Score huge savings of 50 percent off, or more, with these awesome tech deals
We rounded up the best deals at 50 percent off or more so you can score major savings on some of the most popular products. Enjoy discounts from 50 to 80 percent off a handful of highly rated tech devices. Read on to discover the best 50 percent off (or more) deals of the weekend.
The Best
Our favorite 50 percent off deal is the ever-popular Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub, which is currently half off on Amazon. If you have been looking to try out some connected home products, this smart home hub is a great place to start. It is super easy to use and connects wirelessly with a wide range of smart devices to make them work together.
The SmartThings Hub acts as the brain of your smart home and you can essentially use it to ‘teach’ your smart home what you want it to do at different times of the day, such as control lights, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors, and more. You can really customize it to your preferences so your home automatically programs your devices the way you want when you are asleep, awake, away, and back home. It is compatible with Amazon Alexa, so you can use the hub to program your home without lifting a finger. All that is required for use is an internet connection and a download the free SmartThings app, which is available for iOS and Android.
The Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub is the No. 1 best seller in the Home Automation Hubs and Controllers category on Amazon and is currently slashed in price to $50, which saves you $50 or 50 percent off the regular $100 price tag.
More Great Deals
Hami IP66 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker — This portable speaker is integrated with two five-watt speakers for powerful sound, plus it is waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof with an IP66 rating, meaning it can withstand pressurized water. It pairs with devices from up to 33 to 66 feet away, has a full 24-hour playtime, and doubles as a selfie stick with a self-timer. The speaker battery life is conveniently displayed in the upper right corner of the Bluetooth device you connect it to and the robust speaker is currently on sale for just $29 on Amazon, saving you $100 or 77 percent.
Faseed Bluetooth Headphones — These headphones are 100 percent sweatproof and you can use them for up to eight hours straight or leave them on standby for 240 hours before their battery runs out. The in-ear headphones are unbelievably comfortable and very secure in your ear and have CVC 6.0 technology, giving you 360-degree omnidirectional noise reduction. You can score a pair for only $10 on Amazon which gives you an 80 percent or $40 discount.
Shades Flash Wing PC Gaming Mouse — This colorfully stylish gaming mouse has colored high-strength and tensible fibers that are adopted to weave the wire rods which gives it a unique look and the mouse comes from Shades which brings 20 years of professional production experience in gaming peripherals. The ergonomic mouse has optical technology, which makes it work on most surfaces and four DPI adjustments. The six-button mouse has a 1 million switch life and is discounted to just $14 on Amazon, saving you 80 percent or $56.
Titita Solar Charger — This solar charger charges your devices faster than other portable power banks on the market, and also automatically detects connected devices and determines the devices charging specification to deliver an optimal current. It has two USB ports to deliver power to two devices at once and delivers multiple charges, as it can charge iPhone 7 or 6 five times, charge an iPhone 6 plus three times, or charge an iPad 2 for one and a half times. It is dustproof, waterproof, and shockproof so you can take it anywhere and currently marked down to only $24 on Amazon, saving you $92 or 79 percent.
Looking for more great deals on tech and electronics? Check out our deals page to score some extra savings on our favorite gadgets.
Make your iPad friends envious with one of these 5 best Android tablets
Not everyone wants an iPad. Although Apple’s share of the market continues to increase, Android tablets still possess plenty of allure given the open-source nature of their operating system and seamless integration with the Google ecosystem. Not all Android tablets are created equal, though, so it’s best to narrow down exactly what you’re looking for in a tablet before dropping several hundred bucks. Do you want raw power or an enormous display? Would you rather opt for marathon battery life or find a great keyboard? Below are our picks for the best Android tablets for every situation imaginable.
If you’re flexible when it comes to choosing a mobile OS, check out our roundup of the best tablets.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 ($500+)
The Galaxy Tab S3 is worth getting excited about if you like to watch movies and play games on your tablet. It sports a 9.7-inch AMOLED display that is HDR-ready and is one of the best displays of any tablet on the market. It offers 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, allowing for a crisp, sharp picture that’s ideal for reading, gaming, or watching TV and movies. It’s also equipped with quad speakers tuned by AKG Acoustics, which make for a good listening experience. It has 32GB of internal storage — which may not seem like much if you store movies and other media — but it does have MicroSD card support, meaning you can increase storage by as much as 256GB. As far as performance goes, it has a Snapdragon 820 processor, which, paired with 4GB of RAM, offers very good performance. It also runs Android 7.0 Nougat with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, and comes with an S-Pen that’s comfortable to hold and adds plenty of additional features for sketching, annotations, or writing notes.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review
Buy one now from:
Amazon Samsung Best Buy
Amazon Fire HD 8 ($60)
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is the most affordable tablet on our list. The display has a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels. It isn’t very sharp, but it certainly gets the job done, and it is bright enough to be usable outdoors. The Fire HD 8 also features dual-band Wi-Fi, so you can connect to both 2.5GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands for fast download speeds. The tablet has a MediaTek MT8163V SOC, with a quad-core processor, and 1.5GB of RAM. It’s no speed demon, but it does offer adequate performance considering the price point. It also supports MicroSD cards, and it should last up to 12 hours on a single charge. It has bottom-firing stereo speakers, too, which are fairly loud. This tablet runs Amazon’s Fire OS — an operating system based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop — and any future software and security updates will come from Amazon. This tablet isn’t a traditional Android tablet as there is no Google Play Store — you have to download apps directly from Amazon’s App Store.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 8 (2017) review
Buy one now from:
Amazon Best Buy
Huawei MediaPad M3 ($300)
The MediaPad M3 from Huawei has a large, 8.4-inch screen with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. It feels like a premium tablet, with unibody construction and slim bezels, and it’s easy to hold with one hand. The standout feature with the MediaPad M3 is the stereo speakers, which were co-engineered with Harmon Kardon. Powered by a dedicated digital sound processor, the speaker system can handle 24-bit, 192kHz audio files. The Kirin 950 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM, is also powerful enough to handle serious gaming. It comes with Android 6.0, too, which is upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat. Keep in mind, however, that the M3 runs Huawei’s UI on top.
Read our full Huawei MediaPad M3 hands-on
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Pixel C ($600)
The Pixel C is a 2-in-1 with some serious power under the hood. The display and the keyboard join together through the use of magnets, and the device packs a speedy Nvidia Tegra X1 processor. This allows it to handle demanding apps, games, and multitasking without a hitch. This is one of the fastest Android tablets on the market. The 10.2-inch display has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,800 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 308 pixels per inch. You can also watch 1440p content natively, and games will look amazing. The Pixel C comes with 64GB of internal storage, but it doesn’t support MicroSD cards. The best part of the Pixel C is that, unlike other Android tablets and smartphones, you will receive the latest Android updates quickly. The more Android matures, the more you’ll be able to get out of the Pixel C.
