Take to the skies with the best drones under $500
For years, consumer drones were essentially separated into two groups. There are the super-cheap (and also super flimsy) drones that will fly for about five minutes on a full charge, and then the more hardcore-oriented drones that cost upward of $1,000, but are fully stocked with all the features you’d want including HD camera, GPS, and long-range radio controllers. These days, there are more options on the market, and even cheaper drones have lots of cool features. The best drones under $500 boast stuff like 4K cameras, obstacle avoidance systems, and indoor tracking.
If you’re a novice to droning — or if you’re looking to buy for someone who fits that description — chances are you don’t need to drop thousands on a top-shelf model. We’ve found tons of cheaper selections that’ll make for perfect introductions to the field, or just fun toys for weekend use. We’ll also make recommendations based on different user types and drone activities, so you can rest assured you’ll find the best drone available for what you’re looking to do. Enjoy!
Our pick
Yuneec Breeze
Why should you buy this: It shoots fantastic pics and videos, and is also highly portable.
Our Score
Yuneec Breeze
It shoots 4K video, 13MP stills, and can easily fit in your backpack.
$394.00 from Amazon.com
Who’s it for: Those looking for a photography-focused UAV
How much will it cost: ~$390
Why we picked the Yuneec Breeze:
The Breeze is a smaller, lighter, and cheaper version of Yuneec’s popular Typhoon line. While it doesn’t have near the functionality of its bigger brethren, we think this is one of the best drones for the price when it comes to photography. Features like real-time live streaming back to your phone while in flight and autonomous filming modes such as Orbit, Follow Me, and Selfie are features you’ll not find on many drones at this price point.
The Breeze is outfitted with a 4K camera, which is something few drones under $1,000 can boast — let alone under $500. It’s ultra-portable, too, which is perfect for photogs; there are few things worse than leaving your gear at home before experiencing a true Kodak moment.
We also found super-cool features like GPS including indoor tracking useful for flying indoors (some more expensive drones we’ve tested haven’t flown as reliably indoors as we’ve liked) and despite its plasticky feel, the Breeze is surprisingly durable.
Add to this flight times that closely matched Yuneec’s 12 minute claims (24, if you consider that the Breeze comes with two batteries), and easy control via a companion app for both iOS and Android, and you just can’t do any better than the Breeze at this price point.
Our full Yuneec Breeze review
The best cheap drone for beginners
Parrot Bebop 2
Why should you buy this: Simple flight controls and outstanding durability makes this a great pick for novice pilots.
Our Score
Parrot Bebop 2 FPV
With practically no learning curve, you’ll be flying in a matter of minutes.
$499.99 from Parrot
$699.99 from Best Buy
Who’s it for: Anybody looking for a drone that flies well and can take a beating
How much will it cost: $400-$550
Why we picked the Parrot Bebop 2:
The Parrot Bebop 2 is on the high end of the drones in our list, but we’ve started to notice some retailers selling the drones at about $500, with a few refurbished models selling for about $100 less. Several Digital Trends staffers are proud Bebop owners, and our own Drew Prindle gave the original Bebop a glowing review more than a year ago.
Like the original Bebop, the new model excels in simplicity, durability, and a really enjoyable flying experience. Instead of using a traditional joystick controller, the Bebop takes commands from your smartphone or tablet — which is limiting at first, but also pretty fun and approachable for beginners. A wireless connection provides you with a first-person view of what the drone sees, and you simply tilt your phone to steer it around.
The second-gen Bebop extends the flight time from 22 to 25 minutes, and adds a fish-eye lens and a flashing LED on the rear to increase visibility in darker scenarios, making it a better choice even though you’ll be able to grab the original model for around $350 at most places.
Read more here
The best selfie drone
DJI Spark
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Why should you buy this: It flies reliably, with tons of useful flight modes and a gimbal for stabilization.
Our Score
Yuneec Breeze
It shoots 4K video, 13MP stills, and can easily fit in your backpack.
