All Posts by Andrew Martonik

Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy S8+: Which should you buy?

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 3:00 pm

Samsung has put potential buyers in a tough spot. The Galaxy Note 8 hype started building pretty much as soon as the Galaxy S8+ hit store shelves, and now that the new Note is available we have an actual head-to-head comparison on our hands. Samsung is obviously happy when consumers are in the position of choosing between two of its phones rather than pitting one against a competitor. But...

What color Galaxy Note 8 should you buy: Black, grey, gold or blue?

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 2:30 pm

So you're going to get a Galaxy Note 8 — but what color do you choose? It's the question so many people will be asking themselves as the Galaxy Note 8 hits store shelves. Which of the available colors is "best" for me? Well we can't make up your mind for you, but we can offer looks at each of the four colors of the Galaxy Note 8, all side-by-side, and talk about a few of each one's...

U.S. Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders snag free Gear 360 or SD card + wireless charger

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 2:00 pm

Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders snag free Gear 360 or SD card + wireless charger

Treat yo self. Samsung is rolling out another wonderful promotion to coincide with pre-orders of a new device, offering up free gifts just for pre-ordering the Galaxy Note 8 in the three weeks from announcement to launch. When you place a pre-order for the phone in the U.S., no matter where that may be, you'll have the choice of two different gifts: a Gear 360 camera ($229 value), or a "Galaxy...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5: Should you upgrade?

31 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 1:00 pm

Is it time to move on to the new Note? With the quick rise and fall of the Galaxy Note 7, there's a huge number of people out there with a Galaxy Note 5 today who have been dying to get their hands on something fresh. The Note 5 is, with little argument, still a strong phone today — but with contracts and financing plans coming to an end two years after the Note 5 came out, the upgrade cycle...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 hands-on: Looking at the future, not the past

50 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 11:00 am

Nothing shows the immense market position of Samsung better than rebounding from the Galaxy Note 7. Aside from rethinking its processes around battery design, manufacturing and testing, which it now implements in all of its phones, Samsung has truly moved on from the Note 7. It hasn't, however, moved on from the Note brand. There are a very limited number of brands in the consumer electronics...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is official, pre-orders start Aug 24

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 11:00 am

Samsung's biggest (literally) phone of the year is here. With months of preamble behind us, the Galaxy Note 8 is finally official. We've seen the renders, the leaks and the speculation ... and for the most part, it's all come to fruition as expected. At its core, the Galaxy Note 8 is a Galaxy S8+ — with the same core specs, tall-and-skinny form factor and hardware features, tweaked for a...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 specs: 6GB RAM, dual 12MP cameras, 3300mAh battery

48 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 11:00 am

Everything you want is here. As has been the case year after year, the Galaxy Note 8's specs expectedly follow the Galaxy S8 and S8+ from earlier this year — plus a couple key changes, of course. The new Note is built on the same general platform as the Galaxy S8+, with the same hardware features, processor options, storage and screen resolution. It's also only slightly larger than the Galaxy...

Watch the Galaxy Note 8 launch live — 11:00 a.m. ET!

39 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 23 Aug 2017 10:50 am

Samsung's biggest device of the year is about to take center stage. The moment is finally upon us — it's time to watch the Galaxy Note 8 be unveiled officially. The stage is set in New York City for yet another Samsung Unpacked event, where the company pulls out all of the stops to launch its devices with as much style as possible. Samsung is going to be livestreaming the event, and we'll have...

Download the Essential Phone wallpapers here!

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 19 Aug 2017 4:00 pm

You don't have to spend $699 to get these wallpapers. The new Essential Phone has a pretty mind-bending screen with super-tiny bezels, and it just looks even better with one of its default wallpapers loaded. Those wallpapers have picked up some attention, and that's to be expected — so that's why we want to offer them up for anyone to use. Here are six different wallpapers that come pre-...

Best Cases for LG G6

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 18 Aug 2017 2:00 pm

What are the best cases for the LG G6? Whether you have an LG G6 already or it's on its way, you'll probably want to have a good case around for those times when you can't guarantee it'll stay safe from bumps and scrapes. Now that we're a few months removed from the G6 launch, there are tons of options available to fit your needs and budget. Here's our breakdown of some of the best cases you...

Where to buy the Essential Phone

6 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 18 Aug 2017 1:45 pm

It's hot, it's hyped, and it's now on sale. If you're looking for a high-end phone, it's hard to ignore the gravity of the Essential Phone right now. When a company run by Andy Rubin releases a phone, people take notice — and they'll also have to take out their wallet, because the Essential Phone is a cool $699. It's available in the U.S. and Canada, with a variety of retailer options and a...

