Slowly but surely, Huion has been expanding its focus outside of professional-grade drawing tablets and graphics tablets. I tested the Kamvas Slate 11 for amateurs and hobbyists and was quite pleased with its performance. A newer, more compact tablet has now joined the brand's Android tablet portfolio.

The Huion Note E is an Android 15 tablet that came out on May 20, 2026. Fresh out of the oven, this 8.4-inch tablet comes with a paper-like IPS LCD that has an anti-glare coating on top, designed to imitate paper or E Ink.

Priced at $369 on Amazon, this-stylus bearing tablet isn't the cheapest budget tablet. But it's shockingly adept and carves out a niche for itself, overlapping with both cheap Android tablets and E Ink tablets in a way.

It's not an E Ink tablet, but feels non-distracting like one

While you get full access to Android 15 and the Play Store, users need to manually register their Huion Note E on the Google Device Registration website to enable Play Protect. Do this as soon as you set up the tablet, and you'll have zero issues with apps. I installed all the usual Google apps — Chrome, Drive, Docs, YouTube, Photos, etc. — as well as others like Goodreads, Pinterest, Stremio, Moon+ Reader, and CamScanner.

Not once did an app crash on me, nor did multitasking give me trouble, though I admit I did not try gaming. The 6nm Mediatek Helio G99 processor paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage delivers reliable everyday performance for daily usage. Based on the chipset's popularity with budget phones, I'd say light gaming should be smooth sailing as long as you're not expecting anything extravagant.

Apart from swiping or using buttons to navigate or access quick settings, the layout of the Note E isn't typical for an Android tablet. There's a bar on the left with shortcuts for Home, Notes, To-Dos, Favorites, Apps, Files, Feedback, and Settings. You can add apps of your choosing to Favorites. It reminded me very much of an Onyx Boox tablet.

Notes is basically the native Huion Notes app seen on other Huion tablets, like the Kamvas Slate 11. It has cloud sync and backup, as well as useful features like OCR, image uploading, and drawing.

You also get Huion's HiPaint drawing app preloaded, which I found very easy to draw on. The matte 60Hz screen produces 16.7 million colors and 300 nits of brightness, so the color production is accurate but doesn't feel washed out. This makes annotating, highlighting, and sketching a blast. Comics also look spectacular.

As an avid reader who prefers E Ink displays, I was not expecting to use the Huion Note E as much as I actually ended up using it. Huion is focusing more on the note-taking aspect rather than drawing or reading, with a bigger emphasis on the former. You can write directly into any text field, and the native OCR does a fine job, even with my wonky cursive.

Thanks to the battery-free EMR stylus powered by PenTech 3.0, the writing experience is charming. The paper-like display mimics the scratchy, calming sensation of etching on paper with the stylus. The stylus can detect 8,192 levels of pressure, and it attaches to the side of the tablet magnetically. Huion also provides a free case with stylus storage.

Huion could improve some aspects of the Note E tablet

There is no physical volume button, and the stereo speakers are easily put to shame by any budget Android phone in terms of both loudness and clarity. However, a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or a speaker can fix that.

The Huion Note E also has an 8MP camera, which is sufficient for scanning documents, but I don't recommend it for much else unless you're in a pinch. Here's a sample photo taken in the daytime with plenty of natural and artificial light:

Notice how dull and grainy the image is. Still, the textures of the dress are captured, so it's not too shabby.

The 4,500mAh battery delivers about 6.5 hours of screen time. I found that with a few hours of use every day, the tablet easily lasted for two to three days. The 18W "fast" charging is, however, comparable to a snail's pace, and it takes two hours to fully recharge the Note E.

How does it compare to an E Ink tablet?

As I mentioned, I ended up using the tablet every day. Funny enough, I didn't read for very long on it. Compared to an excellent E Ink tablet that runs Android like the Onyx Boox Note Air 5 C, I can spend hours reading on the Boox, but the Huion gave me a headache after an hour. The eye comfort of an E Ink display cannot be beaten by a typical LCD.

What I did find superior, however, was the snappy refresh rate compared to an E Ink tab. Despite having the layout of an e-paper tablet, it responds instantly and has no ghosting. Multitasking is fluid, video playback is dynamic, and even writing is snappier. This is a drawback of E Ink devices as a whole. Drawing or writing in color is so much more appealing on an IPS display as opposed to a color E Ink screen. Naturally, the Note E shines in comparison.

I have picked up crafting and beaded jewelry making hobbies lately, and the Huion Note E has been a boon. I can swipe through designs and ideas on Pinterest, download them, and then add the file to HiPaint and create my own templates or tutorials.

Sometimes when I'm lazy, I just sketch the design quickly in the Notes app. I have a smooth workflow now, and because I'm honing my craft daily, I'm using the Note E every day too.

Is the Note E tablet worth your interest?

I can see students benefiting greatly from a tablet like the Huion Note E. The tablet is perfect for note-taking, studying, drawing, and sketching. You can download any app, like a university or school's learning management app, like Moodle. From its stylus support to its UI layout, it is a true blue digital notebook that makes studying easier at all levels.

And unlike E Ink tablets, video playback is possible. Apps like Canva and Camscanner are also much easier to use on a snappy tablet like the Note E as opposed to the Onyx Boox.

Of course, there are cheaper alternatives out there, like the Xiaomi Pad 7 or the Amazon Fire Max 11. There are also bigger, more powerful tablets with better productivity features, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra.

But Huion offers something unique that's definitely worth your interest: a non-distracting tablet that's almost like an E Ink tablet, offers better eye comfort, has fantastic stylus support, but doesn't have the limitations of an E Ink tablet. It is easily one of the best tablets for students.

UAG, or Urban Armor Gear, is a prolific smartphone accessory maker from California. The brand has been around since 2012 and makes some of the most rugged phone cases and phone stands around. Expanding its lineup of accessories, UAG released the Metropolis Tracker Card in March 2026.

The brand's first attempt at a Bluetooth tracker is fairly decent, with one standout feature. UAG has blended a mix of average specs with one that gives the UAG Metropolis Tracker Card a bit of an edge: MagSafe wireless charging.

Magnetic wireless charging in Bluetooth trackers is fairly new

Typically, even the best Bluetooth trackers were not rechargeable up until very recently. Users were expected to spend $20 to $30 on a single tracker, use it for one to three years, depending on the model and brand, and then throw it away.

Naturally, this was awful for the environment as the used-up trackers would end up in landfills. It also created a recurring expense for users, as at the end of the product lifecycle, users were expected to simply purchase a new one.

Eventually, brands started coming up with trackers powered by replaceable CR2032 cells, and then rechargeable ones with proprietary or USB-C charging.

Wireless charging only entered the conversation very recently. In October 2025, the newly released Chipolo CARD became the first Bluetooth tracker card to boast magnetic wireless charging, but it was not officially MagSafe certified.

Five months from the Chipolo CARD 2025 launch, the UAG Metropolis Tracker Card made its debut. Between now and then, a few brands have launched their own versions of Bluetooth trackers with wireless charging capabilities.

As Bluetooth tracker cards go, the UAG Metropolis Tracker Card sits on the more expensive side, but touts mid-range specs. The 65 ft (20 m) Bluetooth range and IPX4 splashproof rating aren't impressive.

However, the Metropolis Tracker Card also has its upsides. It supports both Apple's Find My Device and Google's Find Hub networks, making it versatile. It gets as loud as 95dB, and it's only 0.12 inches thick.

The 100mAh cell inside can last for up to five to six months on a single charge. UAG guarantees a lifespan of 300 recharge cycles at the very least. The cool hexagonal pattern is very stylish.

Not only does the Metropolis Tracker Card support standard Qi wireless charging, but it also supports MagSafe charging and is MFi certified. The Metropolis Tracker Card also gives proximity notifications, but only to iOS users.

UAG vs. Chipolo vs. Pebblebee

Here's a quick three-way standoff between the UAG Metropolis Tracker Card, Chipolo CARD (2025), and Pebblebee Card 5. All three are in the same price bracket and feature wireless charging support, but only UAG and Chipolo have magnetic wireless charging.

Clearly, the UAG Metropolis Tracker Card is the most expensive but has the worth Bluetooth range, waterproof rating, and battery life. It also weighs the most, and is the thickest of the lot.

The bottom line...

At the end of the day, the UAG Metropolis Tracker Card is better than your average Bluetooth tracker only because it is MFi certified and has official MagSafe support. When compared against other Bluetooth trackers from just as well-established brands, it is lackluster at best and perplexingly overpriced at worst.

If you want a rechargeable Bluetooth tracker with wireless charging, just get either Chipolo or Pebblebee's card trackers. Both brands make some of the best universally compatible Bluetooth trackers on the market, with lower prices and better specs.

I can only see Apple users benefiting from the UAG tracker's proximity notifications. But even then, I'd recommend the alternatives because competing brands make better trackers with support for iOS and Android alike.

In a stale sea of cheap, unimaginative phone and tablet mounts, the Rolling Square Edge Pro Core stands out like a breath of fresh air. This modular gadget is compatible with MagSafe and magnetic Qi2 devices, and you get an adapter ring for free with the kit.

The idea behind it is simple: attach a magnetic plate to your monitor or screen, and then add to it as needed. You can attach a phone mount, a tablet mount, a magnetic light, or even a magnetic wireless charger to the plate. Anything magnetic is fair game.

You must be starting to see why the Rolling Square Edge Pro Core is one of the ultimate MagSafe, Pixelsnap, and Qi2 accessories, as named by me over and over again.

Installation isn't a drag, you can figure it out in a few short minutes

Setting up the Rolling Square Edge Pro Core might sound intimidating in your head, but it's really straightforward in actuality. Rolling Square's explanatory setup video does an amazing job of telling you what's in the box, how to use each item, and the basic setup steps. The instructions even teach you how to remove the adhesive.

Installation is as simple as pie. You hold your phone up next to the screen where you'd like it to be mounted. Mark that spot in your mind, or with something tangible but temporary like a whiteboard marker. If it helps, flip the screen the other way around and mark that spot on the back as well, just to remember the exact placement you prefer.

I broke the rules for aesthetics, but please don't follow my footsteps. You're supposed to clean the back of the display or monitor and stick the base metal plate on the plain surface.

I couldn't bear to destroy my carefully curated yet chaotic laptop, which is sticker-bombed like nobody's business. So, I just stuck the base on top of the stickers. As you can see in the pictures below, Tanjiro Kamado survived the ordeal.

Despite my blatant rule-breaking, the Edge Pro Core still holds up my Pixel 10 Pro without any issue. The adhesive base didn't pop off or droop, and it held up the mounting plate steadily. It's really quite impressive to see a magnetic mount snap onto this slim disc. The base plate that sticks to the monitor or screen is merely 2.5mm thick. How in the world is it this sturdy?

Even after you snap on the mounting plate with its hinge and two sides, it barely adds any weight or bulk to your screen. I love the book-like hinge mechanism that can be adjusted on the fly, so the angle of your phone or tablet is always just right.

This is the best way to use your phone or tablet as a second screen

Of course, the biggest draw of the Rolling Square Edge Pro Core is that it's only 2.5mm (0.1 in) thick. But the benefits don't end there. You can use the mounting plate with the hinge on its own as a standalone phone stand. But most importantly, Rolling Square created a buildable ecosystem, but not one that's limited to first-party accessories. I applaud them for it!

You can get any MagSafe light and slap it onto the magnetic mount. Many other wireless chargers, apart from those designed for the Edge Pro Core, can also work with it. As long as something is magnetic, it will stay put on the Edge Pro Core mount.

And since the base plate and mount altogether are still reasonably slim, you can just leave it there. I didn't even bother stowing it away when taking my laptop outside with me. In fact, I just let it hang on to the back of my laptop and put the entire setup in my backpack without any noticeable differences in weight or bulk.

At $29.90 for the base Rolling Square Edge Pro Core kit, I highly recommend this out-of-the-box mounting setup. It's worth every cent and every dollar.

How do you know which charger is right for your Android phone? This is a question I get asked all the time, and one that I never tire of answering. That's because helping others find the perfect accessory for their needs is incredibly satisfying.

As with any decision in life, tech-related or otherwise, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, you need to identify the right specs your phone needs, take your budget and other important factors like habits into account, and then find a charger that fits the bill.

I have developed a bulletproof strategy of finding the right charger that I like to call the "four Ps method". The four Ps in question are ports, power, profile, and price. Once you know the right Ps, you can find the exact charger that suits your needs. Here's how you can pick the best phone charger for your Android phone using my fail-safe formula.

Ports are the first thing to consider

Let's start with the number of ports you need on a charger. Buying a brick with a single USB port is inefficient and highly inflexible. You would only be able to charge your Android phone at a time, nothing else.

A single-port charger will also force you to choose between USB-C and USB-A. In this day and age, a dual-ported charger is the bare minimum for everyone. At the very least, get a dual-port adapter with one USB-C and one USB-A port, so you can use any cable and charge at least one other device simultaneously.

If you want a blanket recommendation, I'd say choose a three-ported charger with two USB-C and one USB-A port. That's the right mix, ideally, as most devices charge via USB-C to USB-C cables, and you will still have a good old USB-A port just in case.

Power rating matters a lot on chargers

The power rating of a charger is a crucial factor. You need to know the power output and match it to your Android phone's supported charging speed. All flagship phones from Samsung and Google support 25W or higher, up to 45W or 60W. Motorola phones go up to 68W and higher, while Chinese Android phones are even more cutting-edge, with brands like OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, RedMagic, and OPPO offering 80W, 100W, and even higher charging speeds.

Even if your phone can only take 25W, keep in mind that a dual-port 25W charger will split that power between the two ports when both are in use. Since I recommend three-ported bricks for most people, I say invest in a 60W USB-C charger to hedge your bets. Even with all the ports in use, your Android phone will still get fast charging speeds. If you are planning to use your charger with a laptop or Chromebook, or if your phone charges at 80W or higher, try to go for a 100W option at the very least.

Pro tip: If you get a 60W or above charger, make sure the USB cable also supports that power rating.

Know your charging profiles as they vary across brands

Without getting too technical, a charging profile manages voltage, current, and other important things. You might have heard words like PPS (Programmable Power Delivery), PD (Power Delivery), QC (Quick Charge), SuperVOOC, Samsung Fast Charging, and more.

These charging protocols matter because even if your Android phone supports 60W and your charger supports 60W, you might not actually get that charging speed if the charger's charging profile doesn't match your phone. For example, a basic 45W charger might not work at the maximum possible speeds with a Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus or the Google Pixel 10 Pro. You will need to ensure the charger supports Samsung's or Google's fast-charging profiles, which generally use PD and PPS for faster speeds.

Price is unquestionably important to find a budget-friendly pick

Once you've sorted out the number of ports you require, how much power your Android phone needs, and which charging profiles to watch out for, the price comes into play.

Chargers don't cost much these days thanks to the competitive market. You can find all kinds of USB-C chargers with unique features and functions. However, the best in class come at a price.

Narrow down all the chargers that fit the specs I have helped you identify so far, then find something within your budget. If you find that the charger you want exceeds your budget, perhaps reduce the number of ports and opt for a dual-port pick instead of a tri-port one.

Mercifully, trusted brands like UGREEN, Baseus, and Anker make some of the best chargers in the world and cater to all price segments. Even if you're limiting yourself to $30, you will be very pleased with what these brands have to deliver.

Samsung makes a big show of its displays every chance it gets. At MWC 2026, we got to experience the latest display demos from the Korean tech giant. This included Samsung's Privacy Display tech from the S26 Ultra, LEAD 2.0 with barely discernible bezels, as well as slidable screens.

Unexpectedly, Samsung has not made a splash about its color E Ink screens, but the tech exists, and so do purchasable products featuring this display tech. The Color E-Paper EMDX series from Samsung was launched in the Korean market in June 2025. Samsung quietly released 32-inch and 13-inch versions of its e-paper signage in the U.S. in March 2026.

While these are not consumer products, businesses can purchase the EMDX series. This prompts us to ask a very important question: Will we see consumer products from Samsung with color E Ink displays in the near future?

The color E Ink market is incredibly diverse

Color E Ink has been around for years, but the first round of widely available consumer products with these displays didn't hit the market until just a few years ago. The PocketBook Color was the first e-paper tablet to debut with the colored E Ink Kaleido display in July 2020, followed by several Onyx Boox devices and others in the E Ink tablet industry.

Currently, you can easily purchase a color E Ink device in the form of Kindle e-readers, Android tablets from Onyx Boox and others, smart frames from the likes of SwitchBot, and even smartphones from companies like Bigme. It's a growing market where brands are experimenting with different form factors and applications.

The debut of a Samsung Galaxy e-reader feels like the natural evolution of Samsung's Color E-Paper signage. It would shock no one if Samsung were to enter the E Ink arena and throw its hat in the ring, too.

Samsung's Color E-Paper looks really promising

In the brand's own words, the e-paper screens on the EMDX series are "ultra-light and ultra-thin". The 32-inch variant has a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and costs $1,350, whereas the 13-inch variant has a 1,200 x 1,600 resolution and is priced at $725.

The colorful e-paper displays look really good in promotional videos and materials.

Samsung uses something called a Color Imaging Algorithm on its color e-paper panels to deliver a printed paper-like feel and color accuracy.

"The EMDX series leverages an advanced color imaging algorithm to optimize content for paper-like visibility. Its reduced contour, smooth gradation, and enhanced colors can replace standard printouts like posters and point-of-purchase displays."

Samsung EMDX displays are equipped with wireless connectivity, long battery life, and robust app support. The foundation for making a potential Samsung Galaxy e-reader is already there.

A potential game-changer in the e-reader space

Although I have not seen the EMDX signage in person, the color quality and the glare-free, paper-like appearance appear to be quite excellent. I wouldn't be surprised if it were on par with the E Ink Kaleido 3.

I reached out to Samsung to ask about its future plans for e-paper displays and a possible Galaxy e-reader, but received no response.

We have no leaks to go off on either, but the possibility of Samsung entering the E Ink tablet market seems very real. If a Galaxy e-reader were to enter the fray, it could be a game-changer and a welcome addition to a market that is currently dominated by a handful of brands.

Most smartphones and mobile tech use lithium-ion batteries. The issue with this is that the liquid electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are highly flammable. Slowly but surely, though, the next generation of battery tech is on its way to the mainstream.

BMX is one of the first brands in the world to debut consumer products touting the latest solid-state battery tech at CES 2026, kicking things off with the SolidSafe Qi2 power banks available in 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh variants.

What makes solid-state power banks so great

It's fairly easy to understand why the BMX SolidSafe Qi2 power banks are safer than traditional lithium-ion power banks. Solid-state batteries, or "dream batteries" as Samsung calls them, replace that flammable liquid part with solid materials like ceramic, sulfides, and polymers. These batteries can be quite expensive, but the reduced safety risks (fires and swelling) and higher capacity density are some of the many worthwhile upsides.

However, these power banks are not 100% solid-state. They are semi-solid-state batteries, meaning that about 10% of the battery still consists of liquid electrolytes. While this may slightly chip away at the safety factor, it is probably why the BMX SolidSafe 5K and 10K solid-state power banks aren't abhorrently expensive.

A standard Qi2 power bank with a 5,000mAh capacity from a brand like Anker will cost you around $45 to $50. The BMX SolidSafe 5K Solid-State Magnetic Power Bank is only $10 to $15 more expensive. It charges at 15W wirelessly and 20W via USB-C.

Meanwhile, the larger BMX SolidSafe 10K Solid-State Magnetic Power Bank is priced at $80. It supports 15W wireless charging and 30W wired charging via USB-C. Similar lithium-ion Qi2 power banks on the market cost around $60 to $70. Once again, that's only about $10 to $20 extra.

In exchange for the minimal premium slapped on, these semi-solid-state power banks from BMX guarantee a far safer user experience. They are a lot less flammable and have better temperature stability.

The difference between lithium ion and solid-state batteries

Another big draw with all-solid-state or semi-solid-state batteries is longevity. Not only do they charge faster, but they are also more heat-efficient and have better durability in extreme weather conditions. This isn't just marketing talking points; it's grounded in scientific research.

In addition to that, solid-state batteries have a higher capacity density. Thus, they can store more energy in a more compact form factor. So a 10,000mAh solid-state power bank can be just as small, slim, and lightweight as a 5,000mAh lithium-ion power bank.

This is clearly evident with the BMX SolidSafe Qi2 power banks that are unbelievably slim. I found that the 10,000mAh solid-state power bank from BMX is slimmer than lithium-ion ones with the same or lesser capacity from top-tier brands like Anker, UGREEN, INIU, and Baseus.

Another fantastic advantage of solid-state batteries is that they have longer lifespans. Just like car engines lose horsepower over the years, lithium-ion batteries do too.

Most lithium-ion batteries have an upper limit of charge cycles they can hit before losing a few ponies. This is why battery life gets worse over time. When it comes to solid-state batteries, however, they can last for more charging cycles.

In fact, Jerry Hildenbrand estimated that a solid-state battery should deliver 45,000 charging cycles on paper, theoretically doubling the lifespan of an average lithium-ion battery.

All things considered, any individual would choose the safer, more durable, and more long-lasting option when presented with the choice between lithium-ion and solid-state batteries.

While an all-solid-state power bank would probably be more expensive, the 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh semi-solid-state options from BMX are quite affordable. Even though up to 10% of their makeup consists of liquid electrolytes that are flammable, they are still significantly safer and boast better longevity than standard lithium-ion alternatives.

BMX includes enticing specs like 15W wireless charging, 20W/30W wired charging, Qi2 support, a compatible USB-C cable that acts as a lanyard, and three trendy colorways. For just a tenner or two more than standard options, you get a modern, portable, and lightweight power bank with all the latest specs and a compact form factor.

This is just the beginning of the battery tech revolution. I can't wait to see more solid-state battery products hit the market. Maybe we might even start to see silicon-carbon battery power banks hit the shelves, diversifying safe battery options for all of us.

SUPCASE and i-Blason make some of the most rugged phone cases known to mankind, offering covers for flagships like the Pixel 10 and S26 Ultra. The sibling brands favor a bold, sometimes gaudy design language that is unapologetic, boisterous, loud, and eye-catching. These phone cases aren't for everyone — they have a niche fan base comprising of folks who eat up those kinds of heavy-duty designs.

Turns out, SUPCASE and i-Blason also make rugged accessories like wallets. All the MagSafe wallets from SUPCASE and i-Blason come with stands. Depending on how much bulk you are okay with, you can get really beefed-up wallets that have even more features. For the less adventurous spirits, there are casual colorways and styles available, too.

Since these are magnetic, you can use these wallets with any MagSafe/Qi2 device or magnetic adapter rings. However, you have to be a little wary of the camera lens placement with some models, like the petite S26, for instance. With plenty of varying features and price points, these brands have a magnetic wallet for anyone!

Imagine the convenience of a MagSafe wallet that snaps on to your belt and your phone whenever you like

You might've seen rugged phone cases that come with belt clips or holsters. The i-Blason MagSafe Wallet Stand with Magnetic Money Clip follows the same concept, but instead of a phone case, it's a wallet.

