of issues from creaky hinges to a generally cheap overall feel. The timing couldn’t have been worse with Samsung introducing its Galaxy Z Flip with its flexible glass screen and more robust set of features.

Adam Savage built a wonderful robot rickshaw

If you’re a true nerd, you’re likely envious of former Mythbusters host, Adam Savage. This week, he took to YouTube to show off the rickshaw he built to ride behind a Boston Dynamics Spot robot. It’s a nice reprieve from recent Spot videos, most of which have been rather terrifying in a dystopian robot stormtrooper kind of way.

Facebook introduced a new app called Hobbi for when you’re feeling crafty

On its face, Facebook’s new app, Hobbi, looks like a Pinterest clone. In practice, however, the app offers a deeper experience for people who want to keep track of their personal projects and builds. You can connect with other people who like to make stuff and even keep tabs on the progress of your own work as you go. It’s part of a trend of this kind of new app, which includes Google’s recent version, Tangi.

Sprint and T-Mobile merger

For years now, T-Mobile and Sprint have been working on merging—combining the third and fourth biggest American cellular providers (respectively) into a bigger entity with a better shot at taking on the final bosses of Verizon and AT&T.

One of the very last hurdles standing in the merger’s way came in the form of a lawsuit brought by 10 state attorneys general who believed the deal would be bad for competition and, ultimately, consumers.

This week, however, US District Judge Victor Marrero handed down his verdict on the trial, which began last year. He approved the merger and outlined his decision in a 173-page document that you can look at here if you really can’t think of anything more fun to do during your weekend.

The Verge’s Nilay Patel (who is actually a lawyer, unlike most of the other folks arguing about the decision on Twitter) read the document and outlined some of the most glaring pieces that suggest the verdict may be misguided.

The next steps are still somewhat unclear. As part of the deal, Dish will spin up its own cellular service provider network while using T-Mobile’s network in the meantime. Sprint and T-Mobile will merge, but it’s unclear whether that will mean in practical terms for either company’s current subscribers.

Competitive drawbacks aside, the deal may lay the groundwork for a more robust 5G network rollout for the new company since Sprint’s 5G service utilizes mid-band frequencies, while T-Mobile prominently relies on lower-frequencies that don’t go far beyond the capabilities of current 4G tech. Combining hardware could make the network considerably better. But, users may not get access to the bargain-basement prices Sprint currently offers on its unlimited service plans.

In other words: stay tuned.

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Motorola’s $1,500 folding-screen RAZR is perfectly ridiculous https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/motorola-folding-razr-macbook-pro-disney-plus/ Fri, 15 Nov 2019 13:10:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/motorola-folding-razr-macbook-pro-disney-plus/
Motorola RAZR.
Looking at this photo, you can almost hear the sound the phone makes when you close it. Motorola

The year’s wackiest smartphone and a recap of the week’s biggest tech stories.

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Motorola RAZR.
Looking at this photo, you can almost hear the sound the phone makes when you close it. Motorola

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Motorola just released a version of its iconic Razr flip phone with a folding display and it looks really good. That’s a surprising fact here in 2019. First, Motorola hasn’t exactly had a ton of blockbuster hits when it comes to smartphone hardware recently. On top of that, folding screen phones have had an incredibly rough year, which started with lofty promises at CES that eventually dissolved into general uncertainty about whether or not anyone could even make a foldable device without it breaking almost immediately. Microsoft flat out said that it was avoiding flexible screens completely for its folding device.

But, even with all of those factors working against it, the new Moto Razr looks promising. Closed, the device could almost pass as the familiar 2006 version of the phone. The 2.7-inch external OLED screen is much more robust than the original’s, of course, but it still has the look of something Veronica Mars would have used in season two back in the mid-2000s. Flip the new Razr open, however, and there’s a 6.2-inch OLED screen hiding inside, ready to handle all the typical smartphone stuff you’d expect an Android device to do.

The company claims to have solved some of the prevalent hinge problems that have affected other phones in the category and it can even simulate the layout of the old Razr if you enable “retro mode.” There’s almost no crease where the screen folds, and the clever hinge design appears fairly secure to prevent tiny bits of pocket or purse grime from getting in and destroying the delicate mechanisms. Only real-world tests will tell if that’s actually the case, but having watched the catastrophe that happened with the Galaxy Fold’s initial release, I’d hope that Motorola did everything possible to avoid that from the start.

The company will clearly bank on nostalgia to help sell the $1,500 gadget, but it doesn’t seem entirely like a gimmick. Folding in half allows a 6.2-inch phone to fit in much smaller pockets and the smaller outer screen isn’t trying to do more than it should.

Of course, you still probably shouldn’t actually buy the Razr when it hits stores in January of next year unless you made millions selling your dog park locator app and now you’re just trying to find ways to spend your cash. But, if you love gadgets and have extra money, this is the kind of thing you live for.

Motorola’s flappy phone wasn’t the only news story happening this week. Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s biggest tech stories.

Listen to the latest episode of the Techathlon podcast

On this week’s show, we put Google’s real-time transcription tech to the test in its Pixel 4 smartphone? Can it understand Shakespeare better than I did when I half-read it in 10th grade? Listen to find out. You can check it out in the player above, subscribe via Apple Podcasts, or follow along on Anchor.

Apple announced its 16-inch MacBook Pro with a better keyboard

New 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The new MacBook Pro has a bigger screen and a dramatically improved keyboard. Apple

The MacBook Pro keyboard hasn’t been very good for roughly four years. This week, however, Apple announced a new version of its flagship laptop and—after a few minutes of typing on it—I can already confirm that it’s better. The new MBPs also bring a bigger 16-inch Retina display as well as a larger battery and improved thermal performance. Look for a review in the coming weeks.

Disney Plus officially arrived

Disney Plus Star Wars Marvel Screen
Disney Plus is ready to stream—if it’s working for you.

If your Star Wars-obsessed coworker has been missing all week, it’s probably because they’re at home watching every bit of content they can on Disney’s new $7 monthly streaming service. Some early technical issues prevented users from streaming on day one, but that didn’t stop more than 10 million people from signing up.

Google’s AI will judge your ability to sing like Freddie Mercury

Google's Freddie Meter
The Freddie Meter was not happy with my performance. Screen grab courtesy YouTube

If you think you have pipes like Queen’s late lead singer, give Google’s Freddie Meter a shot. It didn’t go well for me, but you will probably fare better. Just maybe wait until you’re at home instead of trying at the office.

Apple announced its Research app and you can take part

Choose any of the three studies involved with Apple’s new Research app, and the company will use the information it collects from your iPhone and Apple Watch to conduct scientific work that could lead to medical breakthroughs or influence future products.

Instagram started killing “like” counts worldwide

After some reportedly successful localized testing, Instagram has officially started killing off “like” counts on posts all over the world. It’s unclear who it affects right now or when the rest of us we’ll get the update, but enjoy those stats while you have the chance.

AMC released a boring game about sitting on a plane

AMC's Airplane Mode video game.
We’ve all played the real life version of this game before. AMC

That sounds like a silly way to set up a game, but AMC actually set out to bore players with its game, Airplane Mode. It simulates the most tedious parts of flying, such as crying babies, spotty internet, and even delays. Fun!

James Dean is dead, but he’s starring in a new movie

Should digital versions of actors appear in Hollywood movies? And if so, how do studios even do it? Find out here.

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How to fix common smartphone problems https://www.popsci.com/fix-most-common-smartphone-problems/ Fri, 09 Apr 2021 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/fix-most-common-smartphone-problems/
Phone problems
It'll make you feel like the savviest person on the planet. Adrien/Unsplash and Leovinus/Pixabay

For when you can't connect to the internet to search 'what's wrong with my phone?'

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Phone problems
It'll make you feel like the savviest person on the planet. Adrien/Unsplash and Leovinus/Pixabay

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No one likes a faulty smartphone. When you keep your whole life (more or less) on a device, you need that gadget to always function properly. Unfortunately, bugs, crashes, and other issues are inevitable, especially as your phone gets older.

The good news is many of the most common issues have relatively simple fixes you can perform yourself. The bad news is that this will not always be the case. If these solutions don’t do the trick, we’re sad to tell you that you might have to take your handset to a professional repair shop, or (gasp) upgrade to a newer model.

But before you start panicking, take a deep breath—the solution to your problem might be just a few taps away.

A couple faulty apps

If your phone is slowing down it might not be because of a general issue, but simply due to a few bad apples. Figuring which one it is could save you a trip to the shop and a few bucks. If it’s only a few apps, you might be able to repair the situation by deleting the data they store on your phone.

On Android, open Settings, go to Apps & notifications, choose the troublesome app, and tap Storage & cache. Here, you have two options. First, try choosing Clear Cache to erase only the temporary files that the app has stored on your phone. (When these grow too numerous or become corrupted, they can mess with the app’s speed and power.) Clearing the cache won’t mess with the app’s settings, but it may not be enough to solve your issue.

If this doesn’t help, select Clear Data to erase all the app’s information and start from scratch. Clearing the data offers a more comprehensive option, but you may have to re-enter your information afterwards, such as your username and password.

On iOS, you won’t get the same data-clearing options. Instead, you must uninstall and reinstall your app. Find its icon, press and hold it, and then tap Delete App option from the drop-down menu that appears. Then find it in the App Store and reinstall it. This will wipe all the locally stored data, and the app will boot up from scratch. If you want to delete a bunch of apps at once, press and hold one app and continue holding after the drop-down menu appears. One or two seconds later, all the app icons will start shaking and small gray X’s will appear on them. Tap the X to delete.

The old uninstall-reinstall trick will also work on Android phones if the clearing-data trick failed. From the hub or your unlocked screen, tap and hold the app’s icon, then drag it up to the Uninstall button. This method has the added advantage of making sure you’re running the latest version of the app, which will have all the updated patches and bug fixes. But if you want to get the app back, you’ll need to back up the app data—whether it’s documents or high scores—before you jump into uninstall-reinstall. Most apps can now store data in the cloud, but it can’t hurt to double check.

