Reviews

Google Fold? Yes, it’s happening. Although the tech giant has not confirmed yet officially, Google may be gearing up for the launch of its first foldable phone. According to the 9to5 Google and WinFuture reports, the rumored Google pixel Fold is expected to go on sale in June 2023.Recent leaks suggest that Google Pixel Fold could make its debut on May 10 at the Google I/O event and the company may be also announcing the Pixel 7a at the same launch event. Leaks suggest that the Pixel 7a will be up for sale immediately for $499 and will be offered in four color options- Coral, Sea, Charcoal, and Snow. Foldable smartphones are currently a topic everyone talking about it. Almost every smartphone brand is getting into the foldable segment. Recently launched Tecno’s Phantom V Fold and Oppo’s Find N2 Flip are the latest foldable in the segment, both offer flagship features and sturdy designs making them absolutely powerful foldable phones in the market. We can’t deny the possibility of the Google Pixel Fold to introduce at the Google I/O event which is scheduled this year on 10th May. Reports from WinFurture and 9to5Google suggest some rumored specifications of the Google Pixel Fold. Earlier leaks suggest that Google Pixel Fold may have a 7.69-inch main display (when unfolded) and a 5.79-inch cover display (when folded). Google’s first foldable will reportedly feature Google’s in-house Tensor G2 chipset. According to WinFuture, the Pixel Fold will only be available in the sole 256GB variant and come in Carbon and Porcelain color options. Furthermore, pricing information about the rumored pixel fold wasn’t revealed in the reports but earlier rumors have suggested the Pixel Fold will cost less than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs $1800.According to the new reports, the Google Pixel Fold will cost upward of $1,700 which is $100 less than the previously leaked price. Also, Google will reportedly offer a free Pixel watch to Pixel Fold buyers. New internal documents and images suggest the upcoming Pixel Fold will have a most durable hinge on a foldable. The device is claimed to offer 24 hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 72 hours in low-power mode. It’s just rumored, take all of these rumors with a pinch of salt. No matter how renowned the leakster or source is, it is best to await an official announcement from Google before we take any of this info as factual. Source

Check out episode 401 of the AndroidGuys Podcast where we discuss the TRI Multi-Sport Waterproof Bone Conduction Headphones.About the TRI Multi-Sport Waterproof Bone Conduction HeadphonesThe H2O TRI Multi-Sport Waterproof Bone Conduction Headphones are a unique type of headphones that use bone conduction technology to transmit sound through the cheekbones instead of the ears.Listen below using the embedded player or click here to check out the episode using your favorite media player.

A few days ago, Google released the open beta version of Android 14, marking it as the first opportunity for general users to try out the new OS. Previously, developers had the chance to check out Google’s latest OS and test their apps during the developer previews, but now it’s your chance to jump in and see what the next version of Android is all about.To get started, you’ll have to check if you have any devices eligible for the update. If you own a recent Pixel device from the Pixel 4a onwards, then you should be ready to go. Next, you’ll need to enroll in the preview program and then the automatic over-the-air update should begin. It’s as simple as that.However, it is important to remember that this is a beta, and as such, there will be bugs and some of your apps may not function properly. It is not recommended to opt-in to the Android 14 Beta on your primary device, because while you can opt-out at any time, it will also wipe your device in the process.Keep in mind, this is the first beta and bugs are a certainty at this point. According to Google’s release schedule, the second beta won’t be released until sometime in May, and the platform stability tests won’t come until June and July. By that time many of the initial bugs will have been ironed out, and it might be a better idea to wait till then before using Android 14 on your daily driver.For those of you ready to throw caution to the wind, here are some of the new features Google has packed into the first beta of Android 14. Anyone who has found the gesture system a little lackluster and misses the good ole days of the back button can rejoice. There is now a persistent back arrow that compliments your wallpaper using Android theming.Google has also refined the sharesheet further with customizable actions and has supposedly improved the recommended contacts. Maybe that means I’ll stop getting recommendations for random people I haven’t spoken to for years, but I’m not holding my breath.There are also more enhancements made to the per-app language feature that was introduced into Android 13, and last but not least, accessibility services have received an important privacy update to reduce the visibility of personal information for users with disabilities. For example, the new protections will protect user data like passwords from being visible, and prevent accidental actions such as transferring money or checking out in a shopping app.

The Dell XPS 13 (9530) upgraded the CPU and GPU, but left all else unchanged, making for a lackluster update.

With just a bit of sun, the superefficient EcoFlow Glacier kept our beer cold and our ice frozen without ever running out of battery.

The Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker is a compact and waterproof speaker designed to be used in the shower or any other wet environment. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to wirelessly connect to your smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled device, allowing you to stream music or take phone calls hands-free while you’re in the shower or bath.Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker.Noteworthy FeaturesWaterproof and portable design: The speaker is fully waterproof and has a compact size, making it perfect for use in the shower or other wet environments.Bluetooth connectivity: The speaker has Bluetooth connectivity, which enables you to wirelessly connect your smartphone or tablet to the speaker from up to 33 feet away.Suction cup attachment: The speaker has a suction cup on the back, making it easy to attach to smooth surfaces, such as bathroom tiles or mirrors.Long battery life: The speaker has a powerful battery that provides up to 10 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge, and it can be easily recharged using the included USB cable.GalleryListen to the EpisodeThoughts and ConclusionThe Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker is a portable speaker designed specifically for use in the shower or other wet environments. With its compact size and waterproof design, the speaker allows you to enjoy your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks while you shower or bathe.The speaker features Bluetooth connectivity, which enables you to wirelessly connect your smartphone or tablet to the speaker from up to 33 feet away. It also has easy-to-use controls that allow you to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and take calls without having to reach for your device.The AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker is IPX7 rated, which means it is fully waterproof and can be submerged in water up to 3 feet deep for up to 30 minutes. It also has a suction cup on the back, making it easy to attach to smooth surfaces, such as bathroom tiles or mirrors.Editor’s ChoiceThis award is reserved for products, apps, and services which have an overall average score of 4.25 or higher. Graded on a scale of 1-5, our reviews look at a variety of aspects to determine a total rating. Factors which help to create the composite score will often include design, features, price, warranty, audio, battery, general and performance.With its powerful battery, the AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker can provide up to 10 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge. When the battery does run low, it can be easily recharged using the USB cable (included).The Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker is a convenient and portable speaker that allows you to enjoy your favorite music and other audio content while you shower or bathe. Or, take it poolside and feel free to splash around. Its waterproof design, Bluetooth connectivity, and long battery life make it an ideal companion for anyone who loves to sing in the shower or wants to catch up on their favorite podcasts while getting ready for the day.You can learn more about the Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker and/or purchase yours for about $40.

Is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra more than just a pretender to the Galaxy S23 Ultra's throne?

Motorola may be gearing up for the launch of Razr Pro and Razr Lite two new foldable phones later this year. Earlier reports suggest that the Razr Pro 2023 was tipped to launch as Razr Plus 2023. The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra was recently spotted on the Geekbench listing and also other listing sites such as the TDRA certification website, Chinese CQC website, and Canadian REL certification website. Motorola’s new Razr 40 Ultra foldable smartphone will be launching soon in every market though the brand hasn’t revealed any details about the upcoming foldable smartphone. The Geekbench listing suggests the Razr 40 Ultra has a Motorola XT2321-1 model number. The smartphone will run on Android 13 based on MyUX 5. Furthermore, the Razr 40 Ultra will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM, under the hood. The phone scored 1285 and 3810 points in Geekbench’s Single core and multi-core tests. Leaks suggest that the upcoming Razr Pro foldable phone will feature a large cover display which will be bigger than the recently launched OPPO Find N2 Flip which sports a 3.26-inch cover display. The main screen is expected to feature a 6.7-inch OLED foldable display with a 144Hz refresh rate. For optics, you’ll get to see a Dual rear camera setup at the back just like another flip smartphone on the market. And for selfies, the device is likely to feature an under-display selfie camera. The smartphone is likely to house a 3640mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. Currently, the Find N2 Flip is the only foldable smartphone that has a 4300mAh maximum battery capacity.Source

Android users and Windows PC users can now share files easily between their devices with Nearby Share Beta for Windows.The app, launched by Google in 2020 was designed to help users share files across their own devices without hassles. Friends who are close could make use of the file-sharing app.About three billion active users have enjoyed making use of the app from 2020 to 2023. The number is sure to rise as the need for it grows. At this time, Nearby Share allows content sharing across Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks.Now that the app has come to Windows as a beta project, users in some regions can add more devices and share files with more friends.How to use Nearby Share with Windows PCSimply download the app and install it on your PC. After the installation, you should be able to send files to nearby Android devices, or send files to your PC. That works if your region is included in the Nearby Share beta program.Nearby Share app works with your Windows PC when open on the desktop or when running in the background. To use it, just drag and drop the photo, video, or document you want to send into the app.See Also: How to use Nearby Share to send files between your Chromebook and Android phoneAnother way is to select “send with Nearby Share” found in the right-click menu. A list of Android devices will pop up, and you can select the one you want to send files to.You can also send files from your Android device to your Windows PC. To do that, ensure the app is running on your PC. Next, tap “Share” on the content you want to send, select the PC from the list of the available devices and send.The manufacturer appreciates your generous contributions that you drop as feedback. This will help them to keep fine-tuning the Nearby Share experience. Nearby Share Beta is available in the U.S and some other regions of the world.