For $35, i-Blason includes a magnetic adapter ring in the box, along with the MagSafe Wallet Stand and the Magnetic Money Clip that can be attached to a belt loop or any pants. The wallet is multilayered, so it can take a fall without damaging its contents.

There's space for six cards in the MagSafe Wallet Stand, and there's an RFID blocker built in. The little stand on the base of the wallet kicks out to prop up your phone when the wallet is attached to it.

Once you pluck it off the back of your phone, you can slap it onto the Magnetic Money Clip, which is made of metal. This ensures a firm hold as the magnet latches on powerfully.

It's a slick wallet that can easily replace your conventional one. If you're prone to misplacing yours, having one that magnetically sticks to your pants (as well as phones) is a no-nonsense solution.

The basic option looks like something Spigen would make

SUPCASE has a similar wallet sans the belt clip called the UB Mag Vault Magnetic Wallet with Stand. Made of scratch-proof TPU, this simplistic wallet comes in half a dozen colors. I really like the Midnight Blue variant as it has a classy appeal. The design is so demure that you'd think it's something from Spigen, not SUPCASE.

The UB Mag Vault Magnetic Wallet can also hold six cards, has a stand, and comes with RFID blocking tech integrated into it.

Like its sister brand i-Blason, SUPCASE includes a magnetic adapter ring with all of its magnetic wallets. At roughly $34, the price is reasonable, too.

Wallets with flip stands offer better viewing angles

If you prefer having a sturdier stand with adjustable viewing angles, SUPCASE has you covered. Both the MagFlip Magnetic Wallet with Stand and the MagSafe Wallet with AirTag Holder have the same basic design.

These wallets have a small stand at the base as well as an additional flap that folds out. You can adjust this flap at any angle, and it holds up pretty well on fairly flat surfaces. The SUPCASE MagSafe Wallet with AirTag Holder pushes practicality even further, boasting an AirTag slot on the back. The Moto Tag fits perfectly in there, and I'm pretty sure any other similar-sized Bluetooth tracker will as well.

Again, both wallets with flap-like stands are available in a diverse range of colors, some striking and others more laid back. That hot orange variant called Coral has my vote.

To think that you get two stands built into the magnetic wallet, as well as all the other benefits like robust drop-proofing, space for six cards, RFID blockers, and an adhesive magnetic ring. That's really good value for money.

This puts the price into perspective. Both the SUPCASE MagFlip Magnetic Wallet with Stand and MagSafe Wallet with AirTag Holder cost about $43 apiece. You get several functions and a durable build — a fair deal for sure.

These MagSafe wallets are some of the best out there

For about $10, you could purchase a basic leather wallet that's MagSafe and stores maybe four to five cards. That's alright for minimalists, but anyone looking to get more use out of their accessory will feel bored. This is the gap that these zazzy wallets fill.

The magnetic wallets from SUPCASE and i-Blason are easily some of the best I have ever used. You don't have to worry about getting a separate stand, which is a major upside. The MagSafe element is undeniably useful. Plus, those crazy designs are buckets of fun. And if you opt for the pricier wallets with flaps, you get even better performance and an AirTag slot.

There's also the built-in RFID blocking function that brings peace of mind, and the free magnetic rings that actually save you money. Not to mention, the shock-proofing on these magnetic wallets is rock solid! Even if two or three of them miss for you, at least one will certainly be a hit.

Dearest gentle reader,

It has come to the attention of this author that CASETiFY, without much gallant fanfare or flourish, launched a beautifully designed collection of smartphone accessories on January 28, 2026. The brand-new Bridgerton Co-Lab celebrates the release of the Netflix show's fourth season, which debuted the very next day on January 29.

The CASETiFY Bridgerton collection features all manner of smartphone accessories adorned with intricate details such as flowers, leaves, romantic silhouettes, and gazebos. The artwork style matches the Regency-era theme of the show, as does the color palette.

The CASETiFY Bridgerton collection features several designs, as well as multiple variations of those designs, with and without quotes from the show. You can buy a collection of items bundled together or purchase individual pieces separately.

This collection includes Impact magnetic cases that can be customized. There are several variations to choose from, including mirror and clear finishes. There's even a Sophie Baek case, putting the fourth season's characters in the spotlight.

As is customary with all CASETiFY cases, you can buy only one for an Apple, Samsung, or Google phone.

As for the other accessories, there's a lot more to purchase apart from just phone cases. CASETiFY included earbud cases, earbud pouches, magnetic wallets, magnetic stands, magnetic wireless chargers, keychains, watch bands, tablet cases, and even laptop sleeves.

While a lot of these products cater to Apple devices solely, you can easily use nearly all of these MagSafe accessories with your Android phone. If it's a Qi2 device, you won't need an adapter ring. But even if you're rocking a non-Qi2 device, you can stick a magnetic adapter ring on the back or, better yet, use a phone case that comes with one built in.

The only issue that could arise is with the wireless chargers. Generally speaking, Qi2 devices should not have a problem, as the standard is based on MagSafe. However, other Android phones may or may not charge as smoothly via CASETiFY's magnetic wireless chargers. I suggest skipping this product in that case and getting a wireless charger that matches your phone's specs.

I tested the MagSafe Snappy Grip Stand, Snappy Cardholder Stand, and Snappy BioVeg Wallet with the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 8, and RedMagic 9 Pro.

The Pixel 10 Pro supports magnetic Qi2 natively, so these exquisite magnetic accessories work seamlessly with it. The snap of the magnet going on is satisfyingly reassuring. While I did not test the MagSafe wireless chargers from the Bridgerton Co-Lab, I'm certain they are compatible with the Pixel 10 series.

For the older Pixel 8, I used a reliable case with strong magnets built in. And as for the RedMagic 9 Pro, I did the same thing, relying on a magnetic case to use the magnetic attachments.

As I expected, the wallet and stands work just as well with non-Qi2 devices, as long as you use a good quality adapter or magnetic phone case.

Between the round Snappy Grip Stand and the rectangular Snappy Cardholder Stand, I prefer the latter because of its stability. And even though it is a lot bigger than the round stand, the cardholder stand isn't too bulky.

Similarly, the Snappy BioVeg Wallet is equally enchanting in appearance and in its functionality. You can store a few cards and maybe a few notes in this sleek vegan leather wallet. I almost broke my nails trying to pry it off the Pixel 10 Pro's bare back.

CASETiFY did a marvelous job maintaining the slimness of these accessories without losing flair or function. The design language embraces the period setting of Bridgerton, the quotes are incorporated tastefully, and nothing looks gaudy or tacky.

Ehem.

Thus, it is the opinion of this author that if you found some measure of joy from the show, you will certainly revel in the stunning CASETiFY Bridgerton collection. Just be prepared to part with a rather large sum, as such luxury is not cheaply attained.

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown

Onyx Boox tablets are awesome. They're these beefed up e-readers with crisp E Ink displays, powerful processors, and unfettered access to Android and the Play Store. Unfortunately, you still don't get all the features and functions that regular Android tablets enjoy.

Setting up your new device is probably the most crucial Android feature. When you turn on a brand-new Android device for the first time, you can usually transfer all your data to it using Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, or a cable. However, Boox tablets don't have this feature, nerfing their capabilities a little.

Luckily, there's an easy way to transfer all your e-books, documents, and other files from one Onyx Boox tablet to another.

The wrong way to use USB OTG

All the best E Ink tablets from Onyx Boox support USB OTG — short for USB On The Go. Conventionally, this is meant to allow you to connect a USB-C flash drive or a USB-C SSD to your phone or tablet.

You probably groaned a little when you came across the words "flash drive," but don't worry, this hack doesn't require you to purchase any additional Type-C thumb drives or accessories. You will, however, need a USB-C to USB-C cable that supports data transfer. Chances are, you probably have one lying around at home.

If you don't own one, you can buy a cheap USB-C cable that supports data transfer.

How to transfer data from one Onyx Boox tablet to another

Now that you have both your Onyx Boox tablets and the right type of USB-C cable, you're all set. For the purposes of this guide, I used a Note Air 4 C and a Note Air 5 C, but this method should work with any other Boox tab, as they all support USB OTG.

1. Plug in the USB-C cable to the tablet you're copying data from first.

2. Next, insert the other end of the C-to-C cable in the tablet you want to transfer data to.

3. The Boox file manager should automatically open.

4. Locate the files you want to transfer.

5. Select and copy the files.

6. Find the folder where you want to import the files in your destination device and paste them.

Et voilà!

That's it! The copying process shouldn't take too long, depending on the number and the size of the files.

Before you import your e-books, I highly suggest syncing your reading progress to your Onyx Boox account. That way, you can migrate all your data to your new Boox device without ever losing track of your progress per book.

I hope this trick helped you as much as it did me when I first discovered it when setting up my Note Air 5 C. The thought of having to transfer all my e-books from my PC to my tablet again felt super daunting, especially since I had downloaded many of them directly to my old Note Air 4 C.

If you do, however, have the energy to plug your tablet into your computer every time, I highly suggest Calibre for your e-book management needs. This open source tool is a godsend, and it has not failed me once since I started using it in 2010.

Can't afford to spend over $200 on the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 or the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds, prized for their live translation capabilities? Happily, the audio accessory brand EarFun can match your budget without skipping any of the best premium features, including translating conversations on the fly.

Live translation is actually pretty accessible these days. You can download the Google Translate app on your phone and use the conversation mode. However, it doesn't always deliver the most accurate or smoothest results, especially when earbuds, earphones, or headphones are connected. And that's where the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds come in.

An affordable alternative that functions effectively

The EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds usually retail for $99.99, but they go on sale pretty often. Even now, they are on sale for 20% off, and you can apply the code AP4PPR01 for another 5% off on top of that, bringing the price down to $74.99 at Amazon.

For that spectacular price point, you get a wonderful mix of features that give EarFun the edge over other cheap earbuds with translation features, such as the Soundcore AeroFit 2 or the Soundcore P31i. Just take a look at the specs below, which clearly match flagship audio accessories.

So far, only the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus buds support the AI translation feature, but the brand is considering expanding availability to other models in the future.

How does EarFun's AI translation work?

Much like Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds, which rely on Gemini for translation, EarFun uses its own AI to translate languages. Users can choose languages from over 145 countries and regions, and the brand is open to adding more upon request.

Naturally, you need a stable internet connection on your phone to access the AI translation option. Users also need to update their EarFun app to version 20.1.36 on Android and 20.5.5 on iOS.

EarFun's AI translation feature offers users two modes: Face-to-Face and Real-Time. You can save the transcripts from both modes.

Face-to-Face mode is designed for a conversation between two people, where each speaker takes turns talking in short bits. You can select languages for both speakers, and you can even flip one side of the screen so the foreign-language speaker can see their side better. Each speaker can play their section of translations out loud.

Real-Time mode translates the foreign language in real time. So, for instance, I could be speaking to someone who is talking in an unknown language, but their sentences would be translated and played out in English (or the language you choose) in real time.

The best cheap wireless earbuds just got better

I found that while both modes function well, the Real-Time mode is particularly good at its job. Of course, both speakers need to enunciate clearly and not talk too fast, but that's a given with any translation app.

As someone who uses Google Translate a lot — and I mean every single day — EarFun's Real-Time mode is on par with Google's real-time conversation translation.

For those on the hunt for earbuds with AI translation, the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus are the best wireless earbuds to consider for under $100. You get Bluetooth Auracast support, ANC, hi-res audio, LDAC support, wireless charging, and an IP55 water and dust resistant rating, as well as an excellent dual-mode translation feature without breaking the bank.

E Ink displays and artwork together in one product sounds like a match made in heaven. All the reasons why E Ink tablets are excellent for reading also apply to why art looks stunning on e-paper screens. After all, frozen particles of e-ink are perfect for showcasing art that's meant to be printed on paper with real ink.

However, instead of paying for new prints individually, you can change pieces at will for free with a digital frame. And with an E Ink frame, art doesn't have to lose its soul or require too much power.

The SwitchBot AI Art Frame isn't the first of its kind, but it is one of the more mainstream e-paper frames, as the brand has built quite a name for itself. Brands like IONNYK tried to popularize the concept a few years back, but it wasn't until PocketBook unveiled a colored variant at CES 2025 that the idea started to catch on.

Since SwitchBot already has an ecosystem of smart home devices and several Matter-enabled hubs, the addition of an e-paper frame felt like a natural extension. I imagined I'd be able to incorporate the frame into automations created through the SwitchBot hub, and I was half right, but the AI Art Frame turned out to be a bit simpler.

SwitchBot is by far the cheapest option for E Ink digital frames

Much like Aura, PocketBook InkPoster, and other competitors, SwitchBot offers the AI Art Frame in several sizes. Here's a quick comparison of sizes and prices of color E Ink frames to give you an idea of the industry standard. All the frames mentioned below use the same E Ink Spectra 6 color display and charge via USB-C.

As you can see, the SwitchBot AI Art Frame is the cheapest in the market, regardless of what size you prefer.

All these colorful E Ink frames can store images locally, support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, support both portrait and landscape orientations, and be managed via Android or iOS apps. SwitchBot is limited to 10 images stored on board, while InkPoster is limited to six. Aura claims to have "unlimited photos," but those are cloud uploads, which are unlimited for all frames anyway. There's no info available on local storage.

Two things set SwitchBot's offering apart from the rest: AI and scheduling.

The good and the bad...

Besides the usual suspects, the SwitchBot AI Art Frame offers granular scheduling and generative AI art.

You can choose a specific image and the time of the day when you want that photo to swap over. Since this is done through the SwitchBot app, I'm hoping to see SwitchBot expand this further by incorporating smart home automations with the brand's other products in the future.

It should be possible via over-the-air updates, as the hardware is already there. I don't know if this will come to pass, and I'm a little disappointed that SwitchBot didn't do more with smart home integration.

The AI Studio generates images either from text prompts alone or by reimagining an uploaded image based on your text prompt. The AI feature isn't free, though. You need to subscribe to the $3.99 per month plan, and that limits you to 400 monthly gen AI creations.

I honestly don't see what's stopping anyone from generating an image for free from any other gen AI platform. The subscription service feels like a shameless cash grab, but that isn't even my main issue with this.

I don't think anyone should equate AI and art in any way, shape, or form. AI literally steals human artists' work by plagiarizing it. Countless digital artists, designers, and professionals in the creative space have pushed back against generative AI. To then capitalize on this pretty unethical.

This would've been so much more refreshing if SwitchBot had partnered with actual artists from around the world, or maybe even with art platforms like DeviantArt. I would happily pay a monthly subscription to access the painstaking work of an artist if it meant supporting them, as would many others.

E Ink adds battery gains as opposed to regular LCDs

SwitchBot guarantees up to two years of battery life per charge. Coming from a very humble 2,000mAh cell, that's an insane number. I haven't charged the 13.3" frame since I topped it off to 100% three weeks ago, and the percentage still shows 99%. To put things in perspective, the Aura Ink 13" only promises up to three months, whereas the Paper 7 lasts up to six months.

Changing the image too frequently may cause the battery to drain faster, however. SwitchBot has not clarified whether all three sizes use a 2,000mAh battery or not. If they do, the larger frames will probably need to be charged more often.

Final thoughts

I applaud the concept of E Ink frames, and SwitchBot undoubtedly offers a relatively more affordable entry to the space. However, I cannot bring myself to recommend the AI art feature to anyone.

If you're considering an e-paper frame for your home, the SwitchBot AI Art Frame is an excellent choice. However, I implore you to pay for the art that you showcase. If you can't afford that, display your own photos, or use works available for public use under a Creative Commons license.

I'm not much of a fitness buff myself, but my colleague Michael Hicks is the king of that hill. Where I do excel is nerding out over accessories and gadgets, spending hours poring over specifications, and getting into the semantics of why something is the right fit for a certain type of user. Thus, Michael and I are collaborating on this week's Gadget Weekly to recommend the best fitness accessories to meet your workout goals in 2026.

New Year's resolutions don't just materialize out of thin air. Setting goals requires a certain level of commitment, and fitness goals in particular need consistent work. Thanks to wearables and other smart gear, it's a lot easier to keep yourself motivated, log your progress, and coach yourself.

But how do you know where to start? Here's what Michael has to say about that...

Buying fitness accessories to hit your goals is a double-edged sword. You're putting your money where your mouth is, giving yourself motivation to work hard and justify the money you spent. But if you don't stick with it, your gear will end up shoved in a closet, and you'll be back where you started.

I originally wrote a New Year's resolution starter kit for useful tech, accessories, and apparel, but I'm happy to help out Namerah and lay out some more accessories that I'd personally recommend and will help you get fitter, faster, and stronger in 2026! Let's dive into the best fitness accessories to jump-start your workout goals in the new year.

HR chest straps and armbands to fix your inaccurate smartwatch data

Rather than buying a new smartwatch, pair an HR armband or chest strap to your old watch; you'll get better real-time data and workout summaries of how fit you are. Just make sure it's compatible with your smartwatch first.

Smart glasses replace your earbuds, capture your workout, and protect your eyes

Smart glasses improve outdoor workouts with open-ear audio, so you're aware of your surroundings, while also letting you take on-the-go photos or videos so you can share your hard work on social media.

Supportive workout shoes for starting your running training

It's very easy to injure yourself or get plantar fasciitis if you're new or rusty at working out, or if you're doing a hard-impact sport like running. Shoes with plenty of cushioning can help protect you as you improve and lose weight.

Make sure your 2026 fitness goals are actually working with these smart scales

Whether you want to burn fat, gain muscle, or both, it makes sense to have a reliable smart scale that can track both your weight and body composition, so you know if your hard work is paying off.

Workout-friendly watch bands for your wearable

Equip your existing smartwatch with the right watch band for maximum comfort during your activities. The best workout-friendly smartwatch straps have aerated holes, are sometimes hypoallergenic, are waterproof, and ideally, are easily adjustable. If you're not a fan of silicone or fluoroelastomer, I find stretchy woven nylon bands to be super ergonomic, so you can opt for those instead.

Running out of storage on your phone is more troublesome than ever. None of the best Android phones comes with memory card slots anymore. Fortunately, there are four very simple ways to add more storage to your device, even if it doesn't support expandable storage natively.

And no, I'm not talking about complex data storage solutions. I'm aware that not everyone is a NAS server expert. If you're looking for a quick and easy fix, here are four ways to add more storage to your phone or tablet that doesn't have a microSD card slot.

Black Friday week is already upon us, so many deals have started going live before November 28. If you're lucky, you might catch some of these storage solutions on sale already!

1. Get a USB-C thumb drive

Thumb drives are awesome because they're usually the size of your thumb, they're cheap, and you get versatile memory variants. You could grab as little as 64GB or as much as 2TB!

As with any external storage device, the larger the storage capacity, the more expensive it gets. Since all Android phones and tablets support USB-C OTG, you can simply grab a decent USB-C thumb drive with the amount of extra storage you need.

And if you want a versatile purchase, you can even buy a dual-ported thumb drive that has both Type-C and Type-A connectors. SanDisk is my go-to brand because it's both reliable and affordable, but you can also check out other trustworthy brands like PNY, Samsung, Kingston, and Lexar.

2. Cloud storage services like Google One are worth looking into

Increasing the amount of storage your phone has access to does not always require it to be locally available. A good cloud storage service is definitely worth looking into, not just for more space for your data, but also as a backup.

I subscribe to the Google AI Pro plan under Google One and share it with my spouse. It offers 2TB of storage, which is more than enough for all our photos and videos combined, and we get additional perks like Gemini's premium models, longer Google Meet calls, and enhanced appointment scheduling in Google Calendar.

Based on where you're located and which cloud subscription provider you choose, you will enjoy even more benefits!

3. For faster read and write speeds, a portable USB-C SSD is your best friend

In the words of Andrew Myrick, a senior editor at Android Central, portable SSDs have come a long way, and now they're magnetic. If you have a Qi2 magnetic phone like the Pixel 10 or you just enjoy using magnetic accessories via adapter rings, you'll love this solution.

An SSD, or solid-state drive, offers excellent read and write speeds, so data transfers are snappy. It is also highly efficient and durable compared to older HDDs, or hard disk drives.

Now that we can buy external SSDs with USB-C connectors and really compact form factors, it's a great time to invest in one. The perk of a magnetic SSD is that you don't have to worry about it dangling from your phone while it's connected, since it mounts on the back.

4. Make use of your existing memory cards with a USB-C microSD card reader

If you already have plenty of memory cards lying around, why waste them? Get a memory card reader with a USB-C port so you can still use those SD, microSD, or TF cards to store your data.

You can either get a very simple memory card reader with a single function or opt for a USB-C hub instead. Personally, I'd go for the hub since it just makes more sense. If I'm going to buy an accessory to add ports to my phone, I might as well get the most out of it. Having pass-through charging is another factor to look out for, and this is something you'll find in USB-C hubs easily.

The one that I use is from BENFEI, and it is a 7-in-1 situation that adds a plethora of ports to my device for less than $20. But if you want the single-purpose kind of reader, brands UGREEN and Anker offer cheap memory card readers priced under $10.

FAQ

The Belkin Stage PowerGrip and KraftGeek PowerShutter are a new breed of power banks — the kind that convert your smartphone into an old-school camera, in a sense.

I love this new era of power banks where the sky's the limit, and brands are playing around with form factors. From high-capacity power banks to transparent ones, we've seen those that come with cooling fans, and even some that double as SSDs.

Now, smartphone accessory brands like KraftGeek and Belkin are rethinking the form factor once again with their portable power banks that have MagSafe support, Bluetooth camera buttons, and act as phone stands.

Belkin and KraftGeek's magnetic power bank stands share the same core

There are some differences between the two power banks, but the most vital one is the price. The Belkin Stage PowerGrip costs $79.99, whereas the much more affordable KraftGeek PowerShutter costs $36.99. KraftGeek's offering is less than half the price of the Belkin option.

The Belkin Stage PowerGrip has a much larger capacity, giving you 9,300mAh, but it's also 67 grams heavier. In comparison, the KraftGeek PowerShutter has a modest 5,000mAh capacity.

Both the Belkin Stage PowerGrip and KraftGeek PowerShutter have magnetic pads where you can mount any MagSafe or magnetic Qi2 phone. You can also use both accessories as phone holders, allowing you to use your device in both portrait and landscape orientations.

You can pair your phone with either power bank stand using Bluetooth, enabling you to use the camera shutter button to take pictures. It's a very comfortable method of shooting pictures and videos, especially if you grew up with digital cameras and DSLRs.

Thanks to the 1/4-inch threaded hole, you can mount your phone on any standard tripod. This eliminates the need to buy a separate stand or stand mount just for your phone.

How does Belkin justify that price gap?

At $79.99, the Belkin Stage PowerGrip costs twice as much as the KraftGeek PowerShutter. Besides the extra battery backup, you also get more color options, a built-in USB-C cable, lanyard holes, and an LED display indicating the battery level and connection status.