If you’re still experiencing issues with an app even after uninstalling and reinstalling it, it might be time to do some research on whether you’re dealing with a known problem, or contact the developer directly with the details of what’s going on. Remember to include a thorough description of your issue, the manufacturer, and model of the device you’re using, plus the OS version it’s running. You can usually find developer contact details on the app’s online listing.

Widespread bugs

Angry kid with phone
What’s that, Timmy? Screen froze again and you can’t procrastinate homework anymore? EdZbarzhyvetsky via Depositphotos

If general issues keep appearing almost at random in all kinds of apps, it’ll be harder to pin down one root cause. Perhaps a hardware component is failing, the device is overheating too often, or an upgrade didn’t work correctly. But you won’t actually need to diagnose your phone to fix it.

The old fallback of turning your device off and on again can sound a little obvious, but it can easily solve a variety of problems. This works because it clears out everything in your phone’s temporary memory, so if a couple apps are making the whole phone go haywire, it might be enough to get your device working again.

If the phone has frozen and you can’t power it off in the normal way, try a special hardware reset combination. To figure out just what buttons to press and hold in order to force a reset, look up your phone’s make and model online. You can easily find instructions for Google’s Pixel phones or Apple’s numerous iPhone models.

If the off-and-on-again failsafe fails, it’s time to indulge in some detective work. Unexplained crashes can be caused by an overheating phone, so monitor its temperature while you’re using and charging it. If it’s often hot to the touch, the issue might lie with a faulty charger or a battery that’s on its last legs.

A lack of local storage space can also cause random bugs and crashes, so check how much free room is left on your device. On Android, open Settings and head to Storage. On iOS, open Settings, then tap General and iPhone Storage. If you’re running out of space, you need to make some room. Most phones have their own way to help you free up space, but if yours doesn’t, check out our guide for it.

As a last resort, you may want to consider resetting your whole phone back to its factory settings, which means wiping off all the data and setting it up again as if it were brand new. If the problem persists after that, you’re probably looking at a hardware fault. To deal with that, scroll down to the “Troubleshooting and other issues” section below.

Poor battery life

Emoji head man using a smartphone.
TFW you run out of battery and still aren’t sure where you’ll be meeting your date. Nicomenijes via Depositphotos

To some extent, everyone struggles with battery life, no matter how new their phone is. But when your charge drops by half in just a couple hours, you’re in trouble. This can happen when a battery gets old and starts degrading fast. If this is the case with your phone, you should look into getting the battery professionally replaced. This will make sense if your phone is relatively new, but if you carry an old handset around, you may be overdue for an upgrade. Just don’t forget to recycle your old one once you get a new one.

But before you start researching new phones, try a few tricks to maximize your battery life. First, figure out if you can blame the battery drain on one or two apps. In Android, you can check out how much battery each app uses in the Apps & notifications menu, or you can check general battery usage via the Battery entry in Settings. The same path works on iOS. If you do identify a few energy hogs, remove them from your phone to see if the problem clears up.

While you’re poking around the Battery menu, you can enable battery saver mode, called Battery Saver on Androids and Low Power Mode on iPhones. Turning this on won’t fix your underlying problems, but it can give you a bit more time between charges.

To extend battery life even further, at least temporarily, dim the brightness of the display or periodically put the phone in airplane mode. Location tracking can also drain your battery—switch it off in Android by going to Settings, then Location, and in iOS by going to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

Poor reception

annoyed person searching for signal on their phone
Sometimes you don’t even have to be in the middle of nowhere to lose cell reception. Sometimes your phone thinks your living room is the middle of nowhere. elvinstar via Deposit Photos

Your phone is not always to be blamed if it’s having networking issues that make it difficult to connect to Wi-Fi or catch a cellular signal. The culprit could be external—maybe you are in a notorious dead spot where no one can get any signal, or you’re at home and other devices are also struggling to connect to the web. If this is the case, you might need to focus your troubleshooting on something other than your handset.

A call to your carrier or internet service provider—if you can bear it—could be the next step in trying to get everything working again. They will know more about the issues specific to your phone and service. Alternatively, try a quick web search using the make and model of your phone and the name of your carrier or internet provider. You might find solutions from people who’ve had the same problem as you.

If, after some digging, you’ve determined that your phone is truly at fault, start with a simple reboot. This will reset all your phone’s wireless connections. If you’d rather not turn your phone off and on again, try turning airplane mode on and off instead—this will have pretty much the same effect. You can also reset all your network settings, which will wipe out any information on your phone about Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data connections. In Android, go to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options and Reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth, then confirm your choice by tapping on Reset settings. On iOS, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

For persistent issues, make sure you’re running the most recent version of your mobile operating system. This will have the latest bug fixes and be ready to work with the latest settings from your carrier or router. If you’ve been putting off an operating-system update, deal with it now.

If both the reset and the update fail, you’ve exhausted your home-repair options. Connectivity is one of those features that should “just work,” so if it doesn’t, you may be looking at a faulty phone, a damaged SIM card, or a problem with the network itself. If the issue started suddenly, and not because you altered any settings on your phone, it’s likely that your phone isn’t to blame. In this case, you’ll definitely want to call the experts at your phone’s manufacturer or your service provider.

Troubleshooting other phone issues

upset person with phone
Don’t be scared—if you back up your data, a good old factory reset is nothing to be afraid of. Vadymvdrobot via Deposit Photos

If you’re having problems that aren’t specifically mentioned here, you might be able to dig up some solutions online. Just be sure to choose specific keywords that include your type of phone and the exact problem that’s plaguing it. Otherwise, you’ll encounter thousands of results of varying relevance.

Beyond that, your last resort can be a full phone reset. This process will return your phone back to its original factory state, so if it’s still buggy after that, you’re probably looking at faulty or failing hardware. Resetting a phone isn’t too difficult—just be sure to back up all your important information first, because the reset will wipe all of it.

On the most recent versions of stock Android, you’ll need to head to Settings, then tap System, Advanced, and Reset options. Hit Erase all data (factory reset) and confirm your choice. Before the process starts, you’ll see a brief summary of what’s going to get wiped. For more details, including some tips on back-ups, look at Google’s official guide. If you’re using a non-stock version of Android, the procedure might vary slightly, but the reset option should be easy to find in Settings.

On iOS devices, you’ll need to open Settings, go to General and Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings. Then, you’ll need to enter your passcode or Apple ID and password to confirm your choice. Apple has a comprehensive guide on this, and another one if you want to reset your phone using iTunes on a computer.

Remember‚ you’ll need to know your Google or Apple account details to set up the phone from scratch again. And if you’ve enabled two-step verification on your accounts, you’ll need a backup method for verifying your identity—something that doesn’t involve your recently-wiped phone. It might sound like a fiddly process, but it won’t take too much time. Ultimately, the factory reset is the most comprehensive option for fixing a range of persistent device bugs and issues.

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All the cool things you can do on your phone’s lock screen https://www.popsci.com/everything-you-can-do-from-phone-lock-screen/ Mon, 08 Jul 2019 16:55:22 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/everything-you-can-do-from-phone-lock-screen/
Phones photo

Unlock some hidden shortcuts.

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Phones photo

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Your phone’s lock screen is an essential barrier between all your personal information and anyone who happens to pick up your phone. It’s designed to keep most of your phone’s features and functions hidden away.

But you can also take a few shortcuts from the lock screen to access various apps more quickly—useful for taking photos, running Google Assistant and Siri, making emergency calls, and more.

Access your digital assistant

Whether you have an Android or iOS phone, you can access Google Assistant or Siri, respectively, from the lock screen, though you’ll need to do some setup work to access these apps hands-free.

On Android, open the Google Assistant app, then tap the compass icon in the lower right. Press on your avatar (top left), then choose Settings, Assistant, and Phone. Next, toggle the Access with Voice Match button to “on” and you’ll be able to access Google Assistant from the lock screen. If you haven’t already trained the app to recognize your voice, you’ll need to go through a short setup process for that, too. Once you’ve laid the groundwork, just say, “Hey Google” or, “Okay Google,” on the lock screen to access your assistant.

For iOS, you’ll need to open the Settings app, then choose Face ID & Passcode. Make sure the Siri toggle switch is set to “on” under Allow access when locked. When it is, a “Hey Siri” voice command or a long press on the power button will wake Siri up even if your phone is locked.

With both virtual assistants, some personal information (such as your photo library) won’t show up until your phone is unlocked, but you can access many of these apps’ regular features, including weather forecasts, time zones, and web queries.

Take a photo

Don’t waste time unlocking your phone when you just need to take a quick snap. On Android, double-tap the power button to launch the camera, and on iOS, just swipe to the left and start shooting. If you want to access your photo gallery, though, you won’t be able to on either operating system until you unlock your phone again.

Turn the flashlight on and off

This is just for the iPhone owners out there: if you press and hold the flashlight button on the lock screen, (it’s in the lower left-hand corner) it’ll turn on without your phone needing to be unlocked. Press and hold it again to turn the light off.

Access Quick Settings or Control Center

the Quick Settings screen for Android and the Control Center screen for iOS
Both the Quick Settings screen on Android (left) and the Control Center on iOS (right) are accessible from the lock screen. David Nield

Some of your phone’s key settings are available from the lock screen even if you don’t unlock the phone itself. To see the Quick Settings pane on Android, drag down with one finger from the top of the display. To see the iOS Control Center, drag down with one finger from the top right-hand corner of the display.

Among the options available on both Android and iOS are the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and airplane mode toggle switches, the flashlight, Do Not Disturb mode, media playback controls, and the display brightness.

For further customization, you can change the settings and icons you see on these panels. On Android, tap the pencil icon in the lower left-hand corner of the Quick Settings pane itself. For iOS, tap Control Center from the main iOS Settings screen, and if you don’t want it accessible, turn the Control Center toggle switch to “off” under Face ID & Passcode in the iOS settings.