$394.00 from Amazon.com
Who’s it for: Adventurous pilots and selfie fiends searching for a drone that can do it all
How much will it cost: ~$499
Why we picked the DJI Spark:
DJI is the world’s premier drone manufacturer at this point; its Phantom 4 Pro is our favorite drone of all time, and the company boasts a lineup full of models that blend awesome features with reliable controls and quality cameras. DJI’s most recent release, the Spark, offers pilots an opportunity to cut their teeth with a drone that’s got a lot of cool tricks without a lot of zeroes on its price tag.
The Spark has several unique flight modes, including Rocket, Dronie, Circle, and Helix, and its gesture recognition system means you can control it (kind of) with just your hand. The Spark’s obstacle avoidance system will prevent it from running into trees and buildings, too — though the sensors are only in the front, so it could theoretically crash while moving sideways or back.
The 1080p, 12-megapixel camera isn’t spectacular, but it is mounted on a 2-axis gimbal, so video won’t be wobbly, and most amateur pilots probably don’t need 4K capabilities anyway. The Spark is super sturdy and super compact, and its ~13 minute battery life is second to none within the price range. You can even get it in several different colors (though we prefer the white and black).
The Spark is right up there with Yuneec’s Breeze as the best beginner drones, and if you want one that you can control with gestures, it’s just about the only choice.
Our full DJI Spark review
The best cheap drone for kids
Parrot Mambo
Why should you buy this: It’s stable and easy to fly, and it comes with a range of fun attachments.
Parrot Mambo
Parrot’s Mambo drone is one of the most stable and approachable mini drones we’ve tested.
$120.00 from Brookstone
$99.99 from Parrot USA
Who’s it for: Kids and adults who want a drone that can shoot darts
How much will it cost: $120
Why we picked the Parrot Mambo:
Truth be told, you can get a cheaper drone that your kid will probably go bonkers over just the same, but they’ll actually be able to fly this one. There are a boatload of mini drones out there right now that you can get for under $50 — but in our experience, the vast majority of them are too squirrelly and difficult to master for your average kid.
Parrot’s new Mambo is different. Unlike most other mini drones, this one is actually designed specifically for kids. In addition to a boatload of motion sensors and advanced autopilot software that keeps the drone stable, Mambo also comes with a handful of attachments that make it more fun and engaging than a basic quadcopter. Inside the box you’ll find a cannon attachment, 50 foam cannon balls, and a grabber arm that can clamp and carry small objects.
And the best part? Parrot also gives you the option of piloting via smartphone or with a dedicated dual-joystick controller. The Flypad, as it’s called, is sold separately for $40 bucks, but it might be worth the extra dough if you don’t have a spare smartphone lying around and don’t feel like handing your kid your brand new iPhone every time he/she feels like flying.
The best for GoPro owners
3DR Solo
Why should you buy this: GoPro owners should look no further than 3DR for great drone video.
Our Score
3DR Solo Drone
Go Pro filmmakers will find the 3DR Solo a worthy addition to their repertoire.
$428.49 from Amazon.com
Who’s it for: Aspiring drone pilots who already own a GoPro, and want something that works with it
How much will it cost: ~$410
Why we picked the 3DR Solo:
Our suggestions so far have essentially included some type of camera system on board. But if you’re a GoPro owner, there’s really no need for you to purchase a drone with another camera – the GoPro is a pretty good camera in and of itself.
For these folks, we suggest the 3DR Solo, which is specifically aimed at aerial photography. It has a range of flight modes including Selfie, Cable Cam, Orbit, and Follow, and the fact that you don’t have a built in camera means that once newer GoPro’s come out, all you need to do is swap out the old GoPro from the drone mount. We’re not complaining about the 20 minute average flight time either.
We were impressed with the manual flight controls, which should be sufficient for even the most experienced pilots, and a top speed of 55mph – one of the fastest consumer drones we’ve tested. Oh by the way, if you decide to fly this thing like a bat out of hell, it’s durable too. And if for some reason it malfunctions and crashes, 3DR will replace the drone AND your GoPro if it’s damaged. That’s great peace of mind.