Belkin's camera stand also has better functionality. You can switch between photo and video modes on your phone with the shutter button. On top of that, you can disable wireless charging so the Belkin Stage PowerGrip isn't unnecessarily draining its battery when in use.

With KraftGeek, you get what you pay for

When it comes to KraftGeek's option, you cannot turn off the wireless charging feature, so it's constantly recharging your phone wirelessly when in use. This, paired with the smaller battery, means that it drains much faster than Belkin's power bank stand.

Additionally, you cannot use the shutter button to switch between photo and video modes on the KraftGeek PowerShutter.

You do, however, get extras in the box that compensate for these drawbacks. There's a USB-C charging cable and a magnetic adapter ring provided.

Recharging the KraftGeek PowerShutter takes a while because of the 18W wired charging speed. However, it's still faster than Belkin's slower 15W wired charging speed.

KraftGeek gets my vote when it comes to comfort. It is noticeably lighter, and I prefer its slightly softer faux leather grip.

Belkin Stage PowerGrip vs KraftGeek PowerShutter: Which should you buy?

Performance-wise, the Belkin Stage PowerGrip lasts much longer than the KraftGeek PowerShutter, giving it a major edge over it. The extended battery life alone is worth the splurge. It's perfect for vacations and trips where you need to take lots of pictures and videos but have battery anxiety.

Additionally, since you can turn the wireless charging off on the Belkin camera stand power bank, it also helps you conserve its power instead of wasting it unnecessarily. The built-in Type-C cable can get awkward to use, but it's so convenient to have. You don't have to worry about packing a separate cable.

At $36.99, the KraftGeek PowerShutter is an absolute steal. It's a fantastic alternative to the more premium Belkin Stage PowerGrip. However, if you can afford to spend another $43, the $79.99 Belkin option will make you a lot happier!

Bonus tip: If you really want the Belkin Stage PowerGrip but are counting the change you found in your couch, just wait for Black Friday to grab a good deal on it.

FAQ

Until 2024, Bluetooth trackers were only compatible with either Google's or Apple's Find My Device network. However, a new range of universal trackers is now widely available, allowing users to pair them with both Android and iOS devices. Tile, Chipolo, and Pebblebee are at the forefront of this innovation. While Tile by Life360 is more widely known, you may or may not be as familiar with the latter names.

I'm here to tell you that both Chipolo and Pebblebee have amazing trackers. Today, I'll be focusing on universal trackers that are rechargeable and how they perform compared to Tile by Life360 trackers, which set the industry standard.

Trackers that can hang on keychains

Bluetooth trackers come in a few form factors. The most popular shape is a circular chip, featuring a hole or loop that allows for attachment to a key ring. Since they're so small and lightweight, you can even attach them to pet collars, though most brands don't advertise them as such for legal reasons.

Chipolo's keychain attachment is called the LOOP, whereas Pebblebee's take on it is called the Clip. They compete directly with the Tile by Life360 Pro (2024). I use all of these brands regularly and can say that their loudness levels are more or less the same, which is why I did not mention volume levels in my comparison.

The Chipolo LOOP has a superior IP rating compared to the Pebblebee Clip Universal, but it's also more expensive. Other than that, Pebblebee has the upper hand in this arena. Both charge via USB-C, but Chipolo lasts for six months on a single charge, whereas Pebblebee delivers twice as much — a whole year. Pebblebee also has a better Bluetooth range, 500 feet, as opposed to Chipolo's 400-foot range.

Meanwhile, the Tile by Life360 Pro (2024) costs the same as Pebblebee's Clip and has the same range, but it has a far more heavy-duty IP68 water and dust-proof rating. Although the Tile Pro lasts for a year too, it doesn't recharge. Instead, you need to replace the CR2032 battery when it dies.

Sleek trackers for your wallet

The second most commonly preferred type of Bluetooth tracker is a wallet tracker. These are shaped like credit cards and can be just as slim, depending on which brand you buy from.

Chipolo's CARD stands out because not only is it rechargeable, but it features magnetic Qi wireless charging (not Qi2, just plain old Qi). I interviewed the company's co-founder and CDO about this clever contraption in detail, which you can read here if you're interested.

Google Fast Pair makes setting up instantaneous

It's so disappointing to see that Tile couldn't figure out a way to make its card-shaped tracker rechargeable. It'll need to be disposed of after three years, meaning you'll end up buying another one and spending far more money in the long run.

Pebblebee's Card is rechargeable, but you need to use a special magnetic charging cable with a Type-C port on one end. If you lose the cable, you're done for.

Meanwhile, Chipolo's pricier CARD recharges via any Qi, Qi2, or MagSafe wireless charger. It's awesome because it's so versatile and not proprietary, so you don't have to worry about losing the cable. Despite this, it's just as thin as the Tile Slim!

Setting up the universal trackers from Chipolo and Pebblebee is incredibly quick and easy, thanks to Google Fast Pair and Find Hub. Before you have time to process what's happening, everything sets up. You don't even need the dedicated brands' apps on your phone. Both Chipolo and Pebblebee's universal trackers are added to the Google Find Hub, and you can manage them from there.

All three brands' trackers can be used as is without purchasing a monthly subscription; however, you may not be able to make the most of them at times. Life360 offers a free membership tier, but to enjoy the best features of your Tile tracker, such as live location sharing, you must be on a paid plan for $14.99/month or $24.99/month. Chipolo has no premium plans, giving you all the features for free within the app. Pebblebee has an Alert Live subscription that costs just $2.99/month or $24.99/year for live GPS location updates and alerts.

If you're willing to pay a premium for more than just Bluetooth tracking, Pebblebee's plan is worth the splurge.

Which Bluetooth tracker should you opt for?

When buying a Bluetooth tracker intended for use on a keychain, I'd say it depends on where you live. If you're in a tropical region subject to constant rainfall, it's probably best to opt for something with robust waterproofing. This would give Tile by Life360 the edge over the rest, but the Tile Pro's replaceable cell is cumbersome.

I recommend getting the Pebblebee Clip Universal instead. It's the whole package for the cheapest price among the three. You get IPX6 water resistance, a USB-C cable for charging, and a year-long battery life. I myself use the Clip on my car key fob. Pebblebee includes a sturdy key ring, which is a nice bonus.

When it comes to wallet trackers, the Chipolo CARD is the reigning champion. Tile's entry doesn't even recharge; you'll have to toss it after three years, creating e-waste. Meanwhile, the Chipolo CARD recharges wirelessly, so you don't have to worry about having your proprietary cable around like the Pebblebee Card requires. For about $4 more, you get magnetic Qi wireless charging and a vastly superior IP rating, so it's the one you should pick.

FAQ

Loud patterns and bright colors are characteristics most commonly associated with CASETiFY, but a Lithuanian brand called BURGA has quietly embraced a similar aesthetic. If you're a lover of the Gen Z maximalist trend, mixing Y2K designs with modernity in your phone cases, power banks, grips, and other accessories, you now have an alternative to CASETiFY.

Looking at the types of cases that both brands offer, I couldn't help but wonder if BURGA is the new CASETiFY. But after trying out many of BURGA's accessories and comparing what both brands have to offer, I can confidently say that they aren't clones.

Maximalism is in, minimalism is out

Each brand has unique offerings, even if the style is similar, making them competitors. And if there's one thing I know about competition, it's that the people who benefit from it are us, the consumers.

So if you like the style of CASETiFY's portfolio and want matching cases, phone grips, watch bands, and power banks, but can't find a pattern you like, you can always try BURGA instead. Both are highly creative and whimsical, and have similar pricing and quality.

While CASETiFY strictly caters to Apple, Google, and Samsung devices, BURGA includes OnePlus, Motorola, Huawei, and Xiaomi in addition to Apple, Google, and Samsung phones.

I went hands-on with a couple of BURGA's Google Pixel 10 accessories, including the Google Pixel 10 Pro Case, Magnetic Ring Holder, Magnetic Power Bank, and StickPad.

The phone case, power bank, and magnetic ring holder all come in the same designs, so you can match everything. BURGA even has matching tumblers, AirPod cases, and things like yoga mats, which is wild. Clearly, they take matching seriously, and I'm all for it.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Case has dual-layered protection, raised bezels, and a glossy finish. What's really cool is you can either use both layers or just snap on the first layer for a thinner, lighter fit. Of course, the shock-absorbing is better with both layers on. I only wish these cases were MagSafe- or Qi2-compatible.

The Magnetic Ring Holder and 5,000mAh Magnetic Power Bank both snap onto the Pixel 10 thanks to Pixelsnap on the latest Google phones. With the case on, however, you'll need to buy an adapter ring separately and stick it onto the rear for compatibility.

I ended up using the spinning ring and power bank with my Pixelsnap-compatible Mous Super Thin Case instead, as I wasn't keen on dirtying the cool Lemon Tart pattern that BURGA sent me. The ring holder is quite nice; it spins a full 360 degrees and has a flat bit so it can be used as a stand in landscape orientation. Unlike the base of the ring holder, the ring itself isn't metal, so I am not sure about longevity. This does make it very light, however.

The Magnetic Power Bank works as it should, snapping on magnetically and wirelessly charging the Pixel 10. It has LED lights to indicate the battery level. You can choose from 5,000mAh, 10,000mAh, and 15,000mAh options, as well as several color patterns and customizations, when buying the power bank. Pricing starts at $99, whereas CASETiFY's 5,000mAh power banks start at $70.

Some accessories get sticky...in the best sense

The BURGA StickPad drew me in, piquing my curiosity the most. CASETiFY has several similar options with sticky suction cups at the back, such as the Snappy Snap & Grip Stick Grip Stand or the Stick-It Case, but they're all MagSafe accessories or built into phone cases.

It's a different story with the StickPad, however. This thing works with any phone as long as you have a smooth surface that is conducive to suction. Any BURGA case works really well with the StickPad. There are suction cups on the front and the back of the pad, rather than a magnetic ring on one side.

And if you noticed how dusty the BURGA StickPad was in the pictures, here's a fun fact: it's washable!

So if you feel like your StickPad has gotten dusty and the suction isn't working as well as it should, you can just wash it with water.

The StickPad is such a fun concept, and at $19.95, it's also super affordable. You don't need to carry a tripod around or try to find a good place to set your phone down for shooting pictures or videos in public. Just slap the suction cups onto something smooth, like a pole, a door, a whiteboard, or even a smooth wall.

Since the StickPad just uses suction cups on both sides, any of your friends can borrow it regardless of MagSafe or Qi2 compatibility. It's great for impromptu photos or videos when you're out and about. Capturing group photos and recording fit checks was so much easier with this in my purse!

My final thoughts on BURGA

BURGA is exceedingly stypish across the board, but the pricing on a lot of its products matches or even surpasses CASETiFY. Undoubtedly, the quality is great, and the designs are unusual. There's a wide variety of styles and patterns, even though there aren't any brand collabs like the ones CASETiFY frequently does.

Clearly, BURGA's offerings are more lifestyle-focused, with products like sunglasses, tumblers, and yoga mats, as well as phone/tablet accessories such as cases, grips, holders, power banks, wireless chargers, watch bands, earbud cases, and screen protectors.

CASETiFY, on the other hand, is entirely focused on tech, offering all the phone accessories that BURGA offers and more, but not lifestyle items like tumblers. It also has a much wider range of designs and textures to choose from.

It's nice to see more and more phone accessory brands come up with fun options instead of the usual boring clear cases or monochrome options. I hope that this encourages others in the accessory space to do the same, but hopefully at a lower price point.

Walk into any hipster cafe or quaint macha joint in town, and you'll probably find a Kilburn sitting in the back, filling the premises with smooth melodies that covertly craft the intended ambience. This could be the original 2015 release, the Kilburn II that was released in 2018, or perhaps even the Kilburn III, which was just introduced in May 2025.

I have had the latest Kilburn III speaker for four months now, and I've been putting it to the test to determine if it is a worthy successor to the incredible Kilburn II. I respect Marshall for not succumbing to the trend of releasing an iterative upgrade every year. Instead, the brand waited seven long years to give a worthwhile successor with significant upgrades.

Worth the wait

Details like the hefty rectangular design with faux leather upholstery, metal grill, and strap are unchanged for the most part. Physical alterations include a few new buttons. This generation features a power switch, a dedicated M-button for audio presets, and a pause/play/forward/next control button.

Meanwhile, the situation under the hood couldn't be any more different. Marshall straight up doubled the battery life on the Kilburn III, going from about 20 hours to 50 hours of playback. Gone is the IPX2 water resistance, bumped to a more robust IP54 water and dust resistance.

Thanks to Google Fast Pair, setting up the Marshall Kilburn III is a breeze. The speaker has Bluetooth 5.3, Auracast, and a 10-meter range. You also get 30W fast charging via USB-C.

IP54 isn't technically rugged enough for the beach, but I went ahead and hit the beach anyway (sorry, Marshall!). It's amazing how well-built this speaker is and just how fabulous it sounds. It goes on relentlessly for hours. Some sand got in the grill, but it didn't affect the sound. I brushed it off when I got back home, and it was like new.

This thing gets loud, and without cracking or hissing. I left it on the beach and went for a swim, and the sound carried forward deep into the waters to serenade me. Highs and mids stand out especially clearly, with an electric, lively bass that weaves in just right. Something about Marshall's tuning makes it perfect for background music, without taking away from the audio quality. You feel like you've stepped inside the music, in a way.

I connected the Kilburn III to my PS5 using a dongle from UGREEN, and the result brought me great joy. Gaming is a delight thanks to the 360° True Stereophonic sound.

You can manually adjust bass and treble with the brass knobs on the fly, and there's a dynamic equalizer in the Marshall app to further customize and tweak the sound.

With those battery gains, it's jaw-dropping how long this amazing Bluetooth speaker lasts. I use it every day, even with my PS5 via a workaround, and it easily lasts more than a week on light to mid use. With heavy use on high volume levels, it still delivers around five days. Thank goodness the Marshall Kilburn III has fast charging because recharging it occupies three long hours.

Should you buy it?

At $379.99, this isn't the cheapest 50W Bluetooth speaker around. However, the tech specs, Auracast compatibility, battery life, and sound quality definitely justify the price. I can't see myself turning to any other speaker for my portable audio needs.

In fact, it's not just me — my entire friend group is madly in love with the Kilburn III. We don't go on road trips without it. It is an honorary member of the group at this point, and just as loved. Whether it's ferries, boats, cars, or trains, one of us is willing to lug this 2.8kg monstrosity around because it's just that good.

Smartphones have incredible cameras nowadays, so naturally, companion accessories like gimbals and tripods are in high demand. DJI is probably the most famous name in this segment, but other brands like Hohem, Joby, and OBSBOT do pretty well for themselves, too.

Hohem just launched a new AI-ready gimbal that has two of the best features seen in DJI gimbals — AI tracking and advanced remote controls. The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra doesn't just offer your average run-of-the-mill person tracking features, though. It takes things to the next level.

As for the detachable remote, it has a touchscreen with a joystick and two buttons. The touchscreen remote shows the live feed from the AI camera. It attaches to the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal magnetically, charging wirelessly while docked.

I spent a good few weeks trying out the iSteady V3 Ultra with my Pixel 10 Pro, OnePlus 12R, and various other phones, and I truly believe this is the future of all premium-grade gimbals going forward.

The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal has an advanced AI-tracker with gestures for several commands

The AI-tracker on the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal is probably the most complex one on the market. The AI module has a flashlight and a 2MP camera lens, and it can be detached and manually turned on or off. You can detach and reattach it to be front or rear facing, depending on which camera you're using to shoot photos or videos in the moment. The flashlight has three color modes: 6500K (Cool light), 5000K (Neutral light), and 2700K (Warm light).

You can track people, pets, and even objects with the AI tracker. This can be done automatically or manually through the touchscreen remote, by dragging to select the subject on the tiny screen. Once the target is locked in, the gimbal smoothly swivels and tilts to keep it in view. Since the gimbal has a three-axis stabilization design, even if you walk or run while shooting a video of the subject being tracked, the movements are extremely smooth and stable.

I did face some issues when the object being tracked disappeared from view completely; the gimbal goes berserk trying to find its target. There's a learning curve to it that takes a few tries and experimentation to figure out.

Gestures are the highlight of the iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal's AI features. You can use hand gestures to command the iSteady V3 Ultra to change orientation. For instance, pointing upwards with both hands while it's looking at you, even while recording, immediately changes the orientation from landscape to portrait.

Other gesture commands apart from changing orientation include starting or stopping AI tracking, capturing a photo, initiating or finishing video recording, and customizing your camera composition. This allows the gimbal to track your movements, rotating up to 360 degrees, without you being in the center of the camera's viewpoint. For example, you could choose to place the object being tracked as per the rule of thirds.

Of all these features, I struggled to get the camera composition feature to work most times. The rest work well; however, none of them are as effective in darker lighting. The AI camera struggles to recognize the shape your hands form without sufficient light. There is also a proximity limit, requiring you to be between 0.5m and 5m away for gesture recognition.

The setup process is as straightforward as it can be

Setting up the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal is not difficult. In fact, it's really close to a plug-and-play experience. You take it out of the box and charge it if needed, mount your phone into the clamp, and then turn the gimbal on.

Bluetooth needs to be enabled on your phone, and you need to have the Hohem app on. Once that's done, the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra immediately pops up for connection on the app. After pairing, you can choose to use the Hohem app or your own camera app for photo or video capture. The gestures and features of the gimbal work either way.

The app is required for firmware updates and to connect the iSteady V3 Ultra to your phone each time you turn it on and use it. It also gives you a tutorial, teaching you all the controls of the gimbal. This includes the physical trigger button used to recenter the gimbal and toggle AI tracking, the calibration wheel on the side, as well as the touchscreen remote's joystick, action button, side button, and on-screen features.

Everything from the speed of the swivel to the lighting and scenarios can be customized and adjusted from the touchscreen remote as well as the Hohem app. The phone app has a wide range of camera modes and even templates. For example, if you choose the "Inception" video template, the iSteady V3 Ultra automatically moves and records a video in the style depicted within the app. It's an incredible option to have if you're in the creative industry or a hobbyist content creator.

The iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal has solid hardware with sturdy components

The level of quality of the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal really surprised me. I mean, this gimbal costs $169, so one would expect it to feel very premium, but that's not always a given.

The overall build is extremely solid and feels like it'll last for a long time. The touchscreen remote doesn't lag and responds just as snappily as any modern Android or iOS phone. Even the little legs tucked into the base of the gimbal are extremely stable and feel durable.

There's a standard quarter-inch tripod thread at the base of the iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal, so you can screw it into any tripod if the built-in 8-inch extension pole isn't long enough for you.

Hohem delivers a nine-hour uptime from the gimbal's 1,600mAh battery. Constantly using the AI module and the flashlight significantly dips this uptime, though I found that the flashlight is the main culprit here. Meanwhile, the remote has a 140mAh battery that lasts for about 55 minutes when unattached. Charging via the 10W USB-C port takes 2.5 hours to go from fully drained to 100%.

The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra stands alone in the gimbal space

There is no alternative gimbal in the market so far that features an AI module as well as a detachable touchscreen remote. DJI has the Osmo Mobile 7P priced at $149, which comes close, but its detachable remote does not have a touchscreen with a live camera feed on it.

There's also the OBSBOT Me, an AI-powered gimbal that tracks the subject. It also has gesture controls, but there's no remote control. Yet, the OBSBOT Me gimbal still costs a whopping $144.

Having used gimbals from all three brands, I can say that they match the same level of quality and function. All three gimbals are fabulous for content capture and creation. While DJI has the smoothest performance, it lacks the live feed feature of the remote and templates offered by the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra gimbal.

While the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is not perfect just yet, this gimbal perfectly illustrates how AI is transforming all sorts of products in consumer tech, not just phones and smart home equipment. For $169, this is an outstanding product that matches the needs of various media professionals and amateurs alike. I especially recommend this to beginners who are not yet experienced enough to invest in more advanced gear.

Much like Pixelsnap on the Pixel 10 series, Chipolo's latest Bluetooth tracker uses magnetism and wireless charging together to ensure that the wireless charging coils always align automatically with the charger. I had the opportunity to chat with the company's chief design officer and co-founder, Domen Barovič, about the brand's latest innovation.

An architect by profession, Barovič is well versed in design philosophy and the human aspect of building something. We talked about Chipolo's latest trackers, the LOOP and CARD, which are the brand's first rechargeable trackers and the "best products [they've] ever made," according to Barovič.

"We've been in the Bluetooth business for more than 10 years. Along the way, we got a lot of experience, a lot of feedback, and we incorporated everything that we know our users love and adore into our new products."

Chipolo's novel trackers also feature a robust IP67 water and dustproof rating, a 400ft Bluetooth range, and the latest Bluetooth 6 spec. This enables two connected BLE devices to use Channel Sounding for better location accuracy, distance measurement, and power efficiency.

The Chipolo LOOP is a small circular tracker that charges via USB-C. Meanwhile, the card-shaped Chipolo CARD supports Qi wireless charging and magnetic alignment. Both trackers promise a six-month battery life from a single full charge.

Magnetic wireless charging that isn't MagSafe or Qi2

When you think about magnetic wireless charging, your first thought is probably about MagSafe or Qi2 technology. On the contrary, Chipolo went the unconventional route, sticking with basic Qi wireless charging on the new Chipolo CARD. Yet, Chipolo somehow managed to incorporate magnets in the design as well. I was curious about this decision, especially since Qi2 is the latest industry standard and combines the two functions — wireless charging and magnetism — into one.

While it may seem like an awful lot of work, Chipolo had a very good reason to forgo Qi2 in favor of the older Qi standard, and Barovič was very straightforward with the explanation. "The honest answer here is that Qi2 involves larger coils. I can say it with quite confidence that it's impossible to make it in such a thin form factor. So what we did is, we combined the best of both worlds."

He went on to explain that Chipolo was happy with the basic Qi wireless charging speed since users only need to recharge their CARD trackers once every six months. To top it off, the CARD has a tiny 200mAh-ish battery that doesn't take long to recharge wirelessly anyway. Thus, it made more sense for the designers to adapt magnets into the old Qi spec rather than work with a bulkier Qi2 coil that would ruin the lightness and slimness of the product. At the end of the day, it was the auto-alignment ability that mattered.

"We're very proud that our product aligns in the center [of the wireless charger]. There are a lot of tech companies that focus more on the tech than the user. They say it works, and that's enough. We're more of a user-oriented company. So that was very important for us."

Barovič jovially mentioned that in a way, they "introduced Qi 1.5" to the world by coming up with this workaround.

Making use of workarounds isn't something new to Chipolo. In fact, it's been dabbling in bypasses and hacks since the very beginning. "When we first introduced our Bluetooth trackers, that was 11 years ago. Bluetooth actually was not built for this purpose. We constantly had to hack something," reminisced Barovič.

The future of Bluetooth trackers

After drifting into the past, our conversation eventually ventured into the future of Bluetooth trackers. I inquired about the possibility of Chipolo adapting UWB (Ultra-Wideband) into its future products. Barovič stated that the technology would have to catch up first.