Open the Today View

On iOS, you can get at all your Today View widgets from the lock screen with a simple swipe to the right. These include whatever widgets you might have set up—weather, Screen Time, Apple Maps, or whatever, so you can see some information at a glance. Some actions you can take from the Today screen, though, like opening apps, require your phone be unlocked first.

As with Siri and the Control Center, you can block access to the Today View from the lock screen under Face ID & Passcode in Settings. To change the widgets that appear on this screen, go to it while your phone is unlocked (with a swipe right from the first home screen), then scroll down and tap Edit.

Get information from apps

Android doesn’t have a Today View, but it does allow apps to leave widgets on the lock screen. For example, if you’ve locked your phone while Spotify is playing, you’ll see a widget on the lock screen showing playback controls.

Through Android’s widgets system, you can set up various apps to show different information. In Google Maps, for example, open the app menu, then tap Settings, Notifications, and Traffic to have alerts appear when there’s traffic congestion around your local area.

We can’t take you through every Android app that offers a lock screen widget, but if there’s information you need on your lock screen—from battery status to the weather forecast—you may well be able to find an app for it with a quick web search.

Make an emergency call

If something serious should happen, don’t waste time trying to unlock your or someone else’s phone. On Android or iOS, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen, press Emergency on the PIN code screen, and you’ll be able to dial 911.

There are button shortcuts, too. On Android, press and hold the power button, then tap Emergency. This takes you to the dial pad, so you’ll still have to dial 911. On an iPhone, press and hold the power button and volume up button at the same time, then swipe right on Emergency SOS—this dials emergency services automatically.

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Sony’s new flagship smartphone is a reminder that impressive specs don’t matter anymore https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/sony-xperia-flagship-smartphone/ Tue, 25 Feb 2020 12:50:49 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/sony-xperia-flagship-smartphone/
Sony Xperia 1 Mark II
Sony's Xperia 1 Mark II has a 21:9 screen to make it extra tall. Sony

The Xperia 1 Mark II is a beast on paper, but you probably shouldn’t buy one.

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Sony Xperia 1 Mark II
Sony's Xperia 1 Mark II has a 21:9 screen to make it extra tall. Sony

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Compared to the rest of the big players in the smartphone market, Sony doesn’t sell a ton of devices. In fact, according to Sony’s reports, the company sold roughly 1.1 million smartphones in Q4 of 2019, which doesn’t sound impressive when you compare it to the 72.9 million iPhones Apple slung or the nearly 70 million shipped by Samsung in the same quarter. Still, Sony hasn’t given up on the mobile market, and its latest flagship phone sticks to the company’s strategy of emphasizing the spec sheet.

On paper, the Xperia 1 Mark II is undeniably a flagship phone. It uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor and 5G hardware. If you’re planning on paying attention to the slew of smartphone announcements happening this week (when Mobile World Congress was supposed to take place), you should get used to hearing that name. It’s the same setup Samsung announced for its Galaxy S20 flagship just last week. At some point, the latest Qualcomm chip becomes standard issue for high-end phones and doesn’t give any one device a chance to stand out when it comes to processing power.

While the 865 is the most powerful option Qualcomm has to offer, some critics have concerns because it requires a secondary chip to handle the 5G compatibility, which has dragged in 4G hardware along with it. As Ars Technica explains, this kind of arrangement typically increases heat and reduces battery life. Right now, 5G’s usefulness is extremely limited unless you live in a very specific place with good coverage, but otherwise you’re largely sacrificing performance and endurance for the 5G badge—at least for now.

The Xperia 1 II also boasts a 4K screen, which is still above-average for even high-end devices. It makes sense for Sony, after all, since the company deals heavily in 4K TVs. But, there is such a thing as too many pixels. The 6.5-inch OLED display checks in at 3840 x 1644 pixels. That gives it a pixel density of more than 640 ppi. That’s not a record for Sony—some of its phones in the past have checked in at more than 800 ppi—but it is likely more than you really need. Samsung’s Galaxy S20 boasts 563 ppl and the iPhone 11 has just 326. Even if you have nearly perfect vision, it’s unlikely that your eyeballs will be able to appreciate any real difference once you get past that roughly 325 ppl mark, which is why Apple chose it for the Retina display back on the iPhone 4 and has stuck relatively close to it ever since.

In the case of 4K phones, however, pushing all those pixels on the screen can actually have a negative effect on overall performance and battery life because they simply require more power. And battery life, of course, is one of the most important factors customers consider when buying a phone.

Even with the camera, Sony has stuck with its strategy of focusing on specs when most other manufacturers have started pushing hard numbers to the background and asking users to rely on opaque AI-powered systems.

In fact, Sony has borrowed a group of tech from its high-end Alpha series mirrorless cameras to shove into its flagship smartphone. When it comes to megapixels, the company has shown some restraint, capping each of the three sensors in the device at a manageable and familiar 12. It may seem paltry compared to numbers like Samsung’s flashy 108-megapixel Galaxy S20 Ultra, but it’s likely plenty for most applications. This is another instance in which the 4K screen seems like overkill, however, since a 4K display requires an 8-megapixel photo just to fill all of its pixels, meaning that you can’t crop a photo as much if you still want it to natively fill the display.

The main camera has a relatively large sensor for a smartphone, which is good news for shooters who want to take pictures—especially in low light—without ugly noise creeping into their pictures. The secondary lenses also have useful focal lengths. The 16mm ultra-wide lens is about as wide as you want to go before distortion really starts to get gnarly. And, the telephoto lens has an equivalent focal length of a 70mm lens on a DSLR, which makes it decidedly better for portraits than the 50-ish-millimeter lenses you’ll find on other portrait cameras in the iPhone or Samsung’s offerings. In fact, Sony likely chose the 70mm look because it’s such a common choice for pro photographers.

The focusing and exposure systems in the Xperia 1 II come from the Alpha cameras, which means the device offers functions like locking focus onto a person or pet’s eye and tracking them as they move around.

Even the camera app on the Xperia 1 II has expanded to give shooters more options instead of pulling them back into closed systems like the other big players have increasingly done.

So, while Sony’s device is extremely powerful on paper, the competitive landscape doesn’t really emphasize that anymore, at least not for many consumers. Where 5G was a differentiator before, it’s quickly becoming the standard. And sure that 4K number looks nice when it comes to screen resolution, but folding phones are lurking around the corner to make big, flat displays seem dated no matter how many dots you pack into them. There’s no number on a spec sheet that can compete with a flashy new folding feature. That probably won’t stop Sony, however, from releasing the Xperia 1 Mark III next year.

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How to switch phones without losing your information https://www.popsci.com/switch-to-new-phone/ Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:03:45 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/switch-to-new-phone/
A person leaning over a desk working on two phones and a laptop, as one might do when it’s time to switch phones.
When it comes time to switch phones, there's no need to stress out. Zan/Unsplash

Ditch your old device but keep your data.

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A person leaning over a desk working on two phones and a laptop, as one might do when it’s time to switch phones.
When it comes time to switch phones, there's no need to stress out. Zan/Unsplash

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A new smartphone model—from Google, Apple, or another manufacturer—catches your eye, and all of a sudden, your old handset won’t cut it. But don’t leap into an upgrade without taking precautions. After all, you store a lot of important information on your smartphone, and you don’t want to lose any of it during the excitement of a switch.

Luckily, upgrading from one phone to another is a lot easier than it used to be, because we now store most of our digital possessions in the cloud. Plus, you can find some key apps to help you switch from one device to another. Here’s what you need to know.

Automatic backups

Unless you’re planning a full digital detox, you’re going to want to take everything on your old phone—from browser settings to contacts—along with you. Start by going through the apps on your phone and thinking about where each program stores its data, and how seamlessly you can transfer it to your new device. In some cases you won’t need to do anything. For instance, if you’re letting Apple or Google manage your emails, contacts, and calendars, then all of that will automatically show up on your new phone as soon as you sign in. Email clients from Yahoo and Microsoft work the same way, storing everything in the cloud rather than on your physical device.

In fact, the built-in backup tools in Android and iOS now let you save almost everything you need to the cloud or to a computer, which wasn’t always the case in the past. On Android, head to Settings, then System, then Backup to see that the feature is working properly. On iOS, go to Settings, then tap your Apple ID name, then iCloud. You can also make a backup through iTunes by connecting your iPhone to your computer. Both of these backup tools take care of a lot of your phone’s contents, including photos and videos, call history, and browser settings. For more information, Apple has a full guide here and Google has a full guide for Pixel phones here.

That said, we need to flag a couple backup problems—particularly on Android, where backups aren’t quite as clear-cut as they are on iOS. For example, while Apple will back up all your SMS and iMessage conversations, Google only does this for Pixel phones and some devices running Android Oreo (8.1) and up, but still is not a perfect process. Check out our full guide to backing up text messages to help.

On top of that, it can be tricky to work out which of your non-Apple or non-Google apps are actually taking advantage of the built-in backup options. Your best bet is to head into these third-party apps and see if they mention backups. If you’re still not sure, contact the developer directly. Even if an app doesn’t create backups, many of the most popular ones, like Netflix and Spotify, keep everything in the cloud anyway.

Manual backups

With so much of your phone’s data backed up automatically, transferring it to a new handset is relatively easy. During the setup process for a new Android or iOS device, as soon as you’ve signed in with your Google account or Apple ID credentials, you’ll receive a prompt asking if you want to restore data from a backup.

So what’s left to transfer? As we’ve mentioned, individual apps might need some attention—particularly your games. Check whether the program lets you save your hard-earned high scores to the cloud or to another device. Some games will take advantage of the automatic backups provided by Google and Apple, but some won’t. Again, check with the developer if the game’s menus or options don’t make its backup status clear.