Our full 3DR Solo review
The best cheap racing drone
Lumenier QAV250
Why should you buy this: Because you want a drone you can race and upgrade, but don’t want to build one from scratch
Lumenier QAV250 Mini FPV Carbon Fiber Edition
The Lumenier QAV250 is a solid drone to start racing with because it features a customizable design.
$415.69 from Amazon.com
Who’s it for: Novice and intermediate racing pilots
How much will it cost: ~$420
Why we picked the Lumenier QAV250:
Lumenier’s QAV250 wins our pick for the best racing drone for a few different reasons, but the first and most important is that it is modular and customizable. You can buy it pre-assembled from Lumenier, and while the stock configuration should be more than enough to satisfy pilots who are new to drone racing, you are also not locked in to that configuration forever. If you ever feel like upgrading your drone, you can easily swap out any of the parts for newer, better gear.
This flexibility is crucial. If you look at the winners of most drone races, you’ll notice that most pros fly their own custom drone rigs that can be tweaked and tuned to boost performance. The technology that powers drone racing is progressing at a breakneck pace, and the last thing you want to do is dump a bunch of money into a pre-built racing rig that’ll become obsolete in a few months. The best course of action is to get a rig that’ll get you in the air and racing, but also allow you to evolve — and that’s precisely what the QAV250 will do.
How we test drones
Build quality & design
The first thing we do when we get a new drone is beat it up a little bit. We don’t kick it down the stairs or anything, but we’ll give it a few knocks, twists, and shallow drops to assess the build quality and durability. Does it feel flimsy, or does it feel like it could survive a crash landing in the park? We give each review unit a light beating (and usually a couple unintentional crash landings) before we give you a definitive answer on how durable it is.
Flight performance, range, and autonomy
To gauge flight performance, we put the drone through a number of tests to see how the manufacturer’s claims hold up. First we take it to a local football field and see how fast it can clear 100 yards, then do some calculations to get an objective reading on speed in miles per hour. After that, we do a similar test to assess ascent and descent speeds, and all the while, we’re also taking notes on how responsive the controls are, how stable the craft is, how far it can go before it’s out of range, and what the overall piloting experience is like compared to other drones.
Battery life and charge time
After we’ve taken the drone out to play for a while and jotted down a few notes about how long the battery lasts, we put it on the charger and grab a stopwatch to determine recharge time. Then we take it back out and do a hover test. By flying the drone in the least demanding conditions, we can get a sense of what the maximum flight time is. And finally, we take it out a few more good, hard flights to find out how long the battery lasts (on average) under normal conditions.
Camera, accessories, and upgradability
If the drone we’re testing happens to have a camera capable of recording, we capture as much footage as we possibly can. We’ll shoot in dark places, light places, and places with lots of color and contrast. This footage is then compared to all the highlight reels that we filmed with other drones, which helps us get a sense of the camera’s strengths and weaknesses. We also test any accessories that accompany the camera, like lenses, filters, gimbals, or FPV goggles. Finally, we’ll also let you know if the camera setup is upgradable, so you wont be stuck with an outdated shooter in two years.
We also do our research
When we don’t have the ability to test things ourselves, we start with a full assessment of the product’s specs. After that we’ll comb through any available reviews and forum posts online to check for outstanding problems, and usually try to find at least two videos of the product in action. We cannot physically review every drone yet, but we’re committed to helping you find a great quadcopter, regardless
Remember China’s crazy ‘straddling bus’ concept? The police think it was a scam
Why it matters to you
All that glitters in not gold, and that seems to be particularly true for this innovative Chinese project.
The Hyperloop may help humanity travel great distances at remarkable speeds, but how should we sustainably get from point A to B in congested cities? An innovative public transport design looked like to could have offered a solution. It was known as the Transit Elevated Bus (or, “straddling bus” for fun) and while we were excited about testing it underwent in August, it looks like our enthusiasm might’ve been a premature.