"In the user testing that we did, we found out that it doesn't make that much sense. That's one point. And the second is that we've introduced Bluetooth Low Energy 6 chips. We're the first to have BLE 6 in our trackers. BLE 6 enables Channel Sounding, so it's similar to UWB, but it uses the Bluetooth protocol. The distance part is covered, but as for the directions, currently, it's not there — but we're taking steps. UWB is great to have. We're just waiting for the technology to catch up."

For now, users seeking quieter findability methods will have to rely on the LED status light in the Chipolo trackers.

Beyond new features like UWB, other potential developments to look forward to include Chipolo integrations. Barovič also delved into the possibility of different form factors and the adoption of Qi2, but only if the need arises among users.

Above all else, Chipolo is leaning heavily on integrations with other companies. Although Barovič was not able to explicitly share what collaborations are coming up, he did highlight that this is a key focal point for Chipolo. The brand aims to add findability to everyday items such as toolboxes and motorbikes created by other companies, rather than creating its own findable products from scratch. Many such Chipolo integrations already exist, and they will only increase in the days to come.

Decent car mounts are found aplenty, be it with or without charging capabilities integrated into them. The ones from Baseus are top-notch, with some of the best price-to-feature ratios one can find.

If your phone doesn't support wireless charging or you're just not into it all that much, a simple old-fashioned car mount is good enough for your vehicle. They're super affordable too, mostly priced below $15 to $20, depending on the features.

Basesus offers two cheap car mounts with magnetic heads, ditching those problematic arms and legs that car mounts usually have. I tested both of them, namely the new Baseus PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount as well as the PrimeTrip C03s Magnetic Car Mount.

Wacky waving bendable car mounts

The two car mounts from Baseus have a lot in common. You get magnetic bases on both, they both latch onto your car's windshield or dashboard via a sticky 3M adhesive, and both mounts have malleable arms. Each mount comes with a sticky magnetic ring to go on the backside of your phone. Heck, even the price is the same — $30 for each one.

So what's the difference between the PrimeTrip C03 and the PrimeTrip C03s? For one, the C03 has a flat, fettuccine-like arm and a rotating base. This means you can bend and contort the arm as much as you like, and also choose to rotate it to whatever degree you prefer. The rotating base can be tightened to secure it in place.

On top of that, the square magnetic "head" tilts, so you can further adjust the angle at which your phone tilts toward you. This makes it incredibly easy to find the perfect viewing angle while seated in the driver's seat.

A two-pronged approach

Meanwhile, the PrimeTrip C03s Magnetic Car Mount has two spaghetti-like flexible arms that can bend into whatever shape you like. Each base has 3M adhesive, allowing you to stick it onto the dash or the windshield.

Since there are two arms on the C03s, it lacks a rotating base. This model also lacks the swiveling head, although it is magnetic in nature. However, the thinner arms make this mount a lot more flexible than the C03, so you can easily twist it into a tilted angle that matches your line of sight when sitting behind the wheel.

Traditional car mounts with adjustable clamps are plain awful. I never fail to struggle inserting my phone into those types of car mounts, which is why magnetic ones are a dream to use. There's no fussing about with clamp arms or feet; you simply plop your phone on and carry on with your business. There's a highly satisfying snap to it.

There's no denying the practical advantage of a magnetic car mount over a traditional one with clamps. I wish the Baseus PrimeTrip mounts didn't use 3M adhesive, but had suction cups instead. While 3M is a lot sturdier, it can't be removed once glued in place.

Both the Baseus PrimeTrip C03 and C03s Magnetic Car Mounts have their uses. If I had to choose between the C03 and C03s, I'd go for the PrimeTrip C03 for the rotating base and tilting head.

And while both the magnetic car mounts are reasonably priced, I'd personally wait for the next Prime Day event or Black Friday to buy them for $25 or under. After all, you can get the ESR Qi2 15W wireless car charger for about $32, and that works as a magnetic car mount but has the additional wireless charging feature to increase the value prospect.

The Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic have arrived with much gusto. As Samsung parades its latest wearables around, showing off their fitness and health tracking prowess, band compatibility hasn't been discussed much.

One of the things that I loved about Samsung Galaxy Watch models was the use of standard quick-release connectors for their bands. Until the Galaxy Watch 7, you could use bands compatible with all generations, dating back to the Watch 4, Watch 3, or even the OG Galaxy Watch, allowing for seamless interchangeability across all generations leading up to the Watch 7. This was a huge advantage as it opened the door to countless options.

Disappointingly, the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic no longer use quick-release connectors. I'm really upset about it.

What purpose does this move serve?

Samsung isn't the only smartwatch maker that favors proprietary connectors. Google does the same with its Pixel Watch family. But the difference is, Google has always done it that way. Additionally, all Pixel Watch models can use interchangeable bands, as they all utilize the same connector. It presents a unified front and solidifies the Pixel Watch brand.

But I don't understand why Samsung would move away from quick-release bands after seven generations of smartwatches. Being able to use standard bands designed for another Galaxy Watch on any other model made it more cost-effective to buy a Samsung wearable. You could hold on to your old bands and reuse them, or buy previously released straps that tend to be cheaper than newly released ones. Upcycling older bands for new smartwatches is also a more sustainable approach.

According to Samsung, the change was made so the Galaxy Watch 8 and Watch 8 Classic could sit flatter on the wrist. However, I am not sure if this small design change was worth trading in quick-release connectors. Do the benefits of a flatter fit outweigh the advantages of universal strap compatibility?

It's a change that no one really asked for, and yet, Samsung felt the need to lose what was arguably one of the best features of its wearables.

Is the new Dynamic Lug System better than quick-release connectors?

With the Dynamic Lug System, you click one button and the entire Galaxy Watch 8 band pops off. Plugging a strap back in is very straightforward. You simply align the connectors and push the band in. It clicks into place swiftly. It's very much like the connectors on the Samsung Galaxy One-Click Watch bands that we've seen before.

Admittedly, the new Dynamic Lug System is quicker than quick-release pins, but there was nothing explicitly wrong with the quick-release connectors to begin with. I suppose speed matters to a lot of people, but it's only a few seconds' difference either way. Besides the flatter fit, I don't think the time difference in swapping out bands justifies such a major shift either.

I value backwards compatibility and the use of an industry standard a lot more than quicker band swap time or a thinner wearable.

It's not just Samsung users who will be effected by this

Samsung is a big slice of the wearable pie. Many quick-release 20mm and 22mm bands are marketed or designed specifically for Samsung Galaxy Watch models, but because they use standardized pins, they can also be used by many other smartwatches. This is why this shift also affects other brands as well.

OnePlus, Amazfit, Garmin, Withings, and Xiaomi smartwatches all use the standard 22mm or 20mm quick-release bands that the last seven generations of Galaxy Watches used.

You could easily use a nice Amazfit band on your Galaxy Watch or vice versa. Everyone was happy. Either way, both sides profited from this arrangement.

Now that Samsung has moved on to a new system, consumers won't be able to enjoy as wide a pool when buying smartwatch bands. As usual, it's the consumers like me and you who lose in the end.

And what can be done about this? The brutal truth is there's not much to do besides complaining and hoping for a better future. Maybe Samsung will revert to quick-release pins with the Galaxy Watch 9, but I'm not counting on it. For now, we just have to accept it as is or buy older Galaxy wearables if this is a deal breaker.

I'm an avid bookworm and a big fan of e-readers as well as the many forms they take. Going as far back as the obscure Sony e-reader, E Ink tablets have always been my jam. These days, though, Kindle is the go-to brand for most folks. And with Amazon Prime Day 2025 on the horizon, you're probably looking to buy one. I'm here to tell you not to do so.

Once upon a time, Amazon's Kindle lineup was top-notch. Everyone used to rave about the battery life and durability, and these facts still stand true about the current lineup. However, I find them too limiting considering what's available on the market now. E-paper tablets have good battery life by default thanks to the display technology, so it's not a unique selling point anymore.

Gone are the days when a Kindle was the coolest kid on the block. Its crown has been knocked over by impressive contenders like Onyx Boox, Bigme, and PocketBook. From e-paper tablets running Android or Linux and colored displays to robust stylus support and wide file format compatibility, the competition is stiff.

To be frank, Amazon is trying to compete solely on the basis of an undercutting price at this point. However, I argue that price alone is no longer enough.

Onyx Boox caters to your every reading-related need

Why should you waste $100 or so on a restricted Amazon Kindle with very limited functionality, when you can add a bit more money and get something much more versatile and powerful?

For $150, the Onyx Boox Go 6 destroys the basic $110 Kindle, both of which have a 6-inch 300ppi display. The Go 6 comes with Android 11, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a microSD slot, and USB OTG support. You can install any app under the sun on it, including your own reading app.

In pale comparison, the base model 6-inch Kindle only has 16GB onboard storage and an extremely constricted OS with no third-party app support. The limited file compatibility means you can't use popular formats like CBR and CBZ for your comics or graphic novels, and there's no memory card slot. If you want more storage or the ad-free variant, you need to shell out more dough.

If you throw in a bit more, you can even score stylus support. The latest Onyx Boox Go 7 goes up against the $160 Kindle Paperwhite, featuring a 7-inch 300ppi E Ink display and 16GB storage. The Go 7 costs $250, but that price hike pays for itself in terms of the upgrades it gets you.

Like any Boox tablet, the Go 7 runs unrestricted Android 13, so you can install all your favorite reading and library apps. If you're feeling particularly naughty, you can install the Kindle reading app on your Onyx Boox to get the best of what Amazon has to offer.

With 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, USB-C OTG support, native OCR to convert handwriting to text, and expandable storage via microSD, you can access a ton of e-books, comics, documents, and files of all manner on the Go 7. It supports stylus input, comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, has a built-in speaker, and is impossibly thin and lightweight.

Yes, you can read e-books and listen to audiobooks via Bluetooth on the 7- or 6-inch Kindle as well, but neither one has a speaker. None of the Kindle tablets do.

The value prospect of a Kindle just isn't as good

Any time you handle an Onyx Boox, going back to a Kindle is tough. It starkly highlights the handicaps of the Kindle OS and the lack of access and features on Kindle e-readers.

An Android-based E Ink tablet is so much easier to navigate out of the box, even if it is your first e-reader ever. I can't say the same for a Kindle. The Kindle OS feels slower, a little more janky, and less user-friendly.

Something as simple as sending e-books to a Kindle can be challenging. If you use the email method, the first one always ends up in spam. You need to go to the Amazon website on your computer to greenlight it.

Onyx Boox makes the process as simple as possible. You can generate a QR code that can be scanned by another device to directly send files. Alternatively, installing a web browser or cloud storage app enables you to directly download your files from the internet onto your e-reader. I like to store all my files on Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive and download them onto my Boox directly.

A better e-reader delivers a superior reading experience

To sum up, an Onyx Boox tablet has an open-ended OS with unlimited potential. You don't have to pause and think about small actions, like whether you can send a certain file to your e-reader or worry about compatibility issues.

Since the Kindle OS is intentionally limited to the Kindle Store and a web browser, it's harder to use other reading platforms such as Libby, Wattpad, Crunchyroll, and WEBTOON. You're also denied the opportunity to seamlessly view and edit documents on a beautiful e-paper screen using apps like Google Docs, Microsoft 365, Adobe, or Canva.

With Amazon's crisp display quality and robust battery life, the basic formula started out right. But with everything else in perspective, it's a world of missed opportunities.

Anything and everything related to reading or writing is easier, more versatile, more interactive, and so much better overall on an Onyx Boox tablet. Regardless of the model, these E Ink tablets don't disappoint. So why should you settle for a cheap Kindle?

The words "built like a tank" can't ring any truer with the heavy-duty Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 Pro, a frighteningly heavy Android phone that thinks it's a pocket cinema. Re-released under the 8849 branding in March 2025, this rugged beast packs curious specs.

I've fiddled with projectors before and find them to be creative replacements for TVs in cramped spaces. The idea of a portable projector being as small as a phone is amazing, but the Tank 3 Pro is so heavy that it shoots itself in the foot from a portability perspective. At 694 grams, this thing weighs three times as much as the 218-gram Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Is this thing worth your time and money, then? The phone's key features are superb, to say the least, but it's not as affordable as you would expect a Unihertz phone to be. Here's how I feel about the Tank 3 Pro.

Unmatched mix of unusual features

It's not every day you come across an Android phone with a 100 Lumens 120Hz DLP projector built-in. You even get auto and manual keystone options, with a physical knob on the side to manually adjust focus and keystone settings for the projection.

What really took me by surprise was how easily I could launch and use the projector. There's no learning curve; it's a plug-and-play experience. You're essentially projecting your phone's screen, so you can watch Netflix or YouTube, play games, doomscroll social media, shop online, or do just about anything an Android phone can do, but on a larger display.

It's as easy as using the Cast feature on an Android phone, but even simpler. All I had to do was point at a wall and project my screen, allowing me to watch videos, give presentations, or browse photo galleries with friends on the go, regardless of my location.

The projected display gets shockingly big while maintaining clarity. The projected screen features a 480p resolution and can be as large as 100 inches.

I found that the picture quality looks really good for such mid-specs, with decent sharpness and vivid colors, even in a dim to dark room. It's an excellent mid-range quality projection ideal for watching videos like movies, anime, etc.

The auto keystone works superbly well. I do wish there was a mounting hole bored into the back or some sort of phone case that added compatibility with standard projector stands. The lack of one makes it quite challenging to place the phone on a platform or at a high enough angle properly to aim at a wall or screen.

The speaker gets quite loud, even if it's not the best quality. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, this is easily resolved by using a decent Bluetooth speaker for audio instead. The phone also has Wi-Fi 6 and a 3.5mm audio jack for connectivity.

Such a feature requires a ton of power, and boy does this phone deliver. You get a massive 23,800mAh battery and there's a 120W charger included in the box. These are the two main reasons why the Tank 3 Pro is such a hefty lad.

The weight of the device is justified in this case, since it helps the phone last for a week on a single charge. Even with heavy use of the projector, you can squeeze out several days of usage.

The fun doesn't stop there. I don't know how they did it, but the Tank 3 Pro is a rugged phone with an IP68 waterproof and shockproof rating, despite having a cooling fan, a projector, extra buttons, and a gigantic flashlight. There are so many variables that could potentially interfere with waterproofing, and yet they don't.

In fact, there is a dedicated underwater use mode that allows users to navigate the phone using only buttons.

Custom keys and SOS function take things further

It feels like you could have a perfect doomsday companion in the Tank 3 Pro. The phone has a projector for entertainment, plus there are handy add-ons like a multi-use toolkit, a bright camping light, and two extra mappable buttons on the side.

The campfire light gets blindingly bright, features three brightness levels, and has different modes that make the light stay still, change color, or flash. There's a multi-use toolkit with handy features, including an alarm bell, a speedometer, a magnifier, a measuring scale, and a compass. This, combined with dual-band GPS, makes it an indispensable companion for outdoor adventures with emergency situations in mind.

As for the customizable buttons, these can be set to open any app you like. There are several preset functions that can be assigned as well.

My final thoughts on the Tank 3 Pro

Since there's no bloatware on this device, it's even easier to play around with the phone and learn how to use its special features and settings. Unihertz has promised three years of updates for the phone, which is comforting, seeing as it runs the outdated Android 14 out of the box. There's no bloatware either, which is unusual for a Chinese brand like Unihertz.

Other noteworthy features of the Tank 3 Pro include a Dimensity 8200 chipset, a 6.79-inch 120Hz FHD display, a 200MP main camera, a 64MP secondary camera with night vision, dual-SIM support, and expandable storage up to 2TB. And this isn't the usual trope where there's one SIM slot and another convertible SIM card slot that can only accommodate a SIM or a memory card. Unihertz was generous and added three distinct slots.

The phone's memory options are great too, with 16GB or 18GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This can further be expanded up to 36GB by using some of the ROM as RAM temporarily, giving a performance boost when needed.

In the natural order of things, it all comes down to the price. The Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 Pro starts at $629.99 for the 16GB/512GB variant, while the 18GB option costs $719.99. Those are pretty steep numbers.

Compared to the best Android phones, this is a mid-range price. However, the market that this phone is trying to compete in is portable projectors. You can score a high-quality portable projector like the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 for about $600. The XGIMI MoGo 4 is priced at $499. You get undeniably better resolution and picture quality from such options, and I haven't even mentioned older models from these brands that are much cheaper.

Despite this, the Tank 3 Pro outperforms the portable projector competition with its massive battery. It's a unique mix of features in a very niche product. The projector is more than just a neat little party trick; it can be extremely useful for teachers or professionals, enabling them to create and show presentations on the fly. Depending on who you are, you might just find it a very convenient assortment of features inside one heavy brick of a phone.

Summer is upon us, which means millions of us are off on holiday. You've probably spent a lot of time and effort planning your vacation, but as you plan your travels, be mindful of the furry friends you'll be leaving behind.

I hate leaving my cat at home when vacationing, but it's not usually an option to bring him along for the ride. It would cost too much money and cause him a lot of discomfort, which is why I leave him behind with a heavy heart each time.

Thanks to a few clever devices, this anxiety of leaving my feline baby behind has lessened significantly. While I still need to ask a friend to take care of him or hire a pet sitter, this collective of smart pet tech has brought me so much joy and relief. I hope this travel guide brings that same comfort to you and your pets, too!

Get a pair of eyes and ears on wheels

If you're a doting pet parent, the first thing you must worry about is your pet missing you when you're away. I can't stand the thought of my floofy little trash cat wondering where his humans went. Enabot's fantastic lineup of smart pet robots erases so much of that worry.

Imagine being able to follow your cat or dog around from anywhere in the world. And not just that, being able to talk to them on the call, hear them, and even capture photos and videos of them. That's exactly what all Enabot pet robots are designed to do.

Enabot offers a wide range of wheeled mobile robots, starting with the affordable EBO SE, which costs just $130, and progressing to the premium EBO X, priced at a whopping $1,000 and featuring cool extras like Alexa built-in and Harmon Kardon speakers. Then there's the RolaPet PetPal, which comes with modular extensions like a food compartment and toys.

I highly recommend getting one of these pet robots to be able to communicate and interact with your fluffy loved ones when on holiday. It's worth every penny.

Automate food and water delivery

Even if you have a pet sitter or a friend coming in to take care of your pets, it's always a good idea to have a backup plan. Automate the food and water delivery aspect of your pet's daily routine using affordable accessories, such as smart pet feeders and water fountains. This also makes your pet's caretaker's life easier, which is a nice bonus.

I don't use the fanciest, most expensive pet feeder. In fact, no one needs to spend more than a few bucks to get a decent smart pet feeder. The one I use is from a brand called ROJECO. It costs less than $50 and comes with a camera, night vision, backup battery support, a companion app, a steel tray, a mic, a speaker, and a huge food storage compartment.

All I needed to buy in addition to this handy pet feeder were a couple of D batteries, which serve as a backup power source in case the main AC power goes out. This alone makes this $40 automatic cat and dog feeder a stellar purchase.

If you have cats, a water fountain is a great way to encourage them to drink more water. Unlike solid food, it is tough to monitor their water intake when you're not home for a while. That's where a decent water fountain comes into play.

There are two excellent options when considering one of these. You can choose either a wired or wireless variant. Any decent water fountain with a cleansing filter should do the job. Stainless steel water fountains are cleaner than plastic ones. Make sure you change the filter regularly and maintain hygiene standards to keep the water fresh.

I recommend the Enabot ROLA Smart Pet Water Fountain as it is only $50, battery-operated, stainless steel, and has a comprehensive companion app that offers in-depth hydration-related health-tracking features. You don't even have to worry about changing the filter, as the app sends you a reminder automatically when it's time. It charges wirelessly and has backup batteries, plus you get 60 days of uptime on a single charge.

On top of that, you get ecosystem benefits when using multiple Enabot devices together, such as the pet robot and water fountain.

Number two should be your number one concern

Poop management is tough, but thankfully there are plenty of smart cat litter boxes around that can simplify this for you. For my dog owners, I'm sorry that there's no such shortcut available. Since our canine companions require frequent walks, you should not be thinking about this option anyway, though.

Once again, you have an ocean of options to pick from, but I recommend getting something simple. The PetPivot Autoscooper 11 is a great pick as it costs $200, which is a budget-friendly price for a smart cat litter box. The brand includes one roll of 10L trash bags and a litter-trapping mat in the box. Remember, the simpler the tool, the easier it is to take care of in the long run.

It takes less than 10 minutes to have the Autoscooper 11 unboxed, set up, and running. The setup process is so darn easy — I can't emphasize this enough.

Once your cat's potty business is taken care of, you'll find it so much easier to take that trip to Bali. It'll be so much easier for someone else to drop by and take care of your cat. The Autoscooper 11 is fantastic for emergencies or even daily use, because one button takes care of cleaning the litter box. All you have to do is take out the trash bag every few days, depending on how many cats you have and how much they defecate.

Enjoy your holiday!

There's so much more you can buy, but these are the absolute essentials. Feel free to research trackers, pet cameras, and more if they help you feel more secure when away.

Book that flight, take that train, or plan that road trip. Live life, but don't forget to prioritize your pets. With modern technology, it's easier than ever before to ensure a comfortable temporary separation with your furry housemates.

Remember, they might be one part of your life, but to them, you are their entire life. Cherish them and treat them right!

It's no secret that Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms. Here at our Android Central, our team members largely favor Spotify over YouTube Music for the most part, myself included. The main draw is, of course, the spectacular Jam feature, which is enough to woo YouTube Music loyalists such as our managing editor Derrek Lee even.

Launched in September 2023, Jam continues to be Spotify's unique selling point, despite the addition of several new features and tools to the platform since. As it stands, I don't want Spotify to release new options like premium tiers. Instead, I wish Spotify would augment Jam sessions with features like comments and reactions. Here's why.

The social element sets Spotify Jam apart

What I love about Spotify Jam is the social element it adds to the music streaming experience. An individual starts a Jam session and shares it with friends, who can all create a playlist and listen together.

This is useful in gatherings like parties and hangouts, but also if you're in a long-distance relationship or just looking to chill with those dear to you remotely. There are even more fun interpretations of this feature that you may not have considered.

For instance, I went on a short island getaway with my partner and close friends a few months back. We took an eight-hour bus ride to the jetty point together. Now normally, if it was private transport we'd blast music all along the way with everyone contributing to the Jam.

To avoid disturbing other passengers, we all put on headphones or earbuds and had a private Jam session going, like a silent rave that didn't bother anyone around us. Everyone was queuing songs, making requests or discussing each other's song choices on the group chat.

Another friend of mine uses Spotify Jam to spend quality time with his girlfriend while she's on vacation with her family, thousands of kilometers away from him. Time zones might separate them, but something as simple as a Jam helps them feel close to each other and share special moments.

Even in the midst of work, studies, or workouts at the gym, they communicate by starting a Jam together and simply adding songs they would like the other to try out, or maybe to convey a feeling or thought.

Spotify should add social features like notes, comments, and reactions to Jam sessions

I'm sure there are many others out there who use Spotify Jam for its social aspect, to connect with others via music. Spotify should really augment this feature for such users.

