The Pixel 4a was one of my favorite phones to launch this year. It had a fantastic screen, Google’s legendary cameras, and the wonderful Pixel UI interface, all for $349. In a year where we should all be saving a bit more money, affordable phones are in.
As much as I loved the Pixel 4a, Google only made it available in one color: Just Black. This was a pretty big bummer because leaks suggested the device would be available in multiple colorways.
Today, Google officially launched its first set of true wireless earbuds: the Google Pixel Buds 2. The original Pixel Buds from 2017 had a cable that connected each bud, but these new earbuds have no wires at all. As such, they’ll be going head-to-head with Apple’s incredibly popular AirPods line.
Interestingly, we’ve known officially about the Google Pixel Buds 2 — and even got some hands-on time with them — since October last year.
Crunchyroll
Anime streaming service Crunchyroll has announced it has begun adding content from main rival Funimation. This move was expected as Crunchyroll acquired Funimation in 2021. Current Funimation paid subscribers can get 60 days of Crunchyroll Premium for free as part of the merger process. Sony-owned anime streaming service Crunchyroll announced last year that it had completed the purchase of its main rival Funimation. Now, Crunchyroll has announced that the expected merger of Funimation’s content into its service has begun.
The best way to get into both smart speakers and smart homes is often via a budget speaker. Since you’re not putting hundreds of dollars on the line, there’s little sunk cost preventing you from switching platforms, and that one purchase may even be enough. So, which budget speaker is the best overall? Let’s find out in this Echo Dot vs Nest Mini vs HomePod Mini comparison.
Amazon Echo Dot vs Google Nest Mini vs Apple HomePod Mini: Specs comparison Amazon Echo Dot (4th-gen)Google Nest MiniApple HomePod miniSpeaker Output:
Update, April 18: After the small-scale rollout of the Google Play Store's revamped “My Apps & Games" section three weeks ago, it appears it's now rolling out to all devices. If you haven't seen it pop up already, try force closing your Play Store app and clearing the cache from your settings > apps menu — it's reportedly working for some people (though, disappointingly, I'm not one of them). Let us know in the comments when you get it.
Garmin vivosmart 4The Garmin vivosmart 4 is a wonderful fitness tracker that excels at many of the things it attempts to do. If you don't need a GPS and can get past the narrow display, this might be one of your best options for a feature-packed, reliable fitness tracker.
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Garmin’s vivosmart 3 fitness tracker tried some interesting things, but it didn’t follow through so well on all of them.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus already has a large 4,300mAh battery, but what if you need even more power? Carrying a portable battery around can be annoying, and it doesn’t offer your phone any protection. Here are the best Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus battery cases to get better protection and longer battery life.
See also: The best charging phone cases: A buyer’s guide
Looking for more ways to keep your phone safe and get the most out of it?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 didn’t make the list of the most expensive phones ever made. Although the handset starts at a whopping $1,000, it’s actually a bargain when compared to devices from companies like Vertu and Goldvish. For example, the most affordable phone on this list costs as much as 100 Galaxy Note 9s.
Our list of the 10 most expensive phones in the world includes handsets from luxury manufacturers that designed them from the ground up.
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Fitbit jumped into the smartwatch game in 2018 with the first Versa. Given Fitbit’s forte, there was a lot of interest surrounding a device expected to offer the perfect balance of fitness tracking and smartwatch features, something you’d be hard-pressed to find even today.
The original Versa was far from perfect, but things have continued to get better with every successor. The Versa 2 was solid, and the most recent addition to the series — the Fitbit Versa 3 — is excellent.
David Imel / Android Authority
Apple’s iPhone 12 launch marked the end of including a charger in the box. Instead, you would get your new phone, a Lightning to USB-C cable, some required paperwork, and that’s it. Other OEMs have now copied the move, including a few that vowed not to ditch the charger. Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple iPhone 12 charger and why it’s no longer in the box.