Now, the authorities are getting involved. Police in Beijing announced on July 2 that they have begun investigating the company behind the project for alleged illegal fundraising, according to Quartz. The authorities are now holding 30 people associated with the fundraising platform Huaying Kailai, which accepted some $1.3 billion from individual investors, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily. 72 of those investors have filed suit against the company.
The December reports from China suggested that after initial tests, the straddling bus had been abandoned. It hasn’t moved in more than two months, and as the Shanghaiist reported, “A local reporter recently checked up on “the future of public transportation” at its testing site in Qinhuangdao, only to find it forgotten in a rusted garage, covered in dust.”
Even its security team let the bus slip their minds — “The managers from the company have long drifted away, and I am unable to contact them,” said an unidentified guard. Apparently, serious financial issues have contributed to the demise of the project, and now, the electric bus is just … taking up space.
The electric bus, which looks a lot like a moving tunnel, is designed for capacity and efficiency, not necessarily for speed. Last year, the futuristic locomotive made its debut in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province. Sure, it wasn’t a full display of its ultimate capacity (it only transversed a controlled track of just 300 meters), but it was a proof of concept beyond anything we’ve seen before.
It was built extra wide to carry up to 1,400 passengers, and was made extra tall to allow any cars under seven feet to travel underneath, whether the bus is in motion or not. This is important because, as a public transport vehicle, the bus would stop and start frequently to load and unload passengers. And, with a top speed of 40 miles per hour, restless drivers would undoubtedly want to pass through.
The bus was also considered environmentally friendly. Its size would allow it to replace 40 conventional buses and, since it’s powered by electricity, the design would reduce fuel consumption by some 800 tons and carbon emissions by nearly 2,500 tons every year, chief engineer, Song Youzhou, told China’s official news agency, Xinhua.
Song’s design isn’t new, however, and neither is the concept. Back in 2010, Song gained media attention when Beijing proposed plans to develop an infrastructure to accommodate his bus by year’s end. No tracks were ever laid, so many assumed the project would remain an idea.
Treehugger reports that the idea of straddling buses was first proposed by two American architects, Lester Walker and Craig Hodgetts, in 1969. The concept was ambitious, even by today’s standards, including computer-driven vehicles, perpetual motion, and “friction-free air cushion bearings” as wheels. Walker and Hodgetts suggested the design be used to modernize New York City.
If all had gone well, the design might have helped curb the carbon emissions created by approximately 20 million new drivers who take to the road in China every year.
But at this point, it does not look like things are going well at all.
Update: Article revised to reflect reports indicating that the straddling bus had been abandoned in December 2016. The Beijing police have now announced that they are investigating the project as an alleged scam.
Remote-controlled robot milks scorpion venom to aid in cancer research
Why it matters to you
Scorpion venom has potential as a painkiller and to aid in cancer therapies.
Scorpion venom is some of the most toxic on the planet and yet it has a handful of surprising medical applications — from use as immunosuppressants to cancer research. The problem is that one small mistake in the extraction method can have fatal consequences.
“The extraction of scorpion venom is a very difficult task and usually takes at least two experimenters,” Mouad Mkamel, a researcher from Ben M’sik Hassan II University in Morocco, said in a statement. “There are numerous risks including potentially deadly scorpion stings and electric shocks from the stimulators used to extract the venom.”
To mitigate the risk to humans and avoid harm to the scorpions, Mkamel and a team of researchers from the university designed a scorpion-milking robot. Dubbed the VES-4, the robot is lightweight and mobile so it can be used in the lab and out in the field. “It is designed to extract scorpion venom without harming the animal and to provide more safety for the experimenters,” Mkamel said, adding that the robot makes venom extraction quick and safe.
