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Let's talk about the Pixel 2 XL's display controversy

Posted by Joe Maring on 19 Oct 2017 7:10 am

So, the Pixel 2 XL's display... For the most part, we came away very impressed with the Google Pixel 2/Pixel 2 XL. The phones aren't perfect, but then again, no phone is. The Pixel 2 XL comes equipped with a 6-inch 2880 x 1440 pOLED LG display, and while that sounds great on paper, people's reception to it has been all over the place. Right now, there are two main complaints with the Pixel 2...

Everything wrong with Google's Pixel 2

136 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 18 Oct 2017 8:03 am

The Pixel 2's got some issues. Let's talk about the Pixel 2. It's Google's latest flagship for 2017, and there's a lot to like about it. The Pixel 2 has an industry-leading camera, top-notch performance, rock solid battery life, and some of the best software you'll find on any Android phone to date. We could go on and on here, but listing the positives about Google's Pixel 2 is easy....

What do you consider to be a 'premium' smartphone?

13 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 17 Oct 2017 8:53 am

A matter of personal preference. Earlier this month, a discussion broke out in our forums over the use of metal vs. plastic in regards to smartphone design. Some people were of the mindset that metal was preferable to cheaper plastics, whereas others preferred the function and utilitarian nature of the latter. During this debate, the phrase "premium feel" popped up quite a bit when users were...

Have you noticed any lag on the LG V30?

38 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 16 Oct 2017 8:45 am

One $800 phone with extra lag, please. In our initial review of the LG V30, we came away from the phone feeling quite impressed. Our own Alex Dobie praised the V30 for its sleek design, great cameras, high-quality DAC, and buttery smooth performance. However, now that the V30 is available to purchase in the U.S. and customers are starting to get hands-on time with the phone, some conflicting...

People have mixed feelings about the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

51 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 13 Oct 2017 9:23 am

With Verizon stores now equipped with Pixel 2 demo units, people are starting to get hands-on time with the phone – here's what they have to say. Although we're still waiting for Pixel 2 preorders to ship, Verizon recently received demo units of the device so that customers can get some hands-on time to hold them over until orders are finally sent out. Verizon stores across the United States...

Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30 are the best big phones of 2017

29 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 12 Oct 2017 8:53 am

The Note 8 and V30 are both fantastic phones, and these are a few reasons why some of our readers chose the one they did. Ever since Samsung released the first Galaxy Note in 2011, big phones have been rising in popularity year after year – so much so that they're now the industry norm. The LG V30 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are two of the hottest phablets for 2017, and naturally, a lot of debate...

Are you feeling any buyer's remorse for your Pixel 2 preorder?

137 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 11 Oct 2017 8:50 am

Waiting six to seven weeks for an $850 phone to ship can be a dangerous thing. Google announced the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL with a lot of hype and fanfare at its October 4 event, and soon after the official unveiling, a lot of people were quick to sprint to the Google Store to get their preorders placed ASAP. We came away quite impressed with our initial hands-on time of Google's latest and...

Is metal really a better material than plastic on phones?

173 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 10 Oct 2017 8:28 am

Metal and glass might look nice, but phones made out of plastic were never really bad in the first place. As any follower of the smartphone industry knows, we're living in an age where OEMs are striving for all metal and glass designs in favor of cheaper materials, such as plastic. This is a trend we've seen from Samsung, LG, Google, and plenty others, and while glass and metal might...

Despite all the hate, Bixby is actually pretty great

71 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 9 Oct 2017 5:04 pm

Samsung's Bixby hasn't received the most positive reception since its release, but our forum users actually seem to be quite smitten with what the virtual assistant has to offer. Following its debut on the Galaxy S8/S8+ at the beginning of the year, the general consensus for Samsung's Bixby virtual assistant is that it's a poor man's version of Google Assistant. Bixby had a rocky release thanks...

Is Google's $129 Pixel 2 insurance actually worth it?

48 Comments

Posted by Joe Maring on 6 Oct 2017 8:00 am

You can shell out $129 to give your Pixel 2 some added peace of mind, but should you? The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are two of the leanest and meanest Android flagships around. However, they're also some of the most expensive – especially if you opt for the larger XL flavor. Google is offering a Preferred Care plan with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, and for $129, you get accidental damage...

How's your Galaxy Note 8's battery life been?

