Smartphones

Why Isn’t Google Launching Its Modular Ara Smartphone in Puerto Rico?

In January Google announced that Ara, its highly anticipated modular smartphone, would debut first in Puerto Rico as part of a pilot project. Today, Google says it’s not launching Ara there after all, and that it’s “re-routing” its plans. What gives? Some are wondering if the Google-Alphabet announcement is the reason for the shakeup, and…

The Four Things You Need to Know About the New Galaxy Note 5

Love it or hate it, Samsung’s Galaxy Note is the original ultra-big smartphone, a style that even Apple has finally adopted. It’s also Samsung’s ultimate productivity tool, complete with a capacitive pen and specific software to take advantage of the ginormous screen. Now, the fifth iteration of the Note has arrived. But this isn’t the…

The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus: Yep, It Certainly Is Bigger

So the word “Plus” could mean many things, right? Better processor? Camera? Features? In the case of the S6 Edge Plus, though, it’s just size. This phone is almost an exact copy of this year’s S6 Edge except for its whopping 5.7-inch display. As far as “innovation” goes, Samsung is kind of phoning it in…

Tips For Better Taking Smartphone Photos At Night (And In Bars)

Happy snaps in the dark are often a frustrating experience. Loss of detail, blurry images or photos washed out by a flash. Fortunately with a few tips and some camera app upgrades, it’s possible to get surprisingly good nighttime smartphone pics. Like anything, practice makes perfect. Don’t just grab a new app or learn a…

Moto G Review: A Great Phone Doesn’t Have to Cost a Buttload

Inexpensive smartphones all come with compromises, but we’ve reached a point when those glaring setbacks are less noticeable. The new Moto G is totally solid phone, which will make you wonder why you’d pay for a flagship when what you get for $220 is so damn good. What is it? The Moto G is one…

iOS 9 Will Use Cell Data When Your Wi-Fi Sucks

The latest version of the iOS 9 beta has brought some goodies, among them the new Wi-Fi Assist feature, which will recognize bad Wi-Fi connections, and use cellular data instead. You can switch it on and off with a toggle in Settings, so if you’ve got spotty home Wi-Fi — or jealously guard your data…

You Can Now Pre-Order That Crazy, All Metal, Super-Secure Turing Phone

The Turing Phone is one weird dude. Like some cross between a scifi prop and an actual Android phone, this new device from Turing Robotics is what they call a “cipher” phone—the next evolutionary step for smartphones. Whether that’s the case or not, who knows, but you can pre-order it right now and find out…

Sony’s New Xperia C5 Ultra Is a Selfie-Taker’s Dream

Sony has just announced two new mid-range phones, both with a firm emphasis on photography—and in the case of this the Xperia C5 Ultra, that means selfies. The handset, pictured above, features not one but two 13-megapixel Exmor RS cameras: one onf the back, one on the front. The font-facer in fact provides a 22m…

YotaPhone 2 Review: More Than a Gimmick, Less Than a Good Phone

Being different can make or break you. Apple decided to do things different back in 2007, and now they make almost all dem smartphone monies. But being atypical for no real reason also means certain death. Yotaphone 2 lies somewhere in the middle—a great idea wrapped up in a phone you just don’t want. What…

The Hotly-Anticipated US Version of the YotaPhone 2 Is Canceled

After raising nearly $300,000 on Indiegogo, the highly-anticipated US version of YotaPhone 2 is cancelled. We’ve confirmed that backers can’t get the US version with Yota Devices. What a bummer! The unique smartphone design features dual LCD/e-ink displays. The global version of the YotaPhone 2 is still available, and backers can opt for that version…

Sony, Please Make This Android Concept a Reality

Sony’s Z3 is a good phone, handicapped with a skinned version of Android that looks dated, and comes with a dump-truck of superfluous crap. Thanks to this quietly-leaked Sony Android Concept, which strips away all the junk and leaves a experience that looks plain fantastic. The Sony ‘Concept for Android’ is a stripped-back beta version…

Just 72 hours after its slightly strange virtual reality launch, the OnePlus 2 has already surpassed a million invite requests. That’s not bad for the self-styled David in the war against Goliath flagships: the Galaxy S6 Edge took nearly two weeks to rack up 5 million pre-orders. But if you haven’t jumped on the invite…

Panasonic CM1 Review: Finally, a High End Camera Inside a Smartphone

Most people are perfectly satisfied with the camera in their smartphone. But to photographers and hobbyists, even the latest iPhone doesn’t come close to emulating the capability of a full-fledged camera. Panasonic’s CM1 is the answer. What Is It? It’s a $1000 unlocked GSM Android phone with a 4.7-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz quad-core processor, and…

A Cup-Holding Device Mount Makes Flying Slightly More Bearable

Gone are the days when flying was like taking a luxury cruise. Passengers are now herded onto planes and into seats that barely leave enough room to breath. There are ways to make flying slightly more enjoyable, though, like a tablet mount called the Airhook that also holds a drink so you can leave your…

Qualcomm’s Wireless Charging Just Got Better

Rezence, Qualcomm’s horse in the wireless charging standards war, just got a neat upgrade: it will now work in phones with metal backs. In case you haven’t been keeping track, because you’re too busy watching paint dry, grass grow, or any other far more interesting activity, this is what’s up in the wireless charging game:…

The New Moto G May Still Be the Best Phone for Your Money

Motorola just released a hardware Kraken the likes of which we’ve never seen. The new Moto X Style! The battery-conscious Moto X Play! And then there’s the Moto G. Only a few years ago, no one would care about the lesser budget sibling alongside these two powerhouses—but the Moto G is Motorola’s real smartphone champion.…

The New Moto X Play and Moto X Style Are All About Looks and Battery

When looking for the next great phone to ride shotgun through your life, there are a few things it needs to do well. It needs to have a great display, look neat, and not have garbage battery life. With the third-generation Moto X, Motorola is laser-focused on all three. Motorola does this with two separate…

Note 5 Leaks: We Could Be Looking At One Of the Best Big Smartphones

Yesterday, Samsung sent out invitations to a New York City event where we’ll all finally (officially) meet the new Galaxy Note 5. But Samsung has done a pretty horrible job keeping wraps on what the new smartphone actually looks like, leaking everything from CAD designs to these new hi-res photos. Technology is filled with all…

Motorola’s Budget Moto G Brings a 13MP Camera and a 5-Inch HD Display

Ahead of an event in New York City today, Motorola has finally revealed its new budget-minded Moto G at an event in India, and the specs seem to mirror what was leaked about a week ago on the company’s site. The Moto G 2015 will be powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 410 SoC processor, feature…

OnePlus 2 Hands-On: So Good, It Makes Me Want To Leave Verizon

One year ago, the OnePlus One became the best off-contract smartphone you could buy. An unheard of Chinese company managed to deliver a high-quality Android handset for a crazy-low $300 price. Now, it looks like that awesomeness wasn’t a fluke. Behold: the OnePlus 2. Left: old and busted. Right: new hotness Starting at $330, the…