That is in contrast to current milking methods which may be hazardous to humans, harmful to the scorpion, or simply unreliable overall. Instead of requiring a human hand, which may be stung, the robot clamps down on the scorpion’s tail and stimulates it electrically, which causes droplets of venom to be released. The process is designed to not puncture the scorpion’s venom gland or injure its abdomen. While conventional methods require at least a couple people to ensure safety of experimenters and arachnid alike, the robot may be remotely controlled by a single researcher.
Scientists found a handful of applications for scorpion venom and a few potential uses as well, according to Wired. A study in 2011 showed that venom may be used to fend off malaria. Two years later, researchers demonstrated that venom works as a painkiller in grasshopper mice, which might help researchers design painkillers for humans. And in the future, venom may be used in cancer therapies by attaching to and illuminating cancer cells, doctors can better locate and assess the disease.
Samsung still needs more data to launch Bixby in English, report says
Why it matters to you
English-speaking Galaxy S8 owners will have to wait even longer for the digital assistant Samsung promised them well before the phone’s launch.
Things just aren’t getting any better for Bixby. The English-language version of Samsung’s virtual assistant was supposed to debut before the end of June, but that due date came and went without any noise. Now, the latest report from the Korea Herald may explain why.
Bixby’s inability to process English grammar and syntax is, in fact, the result of a lack of data, according to the article. This is not terribly surprising, given that the machine-learning models which underpin digital assistants thrive on repeated usage. If Samsung is trying to install Bixby with a deep understanding of the language, it will need an abundance of trials to make it possible.
That could explain why Samsung emphasized further beta testing in a statement made in May. “Bixby Voice benefits from time to further enhance natural language understanding,” a representative from the company told Digital Trends at the time, “and we are currently growing our user testing in the U.S. to prepare for launch.”
This is now the second major delay the virtual assistant has faced since Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone launched in April. The handset released alongside other Bixby features, such as Vision, Home, and Reminder, though the Voice portion of the software — easily the most significant aspect — was curiously omitted outside the South Korean market.
Koh Dong-jin, Samsung’s mobile chief, said the English version would be out by May. When that did not happen, the company turned everyone’s attention to last month.
The continued absence is even more striking considering Samsung’s bullish move to place a dedicated Bixby button on the side of the S8. One day, that key should trigger Bixby Voice. As of now, it still only leads to Hello Bixby, a Google Now-like card interface that aggregates weather, calendar appointments, news stories, and other areas of interest.
So where could Bixby be headed from here? Unsatisfactory responses from beta testing in the States seemingly instilled the company with doubt over a full release in June. Samsung will need even more time to catch up to Google, Amazon, and Apple in terms of data to perfect its assistant — and it was already well behind to begin with. Closing the gap has proved difficult, thanks to another roadblock mentioned in the Herald’s report.
According to an anonymous source referenced by the publication, geographic and language barriers have broken down communications between the American and South Korean development teams. That ironic twist means the Korean version has advanced at a far quicker pace than the English software.
Analysts expected Bixby’s English debut wouldn’t be delayed past the fall, but that possibility is looking more and more likely as Samsung’s struggles continue. Meanwhile, rumors suggest the company has been forced to push back plans for a stand-alone Bixby-powered smart speaker, similar to Amazon’s Echo, Google Home, and Apple’s upcoming HomePod.
Moto Z2 Force + Moto X4 leaks reveal Motorola’s 2017 flagships
Slim, modular high-ender for AT&T pictured, along with rumored ‘X4’ mid-ranger.
We’re about due a fresh round of high-end Motorola phones, and Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) has today given us a look at two new handsets — the Moto Z2 Force and Moto X4.
Happy X4th of July pic.twitter.com/a03dq1XvIc
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 4, 2017
The Moto X4, rumored to be heading to Google’s Project Fi in the U.S., is reported to be an upper mid-tier phone with an aluminum unibody — though it’s hard to tell what exactly the back panel is made of in this latest render. In addition to IP68 water resistance, specs are said to include a Snapdragon 630 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 3,000mAh battery and a 5.2-inch 1080p display. For imaging, there’s a dual 8-megapixel plus 12-megapixel camera setup around the back.