Read our full Google Pixel C review
Buy one now from:
Asus ZenPad 3S 10 ($270+)
The Asus ZenPad 3S 10 is a bit larger than some of the other tablets on our roundup, coming in at 9.7-inches. That display has a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, and is surrounded by a 5.3-millimeter bezel. As far as processing power goes, this tablet has a 64-bit MediaTek processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It does support MicroSD cards, so you can increase storage by up to 128GB. One of the main points Asus wants to emphasize with the ZenPad 3S is the great audio experience it provides. The tablet comes with five-magnet stereo speakers and a built-in NXP amplifier, which protects it from damage when using it at high volumes for long periods of time. The tablet also has a Hi-Res Audio component that supports 24-bit, 192Khz audio. This means that if you’re using headphones, the sound you’ll hear will mimic 7.1 surround sound. As a bonus, the Zenpad 10 also works with the Asus Z Stylus.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Best Buy Asus
Update: Revised to include the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, Amazon Fire HD 8, Huawei MediaPad M3, Pixel C, and the Asus ZenPad 3S 10.
Carbon nanotube yarn turns movement into electricity, no batteries required
Why it matters to you
Carbon nanotube yarn could help create battery-free wearables, powered entirely by their users’ movement.
Imagine being able to harness the mechanical energy produced during your morning jog and using it to power a batteryless music player or fitness tracker. Or using the vibrations caused by passing trains or cars to monitor the stress levels in tracks or roads, and communicating this to the people who need to know. Those are two of the possible applications which could arise from a new energy-harvesting device developed by an international team of researchers. They have developed a special ultra-thin yarn created from carbon nanotubes, which is able to efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
“My first efforts doing this go back to 1980, using artificial polymers to build electrochemical artificial muscles,” Ray Baughman, one of the researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas, told Digital Trends. “We figured out that if you can use electrical energy to drive an artificial muscle to produce mechanical energy, maybe it’s possible to run it in reverse — and harvest mechanical energy as electricity. For all the years since then, I’ve failed to make this work. Now that’s changed.”
The yarn developed by the researchers can be twisted into elastic-like coils, in a way that allows the thread to generate electricity when stretched. The energy from one piece of yarn can power an LED and generate 250 watts per kilogram when a number of them are bound together and stretched 30 times per second.
While it is still early days for the research, it is promising compared with other harvester technologies — with 100 times the electric power per weight, compared to alternate attempts at weavable fibers. According to the researchers, 31 milligrams of the so-called “twistron” yarn could generate sufficient electricity to send two kilobytes of data 100 meters every 10 seconds.
One problem that currently exists, however, relates to the relative scarcity of carbon nanotubes. “Carbon nanotubes are very expensive to produce, and not manufactured in large quantities,” Baughman said. “As a result, the present applications for this work are limited to tasks which do not require much yarn. For example, right now you could sow the yarn into a textile to monitor an individual’s movement without having to use a battery.”
A bit more yarn could allow people to generate and then store their own electricity through physical activity. “But it’s the future possibilities which most excite me,” Baughman continued. “That’s the dream of being able to make yarn that will allow us to inexpensively and efficiently harness the energy of the ocean’s waves, beyond that which is possible with conventional harvesters.”
Whether it’s powering tomorrow’s wearables, or fully harnessing the ambient activity of ocean waves, this could be the beginning of some very exciting work. A paper describing the research was recently published in the journal Science.
Weekly Rewind: Apple AR goggles, Fisker’s Tesla killer, tiny robot surgeons
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from the best photos of the 2017 solar eclipse to Fisker’s electric EMotion car — it’s all here.
Check out these stunning photos of the total solar eclipse
In case you’ve been living under a rock … actually, no, even cave-dwellers must have heard about Monday’s solar eclipse. At about 11:19 a.m. PT, the moon fully eclipsed the sun, an event that many Americans celebrated by taking a week off of work and driving out to the middle of nowhere to experience an rare occurrence that lasted for about half an hour.
Those within the eclipse’s ominous-sounding “path of totality” had a front-row seat (assuming they had a pair of eclipse glasses, or certain welding goggles, or some sort of home-brewed device), but the vast majority of us settled for a few minutes of weirdly dim daylight. Luckily, images are popping up everywhere, from generous Flickr users and NASA photographers alike. We’ve put together an assortment of the best solar eclipse photos, just for you. Enjoy!
Read: Check out these stunning photos of the total solar eclipse
Google and Walmart team up to take on Amazon with voice assistant ordering
Google does not want Amazon to have all the fun, so it is teaming up with one of the largest brick-and-mortar retailers in an attempt to beat the digital retail giant. Pay close attention to your spending habits because as big tech competes for your business, they are only making it easier for you to pull out that plastic.
The latest tactic comes in the form of a partnership between Walmart and Google, which promises to “bring you hundreds of thousands of products at Walmart’s Every Day Low Prices … that you can buy through voice with your Assistant on Google Home or on the Google Express website or app.” Sound familiar? That is because you can already do the same through Amazon with Alexa and the various Echo devices.
In addition, Google Express has done away with its membership fees, which means that you no longer have to pay either $10 a month or $95 a year to get free delivery in one to three days. That, if nothing else, puts the service above Amazon, whose famed Prime membership probably will not be free anytime soon.
Read: Google and Walmart team up to take on Amazon with voice assistant ordering
Fisker’s electric EMotion will cost $130,000 and make its debut at CES 2018
Henrik Fisker is nothing if not persistent. After leaving his namesake Fisker Automotive (which has since been resurrected as Karma Automotive), the car designer who helped shaped cars like the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 started a second company to build another flashy luxury car, the Fisker EMotion.
The new Fisker Inc. announced plans to build the EMotion EV last year, and now it is revealing more details about the vehicle. Fisker previously said the EMotion would have a 400-mile range and 161-mph top speed, and now we know that capability will cost $129,000. Fisker noted that this is the price for cars with the “ultra large battery pack,” indicating that, like Tesla and Lucid Motors, it will offer multiple battery pack sizes.
The first teaser images for the production model show that it is toned down a bit from the prototype Fisker unveiled last year. But with an unusual array of shapes in place of a traditional grille, unusual-looking headlights, and other details, the EMotion will likely still be a wild design.
Read: Fisker’s electric EMotion will cost $130,000 and make its debut at CES 2018
This miniature robot arm could be the future of keyhole surgery
U.K. engineers have developed a miniature keyhole surgery robot arm, which is able to carry out a range of minimally invasive laparoscopic operations including hernia repairs, colorectal operations, prostate surgery, and more. While robots are already used for keyhole surgery, the Versius is a third the size of the robots which are currently used — and significantly cheaper, too.