The biggest headaches come when you’re switching between Android and iOS—perhaps unsurprisingly, Apple and Google both want to make it very hard for you to leave. Your Android backups won’t work on your new iPhone, and your iCloud or iTunes backups won’t be compatible with your shiny new Android handset. Oh, and you also need to deregister iMessage before you switch from iOS to Android.

Hand holding an iPhone 11 and its box
Are you diving into the three-camera life? Make sure you take everything with you.

At the same time, Apple and Google are eager to tempt you over to their platform, and have written official guides on making the switch. If you’re moving from Android to iOS, consult Apple’s guide: There’s an official Move to iOS app which will move over most of your stuff, including messages and photos. If you’re going the other way, look up Google’s instructions, which bring contacts, calendars, photos, and videos via Google Drive.

One of your biggest problems will be third-party apps, especially if you’re going from Apple phones to Google-powered ones. The only app Apple makes available on Android is Apple Music, so you won’t be able to transfer your iTunes library or documents you’ve made in Pages. Going the other way is much more straightforward, because just about all of Google’s apps are available in iOS form, which eases the transition.

Just work methodically through your apps and make sure anything you absolutely need will be available on your new handset once you wipe your old one. If you can’t figure out how to make that happen, a quick web search or an email to the developer (find contact details on the app’s store listing) should do the trick.

Move you subscription accounts

Even once you’ve figured out how you’ll move your data from one phone to another, you’re not quite ready to roll. Next, you have to think about the accounts you’re signed into on your device. Because some services won’t work on too many devices, you’ll have to deactivate or log out of certain accounts on your old phone before they’ll function on your new one.

This doesn’t apply to every service, but it’s true for subscription apps like Google Play Music (see Google’s instructions) and HBO Go (see HBO’s instructions). So review the subscription apps on your phone and look up their policies online. Then follow their instructions to set the same apps up on your new phone.

Security

Once your new phone is set up, consider the security of your old one. You may well use your phone as part of the two-step authentication process, where a code gets sent to your phone whenever someone tries to log on to your accounts on a new device. Most accounts and services, from Facebook to Google, now offer this security feature.

While two-step authentication improves your security, it also adds to the hassle of switching phones. For accounts that authenticate via SMS message, assuming that you’re keeping the same SIM and phone number, you don’t need to do anything. But if your accounts authenticate with an authenticator app, you’ll need to carefully navigate the switch from one phone to another. To find more details, look on the app’s web page—for example, here are the instructions on moving Google’s app.

In some cases, you might have to disable two-step authentication briefly while you move everything over. Still, we’d recommend keeping both phones close to hand until you’ve securely logged into all your accounts on the new device. For more advice, head to the support section of the app you’re using: Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Mail, and others.

With everything up and running on your new device, you can safely reset the old one—just wait a few days to make sure the switch has been successful. On iPhones, Apple recommends signing out of iCloud first, then heading to Settings, General, and Reset. On Android, you can reset your phone by going to Settings, System, and Reset.

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How the latest iOS update made the iPhone 11’s camera even better https://www.popsci.com/iphone-11-camera-just-got-better-after-software-update/ Wed, 30 Oct 2019 13:30:50 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/iphone-11-camera-just-got-better-after-software-update/
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iOS 13.2 brings the Deep Fusion photography tech to the latest iPhone.

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iPhone 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11 Pro Max camera got an upgrade with the latest software update. Stan Horaczek

It’s hard to tell what’s going on inside smartphone cameras. Every time you push the button to take a picture, a whole computerized Rube Goldberg-style chain of events kicks off with the goal of capturing as much image information as humanly possible. That way, powerful processors can cram it all together into a single cherished memory or hilarious snap of a turtle biting your buddy’s finger.

This week, Apple introduced its new Deep Fusion camera tech for the iPhone 11 as part of the iOS 13.2 software update. For the average user, photos taken under certain conditions will now look more detailed and slightly less noisy. There’s no indicator in the app like there is with Camera mode, so you won’t even know it’s working. But, those somewhat granular improvements took some serious engineering—and a whole lot of processing power—to achieve.

What is Deep Fusion?

Deep Fusion Leaf Comparison
The top image is from the iPhone XS max (no Deep Fusion), while the bottom comes from the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The color is better in the bottom image and there’s more pronounced detail, as well. Stan Horaczek

When you have the iPhone’s camera app open, it’s taking photos before you push the shutter. It keeps a rolling buffer of images, and once you press that button or tap the screen, it captures a total of nine photos. Eight of them happened before you pushed the button. Four of the frames are short to make them as sharp as possible by fending off camera shake or motion blur from objects in the photo. The other four from the buffer are standard exposures to capture color and details. The ninth frame is a long exposure to bring in more light and provide a lighter image for the processor to pull from.

Deep Fusion and the Smart HDR technologies work basically the same at this point. From here, however, Deep Fusion takes the sharpest of the four short exposures and basically ditches the rest. It then fuses those four standard exposures with the long exposure to get the color and highlights that belong in the finished photo.

This entire process happens seemingly instantaneously and exists to give the A13 bionic chip all the raw material it needs to smash them into something that looks like real life. That reliance on Apple’s latest processor is the reason why only iPhone 11 users get the Deep Fusion mode, at least for now.

Deep Fusion uses its neural engine to analyze the individual pixels in a scene, as well as their relationship to each other in the frame. It can pick and choose where to try and preserve highlights and where to add contrast to make details look more pronounced.

To my eye, the sharpening effect is by far the most noticeable difference between Deep Fusion and the Smart HDR photos. When high-end retouchers work to smooth out skin in a photo, they use a technique called frequency separation, which allows them to separate the fine details and edges of the image from the colors and tones and manipulate them independently. So, if you wanted to take out blemishes or trouble areas in a picture of a face, you could do it without losing the skin’s natural texture or color.

Deep Fusion person test
The left image comes from the iPhone XS Max, while the right image is the iPhone 11 Pro Max using Deep Fusion. The sharpening is most evident in my beard hair and in the face lines that indicate seasonal allergies and not nearly enough sleep. Stan Horaczek

Deep Fusion does something similar. It’s pulling the details and sharp edges from one of the short images, while it pulls color and light detail from a mashup of the standard and long exposures. This allows the neural engine to tweak things individually. So, if you take a picture of a person with a beard standing in front of a blue sky, it can pull extra-sharp details and darker sky tones from the short image, and the brightness and color for the face itself from the longer exposures that brighten things up.

What to look for?

You may have heard people online refer to Deep Fusion as “sweater mode.” That nickname stemmed from Apple’s original Deep Fusion sample photos, which depicted people wearing sweaters. Those woolen garments actually make for fairly perfect Deep Fusion demonstrations because they have lots of fine texture and patterns crammed into small spaces. Deep Fusion excels at drawing out those little details

Consider the picture of the underside of a house plant’s leaf earlier in the article. The intricate structures pop much more obviously with the iPhone 11 Pro camera than they do with the iPhone XS Max’s.

In terms of color and contrast, the Deep Fusion images look less flat than the XS Max’s photos. I’ve always found the Apple Smart HDR a little overzealous when it comes to flattening shadows and highlights, so Deep Fusion is an improvement there.

The sharpening performance, however, is curious. It makes total sense for complicated nature scenes. The extra details do nice work in landscapes or other complex scenes. It sometimes looks somewhat oversharpened to my eye, but I also formed my tastes on 35mm film, which is a totally different—and not so crispy-looking—beast.

iPhone 11 Deep Fusion leaves sample
The top shot (iPhone XS Max without Deep Fusion) has plenty of sharpness and detail, but the bottom image (shot with an iPhone 11 Pro Max with Deep Fusion), cranks it up another notch. Stan Horaczek

One you take a picture of a person, however, Deep Fusion’s effect seems more out of place. Most of the common face filter apps typically apply skin smoothing techniques—sometimes to a hilarious extent, which makes people look like sexy globs of Play-Doh. Deep Fusion goes the other way, however, and actually seems to accentuate texture on faces. Clearly, Apple is taking faces into consideration as part of its AI processing, but any perceived skin imperfections only get a little more imperfect with the added sharpening.

The effect also really emphasizes texture in hair. Sometimes that works to the subject’s advantage, but in my case, for instance, the added emphasis makes my beard look even more like something you’d find on a grizzled old wizard. It’s similarly unflattering to the hair on top of my head in a way that makes me feel just great about posting an up-close selfie in this very public article.

Of course, Apple is using AI to manage most of this process and future software updates could tweak its performance to drastically change the overall look.

Unlike Night Mode, there’s no indicator in the app to show you when you’re using Deep Fusion. It wouldn’t really matter anyway, since it’s the default camera mode in most lighting situations. It doesn’t work with the ultra-wide camera and, when you’re in a scene with too much light, it will kick back over to Smart HDR mode. When light gets dim enough, then Night Mode takes over.

Generally, Deep Fusion is an improvement when it comes to the camera’s overall performance. However, if this is how people are going to be taking pictures going forward, I should probably start moisturizing and conditioning my beard.

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How Samsung says it fixed its folding smartphone https://www.popsci.com/samsung-galaxy-fold-new-release/ Thu, 25 Jul 2019 17:34:12 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/samsung-galaxy-fold-new-release/
Phones photo

A reinforced version of the Galaxy Fold is due to arrive in September.

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Come September, smartphone buyers with money to spare should finally be able to get their hands on a Galaxy Fold, the troubled device from Samsung that opens and closes like a book. Yesterday, the company announced that the hinged phone-meets-tablet would finally go on sale this fall, in the middle of iPhone season, following high-profile problems in April when the phone first arrived in tech reviewers’ hands.

If you feel out of the loop on what’s been happening with this strange new problem-plagued gadget, let’s catch you up on how the story has unfolded.