Imagine, being able to add short comments to a Jam session, like users do on timestamps during tracks on SoundCloud. You could highlight your favorite part of a track that your partner shared with you or leave questions for friends in the Jam to answer.

Think how fun it would be to attach voice notes at the start of a song to explain something, add fun facts, or maybe even dedicate that song to a specific person who is part of the Jam.

Reactions would also be a welcome addition to Spotify Jam sessions. The fun chaos of having friends with drastically different music tastes means that you can facilitate dialogue, expand your preferences, and simply enjoy learning something new about someone. Naturally, being able to react to songs on a Jam playlist would enhance such experiences, generate friendly banter, and potentially create memorable moments that other music streaming platforms could never.

By bringing interactive features like these to Jam sessions, Spotify has the potential to become even better than it already is and maybe even redefine what a music streaming app should be capable of.

ESR is a good egg, with a versatile and affordable series of wireless chargers. I was big a fan of the ESR Qi2 wireless car charger because it was one of the first such accessories designed for Android and iOS users alike.

Now, ESR has released a similar wireless charger with the magnetic Qi2 specification onboard. This time, it's a positively tiny charging pad with a built-in USB-C cable. The ESR HaloLock Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger comes in black and white and usually retails for $19.99, but you can grab it on sale for just $16.99 or less pretty often.

All the right specs

ESR's HaloLock Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger has all the perfect specs you'd want from any wireless charging pad. It's ideal for a household that has Android and iOS devices that support wireless charging. Since Qi2 is based on MagSafe, you don't have to worry about cross-platform support of this feature either.

The built-in USB Type-C cable is of the nylon braided variety. Mearing a lengthy 5-foot long, it's a super-durable cable that's going to withstand the test of time. Nylon-braided cables snag less, and they are less likely to break even if you have bets nibbling on them.

In fact, ESR guarantees up to 6,000 bends unbroken as per their testing.

Pocket-friendly design

This is the "mini" version of ESR's regular HaloLock Wireless Charger, which explains why it's so pocket-friendly by design. ESR HaloLock Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger hardly weighs anything and fits anywhere with ease.

You get Qi2 15W wireless charging speed on the ESR HaloLock Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger, making it suitable for phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25.

The magnets are reinforced to be even stronger than ESR's other magnetic accessories, promising 1,200g of magnetic strength. Magnetism allows the little pad to snap on and off in a jiffy.

The little clip-shaped kickstand on the back makes full use of this magnetic power. It's like having a MagSafe stand for your phone latch on and off whenever you need it, so you can continue binge-watching your favorite YouTuber or Netflix shows as your device charges wirelessly and stays propped up.

Between all the cheap wireless chargers available on Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers, it can be intimidating to settle on a single one. You don't really need anything more powerful than this 15W Qi2 charging pad.

Not to mention, the price is a big draw here too. The ESR HaloLock Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger is always going on sale too, sweetening the deal further.

If you're on the hunt for an affordable wireless charger that performs satisfactorily with both Android and iOS ecosystems, this is the perfect thing to buy.

Wireless charging isn't the most efficient method of recharging anything. Most wireless chargers tend to run super hot, which is unsafe and wastes energy at the same time. Accessory brand TORRAS has a solution to combat this unnecessary heat generation. The brand's PolarCircle Qi2 Wireless Charger has a built-in cooling fan, keeping your device nice and breezy.

TORRAS started out as a smartphone case maker, but the Chinese brand has since expanded into other accessories, such as phone stands, grips, chargers, and even power banks. The design language is minimal across the portfolio, with many concepts reminiscent of ESR's offerings.

The TORRAS PolarCircle cools and recharges simultaneously

The PolarCircle is meant to be a jack of all trades, combining 15W Qi2 wireless charging with a cooling fan and a rotating phone stand. You can even use the sturdy rotating stand as a grip since it boasts a ring-like structure. Since this is a Qi2 accessory, it works with MagSafe devices perfectly as well.

I was expecting a plug-and-play experience with the TORRAS PolarCircle Qi2 Wireless Charger. As a person who spends six out of seven days a week—sometimes even all seven — testing accessories, it took me an embarrassing amount of time to figure this thing out.

Fortunately, the fine print on the tiny little user manual walks you through the steps with illustrated diagrams. I still feel like TORRAS needs to uncomplicate the process of turning on the cooling fan. It's not user-friendly at all, requiring you to press and hold the button, unplug and then replug the cable to get the blades spinning.

Wireless charging works as it should with the TORRAS PolarCircle, functioning smoothly with both Android and iOS devices during my review. The cooling fan does an amicable job of heat reduction, keeping the center of the device frosty. This prevents stutters and overheating issues on your phone, so you can use it while charging.

It's not the "coolest" accessory I have ever used, though. That award goes to Black Shark's magnetic coolers. However, the TORRAS PolarCircle Qi2 Wireless Charger's temperature control is adequate for wireless charging purposes.

The charger is built well, and even though the ring-like stand is thin, it feels durable.

TORRAS includes a 5-foot-long USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, which is a pleasing length. That's a generously long cable — competitors, please take note. We don't want measly little 2ft cables, which is what most brands like Anker provide. This is the gold standard of cable lengths.

Overall, the $59.99 price tag gives you excellent value for your money. TORRAS frequently discounts its products, so you can easily score the PolarCircle Qi2 Wireless Charger for less than $50. At the time of writing, you can get it for $42.49 from Amazon.

I don't think you can expect a multipurpose accessory like this to be any cheaper. It's a fantastic deal, considering good-quality coolers set you back $30 to $40 alone. Add the cost of a 15W Qi2 wireless charger and a MagSafe PopSocket, and you're already looking at a hefty bill, with the combined total reaching $100 if you add a 5ft USB-C cable.

So, if your phone tends to overheat while charging, try the budget-friendly TORRAS PolarCircle Qi2 Wireless Charger!

I have had the Magic Laptop Power Bank from Raycon with me for many moons now. Yet somehow, it ended up sitting unused in my pile of gadgets until very recently.

Raycon is a Bluetooth audio accessory brand primarily, offering a decent range of budget earbuds and headphones. The brand also dabbles in cables and chargers, some of which I have tested before.

This product claims to be a 5-in-1 portable charging solution that can be used to charge laptops as well as wireless charging phones and accessories. Let me preface this hands-on testing by saying that Raycon's charging tech isn't very popular. Their excellent USB-C cables aside, the brand's audio accessory department is what puts them on the map.

For Raycon to sell the Magic Laptop Power Bank, it needs to provide a very good reason why you shouldn't stick with better, more reputable brands with higher-quality power banks that are also much more powerful. I'm not sure it succeeds here.

How (not) to sell a product

As it stands, Raycon failed to effectively advertise the Magic Laptop Power Bank. Here's why.

Buying a portable power bank isn't the most straightforward process. Once you've figured out what capacity is suitable for your needs, you also have to figure out how many ports you're looking for, whether wireless charging is a priority or not, and how much power you require on the go. There are other factors such as the size and weight of the power bank that matter too.

So now you know what sort of information a potential customer would actively seek out when looking to purchase a power bank. It was unreasonably challenging for me to glean these details about Raycon's power bank from the online store listing.

The brand's product listing is basically a lesson on how not to sell a power bank, as it doesn't properly highlight or mention most of these details. For example, the Raycon 5-in-1 Magic Power Bank listing doesn't clearly mention the batter's capacity; you have to scroll down to figure this out.

Also, the power output and input ratings are vague at best. Sure, we know it's a laptop power bank because it's in the name. But what does that mean in terms of rated power?

A USB-C laptop charges at 60W and above. But since this is a multi-ported power bank, it's essential to know the total power output of the portable battery, which one of the ports supplies that power, and how the power splits when multiple devices are plugged into it at once.

Most brands like Anker, UGREEN, Baseus, and INIU provide detailed specifications about the ports on their charging tech as well as power distribution charts that showcase what charging speed the combined use of all the ports delivers.

Failure to communicate and deliver

The build quality isn't great either, the built-in cable feels very cheap, and the charging speeds are nothing to write home about. The USB-C ports support a 65W power output, but the USB-A port can only do a measly 18W, and the input is limited to an abysmal 30W with the prongs. If you need speedy recharging, the USB-C port supports 45W PD input.

Not only are exact charging speeds missing from the conversation, but the size and weight are also omitted. The only place you can even learn of this info is from the quick start guide inside the box. Why would you buy a product and then find out its exact specs?

But do you know what the website does advertise? A built-in stand for phones. However, the review sample Raycon sent me doesn't even have one.

I'm not happy with the quality of the Raycon Magic Laptop Power Bank 5-in-1 or the way it skips key details when trying to convince people that it's a worthwhile buy.

Based on this I'm going to deduce that you, the reader, are not going to waste your time on Raycon's power bank. And I can't fault you with that, because there are so many better options out there.

Don't waste your time...

All that doesn't even factor in the price, which is usually steep for high-quality power banks and battery packs.

Cheaping out is the worst thing you could do with charging tech because it's quite literally a potential safety risk. There's a good reason why airlines have such tight regulations around power banks. This is why most folks don't mind spending a little more on a solid portable power bank anyway.

Raycon's power bank is relatively cheaper, but it's very chunky and hefty for a 15,000mAh battery pack. You can easily score a GaN power bank that's more compact for the same amount of money and with better technical specifications.

On top of that, the current market for portable batteries, power banks, and hybrid chargers is insanely diverse. It's not difficult to find the right battery catered towards any individual for a decent price. Anker and UGREEN alone make enough power bank models to satisfy anybody out there, with a wide mix of ports, capacity, and power.

I don't recommend the Raycon Magic Laptop Power Bank 5-in-1 at the end of the day. Why buy this when there are scores of fantastic, higher-quality options out there that disclose a lot more information?

I thought I could use a dumbphone for 24 hours as a working adult, but it turns out that's impossible in the modern era. However, I found that the vibrant HMD Barbie Phone is suitable for young children and pre-teen kids.

The Barbie Phone is basically a revamped version of the Nokia 2780 Flip, which is the best dumbphone on the market. Both devices are powered by KaiOS instead of Android, lack touchscreens, and have other limitations that categorize them as "dumb" phones. This isn't all bad, and you still get the basic functions of a mobile phone along with some perks.

The software limitations serve as excellent parental controls while still enabling communication between guardians and their wards. Since KaiOS is much lighter than Android, it doesn't need a ton of memory to run smoothly. This means that even with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, the Barbie Phone doesn't lag or stutter. You can always expand the memory up to 32GB via microSD later if needed.

Everything is vehemently pink

Children adore bright colors, so it's a given that the littles will love this overwhelmingly pink phone. HMD Global partnered with Mattel to deliver the funkiest, grooviest, and most fun packaging I've seen for a phone. The HMD Barbie Phone comes inside a pale pink velvet-lined box with a plethora of accessories.

Your kid can knock themselves out customizing their Barbie phone. There are stickers in the box, replaceable backs for the phone, a beaded lanyard, a handful of cutesy charms, and gems to bedazzle the device as well.

The wide range of accessories included in the set encourages children to express their individuality.

HMD Global includes a bubblegum pink USB-C charger and cable in the box, as well as a pink microfiber cloth for wiping the mirror on the front. That's right, the front of the flip phone has a real mirror with a tiny LED screen built-in. The screen showcases the time, charging information, and notifications.

Thoughtfully crafted design and software

While the Nokia 2780 Flip has the Kai Store with HTML5 apps like Facebook and YouTube, HMD Global intentionally omitted social media from the Barbie Phone, with the exception of an email app.

The reason for this, according to HMD Global, is to keep the device non-intrusive by removing distracting apps. You only get basics like calls and text messages, Wi-Fi, and LTE connectivity on the device, which is why I feel it's an excellent phone for younger kids.

Pre-teens whose parents feel they aren't ready for social media and instant connection with the world still need to be on the grid. The Barbie Phone enables that in a safe and seamless method. It's an excellent "first" phone for a child, preparing them for the responsibility of having a full-blown phone as well.

It's not a boring phone either, with plenty of engaging games, an FM radio, and a music player. There are useful pre-loaded apps like a clock, calendar, to-do list, and voice recorder. There's even a flashlight, a headphone jack, and a single 5MP camera that shoots amicable pictures.

There's a customizable Barbie button on the keypad, which opens the camera app initially.

Typing on the old school keypad takes some getting used to, especially for younger generations who never had to use such phones ever before. The pink plastic buttons are easy to click and you get the hang of it pretty quickly.

I'm glad that this concept lives on in dumbphones, reviving and sustaining the nostalgia of the physical numpad.

It's a small price to pay for a great quality product

HMD Global offers an insanely good price for the Barbie Phone. You can buy it unlocked for about $129.99, often discounted to $99.99 at various retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

Buying it locked is a smart idea too, as the cell plan from most carriers is filthy cheap. The HMD Barbie Phone works on all U.S. networks, CDMA and GSM alike. Certain MVNOs like Consumer Cellular offer a great deal with plans starting at just $20 a month, which is super affordable.

Giving a full-blown smartphone to kids isn't a smart idea for countless reasons. More often than not, the cons far outweigh the pros, leaving parents to turn to alternatives like kids' smartwatches and dumbphones instead.

Few phones are built from the ground up with children in mind. Most brands take pre-existing models and tweak them to make them suitable for kids or teenagers by bolstering privacy and security, and adding stricter parental controls.

A lot of thought goes into choosing a phone for a child. If you're not keen on buying your 10 to 14-year-old an Android phone or an iPhone, the dumb HMD Barbie Phone is a fantastic choice. It maintains the right balance of connectivity, modernization, and limitation necessary for a younger child without taking the fun out of owning a phone.

The SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card made its debut at IFA 2024. Initially, I had dismissed it as your everyday run-of-the-mill Bluetooth tracker. Don't make the same mistake I made at first because there's more to this wallet-finding tracker.

SwitchBot is a brand dedicated to smartening up the dumb things in your home and integrating them all together to create a cohesive ecosystem. I have used many of the brand's smart home accessories over the years and they never disappoint, both in terms of quality and price.

The company makes everything IoT, from smart locks and hubs to universal remotes and hygrometers. Once you set up your smart home system via the SwitchBot app and every item can communicate with each other, that's when the magic happens.

Here's how well the amicably priced SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card held up in my testing.

Not your average Bluetooth tracker

There are plenty of unique aspects of the slim and trim SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card. But first, let's evaluate its functionality as a regular old Bluetooth tracker, as this is its primary purpose.

Like any Bluetooth tracking device worth its salt, the Wallet Finder Card can be tracked via an app on your phone. There's no Google Find My Device support, so for now, you can only use Apple's Find My network on iOS. Android users can still use the tracker using the SwitchBot app for Android.

You can save the Wallet Finder Card under the name of your choice within the app, which is also where you can track the card. You can also use the card to find your phone by clicking the button twice. It has a physical QR code sticker on the back as a failsafe when it gets lost. Anyone can scan it and alert you of its location. SwitchBot also has anti-tracking measures in place for the safety of the public.

The speaker on the tracker rings nice and loud at 78dB, much like the Tile Slim that I reviewed a while back. Notably, the newer Tile Slim has a louder 104dB volume. Just like the best Tile trackers, you get robust IP67 water and dust-proofing on the SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card. When I put the two cards next to each other, the SwitchBot one was noticeably lighter and thinner.

Compared to the latest Tile by Life360 Slim (2024)'s 350ft range, the Switchbot tracker's 300ft Bluetooth range is still not bad at all. Considering the previous-gen Tile Slim had a 250ft range, and this is SwitchBot's first tracker, that's impressive.

Finally, there's no replaceable battery on the Wallet Finder Card, but you get three years of battery life. As a Bluetooth tracker alone, it's an excellent product that delivers value for money.

A more integrated smart home than ever before

On to the unconventional aspects. The SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card has two very unusual features. The first is that it has NFC support.

Why would you even need NFC on a Bluetooth tracker? Well, SwitchBot added a nifty integration with its smart locks, so you can tap the Wallet Finder Card on a SwitchBot Lock and use it to unlock your door.

The second unique and most enticing feature of the SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card is smart home integration. There are two main automations that are specific to the tracking card within the SwitchBot app: Return Home and Leave Home.

For example, you could set an automation where as soon as your Wallet Finder Card enters within range of the hub at home, the smart home devices like air conditioner and lights in your house turn on.

This option requires you to have a SwitchBot hub, but the final result is well worth the extra buy. Since the SwitchBot hub comes with an IR blaster built-in, you can "teach" it to learn commands to operate non-smart devices in your home as well. This, along with your Wallet Finder Card, can be used to make incredibly intelligent routines within the SwitchBot app.

And if you get the Matter-enabled Hub 2, it gets even better. You could interconnect devices that support Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Google Assistant, and other smart home ecosystems to create a single unified smart home setup.

Since the Hub 2 can interact with smart and dumb electronics via IR, the possibilities are limitless. You could pre-soak a one-pot rice dish in your smart cooker and integrate that into your Return Home routine. If you have the SwitchBot Curtain Opener, you could instruct your Leave Home automations to close the curtains and turn off all electronics at home.

The sky's the limit with these automations; you really have access to boundless potential with the right mix of smart and dumb electronics at home.

Despite all that, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card only costs $24.99, with frequent sales slashing that price to an even lower $19.99 price tag. It's a great buy overall, even if you don't end up using the smart home integration as much.

CUKTECH isn't a name I've heard of before, but the brand's hefty battery pack put it on my radar. The recently released CUKTECH 30 140W Power Bank packs a whopping 40,000mAh of power and a total power output of 300W.

The CUKTECH 30 is ideal for long drives but not trips over the air, since you can't carry power banks over 20,000mAh inside most airlines. You wouldn't want to lug such a weighty battery around in a plane, so there's no love lost in that regard.

Speaking of weight, this thing is outrageously heavy for something "portable" that's meant to travel with you. Coming in at more than a kilo, it makes sense why CUKTECH decided to add a bucket-style handle to the high-capacity power bank. The logistics of it require a handle at the very least.

Multi-device fast charging galore

The CUKTECH 30 is relatively compact for such a high capacity power station. You'll find four ports on the front of the cube as well as a Qi wireless charging pad on top, a digital display on the front, and a power button beneath the screen. The display showcases power input and output details as well as the battery percentage.

Here are the power ratings and other specifications of the 40,000mAh power bank.

Both USB-C ports support PowerDelivery 3.1 and can be used for power input as well as output. You can also charge the CUKTECH 30 itself while simultaneously using the power bank to top up other devices.

I love it when charging tech brands like Anker and UGREEN include a power distribution charge. This helps you understand the charging speed of each port depending on how many are in use and which ones.

CUKTECH provides four charts to simplify the matter, just like major competing brands, and I really appreciate it. As you can see above, the charts tell you exactly what charging speed can be achieved from each of the 40,000mAh power bank's ports.

Apart from the usual suspects, CUKTECH also went ahead and incorporated a huge cooling fan into the back of this cuboid battery pack. The power bank smartly regulates the temperature of the charging accessory, so it never runs too hot.

You'll never run out of power on the road

If you know anything about chargers and cables, you'll know that charging over 100W requires a 5A cable, also known as an e-marked cable. CUKTECH provides a 5A 240W USB-C cable in the box along with the battery pack, so you don't need to buy one in case you don't already own it.

The CUKTECH 30 is very handy for road trips and long-haul journeys. No matter how long your car charger's cable, having a separate power source in the back eliminates that tangled web of wires extending to the back. With such a large capacity, you can charge a 5,000mAh phone like the Galaxy S25 Ultra a whopping eight times!

Ultimately, the CUKTECH 30 140W Power Bank is an all-inclusive purchase. The brand uses vehicle-grade batteries, so it's extremely safe to transport in your automobile. And, if you're getting robbed, you could kill the perpetrator by lobbing it at their noggin (just kidding, please don't try this at home).

How much should anyone be paying for a phone case? The question is highly debatable, but I'm sure you've asked yourself this before. After all, smartphone cases these days range from as low as $10 or maybe even less and can go all the way past the $100 mark.

I know it sounds insane to spend $100 or more on a phone case. For a cheap phone that costs about $500, that's already a major fraction of the price of the device itself! As ridiculous as it may seem to be, sometimes it's actually worth the splurge. There are many reasons why you'd want such an expensive phone case.

But before dishing out my own opinions, I'd like to share what others have told me regarding the matter. I went around asking my colleagues how much they were willing to spend on a case on average. Their like-minded answers highlighted a pattern in buying phone cases.

What most people prefer to spend on cases

I asked Android Central writers how much they'd be willing to spend on a phone case. Here's what some of them had to say on the matter. Phones editor Nicholas Sutrich says his max is $20 "unless it's something really special like a Thinborne." Android Central contributor Tshaka Armstrong had a similar response, saying he'd spend about "$20-ish on Amazon but much more if it’s a brand I trust AND the case has design elements and materials that justify the higher price."

Meanwhile, news editor Nandika Ravi says she'd spend "Anywhere between $50 to $60 at the most."

Typically speaking, most of Android Central's staff find it appropriate to spend about $20 on an everyday phone cover. The only exceptions come in when a notable brand is involved.

Why is there an exception when a popular brand comes into play? According to the vox populi, it's all about the build quality and reliability of the brand. Trustworthy phone case makers ensure your phone cover is made of the highest grade materials and actually delivers on the drop protection promises made.

When a name brand is involved, most members of our team — and probably the general public — are willing to stretch their budget to a certain extent.

Why brands matter

Can you get a cheap case from retailers like Amazon? Yes, of course you can. However, the issue arises with no-name brands selling poor-quality silicone, low-grade TPU, or faux leather phone covers, touting them to be "military-grade drop-resistant" when the truth is far from it.

This is exactly why brands matter and why some folks are willing to spend up to $60 on a protective case for their smartphone.

Name brands have a reputation at stake and a face to save. If a company like Spigen promises 20ft drop protection, you know that a research & development team actually put the phone cover to the test. It's no wonder an iPhone survived a 16,000ft fall from a moving airplane in a Spigen case.

Let's not forget about the insanely slim yet incredulously rugged Arc Pulse case for the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Sutrich doubted the structural integrity of such a minimalist Pixel 9 case in his review, but then he dropped it on concrete. This eye-wateringly expensive phone case will set you back $90, but you'll also get the satisfaction of knowing it can live through anything.

Thus, when a brand like CASETiFY promises impact-proofing on its bumper covers, you can rely on the case to be that tough in actuality. Because if it isn't so, unsatisfied customers know where to find them and how to shame them, perhaps going as far as suing for false advertisement.

Good luck trying to do any of that with the $3 knock-off you got from Temu. Accountability is non-existent in that scenario.

The bottom line

Here's where I pipe in with my own thoughts. I've been covering phone accessories for several years now, so I can positively reassure you. Brands are important, but that doesn't mean you need to spend $100 for a functional and sturdy phone case.

Plenty of awesome brands are also accessibly priced. Just look at Spigen, TUDIA, TORRAS, and ESR, to name a few. Even their flagship phone cases for Samsung and Google are priced around $20 or less. I could go on and on, but my point has been made.