“Versius is CMR’s first surgical robot and will be the smallest the world has ever seen,” Martin Frost, CEO of manufacturer Cambridge Medical Robotics, told Digital Trends. “The robot’s remarkable dexterity, flexibility, and reach means that it can carry out more procedures more easily than any existing robot on the market. Its flexibility, together with its portability, means Versius is designed to be kept constantly busy, improving outcomes for patients and offering a more cost effective solution for health systems.”
Read: This miniature robot arm could be the future of keyhole surgery
Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
Apple talked about ARKit, a new augmented reality platform, at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference earlier this year, but the iPhone maker might have far more interesting tech plans up its sleeves.
According to three alleged Foxconn employees who published details about upcoming Apple products recently, the Cupertino company’s skunkworks has been working on Project Mirrorshades, its term for Google Glass-like AR glasses with motion detectors, transparent displays, and integrated touch panels. Apple AR glasses, it would seem.
Here’s everything we know so far.
Read: Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
Chocolate Construction lets you build a 3D-shaped dinosaur, then eat it
It’s not much of a debate: Tyrannosaurus rex is cool. Its daunting size and powerful jaws make it the king of the dinosaurs. This adoration also makes it the most identifiable dinosaur all the way down to its bones. Now with Chocolate Construction, kids and adults can immortalize their favorite tyrant lizard in chocolate, at least until they get hungry.
Chocolate Construction is a durable silicone mold with nine distinct cavities for the various bones making up a T. rex. Sharp teeth, a jagged spine, long tail, ribs, and little arms make up the pieces used to construct the beast.
Read: Chocolate Construction lets you build a 3D-shaped dinosaur, then eat it
Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds
Hackers can turn smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs into surveillance tools by exploiting their built-in microphones, according to a new study out of the University of Washington. With the device hijacked, the attacker can detect body position and movement of people within its vicinity, raising additional concern about the security of smart devices, which made the news earlier this year with revelations about the ease with which they can be comprised.
“We were curious about the privacy threats that these devices can expose users to,” Shyam Gollakota, senior author of the study and UW associate professor of computer science and engineering, told Digital Trends. “So we asked the question, ‘How about a simple task of playing music on these devices? Can we use music to achieve surveillance on people?’”
Read: Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds
SpaceX’s slim new spacesuits look straight out of sci-fi
We’ve known about Elon Musk’s ambitions to send human beings to Mars for quite some time. On Wednesday, Musk’s aerospace transport company made another giant leap toward these goals by revealing the SpaceX spacesuit it hopes to use to transport astronauts to and from outer space.
In 2014, NASA announced it awarded government contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX to ferry American astronauts to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX has already proven its ability to launch and land recycled rockets, not to mention the viability of the Dragon Capsule its plans to use to ship astronauts to and from the ISS. However, despite leaked unverified images on Reddit, we had yet to see a fully functional spacesuit — a crucial aspect of any space-faring aims.
Read: SpaceX’s slim new spacesuits look straight out of sci-fi
The Coolala is a $400 portable AC unit that you can take outside
For all the claims our portable air conditioners make about being movable, it’s time to be honest with ourselves — they’re only portable if you’re a giant, or have a house that is nothing but windows. Just because these AC units aren’t mounted doesn’t exactly make them bastions of mobility. You can’t really take your “portable” air conditioners anywhere. Until now, that is. Meet the Coolala, a new Kickstarter project that claims to be “the only solar powered air conditioner that’s truly portable, so you can stay cool anywhere, anytime.”
Part of its portability is derived from its diminutive size. Measuring just 16 by 3.5 by 12 inches, this is a truly mini AC unit. But rest assured, it’ll do a lot more for you than a hand-held fan. It weighs in at 7 pounds and comes complete with wheels and a handle (in case you don’t feel like carrying it). And most importantly, it claims 3,500 BTU of cooling power, which means that you can cool an area of up to 150 square feet. Once the sun has fully powered up its battery, the Coolala claims to be able to provide some relief from the heat for between six to eight hours.
Read: The Coolala is a $400 portable AC unit that you can take outside
Weekly Rewind: Apple AR goggles, Fisker’s Tesla killer, tiny robot surgeons
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from the best photos of the 2017 solar eclipse to Fisker’s electric EMotion car — it’s all here.
Check out these stunning photos of the total solar eclipse
In case you’ve been living under a rock … actually, no, even cave-dwellers must have heard about Monday’s solar eclipse. At about 11:19 a.m. PT, the moon fully eclipsed the sun, an event that many Americans celebrated by taking a week off of work and driving out to the middle of nowhere to experience an rare occurrence that lasted for about half an hour.
Those within the eclipse’s ominous-sounding “path of totality” had a front-row seat (assuming they had a pair of eclipse glasses, or certain welding goggles, or some sort of home-brewed device), but the vast majority of us settled for a few minutes of weirdly dim daylight. Luckily, images are popping up everywhere, from generous Flickr users and NASA photographers alike. We’ve put together an assortment of the best solar eclipse photos, just for you. Enjoy!
Read: Check out these stunning photos of the total solar eclipse
Google and Walmart team up to take on Amazon with voice assistant ordering
Google does not want Amazon to have all the fun, so it is teaming up with one of the largest brick-and-mortar retailers in an attempt to beat the digital retail giant. Pay close attention to your spending habits because as big tech competes for your business, they are only making it easier for you to pull out that plastic.
The latest tactic comes in the form of a partnership between Walmart and Google, which promises to “bring you hundreds of thousands of products at Walmart’s Every Day Low Prices … that you can buy through voice with your Assistant on Google Home or on the Google Express website or app.” Sound familiar? That is because you can already do the same through Amazon with Alexa and the various Echo devices.
In addition, Google Express has done away with its membership fees, which means that you no longer have to pay either $10 a month or $95 a year to get free delivery in one to three days. That, if nothing else, puts the service above Amazon, whose famed Prime membership probably will not be free anytime soon.
Read: Google and Walmart team up to take on Amazon with voice assistant ordering
Fisker’s electric EMotion will cost $130,000 and make its debut at CES 2018
Henrik Fisker is nothing if not persistent. After leaving his namesake Fisker Automotive (which has since been resurrected as Karma Automotive), the car designer who helped shaped cars like the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 started a second company to build another flashy luxury car, the Fisker EMotion.
The new Fisker Inc. announced plans to build the EMotion EV last year, and now it is revealing more details about the vehicle. Fisker previously said the EMotion would have a 400-mile range and 161-mph top speed, and now we know that capability will cost $129,000. Fisker noted that this is the price for cars with the “ultra large battery pack,” indicating that, like Tesla and Lucid Motors, it will offer multiple battery pack sizes.