The company first officially teased the concept for the device now known as the Galaxy Fold in early November of last year at the Samsung Developers Conference. At the time, we wondered how it would hold up physically—and we also explored how, like a newspaper, a folding device pulls off the neat trick of containing a screen that’s bigger than its folded-up footprint. That seems like an obvious point, but it’s fundamentally different from a traditional smartphone, which can only pack in a bigger screen if its maker shrinks the bezels, makes it physically bigger, or both. Want a tablet-sized screen in a device small enough to fit in your pants pocket? That sucker is going to have to bend.

In the case of the Fold, the screen on the inside is 7.3 inches across, while a small screen on the front measures just 4.6 inches to provide at-a-glance information.

When the company finally revealed the Galaxy Fold completely in February of this year, and announced that it would cost nearly $2,000, we remarked that the device was the quintessential gizmo for the early-adopter: a consumer eager to get their hands on something cutting-edge, show it off to others, and put up with the innate pitfalls of expensive, unproven tech.

The folding train came off the flexible tracks in April, when early tech reviewers got their hands on the device and discovered multiple problems. For one, there was a peely protective layer that looked like it could be pulled right off, but definitely wasn’t supposed to be. In another case, a headline on the Verge reported: “My Samsung Galaxy Fold screen broke after a day,” and highlighted a “bulge” in the device’s crease. In brief, that version of the device unambiguously had problems.

Now, the Korean smartphone maker says that they’ve addressed those issues—or, as they put it in a press release, they’ve “made improvements to Galaxy Fold to ensure consumers have the best possible experience”—and are ready to launch the phone this September.

Here’s what they say they’ve done: For one, they’ve made the protective layer cover a larger area, thus “making it apparent that it is an integral part of the display structure and not meant to be removed.”

They’ve also incorporated more reinforcing measures to the device, to guard against “external particles.” Samsung has also fortified the “top and bottom of the hinge area” with “protection caps.” Another strengthening measure includes more “metal layers” beneath the polymer screen. (Someday we might even get glass that can bend.)

In brief, the folding device is allegedly more robust now, and the protective layer should be less peel-off-able.

During the September launch, it is unclear whether AT&T and T-Mobile will sell it in addition to Samsung. By email, an AT&T spokesperson notes that they don’t have anything currently to say on the topic, but are working with smartphone maker. T-Mobile said, via email, “Please reach out to Samsung for any information regarding the Galaxy Fold.” The Verge reported, however, that T-Mobile told them that they won’t be selling it. A representative for Samsung noted by email that they will “be able to share details around availability when we get closer to launch.”

We’ll know more about how the Galaxy Fold performs in September when the newly-reinforced, ambitiously-different product is released.

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Everything you need to know about the upcoming Sprint and T-Mobile merger https://www.popsci.com/sprint-t-mobile-merger/ Fri, 26 Jul 2019 19:48:24 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/sprint-t-mobile-merger/
Phones photo

The Department of Justice approved the merger, which looks like it will happen.

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Sprint T-Mobile Merger
What is the “can you hear me now?” guy going to do now? Pixabay

Last April, T-Mobile and Sprint announced that the companies wanted to merge in an effort to make up ground on their much larger competition in Verizon and AT&T. It’s a controversial move that has endured legislative and community scrutiny since its announcement, but today the U.S. Department of Justice approved a merger deal worth $26 billion. That leaves few obstacles in the way to prevent it from happening, but it’s not as simple as one company buying another.

Competition in the market posed the biggest complication for getting this merger passed and the solution isn’t a simple one. In order to assuage fears of decreased competition, satellite provider, Dish, has agreed to buy various pieces of the mobile companies to reduce their scope. Dish is buying Virgin Mobile, Boost mobile, Sprint’s pre-paid wireless coverage and some access to the wireless spectrum. Dish promises to build out its own wireless network eventually, but until then it will have access to T-Mobile’s.

How the rest of the merger will affect U.S. wireless customers depends on who you ask. The last hurdle the merger needs to clear is the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, but chairman Ajit Pai has already expressed support for it and it will likely pass there as well. Extending broadband into rural areas has been one of Pai’s big initiatives in his position at the FCC and he claims this merger will further that cause and speed up the spread of 5G’s propagation.

However, not everyone is so optimistic about the merger pushing 5G ahead. A cadre of Democratic officials and public advocacy groups have publicly decried the idea of merging the companies claiming that it will create one fewer option for consumers in a space that’s already sparse when it comes to alternatives. That could, eventually, drive prices up and consumer choice down.

The Attorneys General in New York and California are currently leading a lawsuit to try and stop the deal from happening. Those two states are still involved with the legal proceedings, but other states like Ohio and Nebraska, who were once also on board, have agreed to the current terms and have dropped out of the suit.

Even if Sprint and T-Mobile become one company, it will still trail behind AT&T and Verizon who are the number one and two providers in the U.S. respectively. According to the New York Times, the company would be called T-Mobile and it would have 100 million subscribers compared to Verizon’s 118 million and AT&T’s more than 150 million.

With its new acquisitions, Dish could become another major provider in the space, but there are still many questions about what its ultimate plans look like and how it hopes to accomplish them. Dish did, however, say that it will pay a $2.2 billion fine if it fails to build a 5G network that covers 70 percent of the country in the next four years.

When finalized, Sprint customers would essentially become T-Mobile subscribers. That could mean better service for Sprint users thanks to help from the more powerful T-Mobile network. Of course, that’s predicated on the idea that T-Mobile can actually absorb the Sprint network effectively. If you’re a Virgin, Boost, or Sprint Pre-paid customer, you’ll become a Dish customer, though your service likely won’t change much in the short term.

If you’re planning on getting a new phone or plan in the next couple months, you’re probably fine to do so without worrying too much about this. In the future, however, it could shake up mobile plans in one way or another. Only time will tell which, though.

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The coolest iOS 13 features hitting your phone this fall https://www.popsci.com/ios13-new-features/ Wed, 05 Jun 2019 21:49:40 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/ios13-new-features/
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Apple announced a long list of operating system changes. These are the shifts worth highlighting.

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Every summer Apple shows off its forthcoming operating system updates at its Worldwide Developers Conference. This year, the retirement of iTunes (although it’s not completely going away) and the debut of a very expensive new Mac Pro have dominated the newscycle, but those are just two of the many changes announced this week.

If you’re simply wondering how your iPhone might change when you upgrade to iOS 13 when it drops in the fall, read on. Here are eight features worth noting.

Dark Mode

Many apps and operating systems now have a “dark mode” to replace the bright white default. The current operating system for Macs, Mojave, already offers it, as does Android 10. Now it’s coming to iOS 13. Want a preview of it? The Twitter app already offers a dark mode, and you can turn it on in the app’s settings.

While Apple boasts that Dark Mode is “beautiful” and “easier on your eyes,” it also should theoretically be better on your battery if your phone has an OLED screen, which can switch off individual pixels when displaying black.

Faster Face ID

If you log on to your iPhone using Face ID, the process will soon be 30 percent faster, Apple says. That AI-powered feature (it uses neural networks, a machine learning technique) is only available on iPhone X and newer. Apple says that it’s a much more secure form of unlocking your phone compared to Touch ID, which analyzes your fingerprint.

Swipe to type

Unless you’re dictating, creating text in iOS involves hitting each letter into the keypad, then maybe tapping on an autocomplete suggestion above. Now Apple is making it possible to drag your thumb across the keyboard letters to form the word. Android offers this feature already, but iPhone users needed to install an app like Gboard in order to enable this type of texting. In the fall, Apple will offer this option, called QuickPath, natively in iOS 13.

Location permission

People care about their privacy when using tech products and platforms, particularly about an app knowing where they are. Apple already lets you to choose if you want an app to be able to know your location all the time, never, or just when you’re using it—and Android 10 will offer the same three choices.

Apple is now introducing a feature that will empower users to grant an app access your location just one single time. It could come in handy if there’s an app you rarely use, but will only work well if it can detect where you are. Apple is also trying to prevent applications from attempting to figure out our location discreetly by examining the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signals around you.

A stab at stopping robo-calls

Robo and telemarketing calls are a plague on the smartphone-carrying masses. With a feature called “silence unknown callers,” iOS 13 will only permit calls to come through if it recognizes the number from someone in your contacts, or if that number appears in your emails or text messages. Your voicemail will greet calls that don’t meet that criteria, meaning that if your dentist office calls to confirm an appointment, you won’t miss out on the note entirely.

Google offers a related service on its Pixel phones, in which the Google Assistant answers the phone and holds a conversation with the caller.

Share a song with a friend

Have you ever seen a couple on the subway listening to music together with a single pair of wired headphones, one earbud in each person’s ear? Apple may be making that cute moment a thing of the past. If both people are using AirPods, and one of them wants to share a song or audio from a movie with the other, iOS 13 will make that happen.

Messages with your photo and name

To prevent any confusion when you’re iMessaging someone for the first time—since you may not be in their contacts—you’ll have the choice to have your name and an image of your choosing accompany it on the receiver’s phone. A related feature: If you’re using AirPods but don’t have your phone in front of you, there will also be an option to have Siri read you any messages you receive—and you’ll be able to reply by dictating, too.

A different way to sign in

When you sign up for a new service or app, you’re frequently required to pick a username and password. While a password manager can generate and keep track of all those passwords, another option is frequently tempting: the choice to log in using your Facebook or Google account. But it’s smart to be cautious when allowing a company such as Facebook to play a role in authenticating you as you log on to a different service—it could give Facebook information about what you’re doing, and could give the third-party service access to data from your Facebook account, too.

Apple promises that their version of this service will be more secure: they say they will “never track” you, and they also offer the option to use an anonymized email address instead of your real one.

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Google’s Pixel 4 has a notable flaw in an otherwise great camera https://www.popsci.com/google-pixel-4-smartphone-camera-review-iphone-11-comparison/ Tue, 22 Oct 2019 20:25:29 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/google-pixel-4-smartphone-camera-review-iphone-11-comparison/
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Google's flagship phone is mostly great, but has some growing pains.