TELUS opens pre-orders for Essential Phone, starting at $290 on-contract

4 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 18 Aug 2017 10:00 am

Essential's second carrier-exclusive launch gets under way. Coming in a day after the Essential Phone launched in the U.S., Canadian carrier TELUS has opened up its pre-orders for the new phone from Andy Rubin's company. Unlike the Sprint "exclusivity" in the U.S., TELUS has a true exclusive deal to be the only retailer in Canada selling the phone, rather than just the only carrier partner in...

Essential Phone vs. Samsung Galaxy S8: The no-bezel battle

42 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 18 Aug 2017 9:30 am

Whenever a newcomer hits the scene to challenge an incumbent, we take notice. The Galaxy S8 has been a clear success in the market, outselling not only the entire slate of high-end phones in 2017 but also beating Samsung's own Galaxy S7 sales records. But there's a new challenger, the Essential Phone, coming in at a similar price with similar specs — and though it doesn't have immediate...

Essential Phone review: Our first impressions

225 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 18 Aug 2017 8:59 am

When it comes to joining the smartphone market, the path isn't simply defined. It's pretty rare nowadays to see a brand new smartphone company launch from scratch, and it's rarer still that it chooses to launch right into the ultra-competitive high-end smartphone space. The final piece forming this triumvirate of rarity is actually shipping a product — something that Essential has actually...

Moto Z2 Force, a second opinion: Just not enough

53 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 14 Aug 2017 12:00 pm

Motorola had one shot at the high-end market in 2017. By all accounts, Motorola hasn't exactly taken the high-end smartphone market by storm with its new Moto Z2 Force. Its lukewarm response is partly due to the fact that the competition is so good this year, but primarily due to Motorola's handful of odd decisions that dull the experience of what is mostly a great phone. I've been using the...

LG V30: Specs, images, release date, and everything else

92 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 11 Aug 2017 1:30 pm

LG really needs its big phone to be a big hit. The history of LG's V series of phones isn't long, but the upcoming V30 is shaping up to by far be the most interesting of the bunch. After breaking away from the ultra-tough model for something new in the V20, the V30 is set to go even more mainstream with a design that closely follows its smaller sibling, the LG G6. That isn't great for those...

Best Google Pixel Cases

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 10 Aug 2017 2:00 pm

Whether you're looking for something low-key or high-protection, these are the best cases for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Not everyone uses a case on their phone, and those who do may not even use a case every day. But one thing is certain: your Google Pixel or Pixel XL is a very expensive piece of hardware, and that means you should consider the options for protecting it. We're not just...

Where to buy the Moto Z2 Force

30 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 10 Aug 2017 10:50 am

A new phone is only as good as how easy it is to buy. In the year since the original Moto Z launched, Motorola made big improvements to its launch strategy. Not only is the Moto Z2 Force available on most big U.S. carriers, but retailers like Best Buy and even Motorola.com are getting in on the fun. U.S. carriers Complete U.S. carrier support, you say? Absolutely, take your pick of the top...

Samsung Galaxy S8: Everything you need to know!

28 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 9 Aug 2017 3:00 pm

Get to know the new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ from Samsung. Samsung is an absolutely massive player in the smartphone space, and that all comes down from up high with the flagship Galaxy S line. The latest in the lineup, the Galaxy S8 and its larger partner the Galaxy S8+, build on the core features and experiences from the Galaxy S7 and bring things into the future with great new design and a...

TripIt launches in-airport point-to-point navigation for Pro users

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Posted by Andrew Martonik on 9 Aug 2017 9:00 am

Never get lost in an airport again. Air travel is often frustrating, as we all know, but TripIt is doing its best to smooth out the experience with a new feature in its app that takes airport maps to a new level. Its new in-app airport maps not only give you a top-down view of the entire airport with every bit of information you need, but also now complete navigation between points in the...

The definitive Galaxy Note 8 hands-on

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Moto E4 Plus vs. Moto G5 Plus: Battery vs. everything else

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Moto Z2 Force, a second opinion: Just not enough

ZTE Blade Z Max hands-on: A giant smartphone for any budget

Snapdragon 660: Benchmarks, impressions and everything you need to know!

Android & Chill: Read those terms of service even though you hate doing it

Bluetooth 5 and the HTC U11: You had it all along

V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless review: My new favorite headphones

Lenovo Z2 Plus review: Nine months later

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All Posts by Andrew Martonik

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