The first teaser images for the production model show that it is toned down a bit from the prototype Fisker unveiled last year. But with an unusual array of shapes in place of a traditional grille, unusual-looking headlights, and other details, the EMotion will likely still be a wild design.
Read: Fisker’s electric EMotion will cost $130,000 and make its debut at CES 2018
This miniature robot arm could be the future of keyhole surgery
U.K. engineers have developed a miniature keyhole surgery robot arm, which is able to carry out a range of minimally invasive laparoscopic operations including hernia repairs, colorectal operations, prostate surgery, and more. While robots are already used for keyhole surgery, the Versius is a third the size of the robots which are currently used — and significantly cheaper, too.
“Versius is CMR’s first surgical robot and will be the smallest the world has ever seen,” Martin Frost, CEO of manufacturer Cambridge Medical Robotics, told Digital Trends. “The robot’s remarkable dexterity, flexibility, and reach means that it can carry out more procedures more easily than any existing robot on the market. Its flexibility, together with its portability, means Versius is designed to be kept constantly busy, improving outcomes for patients and offering a more cost effective solution for health systems.”
Read: This miniature robot arm could be the future of keyhole surgery
Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
Apple talked about ARKit, a new augmented reality platform, at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference earlier this year, but the iPhone maker might have far more interesting tech plans up its sleeves.
According to three alleged Foxconn employees who published details about upcoming Apple products recently, the Cupertino company’s skunkworks has been working on Project Mirrorshades, its term for Google Glass-like AR glasses with motion detectors, transparent displays, and integrated touch panels. Apple AR glasses, it would seem.
Here’s everything we know so far.
Read: Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
Chocolate Construction lets you build a 3D-shaped dinosaur, then eat it
It’s not much of a debate: Tyrannosaurus rex is cool. Its daunting size and powerful jaws make it the king of the dinosaurs. This adoration also makes it the most identifiable dinosaur all the way down to its bones. Now with Chocolate Construction, kids and adults can immortalize their favorite tyrant lizard in chocolate, at least until they get hungry.
Chocolate Construction is a durable silicone mold with nine distinct cavities for the various bones making up a T. rex. Sharp teeth, a jagged spine, long tail, ribs, and little arms make up the pieces used to construct the beast.
Read: Chocolate Construction lets you build a 3D-shaped dinosaur, then eat it
Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds
Hackers can turn smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs into surveillance tools by exploiting their built-in microphones, according to a new study out of the University of Washington. With the device hijacked, the attacker can detect body position and movement of people within its vicinity, raising additional concern about the security of smart devices, which made the news earlier this year with revelations about the ease with which they can be comprised.
“We were curious about the privacy threats that these devices can expose users to,” Shyam Gollakota, senior author of the study and UW associate professor of computer science and engineering, told Digital Trends. “So we asked the question, ‘How about a simple task of playing music on these devices? Can we use music to achieve surveillance on people?’”
Read: Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds
SpaceX’s slim new spacesuits look straight out of sci-fi
We’ve known about Elon Musk’s ambitions to send human beings to Mars for quite some time. On Wednesday, Musk’s aerospace transport company made another giant leap toward these goals by revealing the SpaceX spacesuit it hopes to use to transport astronauts to and from outer space.
In 2014, NASA announced it awarded government contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX to ferry American astronauts to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX has already proven its ability to launch and land recycled rockets, not to mention the viability of the Dragon Capsule its plans to use to ship astronauts to and from the ISS. However, despite leaked unverified images on Reddit, we had yet to see a fully functional spacesuit — a crucial aspect of any space-faring aims.
Read: SpaceX’s slim new spacesuits look straight out of sci-fi
The Coolala is a $400 portable AC unit that you can take outside
For all the claims our portable air conditioners make about being movable, it’s time to be honest with ourselves — they’re only portable if you’re a giant, or have a house that is nothing but windows. Just because these AC units aren’t mounted doesn’t exactly make them bastions of mobility. You can’t really take your “portable” air conditioners anywhere. Until now, that is. Meet the Coolala, a new Kickstarter project that claims to be “the only solar powered air conditioner that’s truly portable, so you can stay cool anywhere, anytime.”
Part of its portability is derived from its diminutive size. Measuring just 16 by 3.5 by 12 inches, this is a truly mini AC unit. But rest assured, it’ll do a lot more for you than a hand-held fan. It weighs in at 7 pounds and comes complete with wheels and a handle (in case you don’t feel like carrying it). And most importantly, it claims 3,500 BTU of cooling power, which means that you can cool an area of up to 150 square feet. Once the sun has fully powered up its battery, the Coolala claims to be able to provide some relief from the heat for between six to eight hours.
Read: The Coolala is a $400 portable AC unit that you can take outside
Weekly Rewind: Apple AR goggles, Fisker’s Tesla killer, tiny robot surgeons
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from the best photos of the 2017 solar eclipse to Fisker’s electric EMotion car — it’s all here.
Check out these stunning photos of the total solar eclipse
In case you’ve been living under a rock … actually, no, even cave-dwellers must have heard about Monday’s solar eclipse. At about 11:19 a.m. PT, the moon fully eclipsed the sun, an event that many Americans celebrated by taking a week off of work and driving out to the middle of nowhere to experience an rare occurrence that lasted for about half an hour.
Those within the eclipse’s ominous-sounding “path of totality” had a front-row seat (assuming they had a pair of eclipse glasses, or certain welding goggles, or some sort of home-brewed device), but the vast majority of us settled for a few minutes of weirdly dim daylight. Luckily, images are popping up everywhere, from generous Flickr users and NASA photographers alike. We’ve put together an assortment of the best solar eclipse photos, just for you. Enjoy!
Read: Check out these stunning photos of the total solar eclipse
Google and Walmart team up to take on Amazon with voice assistant ordering
Google does not want Amazon to have all the fun, so it is teaming up with one of the largest brick-and-mortar retailers in an attempt to beat the digital retail giant. Pay close attention to your spending habits because as big tech competes for your business, they are only making it easier for you to pull out that plastic.
The latest tactic comes in the form of a partnership between Walmart and Google, which promises to “bring you hundreds of thousands of products at Walmart’s Every Day Low Prices … that you can buy through voice with your Assistant on Google Home or on the Google Express website or app.” Sound familiar? That is because you can already do the same through Amazon with Alexa and the various Echo devices.
In addition, Google Express has done away with its membership fees, which means that you no longer have to pay either $10 a month or $95 a year to get free delivery in one to three days. That, if nothing else, puts the service above Amazon, whose famed Prime membership probably will not be free anytime soon.
Read: Google and Walmart team up to take on Amazon with voice assistant ordering
Fisker’s electric EMotion will cost $130,000 and make its debut at CES 2018
Henrik Fisker is nothing if not persistent. After leaving his namesake Fisker Automotive (which has since been resurrected as Karma Automotive), the car designer who helped shaped cars like the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9 started a second company to build another flashy luxury car, the Fisker EMotion.