92 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 2 Oct 2017 8:00 am

Not everyone uses their phone the same way, or gets the same battery life. The last few Note releases have involved a whole lot of discussion about batteries. With the Note 8, questions swirl about whether or not 3300mAh is an appropriate capacity for a phone this large. The Note 8's been out for a while, we've written a complete review, and we know plenty of you out there have been using one...

Carrier or unlocked: Which Galaxy S8 should you buy?

13 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 2 Aug 2017 11:24 am

There are advantages and disadvantages to buying an unlocked phone. Which do you prefer? The battle rages on for one of the most important debates in recent memory (jk): Should you buy the carrier version or unlocked? When the Galaxy S8 debuted earlier this year, it was available on every major U.S. carrier, including Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. Specials, deals, and discounts were...

No headphone jack: dealbreaker or no big deal?

148 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 1 Aug 2017 1:09 pm

Phones are increasingly arriving without headphone jacks. Is the future unfriendly to music listeners? The headphone jack — or lack thereof — has become a point of contention for many people since Motorola removed it from its flagship Moto Z in mid-2016. The conversation got even louder when Apple did the same later in the year, and now we have devices like the HTC U11, arguably one of the best...

Why the Huawei Mate 9 is severely underrated

50 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 13 Jul 2017 8:00 am

The Huawei Mate 9 slipped between the cracks of high-end U.S. releases in late 2016, but I'm here to tell you that, in 2017, you should give it a look. I've used a lot of phones in the past year, and one device continues to age better than most: the Huawei Mate 9. For me, the phone kind of came out of nowhere: it was my first interaction with Huawei's flagship lineup, after having suffered...

Have you had trouble with the $200 Galaxy S8 trade-in deal?

25 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 10 Jul 2017 9:22 pm

Earlier this summer, Samsung offered a $200 trade-in deal with the Galaxy S8. But it turns out not everything was as clear-cut as it appeared. Back in May, Samsung started selling an unlocked version of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ on its e-commerce portal, and with it offered $200 towards the phone with a valid trade-in. The beauty of the deal was that Samsung didn't (at least not on the surface) put...

Don't be this idiot who knifed a store demo Galaxy S8 to test its durability

34 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 20 Jun 2017 11:43 am

Modern smartphones are pretty tough. The Galaxy S8 remarkably so. But don't test it using equipment that isn't yours. There's a cottage industry of people destroying phones on camera for entertainment. From Will it blend? to drop and scratch tests, the world loves to see how far we can push the glass and metal that comprise the protective layer of our pocket computers. But when you decide to...

Is the Galaxy S7 edge still an essential buy in the Galaxy S8 era?

32 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 12 Jun 2017 12:58 pm

The Galaxy S7 edge may be getting up there in age but it's still a great phone. Now that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ have been around for a few months, we've been exposed to the best and worst traits of the company's new phones. Along with that big, beautiful Infinity Display and slightly more power from the Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 comes a host of compromises, from a higher base cost to a...

To those who think you don't need a screen protector on the Galaxy S8

68 Comments

Posted by Andrew Martonik on 7 Jun 2017 9:00 am

It's one of the oldest questions in smartphones. Phone screens have gotten larger, and at the same time quickly lost all protection from the bumps and scrapes of daily life. The Galaxy S8 is probably the best example of just how vulnerable a piece of glass can be — with curved edges and no real bezels to protect. Sure there's Gorilla Glass 5 on front, which is supposed to provide some scratch...

How hot does your Galaxy S8 get while it's charging?

67 Comments

Posted by Florence Ion on 4 Jun 2017 12:00 pm

Several forum members have reported concern over how hot their devices are while plugged into the wall. Following the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, it seems admittedly easy to cry wolf when any Samsung smartphone becomes even a little warm. But the way forum user, amyf27, describes how hot their Galaxy S8+ got while charging via a USB-C adapter, it's hard not to be a little curious. #...

Galaxy S8 has a frustrating Bluetooth problem, but a fix is on the way

71 Comments

Posted by Daniel Bader on 29 May 2017 10:56 pm

Bluetooth problems have been plaguing a few Galaxy S8 owners, but a fix is reportedly coming soon. The Galaxy S8, like any popular phone, has its share of problems. While its most visible issue, a red tint on some of its SuperAMOLED displays, has been dealt with in a widely-released software update, another chorus of people are making noise about a less publicized issue: Bluetooth instability...

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