Affordable wireless service provider Mint Mobile announced it is increasing the amount of data in all its plans free of charge. The new rate plans are already in effect.According to a release by Mint, this is the third time the company will improve on its mission “to provide affordable wireless to new and existing customers by offering more data, without increasing prices.”Wireless carriers will have a big challenge contending against Mint as they often increase prices when they offer more data. This move will definitely attract new customers to Mint Mobile.What’s in it for you?You may check out this video in which Mint Mobile’s founder, Ryan Reynolds promises that all new and existing Mint customers will have their data upgraded. This, he added, will be done without charge.Reynolds also clarified that 4GB data will be upgraded to 5GB, while 10GB will be upgraded to 15GB. 15GB will be upgraded to 20GB, and so on and so forth. All these are coming with more gigabytes.See Also: Mint Mobile Buyer’s GuideMore data at same low priceAs from April 14, all customers of Mint Mobile will enjoy the following data boost at the low prices shown below.$15 per month for 5GB of 5G (formerly 4GB)$20 per month for 15 GB of 5G (previously 10 GB)$25 per month for 20 GB of 5G (previously 15 GB)$30 per month for 40 GB of 5G (previously 35 GB)Most of these plans were previously 4G LTE data.Existing Mint subscribers will be excited as they see the new plans in higher data amounts as their monthly data refreshes. They will enjoy Mint’s flexible plans which means 25-50 percent more data than previously given.What’s more? Mint keeps the process simple for subscribers so they don’t have to register again, or take any other action to benefit from the new plan.

Samsung has officially unveiled the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G smartphone in the Indian market. The smartphone already made its debut in the Global market in March 2023. The Galaxy M14 5G Indian version comes with a charging speed upgrade as compared to the global version. Let’s take a look at the specifications and pricing of the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G smartphone. Samsung Galaxy M14 5G smartphone is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1330 processor paired with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage which is further expandable via Micro-SD card. Software-wise, the device boots Android 13 based on Samsung’s latest OneUI 5.1 out of the box. For optics, the smartphone features a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main camera coupled with a 2MP depth sensor and 2P macro sensor. There’s a 13MP snapper at the front for selfies and video chats. Samsung used Galaxy S23’s camera module design for the Galaxy M14 which looks more premium and attractive. You’ll get a 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD V-shaped display with 90Hz refresh rate support. Samsung packs a big 6,000mAh battery in the Galaxy M14 5G with a 25W fast charging tech which is up from 15W on the Global variant. But there’s a catch, Samsung hasn’t provided the charger in the box, so you need to buy a fast charger separately.Samsung Galaxy M14 5G comes in two variant options- the 4GB + 128GB variant starts at ₹13,490 (~$164) and the 6GB + 128GB variant is priced at ₹14,990 (~$182). Samsung offered three beautiful color options for the Galaxy M14 5G- Berry Blue, Icy Silver, and Smoke Teal. The smartphone will be available for purchase starting from April 21 via Samsung’s online store and Amazon India.

Check out episode 400 of the AndroidGuys Podcast where we discuss the Hako Mini Android TV Box.About the Hako Mini Android TV BoxThe Hako Mini Android TV Box is a smart TV box that runs on the Android operating system. It has a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of storage. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The box can stream 4K video and supports HDR10. It also comes with a remote control that has voice control capabilities.Listen below using the embedded player or click here to check out the episode using your favorite media player.

Mecool is an interesting brand that specializes in Android TV devices. You may not know the company by name, but its lineup is pretty solid. You can snag a decent Android TV machine for under $100 to compete with the likes of Amazon’s Fire TV series and any Roku device. I’ve been testing the KM7 Plus edition for a few weeks and Mecool has another good option with this Google TV set-top box.DesignAll this Android fun is crammed into a completely square plastic case that’s about the size of two decks of playing cards set side-by-side. I’m a sucker for a panda color scheme and the black and white combo really sets the Mecool KM7 Plus apart from other Android TV options.The front is flanked by an LED array showing the power and connectivity statuses. The left houses expansion slots for two full USB-A ports and an SD slot. The right side is void of options and the rest of the ports are found on the back. Here you’ll find the Ethernet, power, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and optical audio jacks.Another positive is the Mecool remote included with the KM7 Plus. It follows the new Google reference remote design and is one of the better remotes you’ll use on any streaming modern box. The keys are intuitive and options add to the experience well. It also includes IRC capabilities for adding full power and volume support to most TVs and soundbars.PerformanceThe internals of 2GB RAM and 16GB of EMMC storage paired with an Amlogic S905Y4 Quad-Core A35 CPU. This combination isn’t cutting-edge, but it makes for more than workable hardware for Android TV performance. Add in the multiple ways to expand the storage and you have one of the better hardware combinations you can find for Google’s big-screen operating system.SoftwareSpeaking of… the Mecool KM7 Plus runs Google TV. I love to see this updated 2023 model carrying Google TV instead of settling on Android TV.  There’s not much difference cosmetically between the two software stacks but providing the newer version of Google’s streaming system comes with better performance and longer updates.One key point to make note is that Mecool has had all your major streaming apps certified. Netflix and Amazon Prime in particular are notorious for limiting certain machines from having these services available. Thankfully, the KM7 has both onboard with full 4K playback enabled if installed.ConclusionMecool has quite an array of Android TV products for users to choose from and the new KM7 Plus slide into the lineup as one of the top options. The Android TV experience and ample expansion options for storage and peripherals make it more than compelling. Add in Google TV instead of the older Android TV 11, and you may want to add this box to your living room.The final selling point of any device is price. The Mecool KM7 Plus will set you back $79. While that’s $30 more than the Chromecast with Google TV, I can personally tell you that you will immediately hate the lack of expansion that another option has. With the USB and SD card support of the KM7 Plus, you can future-proof your storage and possibly avoid the Chromecast’s biggest shortcoming.Purchase the Mecool KM7 Plus with Google TV: Get 15% off with code 7PLUS