The new Fisker Inc. announced plans to build the EMotion EV last year, and now it is revealing more details about the vehicle. Fisker previously said the EMotion would have a 400-mile range and 161-mph top speed, and now we know that capability will cost $129,000. Fisker noted that this is the price for cars with the “ultra large battery pack,” indicating that, like Tesla and Lucid Motors, it will offer multiple battery pack sizes.
The first teaser images for the production model show that it is toned down a bit from the prototype Fisker unveiled last year. But with an unusual array of shapes in place of a traditional grille, unusual-looking headlights, and other details, the EMotion will likely still be a wild design.
Read: Fisker’s electric EMotion will cost $130,000 and make its debut at CES 2018
This miniature robot arm could be the future of keyhole surgery
U.K. engineers have developed a miniature keyhole surgery robot arm, which is able to carry out a range of minimally invasive laparoscopic operations including hernia repairs, colorectal operations, prostate surgery, and more. While robots are already used for keyhole surgery, the Versius is a third the size of the robots which are currently used — and significantly cheaper, too.
“Versius is CMR’s first surgical robot and will be the smallest the world has ever seen,” Martin Frost, CEO of manufacturer Cambridge Medical Robotics, told Digital Trends. “The robot’s remarkable dexterity, flexibility, and reach means that it can carry out more procedures more easily than any existing robot on the market. Its flexibility, together with its portability, means Versius is designed to be kept constantly busy, improving outcomes for patients and offering a more cost effective solution for health systems.”
Read: This miniature robot arm could be the future of keyhole surgery
Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
Apple talked about ARKit, a new augmented reality platform, at its annual Worldwide Developer Conference earlier this year, but the iPhone maker might have far more interesting tech plans up its sleeves.
According to three alleged Foxconn employees who published details about upcoming Apple products recently, the Cupertino company’s skunkworks has been working on Project Mirrorshades, its term for Google Glass-like AR glasses with motion detectors, transparent displays, and integrated touch panels. Apple AR glasses, it would seem.
Here’s everything we know so far.
Read: Apple AR glasses: News and rumors about ‘Project Mirrorshades’
Chocolate Construction lets you build a 3D-shaped dinosaur, then eat it
It’s not much of a debate: Tyrannosaurus rex is cool. Its daunting size and powerful jaws make it the king of the dinosaurs. This adoration also makes it the most identifiable dinosaur all the way down to its bones. Now with Chocolate Construction, kids and adults can immortalize their favorite tyrant lizard in chocolate, at least until they get hungry.
Chocolate Construction is a durable silicone mold with nine distinct cavities for the various bones making up a T. rex. Sharp teeth, a jagged spine, long tail, ribs, and little arms make up the pieces used to construct the beast.
Read: Chocolate Construction lets you build a 3D-shaped dinosaur, then eat it
Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds
Hackers can turn smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs into surveillance tools by exploiting their built-in microphones, according to a new study out of the University of Washington. With the device hijacked, the attacker can detect body position and movement of people within its vicinity, raising additional concern about the security of smart devices, which made the news earlier this year with revelations about the ease with which they can be comprised.
“We were curious about the privacy threats that these devices can expose users to,” Shyam Gollakota, senior author of the study and UW associate professor of computer science and engineering, told Digital Trends. “So we asked the question, ‘How about a simple task of playing music on these devices? Can we use music to achieve surveillance on people?’”
Read: Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds
SpaceX’s slim new spacesuits look straight out of sci-fi
We’ve known about Elon Musk’s ambitions to send human beings to Mars for quite some time. On Wednesday, Musk’s aerospace transport company made another giant leap toward these goals by revealing the SpaceX spacesuit it hopes to use to transport astronauts to and from outer space.
In 2014, NASA announced it awarded government contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX to ferry American astronauts to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX has already proven its ability to launch and land recycled rockets, not to mention the viability of the Dragon Capsule its plans to use to ship astronauts to and from the ISS. However, despite leaked unverified images on Reddit, we had yet to see a fully functional spacesuit — a crucial aspect of any space-faring aims.
Read: SpaceX’s slim new spacesuits look straight out of sci-fi
The Coolala is a $400 portable AC unit that you can take outside
For all the claims our portable air conditioners make about being movable, it’s time to be honest with ourselves — they’re only portable if you’re a giant, or have a house that is nothing but windows. Just because these AC units aren’t mounted doesn’t exactly make them bastions of mobility. You can’t really take your “portable” air conditioners anywhere. Until now, that is. Meet the Coolala, a new Kickstarter project that claims to be “the only solar powered air conditioner that’s truly portable, so you can stay cool anywhere, anytime.”
Part of its portability is derived from its diminutive size. Measuring just 16 by 3.5 by 12 inches, this is a truly mini AC unit. But rest assured, it’ll do a lot more for you than a hand-held fan. It weighs in at 7 pounds and comes complete with wheels and a handle (in case you don’t feel like carrying it). And most importantly, it claims 3,500 BTU of cooling power, which means that you can cool an area of up to 150 square feet. Once the sun has fully powered up its battery, the Coolala claims to be able to provide some relief from the heat for between six to eight hours.
Read: The Coolala is a $400 portable AC unit that you can take outside
Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW review
Research Center:
Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW
Ultrawide monitors, instead of 4K, have become the next big thing in PC displays. While a 4K monitor requires proper high-resolution content to really show off, ultrawides look great at a variety of pixel counts. And, as our Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW monitor review will explore, they’re as suited for work as they are for play.
There’s just one obstacle that keeps these ultrawide from becoming a common sight. The price. Dell’s 38-inch monitor is certainly among the largest, and it’s sold at an appropriately enormous $1,150. Most people want to spend no more than $300 on a screen – but this monitor isn’t made for most people.
Extra chunky
This monitor is a monster. LG showed its 38UC99-W, the world’s first 38-inch ultrawide, at IFA 2016, and the Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW is now its only direct competitor. The 21:9 aspect ratio means the display is a modest 15 inches tall – about the same as a 27-inch monitor with the more typical 16:9 aspect ratio — but an intimidating 35 inches wide. It’s 7 inches wider than Ikea’s entry-level desk, the Micke. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re eyeing it.
Other than the fact that it and LG’s trend setting 38UC99-W are the same size, they’re as different as two monitors can be. As part of Dell’s Ultrasharp brand, the U3818DW is built for professional work, and has a look to match. Its thin bezels are bordered by durable, thick gray plastic, which connects to a VESA-mount stand.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
The stand itself can adjust for height, tilt, and pivot, but it doesn’t rotate. LG’s competitor only adjusts for height and tilt, and in a slightly more limited range of the latter, but it’s also VESA compatible. Each monitor stand looks entirely different. Dell’s has a massive base with grippy bottom that makes it almost impossible to move without lifting, while LG’s stand is built from thin, graceful aluminum.