Names like these are proof that a tight budget doesn't automatically compromise the quality of the phone case you can afford.

At the end of the day, buy a phone case from a reliable brand that fits your budget. It doesn't matter if it's $15 or $150. As long as you do your research on the brand's history, you'll be solid.

SOUNDBOKS sent me an insanely large, nearly 21-kilo package last week. This box encompassed a Bluetooth speaker of epic proportions. In fact, the speaker was so large in size and made such bold promises I decided to test it out in the field to examine its value.

I was part of a team arranging a community-centered bazaar in my town over the weekend. This presented itself as the perfect opportunity to test the SOUNDBOKS 4 speaker's prowess. I may have overestimated its capabilities by forgoing a PA system altogether in favor of this mammoth speaker at the venue. You'll find out in a bit if that was a smart decision.

Sure, 126 decibels sound loud enough for an outdoor event with hundreds of people buzzing around, buying food and other knickknacks from small businesses and vendors. But what looks good on paper hardly ever reflects perfectly in real life, so I was nervous going into this hands-on trial.

The beauty of a wireless outdoor speaker

First off, the SOUNDBOKS 4 is by no means the cheapest wireless Bluetooth speaker of the sort on the market. You can find plenty of other 200W portable speakers priced well below its $999 price tag and from far more established brands like JBL and Logitech-owned sub-brand Ultimate Ears.

However, SOUNDBOKS brings something unbeatable to the table: a 40-hour battery life on the go paired with audio that gets as loud as 126 decibels thanks to its trio of 72W RMS amplifiers built-in. Even the 200W JBL Partybox 310 only manages to produce about 80 decibels of sound.

If you run out of juice, the entire battery box — or BATTERYBOKS as the brand likes to call it — slides out of the back and conveniently plugs into any USB-C cable and 65W USB-C charger for fast charging. As if that's not enough already, you can buy more of these chunky 12.8 V LiFePO4 batteries separately to always have swappable power when needed. One BATTERYBOKS will set you back $149.

You can also charge the SOUNDBOKS 4 while the BATTERYBOKS is plugged in and hooked up to the speaker. The only drawback here is that this compromises its water-proofing in doing so.

Can you replace a PA system with a SOUNDBOKS 4?

With a soundstage as large and capable as this, the SOUNDBOKS 4 almost sounds good enough to be a PA system replacement for outdoor events and larger parties. Not familiar with PA systems? That's an abbreviation for a public address system that consists of mixers, amplifiers, and speakers all hooked up to create one unified sound system. This kind of system is absolutely necessary for large events and gatherings, be they festivals, bazaars, conventions, parties, concerts, or markets.

Usually, a decent PA system with wide enough coverage can cost a pretty penny, starting from $500 for incredibly basic ones and going up to $10,000 for premium setups. Instead of renting out a setup like this, I decided to use the SOUNDBOKS 4 for music and announcements at our local bazaar. Since I only had one SOUNDBOKS 4, this left me with one-directional audio, which doesn't sound equally great from every angle of a field or area.

Still, there were many upsides to this. First of all, had I actually paid $999 for the SOUNDBOKS 4, it would be an investment. After hosting just two large events at $500 a pop per rental, you already get your money's worth instead of renting audio equipment. From the third event onward, it'd be free if you compare it to rental fees.

The SOUNDBOKS 4 can be paired wirelessly with other SKAA-enabled speakers or other SOUNDBOKS speakers to create a wireless stereo setup, which fixes the multi-directional audio problem.

Unfortunately, Bluetooth 5.0 means that this speaker isn't Auracast-ready, which is a shame because not everyone has an SKAA-enabled speaker lying around. I really hope the brand refreshes this gigantic rugged Bluetooth speaker once the Bluetooth Auracast standard is readily available.

Of course, if you want to connect something via cables, like a mixer, an amp, a musical instrument, or a microphone, you can do so very easily. The SOUNDBOKS 4 has one AUX in and one AUX out port, as well as dual 1/4” XLR inputs to hook up relevant audio or video equipment.

There are three connectivity modes on the speaker, and you can set up a PIN to restrict connection. This is managed through the mobile app, which is also where you can manage audio presets and access the custom equalizer.

Not to mention, the goliath has a perfectly sized hole at the bottom for mounting on a standard speaker mount. This, in effect, can help you create a wireless PA system that's also waterproof and doesn't need cables to connect, beating out the current systems that are widely used and rely on grounded sources of power or generators.

Admirably, the speaker's IP65 water-resistant rating is true to its word. Believe me, did I put that to the test? In the midst of the bazaar, heavy rain came pouring down upon my crew and me. The entire venue was nearly flooded, but the SOUNDBOKS 4 kept blasting on, pumping music to lift our (literally) dampened spirits.

My biggest qualm about the SOUNDBOKS 4 was its weight and size. Although there are handles carved into both sides of the outdoor speaker, it's way too heavy for me to carry. If you have special medical conditions that restrict you from picking up hefty loads, you'll need an extra pair of hands or two to help you transport the darn thing.

As the rain stilled and the sun came out again at the bazaar, the SOUNDBOKS 4 continued to function. It lasted through a scorching hot day, quickly becoming a storm without any technical errors. My team of organizers had originally intended to rent a PA system, but the SOUNDBOKS 4 was sufficient for music and small announcements during the event.

If you're someone who hosts big parties or events regularly, I highly recommend the SOUNDBOKS 4. This speaker sounds better from a distance, which is just nice for the outdoors. It can actually replace a PA system and bring extras to the table, such as portability and waterproofing. For best results, though, I suggest getting two of these bad boys to create a stereo sound system that's loud enough for a gathering of 200 people.

Our furry companions are more than just pets; they're family. Don't you find yourself wishing you could call and check on your dog sometimes? Say you're at work or school and wondering whether your puppy is missing you. Enabot created a clever pet tracker with two-way communications embedded into it, turning this dream into reality for all of us.

The Enabot ROLA PetTracker has other merits as well, including GPS positioning, health tracking, and more. I found the $99 retail price tag very compelling after running tests on this handy pet camera slash tracker.

Right off the bat, I'll say this, though: while it's advertised for both cats and dogs, the Enabot ROLA PetTracker is simply too big for most kitties.

It's the ultimate smart accessory for dogs

If you aren't already familiar with the brand, Enabot's specialty is making smart vacuum-inspired pet robots like the EBO X and RolaPet PetPal. Having mastered just the right set of skills needed for tracking and communicating with pets at home, the brand ported those features over to a more compact and mobile form factor with the ROLA PetTracker.

In essence, the ROLA PetTracker is like any other GPS tracker for your dog. There's a SIM slot for a data SIM, which enables you to track your pet in real-time, and there's a companion app where you can manage all this. But the similarities between commonplace GPS dog trackers and the ROLA PetTracker end there.

Enabot added mics and a speaker to the ROLA PetTracker so you can talk to your fur baby at any given point of the day. Both the speaker and mic can be enabled or disabled via the Rola app for Android or iOS.

However, the more impressive feat achieved by this tracker isn't its quadruple positioning system or two-way comms. It's the humble 480p camera and clever additions like a flashlight, an SOS button, and splash-proofing that make this tracker innovative.

For the purposes of this trial, I enlisted the help of five-month-old Rosa, a mid-sized German Shepherd mix who loves to live her best life unapologetically, every single day. This adorable menace served as the perfect test subject for the ROLA PetTracker.

The purpose of my testing was twofold. Firstly, I wanted to see whether the ROLA PetTracker can actually do the tasks advertised in the wild. And secondly, I aimed to gauge whether it's really worth investing in.

Enabot includes a harness with one mount each for both cats and dogs in the box. There's also a really small silicone collar included in there, which can't possibly fit any canine's neck without strangling it.

The idea behind the harness was good, and it was comfy as well, but it was executed poorly. The harness' flawed design lacks buckles to secure the adjusted straps in place, which caused the harness to keep slipping off of poor Rosa during our walk.

During the walk, the Enabot ROLA PetTracker slipped off and fell into puddles quite a few times. Thanks to its splash-proofing, I was able to rinse the camera off and it was good as new later.

The fickle nature of the harness caused a lot of trouble for both Rosa and me during our excursion. She kept entangling herself between the leash and the harness. It's such a shame because I was really looking forward to capturing her shenanigans from her POV in the harness-mounted videos.

I also used this opportunity outdoors to test the comms system, which worked seamlessly. Initially, Rosa was quite shocked when I used the mic and speaker to talk to her. She got used to it pretty quickly, though, and listened diligently to any commands issued.

The SOS button functions as it should and in case the battery on the tracker dies, there's a QR code printed on the ROLA PetTracker that can be scanned by others. Although the 480p camera isn't of the best quality and lacks night vision, the flashlight mitigates some of those issues.

Enabot also incorporated health-tracking metrics into the ROLA PetTracker. Not only can you log your pet's steps and record how much exercise they're getting, but you can also track individual walks using the GPS to see where you walked, when, for how long, and how many steps were taken by your pet in that duration. It's superb, really!

On top of that, the tracker leverages the camera, GPS, and two-way audio by enabling you to set up a virtual fence for your dog. Any time it ventures beyond your customized radius, you get an alert on your phone, and if you want, so does the dog via sound notification. The virtual fence with sound prompts is an awesomely humane way to train dogs not to stray too far away from home.

Knowing where your dog was when you took it for a walk has several benefits. In the event that you lose your furry friend, drop its toy somewhere, or suspect it ate something funny, being able to retrace its footsteps could save your dog's life!

All in all, the ROLA PetTracker delivers fantastic value. You get a very good price for something this feature-rich, plus it goes on sale regularly, dropping the price from an amicable $99 to a budget-friendly $79. It's a comprehensive tool that's excellent for pet health management and monitoring health metrics such as your dog's weight, steps, and exercise.

The water-repellent design can survive a good few splashes but not submersion. Dogs are messy, so I fear it won't do as well against mud and dirtier elements. However, just having splash-proofing is a bonus for a product like this.

Perhaps the only thing that I'd want to be done better — apart from the harness and tight collar — would be battery longevity. You recharge the Enabot ROLA PetTracker using a USB-C cable and charger, which is incredibly convenient, but the battery doesn't last more than a few days. So, you need to remember to charge it frequently.

There's really no other pet tracker on the market that's this lightweight and compact, this cheap, and this useful. If you like keeping a close watch on your beloved pups, I highly recommend it.

A $100 Android phone might sound too good to be true, but that's exactly what the NUU N10 is. This impossibly cheap phone comes with Android 14 and Gemini baked in, plus it has zero bloatware. I was offered the opportunity to test the device, and I thought, how bad could it possibly be? Only one way to find out — by using it.

Thus, use it I did.

I was fully prepared for an entirely abhorrent experience with the NUU N10. When a company refuses to disclose the name of the phone's processor, one can only assume they are ashamed of it. But the spec sheet isn't all trash, and even a no-name 1.6GHz octa-core processor can perform well enough.

Throughout my testing, I felt the need to periodically remind myself that this phone costs just $100. It mitigated a lot of my harsh judgment because, really, how much can (or should) you expect for that amount of money?

It's crazy what $100 will get you...

Put the price tag aside for a few seconds, and hear me out. The NUU N10 comes with some generous screen real estate, boasting a large 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with an HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. A higher screen refresh rate really helps improve the snappiness of the phone, even if it's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

The body of the phone has a nice weightiness to it and the soft matte back paired with the silver metal frame looks modern and attractive. Unfortunately, the rear is very obviously made of plastic and feels uncomfortably flimsy. There's no in-screen fingerprint reader, but that's fine because the side-mounted one inside the power button works wonderfully well.

Accompanying the N10's mammoth 5,000mAh battery supports 18W USB-C fast charging, with a Type-A-to-C cable and a 10W power brick in the box. The 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot for expanding the 128GB onboard storage, and dual SIM slots are a nice touch, seeing as most flagship phones ditched this golden trio several generations ago.

NUU tied it all together by providing everything a user could need in the box, starting from basics like a cable and SIM card removal tool to extras like a phone case and power adapter.

Unlike past NUU models, the N10 favors the full-fledged Android 14 over the lighter Android Go version of the OS, probably because it has 4GB of RAM, which can be extended to 8GB by using local storage via virtual RAM.

It's not much, but NUU promises one year of software updates for all of its phones. As mentioned earlier, the phone comes with absolutely no bloatware pre-installed, nor does it have ads. Overall, the stock Android 14 experience is very neat and clean.

Frills such as water or dust resistance IP ratings and support for CDMA carriers are missing here. You can still use the NUU N10 on GSM carriers like T-Mobile and MVNOs like Mint Mobile or Tello.

But it's a budget phone nonetheless

Let's be real; it's practically impossible for something this affordable to be an all-rounder. NUU would have to lose money for that to happen. So, while there are many winning characteristics of the N10, there's a lot to feel icky about as well.

Plastic body aside, the display just doesn't get bright enough. You'll really struggle with outdoor usage, especially in the daytime with the sun shining mightily.

Then there's the speaker setup, which defies common sense. The NUU N10 has bottom-firing speakers that sound awful, with warbled audio that is almost completely muffled by the user's hand when in landscape orientation.

The mic doesn't yield any better results either, failing to capture the full range of vocals but somehow picking up background noises and occasional echoes.

I could have forgiven all these crimes to a certain extent, but it's crazy that the NUU N10 only comes with one 13MP primary camera and a useless 2MP macro lens. The main lens is godawful at its job.

The so-called "AI" camera does nothing for picture quality, which is lacking in detail, depth, and color balance. Forget about capturing shots in the spur of the moment because the N10's camera gives you blurry shots even if you blink too aggressively. The 5MP front camera isn't any better either, with a poorly functional face unlock.

It's a great first phone for kids to start with

NUU incorporated extensive parental controls into the N10, making this phone ideal for tweens or teenagers. Since the phone doesn't cost much, the appeal is much higher for younger audiences who can't afford more expensive devices or aren't allowed to have premium phones.

Considering the price and build quality, the NUU N10 is an ideal starter phone for kids. If it breaks, it won't hurt their guardians much as the investment is so low to begin with. The parental controls add a layer of reassurance. And with no heavy-duty bloatware installed, the device runs well enough for children to use on the daily without getting stuck or hanging.

For the longest time, I couldn't imagine any brand other than Xiaomi when considering such a tight budget. And let's be honest, the only reason why Xiaomi is able to sell you a decked-out cheap phone is because it comes chock-full of clunky bloatware and ads. It's a marvel how little this phone costs despite having none of those things.

The long and the short of it is that this is an inexpensive Android phone with no creature comforts. It doesn't immediately look cheap, but it certainly feels like it to a certain extent. The lackluster audio gear exhibits cost-effective traits as well. Nevertheless, the NUU N10 is one of the few $100 Android phones that can be used without ripping all the hair off your head. If you're in a pinch, it'll do.

Not to exaggerate, but I have seen bars of soap that are more physically attractive than the Samsung Galaxy S25. If you are as unaroused by the mundane design of the S25 series as I am, there's a little hack to switch things up. Dbrand's slick skins for the S25 lineup can give your Galaxy S25 a much-needed facelift almost instantly.

I always advocate for protective phone cases, but this is the one time I'll break my own rule. Not because you shouldn't use a phone case — you definitely should, especially if your fingers are as slippery as mine. Purely aesthetically speaking, however, a phone's skin looks far more appealing than a case.

Don't get me wrong, the curved edges of the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra are welcome changes that make it much more comfortable to hold the phones. The S25 devices aren't ugly, either. However, the trio looks nearly identical to last year's S24 lineup, and it's starting to get very stale.

Dbrand launched its Galaxy S25 skins even before the boring phone series itself. I have used the brand's skins before, as have many of my colleagues here at Android Central. We've all always loved the ease with which a Dbrand skin can be applied, their cost-effectiveness, and their high quality.

The instructions are simple enough to follow and very straightforward. All you need is a good head on your shoulders, a hairdryer to get the perfect application, and about 15 to 20 minutes of your time.

There are various sorts of Dbrand skins available for the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. You can choose from intriguing patterns, solid monochromes, and leather finishes. Dbrand gives you the leeway to jazz it up to your heart's content.

You could always choose plain black, but that would defeat the purpose of giving your device a makeover. Instead, I say opt for louder colors like the yellow Area 51 (Hazard) pattern or the glow-in-the-dark Glow Circuit skin.

Available in black, brown, and tan, the leather skin is especially fantastic. It has that grainy texture only genuine hide can produce and adds a ton of grip. In his review, Nick Sutrich described it as a "time-honored classic" that only gets better looking over time.

Unfortunately, beauty comes at a cost. The leather skins cost $34.95 as opposed to the $16.95 starting price of other basic skin designs. That's admittedly a lot for glorified "premium" stickers that don't do much in terms of drop protection for your Galaxy S25. You're paying purely for the looks, added grip, and maybe some basic scratch protection on select covered body parts of your phone. However, it could be well worth it to give your phone a classy look.

We're in an era where smartphones are finally fun again. In a world of pink Google Pixels with large camera bars and leather-backed OnePlus phones that can be chucked in the dishwasher, Samsung's been busy copying and pasting the same Samsung Galaxy S blueprint over and over again.

That's exactly why I say, despite the lack of protection and potentially steep cost involved, go get yourself a Dbrand skin to make your S25 more interesting. And if you're clumsy, you can always add a slim clear case for your S25, S25 Plus, or S25 Ultra to add impact absorption.

Caseology is a spectacular phone case brand that has been around for almost a decade. What started out as a tiny little business venture started by a bunch of friends selling out of their apartment eventually grew into one of the most reliable phone case brands in the world. Shockingly, the brand quietly closed shop for good towards the tail end of December 2024.

I've been testing accessories, with an emphasis on cases, for many years now. Each year, the biggest smartphone names in the biz would launch new iterations of their flagship phones. And each year, Caseology would produce affordable, stylish, and durable cases to accompany those top-of-the-line devices.

It saddens me that the brand will no longer be around. The timing is even more unfortunate for die-hard fans of the brand. Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event is mere hours away, with the Galaxy S25 series set to debut on that day.

Caseology has almost always been one of my top recommendations for phone cases, but the brand's December 2024 demise means it will miss the S25 launch.

It isn't all bad news, however.

In case you weren't aware, Caseology was the sister company of another wildly popular phone case maker: Spigen. Fortunately, Spigen will be absorbing two of Caseology's most popular lineups, the Nano Pop and Parallax series. The duo consists of funky cases with a pop of color as well as more demure offerings with luxurious design language.

The Caseology Parallax series of phone covers is such a massive crowd favorite that some folks buy it for every single phone they buy. I've had a friend admit this to me in confidence, and I couldn't fault them one bit. Regardless of the phone, Caseology's cases are always robust, featuring military-grade drop protection, and always priced below $20. It's a very happy occurrence that these two lineups will not go extinct.

Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard of the Spigen. The brand has been voted the best phone case manufacturer by Android Central's team many times in the past.

Spigen has quite a few legendary case series of its own — one of which helped a phone survive a 16,000-foot fall from a plane — so it's going to be a major win for the brand to add the Nano Pop and Parallax series to the roster.

With the S25 release happening so soon, I'm excited to see what Spigen will do with its newly acquired cases. We've seen tons of exciting new products from the brand, including a lot of cool MagSafe accessories for both iOS and Android devices as well as chargers and screen protectors.

It will be good fun to have Parallax or Nano Pop-themed phone grips and Qi2/MagSafe accessories from Spigen. And the best part is, since they're all sister brands, we won't see a price hike or drop in quality in the Caseology products adopted by Spigen.

Since the Galaxy S25 series is probably going to have Qi2 support, I'm excited to see what Spigen has in store for us. I'm counting on the team behind the brand to continue the colorful legacy of Caseology and its lively accessories.

Rest in peace, Caseology. You did well.

Does Anker ever miss? Apparently it doesn't, because the charging accessories brand has been killing it lately. The brand always has something cool up its sleeves. This time, it's the excellent Anker Nano 75W Car Charger.

Anker has found a neat way to improve the humble car charger. Most car chargers that plug into the auxiliary power outlet are cheap and compact. They usually come with either USB-C or USB-A ports, or sometimes a mix of both. The Nano 75W Car Charger has two Type-C ports, but what's fascinating is that one of the ports has a built-in retractable USB-C cable.

Anker is calling this non-removable cable the InstaCord. It's a standard USB Type-C cable with a flat fettuccine-like shape. The cable pulls out and measures 29.5 inches in length. Once it's out, a second tug makes it roll back into the charger automatically.

The retractable cable leaves only one other port free, but I think that's just fine. This is such a smart way to reduce the clutter of cables in your vehicle. I hate having wires lying around and getting trampled on in the car. Unplugging and replugging them constantly is another hassle. So, having a cable that takes no space whatsoever is an ingenious solution!

Of all the weird and wonderful cables I've tested, this retractable charging cable is one of the best ones. You might think the non-removable factor would be an issue, but I had zero issues with this while testing the Nano 75W Car Charger.

A car or vehicle doesn't require you to unplug and reuse your cable anywhere else anyway, unlike at home or at your workplace, where you might need your cable to be removable so you can use it elsewhere.

Anker promises at least 10,000 safe retractions with the Type-C InstaCord and over 12,000 swings, so it should last a while. I've used it for about two weeks, and the cable still looks and feels as good as new.

Generally, standard car chargers are rated around 40W to 50W. The Anker Nano 75W Car Charger packs a mightier punch at 75W, so you can fast charge not just phones, tablets, and accessories but also larger mobile devices like laptops and Chromebooks at max speeds on the go.

When both ports are in use at the same time, you get 45W from the retractable InstaCord and 30W from the other USB-C port.

I do wish the InstaCord was a bit longer than 29.5 inches, though, because depending on the size of your car, the passengers in the backseats may not find it long enough to use comfortably.

Apart from that, the design is impeccable. Who needs more than two ports in a moving vehicle? On top of that, 75W is a lot of power, even when split between two ports.

Everything wraps up nicely once you look at the retail price of the Anker Nano 75W Car Charger. This thing costs only $29.99, which is fabulous considering you basically get a two-for-one deal with this product. Sure, there are cheaper car chargers at Amazon or Walmart, but they don't come with a cable built-in, and neither do they have 75W of power output.

So, if you need a car charger that fits into the auxiliary power outlet of your automobile, stop looking and buy the Anker Nano 75W Car Charger. It's the best car charger available right now.

We are a few weeks shy of the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, where the S25 lineup is scheduled to make its debut. Ahead of the launch, the World Power Consortium (WPC) has all but confirmed what we had all been suspecting for months now. Samsung is very likely going to be one of the first major Android phone brands to adopt the Qi2 spec, and I believe this will play a pivotal role in the industry.

In mid-December, several rumors and leaks hinted that the Galaxy S25 will support Qi2 wireless charging, but not in the way you'd expect. Allegedly, Samsung will use a magnetic case to enable the magnetic aspect of Qi2 instead of adding magnets natively to the S25 series. Based on the WPC's CES 2025 announcement and the OnePlus 13 release, we can assume that this is accurate.