Moto’s near-stock Android UI, based on version 7.1.1 of the OS, is preloaded — though notably absent is Moto Mod support. So it’s a little different from previous Moto X phones on the outside, while retaining the brand’s focus on user experience over raw hardware specs.
More: Moto X4 reportedly coming to Project Fi later in 2017
Moto Z2 Force for AT&T pic.twitter.com/N0h001Xema
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 4, 2017
If you want Moto Mods and high-end specs, you’ll need to look to the Moto Z2 Force. Blass gives us our first look at the new high-end Moto phone, which as previously reported is no longer a Verizon exclusive. The AT&T variant pictured above looks almost identical to last year’s Moto Z, which isn’t surprising given the size and shape requirements for Moto’s modular attachments.
As the “Force” moniker suggests, this phone should ship with Moto’s ShatterShield tech for drop resistance. A slide leaked back in May points to a 5.5-inch 1080p display and gigabit LTE support, meaning it’ll almost certainly run a Snapdragon 835 processor.
Motorola is in the midsts of a major shake-up under the ownership of Lenovo, and these new phones could give us our first glimpse of a new, unified Moto high-end.
Thoughts? Share them down below in the comments!
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 rumors: Specs, release date and more
Everything we know so far about the successor to Samsung’s ill-fated Note 7.
Oh boy. It’s time for a new Samsung Galaxy Note.
As you may remember, things didn’t go too well for the last entry in the Note series. And although the Galaxy S8 has enjoyed strong sales and critical praise in the meantime, Samsung will remain under intense scrutiny as it looks to relaunch the tarnished Note brand. That’s important for every market in which Samsung operates, but particularly so in Europe, which hasn’t seen a new Note since 2014’s Note 4.
So the next Note needs to be good, and it needs to not catch on fire. Beyond the obvious, the phone also needs to show us how the Note brand can coexist with the larger “Plus” variant of the Galaxy S series, if that’s to continue.
So far, most of the reliable info points to Samsung playing it relatively safe this year. The design, based on CAD leaks, largely mirrors that of the Galaxy S8+. Rumors point to similar specs with a modest RAM and display size upgrade, and a modest battery capacity downgrade. In the absence of the long-rumored in-display fingerprint scanner, the most exciting feature this year is likely to be the new dual camera setup.
Let’s dig into what we know so far about the Galaxy Note 8.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 specs
The most reliable info available on the Note 8’s internal hardware comes from VentureBeat’s Evan Blass — aka @evleaks on Twitter — who has a good track record with this kind of thing.
| Operating System | Android 7.1.1 |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 8895 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 depending on region |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | 64 or 128GB + microSD |
| Display | 6.3-inch SuperAMOLED Infinity Display |
| Battery | 3300mAh |
| Rear Cameras | Dual 12MP with OIS |
| Other features | Wireless charging, S Pen, Iris scanner, Rear fingerprint scanner, DeX support, water resistance |
| Price | €999 |
| Colors | Black, blue, gold |
Other sources include Korean news site Osen, which reports that the Note 8 will come in 64GB and 128GB variants, and the HTML5Test database, which shows the Note running Android 7.1.1.
So the major spec changes from the Galaxy S8 include a larger 6.3-inch display, likely making the Note only slightly larger than the Galaxy S8+. The rumored 6GB of RAM should help the Note keep more apps in memory without reloading — an area where current Samsung phones don’t exactly excel. Meanwhile, the option of 128GB of storage will make the Note an ideal phone for gamers and heavy app users who don’t want to offload content to slower removable storage.
Aside from the S Pen, a new dual-camera setup with OIS could be the main reason to get excited about the Note 8.
The battery capacity — a mere 3300mAh, down from the 3500mAh of the S8+ — is likely a necessity because of the space taken up by the S Pen. Even though the Note 8 will be slightly larger than the S8+, there’s less space for a battery inside the chassis.