Both designs look great, in different ways. Businesses and PC enthusiasts will prefer the chunky Dell, while those seeking a more modern look will want the LG.
Downward-firing ports
Connectivity options include two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and one USB Type-C. There’s also an audio line-out (for passing HDMI or DisplayPort audio to speakers or headphones), two upstream USB ports for plugging the monitor into a PC, and two downstream USB ports for peripherals and attachments, one of which supports charging.
This array is what we’d expect from a high-end monitor, and slightly better than LG’s display, which has fewer USB options.
Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW Compared To
Acer Predator XB272 Gaming Monitor
BenQ EX3200R Gaming Monitor
Dell S2418H
LG 27MD5KA‑B Ultrafine 5K
Samsung CF791
Dell U3417W
Samsung CFG70
LG 38UC99
Dell s2417DG
Acer Predator Z35
LG 34UC98 monitor
Dell S2716DG
Samsung S34E790C
Dell UltraSharp U3415W
LG 34UM95
All the ports face downward from the rear panel, while LG’s version has ports on the rear of the panel. That means connected cords are easier to run smoothly on the Dell, because they don’t jut out from the back, like they do on the LG. Connecting a device can be a real pain, though, as the Dell’s ports are hard to very difficult to access.
Dell serves up another great menu
The on-screen menus used to control monitors aren’t something you have to use often, but a bad one can make those rare occasions frustrating, and may even obscure important features. Luckily, Dell has a reputation for excellent monitor menus, and the U3818DW doesn’t disappoint.
The menus are easy to navigate, but also offer a lot of depth.
Simplicity is the key. There are only five buttons on the monitor, including the power button, and all of them are chunky and physical. There’s no touch-button nonsense here. The menus that appear are well labeled, with options organized into sensible categories, making them easy to find.
The menus are easy to navigate, but also offer a lot of depth. Owners can select between preset color profiles and specifically change color temperature, hue, saturation, gain, and offset. These options allow for a lot of customization. That’s important, because the Dell U3818DW is marketed as a screen for people who need the highest color accuracy possible.
LG’s competitor, the 38UC99-W, uses a joystick for menu controls. It also works well, but it may not be intuitive to use at first touch, and the menus aren’t as easy to navigate. That said, LG’s controls are also better than average.
The speakers will do
A pair of 9-watt speakers are hidden in the U3818DW’s frame. The screen’s size means there is more room than normal, and that benefits the monitor’s sound quality. We found quality to be clear throughout most of the monitor’s range of volume. Remember, though; there’s no subwoofer. You’ll need external speakers to enjoy movies or throw a dance party on your lunch break.
Screen pre-calibration
As mentioned, the LG 38UC99-W was the first 38-inch model on the market. While Dell’s Ultrasharp finally offers an alternative, our display tests indicate the U3818DW is more of the same, at least in image quality. It even has the same resolution: 3,840 x 1,600 pixels — the highest of any ultrawide PC monitor.
Just look at the figures. The LG 38UC99-W and Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW are virtually identical in maximum brightness, contrast ratio, color accuracy, color gamut, and gamma curve. In other words, they are near-identical by every test metric we consider important.
Like the LG before it, the Dell provides a screen prioritizes accuracy. It’s not an especially bright screen at 330 nits when turned up to max, and its contrast ratio of 680:1 is mediocre. Samsung’s CF791, a 34-inch ultrawide, turned in a contrast ratio of 940:1. The Dell’s merely alright score means dark scenes can appear grey when they should render in a deep, inky black.
Big and beautiful, the Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW is an excellent professional-grade display.
If you can get over that, though, you’ll appreciate the Dell’s excellent color. Images look as they should on this monitor – bright and vibrant, but not neon or surreal. The excellence is particularly noticeable when viewing portraits on Facebook or actors in movies. Less accurate monitors can give people a sickly cast if they veer too far toward green and blue. There’s no such issue here.
The gamma value also deserves credit. Gamma is a way of measuring how bright an image appears, and most media aims for a value of 2.2. The Dell does that out of the box, so images and movies look as they’re meant to. That leads to minimal loss of detail in dark scenes and complex scenes.
While the Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW scores well in many tests, it’s missing two features that gamers love – a high refresh rate, and FreeSync support. The LG 38UC99-W also lacks a high refresh rate, but it does support FreeSync, which gives it an edge in gaming.
Screen post-calibration
The Dell looks great out of the box, so our calibration attempts didn’t have much impact on image quality. The main difference could be found in color accuracy, which dropped from an average color error of 1.34 to just .97. Any figure less than one is excellent. Only a handful of monitors, including the Dell Ultrasharp UP3218K, HP DreamColor Z32x, and Asus ROG Swift PG279AQ, have beat that figure.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Contrast remains an issue after calibration, but that’s no surprise because our calibration process doesn’t change how deep the monitor’s black levels can reach, or how bright its backlight can shine. With a fix there off the table, there isn’t much else to correct. Calibration does provide some benefit, but it’s not mandatory to see most of what the screen can offer.
Warranty information
Dell ships the Ultrasharp U3818DW with its 3-year Advanced Exchange Service warranty. Under terms of the warranty, Dell will immediately ship a replacement if its customer service decides the monitor you have is defective, instead of waiting to receive the defective unit and attempt a repair.
The length of the warranty is not all that notable, as many monitors are warrantied for as long. However, the LG 38UC99-W only offers a single year of coverage. That’s unfortunate, it helps tilt the comparison in Dell’s favor.
Our Take
Big and beautiful, the Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW is an excellent professional-grade display. While contrast could be better, its excellent color accuracy, sharp picture, competitive price, and good warranty help it stand out against its main competitor, the LG 38UC99-W. We just wish it offered FreeSync or G-Sync support which, though out of character for the Ultrasharp brand, would help the display appeal to a wider audience.
Is there a better alternative?
The only direct competitor for this monitor is LG’s 38UC99-W, as mentioned earlier in the review. Dell and LG tie in image quality, and both offer quality construction. Yet the Dell is priced at $1,150, while the LG still sells for $1,700 (strangely, its price has risen $200 since its release). Despite that, the LG’s warranty is lacking. That’s a big deal when choosing between monitors that cost more than the average 4KTV.
We give the nod to the Dell – except for gaming, where the LG’s inclusion of FreeSync support arguably makes it a better pick.
How long will it last?
Monitors last a long time. The technology inside them is proven, and they’re at low risk of accidental damage. The Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW adds to its endurance with excellent out-of-the-box specifications, a sturdy build, and VESA support. It has the potential to last over a decade before it dies, and its excellent image quality means it’ll remain impressive for most of its life.
Should you buy it?