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Google Pixel 4 Sample
Shot through a shop window, the Pixel 4 handles the shiny, golden surfaces and contrasty pools of light very nicely. Stan Horaczek

At its recent product announcement event in New York City, Google showed off a handful of new gear. But, the company dedicated considerable time—and presumably money spent to hire iconic portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz—showing off the Pixel 4 smartphone’s new camera. That emphasis makes sense. Consumers still indicate that photo quality is one of the most-important factors they use to pick a new device. And Google is coming off of a very strong showing in the Pixel 3, which was (at least as far as I was concerned at the time) the absolute best smartphone camera.

The Pixel 4 adds some more AI-powered smarts, relying increasingly on its software to determine the overall look of the final image. And while the camera has some moments where it’s truly excellent, I ran into a few growing pains as Google tries to calculate its way to perfect photos.

What’s new?

Google Pixel 4 sample image
The Pixel is about average when it comes to quickness in capturing photos. It took me roughly five tries before I got the timing right and caught the person up front with a punch extended. Stan Horaczek

On paper, the Pixel 4’s camera doesn’t seem all that different from the hardware that came before it. The primary exception is the notable addition of a telephoto lens, which Google intends to improve performance specifically when it comes to zooming and portrait mode. The shooter’s competition, however, is stiffer this year: Apple seems to have corrected some the over-zealous HDR tech that made iPhone XS images look unrealistic and unnatural at times, and the Cupertino company promises to further improve the iPhone 11 Pro’s already-very-good camera when its detail-enhancing Deep Fusion tech arrives in the next iOS update.

Image quality

Google Pixel 4 Sample
This scene is a great space to test HDR. There’s natural light coming in through the archway and artificial light overhead. The Pixel 4 does a really excellent job of bringing up the shadows near the door while keeping the colors accurate to the scene as it looked in real life. If you wanted to edit the photo, it’s a great, neutral starting point. But, it also looks fine the way it is. Stan Horaczek

Google doesn’t pull punches when it comes to computational photography, which relies more on processing power and algorithms than pure hardware performance. The company makes it abundantly clear that the software magic that happens during and after you press the shutter has become extremely important in determining the look of the final image.

Like almost every smartphone camera at this point, pressing the shutter doesn’t simply take one photo. Instead, it captures a burst and combines information from those images into one finished file. This “smart HDR” tech does a lot of good: It can prevent highlights from getting blown out, or flatten out a super-contrasty scene that could lose crucial details. But, as with iPhone 11 Pro, it can be unpredictable.

Bananas at Whole Foods
These Bananas at Whole Foods illustrate the difference between the Pixel 4 (left) and the iPhone 11 Pro (right). The Pixel’s image doesn’t crank the contrast as much and the tones look smoother overall. If you weren’t comparing them side-by-side, however, they’re both totally acceptable. Stan Horaczek

In good conditions shooting with the main wide-angle camera, I prefer the images that come out of the Pixel 4 to those from the iPhone 11 Pro. It’s close, but the Pixel’s camera still feels more neutral and natural to me. I don’t notice the HDR effect that can make subjects look unrealistic—and sometimes even cartoonish—as much as I do with the iPhone. This is especially useful for users who edit their photos after taking them (something very few typical users do).

Google Pixel 4 pizza
The focusing on the Pixel 4 is impressive. It grabbed onto the pizza cutter through this window reflection. Stan Horaczek

Google made a few welcome improvements to its overall HDR experience as well. When you tap the screen to focus on an object in the image, two sliders now pop up for adjusting the brightness of the scene. One slider affects the overall exposure (how bright or dark everything looks) in the scene, while the other simply affects the shadows. That second slider is extremely useful. It allows you to do things like taking silhouette photos in which the subject is virtually blacked out while the background (usually the bright sky) stays properly exposed.

Pixel 4 slider comparison
The first shot in this series was the default with no adjustments. In the second shot, I raised the overall brightness, which drew out detail from the leaves, but blew out the sky. In the third shot, I used the shadows slider to raise the shadow levels to bring up the leaves a bit while the sky remained mostly unchanged. Stan Horaczek

You can also achieve the opposite effect in which you can brighten up a dark foreground subject without blowing out a bright sky in the background. In a situation like the one pictured below, you’d typically lose some of those nice yellow leaf details to shadow unless you brightened the whole image and blew out the sky. Adjusting the shadow slider allows you to bring up the exposure on the leaves while leaving the sky alone.

That slider is one of my favorite additions to the Pixel 4 camera, and it’s a trend I’d love to see continue as we go forward into the future of HDR all the time on everything.

When the shooting conditions get tricky, however, the Pixel 4 has some real quirks.

The flickr effect

Most artificial lighting flickers, but your brain does a good job of making the glow seem continuous. The pulsing effect, however, is more difficult for digital cameras to negate, and the Pixel 4 seems to have more trouble in this arena than its competition.

In the video above, you’ll notice some dark bands going across the image. This kind of thing isn’t out-of-the-ordinary with artificial light sources, which have a generally imperceptible flicker to coincide with the 60 Hz electrical current flowing through them. Dedicated digital cameras, however, typically have “flicker detection” to help combat it, and even the iPhone 11 Pro does a better job of mitigating the effect.

Banding issue on the Pixel 4
The effect isn’t always so pronounced. In this image, you can clearly see dark bands running across the map in the center of the image that’s illuminated by the artificial light overhead. Light coming in through the window and door pushed the shutter speed to 1/217th of a second, which is too fast to negate the banding effect. Stan Horaczek

With the Pixel 4, I noticed it in a variety of locations and artificial light sources. It’s subtle, most of the time, but if you have a bright light source in the frame of the picture or video, it can push the shutter speed faster than 1/60th of a second, which is when the bands start to creep in.

When I switched to a manual camera mode in the Lightroom app and used a slower shutter speed, it disappeared. In scenes like this, the iPhone seems to use its HDR+ tech to keep at least one frame in the mix with a shutter speed slow enough to stop this from happening. Once I figured out the circumstances that brought it on, I shot the example below, which shows it very clearly.

Pixel 4 banding issue
The image on the right came from the iPhone 11 Pro Max, while the image on the left—which very clearly displays the banding problem—comes from the Pixel 4. Looking at the metadata, the iPhone claims a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, where as the Pixel’s shutter speed was faster than 1/250th of a second, which explains why it’s so visible in the Pixel photo, but not the iPhone frame. Presumably, this is the kind of thing Google can fix down the road by adjusting the way in which the HDR capture process works. Stan Horaczek

The flaw isn’t a deal breaker since it only appears in specific circumstances, but it’s very annoying when it does.

White balancing act

Pixel 4 example
Shot on a cloudy day in the shadows with lots of yellow in the frame, I’d fully expect this picture to come out too blue. The Pixel did a solid job, however. Stan Horaczek

Another area where our brains and eyes routinely outperform cameras: color balance. If you’re in a room with both artificial light and a window, the illumination may look fairly consistent to your eye, but render as orange and blue, respectively, to a camera.

Smartphones often try to split the difference when it comes to white balance unless you mess with it on your own. The Pixel 4, however, analyzes the scene in front of it and uses AI to try and recognize important objects in the frame. So, if it notices a face, it will try and get the white balance right on the person. That’s a good tactic.

The color balance changes frequently in artificial light
Under artificial light, the color balance changes frequently when the camera moves subtly. Stan Horaczek

Generally, I think the Pixel 4 does an excellent job when it comes to white balance, except when it gets it very wrong. Move around the iPhone 11 Pro camera, and the scene’s overall color cast tends to stay mostly consistent. Do the same with the Pixel 4, and its overall white balance can shift drastically, even when you only slightly move the camera. Above, the grid-style screenshot show a series of photos I took in succession under unchanging conditions. I moved the phone subtly as I shot, and you can see the really profound color shift. Again, this primarily happens when shooting under artificial light.

As long as you pay attention and notice the change before snapping the shot, it’s totally fine and the Pixel does a great job. It’s also easy to correct later on if you’re willing to open an editing app. But, on a few occasions, I ended up with a weirdly yellow photo I didn’t expect.

Telephoto lens

Portrait mode beard
Portrait mode and a backlit beard make for quite the scene. Stan Horaczek

The new telephoto lens is roughly twice the focal length of the Pixel’s standard camera, which effectively gives you a 2x optical zoom. It has an f/2.4 aperture, compared to the improved f/2.0 (lower numbers let in more light) portrait lens on the iPhone 11 Plus. It’s only a fraction of a stop, however, so it’s unlikely to make a huge impact, but it’s a reminder that Apple has been doing telephoto lenses for some time now and is already refining while Google is just getting started.

The pixel 4 zoom
You get more accurate colors and more details out of the Pixel 4 (left) then you do out of the iPhone 11 Pro (right) when zoomed in to 8x. The iPhone actually allows you to go a little more to 10x if you don’t mind the lower-quality image. Stan Horaczek

Like we said earlier, the telephoto lens counts zooming as one of its primary functions. The phone gives you the option to zoom up to 8x by combining digital and optical technology. Google claims pinching to get closer now actually gives you better image quality than simply taking a wider photo and cropping in, which has historically provided better results. I found this statement accurate. “Zooming” has come a long way on smartphone cameras, but you shouldn’t expect magic. You’ll still end up with ugly choppy “artifacts” in the images that look like you’ve saved and re-saved the photo too many times as a JPEG.

When you peep at the images on a smaller screen, like Instagram, however, they look impressive, and that’s ultimately probably the most important display condition for a smartphone camera in 2019.

If you zoom a lot, the Pixel beats the iPhone on the regular. It’s even slightly easier to hold steady due to the improved images stabilization system when you’re zoomed all the way to 8x.