As for the dual camera setup — a first for a Samsung phone, though a long-rumored feature — the 12-megapixel resolution suggests Samsung might use the image sensor from the Galaxy S8 in its new phone, at least in the primary camera. And the optically stabilized secondary camera, at one time rumored to boast 3X telephoto capabilities, could produce significantly more detailed zoomed shots than the iPhone 7 Plus or OnePlus 5, both of which lack OIS in their telephoto cameras.
Those are just the raw hardware specs we know (or think we know) so far. The Note 8 is sure to introduce new software tricks as well — expect new capabilities for the S Pen, and perhaps some small visual changes from Samsung Experience 8.1 as we know it on the Galaxy S8.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 design + size
No convincing photographic leaks of the Galaxy S8 have appeared so far, and so the best we have to go on is this CAD render from Steve Hemmerstoffer (@onleaks on Twitter), which shows a Galaxy S8+-like design. This 3D image is based on the dimensions and specifications given to accessory makers, and shows a slightly boxier version of an S8+, with key hardware features like the S Pen, Bixby button and headphone jack.
It’s tough to draw any firm conclusions from this early image, but what we can expect is a significantly chunkier camera bulge — and, as rumored, for the fingerprint scanner to retain its precarious placement to the right of the camera. Looks like fans hoping for that elusive in-display fingerprint sensor will have to wait for next year’s Galaxy S9.
And here comes your very first look at #Samsung’s #GalaxyNote8 (based upon factory CAD) on behalf of @91mobiles… https://t.co/UXyMmapO1x pic.twitter.com/ZoPeTSy3fq
— OnLeaks (@OnLeaks) June 27, 2017
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 release date
Samsung has typically announced new Note handsets in August or early September. While the Note 5 and Note 7 arrived earlier in the month, the most recent rumors point to the Note 8 breaking cover right before the Berlin-based IFA trade show in late August, at an event in New York City.
August 26 was claimed as Note 8 launch day in one recent leak from Korea, which would see the Note 8 launching just ahead of the noisy IFA launch season. And while August 26 is later than the past couple of Note launches, it would still allow Samsung plenty of time to get devices on store shelves before the iPhone 8 launch a month or so later.
Confirmation of launch day should come in early August, when press invites for the Note 8 event should start going out.
*What are you looking forward to seeing in the Galaxy Note 8? Share your thoughts down in the comments, and join the discussion on the Android Central forums!
How to Fix Your PlayStation Aim Controller Not Charging
If your Aim controller won’t charge, don’t panic. It’s easy to fix! .
We’ve all been there. We have plans for how to use our hot new piece of tech, yet when we try to go and use it, it’s not working properly. One of the more common issues seen is the failure to charge, which can be one of the most frustrating because you don’t have any error codes or flashing lights to aid you in your troubleshooting.
If this happens to your PlayStation Aim controller, though, there are some easy steps you can follow to get things straightened out.
Read more at VRHeads
PSA: Be careful when buying a Moto E4 case
Don’t buy the wrong Moto E4 case.
I’m really enjoying the Moto E4. For a phone that’s as inexpensive as $70 (but closer to $130 if you don’t want the Verizon version, or lock screen ads), it’s pretty unimpeachable.
So when doing research for the best cases to buy for Motorola’s new budget bandit, I noticed a trend: a lot of 1- to 3-star reviews on cases that hadn’t been out for very long. Turns out it’s one person preemptively putting out a very important warning: the case may not fit your phone.
Moto E4 specs
Motorola has released two versions of the Moto E4, a U.S., model XT1768, and an international version, model XT1760. Normally that wouldn’t be a big deal, since internal specs differ between regions all the time, but in this, ahem, case it does, since the two versions are visually different, too, making coverings incompatible between regions.