Yes. We adored the LG 38UC99-W when it arrived late last year. A 38-inch ultrawide is incredible for both productivity and entertainment. Dell’s model nudges the LG aside, however, with better pricing and a better warranty. It’s the new benchmark in premium ultrawide displays.
Forget floss, this dental procedure rejuvenates your teeth with a laser
Why it matters to you
An innovative laser surgery promises to take the pain out of treatment for gum disease.
From original uses of virtual reality to revolutionary automatic toothbrushes, there is a whole lot of intriguing innovation going on right now in dentistry. One more to add to the mix is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved technique which its creator claims makes dentistry less invasive — and a whole lot less painful, too.
Referred to as the Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) protocol, which makes it sound a bit like a 1970s espionage thriller, the technique involves using a dental laser cutter to remove diseased tissue between the teeth and the gums; killing germs that cause gum infections and leaving the healthy tissue intact and unharmed. That is especially important since gum disease is increasingly linked to systemic diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and more. Despite this — and despite 80 percent of U.S. adults suffering from some degree of gum disease — only three percent will accept the current treatment.
“Initially, we wanted to give patients hope for hopeless teeth — which then grew into salvation for these teeth,” Robert Gregg II, DDS, one of the dentists behind the technique, told Digital Trends. “Patients were ecstatic to keep their teeth. This need then led to the development of a protocol that would help ‘garden variety’ gum disease, as well as the most severe cases. After 10 years of research and studies to prove efficacy, patients who want to keep their teeth and refuse traditional osseous surgery have another option: A no cut, no sew, no fear-treatment approach.”
The idea of having a laser designed for cutting shone around your mouth may not seem like a recipe for no fear, but patients who have undergone LANAP surgery report experiencing very little in the way of discomfort. The technique eliminates the need for periodontal surgery, a highly invasive and often painful procedure which involves reshaping the gums to restore and regenerate normal form and function to the parts of the mouth which support the teeth. The majority of patients who undergo the LANAP surgery require no opioid level prescriptions afterward, experience faster healing times, and are even able to drive themselves home following the procedure.
We still cannot say that we’re excited about visiting the dentist, but maybe we’re not dreading it as much as we were before.
7 Wi-Fi router deals to boost your internet speeds and save you up to $100
Routers have a thankless but vital job: Taking your wired internet connection and converting the signal to a wireless one to transmit data over Wi-Fi. This is something that most of us probably take for granted, and while routers aren’t the most thrilling pieces of technology, an old or low-quality unit can bottleneck your connection, create dead zones in your house, and cause congestion when multiple people are connected to the network at once. If your wireless network is suffering from any of these problems, then it just might be time for a new router.
Below, we’ve rounded up a handful of awesome Wi-Fi router deals across a wide spectrum of speeds and price points, including our own all-time favorite model. These offers can save you as much as $100, and you’ll save even more money over the long term by not having to pay equipment rental fees to your ISP. In fact, if you’re paying these fees, then most of these routers will likely pay for themselves within a year – along with improving your wireless internet connection speeds and stability.
Linksys EA2750 N600 router
If you’re still using the router supplied by your internet service provider, chances are it’s a fairly basic model that utilizes N150 or N300 Wi-Fi – meaning your speeds are bottled at 150 to 300 megabits per second on a single band. What’s worse: You might be paying as much as $10 per month to rent such a router from your ISP, although these units normally only cost $20 or $30.
The Linksys EA2750, by contrast, features N600 Wi-Fi for a throughput of 600 Mbps, ensuring that users with standard internet services aren’t getting bogged down by a weak router. The EA2750 is also dual-band (compared to most cheap single-band routers) and breaks up your data across two streams for extra bandwidth and reduced congestion. You can currently score this router for just $30 on Amazon and enjoy $60 off its MSRP.
Amazon
Netgear R3600v2 AC1750 router
For a bit more throughput and specs more suitable for larger home networks, check out the Netgear R6300v2 router. This sleek dual-band unit uses AC1750 Wi-Fi for a total throughput of 1,750 Mbps across both bands: 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band for light tasks like web browsing and 1,300 Mbps on the 5GHz band for data-demanding jobs like streaming. Netgear’s Genie App allows for easy setup and network management right from your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android devices – no messing about with clunky web interfaces.
Along with its increased throughput, the R6300v2 boasts a dual-core CPU, 256GB of built-in RAM, and Beamforming+ technology which work together to keep the router from getting overwhelmed when multiple clients are connected and using the network at the same time. A $32 discount means you can grab this futuristic-looking Wi-Fi router for $70 from Amazon right now.
Amazon
D-Link DIR-880L AC1900 router
For the best router deals, AC1900 models like the DIR-880L from D-Link are hard to beat. This solid midrange router hits that sweet spot between price and performance, offering a beefy 1,900 Mbps of throughput across two bands – 600 on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300 on the 5GHz band – as well as beamforming technology which establishes strong targeted connections with all devices on the network.
This beamforming also works with the router’s built-in Smart Connect Technology to automatically select the fastest stream for each connected device so that every user is getting the fastest Wi-Fi available and isn’t getting tripped up by other users’ traffic. A whopping $100 discount makes the D-Link DIR-880L the best of the router deals on our list, letting you score this excellent AC1900 unit for just $80 from Amazon for a limited time.
Amazon
Google OnHub AC1900 router
The fourth entry on our router deals roundup is one of our all-time favorites: The unique Google OnHub is a powerful and dead-simple AC1900 Wi-Fi router that delivers snappy speeds, excellent home coverage, and super-easy setup and operation. Dual-band 1,900 Mbps throughput keeps your wireless connection chugging along quickly and the router can support up to 100 simultaneous connections – no more network bottlenecks due to too many people using the internet at once.
The OnHub router blankets your home in Wi-Fi with area coverage of up to 2,500 square feet, eliminating dead zones and mitigating the need for fussy (and potentially insecure) range extenders. If you need even more coverage in the future, then your OnHub can be easily integrated into a Google Wi-Fi mesh system as well. The Google OnHub normally runs for $200 but an $80 discount knocks this bad boy down to just $120 on Amazon for a short time.
Amazon
TP-Link Archer AC2300 router
If you need some more juice than an AC1900 router can provide, the TP-Link Archer C2300 is a solid choice with a price tag that won’t leave you reeling. This dual-band router boasts AC2300 Wi-Fi for a combined wireless throughput of up to 2,300 Mbps, while its 1.8GHz dual-core CPU works with 2 co-processors for easily handling multiple data-heavy tasks at once: Online gaming, 4K streaming, and other demanding jobs are no problem.
RangeBoost and beamforming enhance the Archer C2300’s range and establish more stable targeted connections with each device on the network. MU-MIMO (multi-user multiple input, multiple output) technology also keeps things running smoothly when multiple clients are using the internet by breaking up the data along dedicated streams for strong, focused signals. A 26-percent discount of $44 means you can score this high-speed router for $126 from Amazon.