Portrait mode

Google Pixel 4 Portrait Mode
The Pixel 4’s portrait mode really shines when you shy away from the standard up-close headshot. Stan Horaczek

The other big draw of the telephoto lens comes in the form of improved portrait mode. Even with the single lens on the Pixel 3, Google already did a very impressive job faking the background blur that comes from shallow depth of field photography. Predictably, adding a second lens to let it better calculate depth in a scene improves its performance.

If you really want to notice the jump, try shooting a larger object or a person from farther back than the simple head-and-torso shot for which portrait mode was originally developed. Using portrait mode for larger objects is a new skill for the Pixel 4 and it does a good job of mitigating the inherent limitations of the tech. Any weirdness or artifacts like oddly-sharp areas or rogue blobs of blur typically tend to show up around the edges of objects or in fine details like hair or fur. The closer you get to your subject, the harder you’re making the camera work and the more likely you are to notice something weird or out of place.

Pixel 4 comparison
The iPhone 11 Pro (left) does a better job with the tricky edges in the subject’s hair, but the Pixel 4 (right), produces a more natural image because it’s not adding any simulated lighting effects like Apple does. Stan Horaczek

Overall, the Pixel 4’s portrait mode looks more natural than the iPhone 11 Pro, but it struggles more with edges and stray hairs. In headshots, the areas around the hair typically give away the Pixel 4’s tricks right away. (The iPhone 11 Pro gets around those edge issues by adding a “dreamy” blur across most of the image.) The Pixel’s overall colors and contrast are generally better because they don’t try to emulate different types of lighting like the iPhone does. But, when you get a truly ugly edge around a subject’s face or hair with the Pixel 4, it can quickly ruin the effect.

Portrait Mode comparison
Here are some portrait mode shots (and a dedicated camera picture) edited with Lightroom. The iPhone 11 Pro (left) raised the blacks on the sweatshirt as part of its simulated lighting mode. The Pixel 4 (center) had some trouble with the whispy edges of the hair. The dedicated camera (right) was a Sony A7R with a 50mm lens and preserves the highlights in the hair better and blows the fake bokeh effect out of the water. Stan Horaczek

If you’re only posting your portrait mode shot on Instagram, those rough edges may not really play for your followers. Viewing them on a laptop screen or larger, however, makes them obvious.

The close-up crop of portrait mode
The 100 percent crop (screen captured from Lightroom) shows how differently the iPhone 11 Pro (left) and the Pixel 4 (right) handle tricky, but attractive lighting conditions. This kind of light is amazing with a dedicated camera. Stan Horaczek

The Pixel 4 does give you almost immediate access to both the fake blur images and the regular photo in your library. Portrait mode takes a few seconds to process, so you can’t see those immediately. Considering the amount of processing it’s doing, that’s understandable—and also the case with the iPhone—but if you’re trying to nail exactly the right expression, you can’t really check your results in real time.

Night Sight

Night Sight
Night Sight brightened up this extremely dark scene and kept the colors—the greens bushes in particular—from looking cartoonish and oversaturated. Stan Horaczek

When Google debuted its impressive low-light shooting mode, Night Sight, in the Pixel 3, it was incredibly impressive. Google has clearly continued to refine its performance and, even with the iPhone 11 Pro adding its own version of the tech, the Pixel 4 still maintains a considerable advantage.

You’ll still have to swipe over to the Night Sight mode in order to enable it, as opposed to the iPhone, which springs it on you automatically when it thinks the conditions are right. I like having more control over what I’m doing, so I prefer the Pixel’s approach, especially since these night modes require long exposures that can result in blurry photos if you—or the objects in the scene—can’t hold still.

Compared to the iPhone’s Night Mode, the Night Sight’s colors are more accurate and the scenes just look more natural. Ultimately, this one will come down to personal preference, but I prefer the Pixel 4’s results over the iPhone 11 Pro’s.

During the camera presentation, Google flat-out said that it hopes you’ll only use the camera “flash” as a flashlight. I abided by this rule. The flash is not good, just like every smartphone camera flash photo that came before it. It’s useful if you really need it—especially if you don’t mind converting images to black and white after the fact—but you can ultimately just leave it turned off forever.

As an addition to Night Sight, Google also added functionality that makes it easier to shoot night sky photos that show off stars and the Milky Way—if you know what you’re doing. I didn’t test this feature because I didn’t have access to truly dark sky, and the weather hasn’t really cooperated. If you’re planning to use this feature, you should plan to use a tripod—or at least balance the phone on a stable object—since it still requires long exposures. Ultimately, I love that the company added this feature and I look forward to seeing what people create with it, but it’s a specialized thing that I imagine most users won’t try more than a few times.

The case of the missing super-wide-angle lens

Pixel 4 Samples
The regular wide-angle lens is good for walking around shots like this one, but there were instances when I really missed the super-wide that the iPhone 11 now offers. If I were to finish this photo, I’d straighten it and probably make it black and white. But, since it’s a sample image, this is the unedited version. Stan Horaczek

When the Pixel 3 shipped without a telephoto lens, I didn’t really miss it. I do, however, have to wonder why Google would ship the Pixel 4 without the super-wide lens found on the iPhone 11 Pro and other high-end smartphones.

The super-wide is easy to abuse if the unique perspective blinds you to the inherent distortion and overall just kinda wacky perspective it offers. But, there are times when it comes in really handy. If you’re trying to shoot a massive landscape without creating a panorama, or you’re just taking a photo in really tight quarters, the extra width makes a tangible difference.

Ultimately, I advocate that people do the vast majority of their shooting with the standard wide-angle camera no matter which phone they choose, because the overall performance and image quality are typically far better than the other lenses. But, I like options, and a super-wide lens lets you achieve a perspective you physically can’t get by simply backing up.

So, what’s the best smartphone camera?

Pixel 4 Bokeh
If you’re curious what the Pixel 4’s actual bokeh looks like, check out the blobs of blur on the right side of this photo. Stan Horaczek

The Pixel 4 has left us in a tough situation. The image quality, color reproduction, and detail are really excellent—most of the time. The quirks that pop up, however, really do have a tangible effect on the overall usability of the camera as a whole. If you’re the type of shooter who is careful to pay attention to your scene and edits your photos after you shoot, then the Pixel is the best option for the most part. The more neutral colors and contrast take edits better than those on iPhone files, which come straight out of the camera looking more processed.

Ultimately, though, we’re in a time when smartphone camera quality has largely leveled off. I haven’t mentioned the Samsung cameras in this review for the most part, because I find their files overly processed with too much sharpening and aggressive contrast and saturation levels. But, a large contingent of people like that. At this point, there isn’t enough difference between overall performance and image quality on the Pixel 4 to jump ship from your preferred platform—only to eek out a slight edge on images that come straight out of the camera.

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Rig your smartphone to take next-level photos and videos https://www.popsci.com/smartphone-camera-rig-accessory/ Wed, 16 Oct 2019 18:14:34 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/smartphone-camera-rig-accessory/
Cameras photo

Use more accessories with less shaking.

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Smartphone camera rig
Annie Leibovitz used a smartphone camera rig to shoot photos with the new Pixel 4 smartphone. Stan Horaczek

Yesterday, at an event in New York City, Google introduced its new Pixel 4 smartphone. Of all its new features, the camera updates got the most attention. And that makes sense—side from battery life, camera performance is one of the key differentiators people use to decide which smartphone to buy next. In order to really emphasize the camera updates, Google paid iconic portrait photographer, Annie Leibovitz, to travel the country making pictures with the Pixel 4 and then spoke with her about it during the event.

In videos shown during the presentation, you can see Leibovitz in action, shooting portraits in the field. She was using the Pixel 4, but she wasn’t holding it like a typical phone. Instead, she had it secured into a roughly foot-long rig with handles. It’s a piece of gear more familiar to video shooters than photographers, but adding a rig to your camera can have some noticeable benefits no matter what you’re shooting.

What’s a rig anyway?

Essentially, you’re surrounding the camera with a frame that typically makes the camera easier to hold and allows you to attach various accessories to achieve effects the camera body can’t handle on its own. High-end video shooters, for instance, typically use a larger external monitor and a device called a follow focus, which gives the photographer more precise control over changing focus or tracking objects on the screen.

Some rigs integrate stabilization mechanisms like gimbals and suspension systems. They can get complicated and extremely expensive.

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When it comes to smartphone rigs, however, things get simpler. One of its primary functions is that is makes it easier to hold the camera steady. Holding the phone with your fingers requires a lot of exertion from those relatively small muscles, which can cause them to shake. A rig, or a grip, typically has a sturdy handle so you can hold it with your entire hand and let your arms and shoulders do most of the work rather than your hands.

This is also handy for shooting video because it’s much easier to move the camera smoothly during pans and tracking shots when you have a wider grip. If you just want to change the angle a little bit, you get much finer control. Imagine trying to steer a large truck with a steering wheel the size of your smartphone. Now, imagine steering the same truck with a normal-sized wheel. The latter gives you much finer control.

You’re still shooting through the phone’s lens and watching the screen for your shots. This simply changes the way you hold it.

The other benefit of a rig comes in the form of its attachments. Microphones make a big difference when you’re recording video, or an external LED panel can really help a photo with more light, but handholding that type of equipment is the worst. Attaching everything to a rig makes it easier to manage, and also ensures that your lights or microphone will point in the exact same direction as your camera.

Which one should you buy?

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Professional camera rigs can get extremely pricey, but the smartphone models start off pretty cheap. This $16 model from Amazon is popular because it offers pretty much everything you’d need. It has three cold shoes, which is the same type of attachment you’ll usually find on top of a DSLR to hold a flash or a microphone. It also has a typical tripod mount, which is important if you plan on using any of the new night sky photography long exposure features the Pixel 4 promises.

For less than $20, it’s a solid way to try out this method of shooting. But, as you might expect, it’s made of plastic, which means you’ll be putting your expensive phone—and any other accessories—onto a frame that likely won’t survive a hard bump. Options get a lot fancier from there.