On April 13, 2023, Asus announced its latest additions to its gaming phone lineup, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate and ROG Phone 7. Both Android phones come with upgrades over the previous ROG Phone 6 models, most notably, the use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. Additionally, the handsets will include up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at 8533Hz and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.The latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is 15% more powerful while using 15% less power. It also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing in real-time for realistic reflections. Of course, the best way to unlock all of the power of the Snapdragon chip is by keeping it cool for the best performance.That’s why the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate make use of three innovative ways to keep everything cool. During light gaming sessions, the Boron Nitride thermal compound is said to reduce throttling. While more intense gaming will take advantage of the larger vapor chamber with graphite sheets. Finally, for most extreme cases, the AeroActive Cooler 7 can be used which places a fan directly over the CPU module.One way the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate outshines the standard version is with a special air inlet which is automatically activated when the AeroActive Cooler 7 is attached. This provides even greater cooling for the best performance possible, as shown in Asus lab testing.The AeroActive Cooler 7 does more than keep your mobile from frying your fingers. It also includes a powerful subwoofer for true 2.1 sound when combined with the ROG Phone 7’s updated speakers with 50% more volume. Not to be outshined by the new sound system, the upgraded 165Hz 6.8-inch 2448 x 1080 Samsung AMOLED panel now reaches a peak brightness of 1,500 nits for gaming outside along with a 720Hz touch-sampling rate.The camera system remains unchanged on the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate with a 50MP main camera, 13MP ultra-wide shooter, and 5MP macro lens. For selfies, there’s a 32 MP (8MP binned) front-facing camera.The selection of ports also goes unchanged, with a side-mounted USB Type C port and a USB Type C port on the bottom alongside the 3.5mm audio jack. Gamers will also be happy to know the shoulder triggers haven’t gone anywhere, and there’s still a large 6,000mAh battery on the inside featuring 65W charging.The Asus ROG Phone 7 comes in Phantom Black or Storm White and has a starting price of €999, while the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate only comes in Storm White with a price of €1,399. It’s worth noting that the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also includes the AeroActive Cooler—a €110 value—and the ROG Vision display on the back which equates for some of the price increase over the vanilla ROG Phone 7. Both phones are available now for pre-order in Europe and Taiwan.

Budget buds that do more.

TableTopics is a conversation starter game that contains a collection of thought-provoking questions designed to stimulate discussion and encourage people to share their perspectives and experiences. The game consists of a set of 135 question cards, each of which contains a different prompt. Players take turns drawing a card from the deck and answering the question on the card. The questions are designed to be fun and lighthearted, and they can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the TableTopics.Noteworthy FeaturesAvailable in tabletop and travel optionsPlenty of fun and interesting genres for a variety of scenariosOpen-ended questions get people talking; no wrong answerPerfect icebreaker for meeting friends, work gatherings, and more135 cards in a hard plastic boxGalleryListen to the EpisodeThoughts and ConclusionOne of the most difficult aspects of meeting new people or gathering in groups is figuring out the right topics. Which people are interested in sports, or movies, or a particular hobby? Tabletopics makes things simple with open-ended questions that will get people chatting in no time.The best part is that there’s no wrong answer. Jump in wherever you feel comfortable, or add on to someone else’s discussion with your own anecdotes or answer.An easy way to get things going in a meeting or group setting, we can imagine a topic or two being used to introduce yourself to others. Or, open things up and let people break out into smaller chats.With quite a selection of topics to consider, pack is better than the next. These are perfect to put on a coffee table for when guest stop over and you’re looking for a lively conversation.The toughest decision you’ll make is figuring out which box you want.You can learn more about the TableTopics and/or purchase yours for about $25.