Samsung and the WPC made a joint statement where the Korean phone maker said the following:

Google also made a similar statement under the same press release, but no promises were made of Pixel devices picking up the standard. Instead, the Alphabet-owned tech giant vowed to bring Qi2 to more Android devices this year.

While HMD Global's HMD Skyline is technically the first Qi2 Android phone, it didn't make any waves in the Android space. This is why I feel that the Galaxy S25 coming with Qi2 support — with or without magnets — is what's going to really get the Qi2 ball rolling. After all, Samsung sells more smartphones than any other phone manufacturer in the world and could easily influence the rest to follow suit.

We have been waiting for Qi2 to take off for nearly two years now. The standard has officially been ready since early 2023, but most devices that use it are either iPhones or accessories like power banks and chargers. Both Samsung and Google were expected to take the lead with the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 lineups last year, but that didn't happen.

Now that the OnePlus 13 has adopted magnetic charging (sort of), Samsung will look very bad if it doesn't hop on board the Qi2 train. Just like the rumored S25 magnetic case, OnePlus also chose to rely on magnetic cases to bring Qi2-like charging to the OnePlus 13. Based on rumors, Samsung is going to do the same with the S25 series. Even then, this is an important step in the right direction.

Major changes in the phone industry have never come about overnight or transitioned smoothly. Just look at the headphone jack, for example. People ridiculed the idea at first and were angry once the 3.5mm port was eliminated from popular Android phones. But once bigwigs like Samsung started ditching the audio jack, everyone else followed suit.

Sure, many brands compensated users with USB-C to audio jack converters at first, but the world eventually adapted to the change. Wireless audio accessories are far more popular now and the headphone jack is no longer missed by most users.

This is exactly why Qi2 adoption on the Galaxy S25 will be so important. When the most prominent Android brand makes bold moves, everyone else will surely feel the need to follow the trend, either to stay relevant or to be more competitive. There are thousands of Qi2 accessories readily available, so the market is primed for the Qi2 revolution that Samsung is likely about to kickstart when the Galaxy S25 launches.

With just a few days to go until 2025, it's hard not to wonder what the future holds in store for accessories.

In the past, some of the most notable changes in the world of smartphone accessories have always been associated with the capabilities and characteristics of phones themselves. Revolutions in smartphones come and go, with record-breaking charging speeds and industry-shattering performance benchmarks met each year, and companion accessories come into play with these changes.

When it comes to accessories in 2025, I feel two main factors will reshape the landscape of the market: Qi2 and Bluetooth Auracast.

2025 could be the year of Qi2

Yes, I've been harping on about Qi2 for a while. I honestly thought the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and the Google Pixel 9 lineup would be the first to take this leap. Of course, that did not happen. Instead, the HMD Skyline turned out to be the first phone in the world to adopt the standard. There are no other Qi2-integrated Android phones at the moment; however, I haven't given up on Qi2 yet.

According to prominent tipster Ice Universe, the Samsung Galaxy S25 series will finally come with Qi2 wireless charging. As we discovered during our testing with the S24 Ultra, MagSafe cases and magnetic accessories interfere with S Pen functionality, so if this S25 rumor is true, it would require a massive undertaking on Samsung's part. The brand would need to reengineer the device's internals to fix this.

Another rumor from Suomimobiili, a Finnish tech news website, alleges that the S25 series will adopt the Qi2 standard but in an unexpected way. Apparently, Samsung will offer MagSafe cases for the Galaxy S25 lineup. This could mean two things: either Samsung will bring Qi2 to the S25 series, or it hopes that a magnetic phone cover can bridge that gap and bring magnetic wireless charging to its phones without native Qi2 compatibility.

As the world's top seller of smartphones, Samsung has the resources to make this a reality. If anyone can bring about the wider adoption of a new standard, it would definitely be Samsung — or Google. And now that hundreds, if not thousands, of Qi2 accessories, are so widely available, it only makes sense to launch a Qi2 phone now.

Auracast is going to redefine Bluetooth for the better

Like Qi2, Bluetooth Auracast isn't a new standard. The feature enables users to transmit audio playback to multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously. There are so many incredible ways this audio broadcast system can be utilized. Think Spotify Jam but local, without the need to use a specific app or have any sort of subscription or internet connection. Our managing editor, Derrek Lee, tested it at IFA 2024 and described it as "Bluetooth's final form" because it was that impressive.

The perfect example of how Auracast can be so useful would be at an airport or a public space. If you're listening to a podcast or streaming some music, you might miss important announcements. But with Bluetooth Auracast broadcasts, these announcements could be made directly to your earbuds.

I can think of so many other scenarios where this could be a lifesaver. Imagine being on a road trip with friends, but you're all in a bus, train, or maybe even a plane. You could all jam along to the same songs without disturbing other passengers via Auracast. It'd be like a private jam session or concert that no one else can hear.

Although it has been two and a half years since Bluetooth SIG announced Auracast, a public launch is still pending. I am confident that we will see the first Auracast phones in 2025. As with Qi2, there are tons of Auracast-ready audio accessories available now. Big-name brands like Marshall have started adding Bluetooth Auracast support to their new releases, and even smaller brands like EarFun are joining in.

With both Qi2 and Bluetooth Auracast looming on the horizon, 2025 is going to be a very interesting year. One thing's for sure: accessory makers are going to continue to make more and more products that support both features. Let's see whether my predictions about the widespread adoption of both Qi2 and Auracast come to pass.

The cat's out of the bag with the latest alleged leak from SuomiMobiili, a Finnish tech news site. Reportedly, Samsung will release a Qi2-compatible case for the Galaxy S25 series to go with the phones. The question is, what would this mean for the S25 lineup?

There's a lot of speculation going on at the moment, and for now, nothing regarding Qi2 support on Samsung's next flagships has been confirmed. That said, I believe that the company isn't going to bring native Qi2 support to its entire S25 family of phones due out in January 2025. My guess is that the base model S25 and S25 Plus could have Qi2 onboard, but probably not the S25 Ultra.

See, we ran tests and discovered that strong magnetic accessories interfere with the S Pen's functionality on the S24 Ultra. Bringing Qi2, a standard that is basically just rebranded MagSafe with 15W wireless charging, to the S25 Ultra would require Samsung to change the blueprint for its Ultra model, which is a big undertaking.

If the S25 Ultra skips native Qi2 compatibility, it's likely because Samsung did not have enough time to figure out a fix. A Qi2 phone cover is a short-term solution to buy time for Samsung until the S26 Ultra. Hopefully, by then, the brand will have found a way to rectify the magnetic interference issue.

It might not be the S Ultra phone's redesign alone that could solve the S Pen problem. Recently, another report surfaced from a Korean news outlet stating that Samsung is considering switching from EMR to battery-powered active electrostatic (AES) technology for S Pen styli meant to be used with the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The intention behind this move would be to make the Fold 7 thinner by removing the digitizer that goes on top of its display, which is the part that adds support for EMR stylus input. EMR is an abbreviation for electromagnetic resonance, a technology that works by interacting with a magnetic field on a screen's surface.

All S Pens are based on Wacom's EMR pen technology, including the one for the S24 Ultra. In fact, the only reason why you need to charge your S Pen at all is because of its Bluetooth features, like air gestures. EMR itself doesn't require any power whatsoever, but it does require a digitizer screen to work.

It could be possible that it's the EMR technology clashing with Qi2 or MagSafe magnetic accessories that causes the S Pen to malfunction. In that case, Samsung could switch over to AES tech on the Galaxy S26 Ultra following the Z Fold 7, fixing the thickness issue on the Fold 7 and potentially the Qi2/S Pen problem on the S26 Ultra. The only problem is that this will result in the S Pen being less compact than the current ones. Maybe that's why Samsung needs more time and is reportedly settling for a Qi2 workaround instead, at least for the time being.

It's high time the big phone brands started adopting the Qi2 standard. It's embarrassing to the Android phone space to think that HMD Global was the first brand to commit to native Qi2 support. Innovations like Qi2 keep the ball rolling in the smartphone industry and push for the conception of newer technologies and specifications.

As reliable and popular as Samsung's Galaxy S series might be, the phones have become increasingly stale over the past two releases. The Galaxy S22, S23, and S24 all look nearly identical and don't change much. And with Galaxy AI available on both the S22 and S23 series, there are even fewer reasons for anyone to really want to buy the latest Samsung phone.

The S25 series desperately needs something fresh, and Qi2 is definitely that "something fresh" that can breathe new life into the Galaxy S lineup.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday were exceedingly long this year. In fact, some Cyber Monday deals are still around! If you took advantage of the sales and got yourself an e-reader, that's awesome. You might just kickstart a reading habit right in time for 2025.

Choosing the right e-ink tablet is no easy task. There are so many cool options to pick from, even if they're not as versatile as full-blown Android tablets from the likes of Samsung, Google, and OnePlus. If you just bought an e-reader, here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new device.

I've been mad about e-readers and anything E Ink since the days of the Sony Reader, c. 2006. Allow an avid bookwork such as myself to help you get the best possible reading experience from your fancy new reading tab.

Adjust your settings

Whether it's an Amazon Kindle or an Onyx Boox, your new e-reader has various brightness, contrast, and light settings. Modern E Ink tablets all let you adjust the backlight and front light as well. This is the first thing to tweak right after setting up your new e-reader. Find the right balance of brightness and saturation to give you maximum eye comfort while reading.

I like to turn the brightness and warmth levels down to give my e-reader the most paper-like feel possible. This looks especially nice on color e-readers such as the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C or the Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C. Since these tabs have anti-glare displays, the papery look is absolutely fantastic with dimmer backlighting.

Of course, this is a subjective setting. My friend and colleague Nick Sutrich, for example, likes his settings to be on the warmer side as it's easier on his eyes.

After the display satisfies your eyeballs, customize any physical page-turning buttons that your e-reader may or may not have. You can also customize the gestures on your tablet for more efficient readability and usability.

For example, the latest Onyx Boox tablets have vertical swipe gestures along either side of the screen that can be personalized. I like mine to be set to brightness and volume adjustability. Swiping up along the right corner increases brightness, whereas swiping downwards along the edge of the display decreases it. It's the same thing for the volume settings but on the left side of the display. You get the gist.

Try different reading apps

If you're on an Android e-reader like a Boox or a Bigme, you're going to be very happy. One of the biggest reasons why I love Android e-readers like these is because I can download and use any of my favorite reading apps or just any of the best Android apps, period. Amazon limits you from doing so, which I find stifling.

Open the Google Play Store on your Android E Ink tablet and go crazy kid. From the Kindle store and Manga Plus to Crunchyroll and Wattpad, you can go all out. It's one of the most exciting parts of setting up your new e-reader. Google Play Books is pretty great, too, and if you're in the North American region, you'll find great sales on the platform. You should also get local library apps, such as Libby, so you can borrow e-books from digital libraries in your neighborhood.

I like to install the Google Drive app as well so I can access my personal library of e-books, which I've been collecting and adding to for a decade now. If you're accessing a local library from your laptop or PC, I highly recommend Calibre for computers. Not only does it help you convert e-book formats and add your preferred covers to them, but you can directly connect your e-reader to your computer and sort, arrange, import, export, convert, and edit e-books via Calibre. It's the ultimate e-book management tool, and it's free to use!

And don't forget to adjust screen settings per app once you're done decking out your e-reader. Some content, such as graphic novels and manga, require different profiles and contrast settings compared to apps like e-book readers or web browsers.

Goodreads is invaluable

After you're all set with the right apps and tools, it's time to start reading! But don't forget, you can track your reading with the fabulous Goodreads app. Disagree with me all you want, but you probably didn't read 300 books in one summer, so I'm vetoing everyone. Goodreads is the perfect platform to track your reading progress, set reading goals, find new reads, and just talk about books in general.

My e-reader setup is incomplete without Goodreads on it. I don't know how I would keep up with my yearly reading goals without the platform. You can set a yearly reading challenge for yourself, and it is completely customizable. It's highly motivating to see how much you've read at any given point in the year.

The Goodreads community is warm, welcoming, and extremely passionate. There are community events where users can vote on the best books of the year in each category or create their own lists. You can even become a Goodreads librarian if you want. Be sure to check it out to help you find all the latest and greatest new releases in whatever genre of books you prefer.

There's no limit or end to what you can do to make your e-reading experience better. These were my top tips and tricks based on countless e-readers and E Ink tablets that I have used and tested.

Keep playing around with your new e-reader and have fun with it; that's the most important thing. I hope you enjoy your reading sessions and find the perfect read for any mood. Now curl up in a cozy nook with a warm cuppa coffee, preferably a furry four-legged companion, and a soft blanket. Happy reading!

Raycon is venturing into uncharted territories with some of its new releases. The brand's Magic Flex Cable 6-in-1 and Magic Spin Cable try to re-invent the wheel by adding moving parts to a USB-C cable. Crazy as it may sound, it works!

I didn't expect a brand that usually makes budget-friendly audio accessories like wireless earbuds and headphones to make good cables. Yes, it's a tech company, but the audio and charging sectors are quite different.

Anker seems to manage and excel in both sectors. Raycon is no Anker in terms of audio gadgets, but the brand's USB cables are just as good as those of the well-established charging and audio accessory brand.

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I'm not going to lie; I wasn't immediately impressed with the Magic Flex Cable 6-in-1. At first, I thought it was just an ordinary nylon braided USB cable. I didn't read the instructions and kept wondering why Raycon sent me a Lightning cable. Then, I looked at the instruction manual.

The clever Magic Flex Cable 6-in-1 comes in 6.6ft and 0.5ft lengths. I was sent the longer variant for testing. It is rated 100W so you can easily fast charge a laptop, smartphone, or literally anything without worrying about charging speeds or power load compatibility issues, so long as you have a wall charger that supports such speeds.

The insanely cool part comes in when you look at the connectors. At first, you'd think the Raycon Magic Flex Cable 6-in-1 is a typical USB-A to Lightning cable. However, each of the connectors' heads pop out to reveal a Type-C connector on the bottom. The cable comes with built-in converters, and they can slide on or off as quickly as blinking. If you're wondering, it's impossible to lose the swappable connectors because they're attached to the base USB-C connector.

On top of that, the nylon braided 100W cable has a flat shape, much like fettuccine pasta. This makes it easier to tuck away the flat cable. Since both connectors are magnetic, they automatically stick together and prevent tangles.

Every aspect of the cable's design is so well thought out, from the changeable connectors to their magnetic nature.

Raycon also launched another interesting USB-C cable called the Magic Spin Cable. This cord comes in either 3ft or 6.6ft sizes and is also rated 100W. I love that this cable has the same rugged nylon braided exterior layer as the Raycon Magic Flex Cable 6-in-1.

The Raycon Magic Spin Cable doesn't have exchangeable connectors. You can choose between a USB-C to USB-C cable or a USB-C to Lightning cable. I tried both and they're identical in every way, except for the connectors of course.

Each head of the Raycon Magic Spin Cable has a little lightning bolt-shaped LED light that lights up when in use. The connector has an extremely rare mechanism that allows for 180-degree rotation without breakage.

It prevents your phone from getting stuck at awkward angles while charging or while transferring data. There's even a smart chip inside the cable to enable intelligent heat management.

The moving USB-C connector blew my mind. In fact, I'm still not over it. Raycon's concoction made me ask myself why isn't every cable like this. With specs like these, you wouldn't need to upgrade your cable for many years to come.

Both cables are exceedingly well-designed and priced competitively. The build quality is on par with the best-name brands like Anker and UGREEN. Nylon braided cables easily last years at a stretch. If you want a new USB-C cable, either one will fulfill your needs.

If push came to shove, I'd give the Raycon Magic Flex Cable 6-in-1 the edge over the Raycon Magic Spin Cable, though. This is because it comes with swappable connectors, making it more versatile. You can use the Magic Flex Cable with a lot more devices.

I had good fun playing around with these cables. If anything, it was enjoyable looking at my friends and family's reactions to these swappable and spinning USB cables. With the holidays around the corner, these are excellent stocking stuffers.

Phone grips are addictive. Once you get used to them, there's no going back. We don't realize how much pressure we apply on our fingers by holding modern 6-inch phones throughout the day. Some people even get repetitive strain injuries.

I cannot do without a phone grip to save my life. If you've been following my writings for a while, you'll know that I'm a stupidly clumsy person. Good phone cases have saved all the phones I've owned to date — for the most part. But everything changed when I started using phone grips.

The fatal flaw in typical phone grips was always the way they attached. Sure, 3M adhesive is strong, but that can be a problem when you want to charge your phone wirelessly or perhaps scan something via NFC. Thus, I strongly believe that MagSafe phone grips are superior to all others. As a MagSafe accessories expert, here are my favorite MagSafe phone grips ranked.

1. PopSockets Phone Grip with MagSafe Adapter Ring

It may seem like I'm just following trends or whatever's popular, but trust me when I say this: PopSockets makes the best MagSafe phone grip. It's lightweight, comfortable to use, available in a trillion designs, and can pop in and out to suit your needs.

What I love even more about the PopSockets Phone Grip with MagSafe Adapter Ring is that it already includes magnetic adapter rings inside the box. So even if you're an Android user without Qi2, you can slap on the magnetic stickers and use the PopSickets grip instantly.

The one caveat is that the PopSockets Phone Grip with MagSafe Adapter Ring does not have a swappable top, something that you'd expect from the brand. It isn't very durable either, and I ended up breaking mine, thinking I could take the top off. Even then, I still can't get over the ergonomic feel of it.

2. UAG Magnetic Ring Stand

Not all phone grips are made to last. The PopSockets Phone Grip might be my favorite, but I can't deny it is a little flimsy. When it comes to sturdiness, the UAG Magnetic Ring Stand has my complete and undivided attention.

UAG decided to go for an all-metal build, which is why this clever hexagonal MagSafe is so durable and tough. If it falls on the floor, you're more likely to scratch your tiles than to damage the Magnetic Ring Stand. It can prop up any phone, no matter how large or heavy, and never loses form once adjusted to any angle.

I like that UAG released matching phone cases to go with its Magnetic Ring Stand's design and colorways. But you don't have to worry about the corresponding cases if they aren't available for your phone or you just don't want to buy them. UAG includes magnetic ring stickers in the box as well, making this expensive grip a pretty good buy. I still wish it was cheaper, though.

3. CASETiFY Snappy Grip Stand

The CASETiFY Snappy Grip Stand acts as a kickstand and detaches easily, thanks to its magnetic nature. CASETiFY's Snappy Grip Stand can be fully customized and comes in two main types of finishes. You can either get the silver mirror finish or an opaque design. If the hundreds of patterns don't satisfy you, the mirror finish can further be customized.

I use the plain Jane Mirror Grip Stand because it lets me use the MagSafe grip as a compact mirror as well. This eliminates the need for me to carry one more thing in my purse of wonders, or as my husband likes to call it, Hermione's bag.

I don't find the Mirror Snappy Grip Stand to be anywhere near as comfortable as the PopSockets or the UAG options, but it's insanely cool. Cool and quirky accessories are always worth your while. It's easy to get the run-of-the-mill stuff from a dozen assorted brands, but unique options like the CASETiFY Snappy Grip Stand keep things interesting. It might be expensive for a phone grip, but I like the concept and admire the brand's creative spirit.

So there you have it. These are my top three favorite MagSafe phone grips. Each one has its own specialty and brings something different to the table. They're all within the $20 to $35 price range and come in plenty of fun designs too.

I have tried hundreds of PopSockets, grips, handles, rings, and all sorts of phone-holding accessories. But these three MagSafe ones are the best in my eyes, both in terms of comfort and functionality.

Do you think there's something even more epic for me to try out there? Let me know in the comments below and I might just give it a go!

EcoFlow has done exceedingly well with its versatile array of portable power stations and power kits. Our reviewers have always found the brand's products to be top-tier, especially the large-and-in-charge EcoFlow Delta Pro, and more recently, the EcoFlow River 2 Max. It seems that EcoFlow is now switching lanes and pivoting to smaller, more pocket-sized power solutions with its new launches.

The company just launched its first MagSafe and Qi2-compatible power bank called the EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank (5000mAh). It's nice to EcoFlow try its hand at something different, especially because the on-paper specs look very attractive.

Other products released alongside the EcoFlow Rapid include a few USB-C chargers and the usual power stations and kits. The magnetic power bank stood out to me, so I decided to test it out for myself.

My go-to portable power bank is a credit card-sized one from Zendure. Ever since I got it last year, the Zendure SuperMini has been in my purse and has traveled to at least three countries with me. Although I am really fond of my Zendure SuperMini, the 10,000mAh battery pack is heavier than it looks, which isn't ideal for portability.

So, I ditched the Zendure in favor of the EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank for a weekend trip. Since I carry at least two phones with me at all times, having access to a power bank on the go is crucial for me. That said, swapping a generous 10,000mAh power bank for a 5,000mAh one made me nervous because it can only recharge one phone fully on a single charge.

However, I soon realized that you probably don't really need much more than a 5,000mAh power bank. Most people with regular jobs carry a single phone. Even if you carry two phones, you probably charge them fully before heading out or will likely only find yourself needing to charge one while you're out and about. That's what I do, as it makes sense to be prudent and reduces potential hassle.

The EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank might have a smaller battery capacity, but it brings several key advantages in exchange for that sacrifice. A big pro is the built-in USB-C cable. This instantly reduced clutter in my purse as I didn't have to carry a cable.

You get a decent 30W wired charging speed with the built-in Type-C cable, which is more than enough juice for my Pixel 8. Most power banks this small usually only support around 20W wired charging speeds. For example, the Anker 633 Magnetic Battery only supports 20W charging.

It has a USB-C port on the side for power input, which is also a speedy 30W, so you can recharge it quickly. There are LED indicators on the back to let you know how much power is left in the power bank and whether it is charging. And if you want to forgo the cable entirely, the EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank also supports 15W Qi2 and MagSafe wireless charging. You can also charge two devices at once, one via cable and the other wirelessly.

The power bank's magnetism works in its favor in more than one way. Of course, it helps to align the wireless charging coils and keeps them in place. But it also acts as a grip to hold your phone when the EcoFlow Rapid's clip-shaped kickstand is in use. The kickstand can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations.

EcoFlow did a good job with the design. The mix of gray, ash, and silver hues combined with different textures looks awesome and it's functional too. Thanks to the blend of different materials used to make the EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank, it has an anti-slip base that prevents your phone from slipping when propped up.

Another cool thing about the compact design is that the EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank is just as small as popular alternatives like the Zendure SuperMini but weighs next to nothing in comparison. Of course, you only get half the power, which is a factor to consider.

I'm excited to know that EcoFlow will soon release a 10,000mAh version of this brilliant little magnetic power bank. I just hope it retains the size and doesn't add too much weight compared to the 5,000mAh variant. It is still a good buy, although the $69.99 price tag is a little steep.

Frugal buyers could wait until November 21 to take advantage of the early Black Friday sale, which EcoFlow has already announced on its website. The EcoFlow Rapid Magnetic Power Bank (5000mAh) is slated to go on sale for $39.99 once the deal goes live. Now that would make this already great purchase an absolute steal.