Shoulderpod makes professional-grade rigs for journalists. Many of the company’s products use wooden handles and have ample places to attach accessories. The X1 Pro Rig costs $119, but I got the chance to try it out briefly at CES a few years ago and was impressed with how sturdy it felt.

The $139 Beastgrip Pro includes a threaded mount so you can attach filters or even additional lenses to the camera. It has a single cold shoe so you can attach an accessory, and it’s big enough to hold a phone without removing it from its protective case.

I’d recommend starting with something cheap and basic to see if it fits your shooting style. Obviously, you don’t keep these on your phone at all times, so it won’t get much use unless you’re actively taking your smartphone out to exclusively shoot photos and videos. But, if you do move up, going to something with a metal frame is worth the upgrade if only to protect all your gear if it gets hit or dropped.

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Up your smartphone game with these accessories https://www.popsci.com/best-smartphone-accessories/ Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:54:31 +0000 https://www.popsci.com/uncategorized/best-smartphone-accessories/
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Treat yo’ phone.

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iphone and airpods laying on a white table
It’s not about a cool-looking case. Well, not entirely. Alexandar Todov via Unsplash

You’ve made it. Maybe you saved for a long time, or you convinced your partner to get one for you on your birthday, but the smartphone of your dreams is finally in your hands. You think things just cannot get any better, but we’re here to tell you that you are wrong—they definitely can.

While your phone is capable of doing an awful lot on its own, it can do even more with the right accessories: take better photos and videos, store more files, last longer on a single battery charge, and even double as a makeshift computer.

Get more file space with a storage card

a person plugging the ixpand into their phone
The IXpand is not exactly the same as inserting an SD card into your phone, but it will definitely help you lighten the file load. SanDisk

Whether it’s for all your photos and videos, or the Netflix shows you need to download ahead of a long flight, extra storage space on your phone is always welcome.

The easiest way to expand your phone’s capacity is via a microSD card that you simply insert into your handset as if it were another SIM card. The bad news is that not all manufacturers make it easy for you—you won’t find an SD card slot on an iPhone, or the Google Pixel, for example. Other companies will let you expand your phone’s memory, but will restrict your options to their own technology. Such is the case of the most recent Huawei phones, for which you’ll need to buy the company’s own Nano Memory cards, which can be more expensive than the standard microSD ones.

Samsung’s Galaxy series phones do accept microSD cards, and if you’re willing to pay for it, the 2019 Galaxy S10 will even take a memory card up to 1TB in size. SanDisk will supply you with one for $440 on Amazon, while a more modest 256GB version will cost you $50 from Amazon. Just make sure your phone will work with the speed and capacity of the card you’re buying. If you’re unsure, the manufacturer’s support site for your phone or a quick web search should tell you.

If you do own an iPhone, one option is the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive. For $45 on Amazon, you can buy a 128GB capacity one that plugs into your iPhone’s lightning port. It acts more like a flash drive, but it does give you a way to quickly get files off your phone and onto a computer. It’s not quite as slick as using a microSD card, and you’ll need to use a third-party app to move files over to it.

Upgrade your camera with a clip-on lens

moment lens
You’ll need a special case to use the Moment Anamorphic Lens, but it will add a fancy cinematic look to your videos. Moment

Smartphone cameras are getting better all the time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to improve them. Clip-on lenses can help you do just that.

Take, for example, the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit ($40 on Amazon), which works with iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel devices. Once clipped to the back of your phone, it’ll let you expand the field of view by 45 percent with its wide-angle lens, or get you 15 times closer to your subject with the macro lens.

Meanwhile, the Mactrem Phone Camera Lens Kit ($30 on Amazon) comes with a total of nine different lenses to play around with, covering wide angle, fish eye, and telephoto lenses for a variety of effects. It works with recent iPhones and Samsung phones, but make sure to double-check compatibility before buying. And, as with any online purchase, read a few user reviews before buying.

For more professional-looking video there’s the Moment Anamorphic Lens ($150 on Amazon (though you also need a $30-$90 Moment case for it to attach to). It will give your clips a cinematic, widescreen look, plus improved clarity, and the added bonus of lens flare effects when the light is right.

Take steady shots with tripods and gimbals

a phone on a tripod
A tripod will help you nail those amazing time-lapse videos. Adam Nieścioruk via Unsplash

Speaking of getting better pictures and video from your phone, bringing a compact tripod or gimbal along can help massively in reducing camera shake in all situations—from filming the kids on vacation to getting the perfect wildlife shot in your garden.

You can find options at all sorts of prices too. The GripTight GorillaPod Stand Pro ($40 on Amazon), for example, works with just about any modern cell phone, and lets you stand it up on flat surfaces or grip it to railings or tree branches.

If you want to pose with your friends but don’t want to turn your shot into a selfie, tripods can be helpful and will prevent your arm from taking up half the frame. Some, like the UBeesize Tripod S ($18 on Amazon), come with a remote control, but you can always use the timer on your phone to make sure you get into position before the camera snaps the picture.

For super-steady video, something like the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 ($130 on Amazon) can make a big difference in the quality of your final footage. Its adjustable arm can also fit around just about every phone on the market at the moment, and it features easy-access controls for starting and stopping recordings.

Make it last with a battery pack

black zerolemon battery case for samsung galaxy devices
A case that also charges your phone’s battery? Yes, please. ZeroLemon

Even the latest and greatest smartphones struggle to make it much beyond a day in terms of battery life, and as handsets start to age, they’ll run out faster. Two accessories can help out here: portable battery packs and battery cases, which will help protect your handset and keep it running longer.

With battery packs, the more juice you want, the bigger they are, and the more you have to pay. The Mophie Powerstation PD XL ($72 on Amazon) supplies a respectable amount of battery power in a small size—it comes with a 10,050-milliamp-hour battery, which is enough to recharge an iPhone 11 more than three times over.

Near the other end of the capacity scale is the Powercore+ 26800 PD from Anker ($130 on Amazon), which has enough juice on board to recharge an iPhone 11 more than eight times. It can even charge some USB-C laptops, depending on the make and model.

The market for battery cases is wide and varied. Run a quick search online for your phone’s make and model and the words “battery case,” and you should get a few alternatives to pick from. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, for instance, one option is the ZeroLemon Battery Case ($30 on Amazon), which at 5,000 milliamp-hours more than doubles the original capacity of your phone.

Get a bigger display

samsung galaxy s10 connected to a monitor through dex cable
DeX won’t just mirror the display on your Galaxy S10, but will give it a desktop OS look. Samsung

On the subject of Galaxy phones, the S series phones from the S8 onwards include a feature called Samsung DeX—the ability to run a desktop-like operating system when hooked up to a larger screen such as a monitor or a TV. It’s still just Android and all the content and tools you already have in your phone, but you’ll be able to run apps side by side in separate windows, and have more space to work in.

In the case of the most recent Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus phones, DeX needs a USB-C-to-HDMI cable that will set you back $43 on Amazon. If you own a Note 10 or Note 10 Plus, you can use the same cable, or run DeX through a Windows or macOS computer using a USB-C-to-USB-C cable.

Not many other companies are developing desktop modes for their smartphones, but you’ve got other options for getting your phone’s display up on the big screen. In the case of most Android phones, for example, you can easily mirror the phone’s display to a Chromecast ($35 on Amazon).

If, on the other hand, you’re an iPhone user, AirPlay is the best way to get your phone’s display mirrored on a TV or monitor. The Apple TV will do the job nicely, though a growing number of televisions now come with AirPlay built in and will allow you to display your iPhone even without an Apple TV.

Charge your devices wirelessly and fuss-free

iphone and iwatch charging wirelessly on belkin wireless charger
Belkin’s wireless charger will not only charge two devices at once, but will also make your nightstand look like an Apple Store. Belkin

A growing number of phones now support wireless charging, but not many come with wireless charging pads built in. If yours did, you might find that you can get a third-party model that charges your device faster, or can even charge two devices at the same time.

For iPhone users, the Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock ($120 on Amazon) is a good example. Just pop down your iPhone and it’ll start charging, while also charging an Apple Watch. And if that’s not enough, you can even charge a third device using a USB port around the back.

For the serious power charger, there’s the Choetech Dual Wireless Charger ($43 on Amazon), which—you guessed it—can charge two devices at once, whether that’s an iPhone and a pair of AirPods, or two Samsung Galaxy phones side by side. Any device that supports the Qi wireless charging standard will work with this mat.

If you want more features beyond the wireless charging, take a look at the Grace Digital Mondo+ Classic ($200 on Amazon). It can play thousands of internet radio stations as well as music and podcasts from your phone over Bluetooth. It can also tell the time and set alarms, and it has a wireless Qi charging pad on top you can use with any Qi-enabled devices.

A serious smartphone gamer? Get a proper controller

ipega controller for android phones
Getting one of these out in the train will definitely attract some stares, but you’ll be having too much fun winning Fortnite, so whatever. Ipega

By now, you’re probably addicted to at least one of the hundreds of thousands of games available for Android and iOS, but trying to tap controls and buttons on the display isn’t always the most comfortable way to play. They can be hard to hit, offer no tactile feedback, and often obscure your view of the action.

But this is a problem you can solve easily by investing in a gaming controller for your phone. These devices typically look like a traditional console controller, but they attach to your handset via a cable or Bluetooth connection, so you can keep your fingers away from the display while shooting down enemies, or navigating racing tracks at high speed.

The Ipega PG-9068 ($22 on Android) is a good option for Android users, coming with a clamp at the top for holding your phone in place (it should work with just about every handset on the market). You get two joysticks, a d-pad, and four buttons to map to your games. Note that whatever game you’re playing, it must support controller accessories, so make sure to check your game’s compatibilities before buying one.

Meanwhile, the SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Gaming Controller ($50 from Apple) can add some extra accuracy and precision to your iPhone gaming. As a bonus, it’s also able to connect up to games on the iPad and Apple TV.

The post Up your smartphone game with these accessories appeared first on Popular Science.

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