Amazon
Asus RT-AC3200 router
Moving even further up in power brings us to the mighty RT-AC3200 from Asus, which is about as powerful a router as you’re going to find without paying well over $200. With a whopping 3,200 Mbps of combined dual-band throughput, this router is aimed at serious users such as those managing large wireless networks and in homes with multiple people enjoying data-hungry activities like gaming and 4K streaming at the same time.
Like the DIR-880L, the Asus RT-AC3200 uses Smart Connect to automatically select the fastest available stream for every connected device. AiProtection and TrendMicro also offer advanced built-in security using modern cryptography so your network is locked down and safe. An $80 discount on Amazon knocks the Asus RT-AC3200 router down to $200 for a short time. While fairly expensive compared to our other router deals, this high-speed unit can still pay for itself within two years if you’re currently subject to equipment rental fees.
Amazon
Arris Surfboard SBG6900-AC modem/router combo
The final item on our roundup of router deals is a unique 2-in-1 device. The Arris Surfboard SBG6900-AC combines a cable modem and a Wi-Fi router into a single box, giving you a convenient all-in-one internet hub for a small network footprint that cuts down on equipment and wires. The SBG6900-AC utilizes AC1900 Wi-Fi for dual-band 1,900 Mbps wireless throughput while its wired component delivers 686 Mbps of cabled throughput, making this modem/router combo a great choice for both standard and high-speed internet plans.
The modem component offers 16 downstream and 4 upstream channels which reduces congestion during peak hours more effectively than most ISP-supplied modems which only feature 8×4 channel bonding. A 21-percent discount shaves $42 off the price of the Arris Surfboard SBG6900-AC, letting you pick up this all-in-one modem/router combo for just $158 from Amazon.
Amazon
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Looking for more router deals and discounts on other electronics? Check out our deals page to score some extra savings on our favorite tech.
Best Replacement Bands for Fitbit Charge 2
What are the best replacement bands for Fitbit Charge 2?
We all know how awesome the Fitbit Charge 2 is, but the bands can be pretty underwhelming — depending on your taste and sense of style.
There are a number of super creative alternatives out there, though, that can really make a statement. Here are some favorites!
- HUMENN Bands for Fitbit Charge 2
- bayite Leather Fitbit Charge 2 band
- Gold Swirl Scroll Charge 2 Bracelet
- Wearlizer Milanese Loop band
- bayite classic Rhinestone band
- AK Fitbit Charge 2 Band
HUMENN Bands for Fitbit Charge 2
If you’re looking for a replacement band with minimal, simply yet stylish feel, then check out the 10-pack Fitbit Charge 2 classic fitness replacement band from HUMENN.
While these band bare a striking resemblance to the original Fitbit band, the HUMENN bands come made with a durable elastomer material and surgical-grade stainless steel buckles. You can easily adjust the tracker band to fit your wrist, and if you’re not thrilled with the product, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
These HUMENN bands come in a number of colors, including black, blue, blush brown, gray, plum, pink, orange, teal, and white. You can even pick up certain packs of three and four with different color combos, but the 10-pack will cost you around $17.
See at Amazon
bayite Leather Fitbit Charge 2 band
Leather is always a smart fashion-forward choice for accessories, outfits, you name it – so it’s no doubt that this highly rated leather band from byite is a solid option to consider for your Fitbit Charge 2 for only $10!
Designed with genuine leather, the bayite band pairs perfectly with your Charge 2. The buckle is made with stainless steel for a secure clasp, while the band comes with a 1-year warranty incase anything happens.
You can pick up your bayite leather band in black, brown, coffee brown, gold, navy, olive brown, and silver (so there will totally be a color that’ll catch your eye!)
See at Amazon
Gold Swirl Scroll Charge 2 Bracelet
If you’re a fan of the bling and are looking to class up your Fitbit Charge 2 with a little extra glitz n’ glam, then take a peek at the beauty that is the Gold Swirl Scroll Charge 2 Bracelet from Etsy!
Handmade, gold-plated spacers with ornate detail instantly turns your Charge 2 into a top-of-the-line piece of jewelry. If you’re someone who isn’t a big fan of wearing tech on your wrist, and you prefer the most classic jewelry look, the Gold Swirl Scroll will probably be your BFF — especially with its modest $42 price-tag.
If you’re not a fan of the gold, then we recommend checking out the rest of the FabFitBracelets Etsy shops for some silver and bronze alternatives!
See at Etsy
Wearlizer Milanese Loop band
Classic, elegant, and perfect for day-to-day use, the Wearlizer Milanese Loop band adjusts to effortlessly fit around your wrist while pairing precisely with your Fitbit Charge 2.
The Wearlizer is made with a flexible stainless steel mesh material, and because of the lack of clasp, it’s very easy to adjust and make the band comfortable. If you’re not thrilled with the quality of the band – although it has a nearly 5-star rating on Amazon – then you can return the Charge 2 replacement without any hassle.
The Wearlizer comes in five different, classic colors, including black, gold, rose gold, pink gold, and silver. You can pick up this Fitbit Charge 2 band for around $16.
See at Amazon
bayite classic Rhinestone band
Keep things timeless with a pop of glitter and glitz with the bayite classic Rhinestone band for your Fitbit Charge 2 that looks and feels like a standard wristwatch band!
Designed with a high-quality, durable metal, the bayite band can be easily adjusted to fit wrists of almost any size. With the secure folding clasp and butterfly enclosure, you won’t have to worry about your tracker ever sliding off of your wrist either!
You can pick from two different color and rhinestone combinations, including black and red stones, or silver with clear stones. The best part? The price! You can pick up the bayite classic Rhinestone band for around $10.
See at Amazon
AK Fitbit Charge 2 Band
If you’re someone who likes a bit of a sportier looking watch band that also functions as a fantastically breathable workout buddy, then we recommend taking a look at the reasonably-priced AK Fitbit Charge 2 Band.
Designed with a soft, bendable silicone, and adjustable enough to fit wrists of almost any size, the AK Fitbit Charge 2 Band is not only functional, but fashionable. The buckle is stainless steel and the band itself is 100% waterproof, making it the ideal accessory for working out and building up a sweat!
The band comes in six different, vibrant colors, including pink and black, blue and black, green and black, gray and black, red and black, and white and black – and with the AK Fitbit Charge 2 Band costing around $10, why not pick up one in every color?
See at Amazon
So, what do you think?
Is there a watch band on our list that sticks out to you? Or do you have the perfect replacement that you’ve been using non-stop? Let us know in the comments below!
Updated August 2017 with new Fitbit Charge 2 band options!
AIVAnet 