Take these two cases:
U.S. model (left) | international model (right)
The case on the left, the Cimo Premium Slim, is intended for the U.S. model. The way you can immediately tell is that it lacks a rear speaker. Other differentiating marks include the varied placement of the headphone jack on top of the phone and the microphone on the back, above the camera. The case on the right, the AnoKe Ultra Thin Slim (seriously, who names these things?) has an opening for the speaker on the back.
The international Moto E4 is also slightly thicker than the U.S. variant, so even if you can overcome the incorrect placement of the headphone jack and microphones, the phones themselves likely won’t fit properly in their opposing cases.
This issue doesn’t apply to the Moto E4 Plus (which is still not yet available) since both the U.S. and international models will be the same.
As long as you take a couple of minutes to ensure that your Moto E4 case is made for the right version, you should be fine, and this problem should sort itself out as Amazon begins stocking more cases for the U.S. variant. Until then — stay vigilant, friends.
See at Amazon
Protecting your OnePlus 5: A tempered glass screen protector is a good idea
Your choices are limited right now, but it’s worth considering a tempered glass screen protector to keep your OnePlus 5’s display in mint condition.
Tempered glass screen protectors are a great way to ensure any phone’s screen stays in great condition throughout its life span. But there are often comrpomises involved in picking one. Edge-to-edge screen protectors will generally leave a small air gap between the transparent area and the display, which can affect visibility. Clear tempered glass protectors that adhere directly to the display area can run into problems with the 2.5D glass used in many modern phones, like the OnePlus 5.
Film screen protectors like the one pre-installed on the OnePlus 5 are a decent, simple alternative, but they’re not quite the same.
Right now, since the OnePlus 5 is so new, there are only a handful of tempered glass screen protectors from reputable brands, so we’ll be updating this list as we go. Nevertheless, here are some early options if you’re looking to keep your OnePlus 5 screen in top condition from day one.
OnePlus tempered glass screen protector
OnePlus’s official tempered glass screen protector for the OnePlus 5 covers the entire surface of the phone, with cutouts for the proximity sensor, camera, earpiece and fingerprint scanner.
This screen protector is rated for 9H hardness, meaning it can go toe-to-toe with keys and even knives and survive unscathed. It’ll cover the full area of the display, so you don’t need to worry about any unsightly edges cutting into your screen.
As is normal with this type of screen protector, the border extends 0.9 mm over the edge of the panel, so tight-fitting cases may cause issues.
See at OnePlus
Orzly tempered glass screen protector (2-pack)
Orzly’s tempered glass screen protector for the OnePlus 5 is almost identical to OnePlus’s official offering, with the same 9H hardness rating and cutouts for all the vital areas. Once again, it’ll protrude ever so slightly around the top of the panel, which is worth bearing mind if you plan in pairing it with a case of any kind.
The main difference here, though, is the price, as Orzly’s screen protectors are available in a 2-pack from Amazon for $10.99 with free shipping. That gives you a spare if you mess up the installation, or if your first meets with an untimely demise.
See at Amazon
Orzly film screen protector (5-pack)
The OnePlus 5 comes with a film screen protector pre-fitted on the display, and if you don’t mind the slightly plasticky texture, these are a decent, cheap option. Should you wish to replace an old film screen protector with a fresh one, Orzly sells a 5-pack of these for $6.99 with free shipping on Amazon.
A film screen protector isn’t the most glamorous option, but you can’t argue with the price, nor the simplicity of installation compared to some tempered glass options. Film protectors like these are also more likely to play nicely with bulky cases than glass screen protectors, because they’re significantly thinner.
See at Amazon
OnePlus 5
- Complete OnePlus 5 review
- OnePlus 5 specs
- Which OnePlus 5 model should you buy?
- Camera comparison: OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
- The latest OnePlus 5 news
- Join the discussion in the forums
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Everything you need to troubleshoot Google Daydream
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There isn’t a lot that can go wrong with Google Daydream. Like Cardboard before it, this platform is designed to be as simple as possible so you can just go and enjoy great games and videos. That said, occasionally something can go wrong and we’re here to help. Consider this everything you need to have a successful Daydream experience every time!
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