I can't tell you how many times a week I get asked, "What phone should I buy, Namerah?". What most people fail to ask, however, is what steps you need to take after you've bought your phone. Since nobody asked, I'm going to tell you anyway.

Once you've spent your very hard-earned money on something, you obviously want it to last. Phones are investments, people; they require some good TLC. If you intend to hold on to your device for at least two to three years, you can't use it as is out of the box. Preserving its condition is important, especially when you intend to trade it in a few years down the line. The better the condition, the higher the trade-in value.

If you're rocking a ball-busting flagship, the last thing you'd want is a scratch or crack. The best Android phones cost over a thousand dollars these days. Who wouldn't want to keep that valuable of a possession in good shape?

So, here are the first five things that you need to buy right after purchasing your brand-new phone. Some of these add-ons protect your phone, while others provide essential services.

1. A charging brick

Unfortunately, the trend with modern smartphones is to eliminate useful things and then call it a feature. Just like headphone jacks and microSD card slots, USB-C chargers are no longer available with newer Android and iOS phones. You do get a USB-C cable in the box, but not the adapter to plug into, so it needs to be bought separately.

While you probably have a charging brick lying around at home, the wattage and ports need to be correct so you can get your phone's maximum charging speed. Another factor to worry about is whether your phone has a specific fast charging standard that needs to be met, like Programmable Power Supply (PPS) or Power Deliver (PD).

I won't get into the specifics, but be sure to read the fine print and match your phone's fast charging standard with the charger that you're buying. If you're feeling lost, we do have a handy guide to the best USB-C chargers for Android and iOS to help you understand and make an informed decision.

2. A screen protector

I know some people like to risk it all and use their phones in the nude. I think those people are stupid. Even a cheap $5 plastic screen protector or the free factory-installed film on your phone is better than using your phone without any protection.

Accidents happen; we are all human. The problem is not every phone company is going to replace your expensive 120Hz AMOLED screen for free. What's worse is that some brands don't even offer screen replacement at all, even if you have the money to pay for it. Why risk that?

Screen protectors are of mainly two types. You've got your sturdy tempered glass protectors with 9H hardness. These are great for shatter-proofing but not always case-friendly. They also don't play nice with curved displays.

The other sort is a plastic film, which is generally made of PET or TPU. If you're buying the fancy sort, it might even be a hybrid "glass-tic" mix like the kind offered by ZAGG. TPU and hybrid films are generally more durable. Films are thinner than glass, so you get a much better touch response. They can also self-heal small abrasions. However, you do not get hardy shatter-proofing or as robust drop protection for your phone's screen, so choose wisely.

3. A phone case

If you're planning on trading in your phone, it's a very smart idea to purchase a phone case to keep its body in mint condition. Another reason is to add friction. A lot of sleek and sexy-looking smartphones as very slippery. You can fix this problem and prevent accidental drops with the help a decent case, especially one that has scored or textured sides for added grip.

Phone cases and covers are a dime a dozen. You can find all manner of phone cases, from thin, lightweight ones to thick, heavy-duty ones. Price isn't an issue for most devices unless you're looking to buy a case for a foldable phone.

Apart from the price, focus on the impact protection offered by the phone case you're eyeing. Many case makers specify how many feet of drop protection their cases add, and some even go the extra mile by adding an antimicrobial layer that kills germs.

4. A pair of wireless earbuds

You might be scoffing at this one, but let me tell you why you're wrong. Flagship and mid-range phones no longer have headphone jacks. So, what will you do when you want to listen to music privately or watch something in a public space? I'll tell you what you won't do: blast your tunes or play your video on your phone's speaker as people eye you on the subway or the local coffee shop.

Of course, you need a pair of decent wireless earbuds to go with your audio port-less phone. How else would you get audio playback delivered directly to your ears? The good news is that you don't need to shell out hundreds of dollars to get a good pair of earbuds. For example, the CMF by Nothing Buds cost only $39!

5. A MagSafe adapter ring

I am a firm believer that a MagSafe adapter is the one ring to rule them all. Forget smart rings, you can get this sticky magnetic adapter for any phone with the spare change in your pocket. But why is it an essential purchase? Let me explain.

Once you have all the basics like a screen protector and a phone case, you'll want more accessories a phone grip or a stand. A MagSafe adapter enables you to magnetically attach any accessory and detach it at will, whenever, wherever. It's a high level of convenience that cannot be attained otherwise.

Think about it. You don't need to fiddle with stupid arms on a car charger or stand anymore. Phone grips won't have to be adhesively attached to your phone case forever. And you can use wireless chargers without fear of the coils becoming misaligned. Getting a MagSafe adapter ring opens up a world of opportunities for your Android or older iOS device. You can use all the best MagSafe accessories with it, whether they're Qi2 wireless car chargers, MagSafe phone grips, or magnetic wallet attachments.

This isn't the end of the line when it comes to accessorizing and customizing your phone. You can get smartwatches, smart rings, power banks, and all sorts of extras to go with your phone. Some folks like buying kickstands and selfie-sticks. Others like Bluetooth accessories like speakers.

You can get as many additional gadgets and accessories as you want to go with your phone. However, anything else you get would be non-essential, at least in my books.

OnePlus didn't make much noise when it launched its AI Eraser back in April 2024, but so far, AI Eraser is the most interesting feature of OnePlus AI on global OnePlus devices. You can use it on the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 12R, OnePlus 11, OnePlus Open, and OnePlus Nord CE 4. Before OnePlus though, Google was the first one to pioneer this feature.

Always happy to have more variety, I decided to give OnePlus' AI Eraser a go on my OnePlus 12R. I wanted to see whether it could beat Google's Magic Eraser, which I favor over Samsung's Object Eraser based on my personal user experience.

Magic Eraser is definitely the most accessible and popular erasing tool on phones. I use it almost every day, especially when I'm on holiday or taking product pictures for reviews. However, it's not the brightest tool in the shed. There are times when I am left very frustrated and annoyed by the stupidity of AI.

Back when Magic Eraser first made its debut with the Google Pixel 6 series, I was flabbergasted at the tool's capabilities. I'm not alone, we're all big fans of AI-based erasers here at Android Central. Our managing editor, Derrek Lee, used Object Eraser, Samsung's version of it, to restore hundreds of precious family photographs of his late grandfather a few years back.

Of course, in 2024, such a tool isn't so novel anymore. Now that every other phone brand is rushing to add AI features to their products, there is a ton of competition for Google and Samsung. Not to mention, anyone can now use Google's Magic Eraser on their phones as long as they have a Google One subscription, including iPhone users. Let's see whether the OnePlus AI Eraser can compete with the bigwigs.

OnePlus' AI Eraser vs. Google's Magic Eraser

The OnePlus AI Eraser is fairly basic. You start by heading into the native Photos app on your OnePlus phone. Once you click the Edit button on an image, the AI Eraser tool shows up among the array of other photo editing tools.

OnePlus' AI Eraser has three main options: Smart lasso, Paint over, and Remove people. I'll walk you through each option and my experience with it one by one.

Ironically, Smart lasso was the least intelligent option of the three. I suppose the idea is that you select an object or portion of the image by using a lasso tool, just like you would on Photoshop. However, the implementation of it is sloppy and only works half the time. I tried to use the Smart lasso and failed constantly, eventually giving up entirely. It was so much easier to use the Paint over masking tool to manually select bits to erase.

The Paint over option is surprisingly capable. It's simple to use: you just annotate whatever part of the image needs erasure with your finger by drawing over it in a single stroke. AI takes care of the rest.

My first test image was captured with my OnePlus 12R. Here's the original:

My goal was to erase the red plastic chair legs in the lower-right corner. Here's how OnePlus AI Eraser took care of the chair legs:

It looks really natural, and unless I had mentioned it, you probably wouldn't have noticed the extra line on the floor replicating the edges of the floor tiles.

I used the same manual selection tool and highlighted the exact same spot on my Pixel 8's Google Photos app. Shockingly, Magic Eraser didn't fare so well when removing the red chair legs. As you can see below, there's a weird gray shadowy blob where the chair legs used to be instead of a perfectly imitated tile. The edges of the tiles are much more realistic, though.

I replicated my experiment with an old picture I shot in a pet shop. The image was captured with my OnePlus 3T back in 2019. This was a much more challenging image for AI because of the grill on the cat's cage. Here's the original picture:

Again, I used the Paint over option for precision and tried to remove the grill in front of the cat. The results were odd, to say the least, but you'll be surprised to know that OnePlus' AI Eraser was not the worst performer.

Google's Magic Eraser completely misunderstood the assignment. Instead of erasing the grill, it ended up deleting the cat — the main subject of the image.

Lastly, I also checked OnePlus' capability to erase people from the background of shots. For this segment, I used a picture captured by my trusty Pixel 8. Here's the original photo:

Again, OnePlus impressed me with the AI Eraser's Remove people feature. This is my favorite result out of all three images.

While Magic Eraser is really good, it still had two or three stragglers in the back. It'll definitely need do overs for better results.

Clearly, OnePlus is on the right track with its AI Eraser. The cat in the cage, in particular, showcases how smart the AI really is, especially compared to Magic Eraser, which misunderstood which parts of the image needed to be removed. Although the people in the background of my holiday picture could easily be removed by manually masking them with Magic Eraser, AI Eraser auto-detected all of them from the get-go and eliminated the need for me to go in and make additional edits.

I can't wait to see what more OnePlus has in store for us. To think that such a new object-erasing tool can hold its own against the well-established Magic Eraser is really something. My only complaint was with the Smart lasso but the Paint over option does the trick. I do wish OnePlus would let us save the edited image as a new image, which isn't an option at the moment. Any changes made with the OnePlus AI Eraser are permanent changes made to the original shot.

Of course, we can't compare the prowess of OnePlus Photos with Google Photos or Magic Editor. You can't increase or decrease the size of something by pinching it, nor can you add people to pictures. However, the OnePlus AI Eraser has set the right tone and makes me positive about any other competing AI-based photo editing tools that OnePlus might bring to OxygenOS.

AI has become a trend that has taken the world by storm. Tech bigwigs like Samsung, Google, and Apple all made AI an integral part of their latest flagship phones. Unsurprisingly, accessory brands like Logitech are now bringing AI into the peripherals and accessories space as well.

Logitech just launched a brand new Bluetooth keyboard as an extension of its POP lineup. The latest entrant to this stylish family of peripherals is named the POP Icon Keys, and it has AI features baked in. AI on a Bluetooth keyboard might sound outlandish and ridiculous, but Logitech doesn't fool around, so I decided to go into this review with an open mind.

The POP series features peripherals with compact form factors and splashy color combinations like orange and white or hot pink and rose gold. Up until now, the POP lineup consisted of the tiny POP Mouse and the compact POP Keys mechanical keyboard. Both devices are compatible with various platforms, including Android.

You can get the Logitech POP ICON Keys keyboard standalone for $50 or with the POP Mouse as part of the POP Combo for $70. It is much more compact than the POP Keys mechanical keyboard, but the colorways are the same, and it stays consistent with the design language and color story of the POP series.

For the sake of intense testing, I typed out this entire hands-on review using the POP Icon Keys keyboard. And get this: I actually typed on three different devices while switching mediums to finish the entire article. This includes my OnePlus 12R, Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook, and HP Victus 16 laptop.

The initial setup took hardly a few seconds on my laptop. I proceeded to add two more devices, which took about 10 to 15 seconds each, which is mind-blowingly fast. Even my Android TV paired with the keyboard in under 30 seconds. Thanks to the three dedicated Easy Switch buttons on the keyboard, connecting to and switching between three devices is blazing quick. I am obliged to say that multi-platform connectivity was seamless and superbly good fun.

While it isn't a new release, I decided to use the POP mouse with the keyboard as they are part of the same family and are meant to be used together. I found that the keyboard switches much faster than the mouse since it has dedicated keys for each of the three devices connected simultaneously. With the mouse, you need to turn it around and click a button to switch.

Typing with the new Logitech POP Icon Keys keyboard takes some getting used to, as is the case with any new keyboard. The low profile of the compact keyboard isn’t always ideal for fast and accurate typing, but it’s not fair to compare such a slim and affordable keyboard with the prowess of a 100% full-sized keyboard, of course. After an hour or so of typing, I got used to its layout and size.

Its compact size works in its favor when traveling because the Logitech POP ICON Keys is lightweight and impressively slim. It's almost as slim as my Duet 5 Chromebook. I had no trouble fitting both the POP Icon Keys and POP Mouse in a tote bag, along with the Duet 5 Chromebook. The bag wasn't too heavy either, so I know I'll be taking it out on the go with me again.

At first glance, you could say the fun begins with the design of the keyboard. The color combinations are bold and highly attractive. You can't help but want to own the POP series of peripherals for purely superficial reasons. But the good part comes afterward when you actually start to use the keyboard.

The Logitech POP Icon Keys keyboard is one of the most versatile wireless keyboards I have ever used. It works with almost every single popular operating system, be it iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome OS, or Google TV. I suspect it will connect with anything at this point.

There are a total of 15 customizable keys on the Logitech POP Icon Keys keyboard. What's really cool is that Logitech added an AI prompt builder to the companion application, Logi Options Plus. You can customize any key to do a number of things via this computer app, broadly categorized into two main groups: Smart Actions and Other Actions.

Smart Actions include actions like Open AI Prompt Builder, Open ChatGPT, and Ask Perplexity. These functions can be further customized by editing every step that makes up each action. You can do this through the Logi Options Plus app by heading into the Smart Actions and selecting an option to customize further.

And if that level of control isn't enough, you can even create your own Smart Actions from scratch. It's almost like programming an algorithm, where you create conditions, triggers, and step-by-step actions to happen sequentially.

Unfortunately, these cool shortcuts don't work with every device. If you truly want to enjoy the best features of the Logitech POP ICON Keys, you have to use it with a laptop or a PC. I also highly suggest using the POP Mouse along with the Logitech POP Icon Keys keyboard because it has similarly customizable buttons that can be used with the Logi Options Plus app and can be assigned Smart Actions, too.

Using both the POP Mouse and ICON Keys together with an Android phone, Android tablet, or Chromebook transforms your mobile device into a productivity machine. I can see students as well as working professionals using this bundle, especially while traveling. These battery-powered accessories last for years before needing their batteries changed. You need AAA batteries for both, which isn't exactly eco-friendly, but since they last so long, you won't need to change them very often.

The multi-device connectivity and smooth operation of both Bluetooth accessories even convinced me to actually use my Chromebook, with which I have a love-hate relationship. It goes to show that with the right accessories, you can maximize your productivity to a new level.

The POP Mouse and its former partner, the POP Keys mechanical keyboard, have always been really popular. I can see why Logitech has introduced a regular non-mechanical keyboard to the POP series. It is so much more compact and quieter than the POP Keys mechanical keyboard, making it attractive to a wider audience. Not everyone wants a loud keyboard, especially if you're a student sitting in a library or a working person typing in a shared office.

If you ask me whether you should buy the Logitech POP ICON Keys keyboard, it's a very passionate yes from me. The only thing I'd add is that if you can afford it, pay another $20 and get the Logitech POP ICON Combo instead. It comes with the POP Mouse, which adds a lot of functionality to your workflow, especially when used in tandem with the POP Icon Keys.

In his Pixel Watch 3 review, Android Central's senior editor for wearables, Michael Hicks, said that the Watch 3 fixes most of the Watch 2's shortcomings. However, I'd like to focus on one irrevocable drawback of the Watch 3: band compatibility.

We're now on the third iteration of the Pixel Watch. Launched in August 2024, this year's Google smartwatch came out a little earlier than its older siblings. The original Pixel Watch made its debut at at the October 2022 Made by Google event.

Three generations onwards, and support for third-party bands is embarrassingly bad. We were all dismayed when the OG Pixel Watch launched with proprietary connectors. Unlike Samsung's Galaxy Watch series, you cannot use standard quick-release lugs with any of Google's watches. This limits most users to first-party bands. Just like the Pixel Watch 3 itself, you probably know how expensive that can be. Unless you get the Watch 3 on sale, for example, like the ongoing October Prime Day 2024, buying it along with first-party bands could bankrupt you.

To everyone's dismay, the Pixel Watch 3 continues to use proprietary connectors. People who want more variety end up using workarounds like quick-release adapters from no-name Chinese manufacturers on Amazon. Our very own Nick Sutrich tested them, and the result was very unreliable. You run the great risk of having the band and adapter pop out of Google's Pixel Watch connectors, which can result in breakage. Such a high-level risk isn't worth it for a wearable that cannot be repaired.

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So, what gives? Why don't third-party brands work with Google to release affordable alternatives? Well, it's not like there are zero options. However, Google doesn't seem to have encouraged accessory makers enough as it usually does with phone case makers for the Pixel phone series.

For example, there's a wide selection of vetted third-party phone cases and accessories under the Made by Google moniker. But there are zero Made by Google brand collabs for Pixel wearables. This reinforces my belief that proprietary bands were not the right move for Pixel Watches. Yes, Google-made smartwatches are stunning and offer so many awesome features, but this lack of band support just might be a deal-breaker for many folks.

Not everyone can splurge so much money on a simple watch band. Third-party offerings almost always cost way cheaper than first-party options. This stands true for all accessories, be they watch bands, phone cases, USB cables, or chargers.

Spigen and its sister brand Caseology are two of the very few name brands that make bands for Pixel Watches. However, even their lineup for Google's wearables pales in comparison to what they offer for Samsung and Apple smartwatches. I reached out to them to look into why this is the case with the Pixel Watch, despite it being on the third generation now.

Spigen's answer was short and straightforward. According to them, there isn't enough demand for them to offer a larger variety of bands for the Pixel Watch. It boils down to sheer numbers, and the Pixel Watch community is relatively much younger than Apple and Samsung's wearable users. As the number of Pixel Watch users grows, Spigen plans to add to the lineup accordingly. This is probably what other manufacturers are thinking as well.

Until then, we're all forced to purchase first-party bands if we want assurance that the band will fit and lock in. There are plenty of cheap non-name offerings online, but none of them have great reviews.

Now, Google's first-party bands for the Pixel Watch series aren't half bad, but they are very pricey. The Active Band continues to be my all-time favorite, and with the release of the Pixel Watch 3, the size and color ranges have been expanded. There's nothing quite like it, and I say that as someone who uses Samsung, Amazfit, and Fossil smartwatches on the regular, among others. The Active Band's soft fluoroelastomer is of unrivaled quality, gentle on the skin, hypoallergenic, and waterproof. I wear it almost every single day, in fact.

There are loads of other options from Google, but they aren't available in every region. Worse than that is the cost of getting one. The cheapest Pixel Watch band starts at $50, which is ridiculous for a plain old synthetic rubber watch strap.

It gets even worse because the official Metal Links Band is more than half the cost of the basic Pixel Watch 3. Let that sink in — $200 for a bloody metal band. The joke doesn't end with the nonsensical pricing because this mega-expensive band doesn't even come in all three of the smartwatch's shades. If you want a Champagne Gold metal band that fits your Pixel Watch, you're stuck with the thinner Metal Slim Band, priced at $180.

Why wouldn't they offer this shade for the wider Metal Links Band as well? And did I mention that the Metal Slim Band hasn't even started selling yet? At the end of the day, we're forced to buy bands from Google for unreasonable sums of money, and the band range isn't even inclusive enough. Hopefully, the Pixel Watch 4 will be enough to convince third-party brands — as well as Google — that we need more variety and cheap Pixel Watch bands that are guaranteed to work well.

I had been fiddling with the idea of replacing my Android TV with a projector for a while before I bit the bullet. It was the one thing I wanted to buy last Prime Day because I felt it would be the perfect substitute for a smart TV.

Of course, a projector cannot get as bright and crisp as a real television set, so you might be curious about my conviction to go forth with this plan. My bedroom is insanely small. There are boxes full of stuff everywhere, and I cannot even fit a full-blown wardrobe or a proper dressing table in there.

Thus, putting a TV in such a small room was out of the question. But at one point, streaming my favorite shows before bedtime on my smartphone just wasn't cutting it. I toyed with the idea of a wall-mounted screen, but that would further shrink my already tiny bedroom.

There are other limitations of a projector as well. It needs to be mounted on a mount or a stand; most of them need to be plugged in to function, and cheap ones don't come with Google TV or Android TV.

The first two issues were significant for my small room conundrum. I had to configure the room's furniture arrangement and determine whether such a setup would be less untidy and occupy less space as opposed to a regular old wall-mounted Android TV.

After considering everything, I decided to get the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro for my experiment. XGIMI provided a sample to help me test this idea. This affordable little projector has a built-in stand that swivels at an angle. As for the height-adjustable stand, I got a cheap off-brand one online.

Had I bought the projector with my own money, the entire setup would still have cost me almost exactly $500. That's filthy cheap, especially considering that the MoGo 3 Pro can project screen sizes as big as 120 inches! That's big enough to cover a significant portion of my bedroom wall.

To make the most of the experience, I decided to place the projector right next to my bed, sandwiched between my bedside table and the bed. Conveniently, there's an electrical socket in that vicinity where I have my multiport USB-C charger plugged in. The swiveling design of the MoGo 3 Pro really came in handy here because I didn't need to twist and turn or readjust the stand itself once it was planted in its spot.

The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro has auto keystone correction with a dedicated button for this on the remote control. The remote itself is like any other smart Android TV remote; you can use Google Assistant to look up stuff and use the Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon Prime buttons to quickly open those apps. And what's even cooler is there's an extra unlabeled shortcut button that is completely customizable. I have mine set to Disney Plus, but you can choose any app you like.

The picture quality is really good too, delivering a 1080p resolution. The brightness is improved with this iteration, going from 400 lumens on the MoGo 2 Pro to 450 lumens on the MoGo 3 Pro. It's not a major improvement, but it is certainly noticeable. Overall, I felt satisfied with the image output. It's ideal for nighttime streaming and binge-watching my favorite anime series. Not to mention, it is as silent as any TV.

This isn't a full review of the MoGo 3 Pro projector, but you can read it here for a more in-depth analysis. I'm just sharing how well it served my needs here.

I cannot express how quick and easy it was to have the whole thing up and running. Since I have tested the last-gen MoGo 2 Pro, I felt a markedly improved experience with the auto keystone correction. It is so easy and you don't have to be a tech expert to set it up.

I'd probably struggle to get the angle right with any other projector because of the awkward lack of space in my room. During this experiment, I had flashbacks of the Anker Nebula projector that I reviewed a few years back. It was a nightmare to get the keystone right on it in tight spaces and small rooms.

The circular lens and swiveling stand make a world of difference. In the end, I concluded my experiment was a glowing success. I am now spoiled with a 120-inch screen plastered adjacent to my bed at a perfect viewing angle. Sometimes, I'll cast some Reels on the gigantic screen, just because. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro projector truly replaced my need for an Android TV, and there's no going back now.

So, if you don't have space in your flat or room, give this hack a try!